🦋 May 2026

Hi Subscriber First Name!

Spring is keeping us busy in all the best ways! This past month brought new additions to our team, a community dinner with our student leaders, and school deliveries across the city. We’re grateful for continued moments of connection and collaboration as we head toward the end of the school year.

Keep reading for the latest updates from the YJC community, including upcoming events, student opportunities and a spotlight on recent student reporting.

🌸 Upcoming Gatherings

We have two community events coming up! Join us next week for an adults-only happy hour, and then come together again at our community-wide picnic in early June.

We’re looking forward to connecting and celebrating with you all!

📣 Behind the Scenes of our Momentum

We’ve built powerful support with city agencies and public leaders over the last few years. Ever wonder how we did it?

Our new "Advocacy & Public Support" page breaks down the strategy behind our momentum, from securing public funds to passing historic legislation. The page maps out how our efforts have developed, highlighting the 1:1 meetings, grassroots organizing, and coalition support that built this movement.

Check it out to learn about how we got here, and what’s to come!

🚍 J4A School Equipment Deliveries

Earlier this month, CJ, Cait, and Sophie delivered essential start-up equipment to our J4A schools, including new cameras, SD cards, printers, and voice recorders.

We hope to continue building systems for getting equipment for schools!

🎬 J4A Students Visit Set of MSNOW

We brought journalism students from The Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx to a live taping of All In America, a special town hall hosted by MSNOW’s Chris Hayes at the Bronx Children’s Museum. The event featured a sit-down conversation with Zohran Mamdani and gave students a behind-the-scenes look at political journalism and live broadcast production. A special thank you to The Nation Fund’s Erin O’Mara, MSNOW’s Dot Whalen, TYWLS’s Ms. Lawlor, and Journalism for All for helping make this possible!

✨ Student Opportunities

Institute for Youth in Policy: Public Policy Fellowship
Application Deadline: Friday, May 29
Open to: High school and undergraduate students ages 13-23, nationwide
A free, two-month virtual development opportunity for young, emerging leaders who are passionate about learning how to engage with and develop public policy and create positive social, political, economic, and environmental change.

Junior Writers: Shelter Kids Writing Competition
Application Deadline: Sunday, May 31
Open to: Writers ages 5-18, nationwide
Submit your original writing inspired by the theme “Shelter” and your age group’s prompt for a chance to gain recognition and win an award.

NPR: Student Podcast Challenge
Application Deadline: Sunday, May 31
Open to: Young storytellers in grades 4–12
Top entries will be broadcast nationally on NPR programs, with winning schools receiving an official trophy and certificate. A new award category will also recognize stories that reflect on what it means to be an American today.

iCivics: Carnegie Youth Fellowship
Application Deadline: Sunday, May 31
Open to: High school students, nationwide
A paid, national civic leadership experience for students ready to strengthen civic learning and engagement in their communities.

M.F.K. Fisher Emerging Writers Contest
Application Deadline: Sunday, May 31
Open to: Writers ages 8+, nationwide
Submit an original unpublished essay or short story inspired by this year’s theme, “Fire.” Winners in each age category will receive cash prizes and publication on the Foundation’s website.

Reel Works Summer Programs
Application Deadline: Monday, June 8
Open to: NYC high school students
Four different free summer programs featuring mentorship from professional filmmakers and hands-on experience in storytelling, production, and editing. Programs include: Animation Lab, Dual Language Doc Lab, Intro to Broadcast Journalism, and Supported Experimental Lab (for neurodivergent students).

Scripps Howard Fund: Paid Journalism Internships
Application Deadline: Monday, June 8
Open to: College students and graduating college students
The Scripps Howard Fund has partnered with the Institute for Nonprofit News to support paid fall internships at nonprofit newsrooms across the country, including The Athens County Independent, The Baltimore Banner, The Current GA, KOSU, MLK50, New Mexico In Depth, The Salt Lake Tribune, and The Texas Tribune.

Community Food Advocates: Youth Food Advocates
Application Deadline: Monday, June 15
Open to: NYC high school students
YFA interns play an active role in the decision-making process to bring about change in three major school food areas: Cafeteria Environment, Menu Inclusivity, and Communication and Student Voice. Interns receive an annual stipend and a NYCPS Seal of Recognition for Service on their high school diploma.

Made by Us Youth250 Initiative: Letters to America
Application Deadline: Saturday, June 27
Open to: 14-30 year-olds, nationwide
Submit essays, videos, speeches and artwork that share your vision for the future of America. Select submissions will be shared by media partners, museums, and civic organizations for National Youth Takeover Day on June 27.

NYPL: The Schomburg Center’s Junior Scholars Program
Application Deadline: Monday, June 29
Open to: NYC 6th-12th grade students
A tuition-free Saturday program during the academic year where students generate individual research, original writing, art portfolios, and collaborative multimedia arts projects from their intensive study of the Center’s archives and resources.

Summer Moth Story Lab
Application Deadline: Friday, July 3
Open to: Rising 10th-12th graders, nationwide
A free, out-of-school storytelling workshop series that has both in-person and virtual options culminating in a performance.

🔦 Spotlight on Student Reporting

Check out our Newsstand featuring school publications across the city!

From Meetings to Movements: The Impact of Student Organization at Francis Lewis High School

The Future of the Bronx? These Students Have Some Ideas

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