The PBS Student Reporting Labs Winter Academy in Austin, Texas was a six day workshop, funded by Google, that took place between the dates of December 16th to December 21st. The academy is an all expense paid opportunity where PBS Student Reporting Labs flew students out from all over the country to create four different stories based around the ideas of music and culture. Group one containing Jaylin Lily (York Suburban Senior High School, PA), Macalya Ramsey, (Cass Technical High School, MI), and Olivia Brandeis (Monte Vista High School, CA) along with mentors Leah Clapman (Founder/Executive Director, SRL) and Trina Moore (AV Teacher, Rouse High School). They produced a story about a violinist from the Austin area, Carrie Rodriguesz, who uses music to help her find her voice both culturally and historically. Group two contained Maggie Lebeau (Glenbard East High School, IL), Desha Madhavan (Dominion High School, VA), Aron Sanchez (Brentwood High School, NY), and Jordan Fabirkiewicz (Fraser High School, MI) along with mentors Victor Frenandez (Director, Youth Media Program) and Merecades Ezeji (2019 Gwen Ifill Legacy Fellow). They developed a story on an educator from Austin, Texas named Susana Diaz-Lopez who helps keep Mexican Culture alive by teaching classic mariachi music to a new generation of students. Within group three was Ana Sofia Contreras (Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering, OR), Layla Benoit (College Street Vocational Center, LA), and Marshal Smith (Caesar Rodney High School, DE) along with mentors Chris Schawlam (Youth Media Producer, SRL) and Anne Arceneaux (Ed, Tv Technology Program specialist Louisiana Public Broadcasting). They created a story on SaulPaul, a 3x Grammy-nominated Austin singer/songwriter. Who continues to spread many things such as hope, inspiration and empowerment to others. After spending some of his youth in prison, SaulPaul’s grandmother taught him he had something to give back to others. Lastly, group four contained Journey Love Taylor (Wauwatosa West High School, WI), Marcos Mendez (Kipp Legacy High School, MO), and Natalie Erzal (Rouse High School, TX) along with mentors Gil Garcia, and Tara Bordeaux (CTE Specialist- Arts/AV, Austin IS). They constructed a story on a theater company names ProyectoTEATRO that aims to promote and keep Latin American culture alive through the art of Spanish. The groups latest Show “CABAREX” is a story exploring the last five centuries of Latin-American history via comedy, dancing, singing, improv, drag, and puppets. Lastly, there were two people in charge of all the media and BTS content, Rawan Elbaba (Digital Producer, SRL) and Anastasiia Grygroieva (2023 SRL Academy Fellow). All videos have been published to the PBS Student Reporting Labs youtube channel. You can watch all video on the PBS Student Reporting Labs Youtube Channel or listed below.
BTS video:
Group 2’s video:
Group 3’s video:
Group 4’s video:
