If You Missed Curt on the Today Show...

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The super nice guy and great musician and former guest on the Media Center's American Songwriter Show just received over $1 million in goods and services for the non-prof he founded and operates in Visitacion Valley to provide after school activities to school children. If you missed the big event, you can watch it on the Today Show's website. Even though Curt got this award, he still needs volunteers and support over there, so if you like working with kids, visits R.O.C.K.'s website.

Singer Curt Yagi on Today Show Monday!

In May 2009, award winning LOCAL singer/songwriter CURT YAGI appeared on American Songwriter with his band, The People Standing Behind Me. We are really proud and excited to hear that Curt will be a guest at 7 am on NBC's Today Show this Monday, June 21. NBC will actually be profiling the non-profit that Curt runs Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) and we're keeping our fingers crossed that they will showcase some of his music. Curt's music is really informed by his deep love for the kids he works with and his commitment to his family and community. The very first song he sang "Take Me Away" on our show last year was inspired by the R.O.C.K. kids and his desire to provide safe and character building activities for them. I love the lyric : "a place with no border, love creates order, it's so clear to me."

So tune in and support our local guy making good - 7 am NBC Today Show - Monday, June 21st.


American Songwriter with Curt Yagi

American Songwriter | MySpace Video

Changing of the Guard: YAC Graduates and Summer Interns begin in June!

This is definitely a time of transition for the youth programs here at the Media Center!


We closed out our 2009-2010 Youth Advisory Council at the end of May with an Oscar-themed screening and graduation! It was a classy affair planned by the YAC themselves, complete with Oscar Trivia, gourmet food and drink, and a red carpet!








Friends and family gathered as each YAC member screened their demo reel (a short compilation of highlights from their work) and was honored with an award! Camille Smura, a 2nd year-YAC member, a former intern, and a MC Summer Camp employee, received the YAC Award for her overall excellence in filmmaking, team work, and leadership! Congrats!






The YAC had an amazing year and produced great community-related and creative videos. We will miss them a TON!

The good news is that we have a group of 10 other amazing students beginning as Media Center interns on June 21st! In fact, two of our YAC members, Haelin Cho and Laura Rossiter, will be returning as interns! Lucky us!

The application process was so exciting because there was so much interest! The 10 that were chosen have an amazing skill set and lots of passion for media! Congratulations to the new interns!

Also, be on the look-out for our 6 Digiquest summer workshops for ages 11-17. They will be working in the classroom and studio on and off throughout the summer!

Abilities United Community Connections - Ecumenical Hunger Program

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The community volunteers from Abilities United visit the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto, CA

Segment from "Community Connections," hosted by Andrea Throndson.

andrea@abilitiesunited.org

Abilities United Community Connections - Collective Roots Garden

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The volunteers of Abilities United spend a day at the Collective Roots garden.

Segment from "Community Connections," hosted by Andrea Throndson.

andrea@abilitiesunited.org

SCHOOL NEWS CARRIED LIVE!

Did you know that when local schools broadcast their news to their students that the Media Center simultaneously cablecasts the news right to your TV and simulcasts it right to your computer? We regularly broadcast the daily news from elementary, middle and high schools in our service area live over the I-NET. Comcast built the I-NET as part of its local cable franchise. The I-NET is an "awesome" network that links many of the schools in our service area to the Media Center's Master Control. From there we can play the news live out to you, record it, and even play it back.

Media Center IT Specialist Chris Pearce singlehandedly installed the necessary equipment in all the schools and provided the support to the teachers and the kids. Chris is the master of "touch and go." He touches the machines and they go! Master Control Technician Brian Jones does the work to bring these shows live out onto our channels. (Arguably the hardest working man at the Media Center, Brian works so quickly he is virtually invisible and has rarely been spotted outside the Media Center.)

This year, we have proudly carried student-reported news from the 49ers Academy, La Entrada, Hillview, Encinal, Gunn, Paly, JLS, and Jordan. Next year we will be adding Terman and Menlo Atherton.

We only have a few more days left in the school year, but we'll be up and running again in the Fall. So click here to view the program for the rest of the school year. And stay tuned and keep up on what's going on in the schools.