
PRX default Piece image
What's the most pressing youth issue?
Series: 2008 Democratic National Convention
From: Y-Press
Length: 00:01:54
To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.
More from Y-Press
Greening the DNC
(00:04:34)
From: Y-Press
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced the 2008 Democratic National Convention was "going to be the greenest in history." In this report, Y-Press explores the challenges of ...
A day in the life of the youngest super delegate
(00:04:06)
From: Y-Press
Y-Press journalists attended both 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions creating a diverse body of work, including radio pieces, audio-slide shows and print pieces on ...
Integration
(00:02:54)
From: Y-Press
Many immigrants come to America looking for a better life with more opportunities. They come with widely varying levels of education and resources. Many times, generational ...
Burmese youth refugees
(00:03:10)
From: Y-Press
Just over 1000 Burmese refugees settled in Indianapolis last year and that number is projected to grow this year. Carleen Miller, executive director of Exodus Refugee ...
Diversity in schools
(00:03:03)
From: Y-Press
Census figures indicate that Indianapolis’ population has grown 5 percent over the last decade, which is large part (83.4% of which) is due to the immigrant and refugee ...
Immigrant Latino youth activism
(00:03:06)
From: Y-Press
This past December, for the second time in the past five years, the DREAM Act did not become a reality. While the initial reaction for some Latino youth activists was ...
School violence
(00:03:13)
From: Y-Press
Failing neighborhood schools often have neither the support nor resources to turn themselves around. Jesse Sharkey, Vice President of Chicago Teachers Union, says that there ...
Dropouts
(00:03:22)
From: Y-Press
Chicago Public Schools only graduates about half of its seniors each year. For some kids finding a school with a more personal touch is the key.
School choice
(00:03:14)
From: Y-Press
The Chicago public school system aims to educate half a million kids each year. At this time every year, eighth graders are choosing from career academies, neighborhood, ...
School innovations
(00:03:32)
From: Y-Press
Chicago Public Schools only graduates about half of its seniors each year. To engage kids and keep them in class, some schools are trying unique and innovative approaches to ...
Piece Description
A team of Y-Press reporters interviewed youth at the 2008 Democratic National Convention about what they see as the most important and pressing youth issue. Reporters talked with youth from around the country to get their perspective on the future. Youth reporters talked with youth from around the country to get their perspective on the future.



Chris and City Youth Now
Posted on December 17, 2009 at 02:33 PM | Permalink
The Real Youth Pressing Issue
"What's the Most Pressing Youth Issue?" produced by Y-Press at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, surveys youth about what they believe to be the most important youth issues. The interviewees talk about the following issues: the war, stopping violence, the economy, education, oil, and tuition hikes. While these issues are certainly relevant and important on a national level, our critique lies in the fact that none of the interviewees address the day to day pressing issues facing inner-city lower class youth. The issues that many of us face on a daily basis include: police harassment, racism, incarceration, gangs, the availability of guns, youth on youth crime, a lack of role models, and finally the lack of respect youth have towards each other. These issues affect the minds and actions of our youth because many of us were born into this day to day struggle for survival. The responses of the youth interviewed in this piece are indicative of their ignorance to issues facing inner-city youth. We think that this is a huge part of the problem. The issues of the inner-city youth are issues that impact everyone in society, and yet they are ignored. This radio piece would've been more comprehensive if youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds were interviewed, but perhaps this is a consequence of the lack of lower class youth represented at Democratic Convention. This piece reflects the nation's larger problem of emphasizing middle class issues, while neglecting a larger discussion of poverty and its consequences.