It hardly matters “where” we really are anymore, thanks to this COVID-19 pandemic and the shelter-in-place that follows. We’re all virtual. But for those still grappling with geography, if you hadn’t heard, I’ve relocated to the Bay Area, Oakland specifically, for a mighty media mission.
My new role is as CEO as YR Media, a 26-year-old, award-winning nonprofit that provides education and a platform for both journalistic and artistic expression for youth between the ages of 18 to 24. Our creators are mainly of color and living in underrepresented communities so their voices are vital to the national narrative.
Not only does it teach media education, music production and other arts, it offers employment to those who come up through the programs. In fact, compensating our emerging content creators is the cornerstone of our mission.
I have taken the reigns at YR Media at a rather interesting time for this country. I came in eager to meet many of our funders, donors, volunteers, community partners, collaborators and alumni, only to find many in-person meetings turned into Zooms. The awesome downtown Oakland offices that YR Media considers its hub are shuttered for now, and my living room in my new digs is my official office.
Still, regardless of the current situation, I am excited for this opportunity and the impact of working with the powerful, passionate team at this organization. Newsrooms won’t change until the people change. The recording industry too could do with a staff (in front of AND the shot-callers behind the scenes) that better reflects the reality of America. YR Media is at the forefront of this shift.
I hope that those who have been so supportive of my career as I worked in the Chicago market will continue to do the same in the sibling city of Oakland. The latter definitely has a vibe that reminds me of the City of Win, albeit without the hawk that bears down on us every winter.
Read more about YR Media here and please sign up for our newsletter so you can stay in the know and support, whether as volunteers or (if you can) with financial offerings to keep our young storytellers from going silent, especially now.
I look forward to a time when I can get out and about again in my new city and also travel to Chicago, as well as other top media hubs including Atlanta; New York; Jackson, Mississippi; and New Orleans to share more about what Team YR has in the works. Until then, we’ll keep getting the word out virtually and I hope that my Kyles Files fam will support me from the sidelines.