Amplifying Youth Voices | Something to Say (08-13-2024)
The “Something to Say” podcast continues to inspire with its focus on the transformative power of art, culture, and advocacy. Hosted by Mazi Mutafa, the latest episode features a diverse panel of voices, including Sydni Mingo and Donney Rose, two producers of the podcast, WPFW news reporter Chris Bangert-Drowns, and Alorie Clark of the DC Collaborative. Co-host Patrick Washington also interviews Tara Prakash, the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, while Dr. Toby Jenkins, Associate Provost for Faculty Development at the University of South Carolina, shares her expertise on cultural leadership.
The episode dives deep into how platforms like “Something to Say” amplify the voices of young creatives. Mingo and Rose highlighted how the program provides many youth with their first opportunity to share their art publicly, fostering critical thinking and recognition. These platforms are crucial for nurturing confidence and creativity among young people, especially emerging poets and artists. Mingo, responsible for booking talent for the show, emphasized how the platform excites community organizations and individuals, making them feel recognized and valued for their work. She states,
"They all have great programs for children, for the community... Being asked to come on, like, excites them, you know, makes them feel like people do care about their work."
Equitable access to arts education emerged as a central theme in the conversation with Alorie Clark of the DC Collaborative. She emphasized the importance of addressing systemic barriers, such as the lack of transportation funding for public school students, which limits access to cultural institutions and programs. Clark stated,
"65% of the schools that we survey don't have a transportation budget for field trips... so 65% of these schools are not going to these cultural institutions,"
highlighting the issue of inequity in accessing cultural experiences. She also emphasized the need for raising awareness about this issue and engaging in advocacy to address it. By advocating for equitable opportunities, the DC Collaborative ensures that more students can experience the transformative power of arts and humanities education.
Dr. Toby Jenkins expanded the conversation to cultural leadership and authenticity. She discussed how embracing one's cultural identity can empower individuals to lead with purpose and vision, tying in the broader impact of cultural practices like hip hop in education and professional development. Dr. Jenkins stated,
"when you show up authentic, when you are who you were always meant to be and who you truly are, and you do it your way without a bend, with a, you know, stand strong and tall in your culture."
She emphasized that these cultural experiences should be allowed to grow, change, and evolve, reflecting the dynamism inherent in cultural practices like hip hop. She also stressed the importance of dreaming big, expanding visions, and focusing on life's purpose rather than just jobs or positions.
Later on in the episode co-host and WBL’s Director of Poetry, Patrick Washington, sits down for an exciting interview and poetry reading with the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash. We learn about Tara’s poetry journey, as well as some of the influences on her poetry, and she shares one of her poems.
This episode captures the intersection of art, education, and community advocacy, showcasing how creativity and culture empower individuals and inspire social change.
Something to Say is recorded live on Washington, DC’s Radio Station WPFW 89.3 and is produced by Words Beats & Life Inc.
