News » Greater Tucson Youth Leadership Program Visits Access Tucson

Greater Tucson Youth Leadership Program Visits Access Tucson

Students from the leadership program focused on media this week and included Access Tucson on their list of places to visit.

Access Tucson member Rachel Perlis, a staff member with the leadership program, has her own public access program “Snap Back! Youth TV”, a program that she describes as by and for “Real Teens. Real Stories.” She organized student visits at several media outlets around town.

RACHEL PERLIS HELPS STUDENT

The group learned about Access Tucson and why it’s different from commercial TV stations. Access Tucson Training Director Lisa Horner conducted the tour and informed the group that “You see up to 3,000 commercial messages each day in America—that includes all forms of advertising.” Several students were reluctant to believe that.

Horner then asked how their younger brothers and sisters behave at the grocery store.

“They want everything! Buy this for me!” several students commented.

“It’s easy to see how advertising affects younger kids, but it works on everyone.” Horner said. “If young people have even a small understanding that they are being targeted by advertisers who are very well funded and organized, they get offended and hip to the techniques. That’s a step in the right direction.”

LISA HORNER INSTRUCTS STUDENTS

The students talked about leadership as part of their production experience at Access Tucson; and had time to create and crew a zombie talk show and an interview with Paris Hilton. Hey, it’s important to have fun too.

The Youth Leadership Institute serves to inform, educate, influence, re-direct and create new leaders from a diverse cross-section of middle and high school students in Pima County.

DIRECTING THE SHOW

The Institute’s goals are to:

educate youth about issues and potential solutions to our community’s most pressing concerns;
develop leadership skills; and
increase community involvement.

Youth participants have the opportunity to:

participate in a leadership program, which includes topics on community building skills, career development, ethics, education, government, volunteerism, criminal justice and public speaking;
become engaged in service to address community needs through a class service project;
earn Pima Community College credits; and demonstrate effective involvement in community issues by enrolling in the Youth Boardsmanship Institute.

IN THE CONTROL ROOM

Go to Facility Tour to learn how to book a tour for your group.