True Star Media

True Star Media is a Chicago-based media organization that provides opportunities for young people to develop digital media skills and to apply those skills in service of their professional and personal pursuits. Its programs train young people in journalism, video production, podcasting, and digital marketing and empowers them to use their voice, perspective, and skills to tell authentic and relevant stories for and about their communities. This X-Grant supports the professional development activities of True Star’s staff enabling them to strengthen their capacity to lead an expanding organization.

True Star Media (True Star) is a Chicago-based nonprofit that champions the voices of Black and Latinx youth in the City by providing a platform for them to explore themselves and issues they care about through the creation and dissemination of media. Launched in 2007 as a magazine created by and for young people, in 2018 True Star leadership transitioned its offerings from predominantly print-based programming to a full range of digital media learning opportunities that include podcasting, video production, journalism, and graphic design. It engages more than 5,000 young people each year in its afterschool programs and weekend workshops and provides approximately 250 jobs to Chicago youth each year through its revenue-generating video and photography production services. General operating support enables True Star to continue offering its high-quality, hands-on media literacy programming to Chicago youth, while growing the capacity of the organization and planning for its long-term sustainability.