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Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division (EMF-EB) is part of a program that is a win-win-win for so many.
Along with Tha Town, a nonprofit organization that provides a “digital hub of resources” for Oaklanders, we are leading an innovative program that will help address the opioid crisis in Alameda County while training aspiring journalists.
The goal of the program, which is funded by Alameda County Behavioral Health Department in collaboration with Three Valleys Community Foundation, is to enable young adults to inform and educate their peers across Alameda County about the risks and resources associated with opioids.
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate Alameda County, particularly among teens and young adults. Opioid-related emergency department visits for individuals 15– to 24-years old has increased significantly in the past five years, with fentanyl contributing significantly to the rise in overdoses.
Yet while the crisis has intensified, the message seems to not be reaching teens and young adults as it should. Research from the Partnership to End Addiction (which is responsible for the “This Is Your Brain on Drugs…” ads known by Gen X’ers like me) indicates that a significant percentage of teens are more likely to trust and act on health information delivered by their peers.
So representing EMF-EB, I will work with Justin Standley, executive director of Tha Town, and program director Steve McCoy-Thompson, to train and support aspiring journalists as they create and distribute articles and videos to inform and educate other young people on the risks of opioids and treatment programs available.
“We think it’s vital to empower young people to educate each other,” McCoy-Thompson said. “Our program empowers them to tell the stories that matter, using their own voices to drive real change.”
I am particularly excited about working with young people who are interested in journalism. Let’s face it – local journalism is threatened. With newsrooms closing almost on a daily basis, venture capitalists buying struggling news groups and gutting the newsrooms and hundreds of employees being laid off every year, this is a perfect opportunity to mentor the next generation of journalists.
“Young people are an incredible resource for positive communication and change in the world,” Standley said. “If we can tap into their potential, with training and guidance, we can make a lasting difference.”
We have 35 high school students from throughout Alameda County (with about a third from right here in the Tri-Valley) in the first of three paid internship programs. They are receiving professional training in journalism, and their content will be reviewed and published across local platforms, including PleasantonWeekly.com and LivermoreVine.com.
In addition to addressing the opioid crisis, I’m hopeful the program will help to revitalize local journalism by providing career-building opportunities for youth.
In late July, we will be seeking applications from Alameda County high-school students for the second four-month program.
