For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristin Tutino, (585) 258-0253

WXXI AND THE ROADWORK FOR SUCCESS PARTNER ON A PROJECT THAT ENCOURAGES YOUTHS TO COMMUNICATE THE CHALLENGES OF ENTERING INTO ADULTHOOD

(Rochester, New York) October 25, 2005 – WXXI Public Broadcasting and the University of Rochester Medical Center have partnered with the community-wide coalition, The Roadwork For Success In Young Adulthood, in organizing a community project designed to engage youth and young adults to communicate and understand their needs as they emerge into adulthood. Over 100,000 15-24 year olds live in Monroe County and currently face the transition of leaving their childhood homes and schools to become successful and independent adults. One hundred local 15-24 year olds will be given disposable digital cameras and asked to document their strengths and challenges as they make this transition. Project leaders will offer photography instruction and guide the youth on putting together mini-documentaries over the next seven months. On Thursday, October 27 WXXI will host a half-day workshop at the station to train group leaders on the project and on Wednesday, November 9 the youth will be presented with their digital cameras and given their assignment at a kick-off event at WXXI, 280 State Street, Rochester.

The project is part of Raising 100,000 Voices, a year-long initiative designed to help in understanding and communicating the needs and assets of the community from the point of view of those emerging into adulthood. The project includes workshops, group meetings and production of a mini-documentaries leading up to a culminating event in May 2006.

The Roadwork For Success In Young Adulthood is a community-academic partnership created in an effort to raise awareness of, and develop solutions for, the unique challenges facing the 15-24 age group. The partnership is made up of key representatives from local human service organizations including the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and the Office of Mental Health Promotion.

For more information, contact Shelley Figueroa at 585-258-0278 or email her at:sfigueroa@wxxi.org, or Ann Marie White at 585-275-6430 or email her at: annmarie_white@urmc.rochester.edu.

This initiative is funded in part by the National Center for Outreach.

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WXXI is an essential, lifelong educational resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI provides programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of the issues of our diverse community, nation and world. Log on to www.wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.

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