EDUCATION

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Students from the Betty Shabazz International Charter School  learned technical  computer  skills skills and professional interviewing skills that can help them launch lifelong careers in communications. They participated in a Podcast Training class conducted  through The Higher Learning Network NFP  and  created their own podcast series which aired on the Higher Learning Network TV Show. 

The video production instructors, Zelda Robinson and Naimah Latif took students through the process of planning a show, securing guests, preparing interview questions and learning how to operate the StreamYard system in order to produce a live program complete with titles and graphics. They connected to an Internet radio  system  allowing  audiences to call in to the live show while airing live on the Higher Learning Network TV Show  Facebook and YouTube channels. This  gave students access to a viewers all around the world. 

At Betty Shabaza International Charter School (BSICS) , located at 7823 S. Ellis in Chicago, students  in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, under the guidance of instructors Zelda Robinson and Naimah Latif, produced 12 shows in the first school semester of 2023 and another 12 shows in the second school semester of 2024.  

One of the students’ guests during the first semester was  international business woman. Zoe Ma, a regular commentator on The Female Solution Global Radio/TV Show. She  was born and raised in China. and taught the students how to introduce themselves in Chinese, in preparation for a future exchange with students in China. She shared a bit about  the education, culture and business opportunities in China.

The second semester culminated with a live show with  6th, 7th and 8th grade students from  Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Tengfei  School  in Beijing, China, who ,under the guidance of their  American-born English instructor Lavinia Weisser, introduced themselves in English to the BSICS students. 

Betty Shabazz International Charter School students Brandon Chamus and Aqeel X interview book author Patience Kirkland during a live podcast at the Soulful Chicago Book Fair Saturday April 20, 2024, demonstrating skills they learned during the 12-week training class from the Higher Learning Network NFP. Photo by Naimah Latif. 

This was an opportunity for the students  from both countries to truly make international ties and remove culture and language barriers.

With the help of BSICS instructor Baba Jared  the BSICS students introduced themselves in Chinese.  The BSICS students interviewed English Instructor  Lavinia Weisser , who then introduced her 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.  The students from China  answered questions from the Betty Shabazz students, sharing facts about their school.

Betty Shabazz International Charter School has a history of expanding students’ horizons to reach the global community. As an African Centered educational institution, BSICS has exposed students to several African languages and taken students on a trip to Ghana, West Africa. Students regularly participate in cultural programs.

 By Naimah Latif

COUSINS EMPOWERED OPTIMISTS (CEO) SUPERHEROES COLLABORATIVE is an entity designed to create and implement strategies to empower youth and families.The brainchild of organizer Asabi Carroll, its mission is to empower youth and families from underserved communities through skill development, and to break the cycle of generational limited thinking and lack of opportunity.

 Working with an impressive array of associates which include educational, civic and community groups in the Chicagoland area, the organization’s collective goal is to provide quality instruction in S.T.E.A.M., self-wellness, entrepreneurship, self-defense,  golf, and community development. 

Students from age 6 through 18  participated  in a four week training program conducted by Asadah Kirkland , Founder of the Soulful Chicago Book Fair along with Zelda Robinson, Producer of the Higher Learning Network  TV Show and Naimah Latif, Executive Producer of The Female Solution Global Radio/TV Show.  

Instructor Asadah Kirkland  takes students  aged  6 through 18 to through the process  of planning a live podcast, from selecting the screen layout and creating graphics to preparing interview questions.  After four weeks of training, students launched their own podcast.  Photo by Naimah Latif.

The instructors shared their skills and experience  as podcasters, helping students work together to develop a show idea, write a script, practice their onscreen presentation and after they had prepared themselves with the necessary skills, they were able to  create and produce their own live podcast.  It serves as a pilot for an ongoing project designed to give young people a voice to tell their own story and discuss issues pertinent to their lives.  See it  here at https://youtu.be/4pA7XGB-QaM?feature=shared