Welcome to the digital home of KALW’s Youth Journalism Project, where we are shifting the narrative of the 2026 Midterm Elections by amplifying the people who will live the future we’re voting on!
This page is your hub for everything produced in connection with our Power the Future initiative—from the raw energy of our community summits to community and solutions journalism stories produced in collaboration with Bay Area youth.
Your Voice, Your Future: Join the KALW Youth Journalism Project
We are looking for bold story ideas, field recordings, and community interviews that explore the local issues you care about through a lens of community and action. Whether you are an aspiring reporter or a local activist, we want to hear your ideas for stories that bridge generational gaps and highlight real-world problems and solutions.
Stay Connected & Get Involved:
- Explore & Learn: Check out our "Amplifying Community Voices" presentation below to sharpen your reporting skills.
- Submit Your Story: Ready to pitch? [Stay tuned to how to share your story idea or interview clips with our editorial team].
- Bookmark & Follow: This project is evolving in real-time. Save this page for upcoming content, follow us on our socials for live updates, and sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about new training opportunities and election coverage.
As we head toward the 2026 Midterm Elections, KALW Public Media is passing the mic to the next generation. We aren’t just looking for "youth perspectives"; we are building a platform for youth power.
This isn't your standard civics assignment. You’ll be on the ground, recording real conversations with your peers and community members to uncover the issues that actually matter to your generation—and the solutions that can fix them.
Why Participate?
- Platform Your Issues: Frame the election coverage through a youth lens, focusing on community and solutions journalism.
- Bridge the Gap: Record interviews with peers and engage in cross-generational or cross-cultural dialogues to build deeper understanding.
- Master the Craft: Use the skills from our "Amplifying Community Voices" session to conduct professional-level outreach and reporting.
- Shape the Narrative: Ensure that the 2026 Midterm story isn't just told about you, but by you.
Ready to take the lead? Save this page to receive more information on how you or your organization can get involved in our 2026 election coverage.
Power the Future Events
Our deepest gratitude goes out to the incredible youth organizations, insightful panelists, and dynamic presenters who made Power the Future 2026 such a resounding success. By bringing your passion and expertise to the KALW stage, you didn't just share ideas—you laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and engaged democracy.
A special thank you to our partners and presenters from the California Association of Youth Commissions, The Youth Power Project, League of Women Voters of San Francisco Youth Council, San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, The San Francisco Youth Commission, Palo Alto Youth Council, Power California, and support from the Solutions Journalism Network Advancing Democracy Innovation Fund. Your commitment to grassroots change shows that when young changemakers lead the conversation, the future looks brighter than ever.
Thank you to Oakland Kids First, YOUth Decide and AYPAL for showing up in and contributing meaningfully to the conversation!
We can’t wait to continue learning about what you are doing and following your work!
Power the Future 2026 Presentations
Click to download the presentation.
- Amplifying Community Voices by Hanisha Harjani
- Social Media Skills for Change by Ren Fitzgerald
- Power California by Ruth Sosa Martin