"I AM (more than) SOCIAL MEDIA"

Youth economic advancement

South LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

We are raising the first generation of youth expected to be online before they fully understand who they are offline. These challenges are magnified in under-resourced communities, where access to digital literacy, creative outlets, and mindfulness tools is limited. The very systems meant to guide them—parents, educators, even mental health providers—often lack the tools and language to meet them where they are: online. This growing gap in digital understanding leaves youth vulnerable and adults overwhelmed. At Pause 4 Peace, we believe digital education must be rooted in mindfulness and shared responsibility. If we don’t equip both youth and the systems that support them to navigate this digital reality together, we will all fall behind.

Our program is a yearlong, school-based media initiative that empowers youth ages 13–17 to become mindful storytellers, ethical influencers, and digital change-makers. Blending media literacy, journalism, branding, and ethical AI, the program helps students reclaim their narratives and shift the culture of their schools and communities.
This is more than media training—it’s youth leadership in action. Students become ambassadors of school culture, creating content that reaches far beyond the classroom and transforms how schools are seen from the inside out.
Each week begins with a moment of mindfulness, followed by hands-on, project-based learning. Students produce campus news segments, video interviews, branded campaigns, and purpose-driven content that reflects the heart and voice of their peers and school leadership. Throughout the year, students are introduced to colleges, media studios, and creative professionals, gaining real-world exposure to what’s possible. These experiences show them that the skills they’re building today can open doors to tomorrow’s opportunities.
By the end of the program, each student graduates with a digital portfolio and a Certificate in Mindful Digital Citizenship, demonstrating their ability to lead with creativity, ethics, and emotional intelligence in the digital space.
At its core, this program balances mindfulness with ambition—preparing students to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose, both online and offline.

If successful, Pause 4 Peace will redefine education in the 21st century—positioning schools as launchpads for creativity, mindfulness, and cultural innovation. Our “I AM (more than) SOCIAL MEDIA” program proves that when students are given the tools to lead, they emerge as mindful influencers, storytellers, and digital changemakers. We help schools uplift student voice and transform youth creativity into tangible assets that strengthen school pride, visibility, and opportunity. In under-resourced communities, this creates a new kind of equity—where students become the bridge to investment and innovation. Our broader vision is systemic: schools as creative incubators, students mentored by college interns, and campuses connected to partners like Netflix, Meta, and YouTube. In a creator economy projected to exceed $250 billion by 2027, this work ensures both schools and students have a seat at the table. This is more than media education—it’s youth-powered transformation.