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Role Models Today
An Online Publication By Youth For Youth
Role Models Today, an online publication, publishes upbeat articles by youth and for youth. It gives aspiring journalists an opportunity to present high-interest stories and share vital information about life. Related activities include shadowing, internship and networking opportunities with professional journalists, business partners and educators. The publication promotes citizenship, character and personal responsibility through highlighting role models.
This online publication
for youth by youth has become an important presence in the lives
of young people. This publication is hosted by the University of
Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Through RMT,
students publish articles, photographs and cartoons; read high-interest
stories to which they can relate; receive recognition for their
accomplishments; participate in valuable workshops; and learn vital
information important to success.
RMT is owned
and published by Role Models Foundation, Inc., 4300 N.W. 23rd Avenue,
PMB 144, P.O. Box 147050, Gainesville, FL 32614-7050.
Role
Models Foundation
The
Concept:
In 1994, Bill Maxwell, a columnist for the St. Petersburg Times,
thought it was time to deal with some of the social and educational
problems facing young African Americans. After a great deal of thought,
Bill realized that many young people need a supportive network.
So Bill went into action
and established Role Models Foundation, Inc. with a core group of
supporters. It was incorporated in 1995 as a 501 (c)(3) Florida
non-profit corporation operating exclusively for educational, charitable
and scientific purposes to serve all youth, with emphasis on those
who experience barriers.
The St. Petersburg
Times was instrumental in helping the foundation launch the
Role Models newsletter, which evolved into Role Models
Today newspaper with the assistance of the Ocala Star-Banner.
The publication went high tech in 1999 as Role Models Today,
an online publication for youth by youth, hosted at the University
of Florida.
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Z'Kera,
a Role Models Today Youth Advisor, receives an award
from Charles Harris, Director of the Knight Division at the
University of Florida. |
The Mission:
Role Models Foundation, with Role Models Today as its
main engine, teaches by example and dedicates itself to developing
both journalists and productive citizens and future generations
of leaders.
The
Objectives:
- To model professionalism in journalism
and to offer training for aspiring writers, photographers and
cartoonists or artists
- To encourage and enable young
people to succeed
- To build skills, to give vital
information about life, to show what works and what does not work,
to build character and to develop a lifelong network of friends
and associates
- To promote citizenship and to
help young people serve their communities
- To recognize young people for
their accomplishments and to help them attain their educational
and career goals
- To broaden the horizons, perspectives
and expectations of young people
- To counteract negative stereotyping
- To provide opportunities for important
nurturing to occur, giving young people confidence in themselves
and support for their undertakings
- To nurture a sense of and appreciation
for beauty
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Partners:
Ocala Star-Banner, St. Petersburg Times, The
Gainesville Sun, University of Florida College of Journalism
and Communications, Alachua/Bradford/Santa Fe Community College
College~Career Tech Prep Consortium, Bok Tower Gardens, Florida
Digital Turnpike and The Poynter Institute.
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Ernestine
Johnson, Ocala Star Banner Human Resources Director,
presents an exemplary service award to Laureen, Role
Models Today Youth Advisor.
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Role
Models Foundation Board of Directors and Officers
Angela Clifford, Santa Fe Community College
Peg Connell, St. Petersburg College
Ernestine Johnson, Ocala Star-Banner
Bill Maxwell, St. Petersburg Times
Charles Harris, University of Florida College of Journalism and
Communications
Billie Monroe, RMF Board Chair and President, Santa Fe Community
College
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Foundation
activities include:
- Publishing of Role Models
Today Online Publication
- Career Shadowing, Networking and
Mentoring
- Partnership with The Poynter Institute's
Florida High School Writers Workshop
- Summer Journalism Visitation Program
at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
- Florida Regional Workshops
SINCE 1995..
- More than 400 young people and
their families have participated in the Summer Journalism Visitation
at the University of Florida.
- More than 60 young people throughout
Florida have served on the Role Models Today Advisory
Panel.
- More than 170 aspiring writers
have contributed articles to Role Models Today.
- Role Models Today newspaper
reached 50,000 students statewide.
- Role Models Today online
publication reaches young people worldwide.
- Paid internship are provided as
funding permits.
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Youth
Advisors Workshop and Awards Program:
RMT youth panel members and their families, professionals and
foundation volunteers gathered at the TradeWinds Sandpiper Resort
in St. Pete Beach on December, 2000 for the foundation's fifth-year
anniversary luncheon celebration and awards program. Don Addis,
cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times, was enthusiastically
received by all as guest speaker.
Kanika Jelks Tomalin, St. Petersburg Times' corporate
communications coordinator, inspired all as keynote speaker during
the awards program to honor young writers at the TradeWinds Sandpiper
Resort in St. Pete Beach on December 1, 1999. "Role
Model of the Year" awards went to Brian Davis, Osceola High
School; Laureen Ricks, Lake Weir High School; and Bridgette McCloud,
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.
Youth panel members and their parents attended RMT planning sessions
the following day, facilitated by St. Petersburg Times
Columnist Bill Maxwell.
Alecia Swasy, St. Petersburg Times business editor,
was the featured speaker for the awards program at the TradeWinds
Resort in St. Pete Beach on December 10, 1998 to honor youth advisors
and writers. Role Model of the Year awards went to Sarah Portier,
University of Florida student, and Jason Smith, Orlando SunTrust
account manager. Participants attended a newspaper planning session
the following day.
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How
Can I Help?
Foundation activities are supported by tax-exempt gifts and
contributions of individuals and business partners like you.
If you would like to donate to Role Models Foundation, click here >>
Friends
of Role Models Foundation:
Membership Benefits and Privileges:
Active $20
Sustainer $50
Special Discounts.
Patron $100-$499
Complimentary foundation gifts and all benefits listed above.
Sponsor $500-$999
Special invitation to Board of Directors receptions and all benefits
listed above.
Founders Society $1,000
or more
Recognition on the Founders Society plaque located at the foundation,
waiver of fee for special events, and all benefits listed above.
A
COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY
BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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