Community Television Network
2035 W. WahansiaChicagoIL60647
773-278-8500773-278-8635

Program: After School Program Year Started: 1986 Focus: Media Youth Served: 45 Ages: 6-21 Budget: $48,768 Students from Chicago's poor and high-risk neighborhoods are developing award-winning cable television programs about critical issues in their lives. This 9-month After School Program of Community Television Network (CTN) brings together young people to develop programming ideas for a show called Hard Cover. Youth share responsibility for generating story ideas, operating cameras, editing and coordinating publicity. A new TV show is cablecast every 2 weeks throughout the school year. Hard Cover will celebrate its 10th anniversary this summer. The teamwork and individual responsibility required gives students an opportunity to look for solutions as they are exploring problems. Videotapes created by participants have won awards nationally. Participants report that the program makes them more aware of issues, more likely to think through issues and solutions and gives them a voice and a chance to build relationships. CTN also is working in the public schools.