RPEMS Backpack Journalism
The Backpack Journalism Program
About the program:
The Backpack Journalism program, led by The Karson Institute (KI), empowers students
to tell their own stories鈥攖hose of their families, communities, and themselves鈥攖hrough
hands-on training in modern journalism. Funded in part by PNC Bank, this nine-month
program provides the tools and knowledge to help students tell their stories about
their communities.
The Backpack Journalism program is designed to shift the narrative by giving students
the power, tools, and training to tell their own stories. By fostering creativity
and authenticity, we aim to equip students to be the authors of their own narratives
and the voices of their communities. This program aims to democratize storytelling,
placing the tools of journalism directly into the hands of students.
Current Year (Year Three): Roland Park Elementary Middle School (2024-2025) & Southwest
Baltimore Charter School (2024-2025)
In its current year, the program now serves two schools: continuing its work with
the same cohort of students from last year, now in eighth grade, at RPEMS, and expanding
to include Southwest Baltimore Charter School. This dual-site approach reflects our
growing commitment to empowering more young voices in Baltimore City.
Students were tasked to write a gratitude letter to someone who has had a great impact on their lives. Gratitude Letters Part I
Students visited the Peale Museum and filmed and took pictures of the exhibit that resonated the most to them. The Peale Museum
Listen to students answer why they believe their school should remain open. Southwest Baltimore Charter School - Why should it remain open?
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Year Two: Roland Park Elementary Middle School (2023-2024): The second year of our
program expanded to Roland Park Elementary Middle School (RPEMS), serving seventh-grade
students and continuing its mission to build storytelling skills that amplify student
voices.
Year One: City Neighbors High School (CNHS) (2022-2023): The first year of our program
launched at City Neighbors High School (CNHS) in Baltimore City, where ninth-grade
students were trained to explore and document stories about their families and neighborhoods.
Watch the student videos from these years below.
RPEMS 2024 Assignment 1: Family Interviews
RPEMS 2024 Assignment 2: Where Am I From
Wilson Peace Symposium: Student Compilation Video
RPEMS 2024 Assignment 3: Student Plays
RPEMS 2024 Assignment 4: Student Program Recap
RPEMS 2024 Field Trip 1 Recap
RPEMS 2024 Field Trip 2 Recap
Ida B. Wells Civic and Journalism Mini Institute
Assignment #1: Family Interviews
Find someone in your family (over the age of 30) to interview. Ask the following questions, audio record the entire interview, and then transcribe their answers:
- Name and age
- Why do you think Baltimore is called 鈥淪malltimore鈥�
- Share your favorite story about Baltimore.
- What do you think about the state of race in America?
- If you could change one thing about Baltimore, what would it be?
- What is the one thing that you wish you had known when you were my age?
Speak Out Question: What do you think can be done to save Baltimore?
Assignment # 2: Student Speak Out
Students are to create a short recording of themselves answering the question, " What do you think can be done to save Baltimore?"
Speak out Question: What am I concerned about in Baltimore?
Speak Out Question: Why is it Important to Teach Black History?
After class discussion on Black History, students recorded themselves answering why they think it is important for schools to teach Black History.
Students Favorite Places
Assignment #3: Students Favorite Places
Students are to record themselves at three different locations that have meaning to them and explain the location and its meaning.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum Field Trip Part 1
Reginald F. Lewis Museum Field Trip Part 2
While on the field trip, students were asked:
- What does Black History Month mean to you?
- What does Black joy mean to you?
Black History Month Talk Back
Students are to create a short recording of themselves answering the question, "Why is Black history American history?"
Lack of Sports
Students reflect and talk about the lack of sports in their school
