www.threesixtyjournalism.org Volume 3 • Issue 2 December 2012–January 2013 Minnesota Teens Report Stories and Issues That Matter Staying off the streets When he was 16... Twin Cities activists Talking high school with get serious about Chris Kluwe Page 8 teen prostitution Page 13 Fashionable art Korean student gets creative Page 16 Illustration by Mary Wu Volume 3 • Issue 2 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is ThreeSixty Journalism? ThreeSixty University of Minnesota. In 2001, the program moved Writers in this issue Simone Cazares, Woodbury HS • Ariel Kendall, Journalism is a youth journalism program of the to the University of St. Thomas and became a year- ThreeSixty Journalism alumna • Mary Meehan, Delano HS • Grace Pastoor, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of round program with a full-time staff. University of St. Thomas • Darwesh Singh, Nova Classical Academy • Diana St. Thomas. The non-profit program is committed What does the name ThreeSixty mean? In 2006, Lu, University of Minnesota PSEO • Maya Shelton-Davies, River Falls HS to helping Minnesota teens tell the stories that matter the program’s name changed to ThreeSixty Journalism • Simon Lancaster, Concordia University PSEO • Dan Baden, Roseville in their lives and communities. to reflect the program’s growth and the range of Area Senior HS • Jennah Benalshaikh, St. Paul Preparatory School • Calista What is ThreeSixty Journalism’s mission? backgrounds among the students we serve. We are Dunbar, St. Paul Central HS • Frederick McConnell, St. Paul Conservatory of ThreeSixty’s mission is to bring diverse voices into interested in telling stories from all parts of our Performing Arts • Ibrahim Hirsi, ThreeSixty Journalism alum journalism and related professions and to using community, using a variety of media tools, including intense, personal instruction in the craft and principles words, photos, illustrations and video. Photographers and illustrators in this issue Nico Machlitt, Highland Park Senior HS • Jennah Benalshaikh, St. Paul Preparatory School • of journalism to strengthen the literacy, writing skills How can I get involved? Apply for our after-school Mary Wu, Thomas Edison HS • Elise Swenson, Thomas Edison HS • Victoria and college-readiness of Minnesota teens. NewsTeam program, which will start in February. Whom do you serve? ThreeSixty Journalism directly For applications and details, go to our website: www. Turcios, Washburn HS serves more than 100 Minnesota high school students threesixtyjournalism.org each year via after-school classes, weekend workshops, To submit ideas, essays, photos or artwork, Editors: Thomas Rozwadowski & Lynda McDonnell school partnerships, individual coaching and summer email them to [email protected] or Design Consultant: Diana Boger journalism camps. About half the students served contact Editor Thomas Rozwadowski at thomas. come from low-income homes and more than 60 [email protected] Community Outreach Editor: Katie Johnson percent come from communities of color. We serve To arrange classroom visits, contact Community AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer coordinator: Briana Gruenewald thousands more via our print publications and Outreach Editor Katie Johnson at katie.johnson@ Grace Pastoor website—www.threesixtyjournalism.org stthomas.edu or Executive Director Lynda Administrative Assistant: How did ThreeSixty Journalism start? The McDonnell at [email protected] Editorial offices: program began as the Urban Journalism Workshop How can I support ThreeSixty? Visit the Mail 5057, 2115 Summit Ave. in 1971. UJW provided basic journalism training to Supporters page of our website to see a range of St. Paul, MN 55105 Minnesota high school students, particularly low- ways you can help as a donor or volunteer. www. 651-962-5282 income and minority teens, at summer camps at the threesixtyjournalism.org/audience/supporters [email protected] Copyright 2012 All rights reserved. Connect with us online ThreeSixty is grateful to the following individuals who donate their time ✁ and expertise to the success of the program: For Minnesota teachers If you would like to receive ThreeSixty free of charge four times a year, send the following ThreeSixty Journalism Board of Advisors Brian Bellmont, Bellmont information to [email protected]. Partners Public Relations • Sue Campbell, MSP Publications • Amy Hang, Consultant, ThreeSixty alumna • Denise Johnson-Oliver,Star Tribune • Dennis Name McGrath, McGrath Buckley Communications Counseling • Dr. Dina Gavri- los, University of St. Thomas • Dr. Kristie Bunton, University of St. Thomas • School Mike Burbach, St. Paul Pioneer Press • Doug Hennes, University of St. Thomas School phone and extension ( ) Number of copies (30 minimum) • Duchesne Drew, Star Tribune • Lida Poletz, Weber Shandwick • Scott Libin, Email Internet Broadcasting Address Ex officio memberDr. Terence Langan, interim dean, College of Arts & City, State, Zip Sciences, University of St Thomas Major supporters include Carl & Eloise Pohlad Family Fdn. • Bremer To get an individual subscription through the mail, send a $25 check for one year (four issues) to: Marketing coordinator, ThreeSixty Journalism, 2115 Summit Ave. Mail 5057, St. Paul, MN 55105 Foundation • Best Buy Children’s Foundation • University of St. Thomas • John Please include your name, address and email address. S. and James L. Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund • Minnesota Literacy Council • Gannett Foundation • Dow Jones Newspaper Fund • Youthprise 2 threesixtyjournalism.org COVER STORY The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the Twin Cities as the 13th largest center for child prostitution in the nation. In an average month, more than 200 girls are sold for sex in the area. Their average age is 13. Organizations led by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota are rallying for change and working to end the sexual exploitation of teen girls. In this issue, meet Angela, a 26-year-old woman who still struggles to talk about her year-and-a-half on the streets. For her, it was never a “chosen” lifestyle. I Page 13 Send comments to ThreeSixty Journalism CONTENTS DECEMBER/JANUARY Send your letters to @16 with Chris Kluwe 8 ThreeSixty Journalism at 10 I 2115 Summit Ave., Mail 5057, Just a punter? The outspoken Viking reflects on life as a “nerdy” teenager. St. Paul, MN. 55105, or comment online at Are you buckled up? I 10 www.threesixtyjournalism.org Everything changed when a River Falls teenager was killed in a car accident. You can also join ThreeSixty Journalism’s Facebook Being the model minority I 12 fan page or follow us on The pressure to be smart and docile can be too much for Asian-Americans at times. Twitter@ThreeSixtyMN Making her mark in fashion I 16 Thank you Hee Soo Kim arrived from Korea with the goal of making a splash in art and design. Finance & Commerce The print version of ThreeSixty YourTurn winners I 18 will be published four times 28 How has technology affected high school learning? Our essay winners weigh in. during the 2012–2013 school year. Finance & Commerce Overcoming obstacles, overturning labels I 20 in Minneapolis has donated Being a “special ed” kid can be difficult for teens and their families to cope with. printing of the publication. We are grateful for this Not too young to ‘Reminisce’ I 28 generous gift. Minnetonka High School grad John Mark Nelson is living his music dreams at 18. Find more at our website: www.threesixty journalism.org December 2012/January 2013 3 MEET THE EDITOR This issue’s artists Let’s get writing, teens and photographers Mary Wu, a junior at Thomas Edison High School in Minneapolis, By Thomas Rozwadowski, ThreeSixty youth editor me naturally with a pen or in front is an exchange student from Taiwan, which is a small island beside of a keyboard. China. y journalism career peaked on Nov. 30, 2004. Journalism changed everything “This winter is going to be the first time I That was the day I interviewed Dennis Haskins, or as you for me. You learn a few things will experience a snowball fight, the coldest Mmay or may not know him better, Mr. Belding from the cheesy about yourself when forced to temperature I will have gone through (because ’90s-era teen sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” tap a random teenager or mall my country doesn’t have snow), and I’m really Since I was only about two years into my tenure as a full-time Green mom on the shoulder to discuss excited about them. Bay Press-Gazette writer, I doubt the interview was any good. Instead, it’s “American Idol” results or the “I wish while visiting this year, I could get special to me because as a pop-culture nerd who best ice scrapers to use in winter to know every tiny microscopic thing about (don’t look that last story up, America, and have lots and lots of fun.” a) has engaged in serious adult please). Being the topical grab conversation as to whether “Saved bag that it is, features forced me Elise Swenson is a junior at Thomas Edison by the Bell” could be considered into all sorts of awkward situa- High School in Minneapolis. legitimately funny—I’ve always tions, eventually allowing me to “I’ve been doing artwork for as long as I can argued yes —and bust out of a long-inhabited shell remember. I love learning about different art b) used to get quizzed by high and be comfortable with, God styles from cultures across the world, and I’m school classmates about largely forbid, talking. interested in how art and psychology relate. I inconsequential details like Zack More than anything, working love creating art because it lets me express myself Morris’ SAT score—ahem, for a newspaper taught me a great in a beautiful and creative way.” 1502—I remember thinking to deal about my community. As fun myself, “Wait, I get paid to do as it can be to say you’ve inter- Jennah Benalshaikh is a senior at St. Paul this?” viewed athletes, chefs, musicians Preparatory School.