"Broadcasting from the heart of Spokane..."

At the start of every Tuesday afternoon the digital photography room at Rogers High School is bustling with activity. Students hurry to write stories and
setup cameras and computers.

Three students prepare the weekly newscast.
What follows is often hard to keep a quiet through. The students participating in this after school project are making news, their way. Each week dedicated teens scour the web for the most interesting news stories, rewrite them, and videotape a newscast for web broadcast. What qualifies as "most interesting" makes for a lively discussion of the current news, which is exactly what the program is designed to encourage. The day's anchor rarely makes it through a story without cracking up, but thats ok, bloopers are included in the cast. This news team thinks that makes it more fun for teens to watch. After the newscast is completed the rest of the afternoon is spent working on individual video projects for their online tv channel. Topics include piercings in the workplace, the Rogers drum corp, and video game reviews. TINCAN's Virtual Teen Center has partnered with KXLY tv to provide opportunities in the near future for teens to learn from professionals and have their voices heard by a larger audience.

To see the Youth channel from Rogers go to the eMerge Channel. Powered by Broadcast Machine.

SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE HERE!

Get them while they last, they're going fast! The VTC has an exciting lineup of FREE programs for teens 13-18 this summer. Registration is required and space is limited. You can check them out and register online here. All our programs integrate technology while encouraging young people to express themselves and get involved in their community.

It's Alllliiivvve

After being down for most of fall and spring... the blog is alive again!

The Virtual Teen Center has also had a makeover. Not only is it looking a lot snazzier, you'll find it easier to navigate and it is quickly being populated by the multimedia creations of teens from all over the valley. Check it out here: Virtualteencenter.org

VTC at the Oct 19th Youth Issues Forum at City Hall



October 19th the Chase Youth Commission's Teen Advisory Council (TAC) held it's 5th annual Youth Issues forum for local City Council Candidates. Questions were provided by TAC and submitted by youth only during the forum. Below is a three-part podcast of most of the forum.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The forum was also taped by CityCable5. Go here for information on viewing a copy.

Another Youth Forum for Spokane Valley Council Candidates will be held October 24th from 6-8:30 pm at the Valley Community Center Auditorium.

I was happy to hear the amount of interest expressed by all candidates in creating a safe location in downtown Spokane for youth to hang out at. One of Tincan's goals is a centralized teen center in Spokane which could permanently house programs and provide a safe and fun place for teens to be.

Digital Jam Sessions Start!

Tincan & Unified Groove Merchants have started Digital Jam Sessions Monday afternoons (3-5) at 2607 N. Monroe. The easy going atmosphere of Unified Groove Merchants music store makes for a great place for teens to hang out, be inspired and create music. The backroom comes complete with coffee bar, a dazzling selection of Thomas Kemper soda, foosball table, couches, tables, and wireless internet. And that's just everyday! Monday's you will find several laptops sporting the program Fruity Loops for digital composition, and a Tincan techy to help you learn it. If you're lacking the muse for that next great piece of music, you can walk all of 15 feet and browse through an amazing collection of vinyls and cds, or talk to any one of the tunes-driven employees who's love for music is contagious.

Welcome to the VTC news blog!

The Virtual Teen Center is the online home for Spokane teens and teen programs by Tincan. Tincan is The Inland Northwest Community Access Network. Its teen programs bring together community members, professionals, and teens in a variety of projects that educate, activate, and empower.

This blog is designed to provide our latest news to community partners, educators, parents, teens and anyone else interensted in the work being done at the teen center. Check back often or subscribe for updates, information on upcoming programs, opportunities to help, and pictures and video. Also be sure to visit the Virtual Teen Center at www.virtualteencenter.org to see the exciting and creative work Spokane's teens are doing. See you soon!

Hannah Whitmore
Media Integration Coordinator
Tincan