Stay Connected KA Mock

PRESS
RELEASE
First-Ever Magazine Opportunity
to Middle School and High School Students
WNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - The editorial team of
Nashville-based inspired living and entrepreneurial
publication, The Connect Magazine, is coaching
and mentoring students at Knowledge Academies
to create Stay Connected! - the first student-driven
magazine in history. Three total classes, compiled of seventh and ninth
graders, are being challenged and trained by the accomplished staff
on the art of storytelling, photography and illustration, while creating
content focused on four key themes: college, culture, creativity and
community.
Traditional school curriculums provide knowledge for students
to one day begin reaching for their dreams, however the staff of The
Connect Magazine is driven by the desire to give minors the opportunity
to begin bringing their dreams to life now - gaining professional credit
before the college application process begins.
“Today’s generation is looking for instant gratification,” says Eric
Jordan, CEO and Founder of The Connect Magazine and Stay Connected!
“The purpose of Stay Connected! is to allow students to share their
creative ideas and needs with the world, while building a platform to
challenge them to think outside of the box in terms of the key areas
of college, culture, creativity and community. Giving them something
tangible after our course is complete will allow them to recognize the
importance of school.”
The program’s key initiative is simple: to use print media to focus
on the real-world development of literacy skills, while synergistically
providing the opportunity for schools to deepen their connection with
the community through the creative lens of the students. Through this
venture, voices of the emerging generation are being amplified while
being tuned to the media and educated in regard to how a magazine
is assembled. All articles, images and illustrations are filtered through
their unique interpretations of the world, which are actively challenged,
stretched and supported.
When asked what they enjoyed about the program, both high school
and middle-school students echoed identical sentiments: “We like it
because we are allowed to express ourselves.”
“The opportunity for my students’ perspectives and talents to be
seen and heard is surreal,” says Jackie Nentwick, Journalism Teacher at
Knowledge Academy. “I am ecstatic for them to see their unique skills
come to life in the magazine. The chance for their ideas to not only be
heard, but published across all aspects of life is a liberty very few high
school students are given.”
The publication is collaborating with SmartCard discount company.
Through this partnership, the students will sell a card and magazine as
a package deal, in exchange for a $15 donation. All proceeds will go
directly to the school. The objective is for the program to not only catapult
the futures of the individual students, but also encourage the community
and families to thrive. The fundraising process will help raise revenue for
the school, while promoting local businesses through advertising.
And, this is just the incubation stage. Jordan’s plan is to eventually
expand the program across the Southeast Region, and possibly across the
United States.
“My five-year plan is to build multiple Connect Centers throughout
the Southeast Region. This will hopefully provide lucrative jobs for
members of the community, as well as scholarships to the students and
schools involved.”
As the program expands to other academic institutions, the key
areas of college, culture, creativity and community will be woven
throughout the uniqueness of each. This means the foundation will
always be formatted and laid according to the standard, but the
individual personalities of all communities, schools and students will be
distinctively and intricately illuminated.
To accelerate the program’s lofty goals, Stay Connected!’s team
is inviting all who feel led to make tax-deductible donations to this
community-building and history-making venture.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Eric Jordan - info@theconnectmagazine.com
Lacey Johnson - ljohnson@theconnectmagazine.com
CEO/PUBLISHER
KNOWLEDGEACADEMIES.ORG KNOWLEDGE ACADEMIES 5