Greetings Reader, It is time to come together. I have worked in education for more than 30 years. I have worked with young people in traditional classrooms, specialized life skills programs designed to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system, and support programs within prison camps. I have worked with students who were deeply resourced and students who were profoundly under-resourced. As a seasoned educator and practitioner, I get it. Teachers, clinicians, youth workers, and...

Thank You Thank you to everyone who attended MDR's 30-minute informational session, "Understanding Digital Environments and Youth Vulnerability" last week. And thank you for your wonderful feedback. We're offering it again for those in our community who missed it, and for those of you who wanted a colleague or administrator from your organization, or a community impact partner, to attend. Listen below to a small clip of last week's session. Next Steps Join me on Wednesday, July 22nd at 11am...

Hey Reader! REGISTER HERE FOR "UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS & YOUTH VULNERABILITY"

Thank You California Assembly Bill 1282 requires the CA Department of Public Health to develop a statewide strategy to understand, communicate, and mitigate the mental and behavioral health risks associated with social media use among children and youth, up to 26 years old. A few months ago, I asked you to fill out a survey sharing your opinions and concerns about the impacts of social media and gaming. Nearly 100 of you responded! This led to the California Department of Public Health...

A quick note from the MDR Team — gratitude, wins, and how you can help youth build digital spaces that heal. Happy Holidays from MDR! As we round out this year, we’re reflecting in gratitude on the work, the recognitions, and, most of all, the student “aha” moments that can’t be matched. Change the Reel Podcast Join hosts Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler for an inspiring conversation with Shaunelle Curry—educator, author, and founder of Media Done Responsibly. From starting her first...

Hi Reader, THANK YOU! As the spirit of Giving Tuesday extends into a week of generosity, we're celebrating what our community made possible this year... Looking back on this year, I want to pause and say thank you for everything you’ve poured into Media Done Responsibly. Your belief in our young people… your belief in our mission… your belief in a kinder, more human digital world. It all matters. And what a year it has been. ✨ MDR’s Founder and CEO, Shaunelle Curry, was inducted into the...

Hi Reader, 18 years ago, I had this idea to tackle injustice in media. Black women were proliferated as sex objects in mainstream music videos, and in my daily world of teaching and life skills training, Black girls were being sexually assaulted and raped. The messages in media confirmed they didn't have a voice in the matter.A seed of an idea in my mind became MDR- then called Mother's Day Radio- a youth-led advocacy campaign to challenge denigrating music and increase positive...

Hi Reader, Tomorrow we kick off the BELIEVE! 5-Day Clarity Challenge—a focused, supportive sprint to finally move your creative project or next-chapter idea forward. And I'd love to have you there! If you’ve been circling the same idea, doubting your timing, or waiting for “perfect,” this is your moment. 👉🏾 SAVE MY SPOT! In 5 days, you’ll: ✔️Clarify what you’re building and why it matters (Free Sneak Peek Day 1: Believe It!) ✔️Name your assets—skills, time, allies, and tools you already have...

The Power of Mentorship featuring Denise Pines and Dr. Yolanda Gorman by Shaunelle Curry ↓ We all need mentors-- Earth Angels, treasured humans-- that see something unequivocally good and precious in us, and use their wisdom, tools, and resources to pull it out of us so that it --and we--can live elevated and fully expressed in the world. It has been my great honor to be mentored by two of my cherished friends, Denise Pines and Dr. Yolanda Gorman. Mentors Who Shape Us Denise Pines A film...

Hi Reader, I cried Monday morning. Odd, because when I first awoke and looked into my bathroom mirror, I smiled and gave myself a cheery "Good morning" and high five!Yet, as I looked into my eyes, they began to fill—and then to overflow—with tears.I should not have been surprised. I had just laid my aunt—my mom's younger sister—to rest. I spent the past several days traveling with my aging mom. She's 86 now. Feisty and independent, younger-looking than her years, outspoken and stubborn, still...