True Star programs were born out of a needs assessment questionnaire fielded with urban teens in Chicago. The results overwhelmingly demonstrated that youth need employment, basic literary skills, and professional development as well as a need to be heard by their peers and the community at large. True Star began in September 2004 with one journalism program and 17 students. Today we execute 14 programs with 150 students that encompass the major areas of mass media productions. 

Through after-school and summer programs, teams of urban youth collectively publish True Star Magazine; TrueStarIs.com, a blog; and True Star Radio, the #1 urban teen radio show in partnership with Crawford Broadcasting’s Power 92. Making for a youth operated multi-media company.

Professional Development and Job Readiness Students are taught about the standard tools and equipment of different professions, the importance of creating and meeting deadlines, and effective forms of business communication. Arts, Culture and Media give teens a voice in an arena where they are typically taught to be silent. Our students who are socially, economically and ethnically diverse are able to express themselves and face the challenges of the world around them through written and visual art.Entrepreneurship affords teens the opportunity to develop inspiration for businesses in the future. And being part of a youth operated publishing company that values students’ feedback, implements their ideas and lets them see themselves in leadership roles gives teens hope, dreams and independence. In many cases students get an opportunity to work with the founders of the organization and learn the day-to-day duties of running and growing a business.We do more than offer a safe haven after school: we engage teens in every aspect of the business. We give our student staffers the training required to perform in today’s competitive job market, an opportunity to learn new skills, improve grades, develop mentorships with caring adults, and prepare for higher education and successful career paths.