TRUE KIDS 1

In 2023, TK1 will open The TK1 MediaVerse, a multi-roomed production studio, media-learning hub, lounge-and-kitchen, and full photography studio — taking TK1 and the students we serve into the next phase of our evolution.

Through a building provided by the Town of Taos just north of Taos Plaza on Civic Plaza Drive, the TK1 MediaVerse will become an important new facility serving our youth — not only through unique media and learning opportunities, but also by providing a safe, structured, and creative space for Taos teens to gather. Through partnerships with like-minded organizations and local government, the TK1 MediaVerse will become one of several new or improved youth-oriented facilities in town, with a revitalized transportation network connecting these facilities with area schools. Further, this space will build upon TK1’s existing efforts to serve statewide groups interested in deepening their skills at both community- and youth-media efforts. Currently delivered virtually, this statewide training will become an in-person set of offerings at the TK1 MediaVerse.

The TK1 MediaVerse Vision

The TK1 MediaVerse will be a safe, structured, and highly creative space providing Taos youth with exceptional media production opportunities and skills. Through our MediaVerse, Taos youth will gain essential skills in media literacy, critical thinking, and media production, experiences that will strongly shape their future educational and career pathways. TK1 staff and students will provide statewide training at the MediaVerse, either virtually or by serving groups in-person, building on TK1’s emphasis on family and intergenerational learning processes.

While TK1 serves all area youth in its programs, the MediaVerse will serve Taos teenagers in particular.

Features of the MediaVerse

• A professional production studio. In this space, students, community members, statewide groups, and TK1 staff will record high-quality audio, music, and video projects. By creating and learning in a professional environment, students will create exceptional work for PBS (with TK1 now an established PBS Newshour Student Reporting Lab); earn payment for providing studio services to local businesses and the film industry; and interview elected officials, visiting music acts, and more. Content will be archived on a new Taos App, which TK1 students will develop to warehouse local information for local voters, students, and decision-makers.
• A media-training center. Here, students, community members, and statewide groups will use TK1-provided high-powered computers to learn key media-production, media-literacy, and computer-literacy skills. Through an existing grant from the NM Foundation, TK1’s Student Squad will train community members in software and help with broadband access for students or community members from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students and the community will also be able to access the TK1 Laptop Library to borrow MacBook Pros and iPad Pros for longer projects.
• A lounge and kitchen area. Here, students will gather after-school to eat, brainstorm, laugh, and sketch out time to be spent in the production studio or media-training center.
• A professional photography studio. Building on TK1’s existing focus on photography (through its exceptional after-school Photo Lab), TK1 will provide a fully-appointed space for TK1 students to serve local clients with their photography needs.