Meet the Team : YR Media Chicago
We’re expanding our 30-year legacy in a new market with the launch of our programming in Chicago, the new Midwest Hub. Standing at the ready to inspire our emerging content creators are our newest colleagues, who will be instructing, mentoring and recruiting students and eventual youth employees from our space in the City of Win.
Mirroring our award-winning programming in Oakland, incoming Chicago students will be exposed to a multimedia curriculum and wellness support including in-person therapy, case management and healthy food. There is a synergy between two cities rich in diversity while simultaneously grappling with the challenges of gentrification and the effects of systemic racism. We look forward to the stories our newest YR stars will tell, but in the meantime, meet the Chicago-based team.
Kathy Chaney, Executive Editor, Newsroom, YR Media
YR Media’s Midwest hub launched virtually in 2020 with the hire of acclaimed Chicago journalist and youth advocate Kathy Chaney, who oversees YR Media’s national newsroom from her location in Chicago. To date, the hub has cultivated and deepened storyteller relationships in states including Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Minnesota.
Sergio Mojica (he/him), Director of Media Education and Employment, Midwest Hub
Sergio is a Chicago resident, community leader and a lifelong advocate for equity, education, and community empowerment. Born to Puerto Rican parents, the family frequently moved with his father in the military, which helped introduce him to new cultures and perspectives. Having Twenty-five years experience as an educator and principal, he deeply understands how collaboration and accountability can produce positive outcomes. He’s taught kindergarten through tenth grade across various subjects, including reading, mathematics, science, Spanish, and computer science. At Walt Disney Magnet Fine Arts school, Sergio began as an instructor and later became the community arts liaison, increasing parent and community involvement through their arts program. Later in his career Sergio served as the head of school/ principal for Roberto Clemente Community Academy, an International Baccalaureate high school, with Broadcasting, Allied Health and Culinary arts programs.
Dajah Jenkins (she/her) Administrative Assistant/ Outreach Specialist, Midwest Hub
Dajah is a Chicago native. She comes to YR Media with close to a decade of administrative experience in healthcare, real estate and law. Some of her hobbies include reading, trying different foods, and diy crafts. On the weekends you can find her all over the different Chicago neighborhoods trying new cuisines and scrapbooking new recipes. A couple fun facts about Dajah are: “I love going to festivals and concerts, my favorite concert of all time is Meek Mill. Also, I am currently on a new fitness journey and I try to get in at least 10,000 steps a day.”
Najah Buck (she/her) Case Manager, Midwest Hub
Najah moved to Chicago two years ago after completing her undergrad in Alabama. Her background is primarily in domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking advocacy, and with additional experience working as a student teaching placement specialist for a university. Najah is currently finishing the last year of her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Depaul University. She loves to take walks and be in nature, write poetry and short-form stories, enjoys anime and fantasy and sci-fi tv shows, and loves Hazelnut coffee and London Fogs.
Ernest Whiteman (he/him) Video and Photography Instructor, Midwest Hub
Ernest a Northern Arapaho filmmaker, writer, artist, and media educator. He is quiet by nature (introvert) and has been in the teaching youth media production game for 11 years. He teaches and does presentations on Native American representation in the media. Ernest writes, draws, films videos and movies when he can, and also loves to read and watch movies. He currently resides in Skokie, IL.
Tae Corbin (they/them) Music and Audio Instructor, Midwest Hub
Tae is a Detroit-born electronic soul musician, teacher, and storyteller. Through art, they explore culture, spirituality, and the many complexities of living in America. Tae not only takes pride in their hometown but also in history, travel, and in classic films. Inspired by films Tae has an interest in the dystopian possibilities of a technologically ruled future. Hoping that their teaching can bring hope and inspire youth to insert their soul into the machine. As an instructor, Tae hopes to inspire those coming up to seek truth and freedom within their art to use it as a means of ancient communication and community upliftment.
