MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools

“It’s all state of the art,” Rosten said. “In the past we were always scrambling for gear. This year, with the support of the 21st Century grant and some other foundations, were able to start with state of the art equipment. And that will make a big difference in the experience of our students.”

“Our big idea is to create a media production
company that not only builds communication
skills, but builds valuable job skills
too,” he adds. “It’s one thing to send a kid
from Montana into the world. It’s another
thing to bring the world to us.”

“This is a big deal – it guarantees that we open our doors this fall,” Rosten said of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant focused on providing non-school-hours educational outlets for high school aged kids.

MAPS, which was born in 2004 has the mission “to educate, create jobs and change lives for Montana youth.”

Pretty amazing stuff – especially for high school students.

“To Inspire, Educate, Train and Create Quality Jobs for Montana Youth”

"For our Montana students to be included in this group is indeed an honor." Peter Rosten

MAPS offers both a new challenge – teaching – and the prospect of seeing kids doing some real journalism, complete with lessons in ethics, public records law and diversity of view point.

Says Mike Troxel, VP of Administration: “The Change Happens Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to present the MMI program this grant to train students in professional media production.”

“Our expansion is a stimulus, an economic stimulus that will create jobs,” Rosten said. “We’re trying to do something unorthodox: we’re combining education with the economic. This is education that can create revenue and we can create a public-private partnership and can redefine, reinvigorate, and renew how that partnership works.”