What if one small, unexpected gift could change the course of your life?
For Tyrell Shaff, that gift was a cheap camera from his great uncle – not anything fancy, just something to play around with. But it opened a door he never expected. Tyrell picked up photography as a hobby, with no plans of becoming a videographer. In fact, when he first joined the MyCity internship program, he admitted, “I didn’t really like video… why should I bother doing video instead of photos?”
But then came a twist. Tyrell was placed at Public Media Network through MyCity’s assignment process, which matches interns with organizations across Kalamazoo.
That’s where things changed.
At PMN, Tyrell got hands-on training and mentorship. “[PMN] showed me the art of doing video,” he said. “It was challenging at first, it seemed daunting, but now… I know it like the back of my hand.”
Tyrell learned valuable media skills and worked on real community storytelling projects, like a video for the Shepherd’s Center, a nonprofit helping local seniors. “That one really uplifted me,” he shared. “I would never have learned about what they do without coming [to PMN].”
From there, Tyrell kept experimenting. His first independent video? A spontaneous documentary-style project at a local band show. “I walked around with a camcorder from like 2007, and I just started recording people,” he said. “That really popped off. And I figured, I should do more of those.”
Now, Tyrell sees how powerful community media can be. “Most of the news is only ran by like three big news organizations, and they only tell one part of the story,” he said. “Community media really matters because it lets your neighborhood know what’s really happening. Doing this really makes me feel good, in a sense that I made a difference in someone’s life.”
His work has led him to projects with Glass Art Kalamazoo, Bronson, and local proms. People even recognize him on the street. “Sometimes they don’t even know my name. They’d be like, ‘oh, the video guy!’ Or ‘the picture guy!’ I’m like, I have a name, but…” Tyrell shared with a laugh.
That original camera still sits on his desk. A reminder of where it all began.
“Coming [to PMN] really changed my life and perception,” he said. “I would never have learned all that I did without coming here. I’m really grateful.”
By getting involved in community media, Tyrell didn’t just find a new skill, he found his voice.
Now it’s your turn! Find out how to learn with Public Media Network here.
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