The first time Tina walked into Public Media Network, she wasn’t there for a class or a project. She was attending Meaningful Conversations, a local group that uses PMN as a meeting space. But the moment she stepped inside, something shifted.
“Once I entered the office, I knew I was more interested in PMN than just the meeting I was there to attend,” Tina recalls. Seeing the studios, the cameras… it brought back childhood memories of when she used to pass by the local public television station, wishing she could go inside but never quite finding the courage.
That all changed as an adult.
Tina enrolled in PMN’s podcasting cohort, then joined Media Shift to make her own documentary in January. What started as intimidation around cameras, editing, and story development quickly became something else entirely. “The learning experience has been a journey… Now, I find the things I feared the most bring me joy and a sense of belonging.”
These days Tina helps to produce Connecting Communities, a podcast created by the Kalamazoo Earth Day Festival Committee. She’s gone from being a student feeling out of her depth to becoming part of a team that’s lifting up local voices and shining a light on important community work.
For Tina, it’s about more than just building technical skills. Like so many of us, she wants to make an impact. “I feel, in my small way, I am helping our community grow and love how [Connecting Communities] is shining a light on great things that people are doing for our environment in a positive way.”
Her story is a reminder that when people have the tools and the courage to tell their stories, the whole community benefits.
Now it’s your turn! If you’ve ever thought about podcasting, video storytelling, or simply learning how to share your perspective, PMN is here to help you take that leap.
But don’t take it from me, take it from Tina: “Everyone carries a unique perspective and your voice, your insight could be the next piece of the puzzle that our community really needs to hear, so don’t be afraid to take the leap.”
Learn how to start your own journey with PMN: Click here.
