True Star Magazine Foundation provides teens with summer apprenticeships in the areas of editorial, sales and marketing. Students are given a stipend to learn how to publish a quarterly magazine. The magazine is completely a teen-operated publication. The editorial staff located at Chicago's Foreman High School comes up with ideas and stories.
"What it teaches you is...from basic skills to how to write to more advanced skills for those who want to keep on and learn how to be a journalist," said Jacob Plaza, True Star Magazine.
"It's been my outlet to basically put my viewpoint out there," said Adriana Rosales, True Star Magazine.
"True Star Foundation, True Star Magazine, our goal is to be the voice of our youth," said DeAnna MacLeary, True Star co-founder.
There are also classes on event design, graphics and photography to give students a taste of what the real work force is like.
The 44-page magazine is distributed throughout the city and gives the students a voice. The sales an marketing staff learns how to make a sales call in order to have businesses purchase ads.
"It's helped me, it's enhanced my skills, my communication skills, also thinking more logically towards my niche markets," said Ocuw Duncan, True Star Magazine.
"When you're in media it involves a lot of selling, pitching. Even when you're doing an interview you have to kind of sell yourself," said Afua Asantewaa, True Star Magazine.
The next step for the True Star Foundation is web programming and a radio show in September.
"We're going to be taking True Star magazine on air. It's our first attempt to do a multi-employing program," said MacLeary.
Advertising leaders also visit with students to give them an inside view of corporate America. Students also go out and meet with clients as they market the magazine.
