True North Youth Program is a local organization designed to help high school students make a pathway as they ascend to adulthood. This program is valuable for students living in San Miguel and West Montrose counties. They offer support in Telluride, Norwood and Nucla public high schools. They offer many opportunities for the students, such as volunteer opportunities, college help for seniors and scholarship support. They also offer services, such as helping students with school work, essays and school projects. One of True North’s newer projects is a student publication called The San Miguel Current.
The San Miguel Current is a magazine where students across the watershed can submit and share their work. The magazine accepts many types of work, including writing, monologues, poetry, art, music, photography, woodworking projects, digital art, mixed media and more. The San Miguel Current originated in the fall of 2023 as an idea from one of the True North staff members, who wanted to help give teenagers an opportunity to share their story and voice.
The San Miguel Current is a representation of the student body, not only from high school, but from all around the San Miguel River watershed. The first volume of the San Miguel Current was published in June of 2024.
As young people living on the western slope of Colorado, it is hard for us to get our work noticed and seen. It is rare to get the opportunity to show the hard work and creative pursuits that we do both in school and out of school. That is why The San Miguel Current is a huge opportunity for local teens.
When I heard about this opportunity, I had to jump on it. As a teenager that is striving to be a journalist when I get older, I knew this could be a great chance to grow my skills and learn many news lessons, especially since I haven't had a lot of experience beforehand, because we are limited to the amount of opportunities we have in this rural area.
Once I heard about this new project that True North was producing, I knew I had to be a part of it. I went to the True North Staff and asked if it was possible to have a work-study with them. They agreed, and in Spring of 2024, I was hired as editor-in-chief of The San Miguel Current. I learned many valuable skills, such as how to organize and design a magazine, edit and understand the editorial process, as well as how to develop my own journalistic voice.
Without the guidance and support of True North, I would have never been able to produce that writing. True North not only gives students the opportunity to publish their work, but they give guidance by helping students develop their work through the writing process.
For the first issue of The San Miguel Current, I got to publish my own photo essay about the beauty of where we live. I also learned how to photo edit and design. Being part of The San Miguel Current magazine gave me insight on what it takes to be a journalist and gave me a unique and valuable experience. It has not only affected me in a positive way, but has also been impactful for many other students.
Norwood senior Reece Elwood, who wrote a photo essay called “The Cattle Industry,” said this, “It felt pretty neat to have published work and to see the final product. I think it was a great experience writing for Volume 1, and I would like to write something for Volume 2.”
With the first volume of the San Miguel Current being a success, we are proud to say that submissions for the second volume are now open. This is a year-long process, and the second volume will be released in the spring of 2025. To submit a piece of writing or art for consideration, visit www.TheSanMiguelCurrent.org, or contact me with any questions at editor@thesanmiguelcurrent.org. The submission deadline is Friday, Dec. 13. High school students in the watershed, we want you to share your voice and help you to get published.
