Through the Lens of Ava Washington

A teen with long hair stands outside a pair of green glass doors

Ava Washington developed her love of photography at 15. Since then, she has become a young entrepreneur, photographing her school’s athletic events and classmates. After participating in the Youth Media Project last summer, she joined her school’s media team and Student Committee Publicity Officer. 

Lula Davis: A Budding Botanist Who Wants to Heal with Plants

Lula Davis looks at the leaves of crepe myrtles that are arranged in an arc.

Lula Davis’ high school botany course sparked her interest in the subject. She believes it is important to understand the medicinal properties of certain plants, and she plans to travel the world, especially to Brazil where she will be able to study plant life in the Amazon.  

Morghan Thompson Is Turning Anxiety into Ambition

A girl with braids wearing a grey sweater and a white t shirt stands in front of a building with green framing on the outside.

Morghan Thompson uses her struggle with anxiety as a source of motivation. By facing her fears she’s now determined to be successful and embrace who she really is. Though she is still overcoming this obstacle, she is driven towards becoming the best version of herself.

Youth Media Project

A young woman talking

The Mississippi Youth Media Project empowers high school students in the Jackson metro area to produce impactful multimedia journalism focused on equity and community issues.

MFP’s Youth Media Project Students Earn National Recognition

A graphic titled 2025 Report for America Student Journalism Awards. YMP Team Wins 7 Awards! There are 10 teenagers shown below the headline

The Mississippi Free Press Youth Media Project collected seven awards during the Report for America Student Journalism Awards ceremony on April 24. The Youth Media Project brings metro area high school students to the Mississippi Free Press newsroom for six weeks each summer where they learn journalism, photography and videography skills and produce print and multimedia stories.

ISSUE FOCUS | Reducing Child Poverty Through the Child Tax Credit

Woman standing in front of tree

The Child Tax Credit was part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021. The plan, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, provided $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus. The American Rescue Plan Act gave $2,000 per child to parents with children aged 6-17 and $3,600 per child under age 6.