TeenTigerTV Leadership Funded For the Fall & Winter

WALLINGFORD, CT – WPAA-TV and Community Media Center is thrilled to announce Tim Lopez is continuing as Youth-led Team Leader (Outreach & Mentor) for our award-winning #TeentigerTV program. The extension to evenings in the Fall and Winter are made possible through two generous unsolicited grants from local community partners.

Community Partnership Makes Extension Possible

We are deeply grateful to receive funding support from:

• Scare Crew of Trail of Terror - A local non-profit organization that has donated over $2 million to benefit local charities, individuals and community projects in the Wallingford area
• Ulbrich Family Foundation - Supporting youth media education in our community

These unexpected grants demonstrate the strong community commitment to youth development and media literacy in Wallingford. This youth media program would have never been possible without the support in formative years from the James H Napier Foundation and the GrassRoots Fund. While not a direct grant to us, Liberty Bank Foundation supported the Town's Youth Services Program the year we launched our youth media training initiative: Roar 1st.

About Tim Lopez and #TeentigerTV

Several summers ago, Tim Lopez began as a participant. He loves being creative with food and had no expectations of finding a deep interest in video production. He is now enrolled in Middlesex Community College Media Certificate Program. Tim succeeded Ben Negron, now a WPAA-TV Board Member, as Youth-Leader.

This summer, Tim worked alongside Story Coach and Artistic Director Josiah Houston with a dozen new media makers. They explored interviewing with The Meet, script writing (Penny's Playhouse), Advocacy (PSA), camera & video production (Piecing Democracy Together) after learning basic skills within the 6000 Books Initiative. Our youth bring culturally diverse books to life with audio-video production. Content is shared as part of TV Storytime, 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday. All content is added to the Youth Media Playlist here.

Key Awards and Achievements Added:

• "988 It Never Too Late" - Multiple awards for Suicide Awareness
• "6000 Books" collaboration with United Nations
• Various community impact projects like "PowerUp" and "Disconnected"
• Eggonomic

Additional Context:

• The program serves ages 15-25 (including college interns)
• Youth-led philosophy emphasizing community impact
• Extensive portfolio can be found here
• Leadership for Community Contributed Media Project here
• Both regional and national recognition
• Hear About First Job Experiences of Many Community Members, Including the Mayor

Program Opportunities for Students

The extended #TeentigerTV program will offer:

• High School Community Service opportunities for students seeking to fulfill service requirements
• Potential StudentCam C-SPAN America250 submissions - connecting local youth voices to national conversations
• Hands-on media production experience in a professional community television environment
• Mentorship and skill development in broadcasting, video production, and digital media

Program Dates Coming Soon

Program dates will be announced in mid-September. Interested students and families are encouraged to stay tuned for registration details and program schedules or stop in to see the space and chat.

Learn More About #TeentigerTV

The program has been transforming youth media engagement and providing valuable real-world experience for young creators in the Wallingford area for a decade. For information about the #TeentigerTV program and its impact in the community, visit the wpaa.tv/teentigertv.

About WPAA-TV and Community Media Center

WPAA-TV is Wallingford's volunteer-run award-winning community TV station that provides a brave, safe, creative space for a diversity of expression within our community and beyond, offering users the tools and stage at no charge.

Located in a renovated 1924 cow barn at 28 South Orchard Street in downtown Wallingford, WPAA-TV serves as the community's volunteer-run television station. The old hayloft, now called studioW, is where their 'Make TV' program happens, fostering creativity and community connection through media.

For more information:

Visit wpaa.tv or follow @wpaatv on social media