One of the greatest joys of our WCSS—Welcome to Community Stepping Stones summer program has been watching our young reporters grow more confident with every story they tell. This week, our students reached an exciting milestone as they put their interviewing skills into action during a very special conversation with Officer Ben from the Tampa Police Department.
As part of our eight-week digital storytelling program, students have been learning how to ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, work together as a production team, and confidently communicate on camera. Their interview with Officer Ben gave them the opportunity to practice all of those skills while learning more about a career dedicated to serving the community.
During the interview, Officer Ben shared what inspired him to become a police officer, how long he has been serving the City of Tampa, and how he and his fellow officers work every day to help keep neighborhoods safe. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with a community leader, ask meaningful questions, and experience what it’s like to conduct a real interview.
Programs like WCSS are about much more than making videos. They help students build confidence, strengthen communication skills, develop teamwork, and discover that their voices have value. Every interview, news story, and creative project gives our young reporters another opportunity to grow as storytellers and leaders.
A heartfelt thank you to Officer Ben and the Tampa Police Department for taking the time to inspire our students and support youth learning. Thank you as well to our incredible partners at Community Stepping Stones and our summer programming sponsor, Rough & Ready Media, for making this experience possible.
As we head into our final week of WCSS, we’re excited to celebrate everything our students have accomplished during our upcoming Film Festival. I hope you’ll continue following their journey and cheering on these remarkable young storytellers. Their curiosity, creativity, and confidence have made this an unforgettable summer, and I can’t wait to see where their stories take them next.