Young, eligible voters looking to get involved in Philly’s political marketplace will have a paid opportunity through PhillyCAM, a nonprofit group dedicated to empowering community-led initiatives via funding and public access television programs.

PhillyCAM is scouting participants of ages ranging from 18-24 to apply for Turn Up! Turn Out!, a five-month political education and production workshop series that will hone in on civic engagement, local elections, and community organizing “as strategies for social change.” 

“The goal is to provide young people ages 18-24 with essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary to engage in a functioning democracy along with increasing political education knowledge to improve youth voter turnout,” the application read. 

Should I apply?

PhillyCAM is looking for individuals wanting to dive into local politics and elections and who have an interest in media literacy. The workshop will help cohorts build skills to engage in the political world through facilitated conversation and a workshop series, resulting in a final project, scheduled to launch in April. 

Candidates should be prepared to explain their interests in politics and define what they would like to learn from the program. 

Am I an eligible candidate?

Applicants must be between the ages of 18-24 to be eligible. 

How many participants will be chosen?

PhillyCAM hopes to scout up to 10 students for this year's cohort. 

Do I need to be registered to vote?

Voter registration is not a required criterion for participating but potential participants will need to explain their reasoning either way in the application. 

Do I need any experience?

While there are no specific criteria, applicants will need to prepare a written summary of their experience with politics or media production. 

"No media experience necessary! We want folx to have an interest in media making, social media creation and a love for the city of Philadelphia. We would love to have young people participate who have an interest in politics, activism and community building," Ariel Taylor, Youth Media Program Manager at PhillyCAM, told AL DÍA. 

Examples of experience in either field can be submitted as a link. These include projects “through a class at your school, a video you have taken on your phone, an event you attended, editing video clips, or any personal art,” according to the application. 

When are the workshops? 

PhillyCAM will hold a weekly workshop series every Tuesday, from January through May, 11 AM - 5 PM, at 699 Ranstead St, Suite 1, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 

The workshops require in-person participation, according to the application. 

How much does it pay?

PhillyCAM awards a $500 stipend per student, for project participation, Taylor affirmed. 

How do I apply?

Use this link to submit an application for review. 

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect comment from PhillyCAM.

This article is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute, Peter and Judy Leone, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Harriet and Larry Weiss, and the Wyncote Foundation, among others. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.every voice-every vote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.