can you help me save a high school newspaper?

April 13, 2012 in General

I “met” high school senior Kala Czanstkowski when she wrote me an email:

Hello! My name is Kala Czanstkowski and I am a Senior at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, MN. I’m a journalist/comfort writer and a happy reader (at times) and I just bought your book “Life is a Verb” literally yesterday and I can’t put it down! I’m sure you’ve heard that a hundred million times… How cliche of me. I love your outlook on life and I can’t help but notice how very much you and I seem to have in common. Yes, I know I’m only 17 and obviously don’t have very much life experience as you’d think, but I feel like I do and by reading your book, I have managed to learn more about life than I ever thought possible!! We would LOVE to have you join us at Buffalo High School. You really don’t have to speak, but we love special guests and I’m dying to meet you!!!

Kala

I wrote to Kala and told her while I couldn’t come to Buffalo, Minnesota, at the moment, I was happy to Skype with her and the other newspaper staff. And we did, and I met a room full of amazing students, and the irrepressible Kala. And they sent me my very own copy of the paper, The Hoofprint.

The faculty sponsor of the newspaper staff, Ryan McCallum, had this to say about our time together, and about the students who create The Hoofprint (check out their amazing website, too):

Your visit with the class changed the entire culture of the newspaper group. They truly are a tremendous group of people and the kindest and most dedicated and accepting group of young men and women I’ve ever worked with. They are a voice for the voiceless at the school and as close to a family as a group of students can be.

As schools will do, the budget for The Hoofprint has been slashed, meaning that they can’t produce enough printed copies to qualify to enter the state competition for school newspapers. That just really sucks. Here’s a group of committed students doing good by doing what they love, and now it’s been cut short by budget cuts. Can we help send them to the state competition by donating enough money to print The Hoofprint throughout the year (and next year, too, perhaps?)

How to Help

Folks from around the world are giving — even small donations add up very quickly — if you’d like to support young journalists to do what they love, please click the button below and send a donation by Monday, April 16 via Paypal.com. I’ll cut a check on Monday with all the money we’ve raised and will send it to Buffalo High School on Tuesday!

Do you remember what it was like to be 17 and passionate about something? I hope you’ll give in remembrance of that energy and in support of young people trying to save the world one newspaper at a time.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

7 comments to " can you help me save a high school newspaper? "


Julie Kiernan

April 13, 2012 AT 1:51PM

That is so true : they really are “as close to a family as a group of students can be”. I was proud when my daughters (now graduated) were in McCallum’s classes and on the newspaper staff. This current group of kids seem amazing and the Skype interviews are opening up the world to them. Thanks for supporting such a great group and their newspaper!

I need to buy your book too.

Jane LaFazio

April 13, 2012 AT 2:17PM

Donation made.

Candace Gendron

April 13, 2012 AT 9:50PM

Done! This was easy to do…Kala’s joy and passion shine right through the virtual world into our own little corners. What a great group of students!!

Goldlion97

April 14, 2012 AT 8:10PM

I applaud Kala for taking the initiative to send the email, and you, Patti, for stepping in to offer herself. This is our life’s purpose … to reach out in our entirety. Often we can’t do everything, but we can do something! Sometimes we’re afraid to attach ourselves for fear of failure or rejection or negative reaction. We miss so much in the process! I’ve never heard of Buffalo, MN, but now I’ll never not know of it! Good luck to the newspaper staff! Patti, you are an inspiration for what we all should be doing!

p.s. I’m writing! VT … 2012

Gwyn Michael

April 15, 2012 AT 11:59AM

How wonderful is this!!! Yes, we can save this paper.

Jean

April 15, 2012 AT 4:32PM

I was the editor of my high school newspaper MANY years ago. Journalism was the path that led me to my best friends (still) and ignited my love for theatre. I’m so happy to be able to give to a great cause that brings joy and information and education to so many. Good Luck to the Hoofprint and Kara! Thanks, again, Patti, for the opportunity!

We saved The Hoofprint! | 37days.com - Home of Patti Digh

May 18, 2012 AT 11:45PM

[…] This Email This Post A month ago, I wrote about a wonderful young woman named Kala and her high school newspaper, The Hoofprint. I asked readers to help this group of students fulfill their dream of printing the […]