Youth Editors for the 2024 The CHARM Report
Meet the CHARM Reporters
This month, we're putting a spotlight on the CHARM Report, our news publication that seeks to tell the stories of Baltimore's youth and illuminate Charm City from the youth's perspective.
The topics and beats of the reporters range depending on the interests of CHARM’s current editors. One day the CHARM Report articles will critique media coverage of the January 6th riots or give advice on activism from Baltimore's youth poet laureate, and the next day it's informing readers on the origins of Static Shock.
The one constant is that The CHARM Report's articles will be by Baltimore's youth and for Baltimore's youth. Here's a closer look at the CHARM editors that make up this year’s journalism team.
Anika Stikeleather
Anika Stikeleather is a current senior at Baltimore City College High School, a member of the Under Armour Student-Athlete Leadership Council, and a big Boston Celtics fan. She joined the CHARM Report this fall because of her experience interning at the Baltimore Banner through Youthworks and CHARM last summer and she wanted to continue writing and connecting with Baltimore City through journalism. A goal of hers is to become a popular women's sports writer. She has always wanted to be a writer, and CHARM allows her to apply her talents and get her work published. One piece of advice she’d give to someone younger than her is, “Just do what interests you, but find ways to do it.”
Assata Makonnen
Assata Makonnen is a current senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. As the president of her school’s creative writing club and an avid lover of webtoons, Assata decided to join CHARM for the first time this year because it was the perfect space to feel a broader sense of community around her writing. In her own words, “CHARM just felt like the place to be because it really allowed for me to connect my writing to a deeper cause. I get to reach out to not just my school, but my city, which is really what I most want to get out of my time with CHARM.”
Lamine Niang
Lamine Niang is a current senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a Drama club member, a participant in the Baltimore Student Association, and an avid Pokemon player. He will be attending Johns Hopkins University next fall and is intending to major in public health or pre-med, with aspirations of becoming a doctor. Initially, he joined the Charm Report because “you can write and you can get money” but now appreciates CHARM’s focus on youth voices. CHARM provides a space to have fun while familiarizing himself with the journalistic style of writing. With his time in CHARM, he wants to sharpen his communication skills for his future career in the medical field.
Amir Muhammad
In between playing video games and attending Baltimore Polytechnic Institute as a student, 15-year-old Amir Muhammed is a member of the Journalism Team under the CHARM Editorial Board. Having been part of CHARM for four years at this point, Amir decided to return once more for a full-year job as an editor. “I wanted to elevate youth voices and put out things they would enjoy,” said Muhammed. His time at CHARM has provided him with opportunities to interview authors and poets, something he has come to appreciate deeply.
The work of the CHARM Report is edited and supported by current and former Report for America corps members Megan Sayles, Tashi McQueen, both who write for The Afro; and freelance journalist Donte Kirby, who has written for the Washington Business Journal and Technical.ly.