ST. LOUIS — 5 On Your Side will air a new special in February focusing on Black teenagers who share their stories and perspectives.
RACE: Listen. Learn. Live: Teenagers is part of a series produced by 5 On Your Side that gives a voice to community members. Hosted by 5 On Your Side anchor Kelly Jackson, teenagers are asked to share a time when they experienced racism and how it affected them. The students also discuss their inspirations and hopes for the future.
The show’s participants include:
- Mary Akakpo-Lado, senior at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School
- Jeremy Avan, senior at East St. Louis Senior High
- Ariel Eastwood, senior at Parkway North High School
- Indya Griffin, senior at Parkway Central High School
- Zoey Hall, senior at Clayton High School
- Zion Murphy, senior at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School
- Kameron Turner, senior at Lindbergh High School
- Kyle Williams, senior at Ritenour High school
“I was excited to hear the perspective of our younger generation,” said Jackson. “Our panelists include a group of teens who come from diverse backgrounds from several different school districts in our community. One of the biggest things they all have in common is their drive to enhance the community they live in and share their own experiences and the challenges they’ve faced.”
This newest RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. special is the fourth to be produced since 2020 by executive producer Sonya Potter. It has been honored with several awards, including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, a 2022 Gracie Award, and was most recently a finalist for 2023 duPont-Columbia award. The series can be viewed on 5 On Your Side’s YouTube channel.
In late February, 5 On Your Side will host an event that’s an offshoot of the RACE series. RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. Celebrating Black History Month will be a live in-person event Feb. 23 at the Missouri History Museum. More information will be announced in the coming weeks.
The newest special will air Sunday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. on 5 On Your Side.
About 5 On Your Side
5 On Your Side is the NBC affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri and has been a leader in local news, information, and community involvement for more than seven decades. 5 On Your Side is owned by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), an innovative media company that owns and operates 64 television stations in 51 markets. To learn more about 5 On Your Side, please visit KSDK.com.
For more information contact:
Alicia Elsner, 314-444-5256
