"I would like something beautiful to come out of this project, something that will educate people to be able to reach a goal that I never did," said a student from inner-city Philadelphia.

While the Web provides a level of grass roots participation not seen before in other media, large segments of our population are still remarkably under-represented. The Teen Screen goes to the heart of this problem by putting the tools into the hands of those most silent on the Web: disadvanteged teens. Built from the ground up, this project allows a space for kids from inner-city Philadelphia to create their own web site, from graphics and stories to the nuts and bolts of programming.

Working with a team from Medical Broadcasting Company, a healthcare communications firm with an extensive background in community work, a group of students from Bertram High School will work in teams to create every element of the site. Each student will have a chance to contribute content: poetry, artwork, video, and writing. With topics crucial to their lives like teen pregnancy, dealing with violence, dating, and safe sex, these kids are making a site meaningful to them as well as allowing the rest of the world see how they live. And through this project, they gain valuable life experience and work skills that might allow them a better life for themselves in the future.