At the forefront of global change and innovation stands the voices of young people.
They are already transforming the globe by influencing their communities, nations, and the world with their viewpoints, knowledge, and life experiences. That inspired six individuals who became the founders of the youth-centered media platform Shift Press.
“Why aren’t we being taught how to change the systems shaping our lives?” said Uyiosa Elegon, who is the co-founder and marketing & development director. “Around 2015, we were in high school wondering why there weren’t enough adult organizers in Houston left who focused on teaching young people about the labor movement and all sorts of different workers’ rights movements.”
That frustration turned into action. Inspired by Chicago’s Mikva Challenge, the students created a year-long civic education fellowship in 2016, teaching high schoolers how to identify community issues, craft solutions, and advocate for change. Thirteen fellows from across Houston tackled projects ranging from education policy to housing, culminating in a presentation to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education.
But while the fellowship succeeded in sparking activism, Elegon and his team noticed something troubling.
“We’d see these powerful movements come from young people, but there wasn’t a platform to tell their stories,” he said. “Traditional media didn’t seem interested, and when they did cover us, it felt dismissive.”
Shift Press was born from this gap—creating a space where the next generation could control the narrative, share stories and develop the skills to challenge the status quo.
Phoebe An has been a Shift Press writer since the summer of 2024. As a political science major at Middlebury College who is deeply engaged in activism, she primarily focuses on local politics and stories of Palestinian liberation.
“What I love about Shift Press is that they walk to the beat of their own drum,” she said. “They allow you to have an independent voice, which means people approach political scenarios from all different perspectives—not just those shaped by traditional academic or activist settings.”
This openness has helped An refine her approach to reporting and civic engagement. While her academic background in political science has trained her to think globally and systemically, Shift Press has provided her with the opportunity to connect with individuals on a deeply personal level.
“Shift Press gave me the ability to look at local politics on a localized and personal scale, which not only helps me individualize people and their stories but also adds to my perspective on how I can engage with them,” she said.
An’s work has required her to navigate complex and often contentious topics, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict. In these moments, she has learned to strip away preconceived biases and engage with people whose perspectives may differ radically from hers.
“I often have to fight myself on the urge to classify people and their political backgrounds based on stereotypes,” An said. “Shift Press has taught me how to actively engage with people on an individual level, which has been invaluable.”
A platform for the overlooked
Marketing & Development Director (Center) at Shift Press workshop. Shift Press Credit: Uyiosa Elegon
Shift Press addresses two critical issues: the lack of representation for youth-driven stories and the absence of accessible media education.
“We didn’t just want a platform; we wanted a space where young people could tell their stories without censorship and be compensated for their work,” said Elegon.
To fulfill this mission, Shift Press pays contributors $200 for every published piece—a game-changing model for young writers, many of whom are balancing financial pressures while attending school. “It’s not just about publishing. It’s about acknowledging their worth,” Elegon said.
Compensation is only part of the equation. Shift Press’s editorial process is deeply collaborative, designed to refine contributors’ arguments while honoring their authentic perspectives. From investigative pieces to personal essays, the goal is to give young writers the confidence and skills to amplify their voices in any forum.
Launching a youth-led media organization in a city like Houston, where grassroots initiatives often struggle for funding and visibility, was no easy feat.
“The philanthropic world and traditional media didn’t understand what we were trying to do,” Elegon said. “They wanted us to replicate models that already existed instead of creating something new.”
The organization’s major challenge is how it is considered in the media industry. With the focus on civic and social justice issues, there’s been a “conscious distancing distancing,” or that it isn’t seen as a legitimate entity on its own.
“I’ve attended meetings with news outlets where they see Shift Press as a wing of the organization rather than an autonomous one, and that’s not normal across the U.S. Houston is lacking,” he said. “There’s also just generally a values misalignment between movement journalism and corporate journalism.
Support from educators, however, proved pivotal. Teachers quickly embraced Shift Press as a safe space for students to publish work without fear of censorship. The organization also aligned itself with the Student Press Law Center, solidifying its role as a defender of youth voices in an era where student journalism is often stifled.
Shift Press stays agile as the media landscape changes, focusing on multimedia storytelling and meeting young audiences where they are. Social media platforms play a central role in amplifying the organization’s content, ensuring stories reach their intended audience.
“We see censorship on the rise, especially in high school and college journalism. So obviously, we need to
be bold and upfront and say, “We will not censor you,” he said. “We’re only here to make sure that your argument is sound and logical.
The organization remains focused on elevating marginalized voices and addressing issues that matter most to Houston’s youth. From racial justice to education reform, its contributors tackle topics often overlooked by mainstream outlets.
“We have a closer relationship to movements than the average news organization would be comfortable with. That does not mean we’re spokespeople for these movements,” Elegon said. That means we are the close conversations and meeting the broader community’s needs.”
