At the 2026 Aspen Institute Project Play conference in Boston, Youth Media Forward reporter Ma’Net of Los Angeles spoke on the opening panel.
Called “From Team Captains to Community Captains”, the panel was chaired by CEO of the Heisman Foundation, Jeff Price. He spoke with three teens - Ma’net, Carol and Guywintz - about how they are leading and advocating within their communities while also captaining sports teams.
Ma’Net describes how her love of storytelling drew her to participate in Youth Media Forward, reporting the stories that matter to her. She also shares her experience captaining her high school’s first flag football team.
“Well, my athletic directors, they may call it complaining…But I’m advocating for my team, and I’m making sure that we get as much money as we can!”
Check out a clip from Ma’Net’s remarks above, and the full session video here.
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Read on…
Stories by Ma’Net and other Los Angeles-based Youth Media Forward reporters
And more on the Aspen Institute Captains Leadership Academy that was launched at Project Play
