Schools

Hear Me Project Gives Kids a Voice

In July, Carnegie Mellon University's Hear Me Project posted 50 billboards around Pittsburgh, many of which showcase excerpts from children's stories.

Carnegie Mellon University has spearheaded a project giving youngsters a voice by finding innovative ways to promote kids’ opinions on issues that matter to them.

In the past year, the project has gathered stories from more than 3,000 kids in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Hear Me amplifies kids' voices using media and technology to create a world where kids are heard, acknowledged and understood, giving them the power to inspire social change, according to a release.

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The stories focus on community, education, health and wellness and environmental issues.

In July, Hear Me posted 50 billboards around Pittsburgh, many of which showcase excerpts from children’s stories.

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16-year-old Crystal has her words “I still get called names…” displayed on Butler street in Lawrenceville. 12-year-old Sherdina’s words “I was scared when I heard the gunshots…” hang above Noblestown road. 

Other billboards direct viewers to the project’s website, www.hear-me.net, or prompt people to text “hearme” to 25252 to receive individual stories directly to their mobile devices.

Hear Me's Can Pals program is a text-free way of sharing stories on a different kind of phone.

This modernized version of the tin can telephone was designed at the CREATE lab of CMU’s Robotics Institute. The recycled cans contain small audio chips with stories from kids, and a speaker to listen.

Like a pen pals program, Can Pals creates a dialogue and exchange between children of various demographics within schools and after school programs.

Hear Me’s installation version of the tin can telephone, CanEx, provides a voice to kids stories as well as their artwork.  

A gallery exhibit demonstrating this is currently on display through the end of the summer at Century III Mall in West Mifflin.  

The CanEX exhibits will also be displayed in a smaller scale at the Fayette County Fair on July 30th and Seven Springs’ Storywalk on August 20th.

To find out other ways Hear Me is using media and technology to promote kids’ stories or for more information on the project, visit www.hear-me.net.


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