Over the past seven years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has partnered with ThreeSixty Journalism – a nonprofit program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas – to support the next generation of journalists and change the dominant narrative on health.

The voices of communities most impacted by health inequities are frequently underrepresented in media coverage. Far too often, news reporting on communities of color is defined by the inequities they experience, without any additional context for why these disparities exist, or recognizing the strengths and assets communities hold.

In July, ThreeSixty and Blue Cross hosted the Multimedia Storytelling Institute, a three-week immersive camp where high school students developed their writing, communications, and TV broadcast skills. Guided by some of the industry’s leading media professionals, students told stories related to racial and health equity.

Through its partnership with ThreeSixty, Blue Cross is helping to diversify newsrooms and uplift stories that challenge stereotypes and bias. Stories written by ThreeSixty students address the root causes of health inequities and center community members as both changemakers and health leaders.

The theme of the 2024 ThreeSixty camp was Healing and Transformation. Students reported on community-led efforts that utilize culturally based wisdom to improve health outcomes.

“Youth journalists were able to draw on their own lived experiences to report on the importance of collectively healing from trauma”, said Bukata Hayes, Blue Cross chief equity officer and vice president of racial and health equity. “At Blue Cross, we want to not only address how racism and oppression adversely impact health, but also uplift how communities are working to heal themselves and create a healthy and liberatory future.”

Featured stories focused on work funded by Blue Cross, including the African American Babies Coalition, Birth Justice Collaborative, Indigenous People’s Taskforce, Native American Community Clinic, and Urban Roots.

This year’s media partners include Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, MinnPost, FOX 9, KARE-11, KSTP-TV, WCCO-TV, Lindsey Seavert Studios and BMA Cable Networks.

2024 Stories

Print Journalism Stories

• African American Babies Coalition
  Fighting for mothers
• Birth Justice Collaborative
  Building better births
• Kente Circle
  ThreeSixty Journalism: Kente Circle addresses mental health disparities
• Indigenous Peoples Task Force
  Task force works to reclaim Indigenous traditions
• Native American Community Clinic
  Native American Community Clinic finds different ways to support the Indigenous community
• Urban Roots
  Growing ginger, jobs and justice through Urban Roots Market Garden program

Broadcast Journalism Stories

• Urban Roots
  Producer: Aketzally Murillo Alvarado, FAIR High School
  Writer: McCall Vickers, DeLaSalle High School
  Multimedia Reporter: Nicolás Odegard, Nova Classical Academy

• Kente Circle
  Producer: Amira Mohamud, Wayzata High School
  Writer: Honor Vang, Centennial High School
  Multimedia Reporter: Alexis Aryeequaye, Rosemount High School

• Indigenous Peoples Task Force
  Producer: Legend Primus, Roseville Area High School
  Writer: Margarita Rosales, Venture Academy
  Multimedia Reporter: Ethan Vang, Centennial High School

• Birth Justice Collaborative
  Producer: India Rutten, Apple Valley High School
  Writer: Areeba Memon, Wayzata High School
  Multimedia Reporter: Amira Ahmed, Wayzata High School

• African American Babies Coalition
  Producer: Aliyah Baker, Roosevelt High School
  Writer: Luke Azoulay-Haron, Avalon Charter School
  Multimedia Reporter: Daphney Kleinschmit, Columbia Heights High School

• Native American Community Clinic
  Producer: Amina Said, Eden Prairie High School
  Writer: Anais Froberg-Martinez, Minnetonka High School
  Multimedia Reporter: Anira Mohamud, Wayzata High School