A new creative space and podcasting studio at Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation is about to set the world on fire. The teenagers there say so. The students are bolstered with dreams the size of Texas, ready to turn their passions into purpose.

The Dallas Mavericks and Mavs Foundation, in partnership with Chime, unveiled the franchise’s first Learning Lab Production Studio at the Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation (VMYDF) on Tuesday afternoon. The studio is decked out with the best technological gadgets money can buy.

The students received a custom wall mural, state-of-the-art equipment, including professional-grade audio recording and microphones, cutting-edge cinematography gear and cameras, laptops, and a green screen.

“We receive over 600 nonprofit grant applications per year,” said Katie Edwards, Dallas Mavs Chief Impact Officer and President of the Mavs Foundation. “This project stood out to us because it allows young people to use their voices and be creative.”

Everything in the studio was designed to empower the youth to unleash their creativity and share their narratives through music, video and podcasts. The studio also includes fairy lights to set the mood, along with lush, new furniture provided by Ashley.

The students gave a list, and everything was met.

Vickery Meadows is a fascinating, diverse microcosm in northeast Dallas, weaved together like a beautiful quilt, with more than 50 languages spoken in a few blocks. VMYDF was created to provide educational and enrichment opportunities for the 7500 children living there, many of whom are first-generation Americans.

They have watched their family members bulldoze paths to create a better future for them. Now the children are following in their footsteps.

“Words can’t even express how excited I am for this,” said high school junior Chloe Hawkins, host of a podcast called The Nest. “I am just in awe that the Mavs care so much and want to invest so much into us and the community. Yeah, the Mavs are this big franchise, but it means so much more that the team is giving back to the community. It’s crazy because we go and support the team, we’ve actually been to Mavs games, and now knowing the organization cares about the community really connects us to them.”

Hawkins said the idea to have a podcast started during the pandemic. While sitting at home, her heart was stirred when the COVID-19 crisis intersected with social justice reform. She said her friends and classmates couldn’t stay quiet.

“The world was on pause, but things were still going on with the Black Lives Matters riots and other social justice causes,” Hawkins shared. “We felt these things needed to be discussed and we had no real space. We only have a few opportunities at school without adults giving their input and interference, and we want the freedom to express ourselves. We felt like our voices were often silenced. So, I went to Dr. Janet [Morrison-Lane] and asked, ‘How can we get our voices out there — and give our perspective?’ We discussed a podcast, and she told us to go for it!”

Now the students have their own space and don’t have to worry about dealing with background noise at home or school.

VMYDF opened the doors to a new facility — appropriately called the Success Center — about eight weeks ago, and the production studio was the final piece of the puzzle. The building is gorgeous with photos of students splashed across the wall in colorful portraits, revealing all their diverse backgrounds from around the world.

Dr. Janet Morrison-Lane is the executive director at VMYDF.

Her goal is to equip and encourage Eagle Scholars to recognize the power of their voice and help them develop the leadership characteristics already inside.

“I’ve been dreaming of this for the last year,” Dr. Janet said. “The pandemic got us off to a rocky start, and Chloe came and said she had an idea. She asked ‘can we do a podcast?’ So with all the spotty WIFI and technology issues, Chloe and her team [of fellow students] started a podcast in their homes. They started their own content, they had their writers, they had their own videographers, and they did all of those things. It’s for teens by teens, and now it lives on YouTube. This studio is all theirs.”

Dr. Janet said she’s “super-excited” about the new studio because it’s everything the Eagle Scholars envisioned.

“This will grow into something bigger so the whole community can benefit,” she explained.

Edwards said the Dallas Mavs and Mavs Foundation have long supported young people in the community, and the organization “had a blast building the production studio.”

“Almost every detail came from the minds of the scholars,” Edwards explained. “So we really want to thank the students. We created the vibe of the ‘Nest’ to make it comfortable and lovely, but inside the production studio, there’s state-of-the-art equipment and everything they need. There’s even lighting equipment. We really want them to unleash their creativity.”

Former sports reporter-turned-businesswoman LaLa Villanueva, wife of longtime NBA veteran and former Dallas Maverick Charlie Villanueva, was on hand to celebrate the youth at Tuesday’s unveiling. After working many years in the media industry, she knows firsthand how meaningful the space is.

“What really stuck out to me today was just seeing the kids so excited,” Villanueva said. “It’s so important to have an environment that helps you grow. As they age, they’ll look at all this equipment and think, ‘Wow, this really prepared me for life ahead.’ Whether that’s helping someone down the road or using their skills to help others — it’s all an essential part of the journey. I’ve seen life come full circle, and I have a special place in my heart for those trying to do better. The more you give, the more you receive, and that’s why I wanted to be here to support them today.”

Studio41’s own Bobby Karalla hosted the event, sharing with the audience how the new learning lab production studio is even better than the equipment of the Dallas Mavs. Later, he sat in the podcast studio with the kids, oohing and aahing along with them.

Karalla is the Digital Content Manager for the Dallas Mavericks and oversees the franchise’s media efforts on multiple online platforms. He believes content creation is fun and encourages the students to passionately pursue their dreams in whatever field or endeavor excites them most.

“This is what I do for my job,” Karalla said. “Pretty much every day of the season, I’m doing something, whether recording a podcast or videos for YouTube. Right now, I’m recording for TikTok…[the students] have some really, really good equipment. In college, I couldn’t even imagine having access to a soundboard, let alone a microphone. Creating is still expressing yourself, whether on the microphone or behind the camera. My [advice] is to experiment, explore, try some stuff every day.”

He said he started recording podcasts with his friends when he went to college. Today he still does the same thing, but professionally with an international audience, covering some of the best basketball superstars in the world.

“Practice,” said Karalla. “That’s my advice, practice and express yourself all the time. There’s nothing better than making something you’re really proud of and then releasing it and seeing how people receive it.”

What makes this particular podcast studio so unique is the reach it will have. The youth have international audiences because of their diverse backgrounds, and they can create content for their friends and family in their native lands to share their experiences about living in America. Other students, like Hawkins, really aim to unify young people and create hope for the future.

When asked about her favorite podcast episode, Hawkins shared how one main episode comes to mind. One day she decided to be brave and share her vulnerabilities with her audience. She said the next day all these students and classmates stepped forward and shared their own struggles. It helped them realize they’re not alone.

Hawkins realizes her influence has evolved to impact. Now she’s pushing others to pursue their own dreams.

“My grandparents and mom taught me to march to my own beat,” said Hawkins, who would like to attend Duke and someday become an attorney. “They pushed me to grow and to lead with compassion. When you’re leading, you have to consider everyone’s voices. I see everything coming together in my life and I’m really excited.”

Share and comment

More Mavs News