Jordan Denari
Current Age: 19School: Georgetown University
Throughout my six years in Y-Press, I covered a number of issues (like the ten-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and the influx of Burmese refugees into Indianapolis) and also covered historic moments (like the first Democratic Muslim Caucus and Barack Obama's nomination-acceptance speech). My years in Y-Press provided me with the skills needed to excel in high school and college, but even more importantly gave me a diverse and brilliant group of friends and an insight into important youth issues in our world. I am a student in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and plan to study the relationship between Islam and the West. After college, I plan to pursue a career in journalism (all thanks to Y-Press).
Interests: current world events, social justice, writing, basketball, reading, politics, world religions, spending time with my family and friends
Stories by Jordan
Californians for Justice
By Jordan Denari, 18
By Jordan Denari, 18
While much youth activism takes place at the local level, Californians for Justice fights for justice and educational excellence for youth in the entire state.
Before 9/11
By Katie Bolinger, 18, Jordan Denari, 17
By Katie Bolinger, 18, Jordan Denari, 17
On a warm September morning, we sat in our elementary school classrooms and watched collapsing towers on T.V. We heard whispers of an attack, and many of our classmates were whisked out of school by nervous parents.
Democratic 2008 Convention
By Hrishikesh Deshpande, 13, Max Gabovitch, 15, Jonathan Gainer, 16, David Glass, 18, Mallory St. Claire, 17, Sarah Zabel, 15, Millie Cripe, 15, Jordan Denari, 17, Quinn Andrews, 14, Katie Bolinger, 18
By Hrishikesh Deshpande, 13, Max Gabovitch, 15, Jonathan Gainer, 16, David Glass, 18, Mallory St. Claire, 17, Sarah Zabel, 15, Millie Cripe, 15, Jordan Denari, 17, Quinn Andrews, 14, Katie Bolinger, 18
Considering how important young people have been to this election cycle, it's not surprising that their journalistic peers have the same enthusiasm for covering it.
Young political activist: Marquette, Mich.
By Jordan Denari, 17
By Jordan Denari, 17
Despite living in Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula, Pryce Hadley has been able to maintain a high level of political activism. At Marquette Senior High School, from which he just graduated, he participated in "We the People," a nationwide competition in which students answer questions about U.S. government posed by government experts.
Prepare for record turnouts
By David Glass, 17, Jake Thornburgh, 14, Jordan Denari, 17, Quinn Andrews, 14
By David Glass, 17, Jake Thornburgh, 14, Jordan Denari, 17, Quinn Andrews, 14
According to CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at the University of Maryland, more than 32 million youth ages 18 to 25 will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. If 55 percent of these young people vote – a record turnout, attained only once, in the 1972 election – more than 17.6 million ballots will be cast.
But will they vote?
By Quinn Andrews, 14, Jordan Denari, 17, David Glass, 17, Jake Thornburgh, 14
By Quinn Andrews, 14, Jordan Denari, 17, David Glass, 17, Jake Thornburgh, 14
Much has been written and reported on the throngs of youth involved in the presidential primaries and caucuses. But will youth actually have an impact on the general election? Will activism translate into votes?
Burmese refugees
By Cathy Mangan, 17, Genevieve Yedlicka, 16, Ben Dorson, 18, Jordan Denari, 17, Pratik Cherian, 16
By Cathy Mangan, 17, Genevieve Yedlicka, 16, Ben Dorson, 18, Jordan Denari, 17, Pratik Cherian, 16
Young political activist: Lexington, Ky.
By Jordan Denari, 17
By Jordan Denari, 17
Fifteen-year-old Rachel Swanson has a history of political activism. Coming from a politically active family (her dad worked as a legislative aide for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin) she's continuing the tradition at Bryan Station High School, where she is vice president of the Young Democrats club.
Teenagers try to cope with suicidal friends
By Zoe Hayes, 16, Jordan Denari, 14
By Zoe Hayes, 16, Jordan Denari, 14
E verybody has said it at least once, maybe while stressing over final exams or after a regrettable error: "I'm going to kill myself." But some people think about it seriously, and a few go through with it. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among U.S. youth ages 10 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effects of a young person's suicide are widespread,
Can we really say 'never again' to genocide?
By Jordan Denari, 14
By Jordan Denari, 14
According to Paul Rusesaba gina, the two most abused words in the world are "never" and "again." In 1993, the Holocaust Museum opened in Washington, D.C. At the dedication, people spoke of the atrocities and how the world would never again tolerate genocide. A year later, halfway around the world, at least 800,000 men, women and children were systematically killed while the international community
Teen learns about politics
By Allison Gardner, 14, Jordan Denari, 13
By Allison Gardner, 14, Jordan Denari, 13
Political conventions are for kids, too. That's the take from Cy Hudson, the 17-year-old son of delegate Angela Hudson, of Jeffersonville, who tagged along for some political clarity. "I've been considering myself a Republican for many years. And now I have a lot of questions and things I hope will be answered," said Hudson, a senior at Choate Rosemary Hall School in Wallingford, Conn. "I thought
Teens offer lessons on high school
By Kate Dolan, 17, Jordan Denari, 15, Amber Carter, 16
By Kate Dolan, 17, Jordan Denari, 15, Amber Carter, 16
It's his first day at Cathedral High School. As he walks through the noisy, crowded hallways, he is overcome with a sense of fear and anticipation.
Then it hits him: He has no idea where his first class is. He finally finds it, but he's 20 minutes late.
He tries to slip in without being noticed, but the door announces his entrance with a "Click, Errrrk!"
Politics get up close and personal
By Jordan Denari, 15
By Jordan Denari, 15
After all the uproar over Sen. Joe Lieberman’s congressional primary loss, the national attention may soon shift to Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. Political experts have identified this district race -- which pits Republican incumbent Mike Sodrel against Democratic former congressman Baron Hill -- as one of the most critical in the nation this fall.
That’s because the Republicans are trying to keep their majority in Congress, and the Democrats are hoping to overtake it.
Seeing their future
By Jordan Denari, 15, Perri McKinley, 16, Alissa Rader, 16
By Jordan Denari, 15, Perri McKinley, 16, Alissa Rader, 16
True or false?
1. All blind people wear sunglasses.
2. If you read Braille in the dark, you need a flashlight and your fingers get tired.
3. All blind people have Seeing Eye dogs.
Movie spurs Ugandan relief
By Jordan Denari, 16, Olivia Haynes, 15, Shelby Helton, 15
By Jordan Denari, 16, Olivia Haynes, 15, Shelby Helton, 15
Most people watch a movie, critique it, and then move on.
For Jenna Knapp, 19, it wasn't that easy.
Jenna first saw the documentary "Invisible Children" during her senior year of high school, when a college friend brought back a copy from California.