Jory Kusy wants to help the social media generation take their online presence to the next level.

And in doing so they likely will unlock creative potential as well as laying the ground work for future careers.

Kusy oversees the media room that he helped design from the ground up at the Thomas Toy Community Center on the southeast corner of Yosemite and Fremont avenues.

“(Teens) may think ‘I already know this stuff because I’ve created a TikTok video’,” Kusy said.

They will discover once they step into the media room that using a smartphone to create a TikTok video is barely scratching the surface.

Kusy is using his education and professional background in producing films to help teens step up their game when it comes to photography, podcasts, filmmaking and such.

The Toy Center is equipped to do just that.

It includes a sound proof studio plus equipment and lighting.

Kusy is working with media teachers at area highs schools to build on California career and tech education standards.

The aim is to evolve beyond what they learn at school.

And unlike school where there are specific assignments and deadlines, teens involved in the program will be able to explore their individual creativity.

Kusy said the program will offer a unique opportunity to collaborate with teens from other high schools.

It also will offer support for those that want to become more media savvy.

Much like video game coding classes the school district offers, Kusy noted some parents may not be sold on the value of the media program and therefore may not be very supportive.

While few of teens taking video game coding classes will likely become video game coders, the same skills open endless other careers.

The analogy is appropriate.

If a teen masters basic skills and goes beyond with podcasting, filmmaking, photography and such what they learn can improve their success in other careers or jobs  as the world keeps evolving in terms of social media and overall communication.

Kusy is also hoping to launch an endeavor where Toy Center media teens work with local businesses to create professional grade videos for their websites or even commercials.

“That is something they can put on their resume,” Kusy said.

He also sees the center as being kind of an equalizer.

Kusy noted the Manteca community has wide ranging demographics.

That means there are teens with access to cutting edge tech that takes what can be done to the next level using a smartphone, high-performance computer, and other equipment to those that are trying to explore the technology using a Chromebook.

The Toy Center media room program is designed to help bridge the gap.

The media room has the ability to utilize the rest of the Toy Community Center for projects.

“There’s a kitchen and lots of furniture,” he noted.

Kusy said they could even enlist teens involved with the center’s art programs to help with backgrounds, sets and props.

Kusy is looking  for volunteers with skills in videography, filmmaking, photography, podcasting and such to help teach teens.

“If they have the skills, I can help them learn how to be effective teachers,” Kusy, who himself worked as a school teacher.

To make the teen center serving seventh through 12rth graders as effective as possible, volunteers are needed to help mentor youth by sharing their skills and passions as well as providing essential support staff as Kusy does.

The teen center is now open two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Additional volunteers will mean the teen center hours will eventually be Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. with some weekends.

Volunteer hours can change based on need.

Volunteers are required to complete Live Scan prior to working with students.

 More information can be found at thomastoycc.org or by calling 209-407-2568.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com