From left are Rotarian Dan Heitzenrater, who introduced Collaborative Children’s Solutions founder Patrick Smeraldo to Rotary President Marion Beckerink and club members recently.

Patrick Smeraldo, founder of Collaborative Children’s Solutions, spoke recently to the Rotary Club of Jamestown. Smeraldo is a retired adaptive physical education teacher who has worked in many roles to support children in Chautauqua County. He was a longtime service coordinator with Chautauqua Connections, one of the three coordinators for Toys for Tots, and now works in business development for The Resource Center/Allied Industries.

In 2021, Smeraldo launched Collaborative Children’s Solutions to help give kids the support and opportunities they need to thrive. One of Collaborative Children’s Solutions’ latest projects is CCS-TV, an online educational streaming service that began in December 2023.

CCS-TV is a youth-led media platform where teens (ages 13-17) learn how to create and share original video content. With access to a modern studio and support from mentors, young people explore storytelling, media production, and broadcasting. They gain skills, confidence, and a chance to express themselves — all while creating content including a diverse range of programming, including news features, sports coverage, community interviews, talk shows, game shows, and special event broadcasts that entertain and educate viewers of all ages.

Through hands-on experience, the next generation of broadcasters and content creators are empowered, fostering creativity and professional growth, all offered through donations and advertising to operate and provide these valuable opportunities.

The student-focused broadcast channel can be viewed online at CCS-TV.COM, on Roku, YouTube, and through the CCS-TV mobile app, available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store by searching “CCS-TV.”

Smeraldo also talked about some of Collaborative Children’s Solutions’ community events, including the Christmas Parade, Memorial Day events, Christmas in July, the Gus Macker tournament, the Labor Day Festival and celebrations and the Jamestown Winterfest and Christmas Parade.

CCS also brings inspiring speakers for local youth, such as retired NBA player Chris Herren, Paralympian Trevon Jenifer, and NFL player Harrison Phillips.