Listen Up Youth Radio

“Listen Up has truly pushed me (in the best way) to come out of my shell and be a leader. Without Listen Up I wouldn’t have gained such important interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.”

- Youth Media Collective Member

This Give to the Max Day, we are asking you to support Listen Up Youth Radio's work in expanding our media mentorship programming!  The Youth Media Collective provides youth with competitive jobs, media literacy, leadership development, and opportunities to build community - helping run our organization and teaching other young people the skills they've learned.  Mentorship has been part of Listen Up's model since we began, and we're excited to pair our young people to professionals who can support them on their own journeys as young leaders and audio storytellers. To ensure we have the capacity to teach and mentor new and returning Youth Media Collective members, our total goal is to raise $5,000 this Give to the Max day!

“[Listen Up Youth Radio] is guaranteeing the future of journalism and diverse media creation.”

- Listen Up Mentor

LISTEN TO OUR PRODUCERS' STORIES HERE

Our mission: To provide Twin Cities youth with access to radio and dig media, tools to build community through media justice, and opportunities to amplify voice and leadership.

“[My mentor] was amazing! She pushed me to strive for any ideas i came up with during the process of making my episode. She was funny and enthusiastic like me, and she pushed other opportunities may way if I was interested. Definitely someone I’ll stay in touch with!”

- Summer Media Intensive Cohort Member

In the last year we:

Taught audio storytelling and media literacy to 60+ youth

Provided professional work experience for 22 young people

Had 14 youth in leadership positions

Aired original youth-produced episodes from 9 radio shows on our partner stations WFNU and KSRM

Want to dive deeper? Check our our 2023 Impact Report! 

“Listen Up gave me the opportunity to do meaningful work in the creative field while also being able to support myself and that’s not always possible. As a young person, Listen Up has really helped me in building my circle and expanding the people that I am in relation and community with. I’ve gotten to interview and converse with such amazing people and I’m so grateful for those opportunities.”

- Youth Media Collective Member

As a small, BIPOC-led organization working predominantly with folks who are BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and/or female, and who self-identify as low- to moderate-income, every $5 or $500 makes an enormous difference for us!

“[These young people] are astonishing. Their ideas are fresh, and they matter. Their work is worth doing because their voice matters.”

- Listen Up Mentor

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“Listen Up has been such a huge part of my life for so long and I really can’t imagine not being a part of this community in some capacity. I have learned so much, grown so much, and built so many relationships.”

- Youth Media Collective Member

Without you this wouldn't all be possible.
Thank you for choosing to invest in youth voices and media justice!