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KGNU Radio Program Receives $2,000 Grant to Further Education of Low-Income Latinx Youth in Media Production
BOULDER, Colo. — KGNU Community Radio has been a fixture in the Boulder community since 1978 as an independent, non-commercial entity. Alongside its diverse array of musical and news programming, it’s also an educational hub where, through programs like the Boulder County Media Gardens program it engages “bilingual Boulder County youth through the exploration of media, music, and culture in the digital and analog frontiers.” A $2,000 grant from the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC) will help further these efforts. “The youth explore a range of health equity issues, creating public service announcements and narrative stories about barriers to healthy eating and accessing the outdoors; overexposure to sugary drinks and processed foods through targeted marketing campaigns; the prevalence of teen vaping; reproductive and sexual health issues’ and issues unique to LGBTQ+ youth such as gender identity issues,” KGNU representatives say, adding that mental health and BIPOC youth involvement in social justice issues will be covered as well.
Notably, the stories will focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH) that negatively impact the health, wellbeing, and longevity of low-income Latinx communities. The project is facilitated by KGNU’s established Boulder Media Gardens team, including two bilingual media trainers and a bilingual program coordinator. Each media trainer creates a work plan and curriculum, guiding the participating youth through the research, writing, and storytelling process. Workshops are offered once per week per group. Using satellite media gardens and portable audio equipment, groups will have access to audio recording and editing equipment for production circles and continuity between facilitated training sessions. “The CEC is pleased to aid KGNU Community Radio with its storytelling and community education efforts,” said CEC Project Lead Dr. Rachele Espiritu. “KGNU’s platform is uniquely positioned to inform both youth and the community about the social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impacts on longevity and quality of life.”
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About KGNU Community Radio KGNU is the independent, noncommercial, community radio station for Boulder, Denver and beyond that broadcasts a diverse mix of music, news and information 24 hours a day. KGNU has a small staff and more than 230 volunteers who help run the station, on-air and off-air. The station has provided alternative news and music radio programming to Boulder and beyond since May 22, 1978, and holds these values:
Independent. We are a mission-driven, nonprofit media outlet. We are not beholden to corporations or the government.
Non-commercial. We do not broadcast advertisements, and we do not accept underwriting from major corporations. Our bottom line is to provide real journalism and diverse music, not to maximize profits. The majority of our operating budget comes from you, the listener.
Community. We are community-powered. Volunteers produce, host, report, DJ, administer and govern the station. We broadcast 18-20 hours of locally produced programming per day. We provide hands-on training for volunteers.
We empower you to be the media.
About the Colorado Equity Compass Across Colorado, communities are facing inequities that impact their health and wellbeing. Different factors, including systemic racism, a lack of affordable housing, and environmental concerns, contribute to these inequities.
As a project of The Colorado Trust, CEC helps communities — and the organizations that serve them — better understand these issues and advocate for change using data and stories. This work consolidates diverse resources, connects peers, and both aligns and empowers communities and institutions via its Equity Data Navigator. The model showcases inequities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) across communities. CEC also serves as a hub for community storytelling and information-sharing.
For more information and to view the Equity Data Navigator, visit coequitycompass.org. For media inquiries, contact CEC at [email protected].