Every year, SLB provides approximately 3,000 youth from under-resourced schools and neighborhoods with training and skills needed to create podcasts, documentaries, commentaries, oral histories and more. Our methods bring together caring mentors, top-notch equipment and time-tested methods to help youth realize that their voice matters and -- by extension -- they themselves matter. Our approach also sharpens reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in accordance with academica standards while also reinforcing 21st century workforce and college-readiness skills such as data evaluation, working as part of a team, digital storytelling, and deadline compliance.

We built our current studios in 2004. Over the past 14+ years, demand has increased as a result of the successful projects described above as well as the phenomenal growth in podcasting. To meet this growth and enhance availability of SLB resources and staff to Northside youth, SLB recently revised its strategic plan and has committed to a major studio expansion. In addition to doubling studio space and providing better student learning areas, we'll be expanding hours to include afternoons and evenings as well as weekends, thus being open and available at times that are most convenient for youth.

Foundations and corporate supporters have already contributed $480,000 to support the permanent studio and classroom structures we're building to meet this need. In addition to this investment, we also need to create one or more flex studios to provide a configurable space for student breakout and recording sessions. Flex studios are important as they will allow us to increase capacity while the larger expansion project is underway. They aslo will ultimately serve as a portable space that can be used to support youth in collaboration with co-located non-profits including the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and Manchester Academic Charter School.