Youth Express Teen Media Flex Studio

Since co-locating our radio studios to the Children's Museum in 2004, our youth programs have expanded beyond our wildest dreams. Over 500 students annually visit our studios to share original writing, music, conversation and more. We've coached youth as they've created 50+ radio documentaries, five of which have won national awards. The Saturday Light Brigade (our flagship radio program) brings our Northside work to seven radio stations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and beyond. Three weekly podcast series showcasing immigrants, youth, and African American men from Pittsburgh are distributed worldwide. Ten full-time employees work with 3,000+ students annually at locations throughout greater Pittsburgh area. 

And we need to be doing more...and will be soon. But we need more studio space first. 

In 2019, SLB will triple our space for audio production, education, podcasting and broadcasting. We've raised nearly $500,000 from generous foundations and corporate donors to support the major construction. As this construction is completed, we need to simultaneously create a special flex studio -- a configurable and portable space for student breakout and recording sessions. The flex studio will allow us to increase capacity while the larger expansion project is underway and, once complete, will continue to 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.

1. Complete specs, obtain final bids, and order new booth.

2. Order new audio control board and editing stations.

3. Install all equipment.

4. Begin piloting equipment during our annual Mother's and Father's Day cardmaking project

5. Make needed modifications and have in use for Summer 2019 teen media camps
 

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.