The mission of the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program (AZYEP) is to develop leadership, multiculturalism and identity by providing training and opportunity to youth in community broadcasting.
AZYEP partners with KDNK, Carbondale Community Access Radio. Together, we give voice to youth ideas, experiences and events through teaching a high school radio broadcasting class and putting youth at the controls of KDNK for five hours each week of radio programs in English and Spanish. We also partner with local teachers to broadcast projects students create in school.
High School Class
AZYEP partners with KDNK Community Radio to teach a high school radio broadcasting class available to students from Aspen, Basalt, Roaring Fork, Bridges, CRMS, Glenwood Springs and Yampah Mountian high schools.
The class meets Wednesday afternoons throughout the school year. The class utilizes production and broadcasting equipment at KDNK. Students learn marketable, technical and journalism skills and create a vibrant public affairs radio programs throughout the semester.
Students recieve credit towards graduation and create an audio resume.
Tune in to KDNK the second Wednesday of each month from 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. to hear radio broadcasting students discussing issues important to them. You can listen to the programs on our website by clicking on the links to the right.
Weekly Youth Radio Programs
Tune into KDNK to hear our youth radio programs. AZYEP broadcasts in English on Sunday afternoons from 1:30-2:30 and on Monday afternoons from 2:30-4:30.
On Thursday nights, we broadcast in Spanish from 7-9 (MST).
Classroom Partnerships
AZYEP partners with teachers throughout the Roaring Fork Valley to give students to opportunity to share what they are learning in school with the greater community.
This Spring, AZYEP recorded and broadcasted eigth-grade students from Glenwood Springs Middle School who wrote original poetry and stories about the genocide taking place in Darfur, Africa. Glenwood Middle School students also wrote and recorded spoof commercials that broadcast on April's Fools Day.
In May, AZYEP began a partnership with Rifle Middle School. Fourteen students participated in two field trips to KDNK. On their first visit, students learned about community radio, interview skills, writing for radio and using portable recording equipment. Students checked out AZYEP's portable recorders, collected audio and than returned to KDNK to finish producing their segments.
For the fourth year, AZYEP partners with Laura Hardman at Glenwood Springs High School. Her sophomore English class writes "This I Believe" essays. Students select the top ten essays and those students get to record and broadcast their work.
For more information or to get involved in the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program, please call Stacy Stein, Executive Director at 963-0139.
