Radio Rootz

Radio Rootz trains teens in NYC, Washington D.C., and the Gulf Coast to critically analyze the media and create their own compelling stories and quality journalism

Combining the media arts, leadership development, and a media literacy curriculum developed over eight years, Rootz youth create news that reflects their voices, issues, and communities. Youth gain core radio production skills such as writing for radio, researching, interviewing basics, and voicing a story. Through Rootz ‘n Schoolz to the Summer Media Organizing Program to the Leadership Training Institute, Rootz Youth are preparing to be the next generation of media makers and civically engaged leaders.

ROOTZ YOUTH CHAMPION THE SLOGAN
"OUR WORLD OUR MIC!"

Through our programs youth participants learn, understand, challenge, and create media.

"The training and access Radio Rootz provides is critical to increasing diversity in the media. Radio Rootz helps children of all ages feel comfortable enough with themselves to let their voices be heard."

-Kristal Graham, Rootz SMOP '07

"If you're going to experience media everyday, why not experience it in a cool and creative way while learning some valuable lessons about how media can work for or against you?"

-Mera Beckford

Rootz youth have created documentaries on access to higher education for undocumented students, reported on their fears about their parents' potential deportation and youth opinions on immigration reform, and provided extensive youth coverage of the spring immigration rights rallies. The kind of high-level media training that Radio Rootz provides is rare; it is rarer still in immigrant communities and low income communities of color.

Rootz employs an “each one, teach one” model –in other words, we are all teachers and learners: as youth are trained in radio production or how to critically analyze the media, they become trainers themselves. This is done through tiers of individual and group leadership development, meaningful mentoring, and professional development.