AMPLIFYING VOICES. Listen Up Youth Radio is committed to bringing radio to the Twin Cites by the hands of the local youth. Freshman January Cook works as a production editor there, helping to train people and make decisions for the radio and website. (Submitted Photo: January Cook)

Listen Up Youth Radio is an organization committed to bringing radio to the Twin Cites by the hands of the local youth. It features online journalism, storytelling and media justice to anyone who listens. Internships and volunteer opportunities are available along with paid positions that help students generate media literacy.
Cook’s personal relationship with Listen Up Youth Radio started with being a producer. “I’m a part of the Listen Up Youth Radio facilitation team, so I help train people. I am like a general staff member. I also help out with reviewing and revising a lot of the legal stuff. I’m pretty much like a production editor. It’s a self-directed nonprofit so I get to kind of choose what path I want to go down,” said Cook.
Freshman January Cook who has been on staff for over a year was unsure at first if Listen Up Youth Radio was the job for them, but decided to give it a shot. Cook needed a job over the summer, and after finding a couple options through Right Track St. Paul, narrowed her options down to two. “My first choice never got back to me. And so I was like, okay, I’ll go with my second choice. Maybe I’ll have fun and then like, now I’m two years in and I am in fact having fun,” said Cook.

Listen Up Youth Radio’s goal, as a non-profit, is to encourage Twin Cities youth to share their voices through radio or podcasting. Their team is looking for anyone from 12 to 24 years of age willing to commit six months of their time to create and host their very own show. Cook said, “We are a self-directed nonprofit, which means basically everyone kind of has like a semi-equal stake in the company, and our goal is to preserve that title and also that kind of mission and as for goals in general, our mission statement is to uplift youth voices and make sure everyone is heard.”
No experience is needed to sign up for Listen Up Youth Radio. Cook explained that they are specifically looking for youth media cohorts to expand the site and radio with their own creativity and ideas. “So basically it’s like making the decisions, helping to train people during the school year, and we’re honestly kind of looking for anyone that can fill that role,” said Cook.
Working on the site involves podcast and visual elements whereas radio, still connected to the site, involves live and reactive elements.
For more information about job opportunities at Listen Up Youth Radio, go to their website or contact January Cook.