Youth-Led Narrative Power

Provides a forum for free expression of ideas for residents of Rochester, NY through community media platforms and programming.

Provides access to media tools, technology, and training in TV and radio production, editing, podcasting, and web design for individuals in Rochester, NY, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, religion, or heritage. Offers fee-based classes and workshops for adults and youth aged 16 and older, with certification for studio use upon completion.

Produces virtual fundraising events and presents awards to community producers for excellence in programming, such as the Community Producer Award presented to Lashawndra Ashford for her show "Shameless Talk."

Launches international "Freedom Is" contests to raise funds for the "Build Strong Children" Statue Project and features juried entries on RCTV Media Center's social media and TV channels.

Provides members with discounted access to TV studio, editing lab, podcasting lab, meeting spaces, and Adobe Creative software, supporting independent media creation and production.

Operates RCTV, a community-focused television channel available on Spectrum Channel 1301, and WXIR 100.9 FM, an urban alternative radio station broadcasting in Rochester, NY, providing programming focused on local issues and concerns.

Produces and publishes informational videos on topics such as dating, STIs, and pregnancy featuring health educators, and creates bilingual family literacy video series and public service announcement campaigns for community health organizations.

Produces award-winning documentaries, podcasts, music videos, narrative films, and youth-produced media content, including public service announcements and special event broadcasts for community partners.

Supports youth-led research and media production, including a six-month project involving archival work and interviews with local media professionals of color, resulting in the creation and distribution of the podcast series "Black Radio Rochester" with weekly episodes broadcast on WXIR 100.9 FM and online.

Provides biannual scholarships to student-athletes in New York who demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, and community service, with award eligibility tied to verified community service hours.

Hosts public speaking events, creates digital media content, and collects youth-led service stories nationwide through the Fuel the Movement initiative to promote volunteerism and civic leadership.

Produces annual reviews that document progress across youth leadership programs and social justice campaigns, highlighting community empowerment outcomes and youth-led impact.

Conducts workshops in New York City schools and community organizations, engaging 20–30 youth per session on topics such as identity, self-advocacy, and leadership, facilitated by trained YA-YA youth facilitators.

Provides monthly testimonies at the NYC Panel for Education Policy to influence school safety policies, particularly regarding metal detectors and Chancellors Regulation A-432, based on student experiences and youth-led research.

Produces ongoing media campaigns since 2018 featuring interviews with students, teachers, parents, and community members about their experiences with school metal detectors and visions for restorative justice, aimed at shifting public narrative and policy.

Offers holistic leadership development programs for youth ages 15–19 in New York City, including anti-oppression training, political education, organizing skills, and identity development through in-person workshops and peer collaboration. Programs include an 18-week fellowship and a 7-week summer program meeting multiple days per week, with participants receiving modest stipends to support their economic participation.

Provides modest financial support to youth participants in leadership and community-building programs, including a $100 monthly stipend for Action Committee members and stipends during the summer program, to reduce economic barriers to participation.

Supports youth in designing and leading self-directed advocacy action projects and participating in campaigns to end the school-to-prison pipeline and advance racial, social, and economic justice. Includes direct actions, policy advocacy, and community impact initiatives led by youth organizers.