Summer Youth Podcast Academy

Teenage girls Ishya and her sister Fatiha are certainly not new to catcalling. But what goes through a girl's mind when some random guy on the street refuses to give up? Ishya Washington is a rising senior at Baruch College Campus High School in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. She is an active member of her school’s track club, ASL club, Black & Latino Student Union, and debate team! When Ishy...

School should be a safe haven for children that not only fosters the development of education but growth too. It's close to impossible to maintain this standard when having to battle the media's negative input. Kids of color are allowed to make mistakes, we shouldn't have to fear being judged by the public because of it. That's the lesson the kids of Urban assembly school for Law and Justice and m...

This episode is an exploration of the most historic and oldest tavern in New York City, Neirs Tavern. Queens, Woodhaven a tight knit community is home to Neirs for over 190 years and throughout this episode you’ll get to hear the story of how this historic jewel was saved from closing — one of its defining moment that demonstrates the power in community. Marvin Lezama is from Queens, NY a recent A...

Mia has been exposed to many mysteries, but this one was the kicker. Join Mia on her ancestry discovery, where she is told the story of the man that everyone once called “Melvin Jackson.” Mia Jackson is a rising senior at the High School of Fashion Industries. She is the founder of the podcast, “What’s on the Rack” and became the president of her school club, “Fashion with A Purpose”. She is very...

In this episode, Jayden speaks with Octavio—an electrician from Curacao—who takes us on his journey from suffering uncompensated injuries as a non-union worker, to leading a movement to unionize his workplace. Jayden Williams is a rising 12th grader at Bard High School Early College Manhattan. He is always looking to make new friends, is the leader of his school's Badminton Club, and loves playing...

A fire destroyed Wesley and his brother Rob’s home when they were younger. In this episode, the two recount the event and reflect on the experience. Wesley Almanzar is a student at Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice. He is a helper, fun person to be around, and a geek at heart (ranging in topics from movies, superheroes, etc). Whenever he’s free he likes to make music and if the weather...

Koudjedji and her mom love Koudjedji’s little sister, Maryam. But taking care of a child with severe autism poses many challenges. Koudjedji Coulibaly is a student at Lehman College in the Bronx. She is a part of Teens Take Charge. She loves to watch anime, cook and write poetry from time to time.

After discovering that his grandfather was a “freedom swimmer”—one of thousands who fled from mainland China to Hong Kong in the mid 20th Century—Edward decided to uncover the full story. Edward Mui is a student at The Brooklyn Latin School. He is very involved with his schools’ clubs such as the ASA (Asian Student Alliance), Student Senate, Key Club, Safe Talk, and Volleyball Team. In his free ti...

Mental health should never be disregarded. It took a pandemic, a botched virtual showcase, and a single brave voice for Danielle’s dance class to realize this. Danielle Sanois is a student at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, NY. At a Performing Arts High School, she attends as a dance major where she studies dance in addition to her academic studies. She is an active member in her schoo...

In New York City, metal detectors exist disproportionately on campuses with predominantly Black and Brown student populations. In this episode, Ana and her friend Lucki describe how it feels to pass through these scanners every day at school. Ana Carmona is an undergraduate student at Cornell University with an anticipated major in Performing and Media Arts from the Bronx, NY. Ana is deeply passio...

If you want to be an activist, you have to be prepared to “do the internal work,” and “have confidence in yourself and what you’re advocating for.” In this episode, Cheyenne and her friend Firdaws reflect on their activism experiences and share their most important tips. Cheyenne O’Meally is an Afro-Latina organizer/activist and artist from the Bronx. She studies psychology with a minor in black s...

Elsabet speaks with Kamal Johnson—the first Black mayor of Hudson, NY—about his journey to becoming elected, and what he has learned since stepping into this historic position. Elsabet Franklin is a high school student activist in New York City. For her podcast, she decided to interview someone who inspires her: Kamal Johnson, the first Black mayor of Hudson, New York. His words and actions contin...

In this episode, Yolainel shares the moment when she first felt at home in her new foster family, and what she hopes other young people in similar positions can take away from her story. Yolainel Jaquez Heredia is a student at the High School for Climate Justice. She is a prideful New Yorker with a dream in advocacy.

Youssef Hasweh, 19, is a Palestinian/ Moroccan first-generation college student at the University of Chicago. Born and raised in Brooklyn he serves as a Social Media Specialist at JUV & a Marketing Intern at Going Places Careers. Youssef has developed a student leader advocacy program with over 80K followers where he shares resources regarding college equity and access. He is passionate about crea...