SLB Radio Productions, Inc.

SLB uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and validate the voices, ideas and stories of youth and other people whose voices often go unheard. We believe in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy and engagement often lacking in other media, while promoting opportunities for privacy, equal access and sharpening of important life skills (e.g., speaking, listening, creative/critical thinking, empathy, confidence, cooperation and technical curiosity).

SLB began pursuing its mission in 1978 with The Saturday Light Brigade, a Saturday morning public radio program blending acoustic music, performances by youth and adults, participatory puzzles, on-air calls, and interviews with other nonprofits serving youth and families. Programming grew substantially between 1990 and 2000 as SLB built a strong, loyal audience and won 10 local, state and national awards. During this period, SLB also began to increase its technical and self-expression workshops for children and youth from 5 to 18 years of age. This period of growth culminated in our transition from an all-volunteer organization to a 501(c)(3) in April 2000.

In 2001, SLB entered into an agreement with Children's Museum of Pittsburgh to establish office and studio space in the museum as part of its expansion. In 2004, with support from the broadcast industry, foundations, corporations and individual donors, SLB opened its $250,000 studio and training complex. This complex has since emerged as a hub of community and educational activity. Our work today focuses on (1) continued production of The Saturday Light Brigade radio program and its extension as a vehicle to promote youth voice in our region and (2) school and in-studio workshops in which experienced facilitators, broadcasters and sound engineers work with children to explore self-expression as well as the tools used to collect and process audio into a creative work. Our radio network has grown from one to eleven stations covering 15 Pennsylvania counties. Since our 2004 relocation, weekly broadcasts in a typical year feature 400-plus youth musicians and actors, 100+ family and youth oriented nonprofits, and over 50 professional performers. Our workshop programs also have undergone significant growth. We have developed workshops focusing on areas such as audio technology, public speaking, documentary creation, oral history collection, interviewing and other subjects for youth in multiple Pittsburgh Public Schools, scout and youth groups, after-school programs, independent schools and charter schools. In a typical year, over 5,000 children and youth attend SLB workshops.

In 2012, SLB launched Pittsburgh Youth Media, a program that recruits a diverse cohort of 20 to 40 high-school students to cover Pittsburgh-area organizations and events throughout the summer and following school year. The program serves as a method of bringing students from different neighborhoods together as well as exposing students to subject matter, neighborhoods and people they likely would not otherwise have encountered. Students work products are primarily print pieces (although some radio documentaries and videos are also produced). Work is published at pghyouthmedia.org and made available to the media.

In 2015, SLB launched Youth Express, a 24/7 internet radio station carrying original youth writing, music, discussion and podcasts. Since its inception, Youth Express has carried the voices of over a thousand youth to streaming and on-demand listeners at youthexpress.org.

To date, 2016 has been one of our busiest years with active projects in over fifty schools and community centers.

Testimonials

[SLB] has developed community-based programming that empowers young people. There are very few other media-related groups that impact as many kids. - N.G.

The Saturday Light Brigade is a true treasure to Pittsburgh. The opportunity it provides to children and the enlightenment and entertainment it gives to listeners of the show is invaluable. My children were on the show almost 2 years ago and are still thrilled to talk about it. - K.C.

I have seen SLB radio in schools, in community, in studio, and working with kids ranging from kindergartners to high schoolers. The fundamental respect and genuine interest that SLB takes and shows its audience and its participants are consistent no matter where they are and what they do. I have worked with 4 different members of the team over the last 5 years, and each and everyone is highly skilled and extremely collaborative. - J.L.