Youspeak Radio is an audio project that explores intergenerational conversations with community trailblazers, led by LGBTQ+ youth. In this project, youth participants produce audio stories through their voice and viewpoint, addressing their concerns regarding the past, present, and future. Youspeak Radio is an extension of the Youth Ambassadors for Queer History program organized by One Institute.

Each youth participant interviews and is paired with an LGBTQ +adult leader through a process managed by staff in order to ensure youth privacy and safety. Over a four-month period, participants acquire knowledge in storytelling, audio documentary, and oral history, in addition to learning about LGBTQ+ history and collections from partner institution ONE Archives at the USC Libraries.

Our 2023 conversations, available on Soundcloud, feature Mike Bonin, Mimi Hoang, Terence Alan Smith, Valerie Spencer, Amy Sueyoshi, and Dorian Wood.

Questions? Please email Trevor Ladner, Education Manager, at tladner@oneinstitute.org.

Join us using the hashtag #youspeakradio

Youspeak Radio 2024 possible with generous support from the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund and David Bohnett Foundation. Previously, the project has funded by California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About banner image

Image: Promotional image, One Institute.

Music: “Living Life” by Scott Holmes, Creative Commons licensed (CC BY-NC 4.0) on FreeMusicArchives.