High Points: The Andy Zanka Youth Empowerment Program

In this day and age, many people have a favorite podcast. Others have a favorite television program or series that they stream.

Me? I have a favorite radio program. That may sound quaint in the age of the internet, but I love to tune in my radio each Wednesday afternoon to Carbondale’s KDNK and listen to AZYEP, also known as the Andy Zanka Youth Empowerment Program.

If you know AZYEP, you know it. If not, this is a great time for your new summer discovery that will change the way you think about radio programs.

AZYEP is a kid-hosted, two-hour radio show that airs weekly on KDNK. DJs, who range from ages 8 to 18 and attend local schools throughout the region, lay down their favorite tracks from an eclectic selection of music.

The DJs all have the freedom to play what they want, and the playlists are as creative and varied as any you will find on any station. The breadth and depth of musical tastes that come from the collection of DJs that are this young is amazing. There are sets that might include the jazz stylings of Charlie Parker, a metal track from Def Leppard, rap music from Common, and reggae from Bob Marley, ending in an electronic dance music riff that ties it all together. These kids know their tunes, and they take each turn as a host seriously.

But AZYEP is about much more than just music. KDNK provides six hours a week of varied programming. In addition to the weekly live music broadcast, there is a public affairs desk, a youth news team, and collaborations that take place in local public schools from Aspen to Rifle. The authentic enthusiasm of the young DJs is inspiring as they take listeners through their jams and interviews with musicians, fellow AZYEP DJs and interns, and members of the community.

Students also learn the technology of the business of live radio as they work the boards producing their own programs. There are workshops and radio camps that are available for youths that, according to the AZYEP mission statement, “empower youth from diverse backgrounds to express themselves, build self-confidence, and develop leadership skills through community broadcasting.”

It is hard to believe that AZYEP has been around since the turn of the century, and it just keeps getting better. This year, the program is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and it remains a fresh and vital part of the Community Access Radio mission of KDNK.

The program was founded in 2000 by Annemarie Zanka as a tribute to her brother, Andy Zanka. Andy grew up in Carbondale and spent much of his childhood in the studios as a youth DJing in the KDNK studios. Unfortunately, he committed suicide at the age of 21 in 1998 due to mental health issues, but his legacy lives on through the contributions AZYEP has made to kids’ lives. To this day, there is a mental health component to the mission of AZYEP as it holds roundtable discussions about the subject and works with local organizations like the Aspen Hope Center to foster awareness for mental health options in the community.

To date, over 8,000 young people have interacted with this incredibly unique organization, and over the last quarter century millions have tuned in to the broadcasts.

There is one more AZYEP Radio Summer Workshop this year from Aug. 4-7 on environmental podcasting and storytelling. It is open to students in grades 8 to 12 and provides a “four-day crash course in radio podcasting and written storytelling with a focus on local environmental issues.” The workshop is presented in association with the Sopris Sun newspaper. The cost is $300, and there are partial scholarships available. Go to azyep.org for more information.

And there is one more thing you can do: AZYEP and KDNK are both funded by donations from businesses and the community. With the recent cuts to federal funding of public media, those donations mean more than ever before. If you love AZYEP programs in particular and value KDNK’s contributions to the sound of music in this valley in general, then consider making a donation to either or both organizations. Just go to azyep.org and kdnk.org and hit the donate button.

Keep the music playing and the news coming.