This year’s KQED Youth Advisory Board has 20 young people, representing seven out of the Bay Area’s nine broadcast counties! This is more than just an opportunity for them to serve as advisors to KQED; they’re also producers of their very own original content for some of the organization’s most renowned programs, like Forum, the Arts & Culture Desk, and Perspectives.

KQED staff Mentors engage with the YAB in intergenerational collaboration, supporting them through all phases of production. It all culminates in  KQED Youth Takeover April 21 – 26, 2025, when youth media will take over KQED’s radio, television, and podcast channels.

YAB members develop important career skills. They learn about the exciting world of public media careers through a guest speaker series featuring KQED staff. They develop and strengthen their communication and leadership skills by adding their voices to a variety of radio, television, podcast, and digital video content KQED produces.

We asked the YAB: What interests you most about joining the KQED YAB?

Abby Kim (Contra Costa):

Joining the KQED Youth Advisory Board most appeals to me because of how this program offers a unique opportunity to amplify youth voices and engage with a variety of topics–from significant social issues to everyday concerns that may seem trivial but are still important to discuss. For me, storytelling is a skill that creates change, and I believe that KQED’s platform is an incredible way to reach a diverse audience to start and inspire new conversations about various matters.

Adan Allen (Alameda):

Media is one of the most important ways to gain information about any topic. The most interesting thing to me is investigative journalism, and how people can try to find the truth for the betterment of everyone. KQED is one of the biggest radio stations out there. The chance to learn from the best is an opportunity I would never turn down. I may never grow up to work in the news industry but the skills a journalist has are skills that would help in any field. At KQED I hope to learn about the different fields in media and how each one works.

Aghedo Treasure (Alameda):

Although I am in my junior year of high school, I am still uncertain on what I  wish to do later in my life. This program can not only help me build my communication skills but also learn more about KQED´s career paths and hopefully find one that I am passionate about.

Amalia Madrid-Lilly (Alameda):

Youth play a profound role in guiding the shifting landscape of media and journalism. In the simplest forms — via social media — youth voices can be some of the most influential. As someone who hopes to build a successful career in journalism amidst the changing media landscape, the skills honed by this experience would be invaluable. Communication, story pitching, and team-building are all critical skills for me to foster to thrive in a news environment. I believe that the Youth Advisory Board would play a significant role in building these skills and prepping me for a future in journalism.

Anaya Ertz (Marin):

I’ve come to view journalism as a kind of call and response: there’s a story “calling” out to be told, and it’s a journalist’s responsibility to respond by creating and sharing that story. KQED gives me the platform to join that “call and response” and highlight stories that affect my community. Learning from expert mentors will also help me prepare for the future and improve my journalistic skills, which will be directly applicable to my work at KQED.

Arunav Sharma (Alameda):

I spend lots of time thinking about and writing music to express how I see society, myself, and the human condition. The prospect of learning about how to produce content more professionally, working with other high school students to create a vibrant community with unique perspectives, and expressing my opinions on various issues. This program allows me to explore my beliefs about various issues in a constructive, fun environment.

Camila Lucero Nube (Alameda):

In a word: storytelling! I want to learn more about what makes a good story, like humor, and I’d also like to hear (and tell!) more stories in Spanish. I’m passionate about uplifting underrepresented communities using creative mediums (writing, speech, art). The world needs to see issues through the eyes of a teenager.  I’m also passionate about youth mental health and have spoken on this topic at the White House to raise awareness.

Dakota Colussi (San Francisco):

KQED’s dedication to quality journalism resonates with my belief in storytelling’s ability to inspire understanding and foster connection. I am eager to engage in discussions about pressing issues that impact young people and collaborate with others who share my passion for these topics. Joining the Youth Advisory Board would not only allow me to hone my journalism skills but also explore various forms of art while advocating for the causes I deeply care about. Ultimately helping to shape a more informed and engaged generation.

Guleed Allen (Alameda):

What interests me the most about KQED is truly seeing what goes into media production, from everything down to the initial brainstorming of ideas, the filming, editing, and final product of what everyone hears. For a long time I listened to the radio but I never understood what went into the production.  I would be excited to learn how to use media as a tool for positive change and to hear so many different voices and opinions, especially from younger people my age. I’m eager to collaborate with peers who have similar questions and ideas and to contribute my own perspective.

Hannah Mansouri (Solano):

I was in the Youth Advisory Board last year and it meant a lot to me because I had a rough time during the previous school year. I had been sick with severe anemia which had profoundly affected my mental health and cognition. I was more shy and timid going into the program, but this year, I feel more confident to come out of my shell and take advantage of this opportunity. I feel ready to take on a bigger role this year, where I can really voice my thoughts and collaborate.

Kayla Ling (San Mateo):

I want to tell stories of my community that deserve a platform but haven’t yet been told. I believe in the power of storytelling, particularly when it provides new perspectives, understanding, or generates action. For example, my school has a neurodiversity group dedicated to advocacy and creating safe spaces for students, alongside neurodivergent teachers. Separately, another student group is designing a cutting-edge AI-based resource that makes speech therapy and training accessible to young students. Highlighting stories like this with KQED would bring awareness to these meaningful issues.

Khadijah Ismail (Santa Clara):

What interests me most about joining the KQED Youth Advisory Board is having the platform to bring my creative ideas to life. I want to bring something fresh—through creative writing or podcasts—to inspire others to speak out and allow their voices to grow. With KQED, I see an opportunity to break that cycle of repetitiveness by introducing topics that encourage thoughtful reflection and attract engaged audiences.

Maite del Real (San Francisco):

Joining the KQED Youth Advisory Board would be a great opportunity. I will be able to collaborate on projects that are diverse and meaningful. Allowing me to enhance my communication skills, learn about social justice while being exposed to working with a public media organization like KQED. Known for its storytelling that inspires change. I want to be exposed to a community that helps shape content.

Nico Fischer (Santa Clara):

As a child, the KQED that would play in my mom’s car everyday gave me a sense of wonder in my community. I had never met most of the people spoken about, yet there has always been something deeply personal and relatable in the content that local radio produces. Public radio has been instrumental in me realizing my own power and the value of my experiences. It’s motivated to write history, participate in the political process, teach in my community, and be on the KQED YAB last year. I want to give to my community what public radio gave to me.

Olivia Ma (Alameda):

The KQED Youth Advisory Board represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity for passionate student journalists like myself to not only delve deeper into the real world and its array of people and stories, but also to carry forward the legacy of KQED’s commitment to unbiased reporting, a legacy that has consistently delivered reliable information to listeners. As part of the future generation, I firmly believe that it is imperative for the youth to remain well-informed about current affairs and to understand diverse perspectives and worldviews.

Oumou Cissé (Contra Costa):

I’ve always listened to KQED news when traveling with my dad in the car. The fact that I get to be a part of the radio station to voice my own opinions about topics is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I cannot miss. I’m excited to work with other teens to produce something amazing!

Riya Minglani (Santa Clara):

I’ve moved around the Northern bay a lot; and have lived in five to six different Bay Area cities. I’ve seen the small cultural, political, and economic differences cities have that are merely ten minutes away from each other. I want to be a part of KQED because I want to be a part of a news station that celebrates, highlights, criticizes, and questions those differences. Particularly, I think public broadcasting provides an accessible way for Bay Area citizens to learn more about where they live, and I want to be a part of a place that supports that.

Ryan Heshmati (Santa Clara):

I love the community that KQED YAB fosters! My experiences with YAB have been incredibly formative through my time in high school and I can’t imagine my life without them.

Warren Lam (Alameda):

KQED has been on my family’s TV for as long as I can remember. My brother rushes to the TV every time he hears America’s Test Kitchen, and my father loves Car Talk’s wit. KQED’s current programs are less relevant to my generation and target older audiences. I want to make KQED the platform to engage the youth in our area. I can do so through my experience.

Margaret Montag (Alameda):

I love to write – creatively and academically. It’s an outlet and expression, yes, but it’s also something I can share with the world. I think the Youth Advisory Board would allow me to write with a purpose, to be around kids who are just as passionate as I am. I want my writing to improve. I want to learn more about audio production and editorial work. I want to do something with my writing that will inform, influence, and help people (even if I’m not quite sure what that is yet). To me, the Youth Advisory Board is an opportunity to learn – the one I’ve been looking for.