St Simons Radio INC

This will be a Jazz format Radio Station which there is none in the here in our community.

The lack of local career pathways and the poor language skills of youth impede their chances of finding rewarding and high paying employment that can lead to a lifetime career as it has done for me.

Coastal Georgia has been severely impacted by the global pandemic. Tourists are drawn to the local beaches and fuels the food and service industry which comprises the majority of employment opportunities. Pandemic driven lockdowns closed non-essential business, schools, including the service industry. Small businesses, many minority owned, had more difficulty recovering from the impacts. Although recovery dollars were available, applying for the funds required a relationship with a bank, technology skills and access to the internet. Our youth and their families are struggling to adjust, to find meaningful work, and to complete an education. 

• Our demographics will be ages 14-18.

Not at this point!

Ms. Neely is a veteran Radio Personality wishes to invigorate neighborhood revitalization by sharing her knowledge with a teaching facility. Along with other Media Professionals the program will help youth in the Golden Isles Community become more proficient in media from learning how to speak to expressing themselves and becoming  air personalities at a real Radio Station. The teaching facility will be located in Rise Risley, the home of the community’s State of Hope initiative. State of Hope is an initiative that seeks to encourage nonprofits, philanthropies, government, business and communities to collaborate closely to build local safety nets that will prevent conditions that contribute to disparities in education, threaten a family's self-sufficiency and could lead to child abuse and neglect.  Program goals include providing access to education, improving caregiving, reducing trauma and supporting mechanisms that will help families become economically self-sufficient; and supporting neighborhood revitalization efforts. 

The location of the teaching facility is important. The Rise Risley building Is the former campus of Brunswick's first public school for African Americans. Opened in 1870 as the Freedmen's School, the name was later changed to Risley School to honor Captain Douglas Gilbert Risley, who raised funds for the school's construction. In 1923 the adjacent building, Colored Memorial High School, was built and named to honor African American veterans in World War I. In 1936 Risley High School was built on site of the 1870 Freedman's School and remained in service until 1955 when a new Risley was constructed. Both the Colored Memorial School and Risley High School are landmarks of African American education in Glynn County. These landmarked historic building are in the heart of Glynn County's greatest poverty, blight crime, low educational levels, high jobless rates and poor health outcomes. The school buildings are in the center of hundreds of public housing units.

The program is in the pilot stage of development with prospective start date of June 1, 2022. The solution models he Truist Inspire Award by providing an innovative project that will grow racially diverse small businesses in coastal Georgia. Young people will have many career opportunities in broadcast, journalism, marketing, the film industry with the skills learned in the program. Located in the State of Hope community initiative, participants will have access to other small business owners and key stakeholders including investors, policy makers, local government officials and most importantly, mentors with relevant experience.

Partners include the Boys & Girls Club  of Southeast Georgia to help train kids that may not have a media center in their school, or maybe feel that don’t have the qualifications for those classes. The program vision is to help kids find a voice through the world of Radio by doing real on-air radio shows, voicing Commercials, creating Podcasts, and eventually adding digital publishing as Bloggers.

Partners include the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia to help train kids that may not have a media center in their school, or maybe feel that don’t have the qualifications for those classes. 

The Island 94.7 is a format we call in radio a disposal income format..  Our listeners tend to be more affluent, and are willing to give donations and sponsorships. 

The location of the teaching facility is important. The Rise Risley building Is the former campus of Brunswick's first public school for African Americans. Opened in 1870 as the Freedmen's School, the name was later changed to Risley School to honor Captain Douglas Gilbert Risley, who raised funds for the school's construction. In 1923 the adjacent building, Colored Memorial High School, was built and named to honor African American veterans in World War I. In 1936 Risley High School was built on site of the 1870 Freedman's School and remained in service until 1955 when a new Risley was constructed. Both the Colored Memorial School and Risley High School are landmarks of African American education in Glynn County. These landmarked historic building are in the heart of Glynn County's greatest poverty, blight crime, low educational levels, high jobless rates and poor health outcomes. The school buildings are in the center of hundreds of public housing units.

With the radio station being in the community, and Black owned it will give the community a sense of accomplishment, as well as other Black own businesses.

Ms. Neely is a veteran Radio Personality with 38 years in the media industry and wishes to invigorate neighborhood revitalization by sharing her knowledge with a teaching facility. Along with other Media Professionals the program will help youth in the Golden Isles Community become more proficient in media from learning how to speak to expressing themselves and becoming  air personalities at a real Radio Station. The teaching facility will be located in Rise Risley, the home of the community’s State of Hope initiative. State of Hope is an initiative that seeks to encourage nonprofits, philanthropies, government, business and communities to collaborate closely to build local safety nets that will prevent conditions that contribute to disparities in education, threaten a family's self-sufficiency and could lead to child abuse and neglect.  Program goals include providing access to education, improving caregiving, reducing trauma and supporting mechanisms that will help families become economically self-sufficient; and supporting neighborhood revitalization efforts. 

The Team I've chosen are dedicated to helping the youth in this community improve in their communication skills as well! Mr. Armstrong has been in the Radio Industry for over thirty years. He knows all facets of radio. Mrs. Smith is very well know in the business community here in the Golden Isles.

With me being on the radio here in this community for 10 years, and having my online radio station together our qualifications will help make my dream become our reality. 

To the program the Theory of Change recognizes that to empower a community, opportunities for education and economic development must be offered. Elements that bring about comprehensive change in a community include economic development, racial equity, policy/systems change, adult education and empowerment, health and well-being, youth leadership and empowerment, community development, and land preservation.

We will be partnering with The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia.. They have a Club dedicated to our teens.