Vocalo Partnership Program

Chicago is a city with a rich tradition of cultural diversity and distinct neighborhood identities whose residents vary widely in economic and educational status, ethnicity, and age. As it stands, many Chicagoans are underrepresented in traditional public radio audience demographics and underserved by mainstream media, specifically youth, African American, Latino, Asian and South-Asian communities.  

Vocalo wants to change that, and has targeted the next generation of public media consumers in Chicago—the Millennials—with programming and event strategies that embrace their interests & lifestyles.   More specifically, the audience we seek to engage is the most ethnically and racially diverse generation in U.S history, making up 50% of the 18-49  demographic, and 45% referring to themselves as non-white.  Generations, like people, have personalities, and Millennials are positive, motivated and sensitive to topical issues. We recognize that and are committed to creating a public media service for a new generation.

Beginning January 2011, there are two concrete elements of a new formalized Partnership program which 21 community institutions have agreed to collaborate with us on; this opportunity was presented both to existing Partners looking to deepen their involvement with the station and new Partners wanting to engage in a long-term, mission-based relationship.

The Vocalo Remote Broadcast Program is a new show concept that brings live radio out into the community for conversations with real people in real time. Coming to you each Friday from Carter's Barbershop in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barbershop Show is your weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic. Hosted by The Chicago Reporter's Kimbriell Kelly, the show is broadcast on 89.5FM each Friday from Noon-1pm.

Second, there are now 10 Vocalo Content Partners, which are community organizations working with Vocalo to generate content for broadcast use across the various shows and dayparts of the Vocalo 89.5FM broadcast.  Contributing content in a variety of ways, these Partners are assisting Vocalo in the station's mission to broadcast the stories, ideas, interviews and commentaries from throughout the region, produced by listeners.

Click here to learn more about participating Partners.

For more information, contact Breeze Richardson at 312.948.4653.