Staff

Ellin O'Leary, President:
In 1992 Ellin O'Leary founded Youth Radio along with a group of Bay Area high school students, based on her work as an award-winning journalist. Ms. O'Leary originally worked in youth media in 1979, as the startup Producer for Youth News in Berkeley. Previously, she was a reporter covering the White House, Capitol Hill & Foreign Affairs for Pacifica Radio in Washington, DC where she also Co-founded the Pacifica National Network, serving community stations around the country with a daily news feed. Ms. O'Leary also worked as a reporter for National Public Radio, based in San Francisco, as News Director for KPFK in Los Angeles and KRE-KBLX in the Bay Area. Later, as News Director at KQED-FM.

Jacinda Abcarian, Executive Director:
Ms. Abcarian is a graduate of Youth Radio's class of 1993. She moved from a student and peer teacher to an award winning reporter and producer. She has worked as a reporter for WRFG-FM in Atlanta and as an intern at NPR in Washington, DC. Awards include a Golden Reel from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters for Accidental Shooting, aired on National Public Radio, and the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton Award, for her producer role in the nationally aired series, Emails from Kosovo.

McCrae A. Parker, Director Of Strategic Initiatives:
Mr. Parker leads our youth development and training programs, designing and implementing integrated services for Youth Radio participants. Mr. Parker has 15 years of experience in the youth, workforce development, media policy and education fields through his previous work with organizations such as Just Think!, Children Now, the SF Department of Children, Youth and Their Families and, the San Francisco Conservation Corps.

Elisabeth "Lissa" Soep, Senior Producer & Education Director:
Ms. Soep holds a PhD in education from Stanford University. She serves as both our Education Director and as a Senior Producer in the newsroom. Ms. Soep also collaborates with other staff and youth to develop, document, and evaluate learning experiences at Youth Radio. She writes and lectures about youth culture, language, and learning for popular and academic audiences and has taught at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education and at San Francisco State University. Ms. Soep’s many publications in the field of youth media and community-based education include the University of Pennsylvania Press book, ‘Youthscapes: The Popular, The National, The Global," and articles in The teachers College Record, The International Handbook of Research on Arts Education, and most recently, The Harvard Educational Review.

Nishat Kurwa, News Director:
Ms. Kurwa leads Youth Radio's newsroom and International Desk, working with reporters in the Bay Area and internationally to produce stories for Youth Radio's local and national outlets. A graduate of Youth Radio's core class of Fall 1995, she moved on to become the producer of KMEL's public affairs show, "Street Knowledge with Davey D," and is currently also a news producer at KCBS Radio in San Francisco. In 2002, she was the co-creator and executive producer of KPFA's Islam Today, the first program by and about Muslims on U.S. public radio. In 2004 Ms. Kurwa was named a Salzburg Seminar Fellow.

Timothy McGovern, Technical Director:
Timothy McGovern is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognized by his peers in the industry as being an innovator in film sound and a leader at the top of his field, in digital engineering, studio design and cutting edge (Hollywood) production. McGovern has served as Director of Engineering for both George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch and Francis Coppola at his Zoetrope Studios in San Francisco and in Napa. He is leading efforts to integrate film as a critical component in 'converged media' as well as using new internet platforms for transnational and global production. He is dedicated to using digital technology as a pathway for diversity in the next generation of media and its producers. McGovern works in partnership with San Francisco State's Digital Film Center and is a member of the Film Board of San Francisco.

Tuere Anderson , Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Tuere Anderson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with over 10 years of experience in social work. Throughout her career Tuere has worked with multiple populations including HIV+ youth, homeless seniors, people with developmental disabilities and mental illness, and people in the criminal justice system. In addition to clinical positions, Tuere has experience as a grant writer, program evaluator, and was the Media/Outreach Coordinator for California Prison Focus where she hosted a weekly radio show focusing on issues of incarceration in addition to being a member of the Board of Directors.

Jane Barker, Bookkeeper
Originally from England, Ms. Barker comes to Youth Radio after working as Bookkeeper and Business Manager for a number of different non-profits in the Bay Area – including a memorable stint at Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, where she is now the Treasurer of the Board of Directors. She has an A Level in English Literature from the UK and has almost completed her A.A. in Accounting in the US. Even in her spare time, Ms. Barker works with numbers, assisting with Timing & Scoring for one of the Open Road Racing Organizations and competing in many accuracy-based car rallies. She is pursuing a side career in landscape photography as well.

Josh Broughton, Network Monkey/Systems Administrator:
Mr. Broughton is an East Bay native who decided he liked playing with computers more than studying in school. After working as a network administrator for a number of high-profile corporations, he decided he would salvage the small remaining piece of his soul by working in the basement of Youth Radio, keeping the backend of the IT systems running smoothly.

Cari Campbell, Production Director:
Ms. Campbell is in charge of maintaining Youth Radio's high production standards and managing studio operations. She also teaches engineering skills to our Core and Bridge classes. She has a MFA in sound and sculpture from Stanford University, and has worked on an extensive selection of radio shows that have aired locally and nationally. In her free time she like to fly to far off tropical islands to DJ.

Kareem Chadly, Director Of Marketing:
Kareem first found Youth Radio while he was in high school in 1995. He graduated from our CORE & BRIDGE classes and did a brief stint as an intern. However, financial pressures forced him to leave Youth Radio for paid employment, and after high school he enlisted in the Air Force. After three years in the military, Kareem returned to Youth Radio to participate in REMOTE, our media training program for older youth. It soon became apparent to Youth Radio staff that Kareem could make an important contribution to our externship program and he was invited to become a paid Program Associate. In a short period, Kareem secured internships for a number of YR’s prime students at Clear Channel, La Kalle, and began a partnership with the Oakland Tribune that will lead to a monthly piece in the Tribune by youth from YR. He quickly became a full time project coordinator, and began hosting a weekly radio show (MakinendzMeet Monday’s from 2-3pm) on YR’s iTunes stream.

Joseph Davis, IT:
Mr. Davis keeps our technology up to date and helps keep our computers running. He is also currently coordinating our efforts to develop the Mind Body Health Center facility in our new headquarters in Oakland. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Mr. Davis is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and has a strong interest in promoting access to alternative health modalities to under-served communities.

Ben Frost, Music Production Project Coordinator:
Mr. Frost is a graduate of Youth Radio's class of 1995 and currently teaches music production to our beginning and advanced students. He holds a B.A. degree in Politics from UC Santa Cruz and has experience working with youth from his jobs with The Crowden School, and Destiny Center for the Arts. Mr. Frost spent a year abroad in Paris where he attended the Sorbonne University, and later returned to produce a French hip-hop/raga album. His production credits include work on various albums in the Bay Area, as well as producing music for plays performed in local venues and the Hip-Hop Theater Festival.

Sara Harris, Producer:
Ms. Harris leads Youth Radio L.A. and produces for Youth Radio in Mexico. She has produced and reported for "Marketplace" and WNYC's "The Next Big Thing" and comes to Youth Radio after freelance reporting in Mexico and Southern California. Ms. Harris received her M.A. in film history and theory from the University of Amsterdam where she worked at the local public radio station. She is the creator/producer of AudioPostales, a bilingual radio exchange between youth in Tijuana and Los Angeles.

Joe Hirsch, Producer:
Mr. Hirsch leads Youth Radio Atlanta, producing commentaries and reports with teenagers in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Hirsch came to Youth Radio after working as a national television producer for the Fox News Channel and ABC News. Prior to several other TV jobs, he spent years running an outdoors program at a summer camp - and is glad to be back with teens again.

Anyi-Malik Howell, Production Assistant/Reporter:
Mr. Howell graduated from Youth Radio’s young adult program in 2004. Currently, Mr. Howell is a reporter in the newsroom. His recent productions include reports from the Million More March in Washington D.C., Barbara Lee’s town hall meeting on the war in Iraq, Ronald Dellums Inauguration, and a Remembrance of slain journalist Chauncey Bailey. Mr. Howell also earned, along with other Youth Radio Producers, the New York Festivals 2007 “International Radio Programming & Promotion”, Gold award for Social Issues/ Current Events as well as their 2007 Grand Award for Best Information Program for his contribution in Youth Radio’s “Race in Your Face” series. His NYF award winning piece about racial profiling, titled “DNA of the Black Experience,” also earned a bronze medal from the United Nation’s Department of information, along with the other pieces in the series. In addition to his excellent journalism, Mr. Howell also performs comedy and hip-hop under the name King Anyi.

Patrick Johnson, Director Of Communications:
A graduate of Youth Radio’s class of 1998, Mr. Johnson went directly to Howard University in Washington DC where he gained a BA in Broadcast Journalism and a Minor in Sports Administration. Mr. Johnson has experience working in television production at the Hip Hop Zone, television programming at WHUT (PBS affiliate), in radio through WHBC-830 AM and in print journalism through his position as sports editor for Contra Costa College’s newspaper, The Advocate as well as a freelance reporter for the District Chronicle. He has traveled to Switzerland to study hip hop culture among Swiss youth. Mr. Johnson currently serves as Youth Radio’s Director of Communications.

Dione Lien, College-Readiness Associate:
Dione joined Youth Radio as an AmeriCorps member from UC Berkeley providing individual academic and career support to Youth Radio participants. A recent graduate in Psychology and Social Welfare, Dione continues her efforts in preparing students for college by organizing informative workshops and planning trips to local college campuses. In her spare time, Dione loves to travel and enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Stephanie Martija, Outreach Associate:
Ms. Martija is a graduate of Youth Radio's class of 1999. Ms. Martija has experience working in the promotions department of Wild 94.9 and the advertising department of KMEL. She has been involved with the Asian American Journalists Association and is a recipient of a Kids Who Care Award for her volunteer work.

Rebecca Martin, Senior Producer:
Rebecca Martin leads our national network which includes Youth Radio bureaus in D.C., Los Angeles and Atlanta, and youth correspondents who represent the diversity of the American landscape, coming from both urban and rural parts of the country. Before coming to Youth Radio in 1998, she was a producer for Public Radio International's "The World," working with correspondents around the globe including Africa, Europe and Latin America, and producing special series from Northern Ireland and Cuba. She was also a producer at National Public Radio, working with reporters and newsmagazine hosts on interviews and field production. Rebecca also worked at CNN in the Special Reports unit, contributing to documentaries on Native Americans, Generation X and the O.J. Simpson murder trial. In college, Rebecca was news director at KALX radio at the University of California Berkeley.

Brandon McFarland, Music Production Instructor/Reporter:
Since he joined Youth Radio in 2003, at the age of 17, Brandon has helped plan national youth media conferences, and has participated in iGrid 2005, the groundbreaking international conference designed to accelerate the use of multi-10Gb technology to advance scientific research. His commentaries about “Sagging” and “Spanking” aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, and have sparked much audience feedback.

Kristin Michaels, Administrative Associate:
Ms. Michaels is currently updating our management information systems and provides administrative support to the development team. Ms. Michaels earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She has since worked with non-profits in program evaluation, management information system design and securing governmental and foundation support. Her previous work includes the East Bay Community Recovery Project, The Center for Applied Local Research, the Behavioral Counseling and Research Center, the East Bay Conservation Corps, and the Museum of Children's Art.

Tapan Munshi, Web Radio Producer:
Tapan Munshi was originally a student of Youth Radio's Fall 1997 class. Upon graduation from that session he went on to pursue several internships with various companies, including Gavin magazine, Hieroglyphics Imperium and 98.1 KISS FM. He currently works as a producer for Youth Radio's Saturday morning KPFA program, and oversees Youth Radio's web radio station via I-Tunes.

Brett Myers, National Network Field Producer:
Brett Myers is a producer for our National Network which includes Youth Radio bureaus in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., as well as our collaborating partners throughout the country. Before coming to Youth Radio in July of 2006, Brett worked both as an independent producer and with three other Peabody Award winning radio institutions including, Sound Portraits Productions, StoryCorps, and The Kitchen Sisters. He received a BFA in Photography & Imaging from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and was named one of the top 25 photographers under the age of 25 by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.

Clare Robbins, Field Producer & Workshop Trainer - Los Angeles:
Before joining Youth Radio, Ms. Robbins worked as a production assistant for NPR's Day to Day, and before that created and produced a weekly radio program about the media for WMHC radio at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She is an accomplished anti-racism trainer, and active member of the Los Angeles-based multiracial performance art collective Tribe of the Diasporas. She has spent time in Mexico and Cuba, and served as translator for an immigrant-run housing rights organization in Los Angeles for over a year. In addition to producing radio with Los Angeles youth, Ms. Robbins has also reported on the South Central Farm in Los Angeles, a punk rock market in Mexico City and "privilege awareness groups" for white people.

Mike Rubio, Director of Operations:
Mr. Rubio returns to Youth Radio after a 3 year hiatus. He began his career at Youth Radio in 1999 as the Community Outreach Manager and coordinated all of Youth Radio’s outreach programs. In January of 2005, Mr. Rubio was hired by Alameda County to help launch Youth UpRising, a 25,000 square foot youth leadership development center in East Oakland. He was Youth UpRising’s Program Director for 2 ½ years before he was named the Managing Director.

Erik Sakamoto, Director of Youth Programs:
Erik comes to Youth Radio after working for six years in community based non-profits focused on juvenile justice, youth development, youth activism, and technology education. Since Erik is a native of Oakland, his work has primarily focused on youth from the local community. Supporting their development is the role he wants to play in creating change. This past year, Erik led a class at McClymonds High School and was responsible for implementing a peer justice program as an alternative to traditional school discipline. He is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Psychology.

Luis Sierra, Outreach Producer
Mr. Sierra leads Youth Radio’s Los Angeles bureau training classes and community outreach. He is a graduate of Youth Radio LA’s class of 2003. Soon after he completed his training he was part of a team of reporters who covered the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Since then, he’s filed local and national reports on immigration, politics, and HIV/AIDS issues in LA. Before joining Youth Radio, Mr. Sierra worked with a number of community organizations with a variety of focuses including: multi-media, youth development, homelessness, women’s health, HIV/AIDS prevention-education, and HIV vaccine research. Mr. Sierra is currently working on completing his degree in Philosophy with a minor in Medical Anthropology.

Denise Tejada, Video Instructor/Reporter:
Denise is a graduate of Youth Radio's class of 2003. At 17, Denise now teaches video production skills for the new Youth Radio students. Denise is currently producing much of the immigration coverage for Youth Radio. Her video feature, Mission District Diversity, recently won the My City Now Future Filmmaker Contest as part of KQED’s Education Network.

Wilmer Tejada, Online Associate Producer:
A graduate of Youth Radio's class of 2003, Mr. Tejada moved from a student to web intern and peer teacher. Currently, Mr. Tejada updates our website, creates scripts and images, and teaches advanced online skills to our web interns. Mr. Tejada is also an accomplished photographer-his photos of San Francisco's Mission District have been showcased in Washington, D.C. at the National Geographic Society. Mr. Tejada is a student at Contra Costa College and San Francisco State University.

Julius Toledo, Development Associate:
Mr. Toledo is Bay Area native and holds a B.A. in Sociology and Asian American Studies from UCLA. As President of UCLA Samahang Pilipino Mr. Toledo has worked on various campaigns aimed at increasing admission of underrepresented communities at UCLA, Justice for Filipino American Veterans, and Immigrant Rights. As a prominent leader in the Filipino Community, he was featured in the art exhibit, “I am Today’s Filipino”, and can been seen on the KLCS station in Los Angeles as a co-host of “College Buzz”, a public access television segment for high school youth. Mr. Toledo also volunteers at the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco where he leads writing/music workshops for youth from the ExcelsiorDistrict.

Jason Valerio, Project Coordinator of Media & Broadcast Training:
Mr. Valerio currently coordinates our on-site training programs. As a graduate of the “infamous” Youth Radio fall class of 1997, he went on to graduate from the University of San Francisco with a B.S. in Business Administration. While attending USF, he became the General Manager of the school’s student-run station, KDNZ 88.1 FM. Outside of Youth Radio, Mr. Valerio is an artist/producer who has worked with prominent Bay Area artists in helping to change the soundscape of today’s popular music.

Surmiche “Memi” Vaughn, Receptionist:
Ms. Vaughn graduated from Youth Radio’s core class of 2000. She moved on to become an intern for Youth Radio. Ms. Vaughn attended Clark Atlanta University and is currently pursuing a degree in criminal justice.