Illustration by Yunyi Dai

Colorado Public Radio | August 2021

What does it mean to be an American?

We are finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation. This #nprnextgenradio project is created in Colorado, where five talented reporters are participating in a week-long state-of-the-art training program.

In this project we are speaking to people representing a diversity of experiences and backgrounds in gender identity, physical ability, whether they are Indigenous, native born, a refugee or an immigrant without legal status—to ask what it means to be an “American.”

illustration of boy looking down from the sky and holding what appears to be a boat filled with miniature people.

Two passports, two languages and endless questions

Andrew Mendez

by ANYA QUESNEL

Anna Sofia Vera is a dual citizen of Chile and the United States who explores what it means to belong when roots in two countries lead to an ever-shifting definition of home.

 

illustration of boy looking down from the sky and holding what appears to be a boat filled with miniature people.

Serving the country that took me In:

A young veteran’s reflections on Afghanistan and patriotism

Andrew Mendez

by BENEDICT WRIGHT

Catalino “Cat” Edles’ immigrant background and experience in the military made him value the freedom of being an American. At 27 years old, Edles views America with mixed feelings of both pride and concern as he transitions further into civilian life.

illustration of boy looking down from the sky and holding what appears to be a boat filled with miniature people.

An African-Caribbean British woman plants roots in her late husband’s hometown and embraces her new American life

Andrew Mendez

by CHRISTEN ALDRIDGE

Born with Ghanaian and Barbarian heritage, in London, England, Sylvia Lambe never saw herself living in America. Now, five years after the unexpected death of her American husband, Sylvia has planted roots in America as she raises her son in the hometown of her late husband. She shares what it means to be an American through the eyes of an immigrant.

illustration of boy looking down from the sky and holding what appears to be a boat filled with miniature people.

To one Arab-American filmmaker, being American is having the possibility of change

Andrew Mendez

by IVY WINFREY

Filmmaker Usama Alshaibi came to the United States from Iraq as a child. To him, being American means being proud of who you are and where you came from in the face of overwhelming resistance.

Colorado Public Radio
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The Next Generation Radio Project is a week-long digital journalism training project designed to give competitively selected participants, who are interested in radio and journalism, the skills and opportunity to report and produce their own multimedia story. Those chosen for the project are paired with a professional journalist who serves as their mentor.

This edition of the #NPRNextGenRadio project was produced in collaboration with:

  • Managing Editor – Traci Tong, editor, Public Media Journalists Association, Boston
  • Digital Editors – Amara Aguilar, University of Southern California, Megan Verlee, public affairs editor at Colorado Public Radio
  • Audio Tech – Selena Seay-Reynolds, freelance audio engineer, Los Angeles; Patrice Mondragon, producer, Colorado Public Radio
  • Editorial Illustrators – Yunyi Dai, graduate student, School of Visual Arts, New York City; Emily Whang, freelance illustrator, Los Angeles; Eejoon Choi, freelance illustrator, Los Angeles
  • Visuals – Kevin Beaty, multimedia guy for Denverite.com, Colorado Public Radio
  • Web Developer – Robert Boos, Metropolitan State, Minneapolis

Our journalist/mentors for this project were:

  • Gabriela Saldivia, independent journalist, Seville, Spain
  • Hayley Sanchez, host/editor at Colorado Public radio

  • Isabeth Mendoza, engagement producer at KQED, Los Angeles, Calif.

  • Imana Gunawan, editor at Factal, Seattle

    NPR’s Next Generation Radio program is directed by its founder, Doug Mitchell.