Empowering Youth & Connecting Community: How the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority Grant Helped CMPRadio.Net

At CMPRadio Foundation, we believe in giving young people opportunities and connecting our community to resources that create real change. Last year, thanks to the $10,000 grant from the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority (DCIGRA), we were able to do just that by hiring youth to work at CMPRadio.Net during the summer and by launching Fusion Friday, a community-driven event that brought non-profits directly to the people who needed them.

Creating Opportunities for Youth

With this funding, we were able to hire young people and give them hands-on experience in media, broadcasting, and community engagement. These students weren’t just interns they were on-air personalities, content creators, and media producers.

What Our Youth Learned

✔ Conduct interviews with community leaders and organizations.

✔ Edit and produce podcasts that highlighted local issues and solutions.

✔ Manage live broadcasts and facilitate important conversations.

✔ Engage with their community in a meaningful and impactful way.

For many of these young people, this was their first real job experience. It wasn’t just about learning media skills it was about developing confidence, leadership, and communication skills that will carry them forward in life.

Hear From the Youth

💬 “Working at CMPRadio wasn’t just a job it was a chance to use my voice. I got to interview people and learn about real issues in our city. I feel like I made a difference.” –Youth Intern

💬 “Before this, I never thought about media as a career. But now, I know this is something I want to do. I learned so much, and I had fun doing it.” –Youth Intern

Fusion Friday: Bringing Non-Profits to the People

Beyond providing jobs for youth, the DCIGRA grant allowed us to launch Fusion Friday, an event series dedicated to bridging the gap between non-profits and the Chester community.

Too often, resources exist but don’t reach the people who need them the most. Fusion Friday changed that. Instead of expecting people to find services on their own, we brought the organizations directly to them.

What Fusion Friday Accomplished

✔ Hosted local non-profits at a central, accessible community space.

✔ Connected residents with vital services such as housing assistance, job training, financial literacy, mental health support, and youth programs.

✔ Created a welcoming environment where people could ask questions and get real solutions in real time.

✔ Gave our young media interns the chance to conduct interviews and spread awareness about these important services.

Community Voices on Fusion Friday

💬 “I came to Fusion Friday not knowing what to expect, and I left with resources that helped my family. I didn’t even know some of these programs existed.” – Chester Resident

💬 “We connected with so many people who needed our services. It was a great event, and I hope CMPRadio keeps doing this for the community.” – Local Non-Profit Representative

Why This Grant Mattered

This $10,000 grant helped us:

• Empower young people with real-world skills and experience.

• Provide media training that can lead to future careers.

• Strengthen community connections by making resources more accessible.

It wasn’t just about a one-time event or a summer job—it was about planting seeds of change that continue to grow.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to the success of last year’s program, we are more committed than ever to expanding both our youth employment opportunities and Fusion Friday. We want to reach more people, bring in more resources, and continue using media as a tool for empowerment.

We are deeply grateful to Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority for their support and belief in our mission. This funding didn’t just support CMPRadio.Net it supported an entire community.