The Eichelberger Center for Community Voices is WYSO’s award-winning public radio training program and storytelling initiative. Through intensive hands-on workshops, participants learn the craft of audio journalism—from interviewing and script writing to editing and voicing. The result: powerful, personal stories that reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of life in southwest Ohio.
Since its founding in 2010, Community Voices has trained hundreds of local residents, educators, students, and nonprofit leaders to tell stories from their own communities. The series centers voices often left out of mainstream media and uplifts first-person narratives that deepen public understanding.
Whether you're hearing a story about immigration in Dayton, a family legacy in Springfield, or a local artist’s journey, Community Voices brings you closer to the people who shape the Miami Valley.
Want to become a storyteller?
Learn more about Community Voices workshops
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MilitaryArmy veteran Veronica Shields found art after the pandemic. "It's such a nice way for us to not only express ourselves, but communicate," she says of her creative work. -
Yellow Springs author Scott Geisel talks about "Orca's Call," his new mystery set in the Pacific Northwest. Will Nils and Bly become the start of a new series? Listen. -
MilitaryOhio Army combat veteran Mary Skrenta now teaches art to fellow vets. "I've learned with the help of art to turn the trauma and the struggles into victories," she says. -
Ohio Navy veteran Candise Baker says she found healing from military sexual trauma through her art. "My hands are busy, then my mind is free." -
From WYSO Youth Radio, to Blue Skies and Tailwinds, and more, our community producers have created some incredible podcasts this year. -
Army veteran Gladys Lawrence has discovered painting, drawing, and creative expression through Ohio VA's Whole Health Program, finding healing through multiple art forms. -
The weeks before the Wright Brothers' historic 1903 flight were filled with broken shafts, fierce weather, and a three-day journey to North Carolina's Outer Banks. -
MilitaryHeather Seymour directs Ohio's Veterans Arts Initiative, offering classes in painting, music, leathercraft, and more to support veteran mental health and reduce suicide. -
Ohio Army veteran Leni D. Anderson taught himself to paint after leaving the military. His work has appeared at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and galleries worldwide. -
Marine Corps veteran Zack Sliver turns his military experiences into folk rock music through Operation Encore, a nonprofit connecting veteran musicians with the industry. -
Air Force veteran Daniel King uses lens-based art and workshops to help fellow veterans express complex feelings. He showcased his work at Ohio's Veterans Art Exhibition. -
Photographer Dan Patterson recalls his extraordinary 1990 flight aboard a B-17 bomber from the film "Memphis Belle" — and the moment the pilot let him take the controls.
