Mentors

Ayana Contreras

Radio Mentor

Ayana works in sound. Before coming to the Digital Youth Network as an audio production mentor, she hosted Chicago Public Radio’s “Global Overnight” program (culling news from voices around the world). She was also a host/producer at Vocalo.org (which feeds a Chicago radio station with user-generated audio pieces). She is a sound designer, having worked on projects presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art and a variety of plays.

Ayana’s passions also revolve around sound: She collects records (LPs & 45s) and enjoys discovering (and telling) the stories behind them, especially those recorded locally. She often produces the audio into sound-rich podcasts. Ayana can be found DJing righteous soul, funk, jazz, and otherwise raucous 45s at clubs, taverns, and a bakery around Chicago. She also loves teaching young people how to produce their own podcasts and radio-ready audio pieces that reflect their issues, their stories, their struggles, and their successes.

Ayana’s influences include her collection of old Ebony Magazines, audio producer Dmae Roberts, overheard CTA conversations, the ever-changing color of Lake Michigan, audio engineer Bruce Swedien, the syncopation of Gwendolyn Brooks’ work, and the get down.