By Khilola Radjabova

Em Eason is the director of Skilled Craft Programs at The Beam Center, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people to explore their creativity and develop hands-on skills through collaborative projects in making and learning using tools like drills, welding torches, circuitry, sewing machines, and more. Em reflects on their journey from a small town in Colorado to leading exciting youth woodworking programs in NYC. Discover how woodworking and power tools empower teens, how Em’s approach to teaching has evolved, and an exclusive inside look at Beam’s transformative programs.

Khilola Radjabova graduated from the International High School at Prospect Heights and is an incoming freshman at Hunter College, where she will study psychology. Hilola enjoys reading romance books and watching action, adventure, and fantasy movies such as Supernatural and Teen Wolf. She was a part of the badminton team for the past three years, which usually played during the spring, and she hopes to start her own badminton club in college. Hilola likes to meet new people, share experiences with them, and listen to others.

The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.