Erin Van Ness writesThere’s No Place Like CHIRP

Over the course of our Fall Membership Drive, we’re sharing some of the inspiring stories we receive from our volunteers and members. Today, one of our inaugural volunteers describes how CHIRP helped make Chicago a place to call home.

I stumbled across CHIRP within a few months of moving to Chicago in 2007 and found out later that I was one of the first volunteers. CHIRP was a lifeline to me when I was new to the city and played a huge role in Chicago gradually becoming home. The fact that those were early days for CHIRP has always amazed me, because right from the start, the organization felt so much bigger than the sum of its parts. I’d been involved in community radio and DJing before, but I was a little intimidated at first by how organized and visionary that initial group was. And yet, at heart it was just a group of music and broadcasting nerds passionate about what they loved and determined to create something great for the city.

My very first job out of public policy school was at Radio Free Europe, and if I’m honest with myself I took that job because of the R.E.M. song, because I wanted to go to Prague (I did), and because I wanted to be on air (I never was). Several years later I’ve accidentally found a broadcasting gig. When people ask me if I would want a career in radio, I say I have one, at CHIRP—ultimately a far more meaningful endeavor to me than commercial radio. And when friends ask me if I plan on staying in Chicago, the CHIRP community is at the very top of the reasons I’ve decided this is home.

The best part about CHIRP to me is the DJs’ desire to share their love and enthusiasm. No matter how obscure or how mainstream your tastes may run, there’s an underlying respect and curiosity about different musical tastes and genres, and I hope that comes across in our programming. No one’s ever laughed at me for liking Falco!

—Elizabeth Ramborger
Volunteer, DJ, Board Member, and Donor since 2007

Agree that CHIRP is a vital service worth supporting? You can always:

• Learn about volunteering CHIRP Radio is always accepting new volunteers. No experience in radio required—just an enthusiastic attitude and a willingness to pitch in!
• Become a member CHIRP needs more than just birdseed to run the station. Show your support by becoming a member today!
• Share your story What does CHIRP Radio mean to you? Let us know and we may feature your story in future materials!