A new species of hedgehog and a photo shoot featuring models with disabilities are just a couple of the topics covered on Youth Unity TV in the past few months. Watching host Sian introduce his five-minute “Science Drop” segment, it’s hard to believe this impressive young newscaster is only 11 years old, and he and his young colleagues are researching and covering important news in their community and beyond on a regular basis.
These videos are just one part of the new 2025 programming at Worcester nonprofit Pride Productions, Inc., which gives young people hands-on experience in media and TV production —and soon radio and podcasting — teaching them technical skills for media industry careers.
Ernest (Ernie) Floyd, a former College of the Holy Cross basketball star, created Pride Productions more than three decades ago, in 1994, with a mission to serve youth in and around the city of Worcester. In 2013, he introduced Unity Radio, serving the city of Worcester on 97.9FM and at WUTY.org. And in 2024, the 501(c)(3) organization relaunched with its online Youth Unity TV show for pre-teens and teens, covering education, entertainment, news, health and wellness, and much more. Students of all skill levels are welcome into the free after-school program, where they create and host their own shows and will soon learn how to incorporate audio editing, scriptwriting, and video production.
“Worcester is not a media mecca by any means,” Ernie says. “It takes a whole community to make this happen, and we’ve been through some tough times in the past. But we’ve been building momentum since 2013, when I created Unity Radio and was awarded an FCC license in partnership with the former Becker College in Worcester. We utilize studio space donated from Amy Rose Productions and casting and talent management from HumanKind, and also receive sponsorship support from United Way of Central Massachusetts. Thanks to the dedication of our supporters, Unity Radio and Youth Unity are becoming a strong presence in Worcester.”
Ernie himself has long been a presence in the city. In 1979, as a Boston English high graduate, he was offered more than 250 athletic scholarships and chose to play basketball at the College of the Holy Cross, where he was best known for a final-second buzzer-beater shot against the home team, Providence College, on network television. In 1984, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the fifth round then went on to play a year of professional ball in France. Returning home, he settled in Worcester and began working in ad sales for the local cable company. Despite the impressive network of friends and colleagues he had built in the city, however, Ernie faced a tremendous backlash in 1994 from certain Worcester residents over his initial efforts to create a community center for youth, with opponents changing zoning laws to block him and claiming he would bring a dangerous element to their neighborhood.
In the face of so much wrath, he shifted his focus, but didn’t give up. “Having grown up in Roxbury during the 1970s, I know how important youth programs are to keeping kids out of trouble and keeping them alive,” Ernie says. “I wanted to fight for young people the way others had fought for me at that age. Thanks to my mother and many mentors who saw my potential, I was exposed to music, theater, art, and sports. Later, after college, I was invited to serve on the boards of nonprofits like You, Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, and United Way of Central MA. Serving on the boards allowed me to learn about the operation of social services. I learned how to put youth first the way everyone put me first at that age. Now I see a lot of young Ernie Floyds out there who I can help.”
After 31 years, Ernie has plenty of success stories to point to for the Worcester residents who originally tried to thwart his youth programs. Pride Productions alumni include Noeliz Irizarry, Principal of Burncoat Middle School in Worcester; Mike Connell, a Santander Bank Manager in Milford; and audio engineer Lisa Chamblee who worked with Prince, Tower of Power, and Bill Withers and is cofounder and COO of Reftone Speakers. Ernie beams when he talks about current participants as well, like 11-year-old Sian, who has an encyclopedic memory, or 11-year-old Angelo, who sang the national anthem at Celtics and Worcester Red Sox games.
With his many connections and supporters in the city, including a partnership with Worcester’s Hanover Theater, Ernie helps the young reporters find opportunities to interview local and visiting VIPs. Some recent big names who have visited Unity Radio include the Tuskegee Airmen, the cast of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, the star of Respect – Aretha Franklin Tribute, and the viral sensation tap dancers the Syncopated Ladies. Youth interviews are turned into video clips on YouTube or audio clips for Unity Radio programs.
“Through Unity Radio and Youth Unity, we are amplifying the diverse voices of the City of Worcester and beyond, while giving ambitious teens the chance to build a portfolio that showcases their work,” Ernie says. “At the same time, they’re learning teamwork, creativity, self-expression, and communication skills that extend beyond the studio — that help them develop their own place and networks in our city. Our shows are true community spirit, brought to life through social media and the airwaves.”
Current needs at Pride Productions include funding/donations and tech-savvy volunteers to help manage the Youth Unity TV channel, social media, and website. For more information or to get involved, please contact Ernie Floyd at efloyd@pridepro.org or use the contact form at WUTY.org.