Provided photo Radio Keweenaw founders Annamarie Sysling and Andrew Ranville in the Radio Keweenaw studio in Calumet.

HANCOCK — The Keweenaw Community Foundation is announced the creation of the Radio Keweenaw Fund, a new endowment dedicated to supporting the long-term sustainability and community-centered programming of Radio Keweenaw, a developing low-power FM radio station rooted in Calumet.

Radio Keweenaw began as a kitchen-table conversation in 2023, sparked by a shared love for public media and a deep appreciation for the Keweenaw Peninsula’s cultural and ecological richness. When co-founders Annamarie Sysling and Andrew Ranville discovered a rare FCC application window for new low-power FM stations, they seized the opportunity, taking the first steps toward building a radio station grounded in and shaped by the local community.

“Radio Keweenaw’s mission is to celebrate and preserve the history of the Copper Country while exploring the possibilities that exist as our region continues to evolve,” said co-founder Sysling. “We want to create a space for place-based audio postcards, archival interviews, sound-rich educational programming, and the many creative ideas our neighbors bring to us.”

Why the Fund Matters

The Radio Keweenaw Fund will help ensure the station’s long-term financial stability by supporting essential operational needs, including annual music licensing, emergency alert services, equipment, and electricity. As grant funding fluctuates year to year, this endowment provides a reliable foundation for thoughtful, community-driven growth.

Radio Keweenaw is intentionally being shaped by local residents. Nearly 150 community members shared ideas through a 2024 input survey, contributing to early program development and future goals that include:

• Free community reporting workshops with visiting audio professionals

• An audio gear lending library

• Weekly open hours for storytelling and oral histories

• Building an on-air studio space in downtown Calumet

“I believe that community-shaped independent media helps people connect more deeply with the place they call home, and can inspire a sense of joy, pride, and deep appreciation for that place,” said co-founder Annamarie Sysling.

How to Support

Community members can support Radio Keweenaw in many ways such as sharing ideas for programming, content submissions, partnerships, or volunteering.

To make an online donation to the Radio Keweenaw Fund, visit https://keweenawcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1660

To get involved with Radio Keweenaw or share program ideas, email: community@radiokeweenaw.org