[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Next Gen: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#c1a972″ custom_padding=”2%|0px|2%|0px||” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Time of Covid Row: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”15px|0px|22px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||” custom_width_px=”1280px”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”NextGenRadio” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Oswald|||||on|||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”60px” header_letter_spacing=”5px” header_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center”]<\/p>\n
Finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation.<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”In the time of COVID: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#4cbbf8″ header_2_font_size=”37px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”87px|||||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Texts: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”Oswald||||” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-30px|||” locked=”off”]is a set of audio and digital stories highlighting the experiences of people whose lives have changed dramatically during the pandemic. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/P4xHS1Z7Jug” admin_label=”YouTube Video” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16px”]<\/p>\n Sean Francis owns the only music store in central Wyoming. He is providing education, equipment, and inspiration to those interested in learning when the community has been apart during the pandemic for over a year.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”HERO IMAGE OPTION 1: Background image: DELETE IF NOT NEEDED” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/taylar_ard.jpg” background_blend=”multiply” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”12%||39.4%|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px||3px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px||6px|||”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Illustrator credit” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Illustration by Ard Su [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px||35px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”Oswald||||||||” title_font_size=”42px” title_letter_spacing=”2px” title_line_height=”1.2em” meta_text_color=”#04a3e3″ meta_font_size=”18px”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n The snow is piled outside the small yellow shop. The signage outside says \u201cDiamonds, Jade, and Indian Jewelry\u201d because the building used to be a jewelry shop. Now, it holds a different sort of precious commodity: musical instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n Sean Francis is teaching a lesson inside. He and his student are nestled between where Francis rehearses with his band and various instrument repair projects. The student drove half an hour through the snow to get here because Fremont Music is the only music shop for hours in any direction.<\/span><\/p>\n Francis grew up in Lander and is a member of the Eastern Shoshone tribe. The Wind River Indian Reservation is right next door, and Francis serves music aficionados of all ages. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR_Sean-MASTER.mp3″ title=”Listen to this story” artist_name=”Taylar Stagner” album_name=”Next Generation Radio: Indigenous | March 2021″ image_url=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR-PHOTO-04.jpg” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3251a3″ hover_enabled=”0″ title_text=”TAYLAR_Sean MASTER” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/4AfNbYGkNrM” admin_label=”Video: Sean Francis” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Francis\u2019 appreciation for music started when he was small. He started playing drums at age 5 and could keep time with Alice Cooper and Def Leppard songs. That started Francis on lifelong journey.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was self-taught. I started playing when I was 11, playing guitar I should say,\u201d Francis said. \u201cThat was when I started to really get serious about it and started to be able to have the finger strength to start playing chords.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Francis went to the University of Wyoming to study music performance and has worked for some literal rock stars. Ronnie Bedford, a world-renowned New York drummer from the \u201870s, was his instructor. After graduating, he became a touring musician and was on the road constantly.<\/span><\/p>\n But while touring was fun, he often thought about the old music shop where he used to work. He kept thinking about home and what it would take to settle down but continue doing what he loves.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt just kind of felt it felt natural,\u201d Francis said \u201cI knew that I had a lot to learn about, you know, how to essentially be an administrator in this business.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n After he opened in the fall of 2018, Francis had 15 students for lessons in guitar and drums and two employees. Business was good, with a recording studio in the works.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then the pandemic hit. And the music world of rural Wyoming became even more isolated.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR-PHOTO-01.jpg” alt=”Fremont Music store front” title_text=”Fremont Music in early March 2021. (Photo by Taylar Stagner)” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Fremont Music in early March 2021. (Photo by Taylar Stagner)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR-PHOTO-02.jpg” alt=”Fremont Music owner Sean Francis sits down with a student” title_text=”TAYLAR-PHOTO-02″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”983px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Fremont Music owner Sean Francis sits down with a student from a town over to go over scales on the guitar. (Photo by Taylar Stagner)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Francis had to let go of his employees, and it was no longer safe to do in-person lessons. <\/span><\/p>\n He and his partner, Melia Rohrbacher, contracted COVID-19. While Francis had mild symptoms, Rohrbachr had to go to the emergency room multiple times because of her compromised immune system.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it was bad, but I don\u2019t think I ever let my mind actually think about what might happen to her. I would stay in the car for hours waiting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t allowed to go in with her.<\/p>\n To feel further isolated during the pandemic was difficult, Francis said. But after a month, his partner pulled through, although she still experiences shortness of breath and fatigue months after contracting COVID-19.<\/p>\n Francis turned to music to help deal with the stress and uncertainty. He describes music as a spiritual experience that unites people during difficult times.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR-PHOTO-03.jpg” alt=”Sean Francis stands with his guitar” title_text=”TAYLAR-PHOTO-03″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”884px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|0px||||”]<\/p>\n Sean Francis stands with his guitar among the drums in his Fremont Music store front. (Photo by Taylar Stagner)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n \u201cI think what keeps me so invested in music is the opportunities that come about to connect with other musicians as well. To paraphrase the bass player for the Minutemen,<\/span> music is a righteous fabric with which to bind people,\u201d Francis said.<\/span><\/p>\n A year after the start of the pandemic, Fremont Music is open for in-store browsing, and Francis has a few lessons drive in from surrounding towns. Both he and his students have to wear masks and socially distance, but he is happy to be back making music with others.<\/span><\/p>\n His <\/span>mom, Jodie Francis, helps take care of the retail side of things, and his stepdad, Bill Hastings, helps fix guitars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fremont Music is the only repair shop around for miles, and repairs kept his business afloat in the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven though we weren’t necessarily selling a lot of instruments and things like that, people all of a sudden found themselves with a ton of time on their hands,\u201d Francis said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span><\/i>And so basically every broken-down guitar or banjo or ukulele within 100-mile radius came in, which was good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n But he hopes that he’s helping people get into music. If something good has come out of the year in isolation, it’s getting to help someone else find a lifelong hobby in playing an instrument.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text 4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n \u201cSomething that I really love about being kind of the central resource for music in a rural area is basically that you get the opportunity to introduce a lot of people to their first instruments,\u201d Francis said.<\/span><\/p>\n He still remembers the feeling of getting his first guitar. And helping others discover makes him feel as if he\u2019s channeling something bigger than himself, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like picking up a guitar and speaking music into existence,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/TAYLAR-PHOTO-05.jpg” alt=”Sean Francis, a Native business owner” title_text=”TAYLAR-PHOTO-05″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1063px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|0px||||”]<\/p>\n Sean Francis, a Native business owner providing a safe environment for central Wyoming music aficionados, stands in his store front. (Photo by Taylar Stagner)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer – DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e09900″ background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_image=”https:\/\/naja-nextgen2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/03\/D9bslBjWsAAYa6v.png” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_module=”24″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Footer Row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” animation_style=”fade” make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”100px|10%|100px|10%” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald||||” link_font=”||||||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#04a3e3″ header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||4%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texts” _builder_version=”4.6.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||6%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n\u201cIn the Time of COVID-19\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nAbout NextGenRadio<\/h2>\n