What do you get when you combine a volunteer-run radio station serving the diverse community and people of St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood and an enthusiastic Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) employee passionate about youth, community and public service? You get an informative, insightful, upbeat and inspiring radio show called Community Connections with Qiana!

As the ethnic and racial disparities coordinator for the Youth Justice Office within DPS' Office of Justice Programs, I wanted to create a platform to address disparities in fresh and intentional ways. Community Connections with Qiana (CCQ) is a bi-weekly radio show that addresses Minnesota's ethnic and racial disparities while promoting positive community and government relationships. CCQ highlights the resources and opportunities available to support all members of our communities thriving!

CCQ will air the first and third Fridays of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. beginning May 3. For the first show, I will be interviewing my highly esteemed Youth Justice Office colleagues: Youth Justice Office Director Callie Hargett, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) Compliance Monitor and Title II Grant Manager Precious Lowery, and our Health and Resiliency Coordinator Melissa Dau.

Through the relationship with WFNU Radio Co-Executive Directors Philip Gracia and Katharine DeCelle coupled with support from the leadership of the Office of Justice Programs, I am excited for this opportunity to engage the public in a unique and meaningful way. I want to highlight the great work of our wonderful employees in our state agencies! I want to share with the public about the resources that state government has available that many people may not be aware of.

WFNU Frogtown Radio broadcasts at 94.1 FM in St. Paul and is available for your listening pleasure online, 24/7 all over the world via the Frogtown radio app. For more info visit www.wfnu.org and tune in!​