KVSC 88.1 FM has launched a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week webstream radio station dedicated to the Central Minnesotan Somali Community. Dubbed St. Cloud Somali Radio; this online radio station is housed in the KVSC studios on the campus of St. Cloud State University and funded by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy fund.

“The idea for St. Cloud Somali Radio started in the last two years,” said Jo McMullen-Boyer, KVSC 88.1 FM Station Manager. “After learning more about the rapidly growing immigrant population of Somali in Central Minnesota; it became clear there were very few artistic and creative outlets to learn more about Somali culture, customs, news and music.”

There are approximately 8,000 Somali immigrants living in St. Cloud and surrounding communities. St. Cloud Somali Radio aims to serve as the cultural and heritage hub of Somali music, feature programming and important cultural lessons including bi-lingual language translation for the region.

SCSU alumnus Ben Prchal was hired in September of 2012 as the Program and Training Coordinator of St. Cloud Somali Radio. Prchal has taken charge of the project by reaching out to the Somali community to create programming and assist with the technical programming to launch the online radio station.

“We are primarily using groups in the St. Cloud area as methods of outreach as we approach the launch of St. Cloud Somali Radio,” Prchal said. “Specifically, we have been in communication with the St. Cloud Somali Salvation Organization (SASSO), the Islamic Center of St. Cloud (ICSC), and the Somali Student Association at SCSU. As we ramp up to the launch, we will be working to spread the word about the station and share what we’ve spent our time building here.”

Once the station launches, St. Cloud Somali Radio will be increasing their efforts to recruit volunteers to create programming that will cater to the Central Minnesotan Somali Community.