17-year-old Radio Rookie Edwin Llanos has grown up in neighborhoods where police officers stop and search kids all the time -- and a lot of those kids don’t trust cops to help when they're in need. Last year, when Edwin got into a tough situation, he wasn't sure who to turn to.

With joblessness at a 26 year high, many people across the country are getting a crash course in coping with the stress of not having a steady pay check. Rookie Reporter Erikka Diaz, like many of her neighbors in South Bronx, has lived in poverty her whole life. Her family knows well the anxiety that comes with constantly having to scrape enough money together to pay the rent, buy groceries, and have enough left over for all the things kids want, like going to the prom, or a new pair of sneakers.

For Jesus, it’s one of those nights when you’re young that almost sends your life in an entirely different direction. This is a story about the most basic kind of survival.

Ten years ago my high school was rated one of the twelve most dangerous in New York City. Back when I was in junior high I heard it was still like that, that people got stabbed, jumped, even killed. It sounded more like I was going to jail instead of a school. Now that I graduated I see the school as a safer place. But I wasn’t sure if the school actually was safer or because I’m older now I know how to defend myself.

Amina isn't proud of it, but she readily admits that she gossips a lot. Like the girls in the movie Mean Girls, Amina and her friends do it all the time. She jokingly says it's like "Muslim Girls Gone Wild." 

The New York City subway system is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Midwood Graduate Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh reports on what subways mean to teenagers in the city.

Allison spends her time in two very different Brooklyn neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights where she works and goes to school, and Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) where she lives with her family and gets teased for "talking white."

Angely has family in the Dominican Republic, and she goes there every year for vacation. She adores the DR and often wishes she lived there, instead of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. But many Dominicans, like Angely's father and grandfather, immigrate to New York for a "better life." Angely's not sure they're making the right choice.

Marisa, leftist teen activist, tries to start a youth activism group on Staten Island and learns a few things about what does and doesn't sway the conservative masses.

Marisa was mentored by Subrata De.

Mary Fory moved to Queens from Colombia. Now she lives among immigrants from many different countries, but she's noticed that even those who speak Spanish tend not to hang out with each other.

Jiovan goes on a quest to better understand what kind of impact the Bush administration will have on his friends and family.

My story is about how there are not enough free things for kids in my neighborhood to do after school.

My story is about how easy it is for kids in Bushwick to get guns. I interview gun dealers, my principal and crime fighters.

Janelle Lewis is 19-years-old and her report tracks her lifelong quest: figuring out whether she's American or Trini, or both - and why.