Community Connections
My HCC Story – Zydalis Bauer '09
This story also appears in the Spring 2022 issue of The Connection, the HCC college magazine.
"In my first semester at HCC, I started an internship at WGBY, now NEPM. I was part of their Latino Youth Media Institute. I haven't really left the station since that first semester.
I've worked in a lot of different departments inside WGBY, starting in production. I learned everything behind the cameras, how to work the equipment, and things like that. Once that year-long internship finished I started working in community engagement on "Presencia," what was then a new local bilingual series at WGBY. The idea was to create a program that could serve as a gateway for Latinos in the area who were interested in media, to help them gain experience in broadcast television and create a pipeline for careers.
It works. Two years ago, I joined the "Connecting Point" team as a host and reporter. Last year I was promoted to main host.
I had always known that I would go to HCC right after high school. I didn't look anywhere else. I was born and raised in Holyoke. I still live in Holyoke today. It was a natural transition, and it made sense. It was still home, it felt right, and turned out to be one of my most amazing experiences. If I could I would have stayed there for four years. I was so sad to leave. It was just such a good community, a very welcoming environment. I finished up at Westfield State University. That was a super easy transition.
At HCC, I took some communications and media-related classes, journalism, writing, and public speaking. I am a naturally shy, reserved person. Those courses pushed me out of my comfort zone and prepared me for this role. The biggest thing that I hope anybody else who's Latino-Latina-Latinx and from Holyoke learns from my experience is that you can get a position like this and you don't have to go to an expensive, four-year college far away. I got this education literally in my backyard. It was super affordable. I didn't have to move away.
People have said to me, "Go to New York, go to Boston or some bigger city." No. I'm working right here in Springfield, doing the job that I always dreamed about with my community, telling their stories on the air. That's one thing I offer that they didn't have before - a door to this community. They trust me, because I'm part of their community. And I genuinely care and want to share their stories because I understand their stories. And I went to a community college. I think that's the coolest part."
Zydalis Bauer '09 is the host of "Connecting Point" on New England Public Media.
