What We Do
Prevention Education that ROCKS!
Road Radio USA is an award-winning live interactive multimedia Prevention Education program that shares a powerful message about the true impact of underage drinking and other drug use in a unique way that youth truly connect with. Our program incorporates popular & trending music & media with facts, statistics & powerful testimonials.
Our mission is to spread the word about the true impact of underage drinking & other drug use through prevention education programs that are available for FREE to schools & youth organizations. Our goal is to inform and embolden youth to think critically and make empowered, intelligent decisions about alcohol and drug use.
Throughout their youth, teens will face decisions about whether to drink alcohol underage or use drugs. We emphasize the consequences & impact that teens’ decisions have on their lives & the lives of others.
Road Radio USA has been Mixin’ the Music with the Message for over 30 years! During this time, we’ve reached over half a million students.
Road Radio USA is:
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FREE: Whether live-streaming or live on stage, all Road Radio USA programs are FREE to schools and other youth organizations.
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Evidence-Based: Research shows that prevention education programs, like Road Radio USA, that incorporate strategies like story-telling and testimonials, are effective in changing adolescent drug use behavior and attitudes.
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Effective: Road Radio USA is Prevention Education that WORKS!
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Entertaining: All the essential elements of effective prevention education are expertly blended with popular and trending music and videos in an immersive concert-like experience that kids LOVE.
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Engaging: We know it’s difficult to hold the attention of a young audience! We’ve specically crafted our program to capture – and hold – the attention of young minds throughout the complete show.
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Empowering: We do more than just share facts and statistics! Road Radio USA helps youth reinterpret what they think they know about drugs and alcohol. We provide them with the knowledge to think critically and make an informed, confident, empowered decision to avoid underage drinking and other drug use.
The Story of Jimbo in Stereo & Road Radio USA
Introducing Jimbo in Stereo
JAMES E. MOTHERSBAUGH, JR.
James E. Mothersbaugh Jr. is a seasoned stage and theater actor and radio personality. He has an impressive resume, including several degrees focusing on theater and broadcasting:
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Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Bloomsburg University
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Associate degree in Broadcasting from the Williamsport Area Community College
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Stage Performance credential from North Central Michigan College.
In addition to his education credentials, his experience reflects a life-long passion for live performance that started when he was in high school. Though he doesn’t describe himself as a strong student academically, Jimbo says:
I was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing football and tennis.
In the off season I participated in as many plays, musicals, and live performances as I could!
Jim couldn’t get enough of performing in front of an audience! He participated in American Musical Theater in the early 1980’s. Jim’s passion for performance was so potent he planned to delay his senior year of high school to travel with the Young Americans. He auditioned for and was awarded a spot in this exclusive musical, dance, and theatric troupe that tours performing for audiences all around the world. The Young Americans invited Jimbo to attend American Musical Theater (AMT) at Northcentral Michigan College. Jim remained a member of these groups for several years.
Throughout college and afterwards, Jim worked in the radio industry in a variety of different positions: news reporter, DJ, and advertising sales. Overall, Jim spent 12-plus years in the radio business honing his now well-known radio persona, Jimbo in Stereo.
Pretty impressive, right?
But that’s not the creation story of Road Radio USA.
It all starts in February 1984:
When Jim was a senior in high school, he was one of four teens in a car involved in an alcohol-related single-vehicle crash. Jim’s friend riding in the front passenger seat was killed. The driver and the other rear passenger were injured. Jim was critically injured, suffering from triple trauma. He was transported via MedEvac to Geisinger Medical Center where it was determined he was paralyzed with three crushed vertebrae. He stayed hospitalized, in a coma, for over three months. Doctors prepared Jim’s family for the likelihood he would not survive his injuries, let alone walk again.
Somehow, miraculously, Jim not only survived his injuries but after multiple surgeries, medical procedures, and countless hours of physical therapy – Jim WALKED. Recognizing the miracle and blessing he was gifted and wanting to turn this tragedy into something meaningful, Jim knew he needed to share what he learned from the experience with others. He drew from his past background in stage and radio, consulted with a variety of experts: drug and alcohol counselors, local, state, and national politicians, medical experts, and countless others and created the foundation of the program we all now know as Road Radio USA. Its purpose: to share Jim’s story with teens so they could learn from his past mistakes.
After his initial recovery in 1990, Jim began giving speeches and presentations at middle schools and high schools in Lycoming County, PA and beyond about preventing underage drinking. This led to recognition in 1991 when Jim was nominated for and awarded the PA Governor’s Alcohol Highway Safety Award. After much trial and error, Jim debuted the first official Road Radio USA performance in 1992. In 1995, Road Radio USA was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization.
*Jim acknowledges Chris Smith for her thoughtful nomination for the PA Governor’s Alcohol Highway Safety Award.
Want to hear more about Jim’s road to recovery? Tell your school or youth organization that you want Road Radio USA!
COMMUNICATE
Dropping the Beat along with Truth Bombs!
We mix the music with the message in an engaging edutainment presentation that includes trending and popular music and music videos from yesterday and today.
COLLABORATE
We work with schools, youth organizations, businesses, adolescents, parents, coaches, mentors, educators and administrators, other non-profits, and news and other media to help spread the message about the realities of underage alcohol and other drug use.
Together we can accomplish SO MUCH. Collaborate with us!
CONNECT
We connect with youth because our message isn’t candy-coated!
It is REAL and POWERFUL and shared in a meaningful way through emotional, sincere real-life testimonials and stories.