WORCESTER, Mass. - Independent community radio stations offer a platform on the airwaves for people from all walks of life to share their passions, and in Central Massachusetts, WCUW 91.3 has managed to remain strong through decades of changes in the media landscape.

Depending on when you tune in, the station could be playing polka, soul, African melodies, ska, worship music or dozens of other genres. Executive Director Troy Tyree first volunteered at WCUW in 1984, and said part of the station’s charm is its unpredictability.

“It’s like with television,, you tune in, you don’t like what you’re watching, just turn it off or turn somewhere else,” Tyree said. “Same thing with us. If you don't like it, just turn away for a few minutes or a couple hours and come back.”

WCUW used to be located on the Clark University campus, but settled into its current location on Main Street in Worcester back in 1980.

It’s a building overflowing with history - shelves upon shelves of vinyl records, old posters of artists, and dusty boxes filled with decades-old newsletters.

Although it can sometimes feel like you’re stepping back in time, a dedicated team of volunteers have ensured there’s still a place in the modern world for all of it.

Tyree said roughly 70 different volunteers help fill the airwaves, each one with their own passion, and each striving to serve their community.

“Anybody that walks through the door wanting to get on the air, we’re going to make every effort to see that that happens,” Tyree said. “We have programmers that have been here for 35 years. We have actually one programmer who was part of the Clark University station, he started there in 1967 and he still has a radio show today.”

Tyree said WCUW typically offers anywhere from 2,000 to 2,200 unique songs per week, from wildly varying genres and cultures.

In a world of algorithms, streaming and ease of access, the station has proven there’s still a market for something a bit more homespun, and plenty of people eager to share what they’ve been listening to.

“The volunteer is your neighbor, they very well could be the person next door to you,” Tyree said. “They simply have a love for a particular genre of music, be it folk music, rock music or blues.”

WCUW also operates a record store on their site, and are currently working to revamp a small live venue as well.

On June 4, the station will host an opening reception at its Harold Stevens Gallery from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for Kofi Poku’s photographs of the contemporary jazz scene.