Presenting - The Candidatesby Frank Ferris, Kathy Rueve and Adrienne Lauby
(2686 words)
What follows is a digest prepared by Folio volunteers of each candidate's statement and response to seven questions; they give a taste of the individuals, but readers should realize it is far from the feast to be found in the original materials. These are available for viewing at www.kpfa.org. Due to the volume of material, ballot packages could only include each candidate’s 150-word statement. Listen for the candidates as they speak for themselves on KPFA. As Kris Welch said, "There’s not a single dud so far."
John Anastasio, a 23-year listener, helped organize a union at his job and has journalism, business and activist skills. He wants more "supplies and modern equipment at the station," and feels "the lack of Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander [input] is a crisis." He would like to air a weekly no-gag-rule call-in show, to give the LAB oversight of the station manager, and to consider a "direct action" showdown to take control of the station. As for under-represented groups: "We must find the progressive component of the target community that can make a change in those listeners’ lives, and broadcast it."
Robin Ruth Candace would like a program devoted to alliance building because the survival of "progressive change itself is dependent on making and keeping alliances in integrity with ourselves and each other." She’s organized women and anti-imperialists, journeyed to Nicaragua during the war, was part of the Concord 30 trial and other civil disobedience actions, and has fought for a union at her workplace. She is a white woman with anti-racism training and a commuter who wishes for rush hour "traffic reports." She would bring skills for productive meetings to the LAB and expects "lots of hard work!"
Alice Chan would like a "cutting edge arts and humanities" program because "contemporary artists and philosophers" are the "visionaries of our society." She is "a musician, banker, and former high school teacher," who is active in NB4KPFA, has attended national board meetings and helps run a low income loan program. LAB members, she says, should "bring to the attention of the station any segments of the listening population that are being neglected," and she wants regularly scheduled non-English programs on KPFA. She is committed to the Pacifica network which "stands as an island besieged by corporate greed."
Anne Fitzmaurice would like a program on "how progressive groups in other parts of the world organize and develop" tactics for change. She distributed nine thousand copies of various fliers during KPFA’s crisis. Her skills include research and writing about education, computers and health. She would like to see the LAB use consensus decision-making because although "it’s time-consuming . . . it’s by far the most democratic" process. She says "authority over finances, staffing, and programming" should be taken back from Pacifica and returned to the stations. She wants to help staff continue their "excellent work" because she likes "the station as it is."
Ted Friedman has been a listener-supporter of KPFA for thirty years and WBAI in NYC before that. From work as a corporate consultant, he knows "how to foster communication and maintain productivity during times of struggle and hostility." He wants more about gay issues and to "revive live coverage of government hearings or Bill Mandel’s wonderful commentaries." He suggests the use of LAB election voter lists for regular polls about programming. He is "active in gay and interracial organizations" working "to overcome ethnic barriers." The "shut down hit [him] hard" because "KPFA is a small miraculous flower in a vast media wasteland."
Bienestar Davis’ background in teaching and social work has made her "keenly aware of the diversity in the Bay Area." She would like a program about "people with disabilities to show their perspective on life — to be able to see the world from the point of view of having a disability [and] help foster an awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act." She recommends "periodic assessments for the needs of the community" and will use her problem-solving skills to craft solutions. Her "background and very strong skills in listening" enable her "to hear different points of view even though they may be in conflict."
Tom Silver sees KPFA as the "only voice of otherwise disenfranchised people such as prisoners, the homeless, gays, lesbians and transgendered persons, radical youth and more." He’s an artist, teacher and an active political pacifist since high school. Currently, he is "very active in the movement to free Mumia." He would like to see more youth-oriented programming and wants KPFA to host community forums and events across the listening area. "KPFA has always been the voice of questioning, curious, creative and radical thinkers," he says. With our huge geographical signal area, --"What a treasure and what an opportunity!"
Joseph Wanzala calls KPFA "an outlet and ‘affirmer’ of the muses of varied subcultures." He is a freelance activist and academic, helped organize African Mental Liberation Weekend in the 1990s and currently participates in the Pacifica Listener’s Union. He "advocates restoring victims of past purges to the air" and "reciprocal programming with other Pacifica and community stations." He sees limits on "the station’s ability to recruit any particular demographic group" and believes "recruitment is best if it happens in what might be called an organic or ‘underground’ fashion." The LAB, he says, should "encourage intelligent, committed, positive listener participation in [KPFA’s] activities."
Maria Gilardin spent many years at KPFA, beginning as a volunteer in 1981, then founding the Women’s Department where she was active until banned in 1993 from all Pacifica stations for questioning KPFA’s national budgets. Her vision of KPFA is a station responsive to the listening community, where input is facilitated by "live town hall meeting(s) in various locations of the signal area" and public events scheduled with the help of local activists to bring the station into the under-represented communities. In dealing with internal issues, her main priorities are that KPFA’s integrity not be compromised and the listeners never deceived.
Mark Hernandez has been active at KFCF in Fresno since 1979, in roles as varied as announcer, news reporter and music director. He believes KPFA serves as the "template for free speech and free inquiry for all of California." With such influence comes the obligation to create programming that displays a wide variety of different cultures through stories, discussions and narratives. KPFA should reach out to communities to "help establish a ‘peoples’ internet" and developing a "series of community awareness forums" where staff, management and LAB members could meet with listeners and subscribers for open discussions to promote communication.
Karen Stevenson comes from a background of television and radio with 15 years working in media advocacy and relations, and currently owns KYS Communications. Experienced in developing programs that connect local ethnic groups to intersecting international and domestic issues, she wants to help educate communities on how to access and engage their local airwaves. Four principles are essential: "community comes first, openness, integrity and professionalism." Her vision of outreach includes feedback through public meetings, diversification of broadcast speakers and topics, and attracting new listeners to join the existing core audience always with a mission of serving a diverse community.
Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, a 24 year-old Puerto Rican Jewish high school teacher, is a youth and community activist, and a ten-year KPFA listener. Increasingly disillusioned with mainstream media, he is convinced "that KPFA is critical to the community" and should increase its listenership of bilingual, youth and labor groups. "LAB members represent the community
listenership and are accountable to them. The LAB should have transparency in its activities-no closed sessions!" He would like to see KPFA regularly air call-in programs on internal affairs and to outreach to teachers and community activists through programming that covers meetings and protests.
John Sheridan is an active member of the Coalition for a democratic Pacifica and KPFA listener since 1977. He sees KPFA’s role as a focal point of progressive culture where community issues should be given a high profile while facilitating communication between many voices and ideas. The role of the LAB member is to be "a conduit and spokesperson for the highest goals of the listenership and the station." He favors more community participation in groups like the Program Council and development of the internet for programming opportunities while supporting increased transparency in financial matters, personnel and programming decisions.
Irwin Silber, at 74, has for years worked as a progressive journalist, writer of books, publisher, music producer, and radio host. KPFA has shared that history as the prime outlet for folk music and a source of "cultural and ideological trends that were ahead of their time." He wants to see live "programs, discussions, debates, concerts" that bring audiences directly into relationship with the station. The LAB can serve as a "bridge between the station and listening community," helping facilitate KPFA reaching out to under-represented youth culture and providing news analysis inclusive of many voices from around the world.
Carol Spooner, a 53-year-old grandmother in law school, is active in North Bay for KPFA and the Committee to Remove the Pacifica Board. She envisions a station that challenges by presenting "cultural and political points of view, both in discussion format and artistic exploration" where LAB members are easily accessible and actively seek the views and opinions of various listener communities. While working with the other four station boards, she would like to see Pacifica recreated "along a new, more ‘bottom-up’ collaborative model" where the station board is "an integral part of undoing the damage and freeing the vibrant spirit of KPFA and Pacifica."
Thenmozhi Soundararajan is a 23-year-old second-generation Tamil Untouchable woman who works as Community Programs Director for the Center for Digital Storytelling. "My background as both third world videographer and community organizer makes me ideal for the LAB because I understand the logistics of running a media organization and also have built trust with diverse Bay Area communities." She sees the Board as "the community conscience of KPFA" and a resource for "both KPFA and Community to help build a strong mutual relationship." She wants to help "KPFA keep building its commitment to northern California communities for the next generation."
Marc Sapir is a community physician working for Oakland’s Center for Elders’ Independence. A 30-year listener, he believes KPFA "has the potential to serve as a lightning rod for diverse sectors and communities that lack power and organization." He suggests the LAB "form a permanent working task force with the Steering Committee to help frame and stimulate policy debates." To facilitate a democratic interplay between listeners and staff, he suggests a program with rotating panelists from staff and listener groups to debate questions such as the direction of the media, Pacifica and KPFA or how to further democracy in the US.
Judith Iam has been tuned into KPFA for 23 years --previously to WBAI. She "works/has worked with EcoWatch, Greens, Earth First!, Amnesty International, as well as with various issues and candidates." A masseuse, having taught stress reduction, she hopes to "facilitate a grounded vibe" on the Board. She would like to see a program on "love/sex/relationship," and one "on the local activists and centers (like the Long Haul) . . . Gandhi said, ‘the means and the end must be the same.’ We need the kind of governing at the station that we would like for our country and world."
Austin Jones is beginning his sophomore year at SFSU this year. In 1997 he began listening to KDVS (Davis), enjoying the musical offerings, then tuning in KXJZ (jazz) and KPFA, where "I started understanding that good music was made everywhere, not just in America." He listens to KPFA mornings with his stepfather, then helps a friend host a public affairs program on KDVS. "This board should be another outlet for ideas, a place to start plans and keep them running smoothly, and a place interested in keeping with the goals of the station that existed since its inception."
Margaret Keyes, a fifty-year listener, has worked and written books in clinical social work and taught graduate psychology courses. Daughter of a 30s ILWU organizer, she has a keen eye for labor/corporate issues and for independent news. "I am appalled by financial misallocations -- the absurdity of the billions demanded by the ‘Missile Defense System,’ with no money to fund an academy of conflict resolution comparable to the three military academies; the billions given in military aid to the Colombian government and to the ‘drug czar,’ rather than effective attention to reducing the U.S. demand for drugs."
Robert Lipton -- L.A. director for FAIR in the early 1990s -- worked with KPFK staff and reporters during the Gulf War. He also "produced and hosted a KPFA Poetry Night" in 1999 and appeared on Sunday Salon "representing a coalition of anti-death penalty groups." He's been a listener to KPFK/KPFA since 1977. "The LAB . . . has to develop a relatively consistent method to keep lines of communication open with the staff and provide a venue in order to more coherently deal with miscommunications, disagreements, important policy and programming decisions, etc."
Before ‘Amelia Leafaitulani Niumetolu moved to San Francisco from Salt Lake City a little over a year ago, she volunteered at community station KRCL, and participated in numerous local issues such as opposing a Utah English-only bill, and educating through the AIDS Foundation. A Polynesian Art Enthusiast, she's active in local film projects. "I know within the Polynesian community KPFA remains foreign. There must be open dialogue with the Elders and youth of these communities. The youth can serve as interpreters ... These communities must be informed of alternatives to mainstream media."
Les Radke, a high-school teacher, has been engaged in left politics since the late 1950s, and has listened to KPFA since the 1970s. In 1994, Radke helped form Take Back KPFA to warn about the changes developing in Pacifica. He is currently a member of the Coalition for a democratic Pacifica and of the Steering Committee for KPFA. "Until I moved to the Bay Area in 1974 and became involved with KPFA, I had to carefully cultivate those few in radio who infrequently allowed organizers from peace and civil rights organizations to speak out on issues the corporate media avoided."
Fadi Saba, currently a programmer for KKUP (South Bay) offers "great interpersonal skills" for communicating between KPFA and the diverse South Bay community. He envisions programming that focuses on environmental justice and the "history -- of the religion, ethnicity, migration, etc." of diverse communities. He hopes to reprise community dialogues Nicole Sawaya offered, and further diversify the Community Calendar. "During the U.S.-Iraq war of 1991, KPFA was the only media source that discussed the alternative options, as well as how the Arab (and 'Arab-looking') community was affected by many factors, from FBI interrogations to individual cases of hate."
Stan Woods is an Executive Board member of ILWU Local 6, and he's written for Z Magazine and the Longshoremen's paper, "The Dispatcher." He's been a KPFA supporter for 20+ years, and is active in the Irish community. He'd like to see a left Crossfire-style debate program as well as more call-in shows and street interviews in outlying communities and minority communities. "In this corporate-dominated society, pressures to move to the Right are strong. For example, there are more than a few ‘progressives’ who would like the station to cease being an organizing tool for anti-war campaigns."
Diane Solomon works as a CPA in the SouthBay. She has a degree in Non-Profit Management. She has served on a variety of boards, including ACLU and Radio KKUP, where she is also a programmer. She recommends her program, "A Meeting of the Ways," where she interviews spiritually oriented activists, as an example of a possible KPFA offering. "I believe that KPFA staff and volunteers are highly aware of which communities are under-represented. I suspect that staff and volunteers have many ideas that have not been implemented because of limitations imposed by Pacifica."
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