GrassrootsKPFK: Brenda Medina

Brenda Medina, graduate student and social justice activist is running with GrassrootsKPFK for the LSB. I feel it’s important that everyone has a voice within KPFK. I enjoy listening to KPFK and that is why it is important that it strives to remain local, relevant and alternative to what people normally hear on other stations. As a student in Chicana/o Studies, I see the importance in acknowledging the diverse parts of the community that needs to embrace the diversity within it. With that said, I support multi- lingual broadcasting on KPFK and also participating in local events as well as supporting all progressive political spheres, both local and state- wide.

I was part of my college online radio station, UCLAradio.com for over 2 years. Through my direct experience, I saw a variety of programming that allowed the station to draw a larger audience/listeners. As a DJ/ Radio Host and as a sports broadcaster, it was important for me to understand the different needs of listeners to keep them tuned into our station. I feel this is the same idea for KPFK: give the listeners a variety of programming to choose from. The key to becoming more communal as a radio station is to ensure the community is included and that the radio shows cover topics happening in the local community.

In my experience with student organizing and community organizing, one of the biggest challenge is listening to recommendations and implementing them to benefit the community they service. Being a part of the LSB, I hope to bring new inspiration to go beyond national news and mainstream progressive agendas. The LSB should be a place where listeners, such as myself can implement recommendations to improve the station. As funds for anything progressive comes from the people, being part of the LSB, I will be looking for innovative ways to keep the station by the people, for the people.

Email Brenda by clicking here.

---

Q & A

Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board (LSB)?

KPFK/ Pacifica radio gives an opportunity for people in Southern California to hear meaningful news that provides a critical perspective on what is going on. It also provides a space for people on-air to express themselves politically, culturally, artistically and intellectually. I want to a part of this station to see it become more vivid and transparent to the listeners to enhance a greater base of new audiences.

How do you envision the LSB working with the Pacifica Foundation, staff and listener members?

I feel the LSB can work with engaging listeners to be further invested in the radio station by volunteering and outreaching to new listeners. The LSB can work with KPFK staff to make recommendations to improve make the station but to help staff to play a substantial role in implementing recommendations and making the necessary changes to provide a variety of programming.

How can your station better serve the community? Please define community.

The community is the listenership KPFK services but also the city in which they broadcast. The way KPFK can play a role in serving community is through covering issues affecting the local community, having programming that addresses community needs and also allows listener-members to have a say in evaluating the programming and use of funds.

Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience.

I would find ways to engage the station with different communities by active participation in local events. I also see a way to attract people through Facebook and Twitter and have an active account to have listeners or supporters of KPFK in tune with what is going on at the station, programming updates, volunteer opportunities and fund drive incentives.

What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel your station should solicit? Do you have any ideas with respect to improving the current funding mechanisms?

I feel that we should invest more in outreaching to volunteers to help alleviate costs of paid personnel. Other ways to gain funds for the station would be through joint fundraisers with community events and concerts. This would allow both the station to raise funds and also get recognized by potential new listeners.

Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.

I am currently a graduate student at California State University, Northridge and alumni of UCLA. Currently, I intern with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles volunteer with CSUN’s Chican@ Graduate Student Association. While at UCLA, I worked for our online radio station for over 2 years and with community and student organizing, both campus- ‐wide and nationally. As a community organizer, I worked with the UCLA Labor Center and have worked on various campaigns with labor organizations/unions to improve the lives of all working people. I hope to help the development and growth of KPFK for present and future listeners. I have helped with campaigns and worked with limited budgets both in my experience as a student organizer and a radio host. I can bring my radio broadcasting and my community organizing and fundraising/budgeting experience to the LSB.

On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?

I would like to part of either the budget committee or the outreach committee.

---