1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
a. I want to be on the Local Station Board because I believe that independent
media plays an important role in promoting peace and social justice. I
think the work that KPFA does is very important because they provide an
alternative perspective on current events and provide a voice to those who
are not often heard in the mainstream media. As a young activist, I believe
I have a lot to offer to the Local Station Board.
2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica
Foundation, KPFA and the community?
a. I see the Local Station Board as a democratic decision-making organ for
KPFA and Pacifica. By having such a democratic mechanism in place, it
provides the community with an avenue to participate in the decisionmaking
process of KPFA and make sure that KPFA is representing and
responsive to the community it serves.
3. How could the station better serve its listeners?
a. The station could better serve its listeners by strengthening democracy
within the Local Station Board and provide an equal voice to listeners,
paid and unpaid staff. It could also implement new technological tools into
its interface to broaden its audience. As a young person, I know that most
young people do not listen to radio and usually get their news from the
Internet. If KPFA were to implement new and creative technological tools
to increase outreach via the Internet, it could broaden the demographics of
its audience.
4. 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?
a. To increase the influence of KPFA in underrepresented communities and
increase the diversity of the listening audience, I would advocate the
implementation of new technological tools to reach people via the
Internet. Most young people get their news via the Internet so if KPFA
wishes to survive as an independent media source, it needs to adapt to this
changing environment. I would also advocate that KPFA network with
different media and nonprofit organizations in disadvantaged
communities. For example, I know that Public Allies, a nonprofit
organization, does media work in East Palo Alto, an economically
disadvantaged community that is predominantly people of color. There are
various avenues to tap into disadvantaged communities that KPFA should
take advantage of.
5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFA should
solicit?
a. KPFA should consider soliciting government grants, foundation grants for
small projects (though it is important to not become too depend on
foundations), and holding fundraisers such as music and cultural events
working with community organizations.
6. 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.
a. As of now, I am a senior at Stanford University majoring in International
Relations with a minor in Middle Eastern Language, Literatures and
Cultures. I attended Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California. In high
school, I volunteered at the Office of my city’s County Supervisor,
Federal Glover, and after graduating high school, interned at Tom
Torlakson’s office when he was a State Senator. These work experiences
have given me insight into how local politics affects everyday people,
particularly those who are disenfranchised and powerless.
At Stanford, I am heavily involved in student activism. I am a cardcarrying
member of and the Education Co-Chair of the Stanford NAACP.
In this position, I, along with other Stanford students, tutor students in
East Palo Alto. I am also the co-founder of Stanford Says No to War, the
hub of Stanford’s antiwar movement. Currently, our main campaign is to
prosecute former Secretary of State and current Stanford professor and
Hoover Fellow, Condoleezza Rice, for war crimes committed in waging
an illegal and aggressive war against Iraq and authorizing the use of
torture. On campus, I have also been involved in advocating for queer
rights, justice in Palestine and working with students and workers to create
a coalition to democratize Stanford University. This summer, I am
currently interning at the Commonweal Institute, a progressive think-tank
in the Bay Area.
I am very interested and passionate about fighting for peace and
human rights. I view the ongoing injustices against poor people and people
of color in this country and the ongoing injustices in the Middle East as
human rights issues since these unjust policies work to oppress and
undermine the dignity of human beings. Hence, why I am majoring in
International Relations and involved in peace and social justice activism. I
chose to focus on the Middle East and learn Arabic because I am
vehemently opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ongoing
oppression against Palestinians. This knowledge has helped me a great
deal in fighting for human rights.
I believe I can use these experiences to further the mission of KPFA
and make it a better station.
7. 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?
a. I am interested in serving on the Outreach Committee and Committee of
Inclusion.