My name is Fernando Velazquez. I have a 30-plus years relationship with KPFK and the Pacifica family. Sometimes as paid staff, mostly as a volunteer.

I have worked as a News Director, Producer, News Engineer, On-air Enginerer, reporter-trainer, and currently as Project Director for "Informativo Pacifica", our national and international Spanish Language news program.

As a member of the Local Station Board I will use every bit of my strenght to make sure the people who labor for the betterment of our radio station, have a stress-free environment so they can be more creative and productive.

For quite some time I have been part of the ever expanding power of inclusion at KPFK, giving under represented communities a chance to be part of the station. There's so much more to do and many voices are still out there waiting for the chance to become part of the Pacifica family.

As an elected member of the LSB I will make sure that the class divide that still lingers on at the station become part of the past and we can proudly say in public that, despite the odds, we dare to fulfill the Pacifica Mission.

Vote for me and help us realize our dreams!



Respect,



Fernando Velazquez

1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

I want to be part of KPFK’s Local Station Board because I know how important it is to develop station policies.

2. How do you envision the Local station Board working the Pacifica Foundation, KPFK, and the community?

I envision the LSB working with the Community, KPFK and the Pacifica Foundation as a facilitator of the fulfillment of the Pacifica Mission; to promote peace among nations, groups and individuals.

3. How could the station better serve its listeners?

The station could serve its listeners better by including all segments of society, and staying away from serving only one class of people. KPFK needs to invest in other communities; he who runs away from investment, runs away from profits. And I did not make that up!

4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in under-represented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?

Some actions that KPFK could take in order to influence under represented communities include: paying attention to invisible people such as domestic workers, gardeners, street vendors, and many others now missing in the current programming.
The more people feel included, the more they feel they are respected, and that, can re-define KPFK’s future.

5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFK should solicit?

KPFK should engage in “Teach-Ins” on issues of our time; the war on drugs, on “terror,” on immingrants, on the poor, and on weaker nations. The end result of such gatherings can be be a never-ending source of cash. Let’s just call it: LIVE EVENTS.

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.

As someone with many contacts in town, and elsewhere I can bring to the table very effective tools for outreach and KPFK could greatly benefit from it.

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?

I’d like to serve in the outreach and programming committees.