We Have a Vision for KPFA

Warren Mar • Sherry Gendelman  • John Van Eyck
Antonio Medrano • Matthew "Dynamite" Hallinan
Susan McDonough • Paul Robins • Dianne Enriquez

KPFA: A Call for Renewal

We are at a dangerous moment in the history of our country. Abroad we are at war. At home the Bush Administration flaunts the laws of the land on everything from torture to privacy. Our society has become more economically and politically unequal as a tiny elite prospers while the rest of us fall behind.

With the mainstream media dominated by powerful rightwing conglomerates, now, more than ever, progressives need KPFA. Our station is the voice of the people on immigration, workers' rights, the struggle for equality and against discrimination, the war, and for music, art and culture. It is imperative that we ensure KPFA's health and future.

We are the Concerned Listeners for KPFA, a group working toward broadening KPFA's listener base, and cultivating dedicated and talented station leadership and staff who produce compelling programs that build audience. Independent and progressive voices are needed now more than ever, and we are committed to ensuring the future of this powerful station whose signal reaches millions of people and covers one-third of California. In the upcoming Local Station Board elections, we are running a slate committed to these goals.

We believe in the philosophy of KPFA founder Lew Hill that dialogue among differing points of view should be fostered and honored. KPFA needs to embrace change. We need to cultivate visionary programming in public affairs, news, music, arts and the humanities. We want diverse, high-quality programming that serves the traditional listener-base, but can also attract new listeners.

All this requires a board that is broad and representative of the diverse progressive community of the Bay Area. We are not running against anyone. We are running for a more powerful, effective, and influential KPFA. All of KPFA's listeners should have a voice on the board. If you want KPFA to be a place where political and cultural visions can be realized, a place that lives up to its mission of social justice and artistic diversity for labor, young people, people of color, musicians and artists, listeners outside the Bay Area, old radicals and new, then we ask for you to vote for our slate.

We Will:

• Keep KPFA true to its mission of social justice and cultural diversity in these dark times.
• Distinguish between governance and administration. The board's role should be to keep the station true to its mission and vision, inspire management and staff, but not micromanage station operations and programming.
• Take seriously the responsibilities of fiscal oversight, fund raising and community outreach. Listenership and listener financial support remains stagnant. We must turn this around.
• Be a local board that respects competency and professionalism, and values civility and consensus building.
• Help KPFA embrace the new technologies of the 21st Century.