Update From the KBCS GM
Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy
At the outset of this traditional fall message, I want to say, thank you to all our friends and loyal listeners that supported KBCS with a contribution during our fall fundraising campaign. Thanks to the generosity of those who made a donation to KBCS during this campaign, we have met our revenue goal for the fall drive. Again, this is only possible through listener donations which comprise over 85% of our KBCS yearly operating budget. It is important to stress that, because some people think we get the majority of our funding elsewhere.
I like to answer the phones during our fundraising drives and thoroughly enjoy talking to KBCS listeners who are calling in a donation to the station. It is clear to me that KBCS is a cherished fixture in many people’s lives with our unique news and public affairs programming and our eclectic mix of music hosted by local citizen volunteers who share their passion for music and life with their friends and neighbors across the greater Puget Sound.
This year marks KBCS 50th year of broadcasting from Bellevue College and it is only because people like you make regular donations to the station, that KBCS has been able to survive this long. Together, over the decades, we have been through good times and not so good times but always have been there for each other when we needed each other to be there. At the flick of a switch, the click of a mouse, or even a simple voice command now, KBCS is on the air for you each and every hour of the day, each and every day of the year. KBCS provides programming that speaks to the unique sense of place and history that many of us call home whether we actually live here or not. I spoke with several donors during the fall drive that moved to another state and yet they still listen and regularly contribute to KBCS. As one distant listener said, “there is no place like home, whether you live there anymore or not.”
It is important to remember that KBCS has evolved over time to become what it is today. Being able to evolve and change with the times is how we have survived this long and today, major changes are underway in radio broadcasting technology. These changes will have a dramatic impact on how we deliver our programming to you. The day is fast approaching when the traditional AM and FM modulated signals will be replaced by an all-digital broadcasting future. I, for one, look forward to these changes. If I have any fears about the technology revolution, it is artificial intelligence, but I won’t go into that here.
I spend a lot of time these days wrapping my brain around all these technological changes and finding funding for them through grants and larger gifts. Keeping abreast of these changes feels like trying to drink through a fire hose sometimes. But digital broadcasting will expand our offerings including multiple streams of free and diverse local programming including metadata text and graphics with specialized local information on traffic updates, weather radar, album artwork and even local college related events on a separate digital stream with events like college sports broadcasts, faculty moderated local political debates, live events on campus and more.
These changes will provide the opportunity for even more experiences and greater options for interaction with you, the listener, the most important reason why we do what we do.
Again, thank you for your continued support and dedication and if you would like to reach out to me with any questions or comments about KBCS, you can connect with me through email at dana@kbcs.fm.
Dana Lee Buckingham
KBCS General Manager and Proud Sustaining Contributor to Community Radio KBCS
Sonali Kolhatkar at Seattle Town Hall
Sonali Kolhatkar, host and producer of Yes! Presents, Rising Up and racial justice editor at Yes! Magazine spoke with Yes! Media’s Editorial Director, Sunnivie Brydum about her book, Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice at Town Hall Seattle on September 6th.
KBCS thanks Town Hall Seattle for permission to record and broadcast the event.
Woman, Life, Freedom Uprising – One year later
Jina Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish, 22 year old woman, was killed in custody of Iran’s morality police on September 16th last year, sparking an uprising led by Iranian women, and supported by ethnic and minority groups.
As the anniversary of Amini’s death nears, Iranian American women in Washington state share their experiences in Iran before they moved here. They also share how the Woman, Life, Freedom Uprising has affected them.
Producer: Yuko Kodama
Photo: Feminists for Jina
Events in observance of one year anniversary of Jina Mahsa Amini’s death and beginning of Woman, Life Freedom uprising
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday
Peyvand and NPO is co-hosting a vigil and poetry event
Sunday, September 17th
University of Washington Campus Red Square – 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Intersections of Operatic singing and Mexican music genres
The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice
Sonali Kolhatkar is the racial justice editor at Yes! Media and the host of the weekly radio program, Rising Up. (broadcasts on KBCS Fridays at 7 am and Thursdays at 5 am)
Kolhatkar is also the author of a new book, Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice. The book describes how the media can overlook, minimize, hide and misrepresent narratives of people of color, while perpetuating negative and harmful stereotypes. Kolhatkar highlights content creators, educators and influencers who are challenging this, and building a more inclusive and affirming media culture.
Sonali Kolhatkar will be speaking with Yes! Media editorial director, Sunnivie Brydum at a Yes! Media-hosted, Seattle Town Hall event at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, September 6th.
Producer: Yuko Kodama
Photo Yes! Media and Sonali Kolhatkar
Living in an Eastern WA Wildfire Season
Spokane Wildfire Relief for Livestock and Pets
Navigating How to Help After the Maui Wildfire
Having Conversations With People You Don’t Agree With
Manu Meel, Co-founder of Bridge USA speaks with KBCS about why it’s important to try to have conversations, and most importantly, to listen each other in times like this.
Producers: Lucy Braginski and Yuko Kodama Special thanks to Sapan Parekh
Photo: Manu Meel
On the Block
On the Block is an event to celebrate local artists in visual art, music, street-wear and food every second Sunday of the month through October. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Julie Chang Schulman, Co-founder of Forever Safe Spaces, and is one of the Co-organizers of a coalition of artists who present the event held in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood on 11th Ave and between East Pike and East Pine from 11 am to 7 pm.
Chang Schulman describes the foundations and mission of the event and coalition.
Producer: Yuko Kodama
