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Introducing WINGS, Amplifying Women’s Voices on KBCS 91.3 FM

At KBCS 91.3 FM, we believe storytelling has the power to inspire change and unite communities. That’s why we proudly bring you 91.3 KBCS WINGS News—the Women’s International News Gathering Service. This program amplifies women’s voices worldwide, ensuring they are heard. Since 1986, WINGS has trailblazed community radio, delivering vital stories and perspectives often overlooked by mainstream media.

The image is a promotional graphic for the WINGS program on KBCS 91.3 FM. The background features a bright, vibrant design with shades of green, yellow, and blue. The backdrop is filled with illustrations of women’s faces, representing diversity and unity.

On the left side of the image is a stylized, artistic rendering of the ancient Greek statue, the Winged Victory of Samothrace (goddess Nike), in blue and white, symbolizing victory, strength, and speed.

At the top right corner, the KBCS 91.3 FM logo is prominently displayed, along with the Bellevue College logo in a small banner beneath it. Below the logos, the text reads:

“WINGS Tuesdays 5:30 AM” in large, bold, white letters on a green circular background.

Below this, there is smaller text that reads:

“Since 1986, Women’s International News Gathering Service (WINGS) has channeled the strength, speed, and victory of goddess Nike to power the global women’s movement. With the same unstoppable force, WINGS brings vital stories and issues to the forefront. Tune in and join us in celebrating the unstoppable spirit of women everywhere.”

The overall design is dynamic and empowering, reflecting the mission and energy of the WINGS program.

91.3 KBCS WINGS News is more than just a radio show; it’s a platform where women’s voices take center stage. It tackles topics ranging from grassroots activism to global movements, shedding light on crucial issues like gender equality, human rights, health, the environment, and social justice—all viewed through the empowering lens of women’s experiences.

For over three decades, WINGS has led the global women’s movement with in-depth reporting and insightful commentary that matters. The show features inspiring interviews with women leaders, activists, scholars, and everyday heroes who are driving change in their communities.

At KBCS, we commit to offering programming that informs, inspires, and empowers. However, we need your support to continue. By donating to KBCS, you help keep essential programs like WINGS thriving. Your contribution ensures these powerful stories reach our community and beyond.

So, we urge you to join us in amplifying women’s voices. Tune in to WINGS, spread the word, and consider making a donation to KBCS. Together, we can ensure that women’s voices worldwide continue to be heard and make a lasting impact.

The image shows a red keyboard key labeled “Donate” with a heart symbol next to it. A finger is poised to press the key. This image serves as a button; clicking it will take you to the KBCS Donate page at https://www.kbcs.fm/donate/.

 

Two Things Bellevue College & Japan Have In Common

Mountain Views & Golden Week…

The image features a scenic view with the KBCS 91.3 FM logo overlaid. In the background, Mount Fuji stands tall with snow-capped peaks, set against a clear blue sky. Below the mountain, colorful koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks) are flying in the wind. These are traditional Japanese decorations typically flown to celebrate Children’s Day during Golden Week. The foreground showcases a city landscape with a mixture of buildings and natural greenery.

This visual highlights both Japanese culture and the iconic nature of Mount Fuji, suggesting a celebration or event connected to Japanese traditions. Clicking the image takes the viewer to the Bellevue College Japan Week Flyer for more information.

Well, perhaps I’m reaching by calling Bellevue College’s Japan Week “Golden Week”, but the celebration of Japanese culture and spirit is just as impressive. While Golden Week in Japan is one of the most anticipated holiday seasons, filled with national holidays like Constitution Memorial Day and Children’s Day, Bellevue College’s Japan Week offers a similar vibrancy right here in the heart of Bellevue.

Golden Week is a special time in Japan. Families take vacations, businesses close, and cities fill with festivals and travel. It’s a time for the country to pause and celebrate its rich history and traditions. Similarly, Bellevue College’s Japan Week creates a lively and immersive experience for the community, allowing everyone to appreciate Japanese culture.

October 5, Bellevue College will transform into a hub of authentic Japanese experiences. You can enjoy Japanese musical performances, Manga Swap, Flea Market, and Origami Contest performances. Japan Week brings a piece of Japan right to the Pacific Northwest.

Just as Golden Week inspires pride in Japan, Bellevue College’s Japan Week fosters an appreciation for Japanese culture that goes beyond the classroom. Whether you love Japanese food, art, or entertainment, this celebration offers a unique chance to explore Japan’s rich heritage at Bellevue College.

Join the celebration! Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, Japan Week has something for everyone.

Sincerely,

Jalisa Bass

Student Operations Assistant

At KBCS 91.3 FM, we provide programs that inform, inspire, and connect our community. But we need your support. Your donation keeps cultural features and global voices on the air.

💪 Be part of something bigger. Your contribution fuels independent media, amplifies underrepresented stories, and keeps our airwaves vibrant with fresh perspectives.

The image shows a red keyboard key labeled “Donate” with a heart symbol next to it. A finger is poised to press the key. This image serves as a button; clicking it will take you to the KBCS Donate page at https://www.kbcs.fm/donate/.

 

Uncover the Stories That Matter on KBCS’s “Making Contact” Program

Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or you’re a longtime listener, 91.3 KBCS Regional News is committed to bringing you personal life experiences from all angles. That’s why we’re inspiring you with award winning programs like “Making Contact”, a unique blend of storytelling and critical analysis that tackles some of the most pressing social issues of our time. 

The image is a promotional graphic for the KBCS program “Making Contact.” It prominently features the KBCS 91.3 logo at the top, along with the Bellevue College logo. The text describes “Making Contact” as an award-winning public affairs program that delivers international news and spotlights solutions from everyday people. The show’s airtime is listed as 5 AM on Thursdays. The design includes a blue and green color scheme with a background pattern resembling a web or network, symbolizing connections. A microphone icon is included, representing the show’s focus on giving a voice to everyday people. This image serves as a promotional tool for the “Making Contact” program on KBCS.

Each week, we bring you voices from across the globe, sharing stories of real people and the challenges they face. 91.3 KBCS Regional News “Making Contact” is a weekly radio program that delves into social justice issues with depth and compassion. The show goes beyond the surface of the news to find the people whose lives are intertwined with significant social trends and events. From environmental struggles to human rights, “Making Contact” provides not just information, but insight and empathy. 

If “Making Contact” has made you think, feel, or take action, consider supporting KBCS. Your donations help keep programs like this on the air and ensure that important stories are heard.

The image shows a red keyboard key labeled “Donate” with a heart symbol next to it. A finger is poised to press the key. This image serves as a button; clicking it will take you to the KBCS Donate page at https://www.kbcs.fm/donate/. 

 

Fair Trade Friday – KBCS Spring Fund Drive

Today is Fair Trade Friday at KBCS! That means when you make a one-time donation of $120 or become a KBCS Sustaining Donor at the $10/month level we will thank you with the KBCS coffee mug PLUS a bag of delicious Fair Trade coffee from our partners at Equal Exchange.

This offer is only good for a few more hours so take advantage of supporting the music, news, and commentary you count on while also treating yourself to quality coffee and a mug that will make you think of KBCS every time you take a sip! Please make your donation now!

Music of the Moment – July 2018

Each month Iaan Hughes reviews several albums that bring something special to the table. Here are his picks for this month.

Artist: Fatoumata Diawara
Album: Fenfo
Label: Montuno/Shanachie

It’s been seven years since Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara’s debut release Fatou, perhaps due to collaborations or simply the strength and giving of that record it comes as something of a surprise that Fenfo is her sophomore follow-up. Fenfo translates to “something to say,” but with the lyrics mostly sung in Bambara many of us will have to take her word on that. This was on purpose, too, as she chose to not sing in English or French, but rather to respect her African and Malian roots; to encourage the younger generations to be proud of who they are and where they are from. The grooves and hooks here are funky and plentiful, never pressing to hard, but instead finding a sweet rhythm space. Beguiling and earthy, Fenfo should be on your summertime playlist.

Artist: Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, feat. Lucinda Williams
Album: Vanished Gardens
Label: Blue Note Records

Vanished Gardens is one of those albums you just stare at for a moment. You have to let it sink in. First there’s the two legends on the cover, Jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd and country singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. Then there’s the Marvels: Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland. Lloyd and Williams have circled each other musically for a number of years, both using parts of The Marvels as session and touring musicians. When they finally met each other Lloyd called it “a deep Southern crossroads connection.” That describes Varnished Gardens about perfectly. Mostly mellow and reflective, the band and singer do as much listening to each other as they do playing. There is touchstones on the album from an instrumental cover of Roberta Flack’s “Ballad of The Sad Young Man,” to a beautifully weary version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel.” The album’s combination of instrumentals mixed with vocal tracks gives it a throwback feel; a classic groove record sensibility that could easily fit within the Jazz and Beat partnerships of their era. It’s hard not to consider Fate’s hand when tracing the roads that led these musicians to cross at this point in time.

Artist: Jim Lauderdale
Album: Time Flies
Label: Yep Roc

Jim Lauderdale, simply put, is one of our most ridiculously prolific and talented songwriters. He is lyrically inventive, musically adventurous, and rarely repeats himself, yet somehow he still manages to slide beneath mainstream awareness. He’s country music’s Starchild, surely the next evolution, though he’s been that for close to thirty years now, so perhaps instead he’s a slip in our continuum, a glimpse into a parallel country, er…universe. By our count, which could easily be short, Time Flies is Jim’s 30th album. With the additional release of a long lost collaborative album with Roland White recorded in 1979 in the basement of Earl Scrugg’s Nashville home, this will be yet another treasure trove of great songs for fans and an opportune time for new ones to tune in and turn on.

Artist: Cowboy Junkies
Album: All That Reckoning
Label: Proper Records

Like a well-worn stone gazing out from the middle of whitewater, The Cowboy Junkies improbable thirty year music career (and counting) has held a reflective, steady hold at the intersection of rock, folk, and blues. Amidst the changes in pop music and the ebb and flow of roots music, the four band members out of Toronto, all original, three siblings and a close friend have followed their own muse. They first made their mark with their second album, 1988’s stunning The Trinity Sessions. Since then, and over the course of almost thirty albums, the Cowboy Junkies have acted as quiet social critics with weary vocal originals and a knack for choosing the perfect cover. All That Reckoning continues their exploration of “empty hearts empty nests, lost paths…and personal reckoning.” An album for these troubled times and something to hold onto in these rapid waters, no doubt.