Newman Strawbridge, a white guy from Alabama who taught me about fighting racism and inequality. We have to make radio broadcasting more relevant in people's lives. How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?īeing more challenged as we compete with social media. I go back to the advice I give my sons-don't react, don't engage in hateful/negative behavior-keep your eyes on the goal of serving and taking care of yourself, your family and your community. I have overcome it-by listening respectfully to others' opinions and not taking it personally. The biggest obstacles I have faced are when I allowed someone to create doubt in me, take something negative they say and react and get distracted from my focus/task. Words that best describe you: Honest, Attitude of Si Se Puede (We can do it), Passionate, Hardworking, Loving and striving to be as Nonjudgmental as my parents.Īs a successful professional, what were the biggest obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them? We all are trying to better our community! We are just coming from different paths. Viva la differencia! I truly believe that in unity, there is strength and in strength there is success! The greatest challenge faced by the Latino business community is the attacks by others who do not understand that we have more in common than we have differences. I am very proud that together people are tackling the same problems (income inequality, racism, lack of social resources etc) affecting our community with different tactics than I am. What are you most proud of regarding the achievements of the area Latino business community and what are the greatest challenges faced by that community? I strive not to give up, not to become cynical, not to question whether it is all worth it the work I am doing to make the world a better place for us, our community and our children and grandchildren. Not losing my passion for the work I have been doing for close to 50 years. In the present, I have to say KBBF revival.Īlmost 10 years ago, we took KBBF from a road kill specimen to again being the Voice of Your Community. It took us 3 years to get the first union contract in Sonoma County among Latino workers (75% female workforce). In the past, it was my work in the late 1980's with Sonoma County Industrial Union where I felt we did the most leadership development among women workers.
What is the achievement you are most proud of? KBBF opened its airways and offices for call-in and walk-in questions and donations for the community. KBBF with its 100% volunteer staff, became the first source of information to the Spanish speaking community by preempting its regular programming and broadcasting emergency updates primarily in Spanish but also in English for the next two weeks of the fires.
The wonderful team of KBBF volunteers who has met the many challenges time and time again like in the early hours of the morning of Oct 9, 2017. Is there a major accomplishment in the past year or so that you would like to share? I am proud to be part of KBBF's legacy and vision. Its vision included helping its listening audience to become productive and participatory members of the mainstream community and building bridges of understanding. It was founded by a group of idealists seeking to provide cultural, educational and informational radio programming to a community that had been historically excluded. In 1973, KBBF became the first bilingual public radio station in the United States. I believe in the KBBF vision, “To create a strong multilingual voice that empowers and engages the community at large in order to achieve social justice through education, celebration of culture and delivery of local and international news coverage.” Since then I have devoted all my time making sure KBBF stays on the air. In 2010 I was asked to become KBBF's board president.