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Listener Candidate

Name:

Grace Aaron

Qualifications:

 Past Chair of the Pacific National Board and
Interim Exec Director of the Pacifica Foundation

Endorsements:
  • The Good Governance Coalition

  • Statement:

    First, I really love KPFK!
    I am a long time Board Member:

    • KPFK Board: 2003-2009, Chair in 2006
    • Pacifica National Board: 2008-2009, 2015-2020, Chair in 2009, 2019
    • Pacifica Management: interim Executive Director in 2009 and July of 2019

    I have visited the 5 Pacifica stations and have friends and colleagues at all of them.

    As a peace activist, KPFK helped so much in our struggles to lower military spending, oppose the Iraq, Balkan, and Afghanistan Wars, secure a ban on underground nuclear testing, stop a nuclear waste dump near Needles California, bring to light how military recruiters hoodwink our youth, and so on. Media that takes advertising and corporate sponsorship puts restrictions on what the public is allowed to know. That’s why its so important to keep KPFK independent!

    I intend to use my experience and knowledge to help new Board Members get oriented and be as effective as possible.

    Let's stress standard business practices, like keeping our books in order, routinely evaluating staff and following personnel policies.

    With the Pacifica Mission as our guide, let’s be more inclusive. What are the perspectives of our Asian, Russian, Armenian, Middle Eastern, African, and Southern neighbors? What about the views of younger people, our teachers, people struggling with substance abuse, housing, and jobs? Let's add credible environmental and health shows as well as more local news. Let’s provide entertainment and inspiration. And let's offer solutions!

    I'm proud of being among a group of diligent local and national board members who have accomplished the following:

    1. Prevented a well-organized campaign to push the Pacifica Foundation into bankruptcy.
    2. Personally, worked to fix problems with the Pacifica Pension Plans which are now fully funded and financially sound.
    3. As a member of the Audit Committee, I helped get the backlogged Audits completed. Our 2020 Audit was just completed on time!
    4. Helped secure the settlement of a large debt that saved Pacifica $1.9 million.
    5. Outsourced our accounting functions to a CPA firm to revamp our financial infrastructure.

    My Background:

    • BA in English. Treasurer, Los Angeles Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
    • Vice President of the Social Uplift Foundation.
    • Chair and coordinator of Peace Action of Southern California from 1984 to 1994 (20,000 members).
    • Co-Founded the Peace Action Network of Southern California in the early '90s.
    • Participated in the Lincoln Heights Preservation Association, the Nuclear Free Asia Pacific Committee, Visual Artists Guild, etc.

    Just as a body needs a brain but also a heart, I cherish our music, literature and arts as well as our political programming. If elected I promise to be honest and do my best. Pacifica can expand and be a multi-media force for social uplift. I will help.

    For more info see:    
               https://pacifica-democracy-project.org      and
               https://socialuplift.org

    Answers to Candidate Questionnaire

    1. What experience, connections, skills or traits would you bring to the local station board to advance the station's mission?
      2. I have served on the KPFK Local Board as well as the Pacifica National Board for many years. I understand the differences between the 5 Pacifica stations and am familiar with the Affiliated stations. I know where the bodies are buried, where the treasure is, how the Bylaws work and don't work.

    2. What do you appreciate and value in the station's current operations?
      3. I appreciate the independence of KPFK. I love the information I get that I would not be able to find elsewhere. I love the different perspectives.

    3. What would you like to see improved or changed in the station's current operations?
      4. The programming definitely needs improvement. It would be a good idea to put repeater transmitters in areas that don't receive our signal well or where our signal is interfered with, such as San Diego. We could use a signal booster for the Malibu/Ventura area. Station staff should be accountable and have good relations with the Board.

    4. Describe what you anticipate would be your top three priorities or areas of focus if you were elected to the local station board.
      1. Programming improvement.
      2. Fundraising.
      3. Financial transparency and sound budgets.

    5. Sustainability is an important part of any nonprofit operation. What are your thoughts on how the board can help to improve the station's financial footing?
      6. The Board can help by actively assisting with fundraising. Board members can also help to advertise the station through social media and by volunteering to set up multi-media events so that our footprint can begin to migrate to different markets.6. Is there anything else you would like prospective voters to know? I promise to do all I can to assist new Board Members to be effective. I have bridged factional divides in the past very effectively and will do my best to ameliorate rifts and misunderstandings.

    6. Is there anything else you would like prospective voters to know?
      7. I promise to do all I can to assist new Board Members to be effective. I have bridged factional divides in the past very effectively and will do my best to ameliorate rifts and misunderstandings.