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Listener Candidate

Name:

Michelle Manos

Expertise:
 
  • Community organizer
  • Activist
  • Media & promotions professional

Endorsements:
  • Committee to Strengthen KPFK

    • Statement:

    My name is Michelle Manos. I am a founding member of the grassroots organization California for Progress, I hold an undergraduate degree in political science from CSU Long Beach and a Masters degree in African Studies from Stanford University, and I have extensive experience with media operations, localized marketing, and community outreach. Mostly recently, I was on the lead organizing team for both the luncheon fundraiser with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Bernie Sanders rally with Real Justice. I am also a core organizer for ME TOO March International and was on the support team for the Occupy ICE LA encampment, which lasted 87 days. Activism and community organizing are my passions, and I know firsthand how important KPFK is to the activist community.

    I have been an avid listener of KPFK since I first discovered the station around 2010. I believe that KPFK is crucial to the advancement of progressivism in communities all over Los Angeles, and if elected to the Local Station Board, I promise to always put the viability and effectiveness of KPFK first.
    Our communities need real news, reliable programming, and to know that this institution supports them. Over the years, I have come to know KPFK as a friend. I interned for the station one summer during college, many of the hosts have interviewed myself and other activists about our work, and I rely on the drive time programming for my LA traffic sanity.

    There is so much potential for KPFK to be a staple in the community. There is so much potential for KPFK to draw in young people as new listeners and contributors. KPFK inspired me when I was a new Angeleno looking for a place to fit in, and when I found it, I knew I could call Los Angeles home. I’m running to make sure that KPFK continues to draw in new people and inspire progressives for years to come, and I hope you will support me!

     

    Answers to Candidate Questionnaire
    1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
      I believe in the Pacifica mission and I see extraordinary possibilities for KPFK to renew its commitment to exemplary coverage of the issues and and become a trusted pillar in the Los Angeles activist community, which is fast-moving, dynamic, intersectional, tech-savvy, and incredibly well-informed. KPFK needs to meet that standard if it is to remain relevant, and I believe it is possible.

    2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, your station, and the community?
      My intent in running for the Local Station Board to be one of the voices in the room that is committed first and foremost to the solvency and effectiveness of KPFK. That means that key roles at the station need to be filled, programming needs to be evaluated honestly and objectively, and people with ideological differences need to be able to disagree while still putting the health and wellbeing of the station first.

    Fundraising needs to be addressed. Live pitching may always be a necessary component, but there must be more innovative efforts, and the live pitching cannot stink of desperation, as it currently does.
    3. How could the station better serve its listeners?
      Some of the ways KPFK could better serve its listeners include a reevaluation of key areas, including programming (much of which is good, much of which is extraordinarily disappointing) and fundraising (for the aforementioned reasons). In addition, KPFK needs to move into the digital/social media age. Modern promotion of the programming is nearly non-existent and the website seems to be about 15 years old, if I had to guess.

    Engaging new listeners means adapting to a fast-changing world. If operations at KPFK remain mired in disagreement and toxicity, the station will never be able to focus its attention on what matters. Individual hosts need reliable infrastructure, listeners need to feel respected, and communities need to feel like the station represents them. In my mind, KPFK is missing the mark on all of those things, and not for a lack of passion or drive, but a lack of commitment to the needs of the station.
    4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
      Across all of my activism and community work, it is my commitment to always focus on diversity and intersectionality.
    5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel your station should solicit?
      There is a vast array of modern fundraising tools that KPFK could look into. Each one is different. Fundraising should involve an overall strategy and not be piecemeal. In order to recommend a specific tool, I would need to know more about the fundraising mechanisms and strategy currently in place at KPFK. This is something I am looking forward to delving into as an elected member of the LSB.
    6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, workhistory, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
     


    Education:

    • Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (2016-2017) Master of Arts, African Studies (2017)
    • California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA (2013-2015)
    • Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (2015)
    • Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA (2009-2013)
    • County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ (2003-2006)
    • Certification in Behavioral and Social Sciences

    Employment Experience    :
    • The Truth Has Changed” Tour, Statewide, CA (2018-present) California Engagement Director, part time
    • Working under Academy Award-nominated director Josh Fox to organize the California and West Coast portion of his most recent project, a nationwide one-man theater tour.
    • Coordinating venues, community groups, sponsors, media, social media, ticket and book sales and more for 20+ performances.
    • Oil Money Out, Statewide, CA (2017-2018) Campaign Coordinator, part time
    • Worked with the Campaign Director to lead a team of organizers and volunteers through the phases of this statewide, grassroots, issue-based campaign.
    • Organized a series of events, including fundraisers, luncheons, rallies, and press conferences.
    • The campaign successfully collected and delivered nearly 100,000 signatures in a six-month period in 2017.
    • The Solar Auditor, Los Angeles, CA (2012-2016) Co-founder, Vice President, full time
    • Worked with President and co-founder to build this solar technical contract company into a successful startup with an active client list of 30-40 clients at any given time.
    • Served both residential and commercial clients, as well as contracted to provide services to solar installation companies.
    • Clipper Magazine, Lancaster, PA (2006-2013) Account Executive, full time
    • Launched a professional career working as a marketing representative and small business consultant for a nationwide direct mail magazine.
    • Handled a client list of 75-100 active clients under 8-11 tight deadlines per year.
    • Consulted on short- and long-term small business strategy, community integration, and all creative aspects of marketing and branding.
    • Essential skills gained, such as how to handle time and be responsible for deadlines, be an inspiring leader, develop effective presentations for large and small groups, partner with and support small businesses and local nonprofits, and meet and exceed monthly and quarterly goals. Volunteer Experience:Bernie’s Coffee Shop (Johnie’s Coffee Shop) Co-founder, Manager (2016-current)
    • Founded historic old Johnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant as a community center and event space called Bernie’s Coffee Shop Volunteer Office.
    • Regularly host political events, workshops, film screenings, etc.
    • Staff the coffee shop with a team of about 12-15 active volunteers on a regular
      basis.
    • California for Progress (2016-current) Co-founder, Organizing Director
    • Founded this grassroots community group to help organize and direct progressive energy in Los Angeles.
    • Earned certificate of recognition for this community work from Americans for Democratic Action, in conjunction with Congressman Ted Lieu.
      Team Bernie LA Volunteer Office (2015-2016)
      Co-founder, organizer
    • Co-founded the first full-time all-volunteer office for Bernie Sanders with a team of about 10 people.
    • Ensured staffing for this all-volunteer office from 9am-9pm 7 days a week for the entire primary season.
      Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (2014) Marketing Team Leader
    • Trained and led a team of four marketing interns for a period of five months.
    • Developed a community outreach plan for Meals on Wheels of Long Beach.Westside Thanksgiving Dinner, annual (2008-2014)
    • Free Arts for Abused Children (2008-2010)
    • Conducted art therapy with at-risk children at Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court.
    • Chaperoned weekend community art events for children in at-risk communities.
    7. Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?
      No.
    8. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?
      Outreach and programming.
     

     

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