DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Pacifica Foundation, Inc.  website nor an official website of any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio). Opinions and facts alleged on this site belong to the author(s) of the website only and should NOT be assumed to be true or to reflect the editorial stance or policy of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc., or any of the five Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio), or the opinions of its management, Pacifica National Board, station staff, or other listener members.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux, candidate for PNB Chair. Perri “Mama PK” McCary, candidate for PNB Vice-Chair. Kamau Harris, accountant, candidate for PNB Treasurer

Dr. Julianne Malveaux

is an Economist by training with a Ph.D. from MIT. She was born in San Francisco, has lived in Los Angeles and currently resides in DC. She has written five books.

President Emerita of historically Black women’s Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

President of Push Excel – the educational arm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition founded by the Late Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Dean of the New College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

A founding member of African American Women For Reproductive Freedom.

Syndicated Newspaper Columnist and frequently appears as media commentator on CNN, PBS, and BET.

 Lead Lecturer in the Harvard W.E.B. DuBois Lecture Series.

Vice Chair of the board of the Economic Policy Institute.

Long time analyst and commentator on Pacifica Radio and currently hosts the Julianne Malveaux Show! on WPFW in Washington, DC.

Perri “Mama PK” McCary

is a community builder, mediator, educator, storyteller, and longtime advocate for public participation in community media.

As a member of the KPFT Local Station Board, founder of The Peace Hour, and creator of The Sankofa Initiative, she has dedicated decades to fostering dialogue, preserving institutional memory, and building bridges across communities.

She served as chair of the KPFT Community Advisory Board and created a template that helped in the creation of and coordination with CABs at KPFK and other stations. She was a co-founder of Think Peace International.

She says, “My work is grounded in the principles of truth, shared responsibility, intergenerational learning, restorative justice, and community engagement. I believe Pacifica’s greatest strength lies in its ability to bring diverse voices together in service of its mission.

As Vice Chair, she would work to strengthen transparency, accountability, community participation, and collaborative leadership, while helping to preserve Pacifica’s historic role as an independent voice for education, culture, peace, and social justice.

Sankofa: “Honoring Our Past. Shaping Our Future.”

Kamau Harris

is chair of the WPFW Local Station Board and previously served on the National Finance Committee of Pacifica. He is an accountant and financial data analyst.

He says, “At the foundation of any successful organization is trustworthy fiscal stewardship. I’ve learned this through a combination of formal education and real-world experience. After earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Howard University in Washington, DC, I’ve worked for non-profit organizations, and in the Banking, Manufacturing, and Healthcare industries.

     “This varied work history has allowed me to understand what works best across industries and organizational structures. Quite simply, the through line is trust.

     “Do the leadership, membership, and other stakeholders have trust regarding the preparation and reporting of the organization’s finances? If not, meetings can devolve into a Petri dish of accusations, animosity and acrimony. This scenario played out at WPFW while I was the Treasurer of the LSB. Management had a very difficult time ensuring accuracy, providing transparency and taking accountability. After turnover at General Manager and the sudden resignation of the local Administrative Assistant, there was a void in processing and reporting the station’s finances.

     “Working closely with the new General Manager, we quickly put in place an accounting system to track all income and expenses; froze all discretionary spending; worked closely with vendors to bring our accounts current and met with the full LSB to bring them up to speed about what took place in the past and the plans to get back to a positive cash flow. All of these efforts were enhanced by the support from the Pacifica National Office. They recognized our prioritizing of the finances and allowed us to implement our plans.

     “This is the kind of teamwork, strategizing, and discipline I plan to implement as your Treasurer of the Pacifica National Board. I’ve worked professionally in small and large organizations, in both support and leadership roles. I have a client base of small businesses that rely on my ability to communicate complex financial issues succinctly. These are essential skills that will drive increased financial support for Pacifica.”

Donna Carter,

candidate for PNB secretary, is a nurse and has been a labor activist with the California Nurses Association.

She says:  “I am currently serving on the KPFA LSB and the PNB. I also am a member of the Audit Committee. I have listened to KPFA for many years. It has and continues to be an important source of information for my social activism.

“I marched against the war in Vietnam. I attended San Francisco State in 1968 and joined thousands of students who fought for open admissions. We won that strike and access for thousands of students to a college education. This win was followed by strikes at many universities where Black and Brown had previously been denied this opportunity.

“Later I became a nurse. With a group of nurses at local hospitals we struck for contacts in which we won safe staffing guidelines and improved wages and benefits in the Bay Area. These contracts wins set the stage for unorganized nurses to win union contracts and improved wages and benefits across the country.

“Currently, the unique existence of the Pacifica Foundation and its five stations are holding my attention. The media are under attack and Pacifica’s existence as a unique listener-supported and volunteer-produced platform is so important. I support its democracy, diversity, free speech, and community-oriented programming, governed by the listeners and programmers.”

Ninel Centeno,

candidate for Staff and Volunteer Team director on the PNB, is a Spanish-language programmer at KPFK. She is a labor organizer and community activist.

She says: “I hold a Master’s degree in Political Science and bring experience in human rights, international cooperation, public policy, community engagement, and grassroots leadership. In El Salvador, I worked on international cooperation and development initiatives in partnership with government institutions and international organizations, supporting efforts focused on human rights, gender equity, social inclusion, and regional development. In the United States, my work has focused on community organizing, worker empowerment, immigrant outreach, and strengthening civic participation.

     “Throughout my career, I have learned that meaningful change happens when people are given the opportunity to participate, lead, and shape the decisions that affect them. That belief has guided my work in public institutions, community organizations, labor organizing, and independent media.

      “As a Spanish-language broadcaster and Local Station Board member at KPFK, I have seen firsthand the unique role Pacifica plays in amplifying voices often overlooked by commercial media and creating space for dialogue, culture, education, and civic engagement. Pacifica remains one of the few media institutions where communities can tell their own stories in their own words.

     “For many listeners, language is more than a means of communication—it is identity, culture, memory, and belonging. Como radiodifusora en español, he visto cómo Pacifica permite que nuestras comunidades se escuchen a sí mismas, compartan sus historias y participen plenamente en la vida pública.”

Sally Gellert

candidate for Staff and Volunteer Team director on the PNB, is co-producer/co-host of Eco-Logic with Ken Gale and Donna Stein. She is on the WBAI LSB and a director on the PNB.

She says, “I am a member of Radical Elders, Democracy Watch News, and Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community, and a long-time environmentalist. I work with New York’s United 4 Clean Energy and the National Radioactive Waste Coalition.

    “Everyone is looking for more in-person contact, creating new possibilities of community engagement and fund-raising. It’s time to reinvigorate our audience—and potential audience; to join new technologies with the reach of broadcast radio: radio for all generations.

      “I see myself as a connector of groups working on diverse issues. Co-producing Eco-Logic on WBAI is the perfect home for my activism, and representing the staff of our 5 sibling stations is a natural continuation of my current role on the Pacifica National Board (PNB).

      “We need to act creatively to address our financial issues and to bring new listeners to all programs. Listener-sponsored broadcast radio needs to stay relevant and fresh to attract new audiences, at the same time acknowledging the amazing long-time programming that made this network a staple around its listening areas. Pacifica has a rich history of being in the forefront of many movements: civil rights; social and environmental justice; anti-war efforts; women’s, LGBTQI, and disability rights; and political resistance. We must continue to represent those denied a voice on mainstream commercial media. That is our strength; that is what is needed to meet this moment in our nation’s history.

      “Finding new ways of engaging listeners is imperative in this time that is saturated with podcasts, videos, and blogs. Government repression and censorship also means that we are needed more than ever. It’s time to reinvigorate our audience—and potential audience, joining new technologies with the reach of broadcast radio: bringing radio to all generations. After years of endless Zoom meetings, everyone is looking for more in-person contact, opening up new opportunities for community engagement and fund-raising.

      “During the attempted coup in October 2019, I was shocked to hear days of dead air and repeater programming on WBAI. I attended the court hearings that got our station back. I also did volunteer data work for WBAI Fightback. The attack on the station from within Pacifica itself was eye-opening, and I was inspired to get involved. I was first elected as a member of our Local Station Board and later to the PNB.

      “The PNB needs people who will fight for fairness and democracy, who will be active participants in guiding the foundation into the future. Where are our listeners of yesterday and where are our listeners of tomorrow? Let’s get to our roots and show old and new listeners what our stations have been and can be. We are an important force. Our audience needs us, but not the bureaucracy and infighting that is paralyzing our network. It is time to establish and stick to democratic procedures. With mutual respect and hard work we can help Pacifica stabilize and flourish. Please cast your vote for me.”

Listener Directors for Each Station

KPFA: Cheryl Davila

KPFK: Michael Novick

KPFT: Vi PatelAdams

WPFW: Michele Tingling-Clemmons

WBAI: The national coalition notes two candidates from within the coalition: Sharonne Salaam & James Sagurton.

Many of these candidates have been removed from, or kept off, the ballot. In those cases, the links to their statements on the official elections site may not work, as their names and photos have been removed.

Demand that the removals be reversed, that nominations be extended for all stations and positions where there are no candidates on the ballot, and that in any event that write-ins be permitted. Ballots will go out on August 15.

Urge your station to hold on-air candidate forums for all positions.

DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Pacifica Foundation, Inc.  website nor an official website of any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio). Opinions and facts alleged on this site belong to the author(s) of the website only and should NOT be assumed to be true or to reflect the editorial stance or policy of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc., or any of the five Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio), or the opinions of its management, Pacifica National Board, station staff, or other listener members.