Gwen Goodwin

WBAI has been the source and inspiration of much of my activism, and I am determined to keep it on the air.

East Harlem has been my home for about 33 years, and my focus has been to help preserve my community as a place where regular people, and particularly those who face systemic discrimination, can continue to live even as the area becomes more attractive to others.

I’ve been fighting the “River-to-River Harlem Rezoning” plan, spearheaded by Michael Bloomberg and continued by the current mayor, Bill de Blasio. This plan would accelerate gentrification and could complete the erasure of Harlem as we’ve known it, driving out its current populations.

Another effort I have been involved with has been the founding and coordination of the Coalition to Save P.S. 109, working to stop an illegal demolition by the NYC Board of Education. The Coalition was able to obtain landmark status for the building with the help of the NYC Landmarks Conservancy–and I was proud to receive the first Grassroots Preservation Award from The Historic District Council. I was able to acquire the pro bono services of the prestigious law firm Davis Polk and Wardwell in an environmental racism lawsuit to oppose the reopening of 100th Street Bus Terminal in 2000. This struggle was not successful owing to internal political battles, but it gave me valuable experience in dealing with contentious situations.

I am a WBAI Buddy and have listened to very different kinds of our programming for years. Over the years, I have volunteered to answer phones during pledge drives on a number of occasions.

I have great potential for service to the WBAI community, especially since I believe we can do serious work while also having fun. I’m a good listener and always explore multiple sides of an issue before taking a stand without ambiguity, wishy-washiness, or sellout compromise.

I am especially proud to be on the Justice & Unity slate, endorsed by Michael Tarif Warren, Bernard White, Father Lawrence Lucas, the Free Mumia Coalition, Larry Hamm and the People’s Organization for Progress, Sara Flounders and the International Action Center, National Association of Kawaida Organizations, and Akinlabi Mackall and S.E.E.D.S. Please use the following rank order to maximize the value of your vote (it is not a reflection of the personal value of any of us as candidates).

• Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

  I consider WBAI to be a precious entity and I'd like to promote it and make it stronger.

• How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, WBAI and the community?

  At the present time these four bodies are totally isolated and insulated. There is no two-way communication. Also, there is a feeling of powerlessness among some LSB members, and unless we begin changing some of the By-Laws and practices that prevent these three groups from having greater openness and being able to exchange ideas, we will be missing out on crucial opportunities to bring WBAI forward.

• How could the station better serve its listeners?

  A fundamental issue for WBAI is to maintain its mission and keep its promises to its supporters. There are listeners who donated many, many dollars and still have not received their promised premiums.

• 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?

  WBAI should do outreach to more Community Organizations and offer internships to young folks. We should also be in diverse communities to broadcast and conduct on-the-spot interviews from their celebrations, events, conferences, etc.

• What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel WBAI should solicit?

  I think we should have an Annual WBAI Party to honor an outstanding progressive worker, artist, etc. It was done once many years ago. We should also have live auctions with a musical component.

• Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, 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.

  I have worked for many years as an organizer, educator, and progressive union chapter leader. I have very good organizing skills. I am now retired and can devote more time to WBAI. We desperately need help with strategic planning and fundraising. I am currently affiliated with a progressive organizational-development/capacity-building firm and can access some free technical assistance and tools to help WBAI.

• Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?

  My attendance at LSB meetings has been very steady throughout my present term, and I do not anticipate any problems out of the ordinary that would prevent me from maintaining this high level of attendance.

• 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?

  I could serve on one or two LSB Committees: the Committee of Inclusion and / or the Program Director Search Committee.