This month, we had a chance to interview Delphine Criscenzo, volunteer producer, trainer, and board member, about her experience with KBOO and her love for community radio!
1. Please introduce yourself to the KBOO Community-- who are you, and what are you passionate about?
My name is Delphine and I have been a KBOO volunteer for almost 5 years. I am passionate about social justice, community media and community building. I enjoy sharing my ideas and opinions but my favorite thing to do is mentor others and share skills. I also spend a lot of time building relationships. I am an urban farmer, a multi media community journalist, an anti-oppression activist and a very happy wife!
2. What's your favorite thing to do on a day with no commitments?
When I have free time, I enjoy spending time with my favorite person in the world, Noah. I also enjoy coming together with friends, or if I have time on my own, I enjoy gardening, reading, meditation and bird watching.
3. What brought you to KBOO?
I moved to Portland in 2011 from Bloomington, Indiana where I had been volunteering at the local community radio station, WFHB. I used to co-host and co-produce Native Spirit, Contemporary Native Music and News for 3 years. One of the first places I visited when we moved to Portland was KBOO. Community radio has changed my life and opened new doors and KBOO was a logical first stop!
4. What have you done at KBOO?
I am a KBOO member. I am also a member of the Bread and Roses collective. I train new volunteers in audio production and digital editing. Soon, I will also be teaching a class on how to produce an exciting public affairs program. I coordinate quarterly Beloved Community training with Monica Beemer and we also co-facilitate KBOO's monthly Anti-Oppression discussion group. Finally, for the last year, I have been a board member. I am the board secretary, and I sit on the programming and nominating committee and the strategic planning support work group.
5. What have you learned?
The most significant thing I have learned through my years at KBOO is that every single member of our community is willing to work hard to build the community we all imagine. Community work can be difficult, especially in a community as diverse as ours, but when a group of committed people come together with the desire to try to make it work, beautiful things can happen. At KBOO I have also learned a lot about public affairs, radio production, nonprofit management and community building.
6. Are there other things you'd like to do at KBOO in the future?
I would love to continue to support KBOO in strengthening it's training department with the fabulous Erin Yanke and our incredible team of trainers!
7. What's your favorite moment at KBOO? Any highlights?
This is a hard question for me because I have had so many happy moments at KBOO from great shows with amazing guests, to powerful learning moments, to awesome collaborations with other KBOO volunteers, to feeling accepted for who I am. But the things I value the most that KBOO has brought into my life are opportunities for starting impactful relationships. I feel incredibly lucky to have made so many friends at KBOO, friends who are now a central part of my life! I would like to say thank you to KBOO in particular for bringing Jackie Malstrom into my life, the host and producer of Rose City Native Radio, and collective member of QTPOC Talk. Jackie is incredible and has taught me so much. I will forever cherish our very unique relationship!
8. How does KBOO help your family/community/etc/?
KBOO gives my family and community a chance to access important, relevant information about the issues that impact our lives and our communities. But, most importantly, KBOO helps my family and community contribute to the public dialogue as media makers by offering a platform and free training. Knowledge is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable thing we have and KBOO offers many ways for anyone to be trained in radio production.
9. Why is KBOO important?
KBOO is important because it a true hub for community building and organizing. Though our focus is radio, the KBOO community is striving to be a democratic, welcoming, diverse and accepting environment for all. This commitment to the KBOO community and to each of its members is what makes KBOO so important. We are not just trying to create amazing radio for the people, by the people, we are also trying to do it together with acceptance and compassion!
10. What else do you want people to know about you?
I consider myself very lucky to be a part of such an incredible community! Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I look forward to an opportunity to get to know you!