Trails to Success

Special visitors at KSER this week!

Jeb Bolton, a Snohomish County corrections officer who helped create the "Trails to Success" program stopped by with several young men who are involved in the program so they could learn more about community radio.

(l.to r.) Steve Nguyen Phu; Raul Ramirez; Ana Maria McCleary; Michael Day; Jeb Bolton

Trails to Success, is a pilot program at Denney Juvenile Justice Center that gives kids a chance to gain work experience and prepare for job interviews. The program was recently profiled in the Everett Herald.

Ana Maria McCleary, a Snohomish County Juvenile Probation Counselor, arranged the visit for us and helped explain the importance of community radio and the different programs on KSER.

And while they were here, we also put them in the studio so they could record some station promos which you'll hear soon on KSER.

Steve and Michael behind the microphone!

The participants in "Trails to Success" also met with KSER News & Public Affairs Director Ed Bremer and learned about the process of producing news programs and what's involved in becoming a volunteer DJ at KSER.

This week's visit, and hopefully more in the future, is one of several educational tours we're able to present thanks in large part to a grant from the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund.

Plus we may have discovered the future stars of KSER!

Salulting Two Spectacular KSER Volunteers

KSER has been on the air for 25 years, and for 22 of those years, Jeff Hofman has been a mainstay of our weekend listening lineup. 
 
Jeff's program, Dusties, has played some of the greatest hits of all time, including great interviews with remarkable artists and incredible insight. But Jeff's 'real life' schedule has changed, so his volunteer work at KSER is coming to a close - for a while. This Saturday, March 5th, 2016 will be Jeff's final show on KSER.

The above photo shows just one of the many remarkable moments on Jeff's show.  That's Jeff in the middle with the incredible "Brothers of Soul" - (l. to r. Richard Knight; Bobby Easton; Ben Knight; J.J. Barnes).

Jeff's show - with great music and guests - even drew the attention of the Nashville Scene.  You can still read their story HERE.

Don't miss this weekend's  "Dusties", Saturday at 5 p.m.  It's going to be a very special send-off for Jeff and his show.

Starting next Saturday, March 12th, you can catch the new "Gumbo Mix" every Saturday at 5 p.m. with KSER's newest DJ, "D. Duane."

Another amazing KSER volunteer who is going to be taking a hiatus from her long-time work at KSER is Kinuko Noborikawa. 

Kinuko started the Communities of Color Coalition in 2004 and has helped host and produce Color Commentary every week on KSER.  Last week, the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County honored Kinuko with their Democracy in Action Award.

  
In recognizing Kinuko, the League of Woman Voters pointed out that for years she has been a tireless advocate for social justice. Thanks to the League for the award and thanks to Kinuko for her relentless work for our communities and for KSER.

Without dedidcated, hard-working volunteers like Kinuko and Jeff Hofman, KSER wouldn't exist.  We have more than 100 volunteers - from DJs to public affairs producers to board members - who have kept KSER on the air for a quarter century.

But the other important part of KSER is you.  Without the financial support of listeners, there would have never been a Color Commentary or Dusties. No Democracy Now or Thom Hartmann.  Sound Living wouldn't be on the air.  And we couldn't broadcast Rick Steves Travel every weekend.

While the volunteers sometimes move on, the one thing that never changes at KSER is the importance of your financial support. 25 years ago we held our first pledge drive:

 
No commercials. No federal tax money. No corporate owner.

We're for people, not for profit. So this week, we begin our 25th anniversary Spring membership campaign. You'll be able to call and make a pledge of support at 425-303-9070; or simply go to  KSER.org and make an online donation.