John Van Eyck Candidate Statement

I have been a listener of KPFA since moving to Berkeley two decades ago. I regularly use the knowledge I gain because of the fine work of the KPFA staff. KPFA informs my own work among local trade union workers who I trained and represent. We all remember when this priceless resource went silent. I want to help assure that never happens again.

During 30+ years as a union representative much of my time was spent as the Senior Staff Director of medium sized unions the Arts, Entertainment and Media Industry. One of my principal roles was to work with the boards of those unions. Sometimes I was an elected board member, other times I was employed by the board. I understand the roles of board and staff. The KPFA Board must quickly move to hire a General Manager and Program Director and while guiding their progress, refrain from micro-managing the station.

To be effective the board must comprise individuals who have experience in setting aside political differences, personal egos and pet projects and a commitment to reaching consensus. Board dynamics can be improved by keeping the KPFA mission statement before us in everything we do.

I am committed to doing my best to build the listener base in all communities of the Bay Area, to building the station into the lives of communities of color and working class communities, to seek funding in new ways, to help KPFA realize its mission of supporting and promoting social justice for all, to keeping the station responsive to new technology and to treating other Board members with respect. We’re coming out of a dark, dark period of crisis for Pacifica and KPFA. It is the time for people of principle to work together forging a vision of unity which best helps our station represent the voice of struggle in our diverse communities.

In addition to the endorsers of our slate I am personally endorsed by the following: Michael Eisenscher, Coordinator, Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice; Jon Fromer, Freedom Song Network, Shop Steward NABET/CWA Local 51; Mary Fromer, Trade Union Organizer, SEIU, Retired; Ann Fagan Ginger, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute; Nick Jones, Former National Boycott Director, United Farm Workers; Nancy Polin, Vukani Mawethu Choir, Freedom Songs of South Africa

For more on our slate’s program and endorsers, go to concernedlisteners.org