DMA Intern Kristin Trent interviews Cathie Bullis, co-founder of Davis Picks It Up (DPIU), a local non-profit that eliminates litter locally to prevent impacts on land and ocean ecosystems. Bullis discusses the litter-to-ocean pipeline, crime solving on the job, found treasures, and her favorite things about DPIU.
For more information email davispicksitup@gmail.com. Youc an watch the episode here
On Sept. 24, KDRT 95.7FM — the radio station based here at community media center Davis Media Access — turned 19.
DMA was the first public-access community media center in the nation to launch a Low-Power FM (LPFM) station. Since then, many have followed, and just recently the Federal Communications Commission opened a rare window for applications to open frequencies on this non-commercial educational radio spectrum.
DMA’s Jeff Shaw was recently a featured speaker at a regional meeting for potential applicants put on by the Alliance for Community Media. Since KDRT was started during the first licensing period, Jeff is often called upon to offer a long-term perspective on many topics involving the facets of operating an all-volunteer community LPFM radio station.
From its inception, KDRT has been more than a low-power community station, more than a project of DMA, and more than a place to just play music or talk. It’s been a volunteer-fueled community, one that connects to our larger community both by running live broadcasts from community events, and each and every week in front of the mics and the sound board in the KDRT studio.
Each year, Davis Media Access (DMA) appeals to our community for support for our programs and services. Direct support helps us provide local election coverage, support youth media training and mentoring, and provide critical operating support for KDRT.
For the period beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, we are grateful to the following supporters:
$1,000 and above
Craig & Darien Blomberg
Heidi & Brian Laurenson, Via a Car Donation
Karen Leyse
Julie A. Young, In support of KDRT
Anonymous, In support of civic engagement work
$250-$999
Alison Borkowska
Clyde Bowman
Rich Bradley
Robin Datel, In Memory of Bob & Dorie Datel
Nancy Flagg
Frank Fox
Sharon Hale & Dawn Student
John & Katherine Hess
Interview2Work/Lorraine Beaman
Jessica Kelly, Via American Giving Fund Volunteer Match
Abby & P.T. Koenig
Lorenzo Kristov & Robin Kozloff
Timothy Kuhn Via a Car Donation
Brandon Milton
Pieter & Jeanne Pastoor
Peter Peterson
jesikah maria ross
Don & Julie Saylor
John Stegall
Katie Tenerelli
Brian & Karen Vikstrom
Bill Wagman In Memory of Peter Schiffman
Tim Williamson In Honor of A Twang Thang
Cullen Wise, Via a Car Donation
The collective sorrow and fear in our community is very real, and it comes at a moment when Yolo County #nonprofits are reaching out in a big way to raise needed funds on the Big Day of Giving, Thursday May 4 this year. Today we are asking for support for Davis Media Access as well.
We love the effort to lift up all Yolo County nonprofits via http://bigdayofgiving.org/yolocounty because it’s deeply aligned with Davis Media Access’s work to #amplify community voices, often at critical times and in unique ways. During the pandemic, we focused those efforts on assisting other community-based organizations to solve technical problems and retain visibility.
This post is our ask for support. Despite all our successes in serving the community while surviving the pandemic, we are confronted with a very significant challenge at this moment in time. A few weeks ago, DMA’s used Toyota van was badly vandalized. This is an essential tool we use to haul equipment, interns, and other volunteers around town as we amplify the voices of community events, causes, and organizations. In fact, we recently wrapped support for the the City’s Cesar Chavez event; the and recording the Wennberg Festival at the Mondavi and the annual DHS Drama Tribute to Tony Fields. Between now and mid June we’re on tap to cover or provide services at four different high school graduations; Davis Pride Festival; Davis Music Festival; and the e-Learning Lab at Woodland Community College.
Working with DMA’s board, we have decided to set a big stretch goal of $20,000 for the forthcoming Big Day of Giving. We still need to raise the $10k that is critical to our programs and services AND we’re hoping to raise $10k towards the purchase of a replacement van. We’ve raised close to $5,000 as of today, but have a long way to go.
Big Day of Giving is a moment that can help DMA greatly increase our chances of success, and that will in turn allow us to continue serving our communities in intentional, supportive and meaningful ways. In advance, thank you for your support of #yolocounty #nonprofits on May 4.
Big thanks to Yolo Community Foundation for publishing this directory in advance of the Big Day of Giving!
The student government at UC Davis employs more than 1,000 people, speaks for one of the most important constituencies in Davis, and runs popular local services and events like Unitrans and Picnic Day.
But fewer than 6 percent of students voted in the Associated Students of UC Davis fall 2022 election. What are people overlooking?
KDRT radio programs about marathons, teens bullying their friends, and Davis’ relatively good fortune in coping with California’s drought and wildfires have all won awards for excellence in the 2022 San Francisco Press Club Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards.
The club announced the honors during its annual awards dinner Dec. 8 in Burlingame. Several outlets won multiple awards, ranging from SFGATE, KQED public radio and India Currents to San Francisco Classical Voice, Bloomberg, the San Francisco Chronicle, and El Tecolote.
Rohan Baxi, a student at Da Vinci Charter Academy High School in Davis, won third place in radio/audio sports features for his December 2021 “Timeout Radio” program, “26.2 miles,” on marathons.
Bill Buchanan, a longtime Davis journalist and host/producer of “Davisville,” won second and third place among radio/audio public affairs programs (with staffs of 1 to 4) for “Amid drought and frightening wildfires, Davis is relatively fortunate” (September 2021) and “New UC Davis research says teens who bully often target their friends” (March 2021).
Philanthropic deeds come in all different shapes and sizes — charitable giving, volunteering, board service, etc.— and each Nov 15, National Philanthropy Day is celebrated in the United States.
Locally, Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) provides an opportunity for area nonprofits to recognize an outstanding volunteer via its Yolo Philanthropy Day Celebration. Our pick this year is Davis resident Tim Gaffaney.
Listen to the show here: https://kdrt.org/audio/november-2022-local-election-show
Live on KDRT from 7:30-9 pm on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022: Autumn Labbe-Renault and Don Shor check in with candidates & community leaders. Here's the schedule:
7:30 Welcome & overview - Where to listen, what we’ll be talking about, station ID, etc.
7:32 Prerecorded interview with Yolo ACE Jesse Salinas
"In the Studio," Autumn Labbe-Renault hosts Ellen Kolarik and Vera Sandronsky, co-chairs of Interfaith Housing Justice Davis. Discussion centers on the group’s origins, its work to date, and hopes for the future.
The interview previews a forthcoming event on Nov. 17, when Interfaith Housing Justice Davis and the Davis Area League of Women Voters host an evening with Lea Rothstein highlighting her forthcoming book, "Just Action." The book describes what we can do now, in our own communities, to undo racial segregation and begin to repair the harms it has caused, as well as strategies for building inclusive housing.
Watch the interview here and see the flyer linked here for registration info. Davis Media Access supports this effort by staffing and recording the Zoom presentation at this hybrid event.
For more info: InterfaithHJD@gmail.com Recorded: 10/25/2022 #fairhousing #interfaith #communityaction #communityevents #davisca #redlining #racialsegregation #inclusivehousing #davisca #yolocounty
Yolo County’s Early Juneteenth Holiday Celebration is a grassroots, free family event where community members come together to celebrate the freedom of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
The celebration takes place this Sunday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the UC Davis Conference Center and the JManetti Shrem Museum of Art. The UC Davis Conference Center is located at 550 Alumni Lane, Davis 95616. The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is located across the street at 254 Old Davis Road, Davis 95616. There is free parking on Sundays in the garage and surrounding lot next to the museum.
The Juneteenth theme for 2022 is “The Road to Freedom Day” and will honor Black artists and artisans, performers, elders, and musicians. The family friendly celebration will include live entertainment, educational presentations, art displays, activities for youth, giveaways, artisan vendors, food trucks, sponsor tables and more.
Davis Media Access will record the celebration and post it on YouTube June 19, the actual day of the holiday.
Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s. However, following nationwide protests of police brutality there is a renewed interest in the day celebrating freedom. The holiday is named by combining June and 19. The day is also called Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day. On June 17, 2021, it became the 11th holiday recognized by the federal government.
Please visit yolojuneteenth.org for more information.
Singing some praises, then having some sung
By Autumn Labbe-Renault, Executive Director
This column was originally published May 5, 2022 in The Davis Enterprise
This election season marked the second one in which Davis Media Access (DMA) has recorded candidate statements virtually. The pandemic left us without access to the community television studio and teleprompter at our Fifth Street facility, and was in some ways probably more challenging for candidates, although it did eliminate the travel time for some!
Before I go any further, let me heap some praise on DMA’s Studio Manager, Diane Dedoshka. A longtime, part-time staff member, she’s the reason we’ve been able to funnel resources into making sure that every candidate running a contested race in Yolo County has the same opportunity to get the word out about their campaign. A pioneer in local broadcast TV, Diane broke the glass ceiling for female directors back when she worked for KXTV, and we’ve been beyond fortunate she’s called DMA her work home for many years.
DAVIS – Davis Media Access, which operates community radio station KDRT 95.7 FM and two local cable channels, providing an essential forum for city government, schools and other community groups, has been named Yolo County Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Bill Dodd.
When Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor first approached me about designating Davis Media Access (DMA) as the beneficiary of the final Soup’s On fundraiser before he retires, I was gobsmacked. I’d volunteered at many Soup’s On events in the past and often wondered, what would we need to do be at that level?
If there is a gift from the pandemic for DMA, I believe it’s that we were the right organization with the right set of skills at the right time. During this crisis, DMA worked overtime to connect our communities virtually when we couldn’t do so in person.
Since 2004, there have been 17 Soup's On gatherings, over 6,000 soup eaters, hundreds of sponsors and donors, plus immeasurable awareness and more than $400,000 raised for local nonprofits. It’s been an amazing gift to nonprofits and the community at large.
After all was tallied, the April 21 event raised $62,000 for our community-based media and technology center. This money will help us bridge the gap brought about by increased staffing needs and operational/technology costs during the pandemic, coupled with loss of event income and other opportunities. We are most grateful.
Supervisor Saylor said, “DMA has done so much to amplify local voices, share information, and connect the people of our community for many years. Over the last two-plus years of pandemic-living, DMA has helped us all to pivot our communication models, stay informed, and learn new ways of doing things.
