| Davis Media Access

Davis Media Access (DMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. DMA is a community media center serving Davis, CA and surrounding areas. Our mission is to enrich and strengthen the community by providing alternatives to commercial media for local voices, opinions and creative endeavors. Our major projects are KDRT 95.7 FM, Davis Community Television and DJUSD Channel 17.

KDRT Highlights

Davis Garden Show, June 23, 2022

On today's program we talk about hollyhocks and hibiscus, lavenders, weeds, and more.

The Folk Brothers for June 22, 2022: Remembering Jim Miller

This week's show is devoted to the music of Jim Miller, who passed on March 24 at the age of 69. Jim was a founding member of Donna The Buffalo and, most recently, Western Centuries. In a long career as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist, he collaborated with the likes of Dirk Powell, Tara Nevins, Jim Lauderdale, Richie Stearns, and Tim O'Brien. He was also a professional lepidopterist and curator/researcher at The American Museum of Natural History.

Jazz After Dark, June 21, 2022

Mostly vocals on this episode of Jazz After Dark:

Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Etta Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Astrud Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Chet Baker, Lena Horne, Eva Cassidy, Lizz Wright, Eriko Ishihara, and Cassandra Wilson.

Davis Music Fest is back and KDRT broadcasts opening night live starting at 5 p.m. June 17, 2022

The Davis Music Festival is back and celebrating its 10th year! The event runs from Friday, June 17, to Sunday, June 19, and hosts 40 bands in three days across six downtown venues. Opening night happens at Sudwerk Brewing, where KDRT will again broadcast live from the kickoff. This year Sudwerk will have two stages, and KDRT will be onsite for interviews and live audio from the north stage with The Big Poppies, Wolf Jett, and Royal Jelly Jive. The live broadcast begins at 5 p.m.

Davis Garden Show, June 16, 2022

On today's program: Tropical milkweed regulatory issues, planting for butterflies, problems with raised planters and how to feed and water them, and more.

COVID-19 Community Report

Davis Media Access Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault will be hosting live shows Tuesdays 12-12:30pm and Fridays 12-12:30pm to help update the community about COVID-19. The shows will rebroadcast Tuesdays and Fridays at 5pm. This show will be a compendium of local resources with check-ins from local officials and other community leaders. As a companion piece for the show, link to the weekly updated blog posting of local services and information called the COVID-19 Community Resource List.

How to Obtain DJUSD Graduation Recordings

For the 2022 Davis Senior High School graduation ceremony (as well as Da Vinci High School, Martin Luther King High School, and Davis School for Independent Study), Davis Media Access will forego video duplications this year and provide a free link to view and download the graduations once they are edited.

If you'd like to receive that link, please fill out this form.

Congratulations to all graduating seniors throughout the Davis Joint Unified School District.

Early Juneteenth Celebration June 5

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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.

In The Studio for a Pandemic Update from Dr. Aimee Sisson, Yolo County Public Health Officer

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Autumn Labbe-Renault interviews Dr. Aimee Sisson, Public Health Officer for Yolo County. Fielding questions from the award-winning COVID-19 Community Response Facebook group, Autumn checks in with Dr. Sisson on subjects ranging from Test to Treat centers, what is considered "medically appropriate," and why we're seeing another nationwide surge in Covid cases. Stream interview at https://dctv.davismedia.org/content/studio-pandemic-q-dr-aimee-sisson

Latest column highlights election coverage

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.

Sen. Dodd Names DMA Yolo Nonprofit of the Year

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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.

Davis Media Access provides candidate statements

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Davis Media Access (DMA) has recorded a variety of campaign statements for the June 7, 2022 primary election. Races covered include Measure H (DISC) in Davis and candidate statements for the following contested races:

Congressional 4th District, State Assembly 4th District, Yolo County District Attorney, Yolo County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, Yolo County Supervisor District 2.

Soup’s On Success for DMA

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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.

In the Studio: State of the Arts in Davis

In The Studio - State of Arts

Tim Gaffaney hosts Rachel Hartsough, who is the City of Davis Arts & Culture Manager. They discussed the mission of the office, showed images of projects they have done and are working on, using art to promote social action, sustainability and environmental stewardship, and how Covid has affected the arts landscape.

Davis Poet Laureate featured 'In the Studio'

In The Studio - Poetry in Context

Tim Gaffaney hosts Davis Poet Laureate Julia B. Levine. She read two of her poems and talked about the context in which they were written. She discussed how she came to writing poetry, how she has enjoyed her role at the poet laureate and her plans for Davis, including a contest.

For more info: sites.google.com/view/juliablevine

Recorded: 1/17/22

Giving Tuesday Gratitude for the Grassroots

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Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 is Giving Tuesday, and on this worldwide day of generosity we at Davis Media Access invite our community of local media advocates to show your support of our beloved grassroots radio station KDRT 95.7FM. It operates 24/7 from the power of passionate volunteer programmers, and stays on-air due to your support at kdrt.org/donate

Congressman Garamendi presents 2021 Women of the Year awards - DMA Executive Director is one of 12 honored from Yolo County

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DMA’s Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault was honored Nov. 9 as one of the 2021 Women of the Year for the 3rd Congressional District. Presented by Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA03, the annual awards honor women who go above and beyond serving their communities.

One of 44 women honored throughout Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties this year, Autumn was honored specifically for her media coverage that helped communities around Yolo County stay connected during the pandemic, though Garamendi also noted her longtime work on local election coverage.

ClipDart offers Day of Duty

In The Studio - Day of Duty

Meet Kyle Parker, the founder and CEO of ClipDart, and a recent transplant to Davis. In a conversation with Jeff Shaw, Kyle talks about his own experience understanding the importance of a simple haircut, and the centrality of a barbershop, especially in black and brown communities. He discusses his mission to help neighbors in need who want to look their best, and the ways a haircut can contribute to mental wellness. Learn more about the Day of Duty, which will offer barbering, free food, clothing, school supplies, and support services here in Davis. 12-6 pm Oct.

Gratitude to Our Current Supporters

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Thank you for your generosity! This list includes donors from July 1, 2021 through January 2022. Your support during our most recent 2021 Fall Fundraising in December exceeded our goal by over 55 percent - a wonderful way to end a challenging year.

Advocating for the Arts

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Davis Media Access (DMA) straddles an interesting intersection between the arts and technology, but we are generally classified as an arts and culture organization. Our Yolo County arts and culture nonprofits were deeply impacted during the pandemic, both financially and programmatically, and many of us still have our doors closed or our services deeply curtailed.

One of the hats I wear is chair of Arts Alliance Davis. I’m pleased to note I’ll serve as moderator for an an important Aug. 30 workshop, “Mapping the Sector: Arts & Culture Post-Pandemic.” Co-hosted by Arts Alliance Davis, YoloArts and the Yolo Community Foundation, the virtual event will detail these impacts and explore what reopening and recovery look like.   

The workshop will feature a presentation about the current needs of the arts and culture sector, followed by a panel discussion featuring local nonprofit leaders providing context, information, and stories. Then all participants are invited into facilitated breakout groups for discussion and collaboration. Register here

--Autumn Labbe-Renault, Executive Director

DMA celebrates international Make Music Day June 21 with Make Music Davis - DIMI Showcase video premiere

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In honor of the international “Make Music Day” celebrated across the globe each June 21st on Summer Solstice, we present the “Make Music Davis-DIMI Showcase 2021” which will air on DCTV (Comcast Ch15 or AT&T U-Verse Menu 99) at the following times: Mon 6/21 10am, Noon, 6pm, 7:30pm, and Tues 6/22 at noon.

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