| Page 6 | Davis Media Access

A Note from the Director

Recently, KDRT DJ Eddy Owt and DMA Studio & Facilities Coordinator Ray Orosco teamed up to record touring band Black Viiolet in the newly relaunching Davis Media Access (DMA) TV studio. By all accounts it was a worthwhile endeavor and fun, although not everything went as expected.

Sharing in these conversations, I found myself repeating something that’s been a mantra for many years: DMA is not a production house, but a community-based learning lab. We learn by doing, and we help others learn by doing as well. We’re lean on resources but rich in ingenuity and enthusiasm.

So yes, moving from an analog to a digital mixer is a learning curve, and good audio is as vital to a video production as the video itself. I trust Ray and Eddy (and others) will practice more and figure this out–and then help others along the way.

I’m excited to see–at long last–our TV studio coming back online following a long pandemic and an even longer remodel process. Back in the day, we supported public access and the desires of individuals to get trained in TV production. Countless changes in both media use and media technology later, and the call for individual use is scant. Instead, we focus on community-benefit projects such as local election coverage, arts and culture performances, and nonprofit partnerships.

There will come a moment when we once again offer PSA Day and some open studio time, but maybe let us get that new switcher dialed in first…

Further thoughts on Yolo County

On a call recently with a nonprofit executive director who is new to the area, she said “Yolo County is very intimate - everyone seems to be connected to everyone else.” I think that’s true, and also not true.

As I’ve been navigating the county and developing new partnerships through our Yolo Local project, I keep returning to the almost wholly unmet information needs for the Spanish-speaking population. As our ecosystem assessment highlighted, that’s one-fifth of our total population. This week my collaborator jesikah maria ross and I applied for a grant that would allow Yolo Local to connect more deeply with folks who need civic information in their own language. Although it’s a daunting time to be doing such work, we are pressing forward on that front.

Meanwhile, we are pleased to be in cahoots with our friends at PBS KVIE/Abridged for the launch of their weekly Yolo County newsletter, which will lean into Yolo Local’s assessment findings to inform editorial. They’re a great group of folks and I’m looking forward to digging in. A reminder that you can sign up for the weekly newsletter, which drops Wednesday afternoons, here.

In community,

Autumn Labbé-Renault

Executive Director

27th Annual City of Davis MLK Celebration is Virtual on Monday, Jan. 18th at 9 a.m.

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The City of Davis will honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a virtual celebration including highlights of speakers and entertainment from past years recorded and archived by Davis Media Access. It also contains current messages from local youth, as well as an introduction from Mayor Gloria Partida. It first airs at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, via the City of Davis website at www.cityofdavis.org where it will be available through the end of the month.

Thank you to our 2020-2021 Supporters

During this time of COVID-19, DMA is proud to say we grew community during a time of separation. This is work we share with you, and we want you to know your support matters. Donations—whether by individuals, events, local businesses, or donor-advised foundations—keep KDRT on the air, and help support DMA's work on local elections and youth media services. This list includes donors from July 1, 2020 to now. We thank you!

$1,000 & Above

Craig & Darien Blomberg

Jessica Kelly Includes a volunteer match by Cisco

Alison Kent & Allan Hollander Via Car Donation

Richard Krogsrud and Rebecca Ryland Via Car Donation

Anthony Roy Via Car Donation

Sunny Shine

$500-$999

Clyde Bowman

Shelley Bronzan In Honor of Matthew Bronzan (includes car donation)

Nancy Flagg

Marie Graham In Honor of "Praise Time with Preacher"

Don and Julie Saylor

Sharmila Shinde Via a Car Donation

DMA During COVID-19

Since closing the facility on March 13, we’ve navigated a broad range of operational/technical/programmatic and administrative challenges during quarantine. We’ve helped some of our radio and TV volunteers as they’ve navigated producing from home--and commiserated with those who couldn’t. And we’ve adapted on other levels, working to fill budget gaps that are a byproduct of this time, while striving to respond to community requests for help with events that are now virtual. In short, though the building has been closed, the organization has not!

Through it all, we’ve kept abreast of the ever-changing laws and public health orders. In particular, we are following the guidelines for reopening developed by the John Hopkins Center for Public Health and Yolo County Public Health. Our policy and timeline has been developed by staff, and was vetted and approved by the DMA board at its June meeting.

Connecting to What Matters

If this is your first visit to our website, welcome, and thanks for visiting.

Davis Media Access (DMA) is a non-profit community media & technology center currently celebrating its 31st year of serving Davis and environs. Elsewhere on this website you can read about what we do; the purpose of my message here is underscore why we do it. DMA’s community-centered work connects us to what matters: newsmakers, schools, families, youth, teachers, local elections, policy makers, community activists, neighborhoods, social justice activists, other non-profits, businesses, libraries, veterans, senior citizens, musicians, artists, and more.

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KDRT Highlights

New Sonic Rehab, Monday, May 18, from 1-3 p.m.

After an incredible week-plus of fundraising, DJ Jojo Johanssen returns on Sonic Rehab to the format he never departed from, bringing you an eclectic assortment of tasty goodies. Watch for a mellow start with music from Röyksopp and Peter Frampton, some amazing '80s one-hitters not one-hitters, plus a barn-burner of a finish to get you geared up for another week. If the last half hour doesn't get your blood moving, you might need to check in to the mortuary. YIKES!

KDRT Spring FUNdraiser – Saturday Spectacular!

Every day of the year, KDRT brings unique sounds to your speakers. But today – Saturday, May 16 – we invite you to partake of our Spring FUNdraiser Spectactular, a live on-air marathon with special guests, live music, and spontaneous surprises. Don’t miss the fun: Tune in, join the celebration, feel the love, and support your community radio station. Earn yourself our gratitude and perhaps a special thank-you gift.

Divine Intervention – May 15, 2026

It's FUNdraising in spectacular style on Divine Intervention as your hostesse Jess Goddésse welcomes surprise special guests, spins some swell tunes by our Goddess of Month, deals out one (just one!) devilish Vinyl Vespers track, and brings you a bodacious amount of new music – yes, even more than usual!

Dashboard Diaries – May 14, 2026

This week on Dashboard Diaries, RayK teams up with That California Sound’s Scott Schiller to blast some incredible music, including a Davis Music Fest preview, and to make our listeners an offer they can’t refuse: Support KDRT community radio and maybe even get a great thank-you gift in the bargain! Pledge $75 or more and get our 21st anniversary tee, in bright green on black.

In the Key of Folk is FUNdraising with Nancy Flagg today! – May 13, 2026

It's a doubleheader! Nancy Flagg and I are teaming up today on In the Key of Folk to bring you great music in a FUNdraising kind of way! Our shows are back to back, so why not?

At 2 p.m. Pacific, I'll start off with more from the newly released album by I'm with Her and continue on with tracks by Eli West, ISMAY, Jake Blount, and Jim Moray, selections garnered from a well-known fan account on Bandcamp. Did you know that there was such a thing? So tune today to KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis or KDRT.org worldwide.

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