Susan Young
from KPFT for Pacifica National Board Chair for KPFA

I am Susan Young – Current PNB Chair, running for reelection as a Pacifica Forward candidate. I have helped to:

  • End years of costly litigation through mediation and court approved bylaws that empower members to vote directly for the national and local station boards

  • Reduce Pacifica debt and increase financial accountability

  • Establish policies for hiring capable, productive managers

  • Fostering Pacifica’s National News Team with producers from all five Pacifica stations and the affiliates

  • Preserve Pacifica’s treasured archives

  • Establish guidelines for safe and effective meetings

  • safe, respectful, effective meetings

Pacifica has met the challenges of fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, power outages, bombings financial threats, lawsuits, physical violence against staff, volunteers and board members, dysfunctional bylaws, FCC and IRS compliance issues and the loss of CPB funding:  THE PACIFICA FOUNDATION IS STILL HERE!  Our heroes are the listeners and staff who have devoted time and treasure to the network and our five stations.

Pacifica is uniquely positioned in a dynamic media universe to be a voice against war, discrimination and environmental destruction.  The Pacifica Forward coalition will build on the governance, management and financial strengths needed to uphold our mission.  And support five stations and 200+ affiliates in expanding national news production with breaking stories and in-depth investigation on vital issues listeners care about. 

 

Now retired, I have served on the boards of Pacifica, KPFT, the Texas ACLU and organizations for arts, parks, international relations, voter engagement and neighborhood planning and advocacy.  I have been an active supporter of KPFT serving on the first Local Station Board in 2020, including as LSB Chair, and on the CAB.  I ran for the LSB after protesting the US War in Iraq through the Cities for Peace Initiative that I organized.  Our protest was supported by 8 courageous members of the Houston City Council, Sissy Farenthold and Civil Rights/desegregation icon Reverend Bill Lawson. 

I have served on all of the national board committees and currently chair the Personnel Committee.  And I have raised thousands of dollars for Pacifica to help with financial emergency situations and support the programs I cherish on KPFT.

My experience with public finance, government and non-profit management and Pacific governance at the national and local levels have prepared me to serve as PNB Chair protecting the future of Pacifica Foundation at this urgent time.

Please vote for me and the Pacifica Forward candidates. Endorsed by Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Aileen Alfandary, Philip Maldari