Sam Spady (President, NAACP/New Rochelle branch; leader of several Westchester civic groups; small business owner)

Click HERE for his candidate statement

Sam Spady

WBAI Candidate Questionnaire

1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

I want to be on the Local Station Board because I believe my more than four decades of experience and success in organizational dynamics, including conflict resolution, will be an asset to the LSB. My proven track record of working with people of all ethnicities to address many issues and solve many problems will serve WBAI well.

2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, WBAI and the community?

I see the LSB being more visible in the community and opening a better line of communication to provide a direct personal link to WBAI. The LSB must initiate the communication with Pacifica to be a partner in this struggle for peace and progress.

3. How could the station better serve its listeners?

The station should monitor developing social issues and concerns that confront the community by soliciting input from members of the community. The station should also co-sponsor forums and other events that people in the community deem important to a community-based communications organization.

4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase diversity of the listening audience?

I would invite all local community-based organizations and national organizations with local branches or chapters to a meeting to open a dialogue with WBAI to discuss how we can work together to better serve our listeners and their members. The station could possibly broadcast a conference or convention held by these organizations. The station could also more consistently arrange to set up booths to pass out literature and information at these organizations’ events.

5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel WBAI should solicit?

WBAI should apply for grants and hold community-based fundraising membership drives. It should set up information booths at various grassroots organization conferences or conventions and sell station premiums at these events. The obvious benefits of a WBAI presence at these events include marketing and networking with grassroots organizations.

6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.

I have broad organizational and management experience, such as chairing meetings, planning and operating fundraising drives, developing budgets, delegating and monitoring projects and tasks, problem solving, and serving as an informal community ombudsperson. I have gained this experience and the related skills through the following:

(1) attended RCA Institute of Technology one year and Westchester Community College two years; (2) active in civic affairs for more than 40 years; (3) while employed at New Rochelle Community Action Agency during the 1970s, I was a community organizer, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission officer, and director of the Neighborhood Youth Corps, and I created a community-based training program that graduated 60 licensed practical nurses and 12 registered nurses; (4) Little League baseball coach for 16 years and League President for 10 years; (5) PTA council representative for Jefferson Elementary School (New Rochelle); (6) elected vice president of Pell Manor Cooperative; (7) union shop steward at Frito-Lay Corporation; (8) Elected 3 terms and President of South End Civic League (New Rochelle); (9) currently serving third term as President of the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP; (10) current owner and operator of Red Fox Taxi Service, New Rochelle; (11) current producer (pro bono) of a weekly radio show, “Straight from the Ghetto,” focusing on public affairs, plus R&B music and guest poets on WVOX, AM 1460, a local radio station in New Rochelle.

7. Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job-related problems or inadequate transportation?

No.

8. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently service?

I would most like to serve on the LSB Management Evaluation Committee.

Contact: sam@justiceunity.org