First Voice Responds to Charges of Sexual Harassment in Pacifica

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST VOICE RESPONDS TO CHARGES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN PACIFICA

Questions Pacifica's Relevance in Marginalized Communities

October 22, 2007- Berkeley, CA- The Pacifica Foundation issued a statement on Aug 7, 2007, defending itself against claims of sexual harassment and discrimination by five women who are seeking legal action against the network. Most of these charges have been evolving for several years, but this most recent statement was prompted by a July 11th press release on behalf of the women, where the purported allegations were detailed.

Pacifica's press release claims the allegations of sexual harassment by the five women are not valid, and that it has been “defamed and threatened by a small group who see it (Pacifica) as an easy target,” while totally denying that valid cases exist at all. These types of lawsuits, complaints, negotiations and settlements have been historically repeti-tive within the network, opening the door for both valid and opportunistic allegations. The most telling case in the women's press release that supports Pacifica's stance is the accusation by Maya Orozco claiming she was sexually harassed by Chriselda Pacheco, both graduates of the First Voice Apprenticeship Program. Orozco’s allegation stands out as an act of manipulation, giving credence to the tone of Pacifica’s press release. We know the truth of what happened between Maya Orozco and Chriselda Pacheco, and Orozco’s allegation is in the realm of slander. Orozco's claim gives Pacifica an opening to confuse the issues, and is a clear example of a symptom revealing a state of Pacifica's internal chaos and lack of unity within the network.

First Voice sees that allegations, both bogus and justified, will continue in Pacifica, as long as there remains a disconnection from the communities most in need of an avenue to tell their stories. Pacifica secures its economic future by producing stories about the im-pacts of war, racism, sexism, environmental issues, and stories from poor and marginal-ized communities around the world. Each fund drive capitalizes on these themes in the name of listener sponsorship, while dedicated people donate money to keep this station on the air. KPFA only reaches a small portion of the potential listeners within the bay area, which is rich in diversity and cultures. How can this be after 45 years as the first listener sponsored grassroots radio station? Many communities are not participating; Pacifica and KPFA have been unsuccessful at bridging the gap of relevancy to become viable in our communities, and have been resistant to the visionary alternative proposals we have advanced which address solutions that can close the gap. First Voice recognizes that in this day and age, with the potential of the new technology, communities can be the facilitators of their own stories, and that right must be equitable to all, economically sup-ported, and nurtured. We believe our communities cannot heal and become empowered if they cannot express themselves in their own voice and be heard on the issues that are relevant to them.

Thus, the First Voice Apprenticeship Program is formally announcing that we are in the midst of reshaping our program, as we approach the end of our third decade of service to the community and Pacifica. We are a grassroots movement that has dedicated over 25 years to serving the community and KPFA through media training, community-building classes, administrative and on air production. We have been consistent as a door for un-der represented people to gain access to KPFA. We are much more than a training pro-gram, we are a community building movement.

In the months ahead we will be advancing our vision to harness the new interactive digi-tal technology, and integrate economic and financial literacy into our curriculum to en-compass healing at the community level. We are determined to expand our strategy in this way to ensure the inclusion of our people as viable supporters and assets to the Pacifica mission — as a realization of equity and peace beyond rhetoric. This is not an antagonistic posture, but rather one of principle and vision that we hope the foundation will fully embrace.

We look forward to Pacifica's bright future with the new Executive Director, Nicole Sa-waya. We welcome her and hope to work with her in promoting a fresh and new status quo that will frown upon opportunists and move forward through creative and authentic representation, and economic sustainability. We want to help build a culture that will move beyond radio and the cult of personality into embracing and nurturing the untapped potential just outside the door, to facilitate equity and accountability, which is sorely lacking from the Pacifica of today. This is what will put Pacifica on the threshold of the First Amendment, not a rule of law to protect Pacifica's right to program about communi-ties of need, but rather, to be a protector and facilitator of equal access to the skills, tools, resources, and opportunities for self-expression of all people.

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Contact: Rainjita Geesler
First Voice Co-Director Phone: 510-848-6767 x 213
mailto: trainingdirectors [at] kpfa.org