In order to understand the value of my contribution to KPFK, it is important to understand my background; I was born in Quito, Ecuador in a family with a rich ethnic ancestry. The eighth child of 9, I had an early understanding of the limited resources in my household and the importance of sharing. Neither parent made it past high school, but despite lacking formal education, they instilled the values of hard work and ethics in all of us. I come from a third world country where I saw poverty and struggled through stunted opportunity. I have not just seen others’ fight; I know from personal experience the toils of fighting injustice and discrimination.

Shortly after graduating from high school and working in Ecuador, I became frustrated with the restraints and the lack of opportunities in my country, and made the journey to the US, where I eventually settle. Finding it more difficult to give my daughter and family a better future without a college degree, I went back to junior college, later I transferred to CSUN where I obtained my Bachelors in Finance and International Business. Three years after I obtained my Masters, which allowed me to compete for jobs in large US companies and climb the professional ladder. Although I have been given a better opportunity to succeed in this country, it was not without struggle. Females and minorities, we are at a disadvantaged position when competing for jobs. We have to work harder at attaining professional recognition.
Owning a food franchise for 3 years, helped me to gain great entrepreneurial experience; while at the same time exposed me to the hardships of a small business owner, amongst them the inability to provide additional benefits to my employees such as health insurance, as well as a constant struggle to stay afloat amidst growing operational costs.

All of my combined experience coupled with the current state of our world propels me to stop being a passive spectator of the news and the lack of proper media analysis, to becoming an active participant in the political discourse, or lack thereof. Laws like the ones enacted in Arizona, the Gulf oil spill caused by BP, to a wide array of issues ranging from failed financial policies to irreversible climate changes are all around us. Despite the urgency, these matters are never appropriately addressed by the narrow narrative used by the mainstream media. The deplorable manner in which they fail to hold Government accountable, while simultaneously distracting audience’s attention from an in depth examination and constructive discourse of the issues is astonishing. I feel that it is imperative to not only contribute to public media, but to actively participate in changing the conversation. It is crucial that people get information from all sources and through critical analysis reach their own opinion. We need a real change in people’s perspective and participation.

In order to understand the value of my contribution to KPFK, it is important to understand my background; I was born in Quito, Ecuador in a family with a rich ethnic ancestry. The eighth child of 9, I had an early understanding of the limited resources in my household and the importance of sharing. Neither parent made it past high school, but despite lacking formal education, they instilled the values of hard work and ethics in all of us. I come from a third world country where I saw poverty and struggled through stunted opportunity. I have not just seen others’ fight; I know from personal experience the toils of fighting injustice and discrimination.

Shortly after graduating from high school and working in Ecuador, I became frustrated with the restraints and the lack of opportunities in my country, and made the journey to the US, where I eventually settle. Finding it more difficult to give my daughter and family a better future without a college degree, I went back to junior college, later I transferred to CSUN where I obtained my Bachelors in Finance and International Business. Three years after I obtained my Masters, which allowed me to compete for jobs in large US companies and climb the professional ladder. Although I have been given a better opportunity to succeed in this country, it was not without struggle. Females and minorities, we are at a disadvantaged position when competing for jobs. We have to work harder at attaining professional recognition.

Owning a food franchise for 3 years, helped me to gain great entrepreneurial experience; while at the same time exposed me to the hardships of a small business owner, amongst them the inability to provide additional benefits to my employees such as health insurance, as well as a constant struggle to stay afloat amidst growing operational costs.

All of my combined experience coupled with the current state of our world propels me to stop being a passive spectator of the news and the lack of proper media analysis, to becoming an active participant in the political discourse, or lack thereof. Laws like the ones enacted in Arizona, the Gulf oil spill caused by BP, to a wide array of issues ranging from failed financial policies to irreversible climate changes are all around us. Despite the urgency, these matters are never appropriately addressed by the narrow narrative used by the mainstream media. The deplorable manner in which they fail to hold Government accountable, while simultaneously distracting audience’s attention from an in depth examination and constructive discourse of the issues is astonishing. I feel that it is imperative to not only contribute to public media, but to actively participate in changing the conversation. It is crucial that people get information from all sources and through critical analysis reach their own opinion. We need a real change in people’s perspective and participation. Government alone cannot enact the change we seek. It is through the dissemination of objective information that will help shape the consciousness of the people; that will enlighten and push individuals to act. It is through the work of KPFK that I hope to contribute towards that goal.