NFCB’s 2025 conference has programming designed to support you in elevating your station. One of the most important elements of running a community radio our programming—the ways and means witch which we connect our communities, engage new audiences, and keep neighbors safe.
Here are just some of the offerings we have lined up that center around programming and content. These sessions take place on day 1 of the conference – Wednesday, June 10th.
6/10 @ 10:45 am: Think Local Act Local: Lessons from Hopi Radio
From local road conditions to power outages, from high school sports to traditional and contemporary Native music—hyperlocal programming is one of community radio’s super powers. KUYI Hopi Radio’s Samantha Molina will share how the station weaves Hopi language, values, and community priorities into every broadcast, from emergency alerts to community-driven storytelling. This session will offer practical strategies and inspiration to ensure your station remains deeply connected to the people it serves, amplifying their voices, and ideas for keeping your station of, by, and for your community.
6/10 @ 1:45 pm: The Music Department Toolkit: Essential Strategies for Success
Join KGNU Music Director Indra Raj for a practice-based session designed for community radio leaders, music directors, and volunteers. We’ll dive into the essential components of managing a thriving music department with limited budgets and volunteer-driven teams, covering volunteer coordination, DJ training, music library management, and community engagement.
This session will highlight best practices for building sustainable systems that can enhance your station’s efficiency and impact, regardless of size or resources. Whether you’re refining existing processes or starting fresh, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to elevate your station’s music department.
This session will include an open Q&A with a panel of community radio leaders on hand to help.
6/10 @ 3:45 pm: Fighting Fear: Overcoming Paranoia and Mythical Rules To Maintain a Healthy Station and Community
This round table will be an opportunity to explore some of the gray areas in running a community radio station. When navigating frequent staff turnover, constantly measuring and managing risk, all while dealing with uncertainty at a national level, it can feel impossible to make choices that bolster your station’s creative voice, keep your mission centered, and uphold the spirit of community radio. Join panelists Ken Freedman, Gavin Dahl, Sharon Maeda for a moderated discussion that will help peel back some of those layers and provide a candid space to solution seek for ways to stay grounded.
