In July, NFCB hosts its unconference, Wish You Were Here. The virtual event is 2021’s edition of our community media convergence, a long-running commitment to education for nonprofit radio stations focused on local news and culture.
NFCB’s Circle of Engagement remains a cornerstone of the 2021 program. However, we have added four areas of focus to our keynotes and member-exclusive sessions:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion – building on NFCB’s decades of commitment to diversity in community radio;
- Mis/Disinformation – offering the tools to stations and media organizers so they can help audiences to identify falsehoods that poison community cohesion;
- Polarization – equipping stations to create understanding and dialogue around social and political divides locally; and
- Wellness and Mental Health – supporting stations in making the well-being of staff and volunteers a priority.
As part of NFCB’s appreciation for stations’ finite resources, keynotes are open to all, and member-exclusive sessions are being offered at no additional cost to the staff, volunteers and boards at member stations.
Find all member event registration links in the Solution Center. (login required)
Member sessions feature a range of practical discussions, such as music licensing, program management and pledge drive alternatives. In addition, Wish You Were Here is intended to equip you with visionary discussions and ways to help community radio into the future.
We’ll conclude the unconference with Dave Isay, founder and president of StoryCorps. His latest initiative, One Small Step is aimed at tackling divides in our nation. Dave Isay will be introduced by President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Patricia de Stacy Harrison.
If you are with an NFCB member station, the possibilities at this conference are endless. Among the conference highlights for members include a 90-minute deep dive into inclusive leadership with Minal Bopaiah; a legal roundtable to address stations’ biggest questions; and a conversation on crowdfunding for community radio. You can see the full list of sessions here.
And even if you are not with a member station, there are several public sessions to attend, including a presentation on the full-power noncommercial radio application window happening in November.
Anyone with questions about the conference is encouraged to contact NFCB. We look forward to welcoming you to Wish You Were Here starting July 7.