Putting the 'Public' back in NPR

Last night before spinning tunes for the ClothingChange Exchange, I got a chance to hear some insightful and innovative talk radio programming courtesy of NPR. (whoa! I never thought I'd say that!) No, I wasn't crankin' up Afternoon Edition to get pumped for my DJ set, but rather I was listening to a broadcast of Neighborhood Public Radio live at buddY. Unlike the "other" NPR, which has seemingly become an outlet only for the affluent and upper class white communities, Neighborhood Public Radio is an organization that strives to give everyone in the community a voice and an outlet for news, arts and entertainment that is not available via mainstream media outlets. Here's their official statement from their website: At few times in recent history has it been more imperative that communities find ways to make their voices heard. As the FCC attempts to make it easier for radio stations to be co-opted by large corporations, and as the Corporation that runs our one National "Public" radio outlet conspires to exclude all other voices from the left end of the radio dial, individuals in the Bay Area are making it known that they will not be restricted from accessing the airwaves that are rightfully their own property... Our motto: If it is local and it makes noise .. we hope to feature it on NPR(Neighborhood Public Radio) Neighborhood Public Radio will continue broadcasting through the rest of the weekend here in Chicago as a part of Version fest, which wraps up this Sunday in Bridgeport. Check out their website for more information, archived broadcasts and a link to their live stream at Version. http://www.conceptualart.org/npr/