My name is Girasol “Bleu,” Villatoro, and I would love to join KPFT’s Local Station Board as a Staff Member Representative. I’ve been volunteering with KPFT for a little over 2 years and am proud to be the evenings operations coordinator for our public affairs programming.
I was born and raised in Houston’s Second Ward, attended the University of Rochester pursuing Digital Media Studies, have taken artist residencies in NYC, and recently graduated from the University of Houston Class of 2025. All throughout my academic career I have pursued my inclinations towards audio/music journalism, AV production, and independent media.
My involvement with KPFT started as soon as I moved back to Houston from my time in NY, and I have come to find the community cultivated at the station as inviting, diverse, and meaningful. Upon reaching out to Marlo, I was immediately invited in for volunteering. I got to train in board operation, spectate how different shows are produced, and eventually got invited to co-host Living Art with Michael W. My time as a co-host is teaching me about networking, listening, and connecting/appreciating others. Another show, The Houston Collective, is a group effort I contribute to, with programmers Rico and Masaya. Part of the production for this show involves different responsibilities having to do with AV tech, social media promotion, and external relationships with venues and artists.
The most significant things I’m absorbing at KPFT is working with local volunteers; the rich social and cultural capital that comes with working in community radio has taught me much about my community, and myself. Meeting guests, new programmers, and listeners, never fails to expand my perspective of my Houston. Training volunteers for board operation and LIVE radio show dynamics is incredibly fulfilling, as I can pay forward the experience I’ve gained here and see people becoming more versatile volunteers in the station. Ultimately, the people I’ve met in association with KPFT is my favorite part of maintaining free speech media in my hometown.
As I learn more and more about the history of Pacifica and KPFT, I understand how important it is to keep media and entertainment we provide outside of corporation influences/censorship, without algorithms capitalizing on attention, and coming from the voices nearest and most relevant to us. All of these things make me proud to be in the work I do currently as a board operator. There’s no place I’d rather invest my time and effort in given today’s socio-political climate; I’m optimistic about stepping up to be a greater advocate for the work and vision carried with The Pacifica Foundation.