Our Blog

WPFW Listener Candidate: Sabooh Hikim

My name is Sabooh Hikim and I am running for a seat on the LSB. I came to Washington, DC in the late 80’s and several years later started listening to WPFW’s Caribbean show. I became a member 15 years ago. A volunteer at the station who is familiar with my work in the neighborhood and local community asked me to consider running for the LSB.

In 1977 in Baltimore, MD, I helped to establish Morgan State University’s radio station with a show on science, food and international news. And in the 1990s, I produced a video on environmental hazards and wildfires for Montgomery County cable channel 38.
I would like to work on the fundraising, gift giving process; as I talk with people within the community in DC, many have been listeners over the years. At one time they paid their membership dues but were promised gifts and stopped supporting the station because those gifts never arrived. This should not be the case!

I want to improve the process so that listeners receive what they were promised. This would help the station to re-establish its integrity. Thanks to WPFW, everyone has received life changing information through the years. This is our station! WPFW’s vision is a vision for the present as well as the future.

I would like the station to develop other fundraising strategies with other new profit groups. It would also be great if the people who work from 9 to 5 can hear programs repeat on weekends. Many of our younger listeners and seniors are unable to access the archives because they do not have ready access to computers.

The radio station needs to establish an on-the-street news group to see how people in the 8 wards throughout the city feel about the development of the city; its public schools, police conduct, affordable housing, return citizens, etc. I would like to see 30-60 second promos on environmental programs in the city from solar to biomass technology, hydroponics and growing food in one’s own home or garden. I would like to see more training available for young people working in radio and encouraging the sharing of their ideas for the future.

With the support of the community this will happen.

Optional Questions


In what ways are the station moving in a positive direction, that you would want to continue or perhaps improve?
The shows with information concerning this community from crossroads with Roach Brown to Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescott, to Heal with DC, with Joni Eisenberg are great assets for the community and should be continued.

In what ways are the station moving in a negative direction, that you would want to stop or change? What changes would you work for?
I would work on the station’s ability to get the gifts to people who are members when they pledge; in this way people who were paying members in the past would come back with a willingness to continue their support for the station.

What key experience, connections, skills or traits would you bring to the Local Station Board to advance the station's mission?
I am great at event planning and with some fundraising skills, I helped start Morgan State University’s radio station in 1977 with a radio program about science, food and international news, and in the 90’s I produced a video on environmental hazards and wildfires, for Montgomery County, MD.

What ideas do you have for helping the station and the Pacifica Foundation meet the financial challenges currently being faced?
I would like to have a major event with music, environmental booths featuring information on solar, biomass, hydroponics, etc., to help respond to the financial challenges once a year.

So, what do you think ?

en English
en Englishes Spanish