On December 1st, 1975 at 8pm the cork was popped and something special was born in Madison that would inform, educate, and entertain thousands over the next five decades and continues to make Madison what it is today. WORT was on the air.

WORT 89.9fm is one of a small handful of community radio stations in Wisconsin. It holds a special role as the first community radio station launched in the state. Five people and a dream and the community had a space to make its voice heard, a space that would amplify the music, spread the news, and magnify the stories of the grassroots.

Fifty years later and WORT remains the voice of Madison’s many communities. It is a space for traditionally underrepresented people to be heard, bringing stories to light, sharing news that commercial stations simply don’t, and making the airwaves alive with the music of so many cultures and experiences.

I’m sharing all this because WORT’s importance, and that of other community radio stations, is growing as our world changes. We need community radio to be there to make it possible for all voices to be heard during these increasingly dangerous times that we are in. We need to be able to speak for ourselves to the world and be heard. Listener-sponsored, member owned radio an important way to make that happen.

Are you a listener-sponsor or volunteer for WORT? If you are, now is a great time to help the station move forward. WORT is accepting candidates for 3 participating (volunteer) and 2 listener-sponsor seats. Applications need to be in by the end of April 29th to be considered. WORT needs caring, courageous, hard working, and visionary people to lead as it moves forward in these challenging times. Consider being one of them. You can find out more at https://www.wortfm.org/run-for-the-wort-board-of-directors-2/

If you aren’t in the WORT community, I hope you’ll check out your area’s community radio station and consider lending a hand. The voices of the grassroots are essential if we are going to survive and thrive as a community and a country.