On Saturday, December 15,2018 new Oxnard based radio station, 990ne FM, rhythmofthecoast.com held their introductory open house for the Oxnard plain. From the state- of-the-art facility on the campus of Oxnard College and on the adjacent quad, there was a festive and collective spirit of fun, family, and community. The team from 990ne FM, rhythmofthecoast.com, and Community Advocacy Coalition treated the crowd that topped more than one hundred fifty to a great event.
The program included live performances, vendors, food trucks, and raffles. In addition to local entertainers Antwon King, Sade Champaign Washington, and T.Shaheed singing their own brands of R&B and Hip Hop, the highlight was the dance contest that featured youth from the audience ages ranging from low teens to toddlers. The studio tour was well received, as the visitors could be overheard mentioning their satisfaction with the physical aesthetics and studio equipment. There seemed to be a great element of surprise regarding the physical ambiance and appearance of the station’s amenities, among which, contained the control room, the production room, and the visual appeal of the open common area decorated with a large back drop of the station’s logo. That area proved to be a popular stop as plenty of photos were captured in that area of the building. One visitor stated, “This is much more than I expected. It is a beautiful station. I’m excited for our community“.
The launch event was staged to introduce the new station, only the third owned by African Americans in California, to its local listeners. Leaders indicated that the building of the station, in a former portable classroom has been a five-year journey of ups and downs to get to this point. Now that KJBU-LP is up and operational, there is a new need for donations and grants to keep it running. The non-commercial educational media outlet is seeking memberships, sponsors, and underwriters to sustain the station for the Oxnard community. Community Advocacy Coalition, a 501(c)(3) social justice advocacy organization owns the station. It was built to support the advocacy initiatives of the organization. Visit rhtythmofthecoast.com to become a member or make a donation.
