Listen to Reverend Billy Radio every Sunday at 1pm exclusively on WRWK. Billy is the pastor of “The Church of Stop Shopping” in New York City. Although his church has tens of thousands of members, Billy is “a preacher with an unknown god”. He is not Christian, but wears a priest’s collar and televangelist’s hair. His followers shout “Earthalujah!” and “Change-a-lujah!” on the sidewalks. He started the show while locked down in NY, with death raining down on the skyscrapers. He likes to stop preaching suddenly and play music. In his show, “The Fiery Eagles of Justice”, a jazz trio that is hard to fathom, and “The Stop Shopping Choir” a 35 voice chorus of trespassing activists – help the reverend slide into his next sermonette. Proud part of Pantheon – the podcast network for music lovers.
What’s in a name? What do we mean by “work” in TheWorkFM? Work is any activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a specific purpose or result. More specifically, in theology it means good or moral deeds; in the military it means a defensive structure; in civil engineering it means maintaining and enhancing our infrastructure. Work is what you do so you can build what best serves you.
At TheWorkFM, our work is to help build an informed community, one that examines public issues from multiple perspectives so it can grow into a community that works for everyone. This takes work. There’s that word again! Our bias is toward positive progress and the ideas and institutions that promote a healthy, functional community.
If you are depending on an apocalypse to clean things up or to excuse you from your share of the work, we cannot help you. We are ethical, social members of the community not beholden to monied special interests or quarterly profit. We are an independent media outlet and we promote affirmative inquiry through civility and critical thinking.
TheWorkFM is a work in progress. We are only beginning to tap into our strength, but we have already helped to make positive changes in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the waterways we fish in and the oceans that encircle the globe. There’s a message in that. Our efforts have had an impact and even small, consistent contributions can make a difference in our community.
As Saint Paul an early Christian ethicist said: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. At TheWorkFm We believe that humans have come of age. Now it’s time to put away our childish things and own our power. It starts with individuals, in community groups, living as engaged citizens doing the work and supporting the work. We are taking the long view and we welcome your participation and support. Help us to strengthen our community. It’s more fun than you might think!
Radio Hat! Imagine that! But what if those two tubes start singeing your scalp? The good news is that you don’t need a Radio Hat to tune in to WRWK 93.9FM TheWorkFM – a regular radio or a smart phone will do even better with no risk of searing your skull. Just tune in on your car or home radio or find this website on your smart phone browser and click on the red “Listen Live Now” button to the right. And don’t forget to stay tuned for our next multi-band fundraiser at RICK’S ROCK CAFE coming the day before Halloween.
Sometimes it gets messy trying to blend the blue and the red but we’re still just a baby. During the month of August WRWK 93.9 LPFM TheWorkFM.org will be celebrating our third year of community broadcasting and we’re all set to grow!
In these times of challenge and opportunity it is crucial to support non-commercial, local media. Please help this messy baby grow. HELP KEEP WRWK TheWorkFM ON THE AIR.
During WRWK Birthday Month of August, donations will be matched! Invest in WRWK, your non-corporate community radio station. You can donate by check sent to 913 Grove Road Midlothian, Virginia 23114 or by clicking the “Donate” button on the left or donate on Facebook by clicking the “Donate” button on our Facebook page. With our generous matching gift from an anonymous donor, it’s a great time to make your contribution.
The famous feminist activist Emma Goldman once said “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution” and though to the dedicated activist that may seem frivolous, there is wisdom in what she said. In the fight for economic, racial and sexual justice some activists can alienate those they wish to convince by giving in to excessive zeal and the righteous indignation that comes with fighting the good fight. Too serious. No humor. Total dedication. No time for joking or play.
While it may be understandable that this occurs, there is wisdom in tempering this overly serious, doctrinaire and sometimes self-righteous approach in order to create a welcoming and hospitable tent, inviting to the undecided and luring those committed to the status quo.
Creative resistance is the key to a durable, adaptable, enjoyable revolution. Not creativity just in dancing and celebrations but also in protest and tactics to resist brutality. The “wall of moms” and the “leaf-blower dads” of the Portland protests are recent examples of creative resistance. On Facebook we can find recommendations for how to resist with balloons of oil paint that obscure the face masks of attacking police and lists of items to bring for safety and fun. Though their use can bring a felony conviction it is ultimately harmless, effective and creative. And then there are the relief tents. Music. Puppets. Chants. Street theater. Creative resistance media. And plenty of dancing. As natural as it is, t will get tiring screaming at police and a playful performance will be more fun and likely more effective. Let’s dance our way through this revolution.
Courageous Civil Rights Leader, Rep. John Lewis has died and left us with an opened path and a challenge. Born a sharecropper, Lewis marched with Martin Luther King in a non-violent protest and was beaten by police – but this did not stop him. Lewis went on to become a Democratic Congressman in Georgia, serving 17 terms and earning a reputation as a bold, persistent and compassionate Civil Rights activist. His tireless, non-violent efforts helped open the path to progress and they continue to challenge us to remember the long game and to steel ourselves with patience and persistence in the fight for justice in America. Tune in to “In the Frequency of Hope at 7PM on Monday July 20 to learn more and to celebrate this great American leader.
