2022 Year-End Letter
Dear Sanctuarians,
My name is Aileen Javier. I am the new President of the Board of Directors of The Sanctuary for Independent Media. From the radio station, Nature Lab, Peoples Health Sanctuary, Collard City Growers’ gardens, and Freedom Square, The Sanctuary for Independent Media is all about empowering community, communication, organizing, culture, independent media, education, health, social and environmental justice, and, most importantly, the revival of the block. All of it has been made possible by Steve Pierce, a great leader and original creative thinker, along with co-founders Branda Miller and Kathy High.
Let me introduce you to H. Bosh Jr., one of our dedicated radio correspondents. He has a weekly segment highlighting organizations from the Capital Region, interviewing them about what they do in the community. When you make a donation, you are helping our listeners access his radio segment called Triple Es (Education, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship), creating positive changes in the community. At the beginning of my volunteer experience, Steve Pierce and Branda Miller encouraged me to participate in the Hudson Mohawk Magazine. This is our one-hour local news show produced collectively by volunteers, from the radio engineer to the host to the correspondents. It makes sense that it’s a volunteer effort, since the Sanctuary founders were Indy Media-makers dedicated to creating local news programming to promote activism. Your contribution keeps our radio effort possible, creating access for all of the Sanctuary initiatives. Certainly, I could have never imagined myself working in a radio station, asking people in the Capital region what they would like to know about, and creating segments bringing the information to them through our radio effort. The Sanctuary is all about participatory action, education, community building – empowering the people. My becoming the President of the Board is proof of it. I am so grateful and honored for the role.
We have come a long way from one of our first events, Howard Zinn’s Marx in Soho, when rainwater was leaking from the roof and people were sitting in the audience holding umbrellas. We have come so far from that, but we still need your support. Would you consider becoming a monthly sustainer, signing up today to give a contribution of $5, $10, $15, $25, $50, $100 or more? You can also make a one-time donation based on your income bracket for the end of the year. Your contribution will make a significant impact in our community.
After two and a half hard pandemic years, we have carefully returned this Fall 2022 season with live events, from Malian musical group Al Bilali Soudan to Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges, and in-person media and science workshops with North Troy community members and local young people.
If you are already a Sanctuary Sustainer, thank you! If you’re not a Sustainer, take a moment to visit MediaSanctuary.org and click the DONATE button to sign up for a monthly contribution of any amount. Please join us as a Sanctuary Sustainer, together we empower community and make this world a better place. Thank you for your generosity and support.
With deep appreciation,
Aileen Javier
Board President
