KYRS broadcasts from the top floor of the public library in downtown Spokane. In September, KYRS hosted the Grassroots Radio Conference, inviting all attendees to the top floor station, including the big windowed overlook of the waterfall across the river.
On the first morning, leaders of the indigenous Salish School gave everyone a warm welcome to the gathering space, nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall, Salish for Life in the Water. The Mayor of Spokane, Lisa Brown, followed with generous remarks.
Sessions engaged community radio colleagues on underwriting, copyright, history, promotion, protection, technology, syndication, reporting, fundraising, and more. Amid an uncertain political climate where protections and support for the media have been rescinded, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez was an anchored voice of clarity and purpose.
Many attendees remarked on feeling glad to have time together, just to talk.
Now that the 2025 GRC has ended, KYRS station manager Michael Moon Bear takes a moment to reflect on the event. He spoke with Pacifica Network’s Stephanie Schubert.
Stephanie: Congratulations on hosting a lovely Grassroots Radio Conference in Spokane. How does the accomplishment feel?
Michael: It feels both humbling and energizing. Hosting the Grassroots Radio Conference was a reminder of what’s possible when people who care deeply about the role of truth, connection, and community come together. To see people from 45 non-commercial educational stations across the country gather in Spokane to learn, share, and celebrate the spirit of independent radio was very moving. For me personally it was about strengthening a sense of purpose and connection that runs through all of us in community broadcasting. It felt like a collective victory, built on heart and shared values.
KYRS Staff Shoutout:
Top left- Office Manager Lynnea Kaylor, top right – Volunteer Coordinator Jim Tate, bottom left – Program Director Dana Matthews
Stephanie: Tell us a little bit about your team at KYRS and how you worked to make the 2025 GRC happen.
Michael: A lot of people came together to help make this year’s GRC. Our team at KYRS is small, but mighty, a mix of staff, programmers, and volunteers. And I do want to highlight three of our exceptional staff, Lynnea Kaylor (office manager), Jim Tate (volunteer coordinator) and Dana Matthews (program director). Their titles don’t tell you near enough about the skill sets and dedication they bring to the table.
We also had incredible support from our partners at the Spokane Central Library. But it was not just the home team pulling all of the weight. There were others around the country who pitched in with advice and guidance, including Sharon Scott (WXOX 97.1 FM) and the folks on the GRC list, Betty McArdle, Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, Michael Brown and the Radio for the People group (instrumental in helping me reach FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez). Ursula Ruedenberg and Pacifica helped with advice and efforts to secure potential keynote speakers. The list literally goes on, many hands make righteous work.
Stephanie: What was fun about hosting the GRC?
Michael: Seeing attendees mark their hometowns on our map with push pins and realizing just how far-reaching our community really is, that was beautiful.
The opening ceremony, with LaRae Wiley teaching Salish words and offering a blessing, set a tone of respect and connection that stayed with us the entire conference.
The GRC really brought home that radio is more than sound, it’s culture, it’s story, it’s community in action.
Anna Gomez’s keynote was a very profound experience.
And above all, there was simply a lot of joy being shared in this event. Seeing people reconnect after years apart was beautiful to witness. And personally, getting to meet so many of the people in our NCE community that I have great respect for was one of the most deeply satisfying elements to the experience.
Stephanie: What was challenging about hosting the GRC?
Michael: The bottom line, it was a lot of work, and logistics were definitely the biggest ongoing challenge. Coordinating speakers, hospitality, schedules, live broadcasts, performances, technology needs, building a website from scratch … it was a marathon and took constant focus.
I spent much of the conference making sure things ran smoothly, which meant I didn’t always get to participate as much as I would have liked. Fortunately, the Central Library in which we operate has a lot of resources available that lend to making a smoother event. And the city of Spokane itself is very welcoming and hospitable, boosting everyone’s experience.
Stephanie: What is something you learned this year from the conference?
Michael: I learned, once again, that grassroots media isn’t just a movement, the power of community radio is not in equipment or buildings, but in relationships. Every presentation, whether about technology, journalism, or the First Amendment, demonstrated how much strength we draw from one another.
And personally, I learned just how powerful the people that are around me every day truly are. That’s something I’ll carry forward long after the conference.
Stephanie: You invited FCC Commissioner Gomez to be the Keynote speaker this year… Her message of non-capitulation was repeated multiple times. What is your response to that? And are there any gems you took from her presentation?
Michael: Commissioner Gomez’s powerful message of standing firm, of not giving in to forces that threaten truth, diversity, and democracy. That deeply resonates with me. Our response to the rise of Project 2025 and the administration’s attitude of hostility towards NCE broadcasters is not to hide our core values. This is when we stand and this is why we are here. Localism and viewpoint diversity, these are essential to keeping our democracy healthy. And as broadcasters, we’re caretakers of that public trust.
Commissioner Gomez’s words were both a challenge and a call to courage: keep going, even when it’s hard. Keep telling the truth. Keep the airwaves open for everyone. “Because if the First Amendment is to mean anything at all, it must mean that no government, regardless of party, gets to decide what is true, who gets heard, or which voices are silenced.”
Local talent performing for the Grassroots Radio Conference in Spokane. Betsy Rogue, Spokane Taiko Drumming, & Wild Alchemy Dance Collective. Photos courtesy of Michael Moon Bear.
Stephanie: Any advice for future hosts of the GRC?
Michael: Start early, hosting this event is a full time job. It is so worthwhile, however there are only so many hours in each day. So the more days you have to work with, the better.
Stay flexible, and lean on your community. Hosting a GRC isn’t just about logistics, it’s about building community. Creating space for connection, learning and joy. Those are the real treasures of the GRC. It’s not about putting on a perfect event. It’s about building something meaningful that will ripple out long after everyone’s gone home. Trust your team, listen to your partners, and remember why you’re doing it.
When it is all said and done, it was a privilege to be able to be of service to our NCE community. It’s worth every bit of effort it takes to make it happen.