Press Conference participants include L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, DWP Special Asst. GM, Power Systems, Simon Zewdu, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, CalTrans Director Tony Tavares, Sierra Club Chief People Officer Aida Davis, Metropolitan Water District Chief DEI Officer Liji Thomas, and other campaign partners.

(Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES: SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. announced that its flagship Los Angeles-based radio station, KBLA Talk 1580 AM, will launch a historic $2 million, 12-month Climate Justice Campaign with four clear objectives: center the voices of communities of color in the climate conversation, connect at-risk fellow citizens with advocacy organizations, increase climate health literacy, and highlight frontline climate justice crusaders of color.

The initiative will achieve these objectives with a robust schedule of climate-themed broadcasts and special programming during the next 12 months, four free community events (one per quarter), two town halls broadcast nationally from Los Angeles, and a savvy social media and marketing campaign. Going Public PR, a Black and female-owned Communications and Branding agency, will lead the coordination of the aforementioned efforts.

KBLA Talk 1580 is joined in this historic effort by both public and private partners including: LADWP, which last year launched its Powered by Equity initiative, Metro, the Port of Los Angeles, CalEndow, California Community Foundation, the Sierra Club, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and other partners who will join the campaign in Q2, Q3 and Q4.

“The harsher impacts of climate change weigh heavily on communities of color,” said Tavis Smiley, KBLA’s chief visionary officer, host of the nationally syndicated Tavis Smiley show, and most recent recipient of the coveted “Freedom of Speech” Award from Talkers 2023.  “In these underserved communities, families are less likely to have air conditioning, shade trees, bus shelters, water and energy effective appliances and other infrastructure that’s critical to mitigate a changing climate.”

A press conference is scheduled for Friday, January 12, 10:30am PST, at the MLK Memorial Tree Grove inside Kenneth Hahn State Park to offer more details on the unique nature of this climate initiative spearheaded by a Black-owned and operated major media player.

“As the most ‘trusted, credible and reliable’ media source in Southern California for African Americans and beyond, our talk station is committed to do more than just talk in these troubled times,” added Smiley.

“There is a clear connection between Dr. King’s moral consistence on the notion of reverence for human life or the interconnected nature of life and the future of our world house. On this MLK holiday weekend, KBLA assigns itself the task of elevating the climate conversation by amplifying the voices of those who are most impacted by the climate catastrophes we are all witnessing in real time. In a real sense, climate is king,” concluded Smiley, who appears on the “Heavy Hundred” list of the 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America.

Background: On Juneteenth, June 19, 2021, KBLA Talk 1580 launched with the promise to give disenfranchised citizens a voice in current political, social and cultural issues with empowering, sustainable and restorative language. KBLA Talk 1580 consistently emerges as the station of choice for Black/African American residents. An EVITARUS public opinion research study, the 2023 African American Media Issues Survey, finds that for the second consecutive year, KBLA Talk 1580 remains the most “trusted, credible and reliable” media source in Southern California for African Americans and beyond. While KBLA Talk 1580 is unapologetically progressive, the station and its on-air talent prefer good ideas over ideology. The station’s guests and listeners share the wisdom of a lived experience that serves to enlighten others. Because KBLA’s audience is so diverse, each day is like a live town hall meeting over the airwaves.

ABOUT KBLA TALK 1580

KBLA Talk 1580 AM is a heritage station and the original home of the iconic hip hop station KDAY. At 50,000 watts, day and night, KBLA serves a coverage area of nearly 12 million listeners. KBLA Talk 1580 boasts an all-star lineup of hosts who speak candidly and passionately to the challenges people of color face daily trying to navigate life and realize their hopes and dreams. KBLA Talk 1580 serves an audience long ignored by talk radio in Los Angeles and now other American cities – people of color and progressives. For more information, visit KBLA1580.com.

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