"Localism" — Blogs, Brew, and Community Radio in Visalia
by Arthur Greenberg

As part of a Cultural Plan AMS is undertaking for California's central valley community of Visalia, we recently facilitated a community discussion on the outdoor patio of a local brewpub, at which almost 30 mostly under-30-year-olds gathered to discuss their cultural interests. At the outset of the session we came to realize that most found out about the meeting from two recently-christened 100-watt community radio stations (KFSC 94.1, and KVLP 101.5), or from a local blog. Life-stages that were represented ranged from students at the nearby College of the Sequoias to new parents of pre-school children, and a few ''mature'' but young-at-heart culture mavens in tune with the community radio/blog scene.

A local blogster announced the meeting with a touch of skepticism but also optimistic that opinions from this group were being sought:

''Want more music in Visalia? Better music? Want film festivals, plays or poetry readings on something interesting? Want something different that you never thought you would see in Visalia? Think no one really cares about what you think and things will never change in Visalia?''

This is quoted from a newspaper which quoted an email forward from a deputy city manager. And to those 5 questions, I respond 1) yes, 2) yes, 3) yes, 4) yes, and 5) I hope that what you're about to tell me will change my answer.

Turns out, the city staff actually want to hear what us, the people of Visalia, think about the arts and culture scene in Visalia. Imagine! A cultural plan that actually involves the young adults that participate in said culture!

The blog, coupled with radio PSAs, delivered a fine turnout for the discussion which lasted well beyond its scheduled 90 minutes. There was a palpable pent-up desire to be heard in evidence throughout the evening. We discussed a wide range of topics, from tapping into nascent volunteerism to celebrating the region's cultural diversity; from ways to ensure access at cultural events to strategies for keeping the conversation going; from ''micro-grants'' for local entrepreneurs to the need for more alternative media; all with a big-picture focus on stopping the ''brain drain'' and keeping young people in Visalia.

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Perhaps the most profound findings stemmed from a line of questioning as to how the local radio stations were able to galvanize such energy and involvement in delivering folks to the evening meeting. We asked, ''How does community radio create connectedness?'' and heard responses like:

• creating a community voice
• it's not mass media
• the antithesis of Clear Channel, creating togetherness
• a commercial-free local voice promoting local events

And then, as summarized by one of the more heavily tattooed attendees, ''Community Radio is Localism.''

A MySpace page created by one of the stations describes its mission as: ''Community, Awareness, Diversity, Empowerment, Live Music, Peace and Social Justice,'' and goes on to claim, ''We are the only Visalia station: not only our license, but our antenna, transmitter, underwriting supporters, and volunteers. We cannot be bought, sold, or traded. We are not 'Little Fresno,' we are in the midst of the Garden of Eden,'' concluding with a quote from Thomas Jefferson: ''Enlighten the people generally and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of the day.''

It is our strong sense that the Visalia Cultural Plan will be somewhat different from many other Cultural Plans created over the last several decades owing largely to the involvement and participation of what Richard Florida would call ''the creative class,'' but what this consultant came to embrace as a group of young people, out for a beer on a Tuesday night, celebrating their unique brand of ''localism'' by voicing opinions for city staff and elected officials. Most were insistent on repeating the experience, perhaps gathering every quarter to build effective coalitions and channel the advocacy energy.

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