Hispanic radio station offers variety of programming to Cache Valley
Flipping through the radio stations on any given day, a listener will hear the average country, oldies and top-40 varieties of music. But for those who do not want to listen to these styles of music and are seeking a wider variety, the trick is in finding where to look.
KACH, found at frequency 1340 AM offers a program that caters to the Latino community of Cache Valley, manager Juan Luna said. The program, which runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each Saturday is run almost completely by volunteer work from Luna as well as a Utah State University student and several faculty members.
Luna, who has lived in Cache Valley for eight and one-half years and is originally from the Dominican Republic, graduated from a university there with a major in communication and has been journalists for more than 22 years. He volunteers his time and expertise because he feels the service is needed to help out recent immigrants to the area. Luna said Hyrum has the highest Hispanic population in the state – 12 percent – and many of them are recent immigrants.
“We can reach them [members of the Latin Community] through this media to help educate and entertain them,” Luna said.
The programs include both educational segments about the community and music from several Latin cultures including Latin American, Brazilian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Spanish and African styles.
Beginning at 11 a.m., a program hosted by Jolanda Guaderrama invites members from the communities of Utah and Southeastern Idaho to answer questions concerning their professions that would help new residents adjust better. The phone lines are open to anyone to call and ask individual questions.
At noon, a program titled “Bienvenidos America” (Welcome to America) specifically addresses questions about immigration such as the papers to fill out and when to take the right steps to becoming an American citizen.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. a musical segment airs on the station.
At 2:30 p.m., Antonio Arce, a graduate student in international development at USU, teaches “Cultural Roots of the Americas.” This program addresses the cultures of Latin and Native Americans and what they think, feel and believe, Arce said. He said most Mexican people have similar cultural roots and the program gives people pride and boosts their self-esteem.
Arce volunteers his time each Saturday, and said, “I believe we can use music and give them education through the radio.”
Arce, who is originally from Argentina, is also the president of the Native American Council on campus. Later this semester he is sponsoring a Latin American music concert to raise money for the Red Cross and spread awareness of the radio station.
From 3 to 3:30 p.m. there is another music segment, followed by “Voices of the Community” at 4 p.m. “Voices of the Community” is hosted by Randolfo Hernandez, and addresses worries people in the Hispanic community have about children, raising families in, and adjusting to the area and other various questions.
From 4 to 5:30 p.m. there is another music set. After this, Miguel Gurado discusses the musical impact that specific Mexican music may have on the area, and shares news from San Jose and other areas that may be immigrants’ native lands.
Also, on alternating Saturdays, faculty members from USU participate in programs they host.
On the first Saturday of the month, Maria Ortega, an Outreach specialist on campus, hosts a show called “Our Voice” where she said she “brings a guest of Hispanic origin who has accomplished something important in her life so she can be a role model for other women who are also immigrants or second-generation.”
They discuss the women’s jobs, how and why they came to the United States and how they are adjusting.
Ortega has lived in the United States for three and one-half years, and began as the editor of El Informativo del Valle, a monthly Spanish newspaper based in Logan. She currently coordinates English for Employment, a campus organization for people of multicultural background and translates for campus departments that need to communicate with Spanish-speaking employees, as well as volunteering for the radio station.
On the second Saturday of the month, Hector Mendiola, a faculty member of USU Extension, hosts a show which includes various members of the community who can address the educational needs of the Hispanic community.
On the third Saturday of the month, Pablo Chavajay, a professor of psychology at USU originally from Guatemala, hosts a show about families and the psychological needs of immigrants in the valley. He first appeared on KACH in response to the Sept. 11 tragedy to help alleviate some of the psychological stress of the event and to let people voice their point of view.
“It makes me feel good because one of the goals of the program is to provide information on many issues. One concern [of the radio station] is entertainment, but they would like to tap into more important issues as well,” Chavajay said.
The final two Saturdays of the month are devoted to CAPSA (the Community Abuse Prevention Service Agencies) and the Chamber of Commerce “to try to keep the community informed on how to start a small business, job training, finding a baby-sitter, and self-improvement,” Luna said.
Overall, many hours of volunteer service are combined for the benefit of Hispanic residents of Cache Valley. There is some support from Albertson’s and Millers, Luna said, but they are seeking more volunteers. Luna said he is very grateful to all the volunteers, especially Alan White, the station’s owner who has sacrificed time and money to make the radio station KACH come together.
“We have the hope that people will see the necessity of this wonderful program,” Luna said.