Marci is responsible for database development and management. She works with the staff to answer database questions, create reports and solve problems. Marci is also an avid organic gardener, growing much of her own food. She farmed for a number of years, then shared her expertise during a term in the Peace Corps in Panama, where she taught farmers sustainable organic agricultural techniques and how to build and maintain tree nurseries. She also served as a liaison between the farmers and governmental reforestation and agricultural organizations. Marci is a graduate of Humboldt State University with dual B.A. degrees in history and social studies, and a minor in peace and conflict studies.
Barbara Browning oversees a multitude of administrative and operational duties that help to ensure that the Mainstream Media Project operates smoothly. Her responsiblities range from developing and managing the project's annual budget, administering health and retirement plans, facilitating discussions on procedural issues, and problem solving to assisting the Executive Director in organizational decisions. Prior to coming to MMP, Barbara worked for 20 years in the healing arts as a massage therapist. She has also worked as a consultant to nonprofit organizations, doing public relations, special event coordinating, and grant writing. Barbara is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a B.A. in psychology.
Halimah Collingwood schedules interviews on syndicated programs, and public and commercial stations nationwide. She has extensive experience in radio as a producer, programmer, and engineer, and for the past twelve years has been host of a weekly World Music program entitled "Ethnic Excursions" on public radio station KHSU-FM in Arcata, California. She was the Program Director for the Humboldt Arts Council, organizing exhibitions and concerts throughout the community. Halimah attended San Jose State University but dropped out to pursue her musical career, singing with several bands including Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. She is a founding member of the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir and also sings with a local Balkan Choir. Besides people, Halimah loves music, theatre, dance and traveling. She completed her degree in 1990 from Humboldt State University with a B.A. in Philosophy.
Jimmy Durchslag schedules interviews with national, international and syndicated media as part of the Guests on Call program. Jimmy has been involved in media as a radio programmer, as owner of a record label and as one of the founders of KMUD, a local community radio station. He has managed several nonprofit organizations and businesses, including a community clinic and a large catalog company. An active musician, Jimmy plays trombone with several local groups. Jimmy graduated magna cum laude in English from Yale University.
Janna writes proposals and letters of inquiry in support of MMPís two programs: Guests on Call and ďA World of Possibilities." She also prepares grant reports and maintains MMP's fundraising tracking system. Previous to her work in development, Janna was MMP's campaign director for over three years. Prior to coming to MMP, Janna worked in administration and retail at a cooperative grocery store, did wildlife surveys with the U.S. Forest Service, and worked with a nonprofit water quality organization where she recruited and managed volunteers and prepared grant proposals. Janna holds a B.S. in botany and environmental biology from Humboldt State University.
Mneesha is responsible for researching potential topics and guests for the radio program, and schedules most of "A World of Possibilities" interviews. She locates radio stations all over the country where guests can go to have their interviews done with professional sound quality. Mneesha also performs topic research and database maintenance for Guests on Call. When not at work, she is usually volunteering at Pelican Bay State Prison or Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, doing Aikido, or reading a book. She graduated from Bard College in May, 2003 with a B.A. in Political Science and a concentration in Latin American and Iberian Studies.
Jennifer Hanan schedules interviews on local and regional radio stations in 20 states, and D.C. Prior to joining MMP, she spent years traveling, studying how other cultures solve their social, economic and environmental needs. Jennifer landed in Arcata, California and lived there for ten years, serving an elected four year term on the Arcata City Council. She has spoken at various conferences and media events, nationally and internationally, about her experiences as a grassroots organizer around issues of urban sprawl, protecting local environments and the various social programs that she participated in. Jennifer holds a BA in social work from Humboldt State University. She enjoys traveling, biking and dancing and currently resides in New Mexico.
Chuck Johnson engineers MMPís weekly radio program, ďA World of PossibilitiesĒ, for technical content. He also maintains the audio computing equipment and recording studio. Chuck has been in the audio world for 20 years - playing in bands, engineering live sound, managing a music store, and manufacturing specialized computers for the audio and film industries.
Bonnie MacGregor researches topics, pre-searches news hooks, frames the issues, recruits interview guests, and briefs the staff for GOC alerts. She guides the research and development of the spokesperson database and GOC related website content. For 30 years Bonnie developed programs and collaborations that provided services and opportunities to people. She intensively worked on environmental education, domestic hunger, aging, homelessness, family violence, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and poverty rights. She conducted research designed to inform public policy at the local, state, and national levels. Bonnie received an A.B. from UC Berkeley in Social Sciences and a M.Phil in Intellectual History from Yale.
Chuck Rogers produces MMPís weekly radio program, ďA World of Possibilities.Ē Prior to coming to MMP, he worked as a journalist for 17 years at CBS and ABC TV and radio stations across the country. Heís done postgraduate work in journalism at Iowa State University, holds a Masters of Public Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and a B.A. degree in Political Science and English from the University of Arkansas.
Shirley Santino schedules interviews on radio stations in 15 states. Her previous work experience includes magazine publishing and video production in New York, and television in Eureka, California. She is a staunch public school volunteer and has participated in strategic planning, the Superintendent Advisory Committee and edited a parent/teacher forum newsletter. She also acts in local theaters. Shirley has a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Timothy Silva is the associate producer and station relations director for MMPís weekly radio program, ďA World of Possibilities.Ē Timothy has long been committed to encouraging awareness, communication and cooperation in communities. He graduated summa cum laudewith a degree in history from the University of Oregon.
Rashida researches and develops relations with organizations, spokespeople and station hosts in diverse ethnic communities. She hopes to expand MMP's ability to frame issues and provide a wide range of experiences and thoughtful perspectives on critical topics. She writes the news alerts - helping with research and framing - and handles the logistical support for the media coordinators. In her brief stay on the big blue marble she has been a drama coach, television personality, horseback riding instructor, radio host, carriage driver and always - a writer and photographer. She interned at the Sacramento News And Review, and helped to report and produce an adjunct segment to KQEDís monthly California Health Dialogues that aired on KHSU in the spring of 2003. In her spare time, she scribbles short stories on napkins; plugs away at the next Great American Novel; and combs the beaches with her "little man in a dog suit," Echo. A graduate of Humboldt State University, Rashida holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Studio Art (Photography)
