Mark Sommer, Executive Director
Mark Sommer is an author, independent journalist, award-winning radio host, and internationally syndicated columnist who has written several books and hundreds of articles on national and international issues for major U.S. and foreign newspapers. His monthly columns on world affairs are syndicated in 12 languages to 100 countries by the Inter Press Service in Rome. In the United States, his articles have appeared on the editorial pages of The Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Newsday. He hosts the syndicated radio program, "A World of Possibilities," which highlights innovative solutions to longstanding societal challenges and is produced from the studios of the Mainstream Media Project. A 1967 graduate of Cornell University, Mark served from 1991-1998 as a program consultant on peace and world order issues for the Compton Foundation.

Halimah Collingwood, Media Coordinator
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.

Naihma Deady, Hispanic Media Coordinator, GOC, and Associate Producer A World of Possibilites
Naihma researches, coordinates, recruits guests and schedules interviews with local and regional hosts in the Spanish language radio across the Nation. Born and raised in Cholula, Puebla in Mexico, she came to the United States in 2000. From a social activist family background, she understands and is aware of the terrible gaps concerning social justice, education and poverty. Prior to becoming a resident of Arcata, Naihma did extensive traveling around the world and within her own country to observe, understand and experience other cultures as well as her own. She has experience working with and for the people of all ages, and loves working with children. When she is not working she is with her husband, stepdaughter and two dogs, studying seaweeds, microorganisms and diving in the cold Pacific Northwest waters. Naihma holds a double BS in Marine Biology and Zoology from Humboldt State University.

Jimmy Durchslag, National Media Coordinator
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.

Harmony Groves, GOC Program Coordinator
Harmony Groves coordinates experts to speak on various issues that are part of media alerts released through the Guests on Call Program. Extensive research is involved in creating a diverse and broad treatment of the issue at hand. Harmony Groves works in local government as an elected official and lobbies at the state level for better environmental policy and bicycle friendly transportation infrastructure. Harmony is also involved in various theater and musical groups, including Songs of Labor and Love: Joe Hill's last band, a tribute to the union movement in the United States. Harmony loves gardening, yoga and cooking.

Jennifer Hanan, Media Coordinator
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.

Shirley Santino, Media Coordinator
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.

Robin Pagliuco, General Office and Educasting Coordinator

Ananda Hazard, Finance Manager

Michael Schwartz, Production Engineer
Tofu Mike, as he is known around town, is the Production Engineer for MMP. Starting in 2007, he comes with years of experience in the field of live Sound Reinforcement. He has lived and worked in Humboldt County for more than a decade, as student, tofu maker, forest activist, and at the local recycling center. Music has been an integral part of his life, playing and recording with several different projects. Primarily a percussionist, he also plays guitar and sings, both originals and cover songs. He studied Audio and Radio Production at Humboldt State University.

Gregg McVicar, Senior Producer
Gregg McVicar produces our signature program, A World of Possibilities. He has years of experience in in community and commercial radio producing documentaries, as well as two radio programs: Earthsongs (1999-2006) and Undercurrents (2005 to present). His other credits and projects include: Hearing Voices, Day2Day, Re:sound, Smithsonian, and KPFA. He has received awards from: Peabody, RTNA/SoCal Golden Mic, and NFCB x 4. He is the owner of RadioCamp, LLC, and has an MA from the Annenberg School for Communication. His weapons of choice include: Apple, digidesign, WAVES, Neumann, and ADAM.

Matt Fidler, Associate Producer