| Program: | Street Science With Dominique DiPrima, Los Angeles, CA | | Contact(s): | Dominique DiPrima, Community Action Director: (213) 634-1800 | | Purpose: | To promote unity and understanding through dialogue that mixes educational and entertainment elements | | Background "Street Science With Dominique DiPrima" debuted four years ago on KKBT-FM in Los Angeles to support the station's slogans of "No Color Lines" and "Unity Through Music." Dominique DiPrima is the creator, supervising producer and host of the show. After only two years on the air, the show expanded from two to three hours. "Street Science" airs 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Sundays and is among the top three programs in that time slot for English-speaking shows. Program Operations
"Street Science" is a live radio-talk program that enables listeners to interact with a panel of celebrities, experts, politicians and community leaders. In order to reach young people, the program addresses serious issues in an entertaining way that is relevant to young people's lives. Although Ms. DiPrima determines the topics of the shows, suggestions are welcomed from individuals, community organizations and staff members. In addition, community organizations often invite "Street Science" to broadcast from their own public events. One of the show's main projects are town hall meetings that are broadcast from college campuses, community centers and cultural events, bringing the issues to where people live. For example, a town hall meeting on African American and Asian American relations was broadcast from the Korean Youth and Community Center in South Central Los Angeles. Asian and African American leaders came together to advocate unity, and members of both the black and Korean press covered the event. A similar meeting was held on African American-Jewish relations, and there was an ongoing series on "black/brown unity" aimed at diffusing tension between African Americans and Hispanics in greater Los Angeles. The "Street Science" staff also coordinates fundraisers for community-based organizations--from the Minority AIDS Project to My Friend's Place, a homeless resource center in Hollywood. Outcomes and Significant Accomplishments "Street Science" has resulted in many groups working together on community projects. For example, African American and Latino student organizations have teamed up with African American and Latino gang prevention organizations, along with the L.A. County Probation Department, to prevent tensions between these communities. "Street Science" receives between 10 and 100 requests per month to speak on the topic of eliminating racism, and it has received hundreds of letters in support of its campaign to erase racism. The program has been featured on television stations such as NBC, FOX, ABC and CNN, as well as in publications including The Los Angeles Times, The Korea Times, Vibe, and Rap Pages. For more information on "Street Science," visit the KKBT-FM Website at www.thebeatla.com. |
