First Voice Apprenticeship is an apprenticeship program at KPFA 94.1 FM in Berkeley and is designed to provide comprehensive broadcast, technical, and administrative skills training in radio. First Voice also aims to build and strengthen community and empower our participants to find their voice and tell their stories.
The First Voice program is based on community building, a collaborative work environment and passing on our skills and stories. We focus on bringing women and people of color into media and work in partnership with Pacifica community radio station KPFA and other community media outlets, both locally and nationally.
The First Voice Apprenticeship Program has a 12 month basic skills option and an 18 month graduate level option during which participants produce, engineer & host Full Circle. Everyone is required to spend one business day each week working at KPFA, as well as two class nights. The day-shift is a 3 & 1/2 hour shift and apprentices do administrative and production tasks. The day-shift runs on an inter-generational group learning model, with each phase teaching the next, and integrates service to the station, skills acquired in classes, motivation and leadership.
First Voice Apprenticeship 