KCRW's March Volunteer of the Month

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Meet Leonard! He joined the team as a bright-eyed Santa Monica College intern this past fall, and ever since has been steadily on a rise of growing into the KCRW family! He exhibited a strong work ethic as an intern, and his generous nature and careful attention-to-detail shined through each interaction with a listener or member. As a production assistant, Leonard always goes above and beyond his role to cover a show so a DJ won't be left without any support. Even if that means helping out on the 3am-6am Sunday morning shift! His consistently positive attitude makes him a great addition to the team and a wonderful person to work with. For these reasons and more, we chose him as our March Volunteer of the Month!

Here's Leonard in his own words....

Where did you grow up and do you have any siblings? Pets?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles! This city is my heart and soul and I discover something new to love about it everyday. I have no siblings, although being a gemini, people have told me that it's pretty similar. I currently have no pets but I plan on having many in the future!

What 5 things would you wish you had if you were stranded on a deserted island?

1) A surfboard! I don't know how to surf but I figure being stranded on a deserted island would be the perfect time to try to teach myself. 
2) A telescope for stargazing.

3) I'm always writing things down so I would definitely want to have my journal so I can write about being stranded on an island and to record any new scientific discoveries.

4) I would also want an umbrella so I can shield myself from rain and to fend off any wild animals that may try to attack me!

5) A Nintendo Switch to play video games. (Until the battery dies at least.)

What is your current occupation / what do you do outside of KCRW?

Outside of KCRW I'm a full time student. Recently, I have also been volunteering at the LGBT Center in Hollywood.

What is your fantasy occupation?

My fantasy occupation is to be a scientist/inventor like Shuri from Black Panther. I would love to spend all day in really cool laboratory making high tech gadgets. However, my actual dream job is something in media where I can create and inspire a wide audience. I would like to be a giant mogul somewhere among the ranks of Oprah.

When did you first discover KCRW?

I can't quite pinpoint when I first discovered KCRW but I have some great memories of going to a lot of the music related events in high school with my friends.

How did you find your way to our station for volunteering?

I found out about volunteering and internship opportunities at KCRW through my school. My major is journalism and I have always had an interest in radio broadcasting, so I figured this would be the perfect chance to pursue my career.

What’s your current volunteer position and how long have you been at it?

I've been with KCRW since fall of 2018. I began as a front desk intern and worked my way up to now being a production assistant. Getting to work with a roster of talented DJs is so fun and I’m glad I got to experience working in the old building right before moving into the new one. My journey here has been amazing so far!

Favorite volunteer moment?

Every moment has been my favorite! Each moment is unique and I always leave with something special every time. I love what I do and I'm definitely looking forward to all the fun summer activities KCRW has in store.

If you could get on the mic and say one sentence on the air, what would it be?

I would say “Right now I want you all to take a deep breath and say something positive about yourself or your day.” I’m sure we all deal with a lot in our daily lives and it can be overwhelming at times. It's nice to be reminded to take a brief moment and remind ourselves of something positive. Doing so can really change your perspective on things.

What song(s) have you hit repeat on lately?

I've been playing Solange's "When I Get Home" album on repeat since it came out and I haven't grown tired of it yet!

Favorite book, movie?

I have so many favorite movies but one that comes to mind is the 1982 version of Blade Runner. That movie has an amazing soundtrack and I just really love sci-fi in general. My favorite book is "Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry" by Essex Hemphill, an award-winning gay black poet and activist who died of AIDS in the 90's.

Favorite thing to do outside the station?

I love doing anything that involves nature or being active. I spend most of my free time at the beach, hiking or riding my bike around the city. I also really enjoy gardening which I plan to do a lot of during my spring break. (Tomatoes are first on my list!)

What does KCRW mean to you?

When I was a front desk intern I used to share a space with someone named Linda. Linda gave me a lot of great words of encouragement and life advice that I still think of. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing people like her. So for me KCRW is about community! From the network itself to all the wonderful supporters and listeners, I feel blessed to be around such creative, trailblazing and inspiring people!

Leonard, we are so moved by you choosing to dedicate your time to us and we are lucky to watch you grow! You've been such an integral part of the team and to us, you mean family! Thank you, Leonard!