The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 | Page 14

EXCLUSIVE VOICE CHOICE A COMMUNITY'S IS THE COMMUNITY'S WATERLOO, IA - Imagine a community without a voice. Imagine this same community where the actions and behaviors of the people determine the growth outcome. Imagine yourself playing an important role in this same community. Directly or indirectly, we all play a role in our communities. If our ability or contribute to the decision-making disappears in our community, there is no community. In John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, the 18th Law is the Law of Sacrifice. It states you cannot get something you want, without giving up something in return. To attain something you believe is of greater value, you must give up something you believe is of lesser value. The Soultown Magazine is pausing for an exceptional cause -- Black Radio -- and exploring one of its cities, Waterloo, Iowa; Black Waterloo, Iowa. What will happen to this community if it loses its voice? In The Beginning ... Waterloo is made up of about 70,000 people. 10,606, of this population, is African American totaling about 15%. There are an estimated 4,963 males and 5,643 females. Between 1978 and 2019, there have been two thriving African American Public Radio Stations, KBBG 88.1 FM -- call sign means Black Broadcasting Group and Beautiful Black Giant. It is a non-commercial educational radio station owned by Afro American Community Broadcasting, Inc. The late Jimmie Porter founded the corporation in 1977 and remained active in its leadership, along with a board of directors, until his death in 2007. It’s current President is former State Representative Deborah Berry. KBOL100.1 FM -- call sign means Knowledge Sept. 2019 • The Soultown International Magazine • Celebrating 2 years • Connecting Our Cultures to Our Cyber & Conscious Communities • thesoultown.com 14