APRIL 2021

Welcome!!

Portland Voices: VALERIE YVETTE PETERSON

Valerie Yvette Peterson has been performing for over 30 years here in her hometown of Portland, Oregon and has written countless plays, short stories and has performed her poetry in various theaters across the country. Her latest chapbook titled, Fruits Of Our Labor- My Words, My Harvest; A Compilation Of Poetry and Prose, can be found at most media outlets. This extraordinary debut collection of poetry and prose, chronicles the realities and disparities of divorce, relationships, abortion and mental illness, within communities of color. Each poem and story is complete in itself; collectively they create a tapestry as intricate, defined and colorful as the people they represent. 

Valerie Yvette Peterson hosts a social media, Video Vlog show each Monday Night on Youtube, where she performs and shares originally written pieces of poetry and invites local guest poets to participate and share their love of poetry. Valerie Yvette Peterson is the member of Poetry Society of New York’s Advisory Council for BIPOC Artists, where she and other members help to create a shift toward equity and inclusion in aspects of BIPOC Artistry within the Poetry Society of New York. 

Valerie Yvette Peterson is an Associate Producer for World Arts Foundation Inc. in Portland, Oregon, which produces the 2nd largest Tribute Celebration in the Nation for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her most recent production titled When WE Cry, sponsored by Fertile Ground Festival of New Works and Portland Area Theater Alliance, is a play that takes a look into the pain of a black woman; and the perils that exist when truths of pain remain silent. She has also just completed her show titled SADIE and MYRTLE, for the 12th Annual Fertile Ground Festival of New Work. Her written and performed work has been featured in Kontrol Magazine, Stereotypeco.com, Dr. Melinda Silva’s Podcast for Mental Health, Festival for Poetry.com, Wild Sound Festival Review, Ethically Immoral Podcast, Portland

Observer Magazine, Fertile Ground Festival of New Work and many others. Her work was recently selected to appear in the Anthology: Voices for Justice, published by the Los Angeles Poets Society Press and will be a featured, curated poet for the BIPOC Reading Series with Literary Arts.

Valerie Yvette Peterson’s work is crucially important to our literary landscape for many reasons: She hones in on a unique perspective by using her experiences as a black woman and highlighting the interconnectedness of ALL women. She seeks to show how unity is just a heartbeat away. Valerie Yvette Peterson uses her artistic platform to creatively amplify all women's voices through the footsteps of the black woman’s experience.

Partnership highlight: Forge Hot Yoga

Now that The Numberz has spent some time being your favorite radio station, it's hard to imagine Portlands airwaves without us right? But, understand that establishing a media vehicle with the purpose of uplifting our communities marginalized voices in a place that has actively silenced or disregarded those voices wasn’t an easy endeavor. It takes support from the  community at large to first recognize the need for this project, especially in its inception and then to follow through by getting involved as an early supporter. As one of our very first underwriters Forge Hot Yoga applied their philosophy of healing and transformation into their support for The Numberz. 

Founders Angela Patrick and Ryan Smith explain their philosophy as a belief that yoga is medicine and “we aim to improve your flexibility, range-of-motion, strength, balance, perseverance, stamina, attitude, mental health and many other benefits by offering high quality instruction and providing a safe, simple and healing space. We are here to help you achieve your goals!”

With locations in the Alberta District, West Linn & Happy Valley offering a variety of classes not limited to yoga but also including pilates and guided breathing meditations. Find the location and class that works for both in person and virtual classes. You can find more info at www.forgehotyoga.com

Featured Talk Show: Box To Row

Host Donal Ware talks with the newsmakers in the world of sports and entertainment and about relevant issues of the day. One of the rare shows to air on both SiriusXM Satellite Radio and terrestrial/traditional radio, BOXTOROW began airing August 20, 2005. BOXTOROW is also on-site, broadcasting from well-known events. BOXTOROW is current, relevant and fresh! Appointment Radio! You can catch Box to Row airing every Saturday at Noon on the Numberz.

A curator of the Portland hip-hop scene, DJ Klyph uses platforms to represent the underrepresented. For over a decade he's promoted and supported the scene through radio, producer, curator and host of live events and podcaster. The foundation of this work has been local hip- hop, funk, soul and R&B.

In 2007 Klyph hosted “three7 MUSIC” on the Portland based internet station The Portland Radio Authority. The show was tagged as positive hip hop, conscious music featuring tracks from local artist Acts 29, Lightheaded & Lifesavas and leaning heavily into CHH and Gospel rap. Due to his early years living in Jersey, his playlists most often held a golden era east coast vibe.

In 2009 Klyph was picked up by local FM radio station KZME who's tag line was “Music Where You Live”. The goal of the station was to support the local music scene and Klyph created “Welcome to the Neighborhood” [WTTN], a show that would feature music from the local scene. Aside from playing music, he would invite MC’s in for live rhyme sessions on air, DJ’s to come through for live mix sessions, giveaway concert tickets and facilitate station support of local events.

The popularity of WTTN grew and guest interviews from outside of the region became a regular occurrence. In 2014 the “Klyph Notes” podcast was created, a chance to go deeper into long form interviews with artists and individuals making an impact on their communities.

Building with the local community led to a relationship with McMenamins and Klyph helped curate and later host the local hip-hop showcase Mic Check PDX with local promoter StarChile [R.I.P.]. The night initially gave local artists a live stage to perform with producer Trox as resident DJ and later the addition of DJ O.G. One, then grew to host performers from outside the region and build relationships with brands like Team Backpack.

“Now with ‘The Rhythm’ on The Numberz FM I have a place that allows me to combine years of being a curator of the music scene, building relationships with artists but also simply being a fan of the artand sharing with the listeners great music that should be on their radar.”

Brianna Balogun is a DJ and creative, who at the young age of 14 is making a name for herself through her gigs and radio presence. After watching her father communicate his love for music through djing she became curious about his passion and she started learning. Since then she's done numerous gigs from birthday parties to protests. While the main genres that she spins are Hiphop, R&B and Pop she enjoys playing genres out of her comfort zone and finding lesser known artists. Brianna currently has a monthly show on KBOO (Culture Light Beams Radio) with her father Dj Ambush and is working on improving her craft.

Take a listen to her Community Playlist that’ll be in rotation next month, but you’ll get it here first!

Our sister station XRAY.FM is in the middle of their spring fund drive. Click on the image below to see how you can get involved!

They are also looking for a new executive director so take a look and pass the link along to anyone you think might be interested!

XRAY is seeking a transformational, visionary leader to help the organization write the next chapter of its story. You can be a part of this hiring process! Share the job posting and helping us search for candidates suited for the Executive Director role.

The new Executive Director will be joining a community that includes an active volunteer board, 7-person staff, and over 100 volunteer DJs. We are accepting applications via email until midnight on Friday, 04/30.

VIEW THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE