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Desert Soul Media Inc
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 811526333 · Form 990EZ · FY2021 · NTEE A30 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · desertsoulmedia.org
revenue
$56K
expenses
$45K
net assets
$44K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

The organization's exempt purposes are to provide trauma informed media literacy training to African-American youth and adults; to produce a weekly African-American cultural affairs program; to operate radio and television stations; and to operate media arts and culture centers. Mission Statement: Desert Soul Media Inc. is an educational non-profit bridging the digital divide between access to and training on digital media equipment and software; and the intergenerational underrepresented populations in the digital media arts industry. Our highest priorities are Black and African American youth seniors and families. We are telling our stories our way.

profile · synthesized from sources

Desert Soul Media Inc is a non-profit media arts organization founded in 2015. It fosters arts and culture discovery, civic engagement, and community cohesion among Arizona's African American and other minority populations. The organization achieves this through broadcast radio, online, and in-person programming, focusing on digital media access and training for intergenerational, underrepresented populations.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Desert Soul Creative Studios
A public access media center in Phoenix, Arizona, providing media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism, along with access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab.
KRDP Community Radio
Consists of two public radio stations (KRDP Jazz 90.7 FM and KRDP Indie) and a podcast/syndication division (KRDP+), broadcasting diverse music formats and public affairs programs.
Paint The Town with Sound
A series of live multimedia arts events held across Arizona, spotlighting independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists.
Soul Star Live®
Arizona’s only daily news and public affairs series addressing topics of concern to the state’s African American, African, and Afro Caribbean immigrant communities, airing live on KRDP and available as a podcast and on YouTube.
activities · 5 groups

what they do

  • Black and Afro-Caribbean Community Radio Broadcasting 10 activities
    • Daily news and public affairs programming
      Produces and broadcasts "Soul Star Live®", a daily news and public affairs program Monday through Friday at 12 noon on KRDP 90.7 FM, addressing issues relevant to African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities in Arizona. The program is also distributed as a podcast and on YouTube.
    • Daily news and public affairs programming
      Produces and broadcasts the daily news and public affairs program "Soul Star Live®" Monday through Friday at 12 noon on KRDP 90.7 FM, focusing on issues relevant to African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities in Arizona. The program is also distributed as a podcast and on YouTube.
    • Operate Public Radio Stations and Syndication Service
      Operates KRDP Community Radio, which includes two public radio stations (KRDP 90.7 FM and KRDP Indie) and a podcast/syndication division (KRDP+) in the Phoenix metro area. KRDP 90.7 FM broadcasts a diverse Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Soul format targeting Arizona's African American community, while KRDP Indie is an online streaming station for Adult Album Alternative music, specialty music, news, and public affairs programs. KRDP+ develops, markets, and distributes original audio and video content.
    • Operate Public Radio Stations and Syndication Service
      Operates KRDP Community Radio, which includes two public radio stations (KRDP 90.7 FM and KRDP Indie) and a podcast/syndication division (KRDP+) in the Phoenix metro area. KRDP 90.7 FM broadcasts a diverse Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Soul format targeting Arizona's African American community, while KRDP Indie is an online streaming station broadcasting Adult Album Alternative music, specialty music, news, and public affairs programs. KRDP+ develops, markets, and distributes original audio and video content.
    • Operating Community Radio Stations and Syndication Service
      Operates KRDP Community Radio, which includes two public radio stations (KRDP 90.7 FM and KRDP Indie) and a podcast/syndication division (KRDP+) in the Phoenix metro area. KRDP 90.7 FM broadcasts Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Soul targeting Arizona's African American community, while KRDP Indie is an online streaming station for Adult Album Alternative music, news, and public affairs. KRDP+ develops, markets, and distributes original audio and video content.
    • Produce and Broadcast News and Public Affairs Programs
      Produces and broadcasts "Soul Star Live," a daily news and public affairs program addressing issues relevant to African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities in Arizona. This program is broadcast live Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 1 pm, and is also distributed as a podcast and on YouTube.
    • Produce and Broadcast News and Public Affairs Programs
      Produces and broadcasts "Soul Star Live®," a daily news and public affairs program addressing issues relevant to African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities in Arizona. This live news program is broadcast Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 1 pm, and is also distributed as a podcast and on YouTube.
    • Producing and Broadcasting News and Public Affairs Programs
      Produces and broadcasts daily news and public affairs programs, including "Soul Star Live" and a live news program, addressing issues relevant to African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities in Arizona. These programs are distributed via radio, podcast, and YouTube.
    • Public radio broadcasting
      Operates two public radio stations: KRDP 90.7 FM, broadcasting a Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Soul format targeting Arizona’s African American community in the East Valley, and KRDP Indie, an online streaming station offering Adult Album Alternative (AAA) music, specialty shows, news, and public affairs. Both are part of KRDP Community Radio in the Phoenix metro area.
    • Public radio broadcasting
      Operates two public radio stations: KRDP 90.7 FM, broadcasting a Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Soul format targeting Arizona's African American community in the East Valley of Phoenix, and KRDP Indie, an online streaming station broadcasting Adult Album Alternative (AAA) music, specialty shows, news, and public affairs. Both are part of KRDP Community Radio in the Phoenix metro area.
  • Community Media Production & Literacy 8 activities
    • Media literacy and production training
      Offers media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism through Desert Soul Creative Studios in Phoenix.
    • Media literacy and production training
      Offers media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism through Desert Soul Creative Studios in Phoenix.
    • Operate Public Access Media Center
      Operates Desert Soul Creative Studios (DSCS), a public access media center in Phoenix, Arizona, providing access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab for content creation.
    • Operate Public Access Media Center and Offer Media Literacy Courses
      Operates Desert Soul Creative Studios (DSCS), a public access media center in Phoenix, Arizona. DSCS provides media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism, and offers access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab for content creation.
    • Operating a Public Access Media Center and Providing Media Literacy Training
      Operates Desert Soul Creative Studios (DSCS), a public access media center in Phoenix, Arizona, offering media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism, along with access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab.
    • Provide Media Literacy Courses
      Offers media literacy courses in digital audio production, radio broadcasting, social media marketing, and journalism through Desert Soul Creative Studios.
    • Public access media center and studio access
      Operates Desert Soul Creative Studios (DSCS) in Phoenix, Arizona, a public access media center that provides community access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab for content creation.
    • Public access media center operation
      Operates Desert Soul Creative Studios (DSCS) in Phoenix, Arizona, a public access media center that provides community access to audio production studios and a multimedia lab for content creation.
  • Community Art Exhibitions & Festivals 5 activities
    • Host Live Multimedia Arts Events
      Operates the "Paint the Town with Sound™" live event series, which spotlights independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists throughout Arizona.
    • Hosting Live Multimedia Arts Events
      Operates the "Paint the Town with Sound™" live event series, which spotlights independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists throughout Arizona.
    • Live multimedia arts event series
      Operates "Paint the Town with Sound™", a live event series that tours Arizona and features independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists.
    • Live multimedia arts event series
      Produces and hosts "Paint the Town with Sound™," a live event series held throughout Arizona that showcases independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists.
    • Organize Live Multimedia Arts Events
      Operates the "Paint the Town with Sound™" live event series, which spotlights independent musicians, spoken word artists, visual artists, multimedia creatives, culinary artists, and youth artists throughout Arizona.
  • Podcast and Video Interview Production 1 activity
    • Podcast production and content syndication
      Operates KRDP+, a podcast service and syndication platform that develops, markets, and distributes original audio and video content, including radio programs, podcasts, and web series, across digital platforms.
  • Uncategorized 11 activities
    • Develop Training Programs and Educational Video Series
      Created and produced the "Back to Basics" educational video series, which was adopted into Amtrak's national training program. Also co-authored the Service Excellence Training Program for the California Zephyr train route.
    • Develop Training Programs for Amtrak
      Created and produced the "Back to Basics" educational video series, which was adopted into Amtrak's national training program, and co-authored the Service Excellence Training Program for the California Zephyr train route.
    • Developing Educational Video Series and Training Programs
      Created and produced the "Back to Basics" educational video series, which was adopted into Amtrak's national training program, and co-authored the Service Excellence Training Program for the California Zephyr train route.
    • Development of professional training programs
      Created and produced the "Back to Basics" educational video series adopted into Amtrak's national training program and co-authored the Service Excellence Training Program for the California Zephyr train route.
    • Development of professional training programs
      Created and produced the "Back to Basics" educational video series adopted into Amtrak's national training program and co-authored the Service Excellence Training Program for the California Zephyr train route.
    • Host Specialty Radio and Podcast Series
      Hosts the weekly syndicated radio, podcast, and YouTube series "Boom Goddess," broadcast on KXCI in Tucson and KRDP in the Phoenix area. Also hosts the weekly Blues and R&B radio show "Blue Friday" on KRDP.
    • Podcast and content syndication services
      Operates KRDP+, a podcast service and content syndication platform that develops, markets, and distributes original audio and video content, including radio programs, podcasts, and web series. Content is distributed via podcast platforms and YouTube.
    • Produce and Broadcast Music-Focused Radio and Podcast Series
      Hosts the weekly syndicated radio, podcast, and YouTube series "Boom Goddess," broadcast on KXCI in Tucson and KRDP in the Phoenix area. Also hosts the weekly Blues and R&B radio show "Blue Friday" on KRDP.
    • Producing and Hosting Specialty Radio Programs
      Hosts and broadcasts weekly syndicated radio, podcast, and YouTube series such as "Boom Goddess" and the Blues and R&B radio show "Blue Friday" on various stations.
    • Weekly radio and podcast series hosting
      Hosts and distributes two weekly programs: "Boom Goddess," a syndicated radio, podcast, and YouTube series aired on KXCI in Tucson and KRDP in Phoenix, and "Blue Friday," a weekly Blues and R&B radio show broadcast on KRDP.
    • Weekly radio and podcast series production
      Produces and hosts multiple weekly syndicated programs including "Boom Goddess" (broadcast on KXCI in Tucson and KRDP in Phoenix) and "Blue Friday", a Blues and R&B radio show on KRDP, available as podcasts and on YouTube.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$56K
Contributions & grants$53K93%
Program service revenue$4K7%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$45K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$13K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$157K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$44K
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +448.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Walt Richardson Director 1 $1K
Calvin J Worthen Vice- Chair & Vice-President 15 $600
board members · 7
  • Adlee Salaam — Director
  • Chris Felton — Director
  • Christopher Owens — Director
  • Debra Momon-Sabir — Director
  • Jennifer Davis-Paige — Secretary & Director
  • Leticia Barrett — Director
  • Patrice Graham — Director
relationships · 23

who they work with

  • ASU’s Distinguished Innovation Fellows Program Partner — Participant focused on bringing insightful projects to the university and melding with students as a component of the Difference Engine.
  • American Federation of Musicians, Local 586 Network — Active member, sits on the Board of Trustees, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Union Production Coalition of Arizona.
  • Arizona Community Media Foundation Partner — Co-founded by Kaja Brown, who is also a co-founder of Desert Soul Media, Inc.
  • Casa de Sincero, Inc. (CDS) Partner — Kaja Brown serves on the Board of this non-profit healthcare organization.
  • Eliances Network — Member of a network for entrepreneurs.
  • Givebutter Partner — Uses Givebutter for processing membership payments, with transaction fees added to the final amount.
  • KRDP Partner — Broadcasts the weekly radio show "Blue Friday" and the cultural affairs program "Soul Star Live."
  • KRDP Partner — Hosts the weekly radio program "Radio 586 AZ Roots".
  • KRDP Partner — Radio station broadcasting Soul Star Live® in the Phoenix area.
  • KRDP Partner — Radio station broadcasting the Boom Goddess program in the Phoenix, AZ area
  • KRDP Community Radio Partner — Offers members discounted admission to KRDP Community Radio events.
  • KXCI Partner — Radio station broadcasting the Boom Goddess program in Tucson, AZ
  • LeadershipWest Network — Alumni of the program.
  • MV Transportation Partner — Tiffany Hawkins, a board member of Desert Soul Media, started her career at MV Transportation and considers her assignment as a driver there her ministry.
  • Pacifica Foundation, Inc. (Pacifica) Partner — Kaja Brown serves on the National Board of this community and public radio network.
  • Paint The Town With Sound Partner — Offers members discounted admission to Paint The Town With Sound events.
  • Read the Future Partner — Board member for the company.
  • Recording Academy’s Grammys Network — Voting member.
  • Scottsdale Community College Partner — Serves on the Music Advisory Committee.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Government — Uses the 4R’s framework from SAMHSA in its trauma-informed approach.
  • The Foundation of the Alliance for Community Media (FACM) Partner — Kaja Brown serves on the Board of this charitable arm of the Alliance for Community Media.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Government — SAMHSA, whose framework is used by the organization, is an agency within HHS.
  • Union Production Coalition of Arizona Coalition — Serves on the Steering Committee for this gathering of film production unions focused on growth and inclusion of future film production opportunities.