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Management
Board of Directors
Pedro Rodriguez
Board President
Mr. Rodriguez is a seasoned community organizer who led several organizations in the Philadelphia area.
He continues to be active in his community serving in various boards, including Northwest Victims Services, The
Imperfect Gallery, Independence Charter School-West, Americans for Democratic Action, Keystone Progress Education Fund and Alliance for Retired Americans Education Fund. Mr. Rodriguez also served as an AIDS educator with Congreso de Latinos Unidos and was Associate Editor of the weekly Community Focus/Enfoque
Comunal, the largest bilingual newspaper in Pennsylvania. He has been a professor of Spanish and Literature for the last 17 years, part time, at the Spanish Language School in Center City Philadelphia.
Mr. Rodriguez was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Dominican Parade and Festival Committee in Philadelphia
Mr. Rodriguez is married to Pamela Walz and has two children, Anadelia and Daniel.
Julia Weekes
Board Vice President
Longtime Mt. Airy resident Julia Weekes is an educational management leader, educator, and visual artist. Julia has over thirty years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management, grant writing, professional development, arts education, integrated curriculum development, early childhood education, and progressive education practices. She has decades of experience in creating and supporting inclusive learning environments through her various roles in institutional and community-based programs. Julia is currently the Director of the new Education Innovation Lab for Jewish Learning Venture and Director of jkid4ALL, a jkidphilly family engagement initiative for Jewish Families of Color in the Philadelphia area.
Julia is also the mother of two members of G’town Radio’s Big Spill Radio Hour, a teen-led music discovery and discussion show.
DAVID BROWN
Board Treasurer
David Brown is a Germantown, Philadelphia resident. He works with great joy as the Finance Director for Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School in Chinatown.
Previously, David worked as a non-profit administrator for 25 years, primarily in the performing arts (Painted Bride Art Center, New Orleans Ballet, InterAct Theater Company) in management, finance, and marketing. In these roles, he dedicated himself to ensuring that the diverse stories of artists would be shared, be it from the stage or within the community. He also co-founded, with his spouse, the theater company Gas & Electric Arts (2005 -2015).
By night, David is the host of “The Jazz Continuum” a weekly community radio show on Saturday nights from 6-8pm, on G-Town Radio, WGGT 92.9 FM
JANIS CHAKARS
Board Secretary
Janis Chakars is an associate professor of communication and digital media at Neumann University, where he incorporates WNUW into his work with students. His professional experience ranges from the Mongolian state news agency to WHYY’s community-based NewsWorks project in Northwest Philadelphia. His scholarship has appeared in Journalism History, the International Journal of Communication, American Journalism, International Research in Children’s Literature, and elsewhere. An active musician, he has toured North America, Europe, and Japan.
Darrell McPherson
Board Member
Darrell McPherson (Brother D). is a Christian Radio personality of the syndicated program – The PraisEluJAH Radio-SHOW which airs in Philadelphia, Baltimore, South Carolina, Dallas, Texas and London, England. Brother D. is the show’s Co-Host and Producer. He develops segments, books guests, and develops all designs, advertisements and logos.
Jill Saull
Board Member
CAROL CASWELL
Jill Saull, wearer of many hats has been involved with Gtown Radio as a board member since 2016, an at large producer for several years before that and as a parent of a high school student who had the 10-midnight spot on Friday nights, which is how this whole thing started for her in 2012.
Board Member
Carol Caswell is a recently retired senior IT business leader with global experience in Fortune 100 firms with expertise in application development, change management, communications, and customer service strategies. Her current passion is helping to enhance the literacy skills of K-3 students in Philadelphia public schools. For the past 8 years, she has served as the volunteer team leader at Morton McMichael Elementary School in support of West Philadelphia Alliance for Children’s mission to reopen and staff school libraries.
Carol has served on numerous Boards including most recently as the Executive Vice-President of West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN). As a 40-year resident of West Mt. Airy, Carol values the incredible richness and diversity of talent that our NW community offers.
Vanessa Lowe
Board Member
Station Operations
TOM CASETTA
Station Manager
Tom Casetta has been involved with Community Media projects since the early 80’s and joined G-Town Radio in 2012 and served as Program Director prior to his role as Station Manager. In addition to his work with community radio, Tom has been a contributor and advisor to a wide range of other projects ranging from scripting and voicing a series of animated public service announcements to researching and documenting outsider art and music relating to COVID -19.
Tom also served on the Community Advisory Group for The Germantown Info Hub and on the Board for the non-profit, See Beyond My Skin.
