COMMUNITY // Radio
KLEK 102.5 FM
Making Waves in Northeast Arkansas
by Kev Moyé - 06.01.2023
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In less than a decade, KLEK 102.5 FM has become a respected, influential entity in Northeast Arkansas. Located in Jonesboro, KLEK is a low-power, non-profit, noncommercial radio station. Its radio waves provide educational, family-friendly programming, and R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Soul, and Gospel music.
The KLEK’s First National Bank Tower sends out a signal that goes throughout Craighead County and into certain parts of Greene and Poinsett counties. However, that’s the station’s new tower. The process for KLEK to receive its original tower and get on the air was a trying ordeal. It’s also indicative of Kale’s passion to help the station flourish. Back in 2014, the original contractor that LeGanzie Kale, founder and general manager of KLEK, was working with to build a tower inexplicably disappeared. Adding to the difficulty was that promotion for KLEK – and its launch on January 1, 2015 – had already begun. Suddenly, it’s late December. There’s no tower, and despite Kale making phone calls and sending text messages and emails to the contractor – he never received a response. He had no choice but to begin searching for other contractors. “Without the community – none of what KLEK does is possible. I’m always grateful for the community.” |
Kale ran into two additional issues: many of the contractors gave a quote that was too expensive, or contractors with an affordable quote were several states away. Eventually, Kale found a contractor who charged KLEK $2,800 to build a 47-foot starter tower. The contractor arrived a few days before Christmas and put the tower together, and on the evening of December 22, 2014, Kale turned the transmitter on. Filled with anxiety, he called his wife and asked her to go to her car and find out if she could hear KLEK. After a minute of eagerly waiting for his wife to respond, she got on the phone and told Kale the signal was coming through loud and clear.
“We both broke down in tears,” he said. “Those few months when we were getting the station started and working to get the tower, it was an extremely stressful time for our entire family. Once we turned it on and the signal was clear all over Jonesboro – it was a big sigh of relief. That’s what led to me shedding tears.”
In the final days of 2014, Kale would occasionally turn the KLEK transmitter on to play music and promote the station’s official launch on midnight of New Year’s Day 2015. Once it signed on permanently on January 1, 2015, KLEK quickly grew into a valuable source of entertainment, education, and positivity in Northeast Arkansas to the point where it received the donations needed to construct the bigger First National Bank Tower – which currently hovers high above the station.
“We both broke down in tears,” he said. “Those few months when we were getting the station started and working to get the tower, it was an extremely stressful time for our entire family. Once we turned it on and the signal was clear all over Jonesboro – it was a big sigh of relief. That’s what led to me shedding tears.”
In the final days of 2014, Kale would occasionally turn the KLEK transmitter on to play music and promote the station’s official launch on midnight of New Year’s Day 2015. Once it signed on permanently on January 1, 2015, KLEK quickly grew into a valuable source of entertainment, education, and positivity in Northeast Arkansas to the point where it received the donations needed to construct the bigger First National Bank Tower – which currently hovers high above the station.
LaGanzie Kale interacting with kids at a Jonesboro area community event
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Local Community Radio Act is legislation that mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must provide Low Power FM (LPFM) radio licenses to small community groups or nonprofits. In 2011, former United States President Barack Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act – making it a U.S. law. According to Kale, that law was a game-changer.
“KLEK may not exist if it weren’t for the Local Community Radio Act that President Obama signed,” he said. “The law made it possible for more minorities, nonprofits, and schools to create radio stations.”
Fast forward to the summer of 2013. The FCC opened its LPFM window for community members to apply for a noncommercial radio station license. Ultimately, Kale filled out the FCC registration paperwork and helped to create The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council nonprofit organization – which serves as the owner of KLEK. The nonprofit’s board members were instrumental in raising funds for KLEK – which would become Jonesboro’s first Black radio station. With the official nonprofit ownership group in place, Kale eventually received the go-ahead from the FCC to create a radio station, and he never looked back.
“I always knew this would work, and we’d launch a station,” he said. “But my thought process was how long it would take to complete the journey. Through lots of hard work, in January 2015, KLEK went from a vision to a reality.”
By FCC guidelines, KLEK is only authorized to broadcast at a power of 100 watts. Additionally, the station must provide educational, community-based programming. The station is also to refrain from selling commercial advertising. Therefore, KLEK is primarily funded through underwriters and sponsors.
“If we were a commercial station, the only thing I’d change is that we’d do extra commercials,” Kale said. “But as for programming and the community service KLEK is part of now – that would be the same. We’d still do everything we’re doing now to help the community. … Radio is an institution in the Black community. Think back to the civil rights movement, there were two pillars of the community for disseminating info. That was the Black church and the Black radio station.”
“KLEK may not exist if it weren’t for the Local Community Radio Act that President Obama signed,” he said. “The law made it possible for more minorities, nonprofits, and schools to create radio stations.”
Fast forward to the summer of 2013. The FCC opened its LPFM window for community members to apply for a noncommercial radio station license. Ultimately, Kale filled out the FCC registration paperwork and helped to create The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council nonprofit organization – which serves as the owner of KLEK. The nonprofit’s board members were instrumental in raising funds for KLEK – which would become Jonesboro’s first Black radio station. With the official nonprofit ownership group in place, Kale eventually received the go-ahead from the FCC to create a radio station, and he never looked back.
“I always knew this would work, and we’d launch a station,” he said. “But my thought process was how long it would take to complete the journey. Through lots of hard work, in January 2015, KLEK went from a vision to a reality.”
By FCC guidelines, KLEK is only authorized to broadcast at a power of 100 watts. Additionally, the station must provide educational, community-based programming. The station is also to refrain from selling commercial advertising. Therefore, KLEK is primarily funded through underwriters and sponsors.
“If we were a commercial station, the only thing I’d change is that we’d do extra commercials,” Kale said. “But as for programming and the community service KLEK is part of now – that would be the same. We’d still do everything we’re doing now to help the community. … Radio is an institution in the Black community. Think back to the civil rights movement, there were two pillars of the community for disseminating info. That was the Black church and the Black radio station.”
What this station has become…it’s surreal. Often, I look up at the tower rising high into the air – thinking about all that went into getting that piece of the puzzle...it’s really surreal.
- KLEK founder and general manager LaGanzie Kale
THE ASCENSION OF KLEK
Qubilah Jones in the KLEK studio.
Once KLEK permanently signed on – the upstart LPFM radio station had to quickly establish a rapport with the Jonesboro community. In early 2015, people in the KLEK coverage area who were fans of R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Soul, and Gospel – typically listened to one of the stations from the Memphis area which played those genres of music. Thus, to get the much-needed support, Kale had one goal in mind: engage the community and make sure they know KLEK exists to uplift and promote Northeast Arkansas.
“Early on, the station had skeptics,” Kale said. “Some people weren’t necessarily accepting of it. Therefore, we got out and pounded the pavement. We got out and built it brick by brick, day by day. People had to believe that we were going to last before they began to support us – especially support us financially. Also, I knew they had to see us out in the community. Once we got out in the community, it made a big difference.”
A major part of KLEK’s building a relationship with the community was allowing people with connections to the area to volunteer and have key roles at the station. “We have a core group of volunteers, and some have been with us since day one.” Kale said.
Ryan Anderson, then a student at Arkansas State University, was the first-ever volunteer. Anderson was later joined by Brandon Tabor and Allie Tabor to comprise the station’s first group of volunteers. They accompanied Kale in canvassing Jonesboro, going to a variety of places and events to promote KLEK. Additionally, when Facebook started the live streaming option, that too lifted the prominence of KLEK.
“It was a tool for us to cover stuff in the community,” Kale said of Facebook Live. “Also, the Community Conversations show put us out there, and it helped us build connections. Once people saw those things, that’s when the support grew.”
The Community Conversations program is one of the staples of KLEK. In many ways, the face of Community Conversations was Qubilah Jones – the primary host of the show
“She was always dedicated and professional with everything she did at KLEK – especially hosting the Community Conversations talk show,” Kale said. “Due to her warm, inviting personality – Qubilah was able to connect with the people she interviewed and made them feel at home. That was important to us and the community. The show eventually became very popular.”
Unfortunately, in December 2022, Jones passed away. People from all walks of life were saddened by her death. Following her passing, Jones received special recognition from U.S. Senators John Boozman, Tom Cotton, and Arkansas State Senator Dan Sullivan. Jonesboro Mayor Harold Coppenhaver declared December 14 Qubilah Jones Day in the city. Arkansas State University, where Jones earned her degree, lit the school’s tower pink, which was her favorite color.
“The attention she received following her passing is a testament to the impact she made,” Kale said. “Qubilah was not only a show host, but she was also the coordinator for our Juneteenth and Kwanzaa celebrations. She would make sure everything functioned smoothly as these events were important to the community.”
KLEK plans to celebrate and memorialize Jones’ impact by giving an annual “Be Intentional” Qubilah Jones Community Service Award to a member of the Jonesboro community who’s making a positive impact. Overall, that’s what Kale wants to do with KLEK – make a positive impact. Thus far, KLEK has done just that and has ascended to a trusted source for information and entertainment in Jonesboro. In the process, KLEK has received several awards and recognitions for its service in Northeast Arkansas.
“Even if we weren’t mandated to produce a certain amount of educational, informative content – we’d still create educational programs to go along with the music,” Kale said. “I feel it’s important for the community to learn and know what’s really going on in the world. KLEK also promotes mental health awareness. The station also promotes the work of the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD). There are more Black officers now than ever before in the JPD. We think we’ve had a role in that due to our promotion of the JPD. We’re serious about serving the community, and the people know that. It’s helped us a lot to survive and grow as a station.”
“Early on, the station had skeptics,” Kale said. “Some people weren’t necessarily accepting of it. Therefore, we got out and pounded the pavement. We got out and built it brick by brick, day by day. People had to believe that we were going to last before they began to support us – especially support us financially. Also, I knew they had to see us out in the community. Once we got out in the community, it made a big difference.”
A major part of KLEK’s building a relationship with the community was allowing people with connections to the area to volunteer and have key roles at the station. “We have a core group of volunteers, and some have been with us since day one.” Kale said.
Ryan Anderson, then a student at Arkansas State University, was the first-ever volunteer. Anderson was later joined by Brandon Tabor and Allie Tabor to comprise the station’s first group of volunteers. They accompanied Kale in canvassing Jonesboro, going to a variety of places and events to promote KLEK. Additionally, when Facebook started the live streaming option, that too lifted the prominence of KLEK.
“It was a tool for us to cover stuff in the community,” Kale said of Facebook Live. “Also, the Community Conversations show put us out there, and it helped us build connections. Once people saw those things, that’s when the support grew.”
The Community Conversations program is one of the staples of KLEK. In many ways, the face of Community Conversations was Qubilah Jones – the primary host of the show
“She was always dedicated and professional with everything she did at KLEK – especially hosting the Community Conversations talk show,” Kale said. “Due to her warm, inviting personality – Qubilah was able to connect with the people she interviewed and made them feel at home. That was important to us and the community. The show eventually became very popular.”
Unfortunately, in December 2022, Jones passed away. People from all walks of life were saddened by her death. Following her passing, Jones received special recognition from U.S. Senators John Boozman, Tom Cotton, and Arkansas State Senator Dan Sullivan. Jonesboro Mayor Harold Coppenhaver declared December 14 Qubilah Jones Day in the city. Arkansas State University, where Jones earned her degree, lit the school’s tower pink, which was her favorite color.
“The attention she received following her passing is a testament to the impact she made,” Kale said. “Qubilah was not only a show host, but she was also the coordinator for our Juneteenth and Kwanzaa celebrations. She would make sure everything functioned smoothly as these events were important to the community.”
KLEK plans to celebrate and memorialize Jones’ impact by giving an annual “Be Intentional” Qubilah Jones Community Service Award to a member of the Jonesboro community who’s making a positive impact. Overall, that’s what Kale wants to do with KLEK – make a positive impact. Thus far, KLEK has done just that and has ascended to a trusted source for information and entertainment in Jonesboro. In the process, KLEK has received several awards and recognitions for its service in Northeast Arkansas.
“Even if we weren’t mandated to produce a certain amount of educational, informative content – we’d still create educational programs to go along with the music,” Kale said. “I feel it’s important for the community to learn and know what’s really going on in the world. KLEK also promotes mental health awareness. The station also promotes the work of the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD). There are more Black officers now than ever before in the JPD. We think we’ve had a role in that due to our promotion of the JPD. We’re serious about serving the community, and the people know that. It’s helped us a lot to survive and grow as a station.”
RESPECT GIVEN, RESPECT RECEIVED
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Over the years, Kale has earned multiple degrees – one of which is a bachelor’s in radio/television from Arkansas State University. He’s an advocate of unbiased media and respecting the common sense of the KLEK audience. Kale believes that one of the best ways to serve Northeast Arkansas is to not only provide important info, but to also let the people decide what’s in their best interest.
“I know our listeners are smart enough to discern, research information,” he said. “Besides, that’s just the right thing to do. KLEK will always give every guest, regardless of their beliefs, the utmost respect.” Due partially to the fairness of its programming, KLEK has donors who are conservative and donors who are liberal. In fact, KLEK has regular donors, contributors who come from various walks of life. “The people genuinely see, understand and respect what KLEK is doing for Jonesboro and the surrounding areas,” Kale stated. “That’s why we have a variety of supporters from different backgrounds.” In terms of respecting and serving the community, KLEK has worked with over 50 different organizations, businesses in some manner. The collaborations have garnered the praises of many, which ultimately led to Kale and KLEK earning a prestigious Arkansas Community Service Award. When reflecting on 2016 and being on TV at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion receiving the service award from the governor, Kale said it helped legitimize KLEK. |
Students touring the KLEK studio and testing out the equipment.
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“The Arkansas Community Service Award and receiving it from the governor – let people know that KLEK, and it’s community, educational, volunteer-based radio format is for real and we’re here to stay,” he said. “We’re going to continue to serve the community and expand on our events that we’ve built,” Kale stated. “We also want to incorporate even more educational info. Due to the current political climate, people must become educated on the entire political process.”
Kale, a native of Helena-West Helena, receives a sense of accomplishment when seeing all that KLEK has done in just 8 years of existence. In many ways, the way he manages the station pays homage to his hometown and the radio station he enjoyed as a youth.
“Much of what we do at KLEK patterns the station I grew up listening to in Helena-West Helena,” Kale said. “The work they did in the community left an impression on me. There was no need to reinvent the wheel for KLEK. We’re just following the example I witnessed while growing up in Helena-West Helena. With KLEK, we’re making Black history in Jonesboro. We’re living in Black history as the city’s first Black owned radio station. That’s something we’re proud of.”
Kale, a native of Helena-West Helena, receives a sense of accomplishment when seeing all that KLEK has done in just 8 years of existence. In many ways, the way he manages the station pays homage to his hometown and the radio station he enjoyed as a youth.
“Much of what we do at KLEK patterns the station I grew up listening to in Helena-West Helena,” Kale said. “The work they did in the community left an impression on me. There was no need to reinvent the wheel for KLEK. We’re just following the example I witnessed while growing up in Helena-West Helena. With KLEK, we’re making Black history in Jonesboro. We’re living in Black history as the city’s first Black owned radio station. That’s something we’re proud of.”
