KALW creates joyful, informative media that engages people across the economic, social, and cultural divides in our community.

Founded by the San Francisco Unified School District in 1941 as the first educational FM station in the United States, KALW has a long history of training audio engineers, reporters, and story-tellers. KALW serves as an incubator for new ideas and a training ground for the next generation of public interest producers. The station is also an essential resource for and champion of the Bay Area arts community.

We are local and independent and strive to create space for intelligent, informed conversation vital to our democracy, particularly involving voices that may otherwise not be heard. Our ongoing collaborations with media organizations and with institutions engaged in the training and mentoring of local, underserved constituencies amplify the reach and effect of these joint efforts and thus invite increased participation by local residents.