Radio Show Reaches Out

July 18, 2008
by Geraldine Cols

A radio station is reaching out to the growing Latino populations across mid-Missouri.

In recent years, the Latino population has grown in the area, especially towns like Marshall, La Monte, California and Knob Noster. One Puerto Rican man dedicated more than seven years of his life to give Hispanics more than a voice in mid-Missouri. With a deep voice and a smile on his face, every Saturday, Angel Morales anchors a Spanish radio show on KSIS 1050 AM in Sedalia called Sabados Latinos, meaming Latino Saturdays.

"It is the comunication for the Hispanic community, people that don't know how to read the paper or listen to another radio station in english or another language, we have this special program in Spanish," said Morales.

Unlike other radio shows, Morales says, this is the only one that makes Hispanics feel really welcome.

"It helps them keep informed around their life, whats the news, community news, regular news, immigration issues," he said.

Seven years ago, Morales started the show by himself but now he counts on the support of Guadalupe Martniez, Arelys Aguilar and Rafael Alvarez. But it was Dennis Polk, the station's general manager who came up with the idea for the show.

"We hope that by being to provide this to the Hispanic community, again as I said before, they will be better informed and be able to take advantage of the good and services, entertainment and all those thing out ther that we all enjoy," Polk said.

Both Morales and Polk saw the neccesity for Hispanics to have a voice to represent them in mid-Missouri. But Morales' help goes way beyond the airwaves. He often helps Hispanics with translation and bank transactions. Morales also has businesses that cater towards Hispanics. He owns a small grocery story with Latin American food, and has a real estate license, which he uses to help Latinos navigate the housing market. Its all part of his mission to have a major impact on growing local Hispanic community. Just like his radio co-anchors, Morales and the show have a huge impact on the Hispanic community.

"We help the community feel like they are at home, only probably for two hours, three hours during the weekends," said co-host Guadalupe Martinez. "But we kind of let them know that they have a space here in the country, in the community"

Yet Morales' biggest hope is to see the Hispanic community grow and maybe get more more air time./"I will to see more hours if we can do it, I would keep it all day, more often during the week too, because people ask," said Morales.

Sabados Latinos airs every Saturday morning at 9:30 on KSIS 1050 AM.

Source: KOMU.com