Our Third Barnraising - KOCZ-LP in Opelousas, Louisiana
The Southern Development Foundation Brings Real Local Broadcasting to Opelousas!
We met the organizers from the Southern Development Foundation when we were on tour in 2000, stumping all over the United States to good community groups - potential Low Power FM radio stations in the making. The Southern Development Foundation enjoys a rich history of civil rights and religious organizing, and is one of the strongest community organizations in St. Landry's Parish. From Community Supported Agriculture to Microbanking to Zydeco, we knew we'd get along with these amazing Louisianans.
Right: Opelousas, Louisiana deejay Mike Levier pumps up the volume at the new Southern Development Foundation station, KOCZ-FM.
Opelousas is home to Zydeco - hard-rocking accordion, fiddle, and guitar music native to Creole country like Opelousas. But because of the dominant presence of consolidated commercial radio in Opelousas, Zydeco was nowhere to be found on the radio dial - until KOCZ came along. KOCZ broadcasts Sunday morning gospel, talk and sermons from the Holy Ghost Church across the road, teen produced and focused health programs, weekday mornings that start with jazz or rhythm and blues, "Town Talk," which focuses on community issues, followed by hard-core zydeco from around the area.
Barnraising guests in Opelousas were hosted by Reverend McKnight, a spiritual leader to SDF and the preacher at the local Holy Ghost congregation. We enjoyed delicious traditional food cooked by local volunteer chefs, and danced to homegrown zydeco at a popular local club. These special treats for the body and soul kept us moving around the clock as we raised a huge tower, built a beautiful studio, and worked with a robust crowd of local, national, and international volunteers to train each other in the joys of community radio operation.
Gladys Chatman, KOCZ radio volunteer, adjusts the sound board during a practice run at the station Tuesday morning. Photo by Freddie Herpin.
More about KOCZ
- Zydeco Festival Home
- Listen to audio from the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
