After 30 years in San Francisco, Raven Allen moved back to Michigan. Here, he wanted a way to build a new life and connect with community. He found what he was looking for at Public Media Network. In this space, he immediately saw diversity and felt, in his words, “this is a safe place.”
That sense of belonging didn’t stop with Raven. It became something he could give back.
Today, Raven produces DisFactor, a local video podcast that brings Kalamazoo County residents closer to the people and places shaping their community. He helps neighbors stay informed about what’s happening right where they live both by covering local events and by having conversations with local business owners, artists, and community leaders.
That kind of local perspective matters. These are not national headlines or stories built for clicks. “They focus on our community and that’s what makes a place like PMN important,” Raven said.
As Raven said, “PMN is the community’s response to having truthful, honest media.”
