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A wonderful ride

yolette garcia   |   January 8, 2008   10:54 AM
7 Comments
Categorized Under: General

Today is my last day at KERA. After working with my colleagues for nearly 25 years to produce the best broadcasting can offer, I’m forging a new path. I will join SMU as an assistant dean at the Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

So before I pack up the ol’ saddle bags, I want to thank all of you listeners, viewers and Web users for trusting KERA to give you the information and context you require to keep you in the know. It’s been an honor to serve you.

For most of my career here, I’ve managed and produced news and public affairs, and I’ve loved every moment of it. Now, with KERA’s new effort to expand arts coverage, there are great opportunities for the staff to offer you more.

Although I will no longer be on staff, I’ve been given the gift of blogging here from time to time. So I’ll join in the thread of conversation as I can. Art, however you define it, can be provocative, uplifting and even disturbing. It tells us about ourselves beyond the instantaneous happenings in our lives. When we see a film, look at a sculpture, sing in a chorus or even break out in dance, we know we are alive.

I will say goodbye for now, but not for long.

  • http://www.pamelahnelson.com Pamela Nelson

    Yolette, amazing work, amazing grace. So glad you will remain in Dallas, still contributing to the community. SMU is fortunate. Thank you so much for your ride at KERA .

  • http://www.kera.org Yolette Garcia

    Thank you, Pamela. You have been part of the ride.

  • http://wildernessinthecity.blogspot.com/ billh

    You will be missed. Best wishes at SMU.

    I love the final paragraph of your post above. It’s a great description of why art is so integral to our lives, as necessary as exercise or diet.

    I think Dallas is very fortunate to have so many great grass roots avenues for artists, photographers, musicians to explore.

  • http://www.kera.org Yolette Garcia

    Kind words, Bill. I appreciate them. Art is necessary, as you say. Onward!

  • http://www.theatre3dallas.com Jac Alder

    Don’t disappear behind those ivy-covered walls, Yolette! Tear some of that ivy off a wall and wear it like the laurel wreath you deserve for your many years of dedication to the broader community through KERA. One of the places to wear your wreath to would be Theatre Three where you are known and appreciated!

  • http://www.moonlady.com Amy Martin

    You gave me my start writing essays, Yollette, for KERA Morning Edition and I’m always grateful. Yet I’ve always known that inside you beats the heart of an educator and few care as deeply for their community as you. So I’m sure your stay at SMU, my alma mater, will be rewarding for you and a great benefit for Dallas and beyond. You’ve been through a lot and it’s rather a miracle that can now embrace life with the gusto that you do, not to mention sharing that spirit with so many. Namaste!

  • Yolette Garcia

    Jac and Amy: I’m sorry I’m just responding to your graceful notes, but I started work at SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development this week, and as you can imagine, there’s lots for me to learn. So I had not turned my attention to the blog until my trusty friend, Sylvia Komatsu advised me to look.

    You have no idea how meaningful your heartfelt words are to me. Thank you. Don’t worry about me hiding inside the ivy-covered walls. My job requires me to get out and about! I’ll be around and blogging as I can. You know where to find me.