 The WXEL Community Affairs Dept. focuses on education, engagement, and advocacy in strategic efforts to successfully reach diverse target audiences such as children, adults, and families through various activities, projects, and campaigns throughout the year. This ambitious goal is accomplished thanks to the work of a dedicated English and Spanish bi-lingual team serving the community. The director of the department and the education coordinator are often seen representing WXEL plus education/literacy projects at a variety of community events such as conferences, workshops, seminars, receptions, and festivals. The education director Marlene Figueroa Ross works directly on advocacy approaches with several different organizations or groups on either the local, state, or national level. She also reviews many Requests for proposals (RFPs) and works with coordinator Samantha Conde and others to secure grants for special projects and initiatives with identifiable and targeted community needs. The education team spends a significant amount of time planning and organizing these grant projects as well as others, while also creating synergistic partnerships with local and national partners and funders, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) or flagship PBS stations such as WETA, WNET, WGBH or several area foundations. Most of these media engagement efforts are based on public broadcasting programming such as PBS KIDS, a PBS film or documentary series, and occasionally a public radio broadcast. The WXEL Community Affairs Dept. proudly represents WXEL’s mission to educate, to enlighten, and to inspire in the wonderful spirit of public broadcasting.
 Marlene Figueroa Ross
Director of Community Affairs, WXEL
Marlene earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the College of Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida. In 1994, she also earned a Master of Education degree from FAU. Since 1989, Marlene has held professional educator positions and other jobs with a variety of non-profit and/or media organizations in Palm Beach County. Since 1999, she has been the Director of Community Affairs for WXEL TV42 & 90.7FM---the PBS and NPR station that is licensed to the West Palm Beach market---focusing on education, outreach/engagement, and advocacy. She oversees PBS KIDS Ready To Learn, the early childhood educational service provided by WXEL in the community since 1995. She regularly reviews several requests for proposals (RFPs) and writes select grant proposals for engagement initiatives based on PBS/PBS KIDS/NPR programs. Some project partners have included the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, Hispanic Human Resources Council of Palm Beach County-Child Development Centers, Urban League of Palm Beach County, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the School District of Palm Beach County and T.E.N./The Education Network, and 2-1-1 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast.
Marlene oversees the WXEL Community Advisory Board comprised of local individuals as required by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). She also represents WXEL through her advocacy work with key public broadcasting organizations on the national level: the CPB, the National Center for Media Engagement, Association for Public Television Stations (APTS), and the Public Radio Station Advocacy Advisory Group for public radio stations (through National Public Radio). Marlene and her bi-lingual department are overseeing WXEL DTV's plans for the historic launch of the V-me Spanish language digital channel for public broadcasting in Summer 2009. Marlene was an honoree among the the 2008 Hispanic Women of Distinction (tri-county area of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade), a nominee for the 2008 Women in Leadership Awards through the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, and a 2008 Hispanic Heroes Award Finalist Business Leader of the Year as presented in partnership by the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. Marlene enjoys life in South Florida, living and working in the City of Boynton Beach while spending time with family and friends and caring for her cats and dogs.
The WXEL Community Affairs Dept. focuses on education, engagement, and advocacy in strategic efforts to successfully reach diverse target audiences such as children, adults, and families through various activities, projects, and campaigns throughout the year.For more information about The WXEL Community Affairs Department,
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