Laney College hosted the KQED Newsroom forum on Nov. 4, inviting a community of students and educators to pitch stories for the new KQED East Bay Desk. The stories were pitched to the East Bay desk, led by Holly Kernan, executive editor, who hopes to incorporate them into the program. The East Bay Desk is comprised of new reporters, Devin Katayama and Sandya Dirksas. Kernan refers to the new reporters as the “dynamic duo,” as well as, Joshua Johnson, coordinating the on-air program called “So Well Spoken,” which consists of candid conversations on race and identity. 
 The radio station (KQED-FM) is looking for stories surrounding issues on community and policies, jobs for Oaklanders, schools and education. Registered attendees were given an index card colored, coordinating with each of the topics to be addressed. Each person was given two minutes to discuss the topic and their ideas. 
The room was full of passionate comments on equity, financial gaps in public education and the effects on redevelopment. KQED is committed to putting the needs of its listeners in the center of everything it does. The station plans to incorporate the ideas of the forum into stories the audience wants to hear. The reporters were there to listen, not to comment; they wanted to hear from the public. 
 Michelle Lynne, a foster mother and educator, shared her thoughts on working with children in the foster care system and how creating an optimum-learning environment is her challenge. She said that the station should report more stories from people graduating from foster care system as an incentive to motivate students still in the system. 
John Jones III wanted to hear stories on the intersection between imprisonment and homelessness. He believes poor people are being run out of good communities only to end up in worse situations which are full of crime and have little to no resources. 
 Brenda Flagg wanted to promote co-learning, which includes parent participation in students learning. She wanted to represent the parents and educate other parents on how to support their students. 
 Kiwan Renee Gore, an employee of Evelyn & Company, said she wants to teach parents how to invest in their children’s future. “Creating an investment plan is less than the amount you will spend on gifts this year,” she said. Gore said, if you child plays with Barbie dolls, she can show you how to make an investment in Mattel stocks. 
 There was also conversation on rent increases, labor matters and the disabled. “I think the disabled have been forgotten in Oakland, the county and the state,” said one attendee. “I am a Oakland resident, disabled and unable to work. Last month my rent went up and I am dependent solely on Social Security. We will not receive our cost of living increase next year. This will make it extremely impossible to keep up. I did pay my rent this month, even if I have to eat poorly, I pay my rent.” 
A Laney student wanted to hear more stories on the value of the educational degrees received from community colleges. The KQED staff has thus received many story suggestions for consideration.