Kansas City radio station leader maintains a tradition of community service

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Mike Carter, president of KPRS and KPRT radio stations in Kansas City, Missouri, is committed to community service.

The two radio stations were founded by Carter’s grandfather, Andrew “Skip” Carter. They are the first African American owned radio stations west of the Mississippi River.

“I’m trying to perpetuate what my grandfather wanted the station to do,” explained Carter.

“He told me to take care of this radio station and serve the community and that’s what I’m doing.”

Carter said the stations' community service began in the 60s during the civil rights era.

“You know back in the days when the riots were going on our station was right in the middle of it. My grandfather was walking down the streets trying to calm the community and doing that kind of thing,” Carter added.

In the mid 90s when the murder rate was soaring in Kansas City, Carter came up with a shocking ad campaign on the air.

“I just walked in the studio and said, I got an idea, let’s make it simple, put down the damn guns we don’t need to be killing everybody,” Carter remembered.

Some listeners criticized the use of language; but the National Association of Broadcasters gave Carter Broadcasting its highest award for community service for the campaign.

The station helps groups like Harvesters and the Boys and Girls Club; but Carter is committed to doing more.

“We’ve got to find something for our young people to do and places for them to go that are fun not hokie,” Carter said.

He said finding the answer will be his greatest reward.