Neighborhood Philanthropy: Thacker Mountain Radio Hour
Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our community in so many ways. We want to provide a glimpse of these organizations each month. Thacker Mountain Radio Hour is a weekly LIVE radio show in Oxford that features author readings and a wide array of musical performances. The show broadcasts some 30 shows a year, 12 in the spring and 12 in the fall as well as 5-6 on the road in various cities across the Southeast U.S. Its Fall 2023 season kicks off on Thursday, September 7 at 6 PM at The Graduate Hotel in Oxford!
Thacker Mountain Radio Hour was founded in 1997 by former Oxford musicians Caroline Herring and Bryan Ledford, and Richard Howorth, owner of Square Books. The early shows featured an author reading and music by a visiting band as well as songs by the house band, a format that continues today. Their new Executive Director, Amanda Wymer, grew up listening to Thacker Mountain Radio at Off Square Books as a child. After graduation, she worked in San Francisco’s largest art gallery and then an environmental nonprofit in Northern California before returning home to Mississippi after almost 8 years. Since the beginning of 2019, she has been the Assistant Director at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs.
Amanda Wymer, Executive Director
We asked Amanda why public radio shows like Thacker matter to a community and she shared, “Storytelling is vital and a fundamental part of being human. Stories allow us to share information in a way that creates an emotional connection, helping to deepen our understanding of others' experiences. Storytelling creates community and is a powerful tool to educate, connect, and grow. Thacker Mountain Radio Hour's mission is to celebrate and document the diverse sounds and stories of an evolving South with the world through free live musical and literary arts performances, radio broadcasts, and various multi-media platforms. The best stories engage all of the senses, which is the aim of any Thacker Mountain Radio Hour show.”
Thacker Mountain Radio Hour is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, completely supported by donations from its members, sponsors, and grant organizations like MS Arts Commission, Visit Oxford, and Visit Mississippi. Amanda recently shared, “The strength of Thacker Mountain Radio Hour has always been the supporters. Donations support broad public access to the best sounds and stories from across our region. When you donate, you become part of Thacker Mountain's legacy by ensuring the continued celebration and documentation of the diverse musical and literary arts of our community and region. Your support matters. You can join the movement now at thackermountain.org/donate. Lock in the current membership pricing by joining the Thacker family before the 1st fall show on September 7th.”
We are so grateful to Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for helping to create community through its weekly storytelling and musical offerings. Be sure to mark your calendars for their upcoming shows and consider becoming a member or sponsor by contacting Amanda Wymer (amanda@thackermountain.org) or donating through their website (www.thackermountain.org).
