Press Release: WURD Level Up Contest 2021

March 4, 2021

THREE RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE NATION JOIN FORCES TO CELEBRATE BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WITH LEVELUP CONTEST 

WURD Radio in Philadelphia joins WVON Chicago and KJLH Radio Los Angeles to activate #LevelUP, a contest for women entrepreneurs in celebration of Women’s History Month

PHILADELPHIA—In recognition of Women’s History Month, WURD Radio is launching the 2021 #LevelUP Contest Celebrating Black Women Entrepreneurs and Innovators. This exciting three-city contest will call on Black women entrepreneurs to share their empowering stories and compete for a marketing campaign valued at $5,000.

#LevelUP is a joint production of the Independent Black Media Consortium (IBMC), a network of three leading African-American owned and operated commercial radio stations in the nation — WURD Radio (Philadelphia), WVON (Chicago) and KJLH (Los Angeles). These stations joined forces to host an interactive and multimedia contest spotlighting Black women-owned businesses in their respective cities.

Through on-air and digital platforms, listening audiences in these three markets will be invited to nominate Black women-owned businesses in their respective communities. Nominations for Philly-area businesses can be submitted online at WURDradio.com.

“During these extremely tumultuous times, our businesses have been hit hard,”  says Sara Lomax-Reese, President and CEO of WURD Radio. “As a Black woman owned and operated business we understand the true impact of the pandemic and the economic cost perhaps more than most.”

On March 31, WURD will host a two-hour on-air “Pitch Party” competition featuring the Philadelphia-area finalists presenting before a panel of expert judges. One winner from each city will be selected and announced the first week of April. Throughout the week, winners will be featured on each radio station, their bios will be posted on IBMC-member web sites and a podcast will be produced featuring all three winners in conversation with the leadership of WURD, WVON and KJLH – all African-American women.

“WURD Radio has a longstanding commitment to amplify Black voices in the community,” said Lomax-Reese. We’re proud to shine light on Black women-owned businesses and the women who build them.  Their stories will serve to inspire and empower other women with desires to LevelUP.”

For more details about the LevelUP contest, visit wurdradio.com. 

Contact:

Melissa Young

WURD Radio

marketing@wurdradio.com

About the Independent Black Media Consortium Team

WURD ​(96.1FM | 900AM | @onwurd | wurdradio.com | WURD App​) is the only African American owned talk radio station in Pennsylvania, and one of only three in the country. Since 2003, WURD has served as the heartbeat and pulse of Philadelphia’s Black community, providing an interactive format to educate, enlighten and empower. More information is found at www.wurdradio.com or by following @onWURD on Twitter and Instagram. Also on Facebook at ForWURD.

WVON (1690AM), started in 1963, has gone from being “The Voice of the Negro” to “The Voice of the Nation.” We provide an interactive forum for the African-American community to discuss current, social, economic, and political issues. WVON is “The Talk of Chicago,” where we are always giving you something to talk about.

KJLH (102.3FM), an African American owned media outlet, has been the voice for diverse communities of color within Southern California for over 50 years, playing the best urban contemporary music while providing news and events designed to inform, uplift and provide insight into the communities we serve. KJLH Radio strives to provide unique integrated marketing solutions constructed on air, on line, in market and mobile delivering tangible results and excellent customer service for our listeners and advertisers through our staff of experienced professionals.