“The Public’s Radio” recently named Cranston Forward’s founder and current treasurer, Michael Beauregard, 31, to its board of directors this past October. Cranston Forward is a group of Cranston residents who seek to ensure that people are engaged by city government and that the government responds to their needs when it comes to creating policy.

“I’ve been listening [to The Public’s Radio] since I was a kid and found it a really insightful and informative piece of my day,” said Beauregard.

“The Public’s Radio” first aired in 2006 and is a radio broadcast station taking on an NPR news/talk format; people can tune in across Rhode Island and the south coast of Massachusetts at WNPN 89.3 FM (Tiverton), WNPE 102.7 FM (Narragansett) and WPVD 1290 AM (North Providence). The station highlights stories from communities that do not often get recognized and provides listeners with data and both sides of complex issues so they can draw their own conclusions. As an independent, member-supported nonprofit organization, “The Public’s Radio” receives financial support from families, businesses and foundations throughout the state. Ninety percent of support comes from the local community with six percent is from the federal government through the Corporation fro Public Broadcasting. Beauregard said the station has done some great things to call attention to the diversity of RI’s communities and broaden individuals’ perspectives.

Whether it is the morning edition or political news, Beauregard was a huge fan and became invested in the organization. After Morayo Akande stepped down from the board eight months ago to pursue graduate school, Beauregard jumped at the opportunity to be part of the board. The organization was looking for new folks to get involved and was enthusiastic about having young people as well as a diverse group. Beauregard recognized it would be a competitive process and did not think he would go that far. The selection process included a set of interviews.

“There are a lot of accomplished people on the board,” Beauregard said.

In addition to an accomplished board, in 2016, “The Public’s Radio” brought in Torey Malatia from Chicago Public Media to be president, CEO and general manager. Beauregard described him as a visionary leader who has highlighted the diversity in Rhode Island’s communities in impactful ways. When Malatia came to “The Public’s Radio,” he hired numerous reporters with a variety of backgrounds, and Beauregard said the station has produced content that is outside the mold of traditional media.

In this new position, Beauregard – along with the other 30 board members – will provide oversight and governance over the organization. Their job entails supporting the radio station’s cause and helping with community engagement and development efforts as the organization continues delving into programs that highlight different facets of Rhode Island.

“I really believe in it, and it’s a part of my daily life. A lot of folks find it to be a valuable source,” Beauregard said when talking about himself and the people he knows that also tune into “The Public’s Radio.”

Beauregard explained that a lot of news media is consumed by an older audience, and one of “The Public’s Radio’s” endeavors is to create new formats and types of content that are engaging to a new generation of listeners; the key is to also figure out ways to stay relevant in a digitally streaming age.

“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and support in any way I can,” Beauregard said.

Growing up in Cumberland, Beauregard attended Community Elementary School, North Cumberland Middle School and Mount Saint Charles Academy. From there he went on to Vasser College and graduated with a Bachelors in psychology and a minor in computer science. Beauregard is the managing principal for Systems Change Strategies in Providence, which is comprised of organizers, and strategists who build plans and programs and support progressive causes to create meaningful and lasting change. He has lived in Edgewood with his wife, Jennie, for a little over two years and the couple recently welcomed their four-week old twins, Arlo and Lukas, to their Cranston home.