Anthony Glise '84 MM Creates Radio Program for Children in Ukraine: "Sleep Well, Ukraine"

 NEC alumnus Anthony Glise '84 MM has created a new radio program with a humanitarian objective, ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’, presented by the St. Joseph Music Foundation, KFOH-FM (99.3), the Missouri Music Hall of Fame, and the St. Joseph Arts Academy. The show broadcasts lullabies during children’s bedtime in Ukraine. The program began airing on Saturday, December 3rd and is hosted by Glise, a classical guitarist and composer, with Station Manager, Michael Fuson.

Glise and Fuson's research showed that—in spite of the war—over 80% of Ukrainians still have web access.⁽¹⁾ Michael explained, “Realizing that we could reach the Ukrainian audience was the justification we needed to launch this international outreach.” “That’s when Anthony came up with the idea for a bedtime show for children in Ukraine.”

‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ will air every evening at children’s bedtime in Ukraine (8-9 PM) and because the program is streamed live, that means it will air from noon to one o’clock in the US Midwest. “Noon is a strange time of day for a US audience to hear lullabies,” said Michael, “but we are sure our US listeners will welcome the unusual programming when they realize it’s for the children in Ukraine.”

The intro and outro for ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ will be read in both English and Ukrainian so that listeners understand the concept of the program. However, the rest of the show will air nothing but instrumental music. “There won’t be any talk or songs with words since that might wake up the kids. Besides, ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ is not about making a political statement,” said Anthony. “We have absolutely no agenda; no politics. This is about nothing but trying to help the Ukrainian children hold on to some tiny thread of sanity in the midst of a humanitarian nightmare.”

“Children are the most innocent of bystanders during any military conflict,” continued Anthony. “In a situation as extreme as Ukraine, it’s the kids who are literally ‘caught in the cross-fire.’”

How You Can Help
 

KFOH has launched a Facebook site, also called ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine.’ “We’re inviting international musicians of any musical style to submit videos of calm music that our Ukrainian audience can access anytime, and of course, anyone can ‘like’ the Facebook page and follow this humanitarian outreach” said Michael.

All the submitted Facebook videos will be reviewed prior to posting to insure there are no inappropriate personal or political objectives. “Our Facebook site explains the submission procedure because we have to maintain a neutral political image to avoid censorship in some countries,” ^{(2) (3)} Anthony explained, “but posting videos on Facebook will allow musicians around the world to send a personal, musical message of support to the Ukrainian children.”

Tax-deductible donations to help support ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ may be sent to KFOH-FM, 2601 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO, 64506. For more information, you can call the radio station at (816) 261-5917, however as Michael stressed, “This isn’t about the money. The money would help, but we are producing ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ no matter what.” This is the most important outreach that we have ever launched. THIS is for the kids.”

Michael and Anthony hope that listening to ‘Sleep Well, Ukraine’ at bedtime will help the young ones in Ukraine breathe a little calmer and sleep a little deeper. They hope it will help the Ukrainian children have dreams that don’t include the ominous buzzing sound of an incoming drone, the whistle of a mortar, the burst of machine-gun fire, or the terror of an exploding rocket.

Click here to view the 'Sleep Well, Ukraine' Facebook page and click here to tune in.

1. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/09/technology/ukraine-internet-russia-censorship.html and

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Ukraine

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Ukraine#:~:text=While%20there%20are%20no%20government,prominent%20bloggers%20and%20online%20publications.

4. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/children-and-war?gclid=CjwKCAjwtp2bBhAGEiwAOZZTuJRY2MMg8f9GoXwuLeGSeoq4Z8U_1tXGpbqKBCl4JJNZHSLv2yGoqhoCAv4QAvD_BwE