Feel the Power

A sincere passion and commitment to impact lives through uplifting and wholesome entertainment, positive programming, and inspirationally-charged content have always been the core of Lorain's listener-supported radio station, Power 89.1 FM WNZN.

For Owner Mark Ballard, it all started about 45 years ago when his father, the late Clarence "Papa" Ballard, worked on the former Lorain station WRKG. Mark got the bug to own a station of his own someday where his parents—formerly known throughout our community as the "husband-and-wife radio team"—could talk as long as they liked.

Fast forward to 2014, and the thought of owning a radio station became a reality for Mark and his father. They purchased a Lorain-licensed radio station located in Berlin Heights at the time, and they moved it back home to Lorain, where it has remained at 1505 Kansas Avenue ever since.

photo courtesy of Power 89. 1 FM, WNZN

The mission of Power 89.1 continues to be to provide family-friendly information, encouragement, companionship, and entertainment through Christian programming. WNZN creatively blends classic and contemporary gospel music with content that the entire family can enjoy.

The station is committed to a high quality of workmanship and strives diligently to operate with fiscal responsibility while demonstrating Biblical stewardship, creating solutions for successful lives, and promoting a healthy community.

photo courtesy of Power 89. 1 FM, WNZN

Weekly programming includes: Power Up for Action, a canvas elevating community voice, especially for members of historically Black Greek and other civic organizations; the Traffic Jam, designed to help make the commute home from school or work less stressful; and The Mike Chandler & Friends Morning Show, highlighting leading thinkers and personalities throughout the faith-based community.

By offering diverse media formats from news talk to faith-based programming streaming on-air and online, WNZN encourages community involvement to help ensure a brighter future for everyone.

Power 89.1 is a proud partner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, broadcasting every game in Spanish and being a flagship for the rest of the country.

The station has also partnered with the Cleveland Monsters hockey team, providing the first Spanish-speaking broadcast offering in Monsters franchise history beginning in 2021.

photo courtesy of Power 89. 1 FM, WNZN

From the very beginning, Mark always wanted to give our younger generations the same experiences he had growing up in radio: a safe space to grow, learn, and develop skills that will carry them through life.

Through the Power 89.1 Youth Mentorship Program, youth in our community can learn many skills to carry them into their future. These station-based skills include radio production and technology; verbal, written, and digital communication; and project, time, marketing, design, and social media management.

By allowing youth to receive on-the-job training, they are more prepared to enter the workforce at an advantage over those who solely received industry training through a book or a traditional classroom setting.

The success of this program and everything that Mark Ballard believes is this:

The generosity of local Lorain businesses and individual donors provide services that are helping to make our future a brighter place, beginning with our youngest generations.

If you would like to sponsor a youth to gain the valuable experience offered in the Youth Mentorship Program and become a part of the Power 89.1 family, please consider donating to the Pop Clarence Ballard Youth mentorship program by visiting wnzn.org.

Then, be sure to tune in to Power 89.1 FM WNZN, your urban inspiration station.

photo courtesy of Power 89. 1 FM, WNZN