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Lifelong Learning The Twin Cities PBS Center for Lifelong Learning uses high-quality educational media to meet children, families, teachers, and curious adults where they are – at home, in the classroom, online, after school, and in their communities. This year, our youth programming focused on STEM learning, school readiness, early literacy, emotional development, and real-world problem solving, with a major national milestone: the premiere of “Skillsville.” Skillsville A New National Leader in Early Learning The newest children’s media series from Twin Cities PBS, “Skillsville,” premiered nationwide in March 2025 and immediately became one of our top-performing shows on PBS KIDS. Designed for ages 4–8, the animated series invites viewers to join three best friends as they explore cool careers and solve fun challenges with collaboration, creativity, and communication.
The interactive digital game, “Sound It Out!,” earned nearly 2 million plays within its first months, engaging kids with hands-on (and brains-on!) learning. Together, the show and its digital tools point toward a new era of public media for kids, one that is joyful, skill-building, and designed for the platforms where young learners already play and discover. Skillsville National Awards • Gold Anthem Award in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category • Silver Telly Award in the Children’s Television category for the “Sound It Out!” game • Silver Telly Award in the Education & Training category for the “Sound It Out!” game • Bronze Telly Award in the Children’s Television category for the “Chef-Air/Traffic Controller” episode
These projects did not premiere in FY25, but represent critical momentum in Minnesota storytelling and the role that Twin Cities PBS plays as a statewide documentarian. Stay tuned for these projects in FY26 and beyond. You Are Here: Stories of People, Place and the Past A reimagining of Minnesota history as a living, evolving anthology, centering people, place, and identity to reflect the state’s past and its future. The anthology features the rowdy early history of the Minnehaha Falls; the inspiring story of Bdote, a sacred birthing Island; and St. Paul’s West Side, the historic heartbeat of Minnesota’s Latine community. Paradox: Echoes of Reform and the Minneapolis Police A documentary examining policing, public safety, and community-driven reform efforts through the lens of Minneapolis — grounded in testimony, context, and lived experience. Medicine Ball A look at resilience and reinvention as two Native American college basketball players explore their school’s past as an Indigenous boarding school, and the ways that sport provides connection to healing and ceremony. Voices Rising: Twin Cities PBS Stories for America’s 250th An initiative aimed at marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, “Voices Rising” will span 2026 with a series of content and engagement opportunities that bring together a chorus of Minnesota voices and storytellers who contemplate our past, present, and shared future. These projects move into FY26 with development, grant support, and growing anticipation. Why These Stories Matter Viewers like you believe in our mission to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media. These stories are proof that public media offers a shared space for belonging and understanding.
In its first month, “Skillsville” ranked as the #3 most- watched PBS KIDS show nationwide, following only legacy favorites “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and “Wild Kratts.” Since “Skillsville’s” premiere, 15 episodes have generated more than 58 million streams, signaling strong early traction with young viewers and caregivers, alike. The learning ecosystem surrounding the show also expanded quickly:
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