TWIN CITIES PBS Est. 1957 • tpt.org • Saint Paul, MN
IMPACT STORY Twin Cities PBS & Legacy Funding Empower Minnesotans Through History
Legacy funding is an essential tool for Twin Cities PBS (TPT) to share powerful stories of Minnesotans past and present. Our state is a hive of artistic talent, inspiring community leaders, exceptional outdoor spaces, and complex histories. Through Legacy-funded programs like Outside Chance, Minnesota Experience, STAGE , and others, we provide audiences an opportunity to understand and celebrate our state.
In 2019, TPT premiered a documentary called Jim Crow of the North , which chronicles the lasting impacts of Minneapolis’s history of racially restrictive housing covenants. Later that year, the Minnesota legislature passed a law allowing homeowners to denounce racial covenants on their property deeds. In 2023, TPT produced Jim Crow of the North Stories , a four-episode follow-up docuseries to the award-winning film, which continues to examine race, place, and the past by detailing the legacy of these covenants and showcasing the people and organizations taking action to make change and repair the damage of systemic racism. The Emmy® Award-winning digital series was the basis for 3 community conversations across the Twin Cities metro area led by Mapping Prejudice and Just Deeds – organizations whose work were part of the inspiration behind TPT’s film and series. A companion email series featured Jim Crow of the North Stories and highlighted TPT content about housing disparities in the Twin Cities, engaging more than 4,000 subscribers. By sharing important history and providing resources to take action, the email series helped Minnesotans better understand what can be done in the present to ensure a more equitable future.
I learn about a breadth of interesting and important things, history and people that I wouldn’t otherwise know about, stimulating me to appreciate my state and get out and explore. For the most part, the stories are told by the owners of the stories. That is critical.
Because of watching TPT’s local arts, culture, and history programming, 74% of TPT viewers said they feel a greater sense of connection to Minnesota.
AREAS OF IMPACT
I can’t believe how well you took these HUGE histories and complex projects and broke them down into such accessible segments. The stories throughout made me weep. You know so intuitively and profoundly how to blend the deeply personal with the hugely political. Masterful storytelling. – Viewer
EXPANDING ACCESS TO MUSIC
ENGAGING DIVERSE AUDIENCES
INSPIRING OUTDOOR RECREATION
Season 2 of Outside Chance proves there is an outdoor activity for everyone, and it is often easier to start than you think. Hosted by Chance York, the digital series encourages Minnesotans to keep exploring. “I’ve heard from teachers that they use the accompanying study guide as lessons in class. A teacher from Rochester sent me a message to tell me that he took his son disc golfing because they saw it on the show. And a friend of mine took his bachelor party on a kayak trip down the Mississippi because, thanks to the show, he realized that was an option.” – Chance York
TPT hosted a series of listening sessions to hear from our community about how we can better serve our audiences’ needs as we develop more short-form content. With a spotlight on Legacy-funded series Outside Chance , Relish , and Worn Within , the sessions focused on current digital series viewers, younger audiences (55 and under), and BIPOC audiences.
TPT broadcasts and streams a suite of performances across musical genres. From The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra to Nur-D, Minnesotans can enjoy their favorite performers from home. “We have many great musicians in Minnesota, but accessing live events is not very accessible. I don’t like crowds; my mom is in a wheelchair. There are many reasons that attending a concert is not an option. So getting local PBS to record live concerts is a great benefit to the community and allows a more diverse audience to enjoy our local music scene.”
The Jim Crow of the North programs have helped shape my understanding of systemic racism in my community. – Legacy Survey Respondent
Photo Credit: Bruce Silcox Photographer
Attendees at Revealing and Healing event at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis
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MPTA | TWIN CITIES PBS
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