KCPT wants to help you be more local. In fact, a major area of focus in our strategic plan is to partner with like-minded organizations that have unique perspectives and the knowledge to help us air meaningful and relevant content – content that not only informs but also makes a difference in our community. We are fortunate to say we are doing this more and more.
Our partnership with the Kansas City Area Development Council is a great example of how two organizations can make strong impact. KCADC came to us with a great program, Next American Dream, but had limited ways to get it on the air and distribute it nationwide. I am very proud to say that together our organizations have made it possible for nearly 10 million viewers across the nation to view this outstanding program about Kansas City. What an impact!
Another partnership, and one we keep building on, is with the Kansas City Public Library. I’m sure you’ve seen the program Meet the Past. This step back to the past is a wonderful way for the people who made Kansas City what it is today to teach us about the history of our community. It’s like having our own time machine – but instead of a DeLorean, it’s the Library!
During our spring membership drive we will be featuring a program called Princesses of the World. As a thank you for supporting this program we will be offering a number of opportunities connected to the Diana exhibit being held at Union Station. Union Station is another one of our partners where we find we have many opportunities to work together to benefit the community.
I hope you had a chance to see the segments of the program Imagine KC. This look into what our community can become truly does spark the imagination. I am very proud of the work we have done with the Mid-America Regional Council to bring this high quality program to our viewers. It has grabbed the attention of the people in our community who can make things happen.
We are also working with KETC, the St. Louis public television station, to produce a program called Homeland. This will be a three-part series focusing on issues surrounding immigration in the heartland – enforcement, treatment of refugees, their relocation, and how it affects our economy. KETC will be distributing this series, which will be available later this year.
One of our most important partnerships is with you, our individual members. Last year we lost our Missouri state funding and we have just recently learned that we will be losing a large amount of Kansas state funding. Now, more than ever, we need your partnership. PBS is taking measures to secure our government funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We ask you to please visit www.170millionamericans.org to learn how you can help keep public television and public radio going for years to come. Public Broadcasting is locally licensed, locally programmed, and locally staffed and, in many rural areas, is the only source of free local and national news, public affairs, and children’s programming.
We are very grateful to you, our loyal partners – our members, viewers, organizations, and foundations that support public broadcasting. You help us serve the community with outstanding, local and national content and educational services.
Kliff Kuehl
KCPT President and CEO
