Trailblazin’ Ain’t for the Faint of Heart
PitchBLACK is two weeks away. This year’s BPM Trailblazer is Lillian E. Benson … She knows that trailblazin’ aint for the faint of heart.
As Federal Grants Fade, What’s Next?
Last week, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced sweeping staff cuts …
As American as Apple Pie
APRIL 2, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Like many of you, I grew up with public media. Together, my siblings and I would practice our ABCs and counting drills to songs sung on our favorite public TV shows. They exposed us to different forms of music and art. They taught us […]
Reserve Your Spot at PitchBLACK
MARCH 11, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Ok, so you’re probably thinking: “That‘s what she always says.” You’re not wrong, But this year, it’s even MORE true because for the first time ever we’re bringing PitchBLACK to Harlem! Both the PitchBLACK Forum and PitchBLACK Awards will take place at the new […]
Staying Sane Amid the Chaos
MARCH 4, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Change is funny. Sometimes it rolls in at the speed of molasses. Other times, it arrives so abruptly, we lose our balance. Right now, I feel we’re experiencing both simultaneously. Staying sane amid the chaos isn’t easy. But for me, doing the work we […]
February is a Necessary Starting Point
Black History Month 2025 is nearly over. I hope you’ve enjoyed a wide array of media and cultural events that center the Black experience.
Navigating Stormy Weather
FEBRUARY 11, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz During this second week of navigating stormy weather for Black History Month, BPM is pleased to co-present the public media premiere of What the Storms Taught Us, one of several short films featured in Season 2 of the series Homegrown: A Part of/Apart From. […]
Time to Stay Motivated
JANUARY 28, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz It’s been a hell of a month. I’m already feeling knocked around a bit by the weather and the wave of changes made in Washington, D.C., recently. The flood of emotions is A LOT! If I ignore the headlines for the day, I tend […]
Recording and Restoring when Nature Takes Away
JANUARY 14, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Wildfires are no joke. This week, we’ve all seen how quickly nature takes away what we’ve built. Having grown up in Southern California, I’m no stranger to the Santa Ana winds or to wildfires. Still, I’ve never seen anything like what is occurring in […]
2025 Opportunities & Challenges
JANUARY 7, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz As we step into a new year, Black Public Media reflects on both the triumphs and challenges of public media and looks ahead with renewed commitment to amplifying stories that celebrate and examine the fullness of Black life and history. No doubt, 2025 […]