Yes, We Will!
JULY 10, 2025 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Earlier this week, members of our board who reside in Los Angeles and I hosted an intimate gathering to discuss BPM’s history, our many accomplishments, and our future plans. Our guests included an assortment of prospective donors, former grantees and other interested parties. We […]
Why Public Media Matters
A Message from Black Public Media MAY 6, 2025 WEEKLY DISPATCH At Black Public Media, we know that public media is more than just a source of stories — it’s a public service that keeps our communities informed, educated and connected. Public media is one of the last truly accessible platforms where stories are told […]
It’s Time to PitchBLACK!!!
When we started PitchBLACK back in 2015, there was nothing else quite like it in the documentary world that hyper focused on Black stories
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 […]
Explore the Black Sides of Hispanic Heritage Month
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Last month, perhaps in anticipation of Hispanic Heritage Month (which began a couple of days ago), the U.S. mint debuted its latest coin in its American Women Quarters series. The coin features an engraving of music legend Celia Cruz on the tail side with […]
Save the Planet, ‘#ShopLikeNana’
BPM’s latest BE HEARD campaign, #ShopLikeNana, highlights planet-friendly alternatives to fast fashion.
The Road to $50 Million
I’m not gonna lie. When I heard the Harris campaign raised nearly $50 million within 24 hours after President Biden’s announcement …
Bringing it to the Peabody Awards
This Sunday, I will join filmmakers Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards to accept an award for …
Next Season on PBS
As you read this, I and two of my BPM colleagues are attending the PBS Annual Meeting. Read on to learn what’s coming next season on PBS
The Earth Day Celebration Continues
Happy PItchBLACK week! We at BPM look forward to continuing our Earth Day celebration by hosting you at our seventh PitchBLACK Forum & Awards program.
I Love Giving Away Money
I Love Giving Away Money Perhaps the best parts of my job is being in a position to say “yes” to storytellers who
Happy Black History Month!
FEBRUARY 7, 2023 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Happy Black History Month! This is the 47th annual observance of Black History Month in the United States. Despite the recent brouhaha over Florida’s decision to reject the College Board’s pilot AP course on African American Studies, there are many encouraging signs that […]
Shine Bright
JANUARY 17, 2023 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Shine Bright! The sermon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered to the congregants of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church on Nov. 17, 1957, in Montgomery, Ala., included a statement that resonates with me today: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do […]