Association Of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations Inc

AN ASSOCIATION OF 18 INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS IN MINNESOTA.

AMPERS IS THE LARGEST ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES. AMPERS CONSISTS OF 18 INDEPENDENTLY LICENSED AND MANAGED, LOCALLY RESPONSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED RADIO STATIONS THAT SERVE BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR), RURAL, AND STUDENT COMMUNITIES NOT TYPICALLY REACHED THROUGH TRADITIONAL MEDIA IN MINNESOTA. THE MAJORITY OF REVENUE AMPERS SECURES FOR ITS MEMBER STATIONS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE STATIONS. MOST OF THE FUNDS DO NOT FLOW THROUGH NOR DO THEY APPEAR IN THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIALS. IN ADDITION TO SECURING REVENUE FOR ITS MEMBER STATIONS, AMPERS PRODUCES PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE "VETERANS' VOICES," A RADIO SERIES THAT ALLOWS (SEE SCHEDULE O)VETERANS TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL MEMORIES AND STORIES ABOUT SERVING IN THE MILITARY. AMPERS ALSO PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES PROGRAMS LIKE "MN90: MINNESOTA HISTORY IN 90 SECONDS" A FUN AND ENTERTAINING YET EDUCATIONAL LOOK AT MINNESOTA HISTORY. "MINNESOTA NATIVE NEWS" IS AN AWARD-WINNING WEEKLY FIVE-MINUTE NEWSCAST WITH CONTENT RELEVANT TO NATIVE AS WELL AS NON-NATIVE RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA. AMPERS HELPS ITS MEMBER STATIONS TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY MAINTAINING AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS THE STATIONS TO EASILY SHARE THEIR ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAMMING. AMPERS ALSO SERVES AS THE CURATOR FOR ALL ARTS & CULTURAL PROGRAMMING ARCHIVING THEM AND MAKING THEM ALL AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH ITS WEBSITE AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA. IN 2021 AMPERS PARTNERED WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CREATE ENGAGING AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS ABOUT COVID FOR MINNESOTA'S NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER TO LAUNCH "RACIAL RECKONING: THE ARC OF JUSTICE," A JOURNALISM INITIATIVE COVERING THE TRIALS OF THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE, AND THE CHANGES NEEDED TO CREATE A MORE JUST SOCIETY. AMPERS TEAMED A SEASONED BIPOC REPORTER WITH UP-AND-COMING BROADCAST JOURNALISTS FROM BIPOC COMMUNITIES, TO CREATE DAILY UPDATES, WEEKLY UPDATES IN HMONG, SOMALI, AND SPANISH, AS WELL AS IN-DEPTH WEEKLY RADIO SHOWS AND PODCASTS EXPLORING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, COMMUNITY HEALING, COMMUNITY RESILIENCY, AND MORE. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF "RACIAL RECKONING: THE ARC OF JUSTICE" IS TO WORK TOWARD CHANGING PROBLEMATIC RACIAL NARRATIVES IN LOCAL NEWS MEDIA, ENGAGE COMMUNITIES, AMPLIFY COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO NARRATIVE CHANGE, AND EMPOWER EDUCATORS TO DISCUSS RACE IN THE CLASSROOM.