One Year Later
What has and hasn’t changed in the fight for equity and justice?
One Year Later was a special multimedia initiative of Twin Cities PBS, designed to engage Minnesotans in reflecting on and commemorating the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The initiative was part of TPT’s ongoing Racism Unveiled storytelling project, and provided context about how we got to where we are today, amplified community voices on the impact that the killing has had, and sparked conversation about how we can create a more equitable future for all.
In my role as Special Projects Producer for One Year Later, I designed the initiative’s creative content and engagement strategies, and collaborated on branding and marketing that successfully reached a diverse audience of over 2 million in the Twin Cities. I led a cross-departmental team at Twin Cities PBS that created content and curated daily programming for the effort. I led a youth media-making mentorship program with South High VOICES in Minneapolis to offer production support for a series of films on social justice issues, and created a film fest showcasing their work.
I collaborated with the Kaleidoscope Project (MN) to commission 5 original poetic, reflective works for the initiative. I co-designed and led a community event that featured a variety of wellness experts, connecting community around healing mind, body and soul. I also co-designed a content strategy with the broadcast programming, public affairs, and digital publishing teams to create dozens of unique local stories to deepen the content experience for community members and include more voices in the initiative.
Curated programming offered context about how we got to where we are today
From May 23 through May 31, 2021, One Year Later presented 31 programs on TPT’s broadcast channels, designed to encourage viewers to explore the history and impact of systemic racism on Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color, reflect on what has and has not changed in the fight for equity and justice, and share stories of strength and hope in our collective future. Selections also include stories that celebrate Black art and history and that lift up local storytelling.
Highlights included: Say His Name: Five Days for George Floyd, an original documentary that premiered within One Year Later; Race Matters: A Year After George Floyd - a PBS Newshour Special, Slavery by Another Name, Jim Crow of the North, Philly D.A., STAGE: Witness, This is Minnesota Orchestra, Listen! Please!, American Experience: How it Feels to Be Free, The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special
Storytelling amplified community voices on the impact that the killing has had
The Kaleidoscope Project (Minnesota) founder, creative writer/interdisciplinary artist Rebecca Nichloson, convened five Black poets across the Twin Cities to participate in a special poetry writing session commissioned by TPT for One Year Later. In the session held at the East Side Freedom Library, titled Black Poetic Reflections on George Floyd & the Call for Social Justice, writers were asked to explore the impacts of George Floyd’s murder and the outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial through human-centered design informed writing prompts and poetry. The experience produced a collection of compelling works that explore the meaning of social justice for Minnesota's Black community and beyond.
The Kaleidoscope Project (Minnesota) seeks to build bridges of intercultural/intercommunity understanding that facilitates a more just and equitable state. The group was commissioned by TPT to create original works reflecting on the killing, one year later.
Stories Capture An Historic Moment
A series of multimedia pieces, curated for One Year Later on the TPT Originals website, amplified dozens of community voices including artists, activists, youth filmmakers, poets, food justice advocates, and community members… all reflecting on the impact of George Floyd’s murder in their communities.
Highlights included stories about the muralist behind one of the most iconic George Floyd murals, a restaurant that is healing community through food, history through the lens of a local photographer, and video stories captured at George Floyd Square.
Lifting up youth voices
In Their Own Voices – South High Documentaries
One Year Later featured four films on social justice topics in Minneapolis from South High youth filmmakers in the VOICES class, with the support of Minnesota Youth Story Squad interns and TPT Producer mentors.
Films were screened at the In Their Own Voices Film Fest, MAY 19 and the In Their Own Voices Film Screening, Walker Art Center June 3.
As we reflect on the first anniversary of George Floyd’s tragic murder, how do we move forward when our minds, bodies, and souls are exhausted?
At a special TPT virtual community event, Manifest Your Strength: Mind, Body & Soul, community members gathered with experts and community healers to experience the healing benefits of a grounding meditation for breath, body, and heart through light, accessible body movement; music; and ways to discover self-compassion and wellness.
Community event sparked conversation about how we can create a more equitable future for all
“I was feeling heavy when the program started, but by the end I was energized!”
The Impact
The initiative’s broadcast, web
and print content reached over
2.4 million viewers.
“It is a good series and I really like that they chose to focus on healing and wellness rather than recycling all the heavy emotions and going over the facts of the civil rights violations that we all just witnessed.”
A targeted advertising campaign for One Year Later was designed to connect with Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color. Broadcast interstitials, magazine and newspaper print ads, radio spots, and social media posts reached over 2.4 million audience members.
Multimedia content credit:
The One Year Later initiative at Twin Cities PBS