KMOJ Projects
LOL/Live on Location: KMOJ family of personalities come together with listeners and community members to celebrate Juneteenth: the late notification that African American slaves were indeed free. The celebration event will take place at a park in north Minneapolis and will feature a parade, food, venders, and scheduled performances by popular local musicians.? KMOJ will broadcast portions of the celebration on-air throughout the day.?
The Ice: Expanding the Reach of Minnesota's 1st Urban Hip-Hop Format: The Ice is Minnesota's first Urban Hip-Hop format. This unique stations develops culturally specific programming. The station is geared towards the 18-24 year-old and like its sister station KMOJ, it is geared heavily towards serving the Twin Cities' African American community. In order to continue expanding its reach and impact, in FY20 and FY21 Legacy funds will be used to enhance the website for the Ice, fund the 24/7 stream giving even more Minnesotans access to the programming. Funds will also be used to attract more Minnesotans to this culturally specific programming through social media and marketing.
The Duluth Lynchings: KMOJ in partnership with Ampers will produce a 30-minute documentary looking at the Duluth lynchings on June 15, 1920. Listeners will learn about the three African American circus workers, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie who were taken from jail and lynched by a white mob after being wrongfully accused of raping and robbing a nineteen-year-old woman. (note: funding for this project is coming from both FY21 and FY22 and will result in one half-hour show.)
Where's Rondo: A Neighborhood Divided: KMOJ in partnership with Ampers will produce a 30-minute documentary looking at the Rondo neighborhood, most of which was destroyed by the creation of Interstate 94 between 1956 and 1968. Prior to the freeway cutting the neighborhood in half, the area had been experiencing a social and cultural boom showcasing music, theater, and more. This documentary will not only look back at the history of the Rondo neighborhood, it will inform listeners about what's being considered today to try and revitalize the neighborhood and explore the cultural conflicts being created by the controversial plans.(note: funding for this project is coming from both FY21 and FY22 and will result in one half-hour show.)
Ampers Legacy Group Project
$1,891,500 the first year and $1,891,500 the second year are to the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations for production and acquisition grants in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 129D.19.
The programs in project #5 will result in more locally and Minnesota-focused content produced by public radio than would exist on KMOJ because the station does not have the staffing our resources to do these programs without this Legacy funding.
An annual survey will show the project helped increase awareness of history and how it affected people's lives so that it can help Minnesotans to make informed decisions in the future.