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Media Releases
#MPRlife Inclusion Journey Update: Gender Pronouns and Coffee Breaks
Submitted by Rachel Dennis (she/her)
We welcome, talk to and refer to a lot of people around here – in person, on the phone, on air, and in writing. They are our colleagues, candidates, vendors, sources, members, board members and guests, etc. And they don’t all go by “he” or “she.”In the last six months or so, the EQualizers Employee Resource Group has been forming and exploring the question, “How do we create a safer space for folks who are transgender and gender-nonconforming?”On Monday the EQs invited Alex Nelson from RECLAIM! to talk with us about gender identity. We covered terminology, statistics, and building sensitivity through the thoughtful use of language.One of the things about language is that there are folks out there that don’t use pronouns limited to just “he” or “she.” And we’re interacting with them whether we know it or not. One way we can create a safer space for people to be themselves is to mark ourselves as people (and as an organization) who get and respect that. Maybe it’s by offering our pronouns when we introduce ourselves which creates an opportunity for another to do the same, or by removing binary language from things like our employee handbook. For most of us, it’ll take some new language and some new habits, and Alex emphasized the effectiveness of practicing until we get the hang of it. Practice is good.
On Wednesday, October 25 the EQs hosted a Traveling Coffee Break* in the lobby at HQ and started practicing with a wider group. Some of us wore nametags that volunteered the pronouns we go by or prompted colleagues to ask us about it. Some of us shared our take-aways from Monday’s training session - like trying to remember the difference between gender orientation, expression, and identity (what you know, what you show, and what you claim). And naturally, some of us focused on the coffee and delicious treats and the chance to be with colleagues away from our desks.*An MPR tradition: various employee groups or departments host coffee breaks on a semi-regular basis. They could be located anywhere in the St. Paul HQ, thus the 'traveling' moniker.
more from the Inside APMG Blog
#MNTechDiversity Update
In June we announced our alignment with the MN Tech Diversity Pledge movement launched by Clockwork, a Twin Cities interactive firm led by Nancy Lyons.We promised to update you on our inclusion journey via this blog. Inclusion and diversity goals are embedded in APMG's strategic plan - both in terms of staffing and audience. So much activity is happening that contributes to these goals, it's actually a challenge to track it. That's one of the things Amanda Williams has on her plate, in the newly-created role of Culture & Inclusion Director.Amanda joined APMG in September and immediately got to work building our relationships with the MN Tech Diversity partner organizations such as Clockwork, BrandLab and Penumbra Theater. In her words:I attended the inaugural MN Tech Diversity meetup on October 11th, a gathering of companies who have pledged to put resources, energy and attention to attracting and retaining talent from communities underrepresented in the Twin Cities tech sector. It was fun, informative, and inspiring. As a new employee at APMG responsible for culture and inclusion, I was happy to see the enthusiasm and genuine commitment of all of the partner companies making the MN Tech Diversity Pledge. I look forward to this continued collaboration as we work toward a more inclusive culture here at APMG.We're excited to have Amanda on board! This new role is a commitment to further the inclusion goals we've set forth as an organization, building on the momentum of many other activities, initiatives and the commitment of leadership.
more from the Inside APMG Blog
Community Voices: St. Paul's Rondo Neighborhood, Moving Forward
"It’s a powerful experience to give voice to people who aren’t heard on their terms, sitting in their neighborhood and from their point of view on ways they are moving forward following this story." - Kate Moos, Director, News Content Development
Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man, was killed during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, MN on July 6th, 2016. Minnesotans, especially the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul where Castile grew up and worked, were deeply impacted by his death.
MPR's Counter Stories team paired with Tom Weber to take their regular conversation "by people of color, for people of color" to the neighborhood most deeply affected by Mr. Castille's death. On August 10 they broadcast a live show from the Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe, in the center of the Rondo neighborhood.Members of St. Paul’s African-American community and their allies joined Tom Weber and Counter Stories co-hosts Anthony Galloway, Luz Maria Frias, Don Eubanks and Hlee Lee for a conversation about whether and how events like the Philando Castile shooting move Minnesota toward racial awareness and change.Community elders like Macalester College professor Mahmoud el-Kati and leaders like St. Paul Central High School principal Mary Mackbee joined with Rondo community members in a the discussion.
Nancy Cassutt began her role as Executive Director of MPR News earlier this year. She stepped in to lead a successful, well-established newsroom at a time when disruptive technology is a daily challenge for journalists. But while the media landscape constantly shifting, Cassutt knows one thing for sure: our communities must see and hear themselves reflected in our programming or we're not carrying out the mission of public radio."These relationships and connections are critical as we build more content around community-centered needs and voices," says Cassutt. "[MPR] dropped an ISDN line at the Golden Thyme for future use. We will definitely be back!" 