Corporate Public Broadcasting (CPB) Report 2022

KMOJ-FM remains committed to producing and delivering no less than 60% of its programming to community dialogue and education. The station’s community engagement strategies encompass live remote broadcasts of community forums and Town Hall Meetings and Forums like Housing, Health, and Education. KMOJ disseminates programming and information through our on-air presentations, website, and social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. North Minneapolis is a residential neighborhood primarily populated by African Americans so KMOJ provides culturally specific engagement activities where residents can seek relief from the strains of the inequalities inherent in achievement gaps. KMOJ hosts or partners with a number of organizations to address community needs. KMOJ-FM commits more than 16 hours per week to Public Affairs programming that focuses entirely on issues that affect African Americans and other people of color.

KMOJ-FM collaborates with many public media outlets (Minnesota Public Radio), Insight News, North News, 360 Journalism, and The Spokesman-Recorder Newspaper, Black Media America Television, Twin Cities Public Television, among other outlets. KMOJ collaborates with Community non-profits (Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, Stella Whitney-West); The Urban League (Steve Belton); Minneapolis and St. Paul NAACP; African American Leadership Council, Government agencies (State of Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz; Attorney General Keith Ellison; The City of St. Paul, Mayor Melvin Carter; Ramsey and Hennepin Counties; and the City of Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey), Educational institutions (Minneapolis and St. Paul Public schools, Independent School District 622, Burnsville Public Schools; Superintendents (interim Superintendent for MPS) Rochelle Cox; Joe Gothard, Christine Tucci-Osorio and Teresa Battle respectively; The University of Minnesota and Mankato State University, Best Academy and Harvest Prep School). KMOJ-FM works with many business community partners like Summit Academy OIC, and The American Red Cross. Hamline University, St. Paul College; St. Thomas University, and, Metropolitan Technical and Community College, Catholic Charities, Avivo, Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities; Cars For Neighbors; Minnesota Public Housing Authority, and Union Gospel Mission, KMOJ also regularly engage with parents and influencers through its seven-member, Community Advisory Board.

KMOJ’s programming is focused on engaging more in education and finding solutions for the problems in communities of color. KMOJ is acting on its mission of educating its listeners through a more aggressive focus on eliminating teen violence, home foreclosures, job creation, and community empowerment. The station is also focused on the issues of homelessness; food insecurity; and, of course, COVID-19 vaccination and recovery. Through nurturing KMOJ’s HDs station, KMOJ is reaching a previously underserved segment of its community (18-24-year-olds) with culturally specific programming. Current metrics indicate an audience that continues growing. Partnering with The Minnesota Department of Health, The Department of Commerce and Education; and The Department of Public Safety, KMOJ is providing critical, life-saving information to its audience.  KMOJ developed Local and National documentaries on vaccines and civil unrest.

The CPB Grant provides KMOJ with the financial resources to continue to provide live broadcasts from community events, especially since its presence is now even greater with Covid restrictions relaxing. The grant also allows KMOJ to hire Independent Contractors to host, produce and voice various programs that target issues that face the African-American community. KMOJ was also able to continue to increase the quality of its Public Affairs programming by hiring more professional independent Contractors which resulted in a continued improvement in the quality of programming. Most recently CPB funding is enabling KMOJ to replace a seasoned Program Director with another talented individual to guide its broadcast online efforts that are designed to reach an even broader audience. KMOJ was also able to purchase equipment enabling the station to broadcast remotely to control the spread of the virus.

Additionally, the grant provides KMOJ the opportunity to have its information consumed nationwide through its website and various social media platforms, now including those targeted at a younger more diverse audience. KMOH believes this effort is critical to effective communication today and in the future. The support is especially helpful as KMOJ navigates its way through COVID-19 vaccination and recovery and continued violence in the metropolitan area civil unrest.

KMOJ’s Diversity Statement:

At KMOJ, diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to our mission. We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and respectful work environment where everyone is valued and can contribute, grow, and thrive.

We actively seek individuals of diverse backgrounds, including age, race, heritage, gender, geography, and perspectives, to join our team. We believe that our collective diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation.

In line with this commitment, the KMOJ team, in collaboration with our Board of Directors, and Community Advisory Committee, regularly reviews our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. We are dedicated to upholding the principles of equal opportunity and diversity, and we continuously assess our progress in creating a workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of our community.

Questions? Contact Freddie Bell at freddiebell@kmojfm.com or (612) 377-0594

ITEM I: STATION SENIOR/EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

Freddie Bell
CEO and General Manager
Freddiebell@kmojfm.com

Vic Clemons
Program Director
Vic.clemons@kmojfm.com

Kelley Solie
Business Office Manager/Traffic Manager
Buisnessoffice@kmojfm.com

Walter “Q Bear” Banks
Community Engagement Manager
QBear@kmojfm.com

Rico Woodard (Nevotion)
Underwriting Manager
Rnevotion@kmojfm.com

ITEM II: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A full list of those members is posted on this website at https://kmojfm.com/wp/board-of-directors/ 
Meeting dates and times are listed in the link at the bottom of the page.

ITEM III: ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

  Melissa Chitwood
   Joe McKenzie
   O’Neal Hampton
   Anthony Richie
   Anthony Pankey
   Kitty Harris
   Wes Spain
   Jonathan Turner

ITEM IV: BYLAWS

ITEM V: OPEN MEETINGS

  • Check back for the date/time/location of upcoming meetings of the Community Advisory Board.
  • Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in the KMOJ conference room at KMOJ studios located at 2123 West Broadway Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55411.

Link to Board Meeting & Advisory Board Meeting Calendar