Kansas City PBS Community Representation Statement

Kansas City PBS (KCPBS) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment that reflects the richness and complexity of the communities we serve. As Kansas City's home for civic conversations, independent journalism, educational programming, member-supported music discovery and creative storytelling, our goal is to provide a broad narrative of the views, challenges and opportunities for our region.

We can accomplish this by prioritizing equitable hiring practices, structured oversight and a commitment to continuous evolution to support industry best practices.

Key areas of support include:

Employment
Kansas City PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity enriches KCPBS, strengthening our organization and enabling us to uphold our legacy of excellence. To attract and retain talented staff, each department develops a recruitment strategy aligned with our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) workforce profile objectives. Interview panels include diverse employees and/or a member of the KCPBS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Staff Council, fostering equitable and inclusive hiring practices.

Governance

Board of Directors: Kansas City PBS is governed by a Board of Directors that actively supports our diversity initiatives, recognizing the importance of inclusive representation at all levels of our organization. Together, we strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee of the board at KCPBS plays a crucial role in ensuring that diverse, equitable, and inclusive views and voices are represented in the communities served by the organization. With a focus on reviewing and monitoring KCPBS's people, programming, and processes, the Subcommittee supports the development of strategic initiatives to achieve desired outcomes. Key responsibilities include advising on diversity matters related to staff, the Board of Directors, Community Advisory Board, contractors, programming, and vendors. Additionally, the Subcommittee provides strategic insight on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, collaborates on the annual Diversity Report publication, and offers direction on diversity training, staff surveys, and communication efforts. Through these efforts, the Subcommittee aims to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of KCPBS's operations.

Community Advisory Board (CAB): Our CAB, operating under the Communications Act of 1934, plays a vital role in representing the interests of our community. It evaluates programming goals, services, and policy decisions, ensuring alignment with the educational and cultural needs of our diverse audience. The CAB's oversight extends to Flatland, our digital magazine, highlighting our dedication to comprehensive community engagement.

Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council

The Kansas City PBS DEI Staff Council is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and compassionate environment within the organization, reflected in its people, culture, and content. Comprising team members from all departments and career stages and led by an outside contractor who specializes in DEI discussions and concepts.

Planning & Reporting

In line with our Strategic Plan 2022-2025, KCPBS prioritizes ensuring that our audience represents the diversity of our community. We believe that inclusion is paramount, encompassing individuals from various backgrounds, races, genders, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, and experiences. Our commitment extends to serving niche underserved communities that rely on our services.

Diversity Report

Through our annual Diversity Report, KCPBS evaluates our progress in fostering diversity in our workforce, policies, and programming. We set goals to continually evolve and improve our efforts, ensuring that diversity remains a cornerstone of our organizational culture.

With varied voices and a wide range of perspectives, we can tell the stories and address the challenges that matter most to our audiences. Kansas City PBS aims to cultivate and maintain diversity in the station’s workforce, management, governing boards, production partners, and on-air talent. We are committed to creating a variety of content that represents the audiences we serve.

For questions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion priorities at Kansas City PBS, please contact communications@kansascitypbs.org.

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