In celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) is proud to announce a cohort of six local content creators and organizations selected to receive research and development grants as part of “The 250th Project: Sharing Minnesota’s Stories.” This initiative invites a diverse range of creators to explore and develop original stories and/or community outreach projects that reflect Minnesota’s communities, culture and history.
Supported by these grants, each member of the cohort will delve into the early stages of their projects, focusing on themes and stories that resonate deeply within our state and our nation. As Minnesota prepares to mark this significant anniversary, “The 250th Project” encourages the storytelling that showcases our region’s unique voices and perspectives.
“TPT is committed to amplifying the stories that matter most to our community,” said Chief Content Officer Nick Kereakos. “Leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial, ‘The 250th Project’ offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on Minnesota’s history and culture, ensuring that our diverse experiences and voices are honored and shared.”
After an open call for submissions concluded on May 31, 2024, the following individuals and organizations were selected to spend the next several months further honing their initial ideas. While the projects may shift in this research-and-development phase, the cohort has presented themes such as confronting historic injustices, including genocide, against Native Americans, and current initiatives focused on healing and reconciliation to honor Minnesota’s Tribal Nations; improv comedy aimed at fostering community conversation; an examination of the “pursuit of happiness” through a modern lens; an exploration of the nation’s founding principles and the changemakers who used their voices to demand more; a look at what it means to be “American” from the perspective of families navigating everyday joys and struggles; and the power of song in showcasing Minnesota’s rich diversity of cultures and experiences. Once the grant-funded development work has been completed, TPT may pursue full project funding with the intention of bringing these exciting projects to fruition for the 2026 celebration.
“The 250th Project” cohort includes the following individuals and organizations:
External Grantees
Danger Boat Productions, founded in 2011 by Tane Danger and Brandon Boat, is a Minneapolis-based creative agency known for blending smart comedy with meaningful dialogue. Their flagship show, “The Theater of Public Policy,” invites policy experts for substantive interviews, followed by improvised comedy inspired by the discussion—a format praised by the Star Tribune as “C-SPAN suddenly swarmed by the cast of SNL.” With over 700 live programs across 12 states, Danger Boat also leads dynamic workshops using improv to help people navigate uncertainty. In 2024, they partnered with the Minnesota Humanities Center on “Sketches of Minnesota,” a statewide project combining community conversations with improv performances to explore local challenges and aspirations.
Cynthia Newport is a producer and director of cinematic nonfiction films that, along with innovative outreach, inspire dialogue across divides and encourage action on critical societal issues. Known for her ability to merge creative vision with business acumen, Newport creates feature-length documentaries that situate compelling personal narratives into broader social and historical contexts. Her films, praised for their emotional depth and striking visuals, have the power to engage audiences and promote community involvement. A skilled team builder, she ensures authentic voices are represented in all aspects of production. Her works, such as “SummerSunWinterMoon” and “dance cuba,” are screened internationally and have lasting impact, with materials being acquired by the Library of Congress and presented in live programs at venues like Lincoln Center.
Karen Sieber is an award-winning historian and “activist archivist” specializing in historical recovery, social justice history, public history and digital history. She is best known as the creator of Visualizing the Red Summer, which is part of the AP African American Studies curriculum nationwide. Her work on riots and resistance and labor history has been featured by the Library of Congress, National Archives, American Historical Association, Smithsonian and others, and in documentaries like “Tulsa 1921: An American Tragedy.” Sieber currently leads the Finding Moses Initiative, a coalition of scholars working to uncover additional Underground Railroad sites and stories of Black resistance in the upper Midwest. Her work uses archival material and historical data to increase awareness of lesser-known moments and voices in local and U.S. history.
VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression and engagement.
Internal Grantees
Abdifatah Abdi is a Somali American filmmaker based in Minnesota. An Associate Producer at Twin Cities PBS, he is inspired by working on content for those who are not often represented in the media. He made his directorial debut in 2018 by directing two short films (“A Family Pain” and “Captive”). Abdifatah’s passion is to reverse stereotypes on communities that have not been accurately portrayed in the media.
Kate McDonald is a Gracie and 9-time Upper Midwest Emmy Award-winning television and film producer who specializes in creating multi-platform media content and experiences. Kate’s work has been featured on “PBS News Hour,” Entertainment Weekly, MAD Magazine, Noisey/VICE, USA Today and National Public Radio, as well as in numerous local and international film festivals. With more than 10 years of experience at Twin Cities PBS, Kate is currently the series producer for the local music series “Stage.” She previously helped launch “The Lowertown Line” and led “ART IS” (TPT’s media/events program featuring emerging artists) as well as produced dozens of segments for TPT’s long-running arts program, “Minnesota Original.” In addition to television production, Kate has run media workshops in schools and produced the nationally distributed feature film, “The Seeker,” written by the band Cloud Cult and starring Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Alex McKenna (“What Women Want”).
For more information about “The 250th Project: Sharing Minnesota’s Stories,” visit TPT.org.
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About Twin Cities PBS
Twin Cities PBS (TPT)’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media. Established nearly 70 years ago, TPT now operates as a public service media organization that harnesses a range of media tools to serve citizens in new ways — with multiple broadcast channels, online teaching resources, educational outreach and community engagement activities reaching more than 4.3 million people each month. Over its history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmy® Awards. Find more information at TPT.org.
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