CAAM Partners With 3 Midwest Stations to Launch Asian American Community-led Storytelling

CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) is partnering with Detroit PBS to launch a two-year initiative to tell Asian American stories throughout the Midwest with public media stations in the region and their local Asian American communities. Detroit PBS along with PBS Wisconsin and Nine PBS in St. Louis— will produce shorts in collaboration with local community content advisory committees, culminating in a series for national PBS distribution. 

The last decade has seen exponential growth for Asian American populations in the United States. In the wake of continued violence and hatred towards Asians and Asian Americans and an increasingly polarized political climate, the need for providing more nuanced and accurate portrayals of this growing, diverse community is more vital than ever. These stations represent areas with growing Asian demographics, whose experiences may not be as well-known as those on the East and West Coasts.

“We’re thankful for the opportunity to join the Midwest Public Media Initiative to expand our work fostering deep connections within communities, build lasting relationships rooted in trust and share authentic stories of AAPI life in Wisconsin.” 

– Kelly Saran, Series Producer, PBS Wisconsin  

Being part of the Midwest Public Media Initiative strengthens our commitment to amplifying diverse community voices and deepening understanding across our region. Through collaboration with trusted partners, we expand our ability to create meaningful content and ensure our communities are seen, heard, and supported. 

– Meaghan Anselm, Director of Content Partnerships, Nine PBS

“The Midwest Public Media Initiative presents an incredible opportunity for us to continue our work of storytelling in connection with the diverse communities we serve, including our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Southeast Michigan.”

– Zosette Guir, Manager of Content Ops and Production for Journalism, Detroit PBS

In this spirit, CAAM is deeply committed to shifting the misconception that regions in the US have no significant Asian American experience, and to explore the implications of what these communities mean to the redefinition of American identity. Asian Americans have been in the Midwest since before the U.S. was founded, and the region is home to key sub-communities, such as Korean American adoptees and the Hmong American community in Minneapolis, Michigan’s Muslim American communities, Nebraska’s Vietnamese American communities, refugees, and mixed-race individuals, among many others. 

This program follows CAAM’s ongoing initiatives to shine light on regional Asian American stories, such as our work with programs such as the Sauce Fellowship, the Hindsight series in collaboration with Reel South and Firelight Media and the Homegrown in collaboration with Reel Midwest and Firelight Media. 

This program is made possible with funding from the Wyncote Foundation.

Stay tuned for more details about talent development programs for filmmakers telling stories about Asian Americans in the Midwest and other updates.

Building Bridges Documentary Fund Grant Writing Webinar

Filmmakers, join us on February 27 for a webinar designed to help you develop a stronger, more compelling grant proposal for your nonfiction project. If you are interested in applying to the Building Bridges Documentary Fund when submissions reopen in March, this session will offer valuable insights and guidance.

Grant writing expert Joanna Rabiger will lead this two-hour Zoom workshop, tailored specifically to the Building Bridges Documentary Fund application. She will be joined by our Program Manager, Leila Abu-Saada, who will walk through key elements of the application, share tips for standing out, and answer your questions during a live Q&A. Register here!

Be sure to check back here at SCREEN Magazine for more exclusive news and interviews. You can also click right here to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.