Public media stations WUFT-TV/FM, located in the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Division of Media Properties, have received a $20,000 grant from Florida Humanities to produce new programming on the Black experience.

WUFT is one of four Florida public media stations that will receive an inaugural “Broadcasting Hope” grant for “Evoking the Complexity of Black Experiences in Florida through Afrofuturism.” The project includes a podcast series, listening events, animated vignettes and multimedia educational resources centered on Black experiences and representation in Florida. The goal is to engage with underserved communities to reimagine Florida history and collaboratively create representations of its future.

WUFT Multimedia Manager Ryan Vasquez will serve as production director and UF Anthropology Courtesy Assistant Professor and Innovative Research and Intercultural Research Center Co-Director Amanda Concha-Holmes will be the project director.

“Our project highlights the diversity and complexity of Black lives in Florida by bridging university research, local media, and community voices to highlight some of the underrepresented stories of people, places, and events through the lens of Afrofuturism,” said Concha-Holmes.

Vasquez adds, “We will accomplish this through a six-episode podcast series along with six complementary animated vignettes and a multimedia website with teaching resources that will be promoted through WUFT media channels. We will also look to engage local communities through public events and partnerships.”

“Broadcasting Hope” is Florida Humanities’ new grant program which focuses exclusively on, and provides support to, public media stations. The grant application was open to all Florida Public Media member stations, both radio and television, from April 15–June 30, 2021. Florida Humanities sought out innovative projects — audio, digital, film, and other media initiatives — with a strong grounding in the humanities and accessible to a broad public audience. The media projects needed to focus on topics that enhance our understanding of Florida and its culture, people, and history.

In total, Florida Humanities awarded $75,000 to four stations to support a diverse range of media productions that will highlight past and present racial injustices while inspiring courageous conversations to shift perspectives, foster unity and shape change.

Posted: September 24, 2021
Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged as: Amanda Concha-Holmes, Florida Humanities Broadcasting Hope Grant, Ryan Vasquez