Dear friends,
While much of the country remains in the grip of a cold, dark winter, the days here in Southern Arizona are already growing noticeably longer. At AZPM, this seasonal shift mirrors an exciting period of transition as we prepare to move operations and staff into our new home, The Paul & Alice Baker Center for Public Media at the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, located at the corner of South Kino Parkway and East 36th Street.
Although most AZPM departments continue to operate from the Modern Languages Building on the University of Arizona campus, we’ve already begun activating the Baker Center as it was intended — as a vibrant community gathering place. Recent events include our annual Mr. Rogers Sweater Drive, Toys for Tots holiday toy drive, a Red Cross blood drive, a Tucson Jazz Festival concert, and a community forum held in conjunction with a taping of The Press Room in front of a live studio audience.
That momentum continues in the months ahead. Upcoming events include a book drive February 10-15 to benefit the Tucson Unified School District Educational Enrichment Foundation, a cereal drive to benefit Youth on Their Own in March, and a peanut butter & jelly drive in April to celebrate the launch of the new PBS Kids series, Phoebe & Jay! And as always, we will have a presence on the University of Arizona campus for the Tucson Festival of Books, March 14-15. Learn more at community.azpm.org/events.
Among the special programs commemorating Black History Month is the television premiere of Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History, a compelling four-part series hosted by renowned historian and Finding Your Roots host Henry Louis Gates Jr. The series traces the rich and complex relationship between Black and Jewish Americans — shaped by both solidarity and strain — and explores the enduring promise of that alliance. The series premieres Tuesday, February 3, at 9 p.m. on PBS 6 and continues on Tuesdays throughout the month.
New episodes of favorite PBS 6 programs also continue this winter. On Sunday evenings, season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small continues at 7 p.m. through its February 22 season finale, followed by Miss Scarlet at 8 p.m. through February 15. New episodes of Antiques Roadshow air Monday nights at 8 p.m., Finding Your Roots Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and on Wednesdays, Nature at 8 p.m. followed by NOVA at 9 p.m.. Please see the AZPM television program guide for the full schedule.
AZPM’s radio services will also offer special Black History Month programming, starting with Witness: Black History Month on Wednesday, February 4 at 2 p.m. on NPR 89.1. This new, hour-long edition of Witness History from the BBC World Service relates incredible and inspiring stories about the Black experience told by people who were there. On February 11 at 10 a.m., Live Wire presents a special program featuring Tracy K. Smith, 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States, discussing her memoir To Free the Captives, which looks to uncover Black strength, continuance, and community. Other guests include poet Saeed Jones, who unpacks his poems involving Billie Holiday, Maya Angelou, and Luther Vandross, while singer-songwriter Meklit performs a tribute to her musical influences. Listen Wednesday, February 11 at 10 a.m. on NPR 89.1.
On Wednesday, February 18 at 10 a.m. join NPR 89.1 to uncover the story of the only successful coup d’etat ever to happen on American soil. “Whispers in Wilmington,” from the podcast “Monumental,” examines the 1898 deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection designed to eliminate all memory of a highly successful Black community in Wilmington, North Carolina. On Wednesday, February 25 at 10 a.m., celebrate the life and works of James Baldwin during “Selected Shorts,” hosted by LeVar Burton. Hear Christopher Jackson read an excerpt from Baldwin’s famous letter “My Dungeon Shook;” Anthony Rapp performs an excerpt from “Giovanni's Room;” and Charlayne Woodard performs a selection from Baldwin’s novel “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”
AZPM Jazz celebrates Black History Month with the “Suite History - Four Jazz Composers and the African American Odyssey.” From the 1940s to the 1990s, several jazz composers undertook multiple large-scale orchestral compositions that portrayed the journey of black people from Africa to enslavement in America and beyond. Listen to hear music from Ellington, Nelson, Carter, and Marsalis during "Suite History" Tuesday, February 24 at 5 p.m. on Jazz 89.1 HD-2.
Classical 90.5 honors one of the greatest violinists of all time, the legendary Jascha Heifetz on the 125th anniversary of his birth, February 2. A Russian-born American prodigy, Heifetz refined technical standards with his flawless execution and imperturbable stage presence. Listen for his recordings throughout the day. And don’t miss *Classical 90.5*’s romantic favorites in honor of Valentine’s Day, February 14, and a salute to American presidents on Presidents Day, February 16.
Finally, please mark your calendars: Antiques Roadshow is coming to Tucson on May 19 — the only American West location to be featured next season. As the host station, AZPM will need volunteers to support this special event, please fill out the volunteer application on our website if you are interested in helping. Those who prefer to attend may enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a pair of tickets.
AZPM is provided as a community service of the University of Arizona and is funded by viewers and listeners. Every story we tell, every community we serve, and every student we mentor is made possible by you. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Jack Gibson
Chief Executive Officer
