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To enrich, enlighten, entertain and engage the diverse and multicultural Chicago area
communities with quality television production and programming.
To produce and broadcast programs that combine a global vision with a local focus while
bridging racial, ethnic, class and gender divisions.
To honorably serve our varied constituencies of viewers, educators, adult learners, and those
who choose to invest in our mission: our members, underwriters, grantors and our licensee The
City Colleges of Chicago (http://www.ccc.edu).
To value human dignity, lifelong learning, the power of ideas, the importance of service to our
broadcast community and empowered participation in a democratic society.
LOCAL
VALUE
WYCC plays a valuable role
in providing informative and
enlightening local
programming and outreach
to its viewers and the
community. WYCC enriches
its viewers through
engagement partnerships
and uses its resources to
improve the quality of life of
its viewing community.
Excellence in our
programming has been
recognized and awarded.
We plan to apply that same
excellence to our community
engagement.
2014 KEY
SERVICES
In 2014, WYCC provided
these vital local services:
Our audience was kept In
The Loop viewing a weekly
public affairs show
discussing current events
relevant to the community.
WYCC also aired a music
show hi-lighting the Blues
genre with Buddy Guy called
Buddy Guy Presents,
bringing musically significant
artists of all ethnicities
together. We partnered with
the Blues Kids Foundation
for our newest documentary
Blues Kids Camp.
LOCAL
IMPACT
Production support was
provided for events in
recognition of the 17th
Annual Read Across
America Day. WYCC joined
public television stations
nationwide to host events
that support and encourage
healthy reading habits.
WYCC welcomed
community partners and
guest readers to promote
the joy of reading to
children ages 2-5.
Approximately 350 children
participated in the WYCC
Read Across America
event.
It is our mandate to fully represent the under-served communities in the greater metropolitan Chicago area
through our programming and our engagement of the community at large. WYCC PBS Chicago achieves
that goal by including political and civic leaders, community representatives, average citizens, and students
in the context of our programs as guests and spokespersons.
Read Across America
Teacher Professional Development Training at DePaul University
CPS Professional Development Training for Librarians
Blues Kids Camp Documentary
In The Loop
The Professors
Justice and Law Weekly
Buddy Guy Presents The Chicago Blues
The Families Read Holiday Literacy Party
Read Across America
WYCC hosted over 350 kids and their childcare providers
at a large venue on the campus of Kennedy King College
to participate in the 17th annual Read Across America day.
The Cat in the Hat took photos with participants and local
Chicago area celebrities read children’s books to
attendees. WYCC also handed out free books and gifts to
the kids.
Teacher Professional Development Training at DePaul
University
In partnership with DePaul University’s School of
Continuing Education, WYCC PBS Chicago presented
credit-granting professional development training to
Chicago Public School (CPS) teachers, grades K-12. The
teachers were given a demonstration on the navigation
and in-class application of PBS Learning Media (PBSLM),
a free digital library of over 100,000 media resources.
PBSLM, endorsed by the Illinois Department of Education,
delivers high-quality classroom-ready resources culled
from the best in PBS documentaries and series.
CPS Professional Development Training for
Librarians
In partnership with Chicago Public Schools, WYCC
PBS Chicago addressed its mission to support and
serve educators by presenting an in-service
professional development training to library specialists
on the use and application of PBS Learning Media.
Librarians, charged with identifying the best in
educational media resources to teachers in their
schools, were eager to recommend the media library
that provides classroom-ready resources supporting
the Illinois core curriculum for grades K-12.
Blues Kids Camp
WYCC received a grant to produce a documentary
that chronicled kids as young as 6 years old who
participated in a week long blues immersion camp
hosted by famed musician Fernando Jones. The
camp and documentary ended with a live performance
at Chicago’s Hard Rock Café.
In The Loop
The public affairs show addresses serious and intelligent discussions
around current events in Chicago and Illinois. Former ABC News
correspondents Barbara Pinto and Chris Bury are the show hosts.
(Every Thursday 7:00 pm / Re-Aired Sundays 6:30pm)
The Professors
Educators square off in intelligent, in-depth and stimulating
conversations about powerful issues in a half-hour discussion
covering everything from the rising cost of health care to the
legalization of marijuana. A different group of outspoken
professors from the City Colleges of Chicago and other
prominent secondary education institution offer their
thoughts, opinions and ideas.
The Families Read Holiday Literacy Party
WYCC PBS Education ended the year with a celebration of
books and literacy with the very first WYCC Holiday Literacy
Party. This is part of the Families Read program designed to
encourage active reading between children and parents.
Children 3-8 years old listened to Why Mosquitoes Buzz in
People’s Ear read by Samantha Gloria and Friends and
learned about musical instruments from West Africa. Each
child in attendance received a free copy of the storybook and
holiday cookies especially prepared by Chicago’s French
Pastry School.
Justice and Law Weekly
Each Sunday at 12:30pm, The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) host
discussions with headline makers to put justice, social issues,
community programs and Chicago’s history in the spotlight. Justice and
Law Weekly features prominent politicians, human rights organizations
and Chicago public services in an effort to educate the viewer and better
our city. (Nine episodes completed)
Buddy Guy's Legends Presents: The Chicago Blues
Project Planning began in November 2013. Starting in
2014, WYCC PBS Chicago brought the blues right to
your home with a brand new, live concert experience
from the world famous venue Buddy Guy’s Legends,
owned and operated by the one and only Grammy
Award-winning blues man, Buddy Guy.
The Simon Fun Lab Comes to Chicago
On Saturday, November 1, the Simon Fun Lab welcomed
WYCC members and viewers for a full day event at the
Orland Square Mall. Providing fun and educational
activities for children ages 5-12, the Fun Lab featured
hands-on activities and a short video screening of PBS
favorite children’s programming in the PBS Kids Fun
Zone which featured flooring, activity tables, an app
station and fun giveaways for children. WYCC members
received a VIP invitation to attend the event that featured
photo opportunities with walk-around characters.
2014 Emmy’s
The red carpet event recognizing multiple Emmy®
winners submitted in over 80 broadcast and craft
categories took place at the upscale Radisson Blu Aqua
Hotel located just beyond Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at
221 North Columbus Drive, Chicago.
Up and Coming!
Music on the Mayne Stage
This spring 2015, WYCC PBS Chicago will launch Music
on the Mayne Stage, a new high energy music series that
was shot live on tape at the Mayne Stage on Chicago’s
Northside. Viewers of the series will be treated to an
energetic line-up of some of today’s most dynamic local
and national bands. Texas Alternative Rock, electrified
bluegrass, retro-styled R&B and garage rock are just a
few examples of what concert lovers will enjoy from the
exhilarating, eclectic line-up that is a staple of the Mayne
Stage performance schedule. With a nod to the historic
past of its grand facility, Mayne Stage provides the perfect setting for a broad spectrum of live performers.
The chic, throwback look of Mayne Stage creates the perfect setting for the diverse, independent sound of
the series’ musical acts.
Forest Preserves of Cook County
This year, WYCC PBS Chicago is pleased to
have the opportunity to partner with the Forest
Preserves of Cook County as they celebrate their
centennial anniversary. Over a one year period,
WYCC
will
produce
a
comprehensive
documentary that celebrates the visionary
success of one of the largest and oldest forest
preserve districts in the United States. With an
expanded marketing and community outreach
campaign, the goal of the production is to
highlight the vast conservation initiatives and
land acquisition projects in development and
highlight the range of programs that the Forest
Preserves provides to families throughout the
Chicagoland area.
Chicago Sinfonietta: United We Stand
Recognized as Chicago’s hippest orchestras by Jon
Von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago
Sinfonietta is all about rethinking the traditional to
bring fresh, top notch performances to the stage. As
part of this season’s repertoire, the Sinfonietta will
present United We Stand. Conducted by Mei-Ann
Chen and joined by the Gus Giordano Dance
Company, United We Stand intertwines orchestral
music and dance to honor our armed forces. This
concert highlights the music of Vietnam Veteran
Kimo Williams, whose music offers a unique tribute
to our service members along with a passionate
music experience from Charles Ives, who offers an unusual, lush version of our unofficial national song,
“America,” followed by Dvořák’s New World Symphony, which embodies the spirit of America through the
eyes of an immigrant.
STAY TUNED!