Milwaukee PBS was recognized at the statewide level for its work in telling southeastern Wisconsin’s stories. 10thirtysix, Milwaukee PBS’ signature news program, was honored by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association’s Awards for Excellence with two awards – the Community Impact Award and second place for Best Series or Documentary. Black Nouveau, one of the longest-running series in the nation, received third place for Best Series or Documentary. Winners were announced during the first WBA Awards for Excellence Virtual Awards Gala.
10thirtysix received the Community Impact award for its special, “Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone,” which was produced in partnership with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK–Wisconsin.In the state of Wisconsin, the teen suicide rate has nearly doubled in the last decade, so the 10thirtysix production team felt it was vital to address this issue. “Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone” tells the stories of four youth and their struggles with mental health. By bringing their stories to light, the documentary pulled the conversation and the issue of mental illness among youth into the forefront. Since its premiere in May 2019, “Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone” has aired nationally on PBS stations across the country, it has been screened in middle and high schools nationwide, received several local and national awards, and contributed to proposed legislation in the state legislature.
“We are proud to be the storytellers of southeastern Wisconsin. Our local productions focus on telling the stories that go untold - of the individuals and groups so often left out of the mainstream,” said Bohdan Zachary, Vice President and General Manager of Milwaukee PBS. “We are delighted to be recognized, among so many of our esteemed colleagues throughout the state who are producing excellent work as well.”
In the category of Best Series or Documentary, Milwaukee’s local productions took home both second and third place honors. 10thirtysix received second place for “A Hope For Tomorrow.” This told the inspiring story of Milwaukee resident, Edumakono Zetho, a former refugee from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Having learned English through a program at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Zetho is now a U.S. citizen living in Milwaukee and currently enrolled at MATC in the Human Services program. “A Hope For Tomorrow” profiled his journey from a refugee camp, to becoming a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, and his current efforts to help those still living in his former refugee camp back in Tanzania.
In the same category – Best Series or Documentary, Black Nouveau received third place for its segment “We Got This.” This segment told the story of Andree Lee Ellis and the impact he is making with his urban garden located in Milwaukee’s 53206 zip code. What turned into Ellis’ efforts to provide a constructive outlet to the boys in his community has evolved into an annual event. “The Garden at 9th and Ring” is a community effort in which over a hundred boys participate to help clean up the garden and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Awards for Excellence, sponsored by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, recognizes outstanding achievement by Wisconsin radio and television broadcasters, to encourage the highest standards of reporting, community service, and production creativity. This year’s Virtual Awards Gala was held over three days, May 19-21, and the winners were announced online and via social media.
For more information about 10thirtysix or Black Nouveau, and for upcoming broadcast dates, visit www.milwaukeepbs.org.