Community Advisory Councils

Minnesota Public Radio invites the public to its Twin Cities Community Advisory Council and its various Regional Development Advisory Council meetings.

These councils advise the Board of Trustees on the needs of the diverse communities MPR serves and meet in the spring and fall.

Twin Cities Community Advisory Council

The public is invited to Twin Cities Community Advisory Council meetings about MPR stations KNOW, KSJN and KCMP. The advisory council’s Fall 2021 meeting will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM. For more information or if you would like attend the virtual meeting, please contact Ka Vang, Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 651-290-1395 or kvang@mpr.org.

Current Members include:

  • Clint Allen

  • Ashley Brennan

  • Elizabeth Bushard

  • George Deliduka

  • Suzanne Donovan

  • Jack Flynn

  • Anne Gold

  • Nan Hackett

  • Barry Hamill

  • Kristina Hennessy

  • Emily Holtz

  • Corey Kobbervig

  • Kari Koehler

  • Matthew Koncar

  • Alexandra Meyer

  • Kristen McHenry

  • Lynne Moratzka

  • Molly Pruess

  • Amintha Ratnayake

  • Britta Udesen

  • Paul Wilson

Interested in serving on the Twin Cities Community Advisory Council?

Are you an avid listener to The Current, MPR News, or Your Classical MPR?  Then MPR wants you.

The Twin Cities Community Advisory Council (TC-CAC), for KSJN/KNOW/KCMP, is seeking to fill open membership positions. This opportunity is for Twin Cities Metro residents. Regional councils will be seeking applicants at a later date. The TC-CAC reviews the programming goals established by the station, the service provided by the station, and the significant policy decisions rendered by the station. They also make recommendations on how programming can better serve the Twin Cities community.

Please fill out the application by November 12, 2021, if you are interested in this opportunity to serve your community and MPR. If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact Ka Vang, Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 651-290-1395 or kvang@mpr.org.

Regional Development Advisory Councils

Minnesota Public Radio has five regional advisory councils to advise the Board of Trustees on various programming issues and concerns in greater Minnesota.

These councils advise the Board of Trustees on the needs of the diverse communities MPR serves. Meetings are held in the spring and fall. The public is invited to these annual meetings.

The Rochester Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the southeastern Minnesota and northeast Iowa listening area and includes the stations KLSE, KZSE, KMSE, KLNI, KLCD, KGAC, KNGA, and KNSE. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at noon. For more information about attending this meeting, please contact Kay Hocker at 507-292-8636 or by e-mail to khocker@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sharon VanDeNorth

  • Patricia Barrier, Chair

  • Lynne Kirklin

  • Lou Wagner, Secretary

  • Chuck Lantz

  • Al Lun

  • Allie Good

  • Jolene Hansen

  • Marilyn Harstad

  • Jeff Stevenson

  • Ken Prichett, Vice Chair

  • Natalie Siderius

  • Mitch Stevenson

  • William (Bill) Wimsett

The St. Cloud Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the central and southwestern Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota listening area and includes the stations KSJR, KNSR, KRSU, KNCM, KRSW, and KRSD. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Monday, October 18, at noon. For more information about attending this meeting, please contact Kay Hocker at 507-292-8636 or by e-mail to khocker@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Barb Strandemo, Chair

  • Mag Patridge, Vice Chair

  • Joanne Dorsher

  • Patricia Schiffler

  • Jenelle Peters

  • Maryrose Capko

  • Susie Osaki Holm

  • Phil Terry

  • Jen Davis Windsperger, Secretary

  • Daid DeBlieck

  • Michael Hemmesch

  • Dr. Christopher P. Lehman

The Moorhead Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the northwestern Minnesota listening area and includes the stations KCCM, KCCD, KQMN, KNTN, KRXW, KCMF, and KNWF. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 27 at 3:30 PM. For more information about attending this meeting, please contact Kristi Booth at 218-752-7001 or by e-mail to kbooth@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sara Watson-Curry, Chair

  • Earnest Lamb, Vice Chair

  • Chad Johnson, Secretary

  • Jill Abbott, ex officio

  • Sharon Budge

  • Lisa Cook

  • Bruce Gerhardson

  • Laetitia Hellerud

  • Bill Law, ex officio

  • Jay Richardson

  • Peter Schott

  • Dan Svedarsky

  • Cristen Voeltz

  • Marc Zielinski

The Duluth Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the northeastern Minnesota and Houghton, MI listening area and includes the stations WSCD, WSCN, WIRC, WIRR, WIRN, WGRH, WINH, WMLS, WLSN, KZIO, and WGGL. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at noon. For more information about attending this meeting, please contact Maria Isley at 218-673-5005 or by e-mail to misley@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Mickey Pearson, Chair

  • Peter Jeronimus, Vice Chair

  • Lori Huska, Secretary

  • Barbara McDonald, Ex-Officio (College of St. Scholastica Educational Sponsor Representative)

  • Gia Bellamy

  • Don Davison

  • Betsy Ingram Diver

  • Alan Sparhawk

  • Karen McManus

  • Carl Crawford

  • Karin Kraemer

The Bemidji Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the north central Minnesota listening area and includes the stations KBPR, KBPN, KCRB, KNBJ, KGRP, and KITF. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 26 at 3:30 PM. For more information about attending this meeting, please contact Kristi Booth at 218-752-7001 or by e-mail to kbooth@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sharon Fruetel, Chair

  • Sue Beck, Vice Chair

  • Leonore Potter, Secretary

  • Kirsten Addison

  • Karen Ford

  • Dale Hadland

  • Megan Hill

  • Michael Hopps

  • Annette Johnson

  • Kari Knudson

  • Scott Merschman

  • Joe Phelps

  • Lisa Wigand

  • Mary Jo Wimmer

The KWRV Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the Sun Valley, ID listening area. The fall annual meeting will be held virtually on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:30 AM [MST]. For more information, please contact Maria Isley at 218-673-5005 or by e-mail to misley@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Tom Heinrich, Chair

  • Pete Smith, Vice Chair

  • Jessica Blake

  • Rae DaVito

  • Carter Hedberg

  • Jim Tallackson

  • Sabina Dana Plasse