Transition Years 2007–2012 Boston Neighborhood Network Dear Friends “As I approach 3025 Washington Street to go to work, I picture this scene years ago when the Orange Line was running—tracks high above the street, the train rattling out of Egleston Station past a grand old building that looked like a church on the outside, but on the inside housed massive converters to power the trains,” reflects Curtis Henderson, BNN General Manager. This imposing edifice, vital to the community since 1909, was left vacant when the elevated train tracks were torn down and created a stain on the neighborhood. But today we are part of something different—a beautifully rehabilitated building that has preserved its architectural integrity and brought it into the 21st century with green technology—a building alive with learning, creating and sharing—BNN’s home, the Charles J. Beard II Media Center. Youth and seniors and everyone in between, from every corner of the city, use this state-of-the art media center to learn the latest communications technology and to create TV program- ming they share on our channels and on our website. Our mobile production truck, parked in our backyard, cruises the city covering events in every community Board of Directors and our satellite dish on the roof of the building brings down programming of interest to Bostonians. Boston Neighborhood Network News celebrated its 25th year FY 2007 – 2012 on BNN’s News and Information channel and is going stronger than ever, with web-streamed programs and a dynamic companion website. Kenan Bigby It took hard work, dedication and perseverance from people who care about the revitalization of a neighborhood, who care about bridging the digital divide and who care about preserving our first amendment rights to complete this project and we thank them all: our Board of Directors, staff, members, partners, supporters, col- Reebee Garofalo laborators and funders. Particular recognition goes to our Board presidents who led us through this time of change. Art Singer began the process of consolidating Scherazade King our operations, discovering this vacant MBTA building and forming a partnership with Urban Edge; DeWayne Lehman picked up the mantle, establishing a fund- raising campaign and getting us into our new building; and Glenn Williams adapting our governance and operational strategies as we settled into our new home. Lance Kyed We are grateful for the extensive broad-based support we received for our capital campaign from all sectors of the community including generous individuals, city, DeWayne Lehman, Pres. state and federal governments, foundations and corporate donors. We especially appreciate the unwavering support from Mayor Thomas Menino, City of Boston Justin A. Petty and Michael Lynch, Director of the Office of Cable and Technology. Lisa Pollack In this report we share some highlights from this chapter of BNN’s history—the rehabilitation of our building, our transition to digital, our efforts to close the digital divide, and our increased programming efforts. But we are not resting on our laurels. Under the direction of Justin Petty, our current Board president, the Sarah-Ann Shaw board and staff have begun work on a five-year strategic plan that will position us to better serve individuals and nonprofit organizations. Glenn Williams, Pres. Now as we ride down Washington Street we no longer look down from the train at the Power Station, but we look up to the BNN sign with pride, knowing inside this building people are telling their stories, asking questions and getting information—and that’s power! DeWayne Lehman Glenn Williams Justin A. Petty Curtis W. Henderson, Jr. President, 2005 - 2009 President, 2009 – 2012 President, 2012 General Manager Transition Years 2007–2012 Boston Neighborhood Network is Boston’s non- profit community media center, with two full-service production studios, state-of-the art equipment and edit suites, mobile production truck, BNN Timothy Smith Network Media Lab, and a satellite dish. BNN Since 1983 Boston Neighborhood Network facilities provide the training, resources and support has worked toward fulfilling its’ mission to use cable television’s necessary for members to express themselves and communicate to their constituents and the general unique capabilities and other technology to address unmet public through the production and distribution of communications needs of individuals and institutions in television programs and multimedia projects. We Boston by: cablecast the most diverse programming in Bos- ton reaching a potential audience of more Giving a more direct voice to and fostering understanding among various than 560,500, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on neighborhoods, groups and points of view. our channels: BNN News & Information [Comcast 9/RCN 15] and BNN Community TV Expanding the diversity and variety of information on local topics addressing [Comcast 23/RCN 83] and worldwide via live stream- the specific needs of targeted populations. ing on our website, bnntv.org. Increasing the access for residents to educational, cultural, political, health In 1983 Atty. Charles J. Beard, II worked out the and human service resources of the City. details for BNN’s nonprofit status “ to ensure access to channels and facilities for all Boston residents, groups Strengthening the ability of all institutions to serve Boston’s diverse and institutions and to provide public education and residents by providing a mechanism through which they can effectively share training regarding the use of access facilities and their resources with the community. channels.” His long-range vision included language that would keep our mission relevant with changing Providing overall local television programs and opportunities not available times and changing technology. Our vision has ex- on other television venues in Boston. panded to meet the challenges of the digital technol- ogy revolution and to build an organization that is a lasting part of the fabric of the city of Boston but our mission remains the same. 2 The BNN Charles J. Beard II Media Center In 2005 BNN and Urban Edge purchased the former MBTA Power Station in Egleston Square. This imposing historic structure built in 1909 to convert power for the elevated transit line sat vacant for 20 years in disrepair. We gathered a team of designers, engineers and construction contractors to rehabili- tate the building for our use, while keeping its historic integrity. We restored the building façade to its original beauty, while the interior design is state-of-the-art modern – with glimpses of its past use. In 2006 we launched a $2.8 million capital campaign to help cover costs needed for construction and equipment. Our rehabilitation efforts began in earnest in 2007, removing the old machinery and building a new, ‘green’ media center, with a geothermal heating and cooling system. While this work was happening our staff and community producers were continuing the work of making television and preparing to close our existing centers and consolidate our operations for the move to our new home—a mammoth task! Since we began operations in our new home in November 2007, we’ve welcomed 44,000 visitors to share their perspectives and strengthen our understanding of each other, our city, and our world. Transition Years 2007–2012 BNN Celebrates! We’ve opened our doors for fun and festivities—with screenings to celebrate the work of AWARDS our youth and community producers, holiday parties and backyard BBQs to recognize staff and partners The BNN Charles J. Beard II Media Center is now and Annual Meetings and awards to recognize the contributions people are making to community media. listed on the National Register of Historic Places and our building rehabilitation efforts were celebrated In 2008 people gathered at our new home for a ribbon cutting ceremony and to celebrate our late with several awards: Board Member, Charlie Beard, for whom we named the building. We were thrilled to finally open our doors to long-time BNN friends and folks who helped make our dream become a reality. • Boston Preservation Alliance: Preservation Achievement Award In 2008 it was cheers to BNN, the proud recipient of the Boston Latino Award for access to technology. • Mass Historical Commission Award: Celebrating Silver! Adaptive Re-use Preservation Award BNN celebrated 25 years of community media service to Bostonians. We took a moment to look back over the years and to recognize people who have made significant contributions to media access • J. Timothy Anderson Awards for and excellence on a national and local level, as well as community producers and supporters with exemplary Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation: service to BNN. Best Sustainable/Green Rehab, Finalist Since moving to Egleston BNN is taking a leadership role in the community. As a member of the Egleston • LEED Silver certification by the Square Main Streets board of directors we helped plan and participated in many U.S. Green Building Council neighborhood events including Boston Shines and Egleston Unity Day. • Mayor Menino’s Green Business Award 4 Retooling and Training Technology has changed dramatically and BNN has changed with it. In the past six years we completed our transition from analog to digital—from cameras to editing to playback. Our new facility, mobile production truck and our NNN Since FY’06 studio are now equipped with the latest technology tools and BNN’s Timothy Smith Network Media Lab is equipped we have doubled the number of shows with up-to-date hardware and software. Our production process is streamlined with digital tapeless recording making it easier to edit and programs can be delivered electronically from anywhere. And it’s ‘green’—less plastic and fewer cars produced in the studio for Community TV! driving to BNN to drop off programs! Both staff and producers are going digital too—updating their skills and using new technology to create high quality programs.