The claim reads:
“Complainant, Allen an African American man, alleges the Respondent, Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) that around July 2008 he met with Respondent Executive Director Pam Colby. Complainant alleges that in the meeting Ms. Colby refused to do business with Complainant because he is an African American Republican, and because he is affiliated with the Republican Party. Complainant alleges that he spoke with the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Respondent and that in that conversation it was suggested that Complainant be given appropriate consideration for the Board of Directors position.
Complainant alleges that the person who populated the vacant Board position was under qualified compared to Complainant.
The Complainant charges and believes he has received disparate treatment in the area of business based on race and political affiliation in violation of Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance 139.40 (1)(3).”
This incident started last year when I approached MTN to look at possible new funding streams with outreach and private sector engagement that has not taken place at MTN in the last 5 years.
At MTN’s Board meeting and November 13, 2008, Board Chair Marido Huber stated (quote taken from the minutes) “…board members should look for people to fill upcoming board openings. People with fundraising, marketing, and advertising skills are especially needed.”
At that same Board meeting the minutes also read, “Don Allen of Twin City Business is interested in helping MTN do fundraising and build capacity. They offer to help guide web donations to MTN. Cost would include an upfront fee and then a percentage. Vose suggested that there might be competition issues with Comcast. Huber suggested that Allen send a proposal to MTN.”
In a good faith effort I approached MTN again because they were planning their 25th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser. A no-charge, I presented one of my firm’s clients to them to hold the event with only food costs which were priced at 00.00. The alternative for the event would have cost MTN over 00.00, not to mention the fee for press and promotion the network received.
In the July 2009 meeting, Pam Colby, Executive Director of MTN asked who my firm has worked with. Naming some GOP-related collaboration, Ms. Colby looked at me and said, “This meetings over! Because of the people you’re affiliated with we can’t do business and you’re a Republican!”
At a recent gathering of local commercial film artists, Ms. Colby approached me and said, “Why do you hate Obama?” My response was, “I don’t hate President Obama, and I’m just not on that page with how I see things.”
MTN began operation in 1984 with a mission to provide access to television broadcast equipment and to cable television channels for the diverse community. MTN’s mission centers on empowering communities to bring their own unique voices to cable television. It is committed to freedom of speech for all. MTN enables all citizens to exercise this freedom by providing basic television production training, and by airing all work that is created community producers on its cable channels.
With this said, MTN has been a gaping wound for the City of Minneapolis’ budget for the last five years, lacking creative installments, no new funding streams and limited capacity-building efforts within the local community. The station has not had a major public promotional campaign since Pam Colby has been its executive director and C. John Harrison has represented Cable & Multimedia Services for the City of Minneapolis.
Both past and current Boards have been passive and do not have the skill set for leadership, or to build capacity and engage the private sector as it pertains to the offering of services and soliciting underwriting and sponsorships for the network. The rationale for this was their ongoing “tip-toeing” around Comcast and stating they didn’t want to compete. Stating that MTN competes with Comcast is like comparing KMOJ to B96 – there are benefits to using both. One is a commercial radio station with a reach of more than a 65% in the ethnic/minority populations of Minneapolis; the other is a public, non-profit station with good reach and some unique opportunities. Hence, there’s no direct competition between Comcast and MTN.
My chance to assist and work MTN was shattered when C. John Harrison, Manager, Cable & Multimedia Services for the City of Minneapolis sent the email and said that I was not recommended for the board position because I didn’t “stand-out?” This has been heard one time to many when you’re Black, educated and aggressive. The fear of Ms. Colby and Mr. Harrison is that a positive change would come to MTN and they would lose control. So together they formed a “firewall” against little ole me to stop the appointment for the MTN Board. This is not the first time the MTN has refused “sound business practices” by someone in the multi-media community.
Last night at the Minneapolis Park Board Headquarters which hosted a meeting for the community to talk about the state’s budget cuts, I approached Mayor R.T. Rybak and informed him about MTN discretion and his reply was, “I’m concerned about some of the things that are said on the air there – but it’s a separate entity.”
MTN’s process leaves out many key factors required for building a community television network. An example of a successful community television network is Colorado Public Television (KBDI-TV/12), which is a unique civic resource that began broadcasting in 1980 as one of the country’s first alternative public television services. During its first quarter-century, KBDI has grown to be a significant media voice in Colorado and a distinct model for community-oriented public television nationwide. Relying on the KBDI model, MTN could provide community news and information that is consistent with the voice and concerns of the community, while becoming a creditable source of information for Minneapolis.
Non-profits and IRS designated 501(c)3’s (tax exempt) are very clear on actions of partisanship.
It is required by Law that not-for-profit organizations like MTN that have a variety of programming do business and allow programming from all walks of life or political views. In 2008 during the Congressional campaigns in Minneapolis several local non-profits crossed the line in showing partisanship to DFL incumbents and the people who represent them. In the case of MTN, if you keep doing the same thing with the same results nothing will ever change. What I offered was “breathing room” and chance with board unity to move beyond dependency of the City of Minneapolis.
With three channels, 16, 17 and 75, MTN could be a force to reckon with in Minneapolis…but don’t tell that to a Republican!