Impact of SPNN

Hear from the community the impact SPNN has had. 

Become a participant, volunteer, partner, or donor today!

Has three photos. The far left one is of two people behind a computer monitor. The middle photo is of two people teaching how to edit on a Macintosh, the third photo is of a woman behind a studio camera. on the bottom it says Teach digital literacy skills, learn media making, create media on your own or with our team, watch our channels.

SPNN is a community media and technology center that provides the tools and training for youth, adults, and nonprofits to use media and technology to tell stories and gain job skills.  There are many ways you can be involved with SPNN- Find the way that is right for you!

Teaching Digital Literacy- Do you want to give back to your community, gain professional development and teaching skills, and want to help individuals learn skills to gain better employment? Become a CTEP AmeriCorps member. There are full time, three quarters time, and half time positions available, 19 different nonprofits you can become a part of and you receive a living stipend and education award. Find our more!

Learn Media skills- Want to gain or grow media skills, have access to cameras, editing computers, and a studio, and become a part of a network of media producers? You can join as a producer member  to work on your content at your own pace or apply for one of our documentary programs to learn in a cohort of other media makers.

Partner with our team- If your non profit is looking to have a video made for your gala or website talking about the work you do or partner on a production to benefit the community you can hire SPNN's professional production team to work with you.  

Watch our channels- Watch local football and baseball games, graduations, local documentaries, music, and more on our channels. Check out our schedule and watch on Comcast in Saint Paul. 

Plan Your Event At SPNN

Whether you are looking for a vibrant community space for your fundraising event, a meeting room for your painting class, or a production space for your next video- SPNN is here to help.  Find out more!

SPNN is Recruiting

  • A photo of the CTEP Cohort from 2023 with a sign that says Happy AmeriCorps Week.

    CTEP AmeriCorps Member

    "not knowing your way around a computer shuts you out of so many things. I'm so grateful that I got the chance to help change that"- Grace, CETP member '23-'24.

    Benefits

    • Monthly stipend- up to $1,935
    • Paid health insurance*
    • Education Award- up to $7,395
    • Professional Training

    *terms apply

  • yellow gold background with white lettering. It says SPNN is Recruiting. Sponsorship Coordinator and Grant Writer. This is a contract position.

    Contract Sponsorship Coordinator and grant writer

    SPNN is looking for a contract position to help with grant writing and securing sponsorships and underwriting. The key responsibilities would be to identifying new businesses and corporate sponsors that would be interested in sponsoring our programs and events. This person would also help with grant writing. Hours will vary, but we assume this to be around 5 hours a week. 

    Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

    Find out more!

  • Has three photos of past New Angle fellows programs in the center. on the far right is a thin yellow/gold bar. on the bottom is a yellow/gold triangle.

    New Angle Fellows

    New Angle Fellows is a 7-month fellowship that supports underrepresented and emerging documentary filmmakers who are creating their own work and hoping to get to the next step in their filmmaking journey

    Applications are open now through August 31. 

Celebrating 40 Years!

  • a photo of the gathering in the annual meeting. Close up of Za'Nia with soft focus of the rest of the audience.

    Share Your SPNN Stories

    For our 40th anniversary we are collecting stories of the impact SPNN has had over the years.

    If you have a story, we'd love to hear from you. Between now and our official anniversary, October 31 we want to share your stories on social media and our website.

  • a photo from SPNN's annual celebration. On the left is Bianca Rhodes in the center is Georgia Fort and to the right is Abdi Mohamed. They are standing talking in the SPNN gallery.

    Sustaining Donor

    Empower. Inspire. Connect. Supporting SPNN is an investment in the fabric of our community. 

    Benefits of recurring donations:

    For SPNN-Regular, reliable donations income makes it easier for us to budget and plan.

    For You- you contribute to the longevity of SPNN, ensuring SPNN is around for the next 40 years providing digital and media skills to the community. 

    Thank you for however you give; whether in time, talents, or money.

  • a still frame from the video. It is a shot of a parade.

    Across the Decades

    We are celebrating 40 years of SPNN by interviewing people who have helped make SPNN. Each video will feature a voice from each decade. 

    In this first installment we talked with;

    • Neal Gosman, SPNN's first Executive Director. 
    • Jaquie Maddix, one of SPNN's first members
    • Joanna Kohler, teaching artist
    • Tommy Franklin, documentarian and a part of of New Angle Fellows. 

    Take a trip down memory lane!

Highlighted Media

SPNN has a podcast that talks with local artists, several television shows and one of productions created by our production team, media produced by youth and program participants. Below is a sampling of some of our most recent work. 

  • This is a graphic with text in green saying SPNN Forum with two speech bubbles in red and blue.

    SPNN Forum

    Host Anahita Champion talks with Sarah Lewis, Small Business & Nonprofit Program Manager and Eduardo Escobar, Inventor Assistance Program Coordinator of Legal Corps.

  • white background with SPNN in green at the top of the image and Forum in gold at the bottom of the image with the blue and red speech bubbles above the forum

    SPNN Forum

    Host Anahita Champion talks with Mary LaGarde - Executive Director, Vernon Defoe - Executive Chef, and Natalie Rademacher - Communications Coordinator of the Minneapolis American Indian Center.

  • Blue thick line with white text says Disability stacked on top of a green line that has Viewpoints in white,.

    Disability Viewpoints

    Host Mark Hughes along with Joan Willshire talk with stakeholders of the Caravan for Disability Freedom & Justice, as well as the REV UP voting campaign - building the power of the disability vote through increasing civic engagement in the disability community and improving the accessibility of elections. Metropolitan Center for Independent Living in Saint Paul.

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SPNN hosts an AmeriCorp Program, our Community Technology Empowerment Project.


SPNN staff completed a 4-month certification program focusing on how to run a mentoring program that is inclusive to youth, volunteers, and staff with disabilities.