KERA, North Texas’ home for PBS and NPR programming, is thrilled to announce groundbreaking steps to grow KERA’s services to North Texas. This giant leap forward includes building new community-centric headquarters next to the Katy Trail; expanding KERA’s core areas of service; and investing in an endowment.

“KERA has been a pillar of education and connection in North Texas for over 60 years,” says Nico Leone, President & CEO of KERA. “But the needs of our audiences look very different than they did 60 years ago. Our region is growing rapidly, and technology is changing. North Texans need public media more than ever before. That’s why it is time to invest in and grow KERA’s services in groundbreaking ways — including a new home, a local news show, and more.”

“KERA reaches 4.5 million people every month through its many platforms and services,” says Gwen Echols, Chair of KERA’s Board of Directors. “This organization’s impact is truly unmatched in North Texas, and we must ensure its essential services are relevant and extraordinary for generations to come.”

A New Home

As previously announced, KERA is moving its headquarters to be adjacent to the Katy Trail. The station’s new central location will welcome and be used by the many people who make KERA possible — including  volunteers, members, donors and the North Texas community. From performance spaces to podcast studios, the new headquarters will be an anchor for the community and the millions of residents who make it so unique. KERA is partnering with Kaizen Development Partners on the project, and has engaged Corgan on the design.

“KERA exists for and because of the North Texas community. We’re proud of the way we’ve maintained our current facilities for decades,” says Christopher Wagley, Chief Operating Officer of KERA. “However, our facilities are more than 60 years old and just aren’t equipped to meet today’s technological or community needs, or take the organization into the future. With our new headquarters, we will equip our teams to do their best work, and welcome audiences inside to be a part of it.”

KERA is expected to move out of its current building at 3000 Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas at the end of February and break ground on the new building later in 2025. While the new building is under construction, KERA’s team will temporarily house at One Arts Plaza in Downtown Dallas. KERA’s radio operations will broadcast out of WRR in Fair Park. During the transitional time, audiences can contact KERA’s team anytime or reach out via its new P.O. Box: North Texas Public Broadcasting, Inc, P.O Box 150039, Dallas, TX 75315.

“North Texas relies on KERA 24/7, and that’s not going to change during this time,” says Leone. “Our teams will still be here to provide the news, music, educational services and more that North Texas depends on from KERA.”

Funding the Future

A new headquarters is not the only way KERA is investing in its future. KERA is also doubling down on its core areas of service — including local journalism; early childhood education; and music, arts and culture. This includes launching a local news show on KERA News 90.1 FM.

Focused on issues that are shaping the future of our region, the local radio program will complement the many programs KERA already provides, including the locally produced and nationally syndicated show, “Think” with Krys Boyd. The new local program will also provide engaging content outside of the on-air broadcast, such as a podcast, newsletter and community events.

“This show will be built hand-in-hand with our community partners,” says Sylvia Komatsu, Chief Relationship Officer of KERA. “Listeners will hear a variety of voices and perspectives from across North Texas, on subjects like health, education, business and arts and culture.”

In addition to local reporting, KERA is also investing in its early childhood education work. Since its earliest days when it was known as “The Little Red Schoolhouse of the Air,” KERA’s mission has been to provide programming that educates as much as it entertains. Now, KERA’s Education team scales this work even further, by providing learning workshops, events and services for families, educators and students every week.

One of the most impactful services KERA provides is “Learning Neighborhoods” — a model for community-wide early learning that engages all generations in a child’s journey, building key foundational skills for success in school and life. Through this model, KERA collaborates with parents, nonprofits, libraries, and schools to provide hands-on family engagement. KERA launched its first “Learning Neighborhood” in the Bachman Lake area of Dallas, followed by West Dallas, and now is growing and scaling the successful model to Fort Worth and the Southern Sector of Dallas.

“It is an honor to partner with families and educators, sharing research-based tools and resources and making these readily available with our trusted PBS brand,” says Lisa Bracken, Director of Education at KERA. “It is so inspiring to see multiple generations of families come out and join their young child in a workshop like building rockets out of recycled materials and engaging in S.T.E.M. learning. And often, we hear educators say, ‘Where has this been my whole career?’ We are incredibly grateful to be able to scale and grow this work.”

All of KERA’s tremendous growth will be funded by KERA’s Ground Breaking Capital Campaign. In addition to KERA’s new headquarters and the future of KERA’s essential services — the campaign will fund a robust and stable endowment through the North Texas Public Broadcasting Foundation. This endowment will help cover operating costs of KERA’s new headquarters and ensure KERA will be there for North Texans at every stage of life for generations to come.

“KERA has been such a good steward of its facilities and funds for so many generations,” says Jennifer Altabef, who is co-chair of KERA’s Capital Campaign Committee, along with Bill Addy and Dan Routman, all of whom are longtime supporters of KERA. “It has earned the community’s trust, and it is truly the time for this groundbreaking step forward.”

“From civil conversations to educational resources, connections, joy and entertainment unmatched in quality — there really is no substitute for KERA’s services,” says Leone. “We’re so excited to take a groundbreaking step forward.”

Those interested in learning more or supporting the campaign can contact Nancy Saustad, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at capitalcampaign@kera.org, or visit groundbreaking.kera.org.

For questions about KERA’s growth and future, please contact Lauren Menking, Chief of Staff, at lmenking@kera.org.