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Programming In Review
"From hard-hitting discussions to inspirational stories, our original programs have not only entertained but also enlightened, reflecting the pulse of the community we serve."
NEW VOICES, POWERFUL PERSPECTIVES
2025: A Year of Expanded Vision
In 2025, CAN TV delivered its most ambitious and purposeful programming slate to date. As mainstream media continues to ignore, oversimplify, or misrepresent the stories and struggles of Chicago's most marginalized communities, we doubled down on our core mission: to amplify voices too often silenced, create spaces where difficult conversations can happen with honesty and heart, and build platforms for healing, empowerment, and transformation.
This year's programming expansion reflects a deliberate commitment to addressing critical gaps in Chicago's media landscape. Whether exploring mental wellness through a Black cultural lens, facilitating brave conversations between Black women, offering sharp social commentary that connects pop culture to systemic power, or providing Emmy-recognized investigative journalism, our 2025 slate demonstrates that community television can – and must – do what commercial media won't.
Our programs aren't just content. They're conversations. They're healing spaces. They're tools for understanding ourselves and our communities more deeply. They're platforms for change-makers to share their work. And they're proof that when you invest in authentic storytelling rooted in community experience, the impact resonates far beyond the screen.
The following programs represent 2025's commitment to Chicago's full humanity – complex, multifaceted, and deserving of media that tells the truth.
NEW ORIGINAL PROGRAMS
Expanding Our Vision, Centering New Voices
2025 brought three dynamic new original programs to CAN TV's lineup, each addressing critical gaps in mainstream media and creating platforms for conversations that matter. From mental wellness rooted in Black cultural experiences to cross-generational conversations between Black women to witty social commentary that cuts to the heart of power and inequality, these new series demonstrate CAN TV's continued evolution as Chicago's essential voice for authentic storytelling and transformative dialogue.
Sisters Talking brings together a cross-generational group of Black women, creating a safe and brave space for honest and fearless discussions about the issues, challenges, and fears faced by Black women in Chicago and beyond. Sisters Talking amplifies and explores the lived experiences of Black women – the pain, joy, success, failure, and the resulting opportunities for growth and self-discovery. In 2025, this vital program continued to resonate with audiences seeking authentic representation and community connection.
CONTINUING PROGRAMS MAKING IMPACT
Trusted Voices, Deepening Community Connection
Our continuing programs have become integral to Chicago's media landscape, building loyal audiences and deepening conversations year after year. In 2025, these established series continued to deliver powerful storytelling, authentic representation, and the kind of journalism and dialogue that mainstream media often overlooks. From investigative journalism rooted in Chicago's communities to accessible news analysis, these programs prove that consistency, authenticity, and depth create lasting impact.
In the Money is a relatable and transformative special that aims to inspire viewers to get in the money, stay in the money, and grow in the money. Hosted by passionate and experienced financial expert Tamara Dervin, In the Money makes money management approachable and enjoyable, offering practical and timely financial insights. This special addresses a critical gap in financial literacy programming, particularly for communities historically excluded from wealth-building conversations.
CONTINUING PROGRAMS MAKING IMPACT
Deep Dives, Industry Recognition, and Transformative Stories
CAN TV's special programming in 2025 tackled urgent topics with the depth and rigor they deserve. From examining corporate performative allyism in the executive suite to demystifying financial literacy, these specials represent the kind of essential storytelling that moves beyond surface-level conversations. One of these specials earned an Emmy nomination, affirming that when we invest in deep storytelling rooted in community experience and expertise, the impact resonates far beyond our screens.
This Emmy-nominated docuseries examines a critical moment in corporate America. In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, companies hastily appointed Black women to executive roles as a performative gesture of progress. Without structural support or long-term strategy for success, many of these leaders were left to navigate deep-rooted systemic challenges alone. The Audit unpacks the consequences of these decisions and explores the ongoing fight for equity, accountability, and meaningful change in leadership. The 2025 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Documentary – Topical validates the urgency and importance of this work.
LOOKING AHEAD
From Emmy recognition to expanded training programs, from new voices breaking barriers to continuing shows deepening community connection, 2025 has demonstrated that CAN TV remains Chicago's essential platform for authentic storytelling. Our programming doesn't just entertain – it heals, empowers, educates, and transforms.
As we move forward, we remain committed to centering the voices too often marginalized, creating spaces where difficult conversations can happen with honesty and heart, and building a media landscape that reflects the full humanity and complexity of Chicago's diverse communities.
The following pages detail how CAN TV's 2025 programming created vital platforms for dialogue, healing, and change in our beloved Chicago.