Author: Brooke Wehrle

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, August 2, 2022 – Alma’s Way, the newest animated hit series from Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s media organization behind multiple Emmy® Award-winning series, has been greenlit for a second season on PBS KIDS. The upcoming season of the show, created by Sonia Manzano (“Maria” on Sesame Street) and produced in association with Pipeline Studios (Elinor Wonders Why), is slated to premiere in fall 2023 and will consist of 25 half-hour episodes, including two 30-minute specials.

Focusing on critical thinking, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy, Alma’s Way is aimed at viewers 4-6 and follows 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her parents; younger brother, Junior; and Abuelo as well as a diverse group of close-knit and loving friends, family, and community members. The series showcases Latino cultures through music, food, language, and more. All episodes are available in both English and Spanish.

“We’re thrilled that audiences have so warmly embraced Alma’s Way and will soon get to tag along on new adventures with Alma as she continues to think things through alongside her friends and family in the Bronx,” said Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer at Fred Rogers Productions and an executive producer of the series. “The show’s focus on critical thinking and community has resonated strongly with viewers universally, and the new season will provide them with an even more expansive look at Alma’s world.”

"Alma’s Way suggests to children that the process of thinking is exhilarating, joyous, and fun,” said Sonia Manzano, executive producer and series creator. “I’m delighted that my relationship with PBS KIDS and Fred Rogers Productions will continue as we bring another season of Alma’s Way to life.”

“Families across the country are telling us that Alma’s Way’s curriculum, music, and focus on community truly resonates with them, and is making an impact in their children’s lives. We’re excited to bring another season to PBS KIDS,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager, PBS KIDS.

Season 2 of the critically acclaimed series will introduce audiences to a range of diverse, new characters and present stories that deepen their relationship with those they already know and love, including Alma’s Uncle Nestor, little brother Junior, and her Granny Isa (voiced by Manzano). The new season will also take viewers to more New York City cultural landmarks. Music, a key component of the series, will be prominently featured in one of the upcoming specials.

The new season also sees the promotion of two key staffers. Head Writer Jorge Aguirre (Goldie & Bear) has been promoted to co-executive producer. Dana Chan, former junior story editor, has been promoted to story editor. 

Alma’s Way premiered in October 2021 to critical acclaim and recognition among a variety of audiences. Since its debut, the series has been noted as a Selection for Families by Common Sense Media, the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools. It has also been selected as the recipient of the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award by The American Library Association Youth Media Awards, an award given to a producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience. Alma’s Way has ranked in the top ten PBS KIDS series in streaming video every month since its launch.*

Additionally, children can continue to learn and play with Alma through the PBS KIDS Games app and on pbskids.org/almasway. “Bop or Pop!/¡Bop, no Pop!,” an action-puzzle game that helps kids practice their problem-solving skills, and “Party at Alma’s/Fiesta con Alma,” a game in which players use social awareness skills to help make the party fun for everyone, launched in 2021. Between October 2021 and May 2022, both games combined have been played more than 18 million times on the PBS KIDS games app and pbskids.org.** Two additional games supporting the learning goals of the series will debut in 2022. Like episodes of Alma’s Way, all digital content is available to view and play in both English and Spanish.

Scholastic serves as the worldwide master publishing partner for Alma’s Way with a multi-year agreement including a range of readers and activity books in both English and Spanish, which will begin publishing in spring 2023. Brand Central is the licensing agent for the series and will develop a full-scale licensing program that reflects the show’s fun, educational, and cultural themes.

Alma’s Way is created by Sonia Manzano, best known to generations of kids and families as “Maria” on Sesame Street, and produced by Fred Rogers Productions in association with Pipeline Studios. Ellen Doherty and Manzano are executive producers. Aguirre is head writer and co-executive producer. Co-executive producers are Luis Lopez and Juan Lopez. Supervising producer for Fred Rogers Productions is Olubunmi Mia Olufemi.

* Digital Sources: comScore visitors and Google Analytics streams, Selected months 2020-2021, 2021-2022

** Digital Sources: Google Analytics, October 2021 to July 2022. 

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime, no subscription required. A large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content that spark kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow – including their teachers and caregivers, parents, and community – providing resources accessible anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Fred Rogers Productions

Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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Press contacts:

Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions)

Alison Grand

212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck

845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us about yourself and your role as digital production assistant.

I work across all of our shows’ digital presence, be it their website, games, or apps. Of the 5 shows we’ve made, the spot for my favorite one is tied by Alma’s Way and Donkey Hodie. Each show appeals to different parts of me - Alma is a clever little puertorriqueña, just like me! Donkey, on the other hand, captures all the whimsy and magic of childhood. I love them both!

What was your favorite video game growing up?

I have to pick just one…? My favorite games were Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, both on the GameCube, and Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2. Even then, I loved a game’s ability to tell or create compelling stories, a key feature for determining if I will like a game or not. Recently I have been playing Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Stardew Valley, and Rune Factory 4 Special.

What do you like to do when you're not working?

Other than playing video games, I love spending time with my partner, Austin! We’re both very crafty and artsy people, so we’re in the process of painting and decorating dice boxes in honor of his new Dungeons and Dragons campaign!

What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

Being outside! I’m not a very outdoorsy person, but every week I look forward to going to the local park for their Saturday morning farmers market. I also check out pet adoption websites semi-frequently - if I had a puppy to take on long walks and adventures, that would be my #1 favorite summertime activity!

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, July 13, 2022 – Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s media organization behind multiple well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, has named Gabrielle Howard to the newly created position of Creative Development Manager. In her new role, Howard will manage the company’s growing portfolio of IP in development. She will report to Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer.

“Gabrielle is a terrific addition to our team. She knows the kids industry, and has a great eye for talent,” said Doherty. ”I look forward to working with her to find and generate even more extraordinary content for young viewers.”

“I’m over the moon to join Fred Rogers Productions, a company that is so well known and respected for quality programming that serves the needs of children and their families,” said Howard. “I’m excited to dive in and help build a programming slate of content that resonates with current fans and attracts many new ones, too.”

In addition to managing the company’s production slate, Howard will seek out new collaborators and projects that she will help guide through the development process.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Howard was a media consultant and advisor on podcast development and social media strategy who developed original concepts for the web and television. She worked for The N, later named TeenNick, from MTV Networks, where she developed live-action and animated properties with production companies including Endemol and Klasky Csupo. Howard started her career at Sesame Workshop, where she headed the children’s casting department for the Emmy® Award-winning Sesame Street and later worked for J.P. Kids, producer of the hit series, The Famous Jett Jackson. She holds a B.A. from the University of South Carolina and received a Podcast Certificate from The Made in NY Media Center by IFP.

About Fred Rogers Productions

Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Press contacts:

Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions)

Alison Grand

212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck

845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

In its annual round-up of Best TV Shows, Common Sense Media recognized Alma’s Way, FRP’s new preschool animated series on PBS KIDS. CSM praised the series’ strong social-emotional curriculum that encourages kids to pause and think when they're facing a tricky situation. They also call Alma—the determined 6-year-old from the Bronx—a great role model who is very relatable to preschoolers. Read more of their review here.

You can watch Alma’s Way daily on PBS KIDS or stream episodes anytime on the PBS KIDS Video Player in English and Spanish!

 

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Alma’s Way

Alma’s Nochebuena/Three Kings Day Do-Over: December 13, 15, 18, 21, 24, & January 2

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, & 24

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Daniel’s Winter Adventure/Neighborhood Nutcracker: December 1, 8, & 24

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 1, 24, & 26

Snowflake Day!: December 1, 13, & 23

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 7, 15, 17, 18, 19, & 24

A Snowy Day: December 29

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 10, 12, & 22

Odd Squad

Reindeer Games: December 1, 14, 20, & 24

  • PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel: December 1, 9, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 25, & 26

Peg + Cat (PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel)

Peg + Cat + Holidays: December 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 18, 22, 24, & 25

The Christmas Problem: December 3, 14, & 23

The Hanukkah Problem: December 6

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us about yourself and what led you to be a puppeteer.
Sure! I grew up between Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, where my younger sister, Alina, and I kept busy with many art, music, and theater programs. I’ve been a fan of puppetry for as long I could remember–I’d wake up at the crack of dawn to catch reruns of The Muppet Show and was fascinated by how these characters were performed. I wanted to be a part of it!

My parents had always supported my early love of theater, VHS filmmaking, and my lifelong dream to work as a puppeteer for television. My Dad, who discovered performing later in life (he began working as a clown/magician in 1989), took me to check out the book, “Of Muppets and Men” from our local library, and the librarian happened to be a member of the Chicagoland Puppetry Guild. We immediately joined, attended many meetings, events, and festivals for years, along with this incredibly supportive group of puppeteers.

While in high school, I met David and Adam Rudman at their Spiffy Pictures office–also in Illinois–I shared some of the puppets I had been building, and they shared some of the projects they were developing at the time. We kept in touch, and I eventually started working on pilots and TV shows with them during my summer breaks from college.

What was your favorite television show growing up?
Television was very limited in our household- when it was on, the TV was usually tuned to PBS. Some favorite shows were Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Sesame Street, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I feel super grateful to be working for two of those shows right now! I never would have imagined that I’d be living in my hometown while working on a puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions–it’s almost too specific for me to have dreamt up what now feels like a dream come true!

What’s one of your favorite–or most unexpected–things about playing Purple Panda so far?
I love playing around with Panda’s physicality. As a puppet, he’s a single, solid piece of foam. His head, neck, and body all blend together into a huge bean-like shape. It’s been fun using that limitation to inform the way he walks and moves, while also working with our assist puppeteers to also make him very flexible and agile. Panda dancing is one of my favorite things to perform. I also love playing with his stillness–he’s a sensitive guy who often enjoys the quieter moments.

How are you like Purple Panda, and how are you different?
Like Purple Panda, I tend to be a calmer person in general. Unlike myself, Purple Panda is an excellent dancer.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
When I’m not traveling for work or working on Donkey Hodie, I love spending as much time with my family as possible. My wife Marea and I have two daughters–Zora is 3 years old, and Zella is 1. Together, we enjoy doing many of the things I loved doing throughout my life–traveling, playing music, art projects, nature and museum trips, and spending time with our extended family.

What is your favorite nod to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in the new series?
As a kid, my eyes were always drawn to the multi-colored stones that were painted on the floor of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Our amazing Art Department on Donkey Hodie created 3D versions of these stones–I love seeing that they now cover the paths of the endless, beautiful rolling hills of Someplace Else!

What’s your preferred way to start the day–Golden Crunchdoodles or Flying Flapjacks?!
I like both! Like Panda, I sometimes have trouble deciding. So, I like to crush up my Golden Crunchdoodles and sprinkle them into the batter before the Flying Flapjacks fly!

Watch Donkey Hodie daily on PBS KIDS or stream anytime at pbskids.org/video.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

HBO Max has acquired rights to the first two seasons of Odd Squad for Latin America.

“We are thrilled to be adding the well-known Odd Squad to our offering on HBO Max. It is a clever, funny and fast paced show with a fabulous cast – a much loved series all around,” said Jessica Bishop, Director of Acquisitions, WarnerMedia Kids & Family Latin America.

Odd Squad was created by Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman and is co-produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and Fred Rogers Productions for PBS KIDS.

Read the full story from Deadline.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s entertainment company behind multiple well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, has named Jada Toys the Master Toy Licensee for Donkey Hodie, the new puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. Licensing Street, recently appointed as licensing agent for the brand, facilitated the partnership. The new agreement with Jada Toys, which follows closely on the heels of the May 2021 series premiere on PBS KIDS, covers the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The company’s debut Donkey Hodie toy range is set to start arriving at retail in spring 2023.

“We are thrilled to work with Jada Toys and Licensing Street to extend the Donkey Hodie experience far beyond the screen,” said Matt Shiels, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Fred Rogers Productions. “Licensing Street’s expertise combined with Jada’s track record of success in the U.S. and international markets present an exciting opportunity for this special brand inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

“We are honored to be part of the Fred Rogers legacy and thrilled to base our toys on this charming, new property that introduces children to the wonderful and valuable themes of resilience and optimism through catchy songs, meaningful dialogue, and outstanding puppetry,” said Amy Austin, VP Licensing and Marketing, Jada Toys.

“Donkey Hodie is a standout series, and we’re pleased to partner with Fred Rogers Productions to help grow the brand in creative ways,” said JJ Ahearn, Managing Director, Licensing Street. “We’re delighted to be working with Jada Toys to bring Donkey Hodie and her pals to life for preschoolers and look forward to introducing the toys and announcing additional new partners soon.”

The debut line of Donkey Hodie toys from Jada Toys will include figures, plush, playsets, vehicles, dolls and doll accessories, electronic learning aids, and musical toys.

Inspired by the funny, quirky side of children’s television pioneer Fred Rogers, Donkey Hodie is set in the whimsical land of Someplace Else. The imaginative puppet series follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, an enthusiastic and charming go-getter who takes on each day with curiosity, resilience, and sincerity, and her pals: Purple Panda, her loyal and empathetic best friend who wears his big heart on his sleeve; Duck Duck, a practical, quick- witted young mallard who loves to figure things out; and Bob Dog, an energetic and eager canine who is always ready to fetch a ball or boogie to music.

The social-emotional series is designed to empower children ages 3-5 to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, to work hard and persevere in the face of failure, to be resourceful and discover they can solve problems on their own—and to laugh themselves silly along the way.

During the first 20 days of its May premiere, Donkey Hodie content generated 32.6 million streams, the most for any PBS KIDS series launch in the past five years. On-air, the series posted the highest Kids 2-8 ratings and reach of any PBS KIDS series during its premiere week, reaching 2.7 million TV viewers.*

Donkey Hodie is created by Adam Rudman and David Rudman, co-founders of Spiffy Pictures, and developed by Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer of Fred Rogers Productions. Executive producers are Ellen Doherty, Adam Rudman, and David Rudman.

About Jada Toys
Jada Toys is a privately held leading toy manufacturer. Founded in 1999, Jada has developed a worldwide presence at retail. Their strong focus on pop, trend, and car culture has grown their portfolio from die-cast vehicles and radio control to include collectible and action figures, dolls, preschool toys, and more. Partnering with best-in-class entertainment studios allows collaboration that has resulted in extensive lines of licensed product that appeals to collectors, kids, and families. Proprietary lines accompany the licensed product to round out Jada Toys' offerings. Jada Toy's is the US based division of the Simba Dickie Group. Visit Jada Toys at jadatoys.com

About Licensing Street, LLC
Licensing Street, LLC, is a NY-based licensing and consulting firm whose experience includes work on some of the most successful and beloved entertainment properties of all-time. The firm specializes in strategically developing licensed properties across all retail channels. www.LicensingStreet.com

About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

###

Press contacts:
Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions)

Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

*Source: Nielsen NPOWER L+7, 5/3-5/9/2021, R&F, Std wk unif, 1+ min.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work on Through the Woods.
I’m a city kid who fell in love with the natural world as a young adult. My career has included teaching math and science in NYC public schools (my hometown), leading environmental non-profit work in Pittsburgh parks (my current town), and trying to learn as much as I can about the more-than-human world and how we might engage children, youth, and families that live in cities in outdoor activities.

I was working as the Director of Education at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy when I was approached to be part of the team working on Through the Woods. Although I had never worked on a television program, I was thrilled to be part of this project because I knew it was a chance to reach even more families with the kinds of ideas and experiences we provided at the Frick Environmental Center.

My personal mission has long been to offer people opportunities to find beauty and wonder in nearby nature, and then to steward and care for the land and waters that surround us, just as the natural world cares for us. Through the Woods really reflects these ideals, which is why I was so excited to work on this.

What was your favorite television show growing up?
I was a huge fan of Fraggle Rock and Star Trek as a child, and I also spent countless hours in my teenage years watching videos on the new and exciting MTV.

What went into your role for an episode of Through the Woods?
I worked with the team to brainstorm what kind of backyard adventures might be possible for Rider and Wolfie and how they might interact with the plants and animals they discovered in wondrous and ethical ways. After the team developed scripts and visuals, I then came back in to review them and provide feedback. As a trained botanist, naturalist, and environmental educator, it mattered to me that the plants and animals were depicted realistically and that Rider and Wolfie could connect with them in ways that were playful, curious, and also careful. I was so impressed with the writers’ and animators’ willingness to attend to details that would make the show realistic and educational.

What is your favorite episode of Through the Woods?
They are all so beautiful, but if I have to pick one, I’d have to say, “A Froggy Day.” I like how Rider and Wolfie use all their senses to make observations about the frogs and how Grammie encourages Rider to use play and his imagination to help make sense of the frogs and their behaviors. But it’s hard to pick just one!

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love being outdoors—hiking, biking, and kayaking are some of my favorite forms of recreation. But you can also find me reading on the couch or baking a pie for some rest and relaxation. I also love cooking and eating a big meal with my family.

As the weather gets colder, what is your favorite autumn activity?
Definitely hiking, which I love to do in the fall and all winter long. Once the leaves drop on the deciduous trees, vistas open up and you can really see the landforms of Western Pennsylvania. I love thinking about geological time and being able to see the shape of the land reminds me that the world is always transforming, even if it is happening at a scale that can be difficult for us as humans to see.

Stream Through the Woods for free anytime on PBS KIDS.

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s entertainment company behind the well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, Peg + Cat, and new hit Donkey Hodie, has been awarded a $2.7 million multi-year funding grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for Alma’s Way, which launched October 4 on PBS KIDS. The grant covers a broad range of production, promotional, and educational engagement activities for the show, created by actor/writer Sonia Manzano.

Aimed at viewers ages 4-6, Alma’s Way follows 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl, who lives in the Bronx with her parents, Abuelo, and younger brother, Junior, as well as a diverse group of close-knit and loving friends, family, and community members. Each episode models self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy, while encouraging kids to generate and value their own ideas and questions. The series’ 40 half-hour episodes showcase different aspects of Latino culture through music, food, language, and more.

“CPB’s support has been instrumental in bringing Alma’s Way to viewers all across the country,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “The series is already deeply resonating with audiences as it helps young viewers to develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of perspectives of others all while they experience the vibrant world of the Bronx.”

“Fred Rogers was a pioneer in using public television to educate young children and help empower them to solve problems. Alma’s Way honors Fred’s legacy of inclusiveness by featuring diversity at all levels of production and is a wonderful continuation of his work,” said Debra Sanchez, CPB Senior Vice President of Education and Children’s Content. “We’re excited to support this work from Sonia Manzano, another pioneer who has played such an important role in the history of children’s content on public media.”

Alma's Way is created by Sonia Manzano, best known to generations of kids and families as "Maria" on Sesame Street, and produced by Fred Rogers Productions. Ellen Doherty and
Manzano are executive producers. Jorge Aguirre (Goldie & Bear) is head writer. The series is animated by Pipeline Studios (Elinor Wonders Why).

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook, and LinkedIn and subscribe for email updates.

About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

#   #   #

Press contacts:
Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions) Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com