While many people have heard of South Florida PBS, not many know about its extraordinary leader and visionary, Dolores Fernandez Alonso.
Fernandez Alonso is not only the first woman President and CEO of South Florida PBS, but she was also responsible for the merger of WPBT and WXEL into the SFPBS fold.
There is little self-interest in this highly accomplished woman who is both introspective and infinitely driven to serve outward. Her goals are dreams that makeup Hollywood cinema but rarely seen in real time.
But this woman of knowledge, compassion, and intellect knows what will help make a better society and better-functioning citizens. It has always been her mission and her guiding principle.
“What endlessly motivates me is finding ways to build bridges, facilitate understanding, and bring our entire South Florida community together through education, illumination, and inspiration,” said Fernandez Alonso, who has risen through the ranks of TV at lightning speed.
Her love of public television is woven throughout her life and has left an indelible mark on what is possible for the future of public television, most notably at SFPBS.
As a youngster, Fernandez Alonso had an insatiable desire to learn as much as possible about the universe and its endless possibilities.
“Some of my fondest childhood memories are cozying up next to my mom, mesmerized by the masterful storytelling of Masterpiece Theater and programs like Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Though she was young at the time, these programs sparked an enduring appreciation for educational media’s power to inspire young people like herself.
Little did she know (at that time) that she would someday influence and expand the boundaries of this medium.
And she has – in a big way.
They launched a 24/7 Health Channel and a new interactive series that brings medical experts directly to you called “Ask the Doc: No Appointment Needed.” You can watch it on weekdays on their Health Channel or stream it on AllHealthGo’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
That is the beauty of a fearless leader who does not see boundaries, only new terrain to explore and inhabit. Part of this new media landscape is their “Neuroarts Collaborative.” The results are a series of short artistic experiences woven into their regular programming. The reason is simply that the arts improve the health and well-being of those who engage in them.
On June 3, the Health Channel will host a town hall to explore ‘The Healing Power of Art’ through music, dance, and painting. This artistic pursuit has been shown to change brain chemistry and promote healing. It’s just one of the myriad passions that Fernandez Alonso brings to viewers of all ages and socioeconomic levels.
“Our goal is for SFPBS to become a leader in democratizing the transformative powers of Neuroarts for all. Whether it is trying a new musical activity, calming drawing exercise, or a guided movement practice, they blend education, inspiration and participatory artistic expression to the viewing experience of everyone.”
Another new initiative South Florida PBS has launched is an ‘AI for Seniors’ educational series. “Our goal is to de-mystify cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence and ensure our senior community has the knowledge and skills to understand and harness its potential.”
In October, they’re launching the “Da Vinci: Genius experience” just before the premiere of Ken Burns’ documentary Leonardo Da Vinci. This will enable viewers to dive into Da Vinci’s mind and discover how his ideas came to life.
If all this mind-expanding activity astounds you, try reading Fernandez Alonso’s biography. It is filtered with accomplishments that would make world leaders stand up and take note. Her programming savvy has resulted in Emmy award-winning content and educational apps. She also spearheaded their NEXTGEN TV and immersive media programming.
Under Fernandez Alonso’s leadership they are expanding their studios in Palm Beach County to include an Arts and Cultural Center with an immersive Igloo for experiential learning.
These accomplishments were not spur-of-the-moment decisions but the result of Fernandez Alonso’s lifelong passion for learning and
sharing this bounty with all, especially children and the underserved.
“I believe supporting and elevating public television stations is a priority because of the vital role they play in an era of media consolidation and eroding local broadcasting. We are civic anchors, fostering discussions on critical issues and giving a platform to diverse voices that may get drowned out on commercial TV.”
According to Fernandez Alonso Public TV is one of the last remaining local media sources in many communities offering commercial-free educational content tailored to specific interests and needs.
Her message and motivation is an altruistic one.
“As the CEO of South Florida PBS, my core mission was to strengthen and expand our educational and cultural programming and to better serve the diverse South Florida communities. I also want to use this platform to inspire and uplift everyone in our organization – and the community.
She has done just that.
Kudos to leaders who inspire and uplift. Dolores Fernandez
Alonso is a shining example of golden leadership in an often jaded terrain. We applaud her.
