Year: 2022

Posted on by Primary Administrator

Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

I’m a third generation New Yorker, born and raised in Flushing, Queens. I grew up within a one-mile radius of most of my extended family, so there was a lot of loud, rambunctious family time. But being with them is where I learned about the importance and impact of storytelling and shared experiences. Nothing can silence a dinner of 18 like a good story that will make you cry or laugh until your stomach hurts.

My love of children’s television started when I saw my younger cousins pretending to be their favorite characters. Watching them explore the world through fantasy led me to a Master’s Degree in Child Development. And from there I got a job as the Research and Executive Assistant for the show Dora the Explorer. The first time I went to on-site story testing and witnessed a preschooler dance and sing along with the screen, I knew I was exactly where I belonged.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I grew up with one tv in the house and no cable. Being the youngest, I watched whatever anyone else was watching. My favorites ranged from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to MacGyver (the original version), but the show that stood out the most was Captain Planet. At the time, there wasn’t another animated series that had a character that looked like me, so I studied Gi’s every move and lived fantastically through her adventures of saving the planet. Of course, whenever my friends and I would play Planeteers, I always insisted on being “Water!”

Describe your role on Alma’s Way.

As the Story Editor, I get to spend my day diving into the amazing mind and life of Alma and all the characters that make up her world! One of the most fun parts of my job is getting to listen to the stories of Creator/EP, Sonia Manzano. Many of our story ideas and episodic themes come from experiences in Sonia’s actual life! I also work closely with our Head Writer/Co-EP, Jorge Aguirre, and the wonderful and talented writers that help tell Alma’s stories. Together we come up with story ideas, which then get written into scripts. In my role, I make sure every detail stays true to Sonia’s vision and to the voice and world of Alma.

What is your favorite episode of Alma’s Way?

This is a hard one! There’s something in every story that makes me smile and laugh. If I haaave to choose…the stories that make New York City come to life and make the city feel like its own character in the series are so special to me. Stories like “Lost in the Bronx” and “Singing on the 6 Train” showcase so many of the things I love about New York City, and they make me excited to share Alma’s experience of growing up in the Bronx with kids everywhere.

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

I will take any opportunity I can to be outdoors. I love to camp, hike, climb, and snowboard. If it involves trees, water, mountains, or fresh air – I’m in! Recently, I also started to play tennis and have been taking advantage of the public courts in my neighborhood.

Posted on by Primary Administrator

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, and Peg + Cat as well as the newest hits, Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way, has named Aleya Crable Jennings Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Individual Giving. Jennings, who reports to company President and CEO Paul Siefken, will direct corporate and individual fundraising efforts to help Fred Rogers Productions continue to realize its education and social missions.

“Aleya is an accomplished professional with extensive experience orchestrating multifaceted campaigns and innovative solutions for clients,” said Siefken. “I’m looking forward to working with her to build upon our relationships with corporate sponsors and donors in support of our work for children and families.”

“I’m so excited to be part of the ‘Neighborhood,’” said Jennings. “I’ve long admired Fred Rogers Productions for its quality programming that has been such an important part of children’s lives for generations. I’m thrilled to join the organization and help ensure that its programming and community outreach initiatives continue to serve kids and families everywhere.”

In her new role, Jennings is responsible for both corporate sponsorships and individual giving programs. She will assist Siefken in developing and implementing a comprehensive corporate sponsorship strategy as well as cultivate and manage ongoing donor relationships, among other duties.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Jennings was Associate Vice President, Group Account Director at Gatesman, a fully integrated, independent marketing communications agency. Before that, she was a senior marketing specialist at PNC, a financial services company. The award-winning Pittsburgh resident was among the 2021 40 Under 40 by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP), an organization that aims to make Pittsburgh a dynamic and diverse community; and she was inducted into the 2019 40 Under 40 Who’s Next: Communicators class by Pittsburgh newsletter The Incline.

Jennings holds a Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from DePaul University, Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Roosevelt University, and Bachelor of Science in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

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 Primary Administrator

Tell us about yourself and how your career led you to work in children’s television.

While in Ireland this past October, I reconnected with a cousin I hadn't seen in nearly a decade. Sometime between big belly laughs he composed himself and asked, "What do you do now anyway?"

"I work in children's television."

"Of course you do," he said to me, hot off the heels of my answer. This is the most common response. Growing up my interests were disciplines in the arts and humanities. I knew a lot of my favorite shows when I was a kid were made in Toronto (or Canada), so I sensed it was a possible career path, but didn't know how to go about it. After my post-secondary pursuits, then a few jobs after that, it dawned on me that animation was where I should be. My first month at a studio, a producer said to me, "You've found your people," and I'd say she was right.

What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

I don't think I ever had just one, but I was glued to YTV and MuchMusic as a youngster. I have a fondness for the spooky kids' shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark? or Goosebumps, but Sailor Moon was incredibly influential. I still think of myself as an honorary meatball head!

Describe your role on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

As the production manager, I am a schedule artist and information mover. It is my job and the job of my production coordinators to support the artists, and ensure that the artists in each department have what they need when they need it.

What is your favorite episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?

Back when I was in grade one, we had one supply teacher show up with a guitar, which turned into a very fun day of sing-alongs. When I saw Mr. Malik start a dance circle for the kids in “Daniel’s Substitute Teacher,” I felt like I was transported back to sitting on the mat singing along to a guitar.

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

My big fandom is RuPaul’s Drag Race, which I watch like other people watch sports. Prior to COVID, I was a volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario, but since lockdowns began in 2020, I've taken to abstract painting to fill that creative void. Reading is a big pastime for me. I have a deep respect for long-form journalism, but also magical realism. Though, as a Pisces, I can happily daydream to pass the time.

Watch Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood daily on PBS KIDS or stream anytime at pbskids.org/video.