Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith is a Minneapolis-based media leader, filmmaker, photographer, producer, and entrepreneur whose work connects storytelling, community access, and public media service. As founder and CEO of BFRESH Productions, she built a media practice focused on people-first narratives before moving into stewardship of Minneapolis public access television.

In 2020, BFRESH Productions was selected as the new steward of public access television in Minneapolis and launched SPEAK MPLS. Under Rebecca’s leadership, SPEAK MPLS has developed as a member-powered community media center with two studios, equipment access, classes, media labs, youth programming, public access channels, and 24/7 online streaming. The organization’s work reflects a shift from a cable-channel-only model toward a broader community media center built around training, access, storytelling, and civic connection.

Rebecca’s leadership carries forward the public access belief that people should have the tools and platform to speak in their own voices. Through SPEAK MPLS, that work includes open public access channels, member-created programming, youth media through RYSE MPLS, civic storytelling through ELECT MPLS, cultural storytelling through AMPLIFY MPLS, and community-centered projects that help Minneapolis residents see themselves and their city represented in local media.