We conducted about 2500 half-hour interviews by early 2022, hosting elected officials from all political persuasions, legislators, members of the judiciary, academics, authors, artists, psychologists and therapists, athletes, and many other notables who shared their knowledge and expertise with viewers. There were also several special shows of varying length, as well as hosted political debates. The popular program is now viewed nationwide on this website.
The program was co-produced by Alan Miller and Sharon Miller until 2022. In early 2022, Mr. Steve Francisco, a long-time host in our show became a co-producer, and Alan is transitioning to be a Co-Producer Emeritus, now pursuing the publication of his novel “Holding Court”.
STEVE FRANCISCO worked for many years as a Congressional staffer in Washington and also worked in labor, politics, the nonprofit sector, and in academia as an adjunct professor at Hamline University. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, he also worked as a flight attendant and trainer for Sun Country Airlines. Steve was previously a host in our program and in 2022, he returned as a co-producer and host of “Access to Democracy.” He enjoys interviewing many diverse guests who contribute to our community. Steve and his wife, Bonnie, live in Eagan.
Close supervision of the two-legged producers is generously and lovingly wielded by Katie Miller
On June 21, we lost a giant with the passing of our longtime friend, Access to Democracy program sponsor, Dr. Charles Cruthfield III.
A medical giant and a pillar of the community, Dr. Crutchfield, maintained a practice in Eagan, and was unique in treating every patient individually, no matter how much time that required.
The son of a mother who was the first black graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, and a physician father who delivered over 10,000 children during his medical career, Charles was taken from us too early at age 62 after a long battle with cancer.
Charles Crutchfield was always upbeat, jovial, and generous to all. He was one of the top dermatologists in the nation.
A pillar of the Minnesota Black Community, a Mayo educated physician and professor at two medical schools, he was also the team dermatologist to virtually all of Minnesota’s professional sports teams, and active in more civic and charitable organizations than one can mention.
Dr. Crutchfield published hundreds of articles on health related matters and sickle-cell anemia, was among those responsible for the definitive book on the history of the Black Community of Minnesota, and had the unique capacity to leave a person with a better feeling because of his upbeat personality.
Our hearts go out to his family; he will be forever in our memories, as one of life’s irreplaceable individuals.
Our Webmaster Avi Meshar (of A W Meshar & Associates) lends his expertise to this project and its various offshoots, enabling us to present this valuable service to the public.
Don’t have cable TV? You are not a resident of Burnsville, MN or Eagan, MN? No Problem! You can watch our shows right on our webpage or on our Youtube Channel!
Some of Our Hosts
BILL RAKER recently retired as President and CEO of Firefly Credit Union, is internationally recognized as a leader in the credit union and financial world. Building Firefly to ten locations through the Twin Cities, he quadrupled its net worth to well over a billion dollars. He is widely sought as a speaker and panel member in the financial world.
HON. PAUL ANDERSON served with distinction for almost two decades on the MN Supreme Court until he retired in 2013, after years of service on the Court of Appeals. He is widely sought for speaking engagements and conferences, and is a nationally known and respected jurist.
CHRIS CRUTCHFIELD is an attorney, a Deputy Director of Community Relations at Ramsey County Community Corrections, a professor of Litigation at Inver Hill Community College. Former partner at Capitol Heights Law Group. Chris has been involved in outdoor education since the mid 1980’s and in the past 25 years, directed Underground Railroad re-enactments and is a board member of the Osprey Wilds Environmental Education Center and facilitates a number of outdoor youth programs and camps each year.
RICK KING is a visionary board member and retired senior executive, with extensive technology and cyber security expertise in rapidly changing environments. Innovative strategist with extensive experience in secure digital transformation, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate integrations. He serves on the board of directors of Huntington Bancshares, American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio and chairs the Minnesota’s Metropolitan Airports Commission as well as the Technology Advisory Council for the State of MN.
DR. RICHARD LOGAN who was a very popular professor at the University of Wisconsin, spent a good deal of time in Africa during his teaching days. He is now retired from academia, is an author of note, and the son and grandson of Methodist Ministers. He is the international President of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, and past President of Or Emet, the Minnesota chapter of that organization.
DON SHELBY is a multiple Peabody and Emmy award winner, and one of the most respected and popular media personalities in the Midwest.
DANE SMITH was one of the area’s best known journalists with both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, until he moved on to become the President of Growth and Justice, a progressive think-tank. Recently retired, he continues to serve as the President Emeritus of that organization.
