Crosscurrents

Today we'll meet the Haitian pastor trying to advise his flock in these uncertain times. Then Oakland's first Haitian restaurant serves up some hearty, braised goodness. And, a multicultural choir comes together to sing classical Arabic music.

Pastor Stevenson Noel heads a community church in the North Bay, and estimates about 5000 Haitians living in the Bay Area. He says his congregation is living in fear and confusion.

The Bay Area is home to thousands of Haitians. In this segment of our Diaspora stories, Crosscurrents host, Hana Baba went to visit one whose restaurant was  named one of the tastiest restaurants in the Bay Area by the SF Chronicle.

The Arabic music ensemble Aswat is based in the city and plays classical Arab standards in concerts throughout the Bay Area. But you don't have to know the language to participate.Non-Arabic speaking Americans make up half of the choir members and musicians, and that's part of the mission: to spread a love for Arabic music that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Decades after a traumatic childhood - the host of Uncuffed finally gets to ask his mother a question. Then, we'll hear from women in prison on cargiving from the inside. 

In the last year, Bay Area unhoused communities have faced an increase in forced displacement. Today, we hear directly from people caught up in Oakland's sweeps and how San Francisco officials are changing policies for those that live in recreational vehicles. Then, how the banjo is being reclaimed by Black musicians.

Today, we hear directly from people caught up in Oakland's sweeps. 

How San Francisco officials are changing policies for those that live in recreational vehicles.

Folk Music & Beyond host JoAnn Mar spoke with Dr. Angela Wellman and Hannah Mayree, two Bay Area musicians and educators who are part of the current effort to encourage more African Americans to take up the banjo and reconnect with the early American roots music of their ancestors.

Today, three generations of local leaders share their experience of transitioning. Then, we celebrate Bay Area public transit. And, writers bring us some lyrical non-fiction in a collection from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour.

Three generations of Trans leaders share their experience of transitioning and finding community in a changing San Francisco.

Public transportation in the Bay is a bit of a jumbled web of buses, streetcars, ferries, and trains. But for fans of transit there's a clear unified love.

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today, examples of the many worlds nonfiction writing can explore. 

This weekend The Mission will be alive with spoken word and stories. It's the return of the Flor Y Canto Literary Festival! Then, a poem about taking the bold step… to be vulnerable. 

Sights + Sounds brings you a peek into the upcoming Flor Y Canto Literary Festival in San Francisco' Mission District.

Uncuffed Producer Jeremy Strain reads a poem about vulnerability and breaking the mask of masculinity. Check out more from Uncuffed here!

Today on episode 3 of Bounce: Rikki's! The Bay Area's first women's sports bar. Then, we remember a legendary bar in San Francisco that was a home to the queer community.

Today, the ongoing wait for high speed rail. Then, a riotous night of comedy and radical joy with Queer Power Hour live! And, writers on the human relationship with nature.

We take a tour of a subterranean space under the Salesforce Transit Center to get a sense of what a transit mega-project feels like from the inside.

Last week, KALW hosted a wild night of fun and laughter at our event space in Downtown San Francisco. It was a live episode of our show, Queer Power Hour, and the theme was “Pride, Protest, & Punchlines.” In this excerpt we bring you the comedic stylings of Natasha Muse.

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we're featuring stories that explore nature, and the way people are part of it. 

Today, what Medicaid access means in one local community. Then, impacts of climate change through short stories. And, a poem to remind us of the Bay/LA connection. 

One student reporter looked to a San Jose community health center to find out what Medicaid cuts would mean for them. 

Here's a segment from our series, Bay Poets. This one reminds us how Bay Area communities are intertwined with our family and friends in Los Angeles. Poet soledad con carne gives us a vision in the form of a poem with their piece “Pochequis Christ.” 

Here's an episode of BOOK IT. Our author interview series hosted by KALW's Angie Coiro. Today, we're bringing you one of our favorite episodes. In it, Nina Schuyler discusses her debut book, “In This Ravishing World.” It's a collection of interconnected short stories about the personal impacts of climate change. 

Today, a conversation with the host of “Booked and Beautiful.” Then, we paddle out with the Queer Surf Collective. And, authors share readings from their memoirs. 

"Booked & Beautiful" is a  talk show at the San Francisco Main Public Library. The show features on-stage conversations with influencers from the local LGBTQ+ community with live performances and audience participation. Artist SNJV is the host. He is known for combining dance, drag, culture and drama to his performances. 

(A Crosscurrents Replay!) Bay Area beaches are nestled into the city and along cliff sides. Northern California waves are cold and wild. Two Bay Area surfers are taking hold of that wildness and the possibilities it opens up. 

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we're featuring stories that come from lived experience. 

Today, Bay Area advocates are responding to increased threats to queer rights. An update on the A's troubled move to Las Vegas. And, a poem on speaking up in hard times. 

Our friend's at KALW's State Of The Bay program spent some time discussing the ongoing fight for LGBTQ plus equality. The conversation was hosted by Eric Jansen, and included Tom Temprano, Managing Director of Equality California, and Shelby Chestnut, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center.

A poem about speaking up, in times when doing so feels harder than ever. Here's Camellia Boutros reading an excerpt of her piece, “A Silent Poem بروح” 

We're two months into the regular season of Major League Baseball and the team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics is having a hard time winning games or drawing fans at their temporary minor league stadium. 

On Repeat is a mini-pod for music discovery. In it, Tshego talks to KALW music programmers about the songs they can't stop listening to. In this episode we hear from Morgan Davis, the coordinator of KALW Presents. 

Today, we attend a class where students use fruit to learn how to give abortions. Then, a three decade fundraising tradition comes to an end. We go on the road with the very last AIDS LifeCycle ride.

While the fall of Roe V. Wade reawakened the abortion debate, training providers has been complicated for decades. Today, we go to one of the remaining training programs to learn how providers are safeguarding reproductive healthcare.

After 31 years, the AIDS LifeCycle is taking it's final ride. We hear from KALW's Director of Operations & Strategic Growth, Jon Carroll, about why he's taking part, and what the ride has meant to him. 

Now, a poem about how we win by showing up, and standing with one another. Here's Japanese-American poet, Lauren Ito, reading her poem, 'Arrival as We.'

Everyone could use a little help from their friends… even Shakespeare! Today, Actor Fred Pitts from “The Book of Will.” Then, middle school kids talk to a billionaire. And, short stories that really pack a punch. It's a collection from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour.

William Shakespeare is perhaps the world's most famous writer. But, he might not have been remembered at all without his friends. After his death in 1616, Shakespeare's friends preserved his work, immortalizing his plays and sonnets, and his reputation. This is what the play, “The Book of Will” is all about. And Fred Pitts portrays one of those friends. 

Today, we bring you an excerpt of a live event put on by KALW. It's a conversation between former CEO of Gap Inc., Bob Fisher and Peer Talk, a youth leadership and civic engagement program created by 7th grade students at Willie Brown Middle School. 

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we're featuring collections of short stories that say a lot in fewer words.