Democracy and Z

Kathrine Nero Chances are within the last few days you've seen an image or a video you weren't quite sure was real. Is it artificial intelligence? A deepfake? Asking those questions is the first step. We've entered the era of synthetic truth, where deepfakes and AI-generated content are muddying the waters between fact and fiction. And while this may sound like the plot of a Black Mirror episode, it's a very real, very current problem. The question now is: Can journalism — especially local journalism — keep up? What Is a Deepfake, anyway? Let's back up. A deepfake is video or audio that has been digitally manipulated to make someone appear to say or do something they didn't. Thanks to powerful AI tools, creating these fakes no longer requires Hollywood-level tech or expertise. Anyone with the right app and enough motivation can generate a convincing fake in minutes. In January 2024, a deepfake robocall impersonating Joe Biden made national news. It urged voters in New Hampshire to “stay home” from the primary. The voice sounded like him. The timing was perfect. The goal? Suppress votes through confusion. That wasn't a fringe stunt. It was a glimpse of what's coming. Now imagine that kind of tactic at a local level — a fake video of aCincinnati mayoral candidate making a controversial statement days before an election. Or a doctored news clip suggesting a city council member said something offensive. Without careful scrutiny and fast correction, damage like that could spread before anyone knows it's fake. Journalism vs. Generative Chaos Here's the good news: Journalists are adapting. Some are learning forensic media skills, using tools to spot the tiny glitches and metadata trails that expose a deepfake. Others are working with AI in a responsible way, using it to transcribe meetings faster or analyze public records more efficiently, so they can spend more time investigating. But the real power lies in journalistic skepticism. The best reporters question everything. They verify, re-verify, and then explain what they've found in clear, plain language. This is especially true for local journalists, who know their communities and can spot when something doesn't add up. They're the ones who know how a council member speaks, or whether a certain policy proposal sounds like something a candidate would say. That context is everything. The Role of the Public: Don't Just Consume — Think But this isn't just the responsibility of journalists alone. Healthy skepticism can stop misinformation from spreading, and that's on all of us. As traditional media has morphed into social media, our consumption can't be blind any more. We need to ask questions and verify if something doesn't quite feel right. Bottom line: we have to take responsibility as consumers of information. Don't assume a video is real because it looks real. Don't trust a screenshot just because it came from a friend. Do you know where they got it? Is it being reported anywhere else? If not, why? Journalists can't fight this alone. Democracy, after all, depends on a well-informed public. We have the tools right there in the palm of our hand. The very device that brings us sometimes questionable information is also the solution to figuring out if that information is truthful. And if we don't support reporters — by reading, subscribing, sharing, and holding them accountable — the deepfakes will win. Not because they're perfect. But because we stopped asking whether they were real in the first place. So the next time you see something shocking, ask, “Has anyone credible reported this?” If not, stop before you share. The truth - and our democracy - might just depend on it.

Mr. Aaron Parker Listen below to hear Aiken high school students discuss justice and their jobs in environmental justice from this part summer. When we consider what “Democracy and Me” can mean, we must consider the idea of justice. Over the next few weeks, the Agriculture Career Tech Pathway Students and Community Partners of Aiken New Tech High School in the Cincinnati Public Schools will be contributing their perspective and voice on how they are taking action on issues of social justice, environmental justice, heath justice, financial justice, and food justice (sovereignty). Aiken New Tech High School is a grades 7-12 college and career preparatory high school. The Agriculture Career Tech Pathway is a vocational series of classes focusing on Agribusiness and Production that includes: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Animal and Plant Science; Greenhouse and Nursery Management; and Global Economics and Food Markets. Students take part in the 3-Circle Model of Agriculture that is: 1. classroom as an interactive laboratory,, 2. Supervised Agricultural Experiences / Work-Based Learning, 3. Participation in Future Farmers of America. Situated on 61 acres of land, our Agriculture Campus includes a production farm of 35-raised beds, mushroom growing lab, coffee roasterie, 2 high tunnels, a greenhouse, orchard, 4 alpacas, 6 goats, 1 Zebu steer, and a collection of rabbits, quail, ducks, chickens, and Guinea fowl. Completing the Agriculture Campus are an on-campus forest and prairie as well as the adjoining Cincinnati Parks Preserve of Greeno Woods that supports habitat for wildlife. It is within Aiken's agriculture program that students are provided opportunities to take action on issues of social, environmental, health, financial, and food justice. The food we grow is to provide food security for the students and community members needing local, fresh, and nutritious food. Students source seed, plant, care for, harvest, and distribute food that is culturally valued by our community, so it is valued. Eggs hatched by students of quail, chicken, duck, and Guinea fowl are a source of protein so frequently missing from growing and active adolescent diets. The expertise and resources of the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, La Soupe, and the Society of St. Andrew - Ohio helps ensure food sovereignty for all. Financial security is achieved through students who perform and get paid for work-based learning during and after school as well as during the summer. Good paying Green jobs that are centered around sustainability and technical skill attainment provide resume building, employment skills, and income that is essential for both students and the families that money assists. Work-based learning occurs with the interest and support of Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Co-op Cincy, Cancer Justice Network, La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie, and Hamilton County Youth Employment. Health is improved through the mental wellness of having an outdoor classroom as well as access to the healthy food from our Aiken Farm and the Health Fairs and Vaccination Clinics organized by our FFA Chapter. Taking care of one's health requires eating well, practicing mindfulness, being active, and knowing how to navigate a complex and sometimes difficult health care system which our FFA students help educate as Health Navigators with Cancer Justice Network. Care for the air we breathe, water we drink, and land we occupy is monitored for sustainability through stewardship and engagement of community partners for environmental justice with Green Teams of Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Environmental Protection Agency and Green Umbrella as a Regional Climate Collaborative. Social justice is the diversity, equity, and inclusion we seek through an urban agriculture pathway that is in need of capitalizing on resources as well as being able to give back the community through service and value through the telling of our stories at Maketank Inc. and the dedication to inclusivity in our Cincinnati Public Schools. Through a series of blog posts and podcasts we aim to draw your attention to the selfless action of care that is embodied in justice that is layered throughout our Aiken New Tech High School Agriculture Career Tech Pathway.  Students sharing their perspectives and voices will raise awareness and ignite a fire of action in you in which they are the spark.  For a preview of what you can expect to read, hear, and see on “Democracy and Me,” we encourage you to visit a few resources: Aiken New Tech High School: https://aikennewtech.cps-k12.org Aiken Agriculture Weekly Newsletters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pxceKYPKjjrHt6OkiBKM7UF3FbNhKDXA?usp=drive_link Aiken Agriculture Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AikenStudentGarden Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Agriculture and Environmental Systems: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Career-Tech/Career-Fields/Agricultural-and-Environmental-Systems Future Farmers of America: https://www.ffa.org Groundwork Ohio River Valley: https://www.groundworkorv.org Maketank Inc.: https://www.maketankinc.org Cancer Justice Network: https://www.cancerjusticenetwork.com Co-op Cincy: https://coopcincy.org Hamilton County Youth Employment: Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati: https://www.civicgardencenter.org La Soupe: https://www.lasoupe.org Society of St. Andrew - Ohio:

Dr. Nathan S. French A school field trip to Washington, D.C. is a formative rite of passage shared by many U.S. school students across the nation. Often, these are framed as “field trips.” Students may visit the White House, the U.S. Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Declaration of Independence (housed in the National Archive), the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, or the Smithsonian Museum – among others. For many students, this is the first time they will connect the histories of their textbooks to items, artifacts, and buildings that they can see and feel. For those arriving to Washington, D.C. by airplane or bus, the field trip might also seem like a road trip. Road trips, often involving movement across the U.S. from city-to-city and state-to-state are often framed as quintessential American experiences. Americans have taken road trips to follow their favorite bands, to move to universities and new jobs, to visit the hall of fame of their favorite professional or collegiate sport, or sites of family history. As Dr. Andrew Offenberger observes in our interview, road trips have helped American authors, like Kiowa poet N. Scott Momaday, make sense of their identities as Americans. What if, however, these field trips to Washington, D.C. and road trips across the country might amount to something else? What if we considered them to be pilgrimages? Would that change our understanding of them? For many Americans, the first word that comes to mind when they hear the word, “pilgrimage,” involves the pilgrims of Plymouth, a community of English Puritans who colonized territory in Massachusetts, at first through a treaty with the Wampanoag peoples, but eventually through their dispossession. For many American communities, the nature of pilgrimage remains a reminder of forced displacement, dispossession, and a loss of home and homeland. Pilgrimage, as a term, might also suggest a religious experience. There are multiple podcasts, blogs, and videos discussing the Camino de Santiago, a number of pilgrimage paths through northern Spain. Others might think of making a pilgrimage to the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim sacred spaces in Israel and Palestine often referred to as the “Holy Land” collectively – including the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (among others). Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad, is a classic example of this experience. Some make pilgrimage to Salem, Massachusetts each October. Others even debate whether the Crusades were a holy war or pilgrimage. American experiences of pilgrimage have led to substantial transformations in our national history and to our constitutional rights. Pilgrimage, as a movement across state, national, or cultural boundaries, has often been used by Americans to help them make sense of who they are, where they came from, and what it means, to them, to be “an American.” The word, “pilgrimage,” traces its etymology from the French, pèlerinage and from the Latin, pelegrines, with a general meaning of going through the fields or across lands as a foreigner. As a category used by anthropologists and sociologists in the study of religion, “pilgrimage” is often used as a much broader term, studying anything ranging from visits to Japanese Shinto shrines, the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj, “birthright” trips to Israel by American Jewish youth, and, yes, even trips to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee – the home of Elvis Presley. Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) defined pilgrimage as one of a number of rites of passage (i.e., a rite du passage) that involves pilgrims separating themselves from broader society, moving themselves into a place of transition, and then re-incorporating their transformed bodies and minds back into their home societies. That moment of transition, which van Gennep called “liminality,” was the moment when one would become something new – perhaps through initiation, ritual observation, or by pushing one's personal boundaries outside of one's ordinary experience. Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), a contemporary of Turner, argued that a pilgrimage helps us to provide a story within which we are able to orient ourselves in the world. Consider, for example, the role that a trip to Arlington National Cemetery or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier plays in a visit by a high school class to Washington, D.C. If framed and studied as a pilgrimage, Geertz's theory would suggest that a visit to these sites can be formative to an American's understanding of national history and, perhaps just as importantly, the visit will reinforce for Americans the importance of national service and remembrance of those who died in service to the defense of the United States. When we return from those school field trips to Washington, D.C., then, we do so with a new sense of who we are and where we fit into our shared American history. Among the many examples that we could cite from American history, two pilgrimages in particular – those of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X – provide instructive examples. Held three years after the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the 1957 “Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom,” led by Dr. King brought together thousands in order to, as he described it, “call upon all who love justice and dignity and liberty, who love their country, and who love mankind …. [to] renew our strength, communicate our unity, and rededicate our efforts, firmly but peaceably, to the attainment of freedom.” Posters for the event promised that it would “arouse the conscience of the nation.” Drawing upon themes from the Christian New Testament, including those related to agape – a love of one's friends and enemies – King's speech at the “Prayer Pilgrimage” brought national attention to his civil rights movement and established an essential foundation for his return to Washington, D.C. and his “I Have a Dream Speech,” six years later. In April 1964, Malcolm X departed to observe the Muslim pilgrimage ritual of Hajj in the city of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hajj is an obligation upon all Muslims, across the globe, and involves rituals meant to remind them of their responsibilities to God, to their fellow Muslims, and of their relationship to Ibrahim and Ismail (i.e., Abraham and Ishamel) as found in the Qur'an. Before his trip, Malcolm X had expressed skepticism about building broader ties to American civil rights groups. His experience on Hajj, he wrote, was transformational. "The holy city of Mecca had been the first time I had ever stood before the creator of all and felt like a complete human being,” he wrote, “People were hugging, they were embracing, they were of all complexions …. The feeling hit me that there really wasn't what he called a color problem, a conflict between racial identities here." His experience on Hajj was transformative. The result? Upon return to the United States, Malcolm X pledged to work with anyone – regardless of faith and race – who would work to change civil rights in the United States. His experiences continue to resonate with Americans. These are but two stories that contribute to American pilgrimage experiences. Today, Americans go on pilgrimages to the Ganges in India, to Masada in Israel, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and to Bethlehem in Palestine, and to cities along the Trail of Tears and along the migration of the Latter-Day Saints church westward. Yet, they also go on pilgrimages and road trips to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, to the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown, to the national parks, and to sites of family and community importance. In these travels, they step outside of the ordinary and, in encountering the diversities of the U.S., sometimes experience the extraordinary changing themselves, and the country, in the process. * * * Questions for Class Discussion What is a “pilgrimage”? What is a road trip? Are they similar? Different? Why? Must a pilgrimage only be religious or spiritual? Why or why not? How has movement – from city to city, or place to place, or around the world – changed U.S. history and the self-understanding of Americans? What if those movements had never occurred? How would the U.S. be different? Have you been on a pilgrimage? Have members of your family? How has it changed your sense of self? How did it change that of your family members? If you were to design a pilgrimage, what would it be? Where would it take place? Would it involve special rituals or types of dress? Why? What would the purpose of your pilgrimage be? How do other communities understand their pilgrimages? Do other cultures have “road trips” like the United States? Additional Sources: Ohio History and Pilgrimage Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, Ohio History Connection (link). National Geographic Society, “Intriguing Interactions [Hopewell],” Grades 9-12 (link) Documentary Podcasts & Films “In the Light of Reverence,” 2001 (link) An examination of Lakota, Hopi, and Wintu ties to and continued usages of their homelands and a question of how movement through land may be considered sacred by some and profane by others. Melvin Bragg, “Medieval Pilgrimage,” BBC: In our Time, February 2021 (link) Bruce Feiler: Sacred Journeys (Pilgrimage). PBS Films (link) along with educator resources (link). The American Pilgrimage Project. Berkley Center, Georgetown University (link). Arranged by StoryCorps, a collection of video and audio interviews with Americans of diverse backgrounds discussing their religious and spiritual identities and their intersections with American life. Dave Whitson, “The Camino Podcast,” (link) on Spotify (link), Apple (link) A collection of interviews with those of varying faiths and spiritualities discussing pilgrimage experiences. Popular Media & Websites “Dreamland: American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century,” Shapell (link) A curated digital museum gallery cataloguing American experiences of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine. LaPier, Rosalyn R. “How Standing Rock Became a Site of Pilgrimage.” The Conversation, December 7, 2016 (link). Talamo, Lex. Pilgrimage for the Soul. South Dakota Magazine, May/June 2019. (link). Books Grades K-6 Murdoch, Catherine Gilbert. The Book of Boy. New York: Harper Collins, 2020 (link). Wolk, Lauren. Beyond the Bright Sea. New York: Puffin Books, 2018 (link). Grades 7-12 Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. New York: Penguin Books, 2003 (link). Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992 (link). Melville, Herman. Clarel: A Poem and Pilgrimage in the Holy Land. New York: Library of America, n.d. (link). Murray, Pauli. Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage. New York: Liveright, 1987 (link). Reader, Ian. Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015 (link). Twain, Mark. The Innocents Abroad. New York: Modern Library, 2003 (link). Scholarship Bell, Catherine. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Bloechl, Jeffrey, and André Brouillette, eds. Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Wayfarers, and Guides. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2022. Frey, Nancy Louise Louise. Pilgrim Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago, Journeys Along an Ancient Way in Modern Spain. First Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. Lévi-Strauss, Claude Patterson, Sara M., “Traveling Zions: Pilgrimage in Modern Mormonism,” in Pioneers in the Attic: Place and Memory along the Mormon Trail. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020 (link). Pazos, Antón. Redefining Pilgrimage: New Perspectives on Historical and Contemporary Pilgrimages. London: Routledge, 2014 (link). Reader, Ian. Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015 (link). Van Gennep, Arnold. The Rites of Passage. Translated by Monika B. Vizedom and Gabrielle L. Caffee. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1960 (link)

The return of Democracy & Z! Democracy and Me intern, Yoshie, was joined by Clark Montessori Senior, Nevaeh in a discussion on Women's History Month, Black History Month, and women of color who made a difference. Be sure to catch the 2nd half of the conversation next week!

Less bugs, more microphones—this is how we like to commune with the elements here at D&Z. Cincinnati Public Radio's first-ever PodCamp brought together students from across the region on a recent Sunday afternoon to brainstorm, develop, and record their own mini-podcasts, with inspiration and tech help from some creative pros. Here's what the three teams came up with... and then some. Introduction: Jordan Polk, of Elementz, recent alumnus of Democracy & Me and the University of Cincinnati Part 1: Lost in Transition Real talk about what these Covid school years have done to us, with Norah Zellen and Annabelle Freeman of Nagel Middle School; Emmalee Brammer of North Adams H.S., and Olivia Kelly of Winton Woods H.S. Content advisory: This segment contains references to self-harm, suicide, vaping, and drug use. Part 2: #Overrated Pawan Rai of Aiken New Tech H.S. and Jonathan Moody of Walnut Hills H.S. explain why that movie (which they may or may not have seen) is not as good as you think it is. Also: geometry class. Too many numbers. Part 3: Mind Your Business The real problem is that too many people (and some entire countries) are paying attention to all the wrong things. With Sydnie Barrett of Walnut Hills H.S., and Syriene Djakata and Joyeuse Muhorakeye of Aiken H.S. Part 4: Playback Circle Time We came, we played, we podded: PodCampers and staff work the picket line and reflect on the day's lessons. Incidental audio featuring the students with D&Z producer Julie Coppens, CET-TV education producer Mark Lammers, guest artists Candice Handy of Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., Jordan Polk of Elementz, and Harrison Hensley and Ellyn Broderick of ComedySportz OTR. Special thanks to Mark, Kristen Teter and all our friends at CET-TV for co-hosting, WVXU audio engineer Derrick Smith for working the board, “Start Hear” podcast producer Tripp Eldredge for giving us the lowdown, and to Myles Bess of KQED's “Above the Noise” for an awesome pep talk. Episode recorded at WVXU and CET-TV on May 1, 2022

With Earth Day on the horizon (April 22), we go deep into our own connections with nature, health and the environment. We consider the past—Earth Day itself goes all the way back to 1970—and the present, with the Biden Administration's once-ambitious ecology agenda currently on ice*, while scientists' climate-change projections only heating up. For many of us in Gen Z, the future is scary: “It's like a time limit on our lives,” says Walnut Hills High Schooler Nola Stowe. But by learning more about the hows and whys of the climate crisis, environmental injustice, endangered species, pollution, drought and other problems, local and global, we plant seeds of solutions. And that helps us stay hopeful.   The podcasters: Harnoor Mann (host), University of Cincinnati Nola Stowe, Walnut Hills H.S. A.J. Jones, recent graduate, University of Cincinnati *The New York Times Daily podcast just had a good episode about this. Click here for NPR's climate coverage. Click here for details on the Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Festival on April 23; we'll share info on other local events on the D&Me blog. Here's a Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library link for the book Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, referenced by Nola during this episode. And here's California Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order to phase out gas-powered cars, mentioned by A.J. And click here to access a vintage D&Z episode from September 2020, talking about Gen Z's environmental activism with two young brothers from the Navajo Nation. It's still one of our favorites. Conversation recorded on Zoom April 10, 2022 Seedling photo illustration by Freedomz/Shutterstock

The producers of the 94th Academy Awards—airing at 8 p.m. this Sunday on ABC—hope a new “Fan Favorite” award, celebrating popular hits like Cinderella and Spider-Man: No Way Home, will entice Gen Z to tune into the three-hour trophy show. Maybe? Can you give Encanto some love while you're at it? But we really wish Hollywood took teens, especially Black and Brown teens, more seriously: we're smart, we're globally aware, we carry our entertainment with us wherever we go, and we're not satisfied with most of what you're marketing to us. Do better, and we might keep watching. Joining us for this special movie-themed episode is our good friend TT Stern-Enzi, film critic for Fox 19 and artistic director of the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival.   The podcasters: Robert Thikkurissy (host), University of Cincinnati, Transition & Access Program Pawan Rai, Aiken New Tech H.S. Joyeuse Muhorakeye, Aiken H.S. Lael Ingram, Walnut Hills H.S. with guest film critic TT Stern-Enzi Conversation recorded on Zoom March 13, 2022 Oscars smartphone illustration by Jimmy Tudeschi/Shutterstock

One star, would not recommend this particular thrill ride—but pandemic extremes have been our daily reality for the last two years, which, we'd like to point out, is a huge chunk of your life when you're a teenager. So what have we learned? What have we lost? And what the heck now: Are we safely back at the station, or is it time to brace ourselves for the next loop-de-loop? Buckle up, keep your hands and feet inside the car, and ride along with us as we talk all things COVID-19, now chugging into year three. First, though, you'll hear some students from Diamond Oaks Career Campus in Cincinnati, sharing their own pandemic ups and downs. The podcasters: Robert Thikkurissy (host), University of Cincinnati, Transition & Access ProgramAJ Jones, UC graduateNico Luginbill, Walnut Hills H.S.Pawan Rai, Aiken H.S.Syriene Djakata, Aiken H.S.Tasnim Saad, Aiken H.S.Antonia R. Willis, Taft IT H.S.Bryan Aguilera, Virtual H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom March 6, 2022 Episode edited by Sydnie Barrett, Walnut Hills H.S., with D&Z producer Julie Coppens Music composed by Noah Hawes, of Elementz Roller-coaster illustration by vectorcorp/Shutterstock

The news started coming in overnight Wednesday: after weeks of military buildup on the Ukrainian border, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on the former Soviet Republic, now an independent democracy and home to more than 40 million people. On Thursday, those citizens of Ukraine—and most of the rest of the world—were in shock and terror, many fleeing for safety and all wondering how far this unprovoked attack might go. Regina Appatova is an ESL educator at Aiken New Tech High School in Cincinnati, who grew up in Ukraine and lived in Russia. We asked her to help us understand the conflict, the enduring bonds between the two countries, and what it's been like this week for Americans like her with roots and loved ones in Eastern Europe. “It's a nightmare,” she says—and no one knows how much worse the situation might get, before Putin gets what he wants. The podcasters: Nico Luginbill, Walnut Hills H.S.Joyeuse Muhorakeye, Aiken New Tech H.S.Pawan Rai, Aiken H.S.Tasnim Saad, Aiken H.S.Syriene Djakata, Aiken H.S.Antonia R. Willis, Taft H.S.Bryan Aguilera, Virtual H.S.Lael Ingram, Walnut Hills H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Feb. 24, 2022, with D&Z producer Julie Coppens Map illustration by Kirill Makarov/Shutterstock Here's a link to NPR's ongoing coverage of the Ukraine invasion: https://www.npr.org/live-updates/ukraine-russia-invasion-putin Live updates from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/24/world/russia-ukraine-putin And here's a link to a story from WVXU reporter Becca Costello about how Cincinnati is responding to the crisis: https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2022-02-24/aftab-pureval-cincinnati-help-resettling-ukrainian-refugees

Major-league sports and premier events like the Olympics have long been an American obsession, but so far, Gen Z seems to be sitting out—unless, say, our hometown Cincinnati Bengals happen to make it to the Super Bowl, but even then we'll probably be scrolling something else on the side, because football takes forever. Other than turning their entire product into a video game—one youth-outreach strategy described in a recent New York Times article—what can the NFL, the NBA, and other legacy leagues do to win us over? For starters: try being less racist*, less sexist, less exploitative, and more diverse, inclusive, and sustainable. More than a better game, we want a better world, and we think sports can help us get there. But the industry needs a new game plan. The podcasters: Alberto C. Jones (host)Nico Luginbill, Walnut Hills H.S.Joyeuse Muhorakeye, Aiken New Tech H.S.Pawan Rai, Aiken New Tech H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Feb. 13, 2022 (Super Bowl Sunday) * Recommended listening: Here's an NPR interview with former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who's filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, alleging racial discrimination in hiring.

It's February, and you know what that means—bring on the Dr. King coloring sheets! But how did Black History Month even become a thing? Is there a right way or a wrong way to celebrate it? Who are some local African-American historical figures we should all know more about, and if Dr. David Childs could host a dinner party with some of his own heroes from the past, who'd be on the guest list? Our resident #BlackHistory expert answers these and other questions from listeners, and even lifts our spirits with song, in this special episode. You'll find many more #BlackHistoryMonth resources on our blog—go to www.democracyandme.org/category/blackhistorymonth—and be sure to check out D&Z Episode 54 on our YouTube channel, as our student podcasters and some WVXU staff take you inside the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Museum in downtown Cincinnati. “African-American history is American history… It is our history.”Dr. David Childs The podcasters: Briocca Green (host), Northern Kentucky UniversityDr. David Childs, professor of social studies education at NKU and adviser to the Democracy & Me program

Back in December, a group of Democracy & Me students visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (www.freedomcenter.org), joined by members of the Cincinnati Public Radio staff. We toured the permanent exhibits From Slavery to Freedom, with stories and artifacts from Colonial times to Emancipation; the Slave Pen, a reconstructed cabin from pre-Abolition Kentucky; and Invisible: Slavery Today, which uncovers human trafficking around the world, in our own times. We also viewed a special exhibition called Designing Justice, featuring the striking posters of artist/activist Luba Lukova, on display through March 22. We watched a documentary film about the Civil Rights movement, and learned about monumental narrative quilts by Aminah Brenda Lynn, called Journeys 1 and 2. In this episode of Democracy & Z, you can journey through the galleries with us, explore the displays, and listen in on our reflections. And if you'd like to see some of the exhibits and artworks we talk about here, check out the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel. The podcasters: Cierra Britten, University of CincinnatiTasnim Saad, Aiken New Tech H.S.Enock Sadiki, New Tech H.S.Nazret Degaulle, Walnut Hills H.S.Michelle Miao, Talawanda H.S.Emma Feldmeier, Wyoming H.S.Lael Ingram, Walnut Hills H.S. With WVXU reporter Cory Sharber, Cincinnati Public Radio events coordinator Katie Query, and Democracy & Z producer Julie Coppens Here are a few images from the tour: Photos by Nazret Degaulle and Julie Coppens

We've just launched Democracy & Me's 2022 Student Voices Competition, an opportunity for young people from across the WVXU listening area and beyond to speak their truth—or write it, draw it, make it sing… and maybe win a thousand bucks. For contest details including this year's theme, complete rules, and a submission link (note the deadline: March 4), please visit www.DemocracyandMe.org. And for inspiration, here's an encore of our last Student Voices Competition showcase, featuring top-scoring entries by Djibril Dembele, Addison Thacker, Molly Moser, Tanvi Rakesh, Jessica Kang, Zoe Wooten, Abdul Arnaout, Sara Walls, Audrey Zelinski, and Addi Schultz. We invite you to follow their creative lead and get ready to blow the judges' minds with your own contest entry. 2021 Student Voices showcase introduction by Jordan Polk, University of Cincinnati, former Democracy & Me intern. Episode artwork: “Together We Rise,” an award-winning creative entry by Molly Moser, a Cincinnati homeschooler in her senior year. Want to see and more awesome student work? Here's a link to the 2020 Student Voices Competition winners and showcase podcast: https://www.democracyandme.org/episode-6-student-voices-competition-showcase/

Yeah, it's a complicated holiday—part of a mythical American origin story masking ugly truths about who's really had a place at our nation's table over the last 400 years. (Our friends at Learning for Justice have some helpful resources on all that.) And this particular Thanksgiving brings a lot of the same health concerns as last year, with COVID-19 cases rising again in our own area, plus new anxieties over the long-term impact of the pandemic, crazy inflation, high-stakes court cases… Even our holiday shopping is threatened by supply chain issues and sustainability worries. It's like a big bubbling cranberry sauce of uh-oh. And yet: we're still here. Our Democracy & Me family has grown a lot this year, bringing together students from all over the world, and most of us are able to be with at least some of our loved ones over this long weekend. We do have a lot to be thankful for. So let's focus on that. The podcasters: Emma Feldmeier (host), Wyoming H.S.Cierra Britten, University of CincinnatiNazret Degaulle, Walnut Hills H.S.Lael Ingram, Walnut Hills H.S.Enock Sadiki, Aiken H.S.Tasnim Saad, Aiken H.S.Hafsah Daikho, Aiken H.S.Andres Vargas, Aiken H.S.Michelle Miao, Talawanda H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Nov. 22, 2021; edited by Zeratul Bryan, Taft I.T. H.S.

Straight-up racism is bad enough—but for many of us, colorism cuts even deeper. Maybe we were born with skin tones darker or lighter than those around us, making it hard to fit in, feel beautiful, or even to claim our own Blackness. Maybe we've seen how differently society treats people of color, based on skin tone… and how easy it is to turn those “preferences” on ourselves and our peers. It's not something anybody likes to talk about, but we'll never heal from colorism if we don't call it out. In this episode, we share some of our own experiences with shade-prejudice, within the Black community and beyond; consider where it all came from, and how we can grow past it. The podcasters: Cierra Britten (host), University of CincinnatiKylie Bridgeman, Walnut Hills H.S.Enock Sadiki, Aiken H.S.Tasnim Saad, Aiken H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Nov. 7, 2021 Learn more: Click here for a report on a recent Pew Research Center study of how colorism affects Latinx Americans. Click here for a look at colorism within the South Asian community. And here's an episode on colorism from the WGBH public affairs program Basic Black, recommended for anyone seeking a greater understanding around this topic.

The cheesy mom-and-pop billboards, the endlessly unreadable ballot measures, the ridiculous number of candidates (34? 37?) scrumming for nine Cincinnati City Council seats… You really have to be a geek for politics to get into local elections, especially in an odd year, with no Presidential or Congressional races on the ballot. And that's too bad. Because as we know, being politics geeks ourselves (despite still being too young to vote), what happens at the local level can have a huge impact on our lives, while revealing a lot about government in general. Once you start paying attention—showing up at school board meetings, canvassing for a municipal campaign, maybe even thinking about running for office yourself someday—you realize local politics is kinda cool. We hope that if you're of age, you'll do your homework, make yourself an informed voter (the WVXU Voter Guide and the local League of Women Voters are two of our go-to's), and show up at the polls on Nov. 2. The podcasters: Owen Derico (host), Walnut Hills H.S. and Young Activists CoalitionEliza O'Keefe, Walnut Hills H.S. and Young Activists CoalitionLael Ingram, Walnut Hills H.S. and Democracy & MeMichelle Miao, Talawanda H.S. and Democracy & MeEmma Feldmeier, Wyoming H.S. and Democracy & Me Conversation recorded on Zoom Oct. 24, 2021 Photo caption and credit: Student activist Klarke Griffith speaking outside Cincinnati City Hall during last year's racial justice demonstrations. WVXU/Democracy & Me photo by Julie Coppens

News flash: We love Halloween. For kids who've often felt out-of-step with mainstream American culture, maybe not 100 percent comfortable in our own skins, the chance to dress up, be someone else, roam the neighborhood after dark like so many feral cats and get free candy for our trouble—what could be better? Now that we're older and wiser, the season does bring up issues of cultural appropriation vs. appreciation, the importance of respect for those who choose not to celebrate Halloween, as well as opportunities to care for the less fortunate among us, as the days get shorter, colder, and pumpkin-spicier. We unwrap it all in this special episode. The podcasters: Robert Thikkurissy (host), University of Cincinnati, Transition & Access ProgramKylie Bridgeman, Walnut Hills H.S.Andres Vargas, Aiken H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Oct. 19, 2021, and edited by Zeratul Bryan, Taft IT H.S

With Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms facing new scrutiny on Capitol Hill, we thought it was time to ask ourselves, the real experts, how bad these digital life-support devices really are. Yeah, we know we all spend way too much time on our phones. We know we'd be happier and healthier if we spent more time IRL with our friends and families, getting outdoors, pursuing our passions and hobbies, serving our communities, all that good stuff… but for most of us, if we want to have a social life, checking out of social media isn't really an option. So how can young users avoid the worst of it—the toxic lifestyle pressure, the cyberbullying, the disinformation that's tearing society apart—while making the best of our online addictions? We have thoughts. The podcasters: Cierra Britten, University of Cincinnati (host)Robert Thikkurissy, University of Cincinnati, Transition & Access ProgramEnock Sadiki, Aiken H.S.Tasnim Saad, Aiken H.S.Hafsah Daikho, Aiken H.S. Conversation recorded on Zoom Oct. 10, 2021 More listening and learning: Ari Shapiro talks with young people about social media on NPR's All Things Considered This New York Times' Lesson of the Day features the Facebook whistleblowers' testimony to Congress, and the fallout

When did you first learn about 9/11? What about the war in Afghanistan that followed—how much did you know about all that, at least until the past few weeks, when the U.S. military's final withdrawal from Kabul was all over the news? We grew up in a world defined by these tragic events, but most young Americans have only a vague understanding of the so-called War on Terrorism, and very little sense of the human costs of this 20-year conflict. In this episode, we talk with a Xavier University student who grew up in Afghanistan—his father was an interpreter assisting U.S. forces—and who still has loved ones in the devastated homeland now controlled by the Taliban. We all have different perspectives on the tragic aftermath of 9/11, and different ideas about what might come next. But with improved safety, education, and understanding, we all hope to see a better world rising from the ashes. The podcasters: Harnoor Mann (host), University of CincinnatiMohammad Admadzai, Xavier UniversityJoyeuse Muhorakeye, Aiken H.S.Enock Sadiki, Aiken H.S. Learn more: WVXU reporter Ann Thompson spoke with Mohammad Admadzai as the U.S. was pulling forces out of Afghanistan. Click here to read that story. Click here for Tana Weingartner's story on fostering better education and understanding around the 9/11 anniversary, with tips from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and links to resource guides specifically for parents and educators. Click here for NPR's extensive coverage of the 20-year aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, featuring a wide range of perspectives, and culminating with a special Morning Edition program to be broadcast this Saturday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. to noon on WVXU and other member stations. Want to better understand and support students like our podcasters, whose families are impacted and displaced by international conflicts? Check out our blog post on Welcoming Week, Sept. 10-19, a national effort to celebrate the contributions and cultures of newcomers to the United States, and to build more inclusive communities around them.

Saving money, reducing waste, and being yourself: these are fashion trends we can definitely get behind, and, they're good for the planet, too. Have you, like our stylish panel of podcasters, embraced thrifting, upcycling, mending and otherwise extending the life of garments you already own? Nice! But it's hard to totally hang up fast fashion, especially for different body types and sizes—even though we know most newly purchased garments get landfilled after just a few wearings, many synthetic fabrics will never biodegrade, and, according to some industry estimates, it takes 10,000 gallons of water to produce just one pair of denim jeans. That is not a good look... Here are our best tips for back-to-school dressing in 2021, and a sustainable shopping list (below). The podcasters: Morgan Phillips (host), University of CincinnatiAlex Bentley, University of Cincinnati, Transition & Access ProgramDimitri Dickos, University of CincinnatiChloe Dixon, Madiera H.S.Joyeuse Muhorakeye, Aiken H.S.Enock Sadiki, Aiken H.S. A few of our favorite shops, sites and brands: The Good On You website and app rates fashion brands in terms of sustainable, ethical production, so you don't fall victim to greenwashing Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, New2You and other thrift shops around town Pixel 19 Vintage warehouse in Price Hill, not to be confused with the equally amazing Pistil Vintage in Over-the-Rhine Transform, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that provides donated, curated wardrobes for kids and teens going through gender transitions Snooty Fox upscale consignment shops, multiple Cincinnati locations BoohooMan, an affordable, inclusive online shop whose “Ready for the Future” collection meets certain sustainability/responsible manufacturing standards Patagonia and Cotopaxi, two not-so-cheap but socially and environmentally conscious brands, whose garments and gear are made to last Revivo, an awesome sustainable shoe company that turns old pairs into new ones Grailed is an online resale shop for high-style menswear and shoes And some of us have even made a little money selling upcycled thrift/vintage finds on sites like Poshmark

Who am I, really? How can I stand up against peer pressure? Do aliens exist? This summer the teen Agents of Change at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine pondered these and other essential questions, while developing their own student podcast. We at D&Z had the great honor of working with some of these creative change-makers and are delighted to share a sample of their audio projects here, in this special guest episode. The podcasters: McKenzie, age 13Jackson, age 14Nia, age 15Jorge, 13Ana, age 15Thaddeus, age 14 Big thanks to Joele Newman and everyone at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, “a peaceful place in Over-The-Rhine where residents create and engage in participatory education to foster creative expression, self-determination, and social change.” Click here to learn more about the Agents of Change youth program, and how you can get involved. Here are Democracy & Me, we welcome youth podcast submissions from anywhere, and are always looking for outstanding student work to highlight. To share your work or learn more, reach out to producer Julie Coppens by email, jcoppens@cinradio.org, or use our contact form.

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Students from across the WVXU listening area and beyond reflected on the past year of catastrophe/metamorphosis in the Democracy & Me 2021 Student Voices Competition. [...]

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Hold up, it’s still not over? We’re still waiting for Donald Trump to concede the 2020 Presidential race to Joe Biden, and in the meantime, [...]

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