IndyKids Voices

4th graders from P.S. 117Q in NYC explore the power of dance. They interview Kai Martinez, a professional choreographer, animation consultant and dancer, originally from Queens, NY. In the interview, students learn about Kai's journey to becoming a professional dancer and choreographer and learn what it was like to work on movies like Encanto and Spellbound! Support IndyKids by visiting us at IndyKids.org.Produced by Em LöwingerEdited by Sarah ClappMusic: Dressed To Party from GMP Music

The Gillen Brewer Interviewers are back and ready to learn about animals and their relationships with humans across time!In this episode, students from the Gillen Brewer School sit down with zooarchaeologist Evin Grody to uncover ancient animal facts—like whether people had pets 2,000 years ago or if anyone ever rode a zebra!Tune in for this paws-itively fun and fascinating journey through history!About Evin Grody:Evin is an absolute nerd about all things ANIMAL and exploring the ways our lives are so very intertwined! Growing up, she spent most of her time outdoors in the Colorado mountains with the various animals her family had (dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, lizard). This left her with an early and deep understanding of how much animals both shape our lives and are shaped by them. Evin has conducted fieldwork and museum collections work in the USA, South Africa, Zambia, and Madagascar. Her writing, presentations, and archaeological conversations have covered everything from peer-reviewed journal articles and professional conferences to public library chats, YouTube videos, and podcast chats.Visit IndyKids.org to learn more about our newspaper and our educational programs!This episode was edited by Sarah Clapp. IndyKids' executive director is Isis Phillips.This episode features the song "Cat Walk" by Roie Shpigler, accessed via Artlist.io.

IndyKids reporters interview Amy Zimmer, the Bureau Chief of Chalkbeat New York, about phone policies in schools. This discussion dives into different policies, and how the treatment of phone use in schools impacts educators, students, and parents.Read "All About Phones" in our latest issue of the newspaper here:https://indykids.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IndyKids-Issue-89-Winter-2025.pdfIndyKids is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Get involved or find out how you can support IndyKids here:IndyKids.orgStay informed about what's going on in the education sphere in New York and beyond by visiting Chalkbeat's website:https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/

What's it like to work at a sandwich shop? What is so magical about working with food? And how can you have a more equitable business for the community and the people who work there?IndyKids reporters interview the workers at Sea & Soil, a worker-owned sandwich shop!Noah and Hannah talk about how the idea of a worker-owned sandwich shop came about, how it benefits the community, and how a "sliding scale" pricing model works!For more about Sea & Soil:https://www.seaandsoilcoop.comFor more about IndyKids:https://www.indykids.orgThis episode was produced by Em Löwinger, edited by Sarah Clapp, with music by Adrian Moring. Isis Phillips is our executive director.

What's it like to work at a museum? What obstacles does someone with a big job face? Why is it important to make monuments of real people who are alive right now? What is some advice for kids who love to draw and want to be an artist someday?IndyKids reporter Noel interviews Amy Andrieux, the chief curator and executive director of MoCADA, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts. Amy talks about the many jobs she's had in her life, and about MoCADA and its role within the community. She takes us on a mini tour of Kholisile Mazithulela Mufari Dhliwayo's Brooklyn Bronzes, which can be found in the MoCADA Ubuntu Garden in Brooklyn, NY, and gives advice to young artists.BONUS: Listen to the end to find out what Noel and Amy's favorite anime is!DISCLAIMER: This interview took place outdoors in Brooklyn in October 2024…please excuse the NYC street noise!For more information about MoCADA, visit: https://mocada.org/For more information about IndyKids, visit:indykids.org

Listen to IndyKids reporter Grace Stevens read her recent article, "The Way We Dress: How Dress Codes Can Be Connected to Systematic Racism and Sexism."You can find the text version of this article and many more by visiting IndyKids.org.

Have you ever experienced a farm and a school put together? IndyKids reporters interviewed Jessenia Preciado, the Far Rockaway regional coordinator at Teens for Food Justice. Teens for Food Justice fights food insecurity by growing leafy greens including lettuce, cilantro, basil, parsley, Swiss chard and bok choy in hydroponic farms located inside public schools. This interview has been edited for clarity andbrevity for print. To learn more about Teens for Food Justice, visit their website:https://teensforfoodjustice.org/To learn more about IndyKids, including information about how to donate or get involved in our programming, visit indykids.org.

Lara Bergen is the founder and director of Press Pass NYC, which is an organization that helps New York City public schools create and maintain their school newspapers. In the past 2 ½ years, Press Pass NYC has helped create 19 school newspapers in middle and high schools.More about Press Pass NYC:Press Pass NYC's free programs are all in service of helping New York City public schools start and sustain a successful school newspaper program in a comprehensive way. Unlike outside-school opportunities for individual students, Press Pass NYC's focus is on creating journalistic value and opportunities for the entire school community, enabling schools to create a culture of appreciation for journalism and student voice through a school newspaper; training teachers to lead a credit-bearing course as well as advise a school newspaper program; and engaging students in authentic, project-based, community-centered learning that they would otherwise never experience.

4th graders from P.S. 117Q in NYC explore the power of kindness. They reflect on their own ideas about art and interview Carlos Mateu, a painter, mural artist, poet, dancer, and teacher.   Support IndyKids by visiting us at IndyKids.org.Special thanks to Ms. Perry, Mrs. Maraj, Carlos Mateu, Claudine DeSola, and Groundswell!Produced and edited by Em Löwinger. Music by Adrian Moring. About Carlos Mateu:Carlos Mateu was born in 1970 in Havana, Cuba, and has resided in the United States since 1997.He defines his style as Pop Geometric.  His paintings fuse elements of cubism with realism, using straight lines and perspective to create a geometric and three-dimensional effect, while subtly deforming the images. His subject matter incorporates surrealism, symbolism and mysticism to reflect memories, dreams, his life in the United States and his own creative perspective on the world around him. Currently Carlos keeps painting, writing poetry (décimas), exhibiting his art, performing, and teaching art and popular Cuban dances for various organizations in New York City like Groundswell Community Mural and City Lore.About Groundswell:In 1996, a group of New York City artists, educators, and activists founded Groundswell with the belief that collaborative art-making combines personal expression with the strength of community activism—and produces unique and powerful outcomes.Twenty years later, 500 murals have been completed by Groundswell, working with youth and teaching artists in collaboration with hundreds of community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, and government agencies throughout New York City. The collaborative process behind these compelling artworks demonstrate our enduring belief that art creates community and community creates change.Our five hundred murals in all five boroughs are only the final product of comprehensive youth, community and artistic development initiatives. We strive to infuse these initiatives with elements of social justice and activism to amplify the individuals we interact with daily.

IndyKids reporter CJ interviewed Shakira Barrera, a NicaraguanAmerican actress and humanitarian. You can catch her playing a role in the upcoming Marvel series, Ironheart.They discussed her career, the challenges of being an actor, representation in Hollywood, Shakira's humanitarian efforts, and advice she has for young people who want to be actors.Produced and edited by Em Löwinger; Theme music by Adrian Moring.Visit IndyKids.org to find out how you can participate and support!

Which planets are hot? Does a planet made of diamonds exist? Why hasn't there been an astronaut on the moon for 50 years? Has a spaceship ever flown near a black hole? Are humans treating space as badly as we're treating our oceans? Students at the Gillen Brewer School interview Dr. Erika Nesvold and ask her all of these questions and more! Visit IndyKids.org to learn more about our newspaper, educational programs and how you can get involved!About Dr. Erika Nesvold:Dr. Erika Nesvold is an astrophysicist who has performed astronomy research at NASA and the Carnegie Institution for Science. She is now a developer for the astronomy video game Universe Sandbox. Erika is the author of Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space, and co-founder of the space ethics nonprofit the JustSpace Alliance.She can be found on Twitter and Instagram with the easy-to-find handles @erikanesvold. JustSpace can be found on Twitter @justspaceorg and on Instagram @justspacealliance.This podcast was produced and edited by Em Löwinger. Audio recordings by Áine Pennello, and IndyKids' executive director is Isis Phillips.

IndyKids reporters from P.S. 117Q in NYC explore the power of kindness. They interview Malachi Coleman, a 4-star football player from Lincoln, Nebraska who will play for the Nebraska Huskers next year. Because of his own experiences in foster care, Malachi founded Fly Like Chi, a foundation that brings sports and arts to children in foster care. Listen as IndyKids fourth graders go through the process of preparing for and conducting their interview, and reflect on what kindness means to them.IndyKids is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that creates a newspaper and podcasts for kids, by kids. Visit IndyKids.org to get a newspaper subscription, or donate, or to find out how you can volunteer or participate in a workshop!Visit Flylikechi.com to support Malachi Coleman's foundation.

IndyKids reporters Charlotte and Lucas interview award-winning writer and environmental journalist, Antonia Juhasz, about her path in climate reporting, how she centers activists and impacted people in her coverage, and what gives her hope.Key terms to listen for:Solutions journalismInequitiesFenceline communitiesClimate disasterFood and fisheriesClimateExpert/expertiseDiscussion Questions:How did Antonia start covering the climate crisis?What is solutions journalism?Why does Antonia prioritize women⁠— – and women of color specifically⁠— – in her reporting?What kinds of expertise does Antonia look to highlight in her reporting?What are some of the challenges Antonia has faced in her journalism career?Credits:IndyKids Reporters – Charlotte Osoria and Lucas Muñoz JetmoreProduced by Emily Löwinger, Isis Phillips, and Julia ThomasEdited + Music by Emily LöwingerAudio Mentor – Jo CoronaShow Intro Music by Luca CantagalloAdditional Music by Emily LöwingerOriginal Artwork by Cayzlen RodriguezSpecial thanks to Emma Gaffney and Jo CoronaWe'd like to thank The New York Community Trust and Wolf Family for their support.

IndyKids reporters Cayzlen and Maliyah interview activist Jackie Fielder about her experiences organizing against the Dakota Access Pipeline and her role in the divestment movement happening in San Francisco.Key terms to listen for:Ancestral territoriesReservationTreatyTribal citizenRenewable energyDivestment / disinvestmentDiscussion Questions:What led Jackie to become a climate organizer?Why does Jackie want the city of San Francisco to stop doing business with big banks?Why are pipelines so dangerous?What specific kinds of renewable energy does Jackie want to replace fossil fuel power?What does divestment have to do with civil rights?Why does Jackie say we need a cultural shift in order to fight climate change?Credits:IndyKids Reporters – Maliyah Ledesma and Cayzlen RodriguezProduced by Emily Löwinger, Isis Phillips and Julia ThomasEdited by Emily LöwingerAudio Mentor – Julia ThomasShow Intro Music by Luca CantagalloOriginal Artwork by Cayzlen RodriguezSpecial thanks to Emma GaffneyWe'd like to thank The New York Community Trust and Wolf Family for their support.

IndyKids reporter Luca interviews author and journalist Katie Worth about her book, Miseducation: How Climate Change is Taught in America. They discuss the connection between climate change and critical race theory, and how Katie views humans' ability to shift their perspectives and make change.Key terms to listen for:Climate denialismDiscussion Questions:What inspired Katie Worth to look into climate change education in American schools?How do Luca and Katie describe the connection between climate change and critical race theory?What does Katie Worth say about humans' capacity to make change?Credits:IndyKids Reporter – Luca CantagalloProduced by Emily Löwinger, Isis Phillips, and Julia ThomasEdited by Emily LöwingerShow Intro Music by Luca CantagalloOriginal Artwork by Cayzlen RodriguezSpecial thanks to Emma GaffneyWe'd like to thank The New York Community Trust and Wolf Family for their support.

IndyKids reporters Zahra, Lily, and Gibran interview Pati Rodriguez, a community organizer with Mi Casa Resiste and Frack Outta Brooklyn, and her daughter Gia Luna about their fight against National Grid's fracked gas pipeline in Brooklyn.Key terms to listen for:PipelineFracked gasToxicDiscussion Questions:What does Pati say about the National Grid-owned North Brooklyn Pipeline?Why did Pati chain herself to the pipeline?Describe what Pati says about how her mother influenced her life.How does Pati explain the connection between the climate crisis and immigration?What is Gia's favorite thing about her activism with her mother?Why is fracking gas illegal in New York State?What does Pati mean when she says she wants to plant seeds?What gives Pati and Gia hope?Credits:IndyKids Reporters – Lily Dribin, Gibran Freilla Williams, and  Zahra LatheefProduced by Emily Löwinger, Isis Phillips and Julia ThomasEdited by Emily LöwingerAudio Mentor – Abē LevineAdditional Script Editing – Zahra LatheefShow Intro Music by Luca CantagalloAdditional Music by Emily LöwingerOriginal Artwork by Cayzlen RodriguezSpecial thanks to Emma GaffneyWe'd like to thank The New York Community Trust and Wolf Family for their support.

In episode 1 of the IndyKids Climate Crisis series, IndyKids reporters Mila and Melina interview Lucy Andrews, a scientist and PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California Berkeley.Lucy talks about why she loves being a scientist, her favorite part of the job, what ecosystems and fossil fuels are, and what they have to do with the climate crisis!   This episode is perfect for students who are being introduced to climate change and climate crisis concepts, including how wars impact the environment.Listen at home as a family or use the episodes and discussion guides (in the episode descriptions) as an educational resource.Key terms to listen for:EcosystemClimateClimate conditionsFossil fuelsGreenhouse gassesSolar powerWind powerHydro powerNuclear powerResilientDiscussion Questions:Why do Mila and Melina want to learn more about the climate crisis?What is an ecosystem?What do ecosystems have to do with climate change?What are fossil fuels? Why do we rely on them so much? How does burning fossil fuels contribute to the climate crisis?How does war affect the environment?What does Lucy want people to know about her work?Credits:IndyKids Reporters – Melina Ferreyra and Mila LemoineProduced by Emily Löwinger, Isis Phillips and Julia ThomasEdited by Emily LöwingerAudio Mentor – Zoe GrueskinShow Intro Music by Luca CantagalloOriginal Artwork by Cayzlen RodriguezSpecial thanks to Emma GaffneyWe'd like to thank The New York Community Trust and Wolf Family for their support.