radioplasma podcast

Alexandra - Food Policy Council by iohann rashi vega

Recibimos con un mucha alegría, a Daliana Alvarado, creativa puertorriqueña, comunicadora, gestora cultural y co-creadora de un blog cultural llamado "Con Sabor a Coco". Daliana fue por varios años la voz anfitriona de un programa de radio producido por Iohann en los primeros años de la década del 2000 en WRTU en Puerto Rico, enfocado en la exploración de nueva música con influencias eclécticas de distintos géneros, épocas y culturas: Travel Lounge. Después de varios años sin contacto, Dalliana, ahora establecida en la ciudad de Nueva York comparte con nosotros y este episodio es una reunión en la que nos ponemos al día y conoceremos sobre el trabajo que Daliana ha hecho con su proyecto "Con Sabor a Coco", así como la aportación cultural de las tradiciones puertorriqueñas a través del trabajo de su familia en Orocovis. La Familia Alvarado. Para conocer más sobre el trabajo de Daliana puede visitar: http://www.consaboracoco.com/

Reyna Tropical at Millpond Live. We welcome Fabi Reyna to Massachusetts, and after her amazing performance at Millpond Live on September 9, we got a moment to talk briefly about her work as Reyna Tropical, and the importance of her motto Queer Love, Afro-México. Also we talked about her inspiration, the She Shreds magazine she founded a decade ago and continues being a forum to amplify the work of female guitarists and bassists. Lastly, we addressed the deep meaning of Reyna Tropical's latest song, "Pajaritos", released this same day of the interview, and being this the last song made by Fabi and Sumohair, before his passing. Find more about Reyna Tropical on lareynatropical.com

La celebración del Cinco de Mayo en Estados Unidos, conlleva ciertas prácticas comerciales y culturales que son particularmente únicas de la idiosincrasia estadounidense. En esta breve sesión comparto información con el fin de explicar qué significa realmente el cinco de mayo en el contexto histórico en México, al igual que las posibles derivaciones que llevaron esta fecha a ser la festividad que se celebra actualmente en Estados Unidos.

Recibimos desde Puerto Rico a una amiga de muchos años, quien es y ha sido una creadora de múltiples proyectos artísticos en diferentes disciplinas. Ella es Miosoti Alvarado, Mio. En esta sesión nos enfocaremos en su más reciente proyecto musical llamado Piquete, así como el lanzamiento de su primer sencillo, "Fluir". Piquete es una innovadora propuesta musical afro-puertorriqueña que Mio la define como neo-plena y bomba-groove. En su propuesta, Miosoti ha fusionado ritmos tradicionales de bomba y plena, con bases rítmicas de géneros contemporáneos, manteniendo la sonoridad de los barriles de Bomba, panderos de Plena, guicharo, maracas, alfaia y otros instrumentos de percusión caribeña y brasileña. Recibiendo la primavera de 2022 y celebrando el Mes Nacional de la Historia de la Mujer en marzo, les invitamos a disfrutar de esta charla con Mio y desde luego, del sencillo "Fluir". Para conocer más del trabajo curatorial de Miosoti en el quehacer de la actividad cultural y artística en Puerto Rico, pueden seguirla en Instagram y Facebook. @dimelomio Para videos, música y actualizaciones de Piquete, pueden visitar @piquetepr y seguir el canal de Piquete en YouTube.

As we honor all women during March 8th, International Women's Day, we have a conversation with visual artist, educator, singer, songwriter, and musician, Carmen Callender. A long-life resident of Springfield, MA, Carmen enjoys creating different pieces of art, in different mediums such as music and murals. In this session, we will learn about the creation of her latest song, "Call of Duty" which is now available for streaming on music platforms, and YouTube. You can check some of Carmen's music on: https://soundcloud.com/carmencallender

New York-based Grammy-nominated Mexican singer and composer, Magos Herrera has been busy during 2021, making new music, and continuing her musical journey, putting together elements from realms like chamber music, jazz, and Latin American roots and influences, And she is coming to present in an intimate concert, a tasting of these multiple sound flavors, exploring the fusion of a string quartet and a jazz ensemble, joined by a string quartet drawn from members of the orchestral collective The Knights. “Remanso,” (Backwater) is a musical scrapbook Herrera composed during COVID-19 isolation. In this conversation with Magos Herrera, we catch up on what she has been working while in isolation, so even there were no live concerts, the music has never stop flowing. The program will include new arrangements commissioned by Americas Society, songs included in the 2020 album Con Alma, and new original music written by Herrera with support from a Chamber Music Americas New Jazz Works grant. Magos Herrera is having her show at Bombyx, Center for Arts and Equity in Florence, MA, on February 11, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at bombyx.live This program is also supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. To learn more about Magos Herrera's work, you can visit: https://www.magosherrera.com/

Rachel Eckroth is a renowned singer, songwriter, composer, and keyboard player, with a multifaceted approach to music that fits into the jazz umbrella, and at the same time explores musical landscapes that offer dramatic views of places that exist in the vast realm of the creativity and inspiration, using electronic sounds, effects, and an experimental view to what music can be. In this session with Rachel Eckroth, we talk bout her latest album, The Garden, a Grammy-nominated recording for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. We learn about the inspiration behind this album and some of the pieces in it, all in preparation for her concert at Bombyx, Center for Arts and Equity, on December 29, 2021. To learn more about Rachel Eckroth's work, you can visit racheleckroth.com

Listening to ÌFÉ performing live is to experience a cathartic, spiritual transmutation of what organically and digitally can be perceived as a purification through music. After the sublime performance of ÌFÉ at the Bombyx Center for the Arts & Equity in Florence, MA, we sat down with Otura Mun, leader and founder of ÌFÉ, to catch up and talk about his work. And I say "to catch up" because we happen to know each other from the early 2000's rave and electronic music scene in Puerto Rico, when we shared the stage as DJs in multiple events. So, this session covers Mun's journey from his experience in Puerto Rico from 1999 until now, going from DJ and Selector, to producer and musician, now as ÌFÉ. You will learn the meaning behind the concept of putting digital production elements into an organic performance of instruments that hold a sacred ancestry. Also, we go deeper into the concept of ÌFÉ's latest release, 0000+0000. You can learn more about ÌFÉ, visiting ife-music.com Also, ÌFÉ is on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We want to thank Cassandra Holden and Kyle Homstead at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity; and Edo Mor at Collider, for making this experience possible.

On November 12, 2021, and during the celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, the new Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, hosted a special event during its inaugural season, bringing for the first time in this new venue, Native American & Hip Hop artist Supaman. Supaman is Christian Takes Gun Parrish. He is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation in Montana. As Supaman his musical career started in 2005 by putting together dance, hip hop lyricism, and music, by blending both, Native American, and hip hop sound elements, into a way of expressing the celebration of life, and a contemporary approach of what culture means for Supaman and his people. During this conversation, we learn about his origins as an artist, the evolution of the hip hop fusion with Native American dance, music, and the representation as contemporary culture, and the importance of learning through an experience like his show for awareness and appreciation of the Native American people. And we also talk about his latest album "Medicine Bundle" its meaning, and the messages embedded in its songs. To learn more about Supaman, his music, shows, and videos, visit supamanhiphop.net Also, you can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We want to thank Cassandra Holden and Kyle Homstead for their support in making this interview possible. You can visit bombyx.live to learn more about this new center for arts, and get updates of their upcoming events that will feature multiple talents from all over the world.

Gateway City Arts is coming back!! We are celebrating the good news shared by Vitek Kruta and Lori Divine, co-directors and founders of Gateway City Arts, that they have formed a partnership with DSP Shows and this will allow a return to activities for the multicultural complex. One of them was Gateway City Arts, that in December 2020 announced they would not be able to return to operations after being hit by the closure of its whole complex due to the pandemic and the restrictions that came with it. We wanted to share the details of the good news of GCA coming back, and join the moving force of what it will be a re-emerged Gateway City Arts, with a focus on arts, food, community oriented events, the Small Works Gallery, more intimate concerts, theater, classes, etc. After a year of changes in our lives due to the pandemic, we have lost not only too many lives, but businesses, spaces, and venues. So these news are worth of sharing and celebrating. The magic and spirit of GCA continues!

On this session, we welcome jazz musician and composer, Felipe Salles. We talked about The New Immigrant Experience, a recording release that represents a strong testament to the presence, experience, and inspiration by the lives of "Dreamers". Dr. Felipe Salles who emigrated from Brazil to the United States, has served as a Professor of Jazz and African-American Music Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 2010, and is a 2018 Guggenheim Foundation Composition Fellow, among many other accolades. We talked about the immigrant experience in his own life learnings, as well as the experiences from others, especially the "Dreamers" on whom is based his latest recording project. Felipe Salles and the Interconnections Ensemble, a 19-piece ensemble, will have a concert at the Academy of Music Theatre in a live-streamed performance of the New Immigrant Experience on April 24, 2021. Also, a panel discussion with composer Felipe Salles and activist Dreamers, will precede the musical experience for an expanded context. For tickets to Felipe Salles and The New Immigrant Experience you can visit thirdrow.live To learn more about Felipe Salles, you can visit his website: https://www.sallesjazz.com/

[INTERVIEW IN SPANISH] Recibimos con mucho orgullo a la cantante y compositora mexicana, Magos Herrera. Reconocida en la escena internacional de la música por su expresiva interpretación vocal, Magos se manifiesta musicalmente dentro de diferentes vertientes sonoras que se entrelazan en el espectro del jazz. En esta conversación con Magos, hablamos sobre su trayectoria, su vida artística en la ciudad de Nueva York, la experiencia multicultural, la identidad, así como los detalles del concierto que estará ofreciendo el 17 de abril en el Teatro Academy of Music, en Northampton, Massachusetts. Este concerto virtual, ofrecerá la oportunidad de escuchar a Magos desde cualquier punto en el mundo de forma virtual, a la vez que la audiencia podrá ser vista en el escenario por Magos y los músicos, gracias a la inventiva producción de ThirdRow.Live y Laudable Productions. Para asistir a este concierto que celebra a las mujeres y también ocurre durante la celebración en Estados Unidos del mes de la apreciación del jazz, puede visitar: Thirdrow.live Para conocer más sobre el trabajo artístico de Magos Herrera y escuchar la música de sus nueve álbumes, puede visitar: magosherrera.com

This is our conversation with Chilean jazz vocalist, songwriter, and arranger, Claudia Acuña. With the beginning of March as Women's History Month, and her virtual concert on March 6th, part of the International Women Rising Festival presented by Thirdrow.live and produced by Laudable.Productions, we talk about her background, and the inspiration to pursue a career as a singer and artist. This is an interview in both languages, English and Spanish.

We are celebrating a virtual holiday, and this session has a special guest: a singer-writer, entrepreneur, and a talented multi-cultural artist who represents Turkey and New York. She is Sinem Saniye, and under her artistic name Saniyé, she shared a moment after a virtual show, to talk about her musical work, artist support and networking, her efforts to amplify women in the arts, music and performance, and she shares with is a very special acoustic version of her latest song "Baby, It's Still Christmas".

October 31, 2020. Attack Bear Press founders, Jason Montgomery and Alex Woolner share their thoughts and the process behind the creation of the 2nd Holyoke Community Ofrenda 2020 to honor the Day of the Dead, and at the same time, create a space to acknowledge, honor, and remember the lives lost during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the second year, the Readywipe Gallery in Holyoke hosted the space for an indoor installation, featured on this video, and also an outdoor setting for the community ofrenda that was built to create a space for remembrance, for celebration of life, and to bring indigenous, mexican, and latinx people together, and share this meaningful ceremony with the community as an educational opportunity to learn about the Day of the Dead, that is celebrated in Mexico, and other Latin American communities on November 1st and 2nd of every year. Also, The Wistariahurst Museum placed a giant screen at their garden, where these images were projected in real time as this live broadcasting was made, allowing the public to see from a remote location, what was happening at the Readywipe Gallery.

In this virtual session, we welcome Anne Thalheimer, Treasurer of the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, who shared with us the details of the currently open season for grants proposals for 2021. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the deadline has been moved to December 14, 2020, and you can submit your proposal online visiting https://mcc.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp The HLCC encourages individuals and organizations to apply for financial support through its annual grant program which is part of a statewide grant program administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). All the information regarding the Holyoke Local Cultural Council is available online at https://www.mass-culture.org/holyoke

After an unexpected hiatus due to COVID-19, here we are. Radioplasma is back in the cyber-ether. We return to our conversations and randomness, with a session and a story of resilience, adaptation, and a reminder of self care, with Iréne I-Shea Shaikly, emcee, poet, percussionist, dancer, singer, actress, youth worker, and educator. On this session we talked about Iréne's process and adaptation through COVID-19, the experiences of a trip to Senegal that inspired some of her most recent musical work with the Lost Tribe. A song titles "Say Their Names"

Betsayda Machado y su Parranda el Clavo, se presentaron en Gateway City Arts en Holyoke, el 1 de marzo. Después de una cálida y energética sesión musical, Betsayda nos brindó unos momentos para conversar sobre su trabajo musical, así como algunos detalles de los instrumentos de la cultura musical de Venezuela y una pieza teatral que esperamos poder disfrutar en el futuro.

Produced in partnership with Holyoke Media. On March 5th, 2020, Dr. Stephen Mahoney, Executive Principal at Holyoke High School, met with students, teachers, parents, school committee members, and community members, to listen to their feedback on the implementation of this policy. This meeting continued showing the different angles of how the random searches policy seems to be creating more problems than solutions, and it brought some moments of tension, and statements worth of scrutiny regarding data, research, and consistency in the reasons for the implementation of a random search policy. This second public meeting was held at the Tea Room in the Holyoke High School Dean Campus, and had the participation of students of both campuses of Holyoke High, teachers, school committee members from wards 1, 2, and 3, students from Smith College and UMass, the Pa'Lante Restorative Justice Program, and Ethnic Studies, among partners and members of the community. Dr. Mahoney opened the session with a timeline of the events that led to the implementation of this policy, followed by questions from the attending public, that started with a focus on medication. Dr. Mahoney announced he will be conducting lunch meetings with students, in order to continue gathering input on this matter, however he didn't provide a specific date for when those meeting would happen. This audio recording captures the dialog between Holyoke High principal, and the attending audience, from the moments of the medication discussion, until the conclusion of the meeting.

This is the recording of the public meeting, held at Holyoke High School, North Campus, regarding the random searches policy. Dr. Stephen Mahoney, Executive Principal at Holyoke High, met with students, teachers, parents, and community members, to listen to their feedback on the implementation of this policy. Recorded on February 27, 2020.

Nicole Ortiz is a young entrepreneur, who is also a student at the HCC Culinary Arts Institute. In this conversation, we learned about CRAVE, her new business, a food truck with a plant forward menu, focused on using local ingredients, and exploring different culinary influences. An inspiring session, that sets a standard for taking action and pursuing dreams and goals, while giving back to the community.

Our teen host Shayleena, shares a conversation with Micah Katz Zieger, who is in charge of the programming and activities with the House of Colors LGBTQ Youth Group, based at Enlace de Familias in Main St. in Holyoke, MA. This youth group engages in different activities to provide a safe space and create awareness in different spaces around the city. House of Colors has been meeting at the Teen Room in the Holyoke Public Library for the past months, and as a way to recognize their presence, Shayleena and Micah talked about House of Colors in this radioplasma episode.

We had a conversation with Veronica White, "Vicky", the new teen librarian at Holyoke Public Library to give her a welcome to our community, and also to learn about the ongoing activities designed for the teen community that gathers in this dedicated space for them. With the participation of one of the teens from the group, we invite everybody to explore all the activities and programs at Holyoke Public Library. A safe place for everyone, to be.

El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo de Puerto Rico es una organización creada en el 2007 para fomentar el acceso a la información del pueblo de Puerto Rico mediante las vías del periodismo de investigación, la litigación y la formación periodística. Como parte del trabajo investigativo del CPI, resaltan los recientes eventos en Puerto Rico que resultaron en la renuncia del gobernador, Ricardo Rosselló en el verano de 2019. Durante la visita del CPI a la ciudad de Boston, se llevó a cabo una conversación sobre el trabajo de este grupo de periodistas y la importancia del trabajo investigativo. La periodista Cristela Guerra, fue la moderadora de este charla con Omaya Sosa, fundadora del CPI, Carla Minet, directora ejecutiva, y Rígel Lugo, directora de desarrollo. Agradecemos a Ágora Cultural Architects por todas las facilidades otorgadas para la cobertura de este evento. Grabado el 26 de enero de 2020, en Boston, MA. Para conocer más sobre el CPI y su contenido informativo, pueden visitar: http://periodismoinvestigativo.com/

Our very special guest, is Pasqualina Azzarello, City Arts Coordinator at Easthampton City Arts, Painter, Public Muralist, and educator. In this conversation, Pasqualina shares with us the work process that took place on the creation of COALESCENCE, an exhibition that opens the residency program at the Readywipe Gallery, inside the Baustein Building in Holyoke, created as a collective work with artists Zoe Sasson, and Jason Montgomery.

PodCamp WesternMass is celebrating its 12th edition on February 29th, 2020 at Valley Venture Mentors (VVM), in Springfield, MA. We got the chance to talk with the new team in charge of putting together this un-conference about social media, online networking, podcasting and media creation. In this session, we talked with three young entrepreneurs and professionals in the social media, marketing, and branding industry: Robyn Lee, owner of MorningBird Media. Jamie Cocco, owner of Empowered Social Media, and Aimée Boettcher, owner of Two Moons Creative.

We welcome Lady Moon & the Eclipse, on their first show and visit to Holyoke. Being this show, their last of 2019, we got the opportunity to have a conversation with all the band about its origins, the meaning of representation of Cosmic Soul, with a multi-cultural proposal that fuses soul, R&B, afrobeat, jazz, and Congolese roots. This diverse band work together as an alignment of talents, that creates music connected to the cosmic soul energy. The voices of Lady Moon & the Eclipse are sisters Ngonda Badila, on lead vocals; Ntangou Badila, and Nkoula Badila, on backup vocals, representing Congo. The rest of the band includes Arlen Ginsburg, on the Keyboards (from Chicago, USA); Jonathan Camuzeaux, on the Bass (from France); and Ken Reichl, on the Drums (from Japan). Our podcast session includes the performance of their songs "Augmented" as the opening track, and it wraps up with "Vibrations".  This is the video recording of our podcast interview, on November 23, 2019, at the New England Media Lab studio, in Gateway City Arts, in Holyoke, MA.

Meet Ta'Naya. She is a blind 15 years-old black girl, who recently joined our teen group for media literacy. She writes poetry, and plays piano. She is a high school student, and she is full of positive energy. In this conversation with our teen host, Shayleena, we got to learn more about Ta'Naya's story, and to be more aware of what it means to live with a disability. A powerful and moving experience, we wanted to share with everybody.

We welcome Monte Belmonte to talk about Monte's March. A fundraiser for the Food Bank of Western Mass. intended to provide food for people in need, and create awareness about hunger, and the need to end food insecurities in the region. In this conversation we got to learn about the march's origins, and how it has been an event that has engaged different members of the communities in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, to address the issues of hunger. Monte's March, is happening on November 25, and 26, of 2019, starting in Springfield, and ending in Greenfield.

We welcome our guest, singer songwriter, teacher artist, Kimaya Diggs to an interview about her musical work, and the opportunity of enjoying a couple of songs recorded live in our session. Kimaya is an artist who explores music from different streams, and creates a unique sound, reminiscent of the vibes of folk, soul, jazz, in a soothing, vibrant, and personal musical experience. We got the opportunity to talk about her personal story, her debut album, Breastfed, her process making music, and also, her teaching experiences.

We welcome singer, songwriter, educator, Amy Porchelli. A local talent who embraces art as the way to share stories and empowerment. Amy released her album "Bigger Than Me" in September 2019, and she shares a live performance of the title song with us, in this session. This radioplasma session with Amy, was an intimate conversation that approaches her process creating this musical storytelling production, and how it connects to her work as an arts educator through her program, ArtSong.

Session recorded at the Readywipe Gallery, in occasion of the celebration of the Day of the Dead, titled: "Por Nosotros y para Todos Nosotros, Día de los Muertos Holyoke Community Altar." This was an emotive, colorful, beautiful collective experience, created by Neftalí Duran, Jason Montgomery, and the Readywipe Gallery, to make a space to honor, remember, and celebrate the lives of the dear departed friends, and family members of the community, in a ceremonial ofrenda that connects to the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead, celebrated on November 1st, and 2nd. In this conversation with Jason Montgomery, we discussed the meaning of this altar for the Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous people, and how this event became a shared experience for members of the community in general to feel part of it, ensuring there is a respect for this tradition, ritual, and cultural manifestation, while we celebrate together being alive, and being able to remember our dead.

Michael Thomas Siciliano is a candidate for Ward 4 at Holyoke City Council. On this conversation, he addresses his continuous interest on joining local government, in hopes of improve the public service, putting politics aside, and taking care of the issues that are of concern for neighbours and constituents.

Jordan Lemieux is a candidate for Holyoke City Council at-large. As a retired firefighter, and skilled on negotiations, Jordan wishes to continue serving the City of Holyoke at City Council, and we had an engaging conversation about all the possibilities available to Holyoke, his motivations to serve at City Council, and his priorities to take care of, on behalf of the constituents, should he join City Council.

We welcome Jens Michaelsen to our series. Jens is a candidate for Ward 5 at Holyoke City Council. As a challenger to the incumbent Linda Vacon, Jens shared his motivations to run for office, his priorities for Ward 5 and the city, the experience, expertise, and skills he brings to the table, and his ideas on how to bring fresh energy to City Council.

Gladys Lebron-Martinez is the incumbent City Councilwoman for Ward 1. Running unopposed, she shared her reasons to continue serving at City Council, as well as the main concerns with Ward 1 and the city, that would be part of the work in this new two-year term at City Council. Also we addressed some issues regarding representation, holding power in local government, and ways to engage better with the underrepresented members of the community.

Juan Anderson-Burgos is the City Councilor for Ward 6 in Holyoke. Running uncontested for this election, he spoke with us about the work as Councilor for the past two years, and the priorities to continue looking forward to a new term. In this conversation we addressed issues of safety, the importance of listening to everybody's concerns, the middle schools, and overall, how his work looks to be a mediator that integrates all parties involved in a discussion, to find a common ground where decisions are made, thinking about the benefit of the whole city of Holyoke.

Our guest is Joe McGiverin, City Councilor at-large, seeking a new two-year term at Holyoke City Council. McGiverin joined us for a great conversation in our series Know Your Candidates, and we addressed some of the details about the work being done at City Council, regarding the Middle Schools, and what are some of the priorities for the City Council to take care of.

We welcome Rebecca Lisi, City Councilor at-large, who is seeking for a new term at Holyoke City Council. On this conversation, we covered her campaign, her priorities for the City of Holyoke as City Councilor, and we addressed the need for more civic engagement, and leadership development in the community. Also, we pointed out issues on gender, race, and social equity in local government.

Sgt. Wilmer Puello, is a candidate for Holyoke City Council at-large. After serving his country in the Air Force, now Puello wants to serve as City Councilor, and we had a good conversation about the issues that are important for him to pursue a seat at-large. We discussed the two middle schools, safety, democracy, and how he is planning to work at City Council, should he be elected.

This is the audio excerpt, taken from the archives by Holyoke Media, of the Development and Government Relations meeting of September 9, 2019, with statement by Clr. David Bartley, in regards of Whiting Street Reservoir. From the Agenda: Item 9: Bartley 8/6/19: Ordered, that in accordance with M.G.L. Ch. 30B and the Holyoke Code of Ordinances procurement ordinance, the City Council declare a lot on Easthampton Road as surplus property available for disposition. Said parcel is identified by the Holyoke Board of Assessors records as Map 212, Block 00, Parcel 001 consisting of vacant land of approximately 53.5 acres in size. The property is more particularly described at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds in Book 5574, Page 41. On May 21, 2007, the property was awarded to the City via a Land Court Decree with a Final Judgment recorded in Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book 16740, Page 126. The property is zoned Business General (BG) and has an assessed value of $1,112,300.

Nelson Lopez is a Candidate for Holyoke City Council, at Large. Born and raised in Holyoke, Nelson shares his story, reasons to run for City Council at Large, and we discussed some of the main concerns that the city needs to have as priorities to take care of.

Recibimos con mucho orgullo, la visita de Raquel Obregón, quien es la anfitriona y productora del espacio radial "Tertulia", que se transmite en NEPR, los Domingos de 8-10 de la noche. En celebración del Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, Raquel, quien es originaria de Lima, Perú, es una de las homenajeadas en las celebraciones a realizarse en Holyoke durante Septiembre y Octubre. En esta sesión conversamos sobre su trayectoria y la importancia de espacios como Tertulia para la difusión cultural de la representación Latina en la región, tanto para el disfrute de estas comunidades, como del público en general.

This is a special coverage of the Rainbow Supper Club's Interfaith Panel, recorded at the Holyoke Council on Aging and Senior Center on September 4, 2019, presented by WestMass Elder Care. During this event, the panelists had a dialogue examining the intersections of faith, gender, and sexuality, linked to the LGBTQ+ community.

As part of the Millpond.Live series of concerts, the third show, offered a powerful experience with Haitian artist, Vox Sambou. In this backstage conversation right after his show, we talked about the amazing experience we all had, and also the importance of representation, multi-cultural awareness, and diversity. After the interview, you will enjoy a sample of his performance in this free series of concerts in Easthampton, MA. Thanks to Laudable Productions for all the support and access to produce this interview. Recorded backstage at Millpond.Live in Easthampton, MA on September 7, 2019

City Councilor for Ward 2, Terry Murphy, is running unopposed for the 2019 Holyoke Municipal Election. In this conversation, we talked about his plans for the new upcoming term, the challenges and needs for the communities in Ward 2, and also we addressed some important topics like safety, quality of life, and the schools. More than a campaign conversation, a deep review of the work being done. This is part of the series "Know Your Candidates" that also includes conversations with candidates who are running unopposed, in order to know more about their work and performance at City Council, and to learn about their plans for a new term.

We welcome Dr. Diana Alvarez in this beautiful conversation and music session, with all the recent and most relevant activities by this Chicanx singer, songwriter, activist, educator, and inspiring human being. Also, this session is an invitation to join Diana at Millpond.Live this September 7, 2019 in Easthampton, MA.

We welcome our guest, El Oso Azul, representing Attack bear Press. We talked about lucha libre as a way of representation of culture, heritage, values, sports, fun, and the link to the arts, through the fantastic art initiative Attack Bear Press, developing all sort of cultural events in the Valley, connecting Holyoke, Easthampton, Northampton, and more.

We experienced a great music session and conversation with the band Sodada. Celebrating the release of their EP "Phase", we learned about the story and evolution of this musical project, created by Hannah Rose and Andy C. This session includes the live performance of their songs "Ultraviolet", and "Lit Up".

Libby Hernandez is one of the candidates for Ward 4 at Holyoke City Council. As part of the series "Know Your Candidates", we talked about her personal and professional background, her motivations to run for Ward 4, and the priorities she identifies for the community of Ward 4, and the City of Holyoke.