Reclaiming the Narrative

Dasht-e-Tanhai (In the Desert of my Solitude) by Faiz Ahmed Faiz Translated from the Urdu and read by Mara Ahmed Sound Design by Darien Lamen Photograph by Rabah Al Shammary ... Dasht-e-tanhai main ai jaan-e-jahaan larzaan hai Teri aavaaz kay saaey, teray honton kay saraab Dasht-e-tanhai main dooree kay khas-o-khaak talay Khil rahay hain teray pehloo kay saman or gulaab Uth rahee hai kaheen qurbat say teri saans kee aanch Apnee khushboo main sulagti hooee madham madham Door ufaq paar chamaktee hooee qatra qatra Gir rahee hai teri dildaar nazar kee shabnam Is qadar payaar say ai jaan-e-jahaan rakha hai Dil kay rukhsaar pay is waqt teri yaad nain haath Yoon gumaan hota hai gerchay hai abhee subh-e-firaaq Dhal gaya hijr ka din aa bhi gaee wasl ki raat. … In the desert of my solitude, my love, quiver the shadows of your voice, the mirage of your lips In the desert of my solitude, from the arid dust of our parting, bloom the jasmine, the roses of your touch From somewhere nearby rises the warmth of your breath it smolders in its own perfume – gently, languorously Far away, on the horizon, glistens drop by drop, the dew of your beguiling glance With such tenderness, my love, your memory has placed its hand on the contours of my heart Even though this is the dawn of our farewell, it feels like the sun has set on our separation and the night of our union is at hand

The second installment in our roundtable reflection on the role and the future of community news in Rochester, New York. Produced for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM with Darien Lamen, Abi Clark, Laura Smith, and Mary Lawrence. Original broadcast date 8/18/21

A roundtable reflection on the role... and the future... of community news in Rochester, New York. Produced for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM with Darien Lamen, Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, Jason Taylor and Leslie Hannon. Original broadcast date 8/6/21

Rochester Offers Programs to Help Residents Keep Cool, But Are They Accessible to Everyone? Right to Repair Movement Aims to Help Consumers Get More Mileage Out of Their Devices Almeta Whitis on Social Justice Storytelling Camp Information for Liberation: A Tribute to Glen Ford of Black Agenda Report Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Original air date: 7/30/21

Reducing Urban Heat Is a Matter of Racial Equity: What Is Rochester Doing to Address the Issue? Billionaire Space Voyages Are a Moonshot Critics Say Miss Their Mark "We're Going to Tear Up Your Neighborhood, But It Won't Hurt a Bit" Monologues on Clarissa Rebroadcast ROC the Peace Fest Resumes for its 11th Year -- Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester NY with co-host Vanessa Ryland Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and feature contributor Abi Clark.

Earlier this year, Dr. Laura Warren Hill released a book that examines the history of the Black Freedom Struggle in Rochester. Reporter Abi Clark spoke with Dr. Hill to learn more. Original air date: 7/16/21

Rochester Among 50 Worst US Cities for Urban Heat, According to New Report Scorecard Shows New York Has Work to Do Toward Climate Goals New Book Studies the Black Freedom Struggle Ignited by the 1964 Uprising in Rochester Brighton Residents Rally to Defend Brighton Town Councillor Against Accusations of Antisemitism Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester, NY. With co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and arts and culture reporter Abi Clark. Original air date 7/16/21

In the coming Saturdays, a string of Pop-Up events hosted by The Friends of Ganondagan aims to share local indigenous culture with the community once again. Art demonstrations, music, storytelling and much more can be found at the Original People Pop-up Event Series. Arts Reporter Abi Clark spoke with the organization's program director to find out what's in store this July. Original air date: 7/9/21

Rising Rates and Power Outages Have Residents Asking: Is There An Alternative to RG&E? Rochester Launches Composting Program as Part of City Climate Plan Grassroots Media Spotlight: Jim Meaney of the Geneva Believer Blog Art Blooms: Friends of Ganondagan Welcome Back Community with Pop-Up Saturdays Produced for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 in Rochester NY by Darien Lamen, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence, feature contributor Leslie Hannon, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Original air date 7/9/21

Rochester wasn't the only place to break records in a heatwave this week. For many, abnormal temperatures are another reminder of the urgent need for climate action. Reclaiming the Narrative's Jason Taylor has more. Original air date: 7/2/21

The Rochester City School District recently held a public forum on the renaming of School Number 3, currently named after Nathaniel Rochester. Reporter Laura Smith has more on the names being considered. Original air date 7/2/21

Heatwave Reminds the Need for Action Against Climate Change RCSD Considers Changing Name of School 3 Uncovering Rochester History: RMSC Research Library Art Blooms: Equal Grounds Resumes Live Open-Mic Performances David Shakes Reads "What to the Slave is Your Fourth of July"? Produced by Darien Lamen with Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, Jason Taylor, Laura Smith, Leslie Hannon, and Abi Clark for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester, NY. Original air date: 7/2/21

GreenCard Youth Voices is a new book documenting the immigration stories of local students. And this Saturday, some of the authors will be at Hipocampo Children's Bookstore to do a reading, followed by a Q and A with the community. Arts Reporter Abi Clark has more. Original air date 6/18/21

With Darien Lamen, Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, Laura Smith, Leslie Hannon, Jason Taylor, and Abi Clark.

With in-person meetings likely to resume in the coming months, reporter Laura Smith looks at whether local elected bodies are planning to continue live-streaming their meetings, and what the implications are for transparency and participation. Original air date 6/4/11

It's report card season, not just for schools, but also for the Rochester region. And according to ACT-Rochester, our region is lagging behind the rest of the class when it comes to economic well-being. Reporter Jason Taylor has more. Original air date 6/11/21

UPDATE to HEADLINE 1: Legislator Flagler-Mitchell issued a statement Friday denying the allegations of sexual misconduct made in the June 8, 2021 Division of Human Rights complaint. -- Livestreamed Meetings Enable Greater Community Participation in RCSD, Parent Leaders Say Could Federal Stimulus Address Decades Long Decline in Median Income, Salaries in Monroe County? Rochester Mayoral Candidates Highlight Public Safety, Education in Second Head-to-Head Debate Students Invited to Play Alongside Musical Mentors at the All In Brass Band Summer Program Newly-Unearthed NAACP Complaints Shed Light on Racist Policies George Eastman Helped Maintain in Rochester Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Original air date 6/11/21

With Local Government Poised to Return to In-Person Meetings, Will Livestreaming and Remote Participation Become a Thing of the Past? City Council Holds Public Hearing on Police Accountability Board Budget Rochester Libraries Celebrate Full Reopening Hudson Mohawk Magazine Cultivates Citizen Reporters, Grassroots Journalism Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, Reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence, and feature contributors Abi Clark and Leslie Hannon. Original air date 6/4/21

After more than a year of court proceedings, citizen journalist Jim Meaney of the Geneva Believer finally had a defamation and libel lawsuit against him dismissed by Ontario County Supreme Court this week. Our reporter, Laura Smith, sat down with him to find out more about his battle, and its implications for protecting free speech. Original air date: 5/21/21

-Rochester Mayoral Candidates Face Off in First Primary Debate -City of Rochester Seeks Community Input on $202 Million American Rescue Plan Funding -Rochester Based Musician Sally Louise Releases Debut Album “My Hands are on Fire” -Warp & Weft: February 2020: On Fire Produced with Darien Lamen, Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, Jason Taylor, and Abi Clark for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Shirly Bahar of the Warp & Weft. Original air date: 5/28/21

After 10 years as an opera singer, Rochester-based musician Sally Louise took a break this past year to redefine music in her life. During quarantine, she revisited her love for songwriting and ended up self-producing her debut album “My Hands are on Fire,” which came out earlier this month. Arts reporter Abi Clark talks tracks with Sally Louise on this week's edition of Art Blooms. Original air date: 5/28/21

Throughout the pandemic, the Monroe County Library System has worked hard to continue providing books and services to community members. Reporter Abi Clark recently spoke to library staff to find out some of the ways the library system has adapted to make sure it’s still accessible to patrons. For more information and to find a library near you, you can visit www.roccitylibrary.org/location

-Local Citizen Journalist Wins Court Battle to Protect Freedom of Speech -Inequality Index: New Report Calls for Public Energy in New York -Monroe County Library System Stays Connected Amidst the Pandemic -WARP & WEFT: Connection, Isolation, and Imagination Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and feature contributor Abi Clark. Special thanks to Arseniy Gutnik and Mara Ahmed of the Warp & Weft. Original broadcast date: 5/21/21

RTS Redesign Launches Forum on Community-Based Emergency First Responder Models Grassroots Media Spotlight: RocIndymedia Warp & Weft: Connectedness Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast by WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester, NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporter Mary Lawrence, feature contributor Leslie Hannon and special thanks to Mara Ahmed of the Warp & Weft. Original air date 5/14/21

Reporter Laura Smith recently spoke with RIT grad student Tymoni Correa-Buntley about her capstone project "Trust Issues: A Study of Declining Trust Between BIPOC Communities and Local Mainstream Media." You can read the findings of that study at: http://www.tlcorreabuntley.com/trust-issues-people-the-press Original air date: 4/30/21

In April, the courts released transcripts from the Daniel Prude grand jury proceedings, allowing the public to judge for themselves whether the state did in fact present the strongest possible case for prosecution, as NYS Attorney General Letitia James previously claimed. After looking through hundreds of pages of transcripts, independent journalist Ben Dean-Kawamura says he’s not convinced. His article "How the NY Attorney General's Office defended the police who killed Daniel Prude" is available at: http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/148066

Local trumpet legend Herb Smith will offer a class "Intro to Classical Music and the Barriers of Black Musicians" next Tuesday at the Brainery. Arts reporter Abi Clark reached out to find out more. Original air date: 5/7/21

A proposal to build a dedicated park for dirt bikes and off-road vehicles is gaining traction in Rochester, after bikers shared testimony about their reasons for riding. Mayor Lovely Warren said Tuesday that her administration was prepared to do a cost analysis of potential sites. Reporter Laura Smith has more on the story. Original air date 5/7/21

Proposal to Create Dedicated Dirt Bike Park Gaining Traction in Rochester Inequality Index: Nani's Kitchen Becomes First Rochester Restaurant to Unionize Ben Dean-Kawamura: State Prosecutors "Acted as Defense" for Police Officers in Daniel Prude Death Art Blooms: Herb Smith on Reclaiming Classical Music Warp & Weft: "Bad Monk" by Katherine Denison Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Katherine Denison of the Warp & Weft. Original air date: 5/7/21

RCSD Students, Educators Agitate for Student-Centered Budget Inequality Index: Marijuana Legalization Trust Issues: Tymoni Correa-Buntley on How Local Newsrooms Can Do Right by Communities of Color Art Blooms: All Aboard Soul Express Warp & Weft: Rupture and Repair Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester, NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Mary Lawrence and Laura Smith, arts contributor Abi Clark, special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Ian Layton of the Warp & Weft. Original air date: 4/30/21

Local Lawmakers Consider Ways of Curbing Joyriding Local Organizations Mark Earth Day By Renewing Call for Climate Justice Excited Delirium: Arjun Byju on the History of an Invented Disease Used to Justify Police Use of Force Buffalo Museum Exhibit Explores History of One of the World's Most Iconic Instruments, from Medieval to Metal Warp and Weft: "MMXX Strange Times" Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley; Reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence; Arts & Culture Reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Noelle Evans of the Warp & Weft. Original air date: 4/23/21

Arjun Byju discusses his new article "Excited Delirium: How Cops Invented a Disease" with Reclaiming the Narrative's Darien Lamen. Available at: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/04/excited-delirium-how-cops-invented-a-disease/ Original air date: 4/23/21

Progressive Groups Unveil Their NYS Legislative Priorities for 2021 in Compassionate NY Agenda Inequality Index: Rochester PAB Calls for $5 Million Budget RIT Students Use Data Visualizations to Tell Stories About Crime, Policing, Parks and More RCSD Students Get Up On Their Soapboxes as Part of Districtwide Speech Showcase Warp & Weft: The Consolation of Isolation Original air date: 4/16/21 Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 in Rochester NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence, feature contributor Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Allyson Perkins.

Reclaiming the Narrative teams up with RIT's Spring 2021 Data Journalism class, to bring you data visualizations exploring local crime rates, energy subsidies, and more. Producer Darien Lamen recently spoke with the class's professor, Hinda Mandell, to find out more about the goals of this initiative. Original air date: 4/16/21

For the past 5 years, the "Medieval to Metal'' exhibition has been featured at 15 museums across the US. Through the end of summer, this traveling installation will be on display at the Buffalo Museum of Science. On this week's edition of Art Blooms, arts reporter Abi Clark takes a look at a collection that tells the story of one of the world's most iconic instruments, the guitar. Original air date: 4/9/21

Leslie Hannon speaks with Rajesh Barnabas about the history of the Rochester Indymedia Collective, and how instant publishing and collective news production transformed Rochester during the 2000s. Original air date: 4/9/21

Progressives Welcome NYS Budget Support for People in Need Syracuse University Report Examines Lack of IRS Oversight on Wealthiest Art Blooms: Buffalo Exhibit Explore Evolution of Guitar from Medieval to Metal Grassroots Media Spotlight: Rajesh Barnabas of Rochester Indymedia Warp & Weft: It's All About the Touch Produced for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 in Rochester NY by Darien Lamen with Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, features contributor Leslie Hannon, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Roberta Schwartz of the Warp & Weft. Original air date 4/9/21

Feature contributor Leslie Hannon brings us a series of interviews exploring grassroots and independent news media in Upstate New York and beyond. Hannon recently spoke with Joan Coles Howard, the last editor of the Frederick Douglass Voice newspaper, and the daughter of the paper's founder, Howard W Coles. The Voice was founded in the 1930s, making it the longest running Black-owned paper in Rochester's history. In this interview, Coles Howard explains that its mission was to bring all kinds of news--including, importantly, good news--to Rochester's Black community. Issues of the Frederick Douglass Voice newspaper are available in the Howard W Coles Archive of the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Original air date: 3/26/21

Reporter Laura Smith looks at the last minute push to fund pandemic relief for undocumented and other "excluded" workers in New York State. Original broadcast date 4/2/21

Advocates Call on NYS to Fund Undocumented, Other Excluded Workers Rochester Labor Council Hosts Forum on Law Enforcement's Relationship to the Labor Movement New Report Takes Critical Look at Rochester's Budgeting Priorities Art Blooms: Ground and Sky Poetry Warp & Weft: Risk by Luticha Doucette Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY. With co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith, Jason Taylor, and Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Luticha Doucette. Original broadcast date: 4/2/21

The pandemic has been hard on renters, and with the end of the eviction moratorium coming soon, local officials are unveiling a new initiative they hope will keep people in their homes and help landlords get paid. Reporter Laura Smith has more. Original air date 3/26/21

Earlier this month, two local teenagers made history by carrying their high school hockey team to its first section V championship. Forty years earlier, their father and uncle also made history... by becoming Rochester’s first Black hockey players. Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM Original broadcast date 3/26/21

City/County Unveils Eviction Prevention Measures Workshop Series Aims to Get Local Youth "Future Ready" Inequality Index: RASE Commission Report Grassroots Media Spotlight: Frederick Douglass Voice Penfield Teens Make School History With Hockey Win; 40 Years Earlier, Their Family Made History as Rochester's First Black Players The Warp & Weft: Because Every Goliath Meets Its David Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast by WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, volunteer reporters Laura Smith, Abi Clark, and Jason Taylor; feature contributor Leslie Hannon; with special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Selena Fleming of the Warp & Weft. Original broadcast date: 3/26/21

Feature contributor Leslie Hannon brings us a series of interviews exploring grassroots and independent news media in Upstate New York and beyond. Hannon recently spoke with Steve Pierce of the Hudson Mohawk Magazine in Troy, NY about the rewarding but challenging work of developing community reporters and producing a daily news show focused on a wide range of issues from local government to environmental justice. More info about the Hudson Mohawk Magazine is available at mediasanctuary.org. Original air date: 3/19/21

Feature contributor Leslie Hannon brings us a series of interviews exploring grassroots and independent news media in Upstate New York and beyond. Hannon recently spoke with Jim Meaney of the Geneva Believer about how the Geneva NY blog got started, the challenges of doing critical journalism in a small town, and the environmental justice story he says was one of the most impactful so far. More info about the Geneva Believer is available at genevabeliever.com. Original air date: 3/12/21

Community members have been voicing concerns this week about a draft police reform plan. The plan is required as part of NY State wide effort to address racial bias in policing. Our reporter, Laura Smith, has more on the story. Original air date 3/19/21

-Rochester City Council mulls draft policing reform plan -City Law Department to Handle All FOIL Requests, Despite Recent Rebuke to Lead Attorney in Daniel Prude Report -Inequality Index: Center for Justice Sees Billions in Savings for NYS in Justice Reform Package -Grassroots News Spotlight: Hudson Mohawk Magazine -Art Blooms: Excuse Me, I'm Speaking Youth Poetry Contest -The Warp & Weft: Language Is My Land, My Identity Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, feature contributor Leslie Hannon, arts & culture reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Tania Day-Magallón of The Warp & Weft. Original broadcast 3/19/21

Throughout oral arguments Wednesday, it often seemed as though the police officers' lawyer, City Attorney Spencer Ash, was the one on trial. “I have never seen a record of a trial in this circuit that reflects what I saw when I was reading these briefs and studying the record," said US Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit Judge Barrington Parker. "It was mayhem. It was just, in some respects, a free for all.” Original air date 3/12/21

-Appeal of Benny Warr Police Brutality Verdict Centers on City Attorney's Misconduct -March City Council Meeting Round Up -Inequality Index: Housing Assistance -Grassroots News Spotlight: Geneva Believer -Art Blooms: 14th Annual 6x6 Show Opens for Submissions -The Warp & Weft: Celebrate With Me Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 in Rochester NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Mary Lawrence, feature contributor Leslie Hannon, arts reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Erica Bryant of the Warp and Weft. Original broadcast date 3/12/21

Feature contributor Leslie Hannon speaks with Ram Zallan of the Roc Mutual Aid Network, about how their volunteers have been coordinating food and basic supply distribution across Rochester since the pandemic began. Original broadcast date 3/5/21

Local organizations say proposed cuts in Governor Cuomo’s 2022 budget could spell the end of some early intervention services for at-risk youth. Our reporter Laura Smith has more on the story. Original air date 3/5/21