Podcasts about Columbia Heights

En las calles de Washington, el miedo se ha convertido en el compañero diario de miles de inmigrantes. Las operaciones de ICE, Servicio de Control de Inmigración y Aduana de Estados Unidos, se han intensificado desde que Donald Trump decidiera el 11 de agosto el envío de militares para “combatir la delincuencia”. Desde entonces, las redadas se han vuelto una rutina que paraliza barrios enteros y en particular a la comunidad latina. Detrás de cada puerta cerrada y cada mirada esquiva, se esconden historias de miedo e incertidumbre. Pero la comunidad inmigrante de la capital de Estados Unidos intenta resistir y crecen las voces que se alzan en busca de justicia y dignidad. “Yo no he trabajado durante toda una semana porque tres veces me los encontré. Siempre uso carro, pero como están agarrando en carro y no respetan, estoy yéndo ahora en bicicleta. El sábado, iba caminando en mi ruta de siempre y se me metió un (coche) de Texas y después se me metió Migración. Iban despacito, despacito. Tuve que dar vuelta para que no me agarraran porque yo sabía que me esperaban más adelante, en la misma calle”, dice una habitante de Washington  durante una marcha de miles de personas contra la presencia de los militares. Es inmigrante desde hace 26 años en Estados Unidos y prefiere presentarse con el nombre falso de Laura para proteger su identidad. Su colega que tenía dos trabajos para poder subsistir no contó con la misma suerte. “Cuando llegamos en el turno de la mañana dijeron que ya una persona no estaba con nosotros, porque lo había agarrado Migración en la mañana, comprando pancito y café para ir a su trabajo. No le dieron oportunidad de corte ni nada”, nos cuenta. La militarización de Washington está rompiendo el tejido social  Como Laura, muchos migrantes han dejado de ir a trabajar, no van a misa, piden su mercado a domicilio y dejaron de llevar sus hijos al colegio entre otras actividades diarias. La militarización de Washington bajo el argumento de la inseguridad está rompiendo el tejido social. Laura, cuando se atreve a salir de su casa, no sabe si va a regresar y con lágrimas describe cómo sus hijos, ciudadanos estadounidenses, le están escribiendo mensajes constantemente para confirmar si regresó. “Siempre chequeando: ‘mami ¿llegaste a la casa?, mami ¿llegaste al trabajo?, mami ¿estás bien? Así son esos mensajes día y noche para saber. Y si no contesto, es lo más triste. Yo siempre les digo a mis hijos que si no contesto pues…. Ahora están cazando a la gente por el mero hecho de ser hispanos. En mi trabajo ya llegó dos veces Migración también. Han agarrado mucha gente. Rompen ventanas, no respetan ni los carros ni nada, sólo los sacan, los jalonean y se los llevan” explica Laura. Desde que Trump decretó el estado de emergencia por inseguridad el 11 de agosto pasado, cerca de 2.200 miembros de la guardia nacional y 500 agentes federales de ICE, FBI, HSI, ERO y la DEA están patrullando, haciendo retenes, redadas y deteniendo arbitrariamente a supuestos criminales. Es un despliegue militar que seguirá al menos hasta noviembre y que cuesta más de 1 millón de dólares al día. Cazarrecompensas al servicio de la deportación de Trump Laura cuenta que, además, hay vigilantes a sueldo, cazarrecompensas que reciben hasta 1.500 dólares por inmigrante entregado a las autoridades. “1.500 por hacer eso … Yo miré a uno que tenía un sombrero, se puso lentes negros, camisa negra y pantalón bombacho, cuando baja otro se me queda mirando con su sombrero y lentes oscuros y encapuchado y se fueron caminado a un restaurante latino. Yo no entiendo porque no quieren a la gente latina y van a buscar restaurantes latinos a comer”, nos explica. Aunque es difícil identificarlos, los cazarrecompensas tienen características comunes. Entre ellas que no visten nada oficial, se tapan sus rostros, rara vez muestran su identificación, no presentan órdenes de arresto, perfilan racialmente a los latinos, están fuertemente armados y no tienen órdenes judiciales para entrar a las casas o hacer interrogatorios. Para Elian Contreras, mexicano americano presente en la marcha por la liberación de Washington, están pasando muchas cosas graves y la gente no se entera. “Nosotros vivimos en un complejo de apartamentos en Maryland. Hace unas semanas entraron como a las tres o cuatro de la mañana, quebraron ventanas, en todos los apartamentos de al lado le pusieron cinta adhesiva Tape negro a todas las puertas. Entraron, agarraron una familia entera, ya la deportaron y todo. ¿Para qué necesitaban poner cinta adhesiva Tape negro en todas las puertas? ¿Están ocultando algo, están escondiendo algo que nosotros no queremos saber?”, se pregunta Contreras. 1.000 dólares por inmigrante indocumentado entregado La figura de cazarrecompensas no es nueva en Estados Unidos. Durante el despliegue de la Guardia Nacional en Los Ángeles, ciudadanos denunciaron su presencia y en el estado de Misuri, hay un proyecto de ley para recompensar con 1.000 dólares al que entregue a un inmigrante indocumentado. Para Julian Contreras, hermano de Elian, también ciudadano estadounidense de padres mexicanos, sus encuentros con esta policía secreta han sido desafortunados. “Les grité y les pregunté qué estaban haciendo aquí, que tengan vergüenza por vender a la gente, y sólo me miran así, ríen y mandan a los perros de la policía de DC a intimidarme para exigirme y picarme, para que yo me enoje, los toque y me arresten. Pero no me voy a dejar. Son pandilleros, solo por un dinero es suficiente para vender la gente. Como en la Biblia, cuando Judas vendió a Jesús por 20 monedas”, afirma Julian Contreras. El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional afirma que las acusaciones de que “ICE usa contratistas privados o cazadores de recompensas para realizar arrestos son falsas". Lo que sí ofrece públicamente a los nuevos agentes que se incorporan es 50.000 dólares como bono de ingreso, 60 dólares de condonación de deuda estudiantil y 10.000 dólares de bono anual a todos los empleados. Según ellos, la cifra de solicitudes ya supera las 100.000 tras las campañas de publicidad masiva en televisión y otros medios. “La gente que llevaba dos años sin salir a cenar ahora está saliendo y los restaurantes en los últimos dos días han estado más ocupados que nunca”, repite Donald Trump sobre los supuestos efectos positivos en seguridad que ha tenido su orden de militarizar la ciudad. Sin embargo, dueños de restaurantes cuentan otras versiones muy diferentes. Los restaurantes se vacían porque los clientes tienen miedo de salir  Al norte de Washington, en el barrio Latino, los restaurantes están cada vez más vacíos y muchas personas llevan semanas encerradas en sus casas evitando ser detenidos y deportados. “Hay personas que nos han llamado que quieren que les vayamos a traer su comida porque no han salido durante un mes. Hay una señora que conocí hoy día que le vino un derrame facial del nervio porque le dijeron que estaba migración en su edificio”, explica la propietaria de un restaurante en el barrio de Columbia Heights que prefirió guardar el anonimato por seguridad. La militarización de la ciudad y las detenciones arbitrarias a los migrantes ha generado un daño económico muy profundo del que demorará años en recuperarse. “Conforme empezaron las redadas migratorias, la gente empezó a tener más miedo y de ahí cayó el 30% de ventas hasta, ahorita no se ha recompuesto. Estamos peor que en pandemia. En pandemia, por lo menos la gente sale a comprar, pero ahorita el miedo se apoderó de todos los inmigrantes. Y la verdad es que los inmigrantes son los que alzan la economía, son los que compran”, explica. Al haber menos consumo, esta emprendedora necesita menos gente en su restaurante y se ve obligada a rebajar la cantidad de horas que le ofrece a sus trabajadores. “La economía está mal, la gente no tiene trabajo, no tiene cómo solventar sus gastos. ¿Cuántas horas les pueden dar a un latino? ¿30, 28 horas (semanales)? Antes hacían 30 en un turno y 30 se iban a buscar otro lado, pero ya no hay trabajo, ¡no hay!”, se lamenta. Según ella, también hay migrantes con papeles y otros ciudadanos que se aprovechan de la situación y del miedo de los indocumentados para arañarles cualquier dólar. “Lo que están haciendo es cobrar dinero para ir a traer a tu hijo a la escuela. ‘Ok, yo tengo papeles, yo puedo recoger tu niño, me pagas algo'. Es lo que están haciendo las mamás, por no salir a recoger a sus hijos a la escuela o llevarlos, porque a veces los de Migración están por la escuela, así que pagan a estas personas 20 ó 25 dólares, dependiendo del niño”, afirma. Baja a la mitad la asistencia a las misas por miedo a ser detenidos  Del total de las 2.120 personas que han detenido hasta el momento, la mitad son hispanos, según el Departamento de Justicia. Un perfilamiento que se traslada hasta en la salida de las iglesias, donde los curas han registrado al menos 8 detenciones y una reducción del 50% en la asistencia a sus misas. Sin embargo, prefirieron no hablar con los medios. Para Keya Chaterjee, directora ejecutiva de la organización ‘Free DC', callar es la peor opción ante la dictadura. “Hay personas que están aterrorizadas, que no están saliendo de sus casas y limitando sus actividades, pero no podemos dejarnos intimidar de cara a esta realidad porque los dictadores prosperan en una atmósfera de miedo y caos. Eso es lo que están tratando de incitar”, denuncia. Según Chaterjee, la militarización y la campaña de intimidación por parte de una policía secreta hace parte de una estrategia a largo plazo para no ceder el poder y acabar con la democracia. “Todos los días hay un escalamiento. Empezamos con militares que estaban sin armas, después tenían pistolas, ahora tienen rifles semiautomáticos. Todos los días ha habido un escalamiento y ahora, Stephen Miller (subdirector de políticas y asesor de seguridad nacional de Trump), el nacionalista blanco y racista en la Casa Blanca, dice que quiere mantener a DC ocupada por los militares hasta finales del 2026. ¿Y usted sabe que hay detrás de esto, cierto? La gente no se olvida de la historia y entiende que los dictadores quieren crear un estilo de ley marcial en la capital del país para suprimir a la oposición y prevenir la transferencia del poder”, explica Keya Chaterjee.  La organización Free DC recomienda cinco pasos contra la represión y el miedo. Primero, no obedecer por adelantado sin que haya justa causa para cualquier interrogatorio. Segundo apropiarse del espacio público que los agentes encubiertos no conocen tanto, tercero, mostrar solidaridad; cuarto, organizarse para saber los derechos de las personas y quinto mantenerse activo y alegre. Según ella, a pesar de la represión, mucha gente en la ciudad ha optado por una posición desafiante. "La gente está desafiando al ICE" “Las personas en DC no están tolerando esto y está desafiando al poder. Por ejemplo, cuando ICE hace retenes ilegales, tenemos a gente que se anticipa y desvía el tráfico para evitar el retén. Cuando vienen a nuestros barrios salimos a perseguirlos hasta que se vayan si somos más y todos están grabando en video a la policía y gritándoles las ilegalidades que están cometiendo”, asegura. Bajo el pretexto de la lucha contra la inseguridad y la creciente polarización, el inmigrante latino se convierte en para rayo y responsable de los problemas estructurales de Estados Unidos, un país hecho por migrantes. Sin embargo, para los hermanos Contreras, al final, no pueden arrestar a todos los migrantes. “Nos pueden arrestar a uno, pero no nos pueden arrestar a 11 millones. Los hispanos son los que trabajan más fuerte, el que limpia tus baños, el que trae tu comida, el que le sirve a tu niño, pero cuando no hay inmigrantes, esta economía se va a bajar”, dice Contreras. Para muchos, Trump quiere dar un ejemplo con los inmigrantes hispanos de lo que les pasaría a los que decidan revelarse contra de sus decisiones. Entre el miedo y el silencio, el migrante pierde sus libertades básicas de movimiento, de expresión, religiosas, económicas y de consumo. Libertades por las que tanto arriesga y que vino a buscar a un país que ya no las ofrece.

This Day in Legal History: Lord Haw-Haw SentencedOn September 19, 1945, William Joyce—infamously known as “Lord Haw-Haw”—was sentenced to death by a British court for high treason. Joyce had gained notoriety during World War II for broadcasting Nazi propaganda over German radio to British audiences, aiming to demoralize Allied troops and civilians. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the UK and Ireland, Joyce later became a naturalized German citizen and an enthusiastic supporter of Hitler. His broadcasts, delivered in a nasal, sneering voice, opened with the phrase “Germany calling,” and earned him the derisive nickname "Lord Haw-Haw" from British listeners.After the war, Joyce was captured by British forces in Germany and brought back to the UK to stand trial. Despite his German citizenship, the court ruled that he had committed treason because he had held a British passport when he began working for the Nazis. His legal defense argued that he owed no allegiance to Britain at the time of the broadcasts, but the court held that possession of the passport created a duty of allegiance. The case raised significant questions about the limits of national loyalty and the reach of British treason laws.On January 6, 1946, Joyce was executed by hanging at Wandsworth Prison, becoming one of the last people to be executed for treason in the UK. The trial and execution were controversial, with some legal scholars and public commentators questioning the soundness of the court's interpretation of allegiance. Nevertheless, the sentence was seen by many at the time as a necessary response to one of the most prominent domestic collaborators of the war.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), long considered a cost-effective and critical pillar of U.S. workplace safety, has been effectively dismantled under the Trump administration's 2025 restructuring efforts. The agency, a division of the CDC responsible for certifying N95 masks, studying firefighter deaths, and leading occupational health research, saw roughly 90% of its 1,000 staff receive layoff notices on April 1. This move paralyzed core programs, from black lung screenings to PPE certifications, halting NIOSH's role as both a public safeguard and a quiet corporate consultant. The sudden cuts sparked chaos: lab animals were euthanized, crucial research was frozen, and businesses warned of safety gaps and market instability.Many affected workers have since resigned or are stuck on administrative leave, while others remain in limbo as lawsuits challenge the legality of the terminations. Despite statements from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming essential functions remain intact, internal confusion and partial walk-backs—like budget proposals still seeking to slash 80% of NIOSH funding—suggest deeper dismantling intentions. Business leaders, labor unions, and safety advocates have united in rare bipartisan pushback, warning of long-term risks to both worker health and industrial standards.The agency's downfall is part of a broader campaign to weaken the federal workforce, spearheaded by Project 2025 architects and executed with sweeping firings, anti-DEI mandates, and deep budget cuts across agencies. Former government scientists describe the collapse of safety infrastructure as a slow, invisible crisis—where the full damage may not emerge for years. With morale shattered and talent fleeing, the future of U.S. workplace safety research is in jeopardy.Trump Team Derailed Corporate America's Most Valuable ConsultantTwo major elements of President Donald Trump's economic agenda—his global tariffs and his attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook—are now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, raising pivotal questions about the scope of presidential power. The court has agreed to hear a challenge to Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs, a law traditionally used to sanction hostile foreign actors, not manage trade. Arguments are set for November 5. Separately, Trump is seeking to fire Cook, claiming misconduct; however, critics argue this is a pretext for targeting her policy views and that doing so violates the 1913 law establishing the Fed's independence.Legal scholars warn that siding with Trump in either case could dramatically expand executive authority. Trump has already tested legal boundaries across immigration, diversity, and civil service policy. While lower courts have often blocked his initiatives, the Supreme Court—now with a 6-3 conservative majority including three Trump appointees—has frequently sided with him. The Cook case raises unprecedented constitutional questions, as no president has ever removed a Fed governor.Meanwhile, Trump's tariff actions have destabilized global trade relations and spurred economic uncertainty, though his allies argue they are central to his economic strategy. A decision favoring Trump in both cases could weaken institutional checks on executive power and erode the principle of independent monetary policy.Key parts of Trump's economic agenda now in Supreme Court's hands | ReutersIn Washington, D.C., immigrant neighborhoods like Mount Pleasant, Petworth, and Columbia Heights are pushing back against a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests under President Donald Trump's intensified immigration enforcement campaign. Local residents have begun organizing in real-time—using chat groups and in-person protests—to disrupt ICE detentions, including a recent case where bystanders successfully pressured officers to release a Guatemalan man. These actions reflect growing distrust and fear within largely Latino communities, where residents report increased racial profiling and aggressive policing.The Trump administration's recent declaration of a “crime emergency” in D.C., coupled with the federalization of local police and a heightened ICE presence, has heightened tensions, especially in areas with deep immigrant roots. Community members and advocacy groups say people are being targeted based on appearance or location, not criminal history. Businesses that once bustled with immigrant patrons are seeing sharp declines in foot traffic, as many residents now avoid public spaces out of fear.Federal officials defend the enforcement as targeting serious offenders, but critics point out that many arrests involve individuals without criminal records. A Supreme Court ruling this month has further enabled ICE to continue race- or location-based arrests. Meanwhile, residents like Yessica Gonzalez and Nelvin Rodriguez say the climate of fear is unlike anything they've previously experienced. The increased enforcement has not only disrupted lives but also strained local economies and community trust.Washington's immigrant neighborhoods push back against ICE arrests | ReutersThe U.S. Senate has confirmed John Squires, a veteran intellectual property attorney and former Goldman Sachs executive, as the new head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under President Donald Trump. Squires takes over at a critical time, as the agency grapples with global competition from China and emerging legal challenges surrounding artificial intelligence in the patent process. His appointment follows a broad push by Senate Republicans to confirm a slate of Trump nominees despite Democratic opposition.Squires brings a deep background in both corporate and legal arenas, having worked on IP and tech issues at firms like Honeywell and most recently at Dilworth Paxson, where he focused on AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity. He has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania. His predecessor, Kathi Vidal, led the USPTO during the Biden administration and returned to private practice following Trump's 2024 election victory.The USPTO plays a vital role in the American innovation ecosystem, handling patent and trademark applications and advising the government on intellectual property policy. The agency's Patent Trial and Appeal Board frequently mediates high-stakes disputes over patent validity, especially in the tech sector. Squires steps into the role amid heightened political scrutiny, including a controversial Commerce Department order to review patents held by Harvard University as part of a broader White House campaign linked to campus antisemitism concerns.US Senate confirms Trump's pick to run US Patent and Trademark Office | ReutersThis week's closing theme is by Gustav Mahler.This week's closing theme comes from one of the most enigmatic works in the orchestral repertoire: Mahler's Symphony No. 7, specifically its haunting first movement, Langsam – Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo. Composed between 1904 and 1905 and premiered on September 19, 1908, this symphony marks a fascinating midpoint in Mahler's artistic evolution—bridging the lush Romanticism of his earlier works with the more fractured, modernist terrain of his later symphonies.The first movement opens with a dark, slow introduction featuring the eerie voice of the tenor horn, an instrument rarely heard in symphonic writing. Its strange, searching call sets a tone of unease, as if the music is emerging from shadow. What follows is a restless march full of contrasts—grim fanfares, lyrical episodes, and bursts of uneasy energy—all presented with Mahler's characteristic sense of orchestral color and irony.Unlike the more spiritual or pastoral moods of Mahler's other symphonies, the Seventh is often described as "problematic," even "nightmarish"—a label Mahler himself rejected. He referred to the symphony as a progression “from night into day,” and this opening movement represents the beginning of that journey: turbulent, disoriented, and shot through with moments of beauty and menace.Mahler's orchestration here is dense and highly detailed, often requiring massive forces and unconventional instruments. Yet beneath its complexity lies a deep emotional current—one that shifts rapidly from the grotesque to the sublime. The movement ends not with resolution but with a kind of defiant uncertainty, a theme Mahler would continue to explore in his final works.As our closing theme this week, Langsam – Allegro reminds us that the path through darkness is rarely straightforward—and that art, like life, often resists tidy interpretation.Without further ado, Gustav Mahler's Langsam – Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo– enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

School supply shopping is a marker of summer winding down and a new year of learning about to begin. For many kids, it is also a chance to express themselves through the stuff they pick out.But many families are concerned about the price of that fresh start. Several years of inflation has pinched budgets, and there is concern that tariffs will drive up prices further. A survey by the National Retail Federation found more families started their shopping early this year because of that worry.For the latest in the Minnesota Now series Professional Help, Minnesota Now producer Alanna Elder talked with Julie Granning, PTO president for Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Heights, as well as Sarah Lancaster, who teaches first grade in Onamia and was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2022.Lancaster noted there are school supply giveaways across the state, including one happening Tuesday at Onamia Public Schools. The blog “Thrifty Minnesota” rounded up a list of other events in the state. And the Little Canada-based organization Kids in Need Foundation also provides supplies to eligible students and teachers.Our ask: Help me shop for school supplies on a budgetOur guests: Julie Granning, PTO president for Valley View Elementary School, and Sarah Lancaster, a first grade teacher in Onamia and 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

On "The Lead" - Dr. Tyler Schipper tells Jason why interest rates aren't changing even with positive economic news. Then Chelsea Wen from "US News & World Report" talks about their high rankings for MN Hospitals. On "Page 2" - why a pizza shop in Columbia Heights is going viral

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has charged two people in what officials are calling a "massive" methamphetamine seizure. A Columbia Heights man is now charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 16-year-old son. Jordan Collins Sr. was charged in Anoka County and made his first court appearance this morning.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today's show:· D.C'.s storied Mayflower Hotel is gearing up to celebrate its centennial with all sorts of special activities – and libations. Joe Nacci, the beverage director, and MaCauly Cacioppo, the food and beverage operations manager, join us; · Award-winning broadcaster Tommy McFly and his husband, brand marketing guru Chrys Kefalas. Along with their day jobs, these guys are ice cream entrepreneurs, and they're in with tastes and talk of their Greek yogurt-based ice cream -Yala Greek Ice Cream – and their new brick and mortar opening in Georgetown in about three weeks. · Living online, are you? Then you probably know executive chef and cookbook author Matt Price --but maybe by another name. His millions of Instagram and YouTube followers know him as Mr. Make It Happen. He's just opened Fraiche (French for “fresh”) on 14thSt. NW in Columbia Heights, offering his take on the fusion of French, Cajun, South American, and Caribbean cuisines – and he's got some kick-ass ice cream happening there , too;· And we throw a shout-out to Ruth Gresser of Pizzeria Paradiso fame. She is a truly special person, a D.C. icon, a community-building, delicious food-serving legend. We congratulate her, as RAMW will bestow the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award on her this year at the RAMMYs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today's show:· D.C'.s storied Mayflower Hotel is gearing up to celebrate its centennial with all sorts of special activities – and libations. Joe Nacci, the beverage director, and MaCauly Cacioppo, the food and beverage operations manager, join us; · Award-winning broadcaster Tommy McFly and his husband, brand marketing guru Chrys Kefalas. Along with their day jobs, these guys are ice cream entrepreneurs, and they're in with tastes and talk of their Greek yogurt-based ice cream -Yala Greek Ice Cream – and their new brick and mortar opening in Georgetown in about three weeks. · Living online, are you? Then you probably know executive chef and cookbook author Matt Price --but maybe by another name. His millions of Instagram and YouTube followers know him as Mr. Make It Happen. He's just opened Fraiche (French for “fresh”) on 14thSt. NW in Columbia Heights, offering his take on the fusion of French, Cajun, South American, and Caribbean cuisines – and he's got some kick-ass ice cream happening there , too;· And we throw a shout-out to Ruth Gresser of Pizzeria Paradiso fame. She is a truly special person, a D.C. icon, a community-building, delicious food-serving legend. We congratulate her, as RAMW will bestow the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award on her this year at the RAMMYs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Roll Call podcast team is joined by Hassan Kamel and Ryan Munsey of Otto Kroeger Associates (OKA), who are in town to facilitate an emotional resilience course for the Columbia Heights Public Safety staff. In this episode, Hassan and Ryan explain how their three-day course can better prepare Columbia Heights first responders for the emotional challenges of front-line situations.

In the first Hearing the Council interview of 2025, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discusses two of her initial legislative priorities for the New Year: her soon-to-be-introduced bottle deposit and Neighborhood Management Entities bills. Councilmember Nadeau discusses how the bottle (and can) deposit bill would aim to greatly reduce the amount of these items in our rivers and woods, as well as on our streets. Every resident and business would be empowered to tackle the dual goals of environmental protection and neighborhood beautification through this proposed measure. Additionally, she discusses how her proposed Neighborhood Management Entities bill would allow dense mixed use communities like Ward 1's U Street and Columbia Heights neighborhoods to better and more collaboratively tackle issues and projects, from cleanliness to safety to event planning. Plus, as always, we had the "fun round," where Councilmember Nadeau selected which of her colleagues would be best suited to join her in tackling a range of tasks, from putting on a puppet show to meeting with the Trump Administration.

Your work is not your job or career.  Your work is what you create. You get this.  But what if you're still searching for the thing that's yours which you create? Or if you've stumbled upon it, what if that thing isn't like everyone else's? While everyone else is creating tangible things that people can taste and touch, yours can't be.  What then?  I want you to know you're not alone in this.  Creating isn't always tangible.  Some people do create tangible things.   But many more create intangible experiences.    And that's great news.  It means the world of creating is much bigger and wider than you might have thought.   My guest on today's episode can tell you all about this because Katie MacDonald has done something truly remarkable.   She's taken what she's heard here on Reframe to Create and done the deep work of integrating it into her understanding of herself and her work.  She's let it give her a reframe and the result has been a powerful discovery of what she uniquely brings to the table.  And her unique contribution might be like yours--something intangible.  Learning this has changed not just how she shows up on her job but how she shows up in all of her life.  We also talk about how your unique work doesn't require that you go on a long journey to find it because you're already doing it in some way today.  Listen in because you might discover that you've already been doing the thing you've been searching to find.     About my guest:  Katie MacDonald is a public health professional, passionate about improving lives through increased access to quality health products and services. She has worked in health markets around the world to introduce new health commodities, promote policy change and build public private partnerships. Katie discovered her love for public health as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali and since then has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bangladesh. Katie enjoys making connections with people around the world and in her own neighborhood of Columbia Heights in Washington, DC through scuba diving, cooking, reading and running. Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-macdonald-mph/   Reference Episodes  Reframe to Create Episode 57 - Build and Diversify Your Work Portfolio  Reframe to Create Episode 56 - Liberate Your Work | Sawida Kamara  Reframe to Create Episode 86 - Don't Let Your Job Get in the Way of Your Work  About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy's coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.   Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer/

Heidi Kopischke, Shelter and Supportive Services Supervisor with the Alexandra House joins Will Rottler, Communications and Engagement Coordinator, and Tabitha Wood, COP Coordinator/Youth Outreach Officer. In this episode, Heidi shares with the Roll Call team the mission of the Alexandra House and how the Columbia Heights community can support its efforts.

Why does God need a name in the first place? John Mark argues that it's because there are many "gods". He surveys scripture passages relating to gods and demonic beings, not only warning us that they are real and should never be worshipped, but that Yahweh is the one true creator God and is higher than them all. Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 34v6-7, Exodus 12v12, Exodus 15v11, Exodus 20v2-4, Psalm 82, Mark 5v1-13, Ephesians 6v10-12This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kayla from Nanaimo, British Columbia; Ross & Allison from Salem, Oregon; Josiah from Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Church on the Rock in Huntley, Illinois; and Jenna from Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.

J.W. Marriott had a gift for seeing what the public needed and made sure to give it to them. Marriott is the epitome of Entrepreneur to Empire. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I'm Stephen's sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today's episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, it's us, but we're highlighting ads we've written and produced for our clients. Here's one of those. [ASAP Commercial Doors Ad] Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast. I'm Dave Young, sitting here with Stephen Semple, and we're talking about people that built empires. Empires, sir. Not just a little business, an empire. As usual, Stephen whispered the topic into my ear just as we were counting down to start recording. And the word is Marriott. I guess that's a name, the Marriott, I don't know if it was one guy or a family. I know that it ended up being a bunch of Marriott's involved, but the Marriott hotel chain. Stephen Semple: The Marriott Hotel chain. Marriott Corporation. Dave Young: I'll tell you what I know about them. And this is weird. A Mormon family? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: And most of the brothers that were involved, maybe in the beginning, but anyway, they were all members of the same college fraternity that I was in. Stephen Semple: Is that right? Dave Young: I didn't know them, but that was the talk about them, "They're these BYU Sigma Chi's from Utah." Stephen Semple: And John Willard Marriott and his wife Alice, very devout Mormons and part of the origin of the Marriott chain actually starts with them doing a mission in New England. Dave Young: Cool. Anxious to hear the story. Stephen Semple: It started in March 5th, 1927 by John Willard Marriott, which is part of the reason why one of the Marriott's is the JW. Dave Young: Sure. This goes back way farther than I knew. I think by the time I was aware of them, this was the eighties. Wow. Big history. Stephen Semple: And today they have over 9,000 properties. There's a whole pile of different badges under it. Dave Young: Brands. Stephen Semple: And million and a half rooms, 400,000 employees. They do like 23 billion in revenue. And look, everyone knows the name Marriott. Dave Young: I think it qualifies as an empire. Stephen Semple: I think it does. And it starts with JW traveling to D.C, Washington, D.C after doing a mission in New England. And he experiences this really hot, humid summer, and he thinks to himself, "This city needs more places to buy cool drinks." He returns home to Utah. He finishes his degree at the University of Utah and returns to Washington where he buys an A&W franchise in Columbia Heights. Dave Young: Good idea. He should have invented air conditioning. I think we've talked about. Stephen Semple: That would've been a better idea. Dave Young: I always have to slide in some little weird bit of trivia that I know, but back in the days before air conditioning, the British Foreign Service actually paid people tropical pay when they were stationed in Washington, D.C. Stephen Semple: Wow, because it is so ugly in the summertime. Dave Young: It was dank and humid. Basically it's a city built on a swamp. Stephen Semple: It pretty much is. Dave Young: He buys an A&W franchise in? Stephen Semple: Columbia Heights. It's a suburb of D.C. It's great in the summer. Business is great in summer. Really slow in the winter. Because at the time, A&W did not sell food. They started off, first of all, it's just root beer. Now he gets permission to sell food, but does it under a different name called Hot Shop. Dave Young: Hot Shop. Shop or Shot? Stephen Semple:

Office Supervisor Karen Olson joins the podcast to reflect on her 35+ years with the City of Columbia Heights. Karen has worked with the Columbia Heights Police Department since 1985 in several capacities, including as office supervisor since 2010. From scheduling swearing-in ceremonies to overseeing office staff, Karen has been the department's heartbeat for numerous years.

Saka dawa is winding to an end. The sacred Tibetan Buddhist month of celebration and prayer surrounding the enlightenment of Buddha was led in part by 17-year-old Jalue Dorje from Columbia Heights, Minn. That's because when Dorje was a young child, the Dalai Lama confirmed that he is a reincarnation of a lama, or holy leader, from Tibet. That means he is destined to be a Buddhist monk and leader of peace. He's been studying to become a monk ever since. When he graduates from Columbia Heights High School in 2025, he plans to move to the Himalayas to continue his studies. For now, though, outside of Dorje's daily studies and prayers, he's an avid sports fan and sees participating in and watching sports as a way to practice his faith.

Sam Studer, independent filmmaker and Northfield High School graduate, talks about his movie “The Most Dangerous Gains.” The movie premiered May 5 at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights.

 Sam Studer, independent filmmaker and Northfield High School graduate, talks about his movie "The Most Dangerous Gains." The movie premiered May 5 at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights. 

On this episode of A One Pint Stand, I sat down with the team behind Rail Werks Brewing Depot in Columbia Heights. They open up on June 1st and will be the first brewery in Columbian Heights. I chatted with Denise and William, the owners, Cory, the bar manager, and Kabel, the head brewer about the food and the drinks. They will be brewing up beer in the brewhouse and smoking BBQ in the kitchen. Give a listen!

Back when I worked for Michael Steele at the Republican National Committee, before Michael lost his mind, and before I became a non-Republican conservative, he made the staff go to an event in a mostly black area of Maryland. And, I watched as white Republicans did what white Republicans do. They became uncomfortable and changed the way they interacted with people. Right now is the best possible time to recruit black votes and what if we just acted neighborly? Do you think black people love that elections are getting rigged and they are the scapegoats that allow it to continue? We need to talk about how we can ask for black votes because it cannot be that hard.What does God's Word say? Galatians 3:26-2926 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.The Parable of the Good SamaritanEpisode 1,372 Links:Recent grad volunteering in DC with Catholic charity shot, killed while walking home from church; Realbuto found himself in DC via the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps.Black Fulton County resident leaves County Board of Commissioners in STUNNED SILENCE after calling out election interference, Fani Willis' corrupt affair to their FACES as other residents APPLAUDA few months ago, Columbia Heights residents were asked about rampant shoplifting at their local CVS. Residents sided with the looters. CVS just announced it is permanently shutting down this store next month.In 1976, the Shah of #Iran gave 60 Minutes his candid opinion of the Palestinian issue: “Palestinians must know that there is a limit to where they can go and bully the world…by terrorism and blackmailing and this and that…NEW: Moms for Liberty co-founder triggers Joy Reid on her own show and gets her to argue in *favor* of "r*pe" and "pedoph*lia" books in schools.Dean Phillips on Trump supporters: “I saw a line of people waiting in the cold for hours… every single one of them thoughtful, hospitable, friendly… frustrated that they feel nobody is listening to them but Trump. My party is completely delusional”4Patriots https://4Patriots.com/Todd See this week's discounts and deals before they are gone and get free shipping on orders over $97. Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. Bioptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/todd Use promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/todd Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions. Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com) Call 866-779-RISK or visit online to get their FREE Common Cents Investing Guide. SOTA Weight Loss https://sotaweightloss.com SOTA Weight Loss is, say it with me now, STATE OF THE ART! GreenHaven Interactive Digital Marketing https://greenhaveninteractive.com Your Worldclass Website Will Get Found on Google!

Today our conversation is with Bo Menkiti. We had to break it into two different episodes because it was so good!In this episode we learn about Bo's background–growing up on the “other side of the tracks” in an immigrant neighborhood–he talks about how this shaped his perspective on finding value where others may not have seen it and his educational experiences at Harvard University.Then he takes us back to when he was COO of the nonprofit College Summitt and he had six weeks of mandatory vacation time on his hands. So he decided to buy and resale the six vacant houses next to him in Columbia Heights, DC. Fast forward and he now is CEO of the Menkiti Group, an integrated real estate services company focused on a double bottom line, measuring success in terms of positive social impact and financial returns. Bo is also the CEO and founding partner of Keller Williams Capital Properties, a residential real estate brokerage managed by the Menkiti Group.The Menkiti Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties have been recognized by Inc. magazine as being among the fastest growing private companies in the nation. They have also been named as two of the fastest growing inner city businesses in America by Fortune magazine.As his company grew more and more successful, it invested in eighteen different minority-owned development companies. With the investment from the Menkiti Group, these development companies were able to secure the financing they needed to make deals, catapulting them to success.There are a ton more fascinating life stories and development lessons that we can't even fit into this description. So take a listen! And don't forget to stay tuned for Part 2.Resources:Learn more at The Color of MoneyConnect with Bo on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bomenkitiLearn more about the Menkiti Group at menkitigroup.comBecome a real estate agent HEREConnect with Our HostsEmerick Peace:Instagram: @theemerickpeaceFacebook: facebook.com/emerickpeaceDaniel Dixon:Instagram: @dixonsolditFacebook: facebook.com/realdanieldixonLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dixonsolditYouTube: @dixongroupcompaniesJulia Lashay:Instagram: @iamjulialashayFacebook: facebook.com/growwithjuliaLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julialashay/YouTube: @JuliaLashayProduced by NOVA MediaThis podcast is for general informational purposes only. The guest's views, thoughts, and opinions represent those of the guest and not KWRI and its affiliates and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

Drew Zuehlke, Pastor of Hope Community Church in Columbia Heights, shares what it looks like to be someone who shows the goodness of God, pushing back the darkness in your own life and with the people God has placed around you.  Chapel date: 10/18/23

Episode 195: Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and guest host Courtney Mattern, director of brand and content marketing, are chatting with Victor Lebegue, CEO at VL Builders in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Tune in to the full episode to hear about how this young entrepreneur and his goals for changing  the construction industry for the better. And learn how managing two companies in two different states is possible with the help of project management software.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/  

When an influx of Afghan refugees started arriving in Minnesota after the fall of Kabul two years ago, the humanitarian nonprofit Alight jumped in to help them build new lives here.“We partnered with the state of Minnesota in setting up homes,” said Sonia Anunciacion, Afghan program lead for Minneapolis-based Alight. “So anything you'd think would go into a home, is what we put in there: culturally and religious specific items like prayer rugs, books in Dari and Pashto, Qurans, foods to make an Afghan meal.”But those items alone can't make a home.“As we were meeting this community, we heard a lot about isolation, depression,” Anunciacion recalled. “They're disconnected from the community now that they're spread across the Twin Cities. And there are so many barriers for them to have that sense of community again.”So Alight talked with some of the refugee women and made a discovery.“They told us they love to sew,” Anunciacion said. “And so we thought, what a great way to get the women together. We'll provide a safe space for them to just be free to get to know one another.”A lifeline of thread, wrapped around a spool or wound around a bobbin.And so that happened this summer, at Westwood Community Church in Bloomington, Minn. About 30 women gathered there on Wednesday nights, had dinner, got on-site child care, spent some time with a needle and their own sewing machine to take home, courtesy of Building Blocks of Islam, a charity based in Columbia Heights, Minn.Roqia Joya, a fellow refugee, was one of the guides for the group. She said clothing is a cultural touchstone for Afghan families — and isn't readily replicated, even elsewhere in the Islamic world, like Turkey and Iran. International shipping also can be prohibitively expensive, particularly from Afghanistan. “We do have over there, back in our country, this culture that people are sewing, especially in wedding parties or cultural parties,” she said through an interpreter.It's also a simple matter of practicality: Many Afghan refugees were suddenly uprooted, escaping with little more, literally, than the clothes on their backs. They left behind the support of their families, their jobs, their homes. Sewing lets them repair and tailor their clothes, readily and inexpensively.Laila Joya, who worked for an American cultural exchange program, said tailors and seamstresses back in Afghanistan readily shared their skills.“They had courses, and girls went there and learned how to sew, and then they sewed clothes for themselves and their families,” she said. “In Afghanistan, it was one of my favorite things that I learned.”And she kept at it after she and her husband fled to the U.S. two years ago, when she was pregnant with their first child.“Most of the time I go to the stores, and I buy some clothes and ... I don't like the way they are sewn, or it does not fit,” she said. “So it was my wish that I have something that I could sew for myself and it would fit and I would be comfortable with that.”She also likes making clothes for her daughter — and even brought her along as she joined other Afghan women at the sewing circle.Organizers of the group say they've seen it make a difference.“I think sewing is really therapeutic,” said Alight's Sonia Anunciacion. “Just looking back to when I first met these women — they were very pale. There [were] hardly any smiles, which is understandable. Now they are full of laughs. They gather together outside of our program as well. I just went to two engagement parties a couple weeks ago, and these women know each other through our programming. So it's made quite a difference in their lives.”Another group of 30 Afghan women started a new sewing circle in recent days. Alight is taking donations to help keep the program going. You can find out how to give at wearealight.org.

 Hosted by Nycci Nellis.  On today's show:                                                                                                                                                           -   Have you been to Mike Rafidi's YELLOW in Georgetown? The lil' Levantine cafe serves up delicious pastries - the lebneh-filled croissant is Nycci's kryptonite - pita-filled sandwiches and pizza that is not pizza. He is also the chef behind the too-many-awards-to-mention Albi in Navy Yard. The attention to detail at both these spots is what gets them all their accolades - and that includes the coffee program. In today is Ayat Elhag, the coffee director of YELLOW and Albi, where she helms a beverage program that blends creative, Levantine-inspired specialty drinks with intentionally sourced Counter Culture coffee; -   In 2018, Debby Portillo Gonzalez made a life-changing move to the DMV area from her native El Salvador. Here she and her husband established the 100% handcrafted barbecue operation 2Fifty Texas BBQ. Using exclusively offset smokers, they spearheaded the creation of a unique culinary experience at 2Fifty.  They are dedicated to developing a menu that has top-notch quality control and have now expanded to two locations; -   Chef Seng Luangrath was born in Laos and fled the country during the Vietnam War. During her stay in a refugee camp in Thailand's Nakhon Phanom province she learned how to cook from her camp neighbors and elders. In 2009, at the age of 40, she decided to go after her greatest passion - cooking. In 2010 she took over Padaek, previously Bangkok Golden, a Thai restaurant, where she slowly added Lao dishes of her own. Currently the restaurant offers both Thai and Lao menus. And then — in 2014 she opened Thip Khao, a Lao restaurant in Columbia Heights and home of the Lao Food Movement. And she is just getting started!  -   Christian Irabien is the visionary founder of Amparo Fondita, a remarkable restaurant that celebrates contemporary Mexican cuisine, particularly emphasizing the flavors and influences of coastal regions. Christian's commitment to quality and to showcasing the diverse culinary traditions of Mexico is evident in every meticulously crafted dish; -   And we are joined on RingCentral by Tiffany MacIsaac. The Buttercream Bakeshops founder grew up on Maui and her family lives there today.  She addresses the absolute horror and devastation that have taken place in Hawaii this week. The wild fires have wreaked havoc — and she has some ideas on how we can help.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  Hosted by Nycci Nellis.   On today's show:                                                                                                                                                              -   Have you been to Mike Rafidi's YELLOW in Georgetown? The lil' Levantine cafe serves up delicious pastries - the lebneh-filled croissant is Nycci's kryptonite - pita-filled sandwiches and pizza that is not pizza. He is also the chef behind the too-many-awards-to-mention Albi in Navy Yard. The attention to detail at both these spots is what gets them all their accolades - and that includes the coffee program. In today is Ayat Elhag, the coffee director of YELLOW and Albi, where she helms a beverage program that blends creative, Levantine-inspired specialty drinks with intentionally sourced Counter Culture coffee;   -   In 2018, Debby Portillo Gonzalez made a life-changing move to the DMV area from her native El Salvador. Here she and her husband established the 100% handcrafted barbecue operation 2Fifty Texas BBQ. Using exclusively offset smokers, they spearheaded the creation of a unique culinary experience at 2Fifty.  They are dedicated to developing a menu that has top-notch quality control and have now expanded to two locations;   -   Chef Seng Luangrath was born in Laos and fled the country during the Vietnam War. During her stay in a refugee camp in Thailand's Nakhon Phanom province she learned how to cook from her camp neighbors and elders. In 2009, at the age of 40, she decided to go after her greatest passion - cooking. In 2010 she took over Padaek, previously Bangkok Golden, a Thai restaurant, where she slowly added Lao dishes of her own. Currently the restaurant offers both Thai and Lao menus. And then — in 2014 she opened Thip Khao, a Lao restaurant in Columbia Heights and home of the Lao Food Movement. And she is just getting started!   -   Christian Irabien is the visionary founder of Amparo Fondita, a remarkable restaurant that celebrates contemporary Mexican cuisine, particularly emphasizing the flavors and influences of coastal regions. Christian's commitment to quality and to showcasing the diverse culinary traditions of Mexico is evident in every meticulously crafted dish;   -   And we are joined on RingCentral by Tiffany MacIsaac. The Buttercream Bakeshops founder grew up on Maui and her family lives there today.  She addresses the absolute horror and devastation that have taken place in Hawaii this week. The wild fires have wreaked havoc — and she has some ideas on how we can help.  

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by friend of the show, Martin Di Caro of the Washington Times and host of the History as It Happens podcast. Later in the, Utah's Congressman Blake Moore calls in to talk about his work on the House Ways and Means Committee. -Martin Di Caro brings 25 years of broadcast journalism experience to the Washington Times. He has won numerous prestigious awards throughout his career in major media markets across the country. Before coming to the Times, Martin was a news anchor at Bloomberg Radio's Washington bureau. From 2012 to 2017, he covered transportation at NPR member station WAMU 88.5 in Washington, where his work on the yearslong Metrorail crisis earned Martin his second Edward R. Murrow award, which included hosting the radio station's first podcast, Metropocalypse. Martin worked as a reporter for AP Radio in New York and Washington for eight years starting in 2008. He lives in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of D.C. and his interests include reading history and following his beloved New York Jets. He can be reached at mdicaro@washingtontimes.com.-A native of Ogden, Blake Moore is a proactive problem solver committed to representing each and every constituent of Utah's First District. He is dedicated to reflecting Utah's values in Congress and finding solutions to the challenges facing the district and the state. Advocating for inclusive, pro-growth, and aspirational principles, Blake is amplifying Northern Utah's voice on a national level to ensure Utahns receive the service and representation they deserve.Blake currently serves as the first-ever Utah Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he sits on the Healthcare, Social Security, and Work and Welfare subcommittees. He also serves on the House Budget Committee to push for policies to reverse our national debt crisis and advocate for Utah's defense community. Blake continues to represent Hill Air Force Base as co-chair of the Armed Forces and Depot caucuses.Before being elected to Congress, Blake worked for small businesses and in the foreign service, experiences that now guide his work on domestic and foreign policy. As a Principal at Cicero Group, Blake worked primarily in the social impact, marketing research, and strategy practice areas leading projects and serving clients throughout Utah and the nation. He has expertise in education, financial services, public policy, healthcare, transportation, supply chain, and waste industries, and this work informs his customer service and problem solver approach in Washington, D.C., as he identifies ways to help the federal government better work for Northern Utah. His passion for helping organizations manage the change process drives his ambition to overcome partisan gridlock, improve federal agencies, and smartly streamline the nation's bureaucracy.Previously, Blake worked abroad in business development in the healthcare and financial services industries, which led him to understand the challenges that small businesses grapple with daily. Blake was also honored to serve in the Foreign Service for the U.S. Department of State, where he gained first-hand knowledge of America's international threats. This experience taught him to take seriously the United States' diplomatic apparatus, the readiness of the Armed Forces, and the nation's commitment to strengthening partnerships and alliances across the globe.Blake joined Congress in 2021 and served on the Armed Services, Natural Resources, and Budget committees during his first term. On these committees, he advocated for Hill Air Force Base and Utah's defense community, promoted domestic energy production, worked on addressing our debt and deficit crises, among several other efforts. Congressman Moore convened a Debt and Deficit Task Force in Ogden to create a framework of solutions with local leaders for how the federal government can grow the economy, save and strengthen vital programs, focus America's spending, and fix Congress's budgeting process. For these efforts, he was named a 2022 Fiscal Hero by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. He also successfully pushed for provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act packages for FY22 and FY23 that support Hill Air Force Base's modernization efforts, Sentinel program, housing availability, and more.Blake was the most successful freshman Republican member in terms of legislation passed, with four bills signed into law by President Biden and several more passed through committee. His bills that became law are the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act, the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act, the National Medal of Honor Act, the Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act, and provisions in the Afghanistan Accountability Act.Blake is an active and valued team player within the House Republican Conference, chosen to serve as an Assistant Whip on the Republican Whip Team, the House Armed Services Committee conferee on the China legislation conference committee, and co-chair of the bipartisan Depot, Air Force, and Future caucuses. Blake obtained a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. He graduated from the University of Utah after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Seoul, South Korea, and signing a scholarship to play as the quarterback at Utah State University. In high school, he was awarded the Wendy's National High School Heisman, an award honoring one male and one female senior for excellence in athletics, academics, and citizenship. He remembers fondly a conversation with a Heisman trustee after the ceremony. The trustee mentioned that it was Blake's Eagle Scout and other service projects that set him apart. Blake recalls thinking at that moment, “I'm not special; that's just the way kids are raised in Northern Utah!”Blake is married to Jane Boyer, his amazing, humorous, and very candid wife, who encourages him to take risks and pursue big things. Blake and Jane have four awesome and active boys who keep them on their toes- Max, George, Winston, and Franklin. Even with a congressional term under his belt, Blake's most prized title is “Little League Coach.”-Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com

Tina Turner dies at 83; Minneapolis and St. Paul each have top-5 park systems; the departure of GOP activist Howard Root; more DFL session victories; Jeff Stein makes his weekly Wednesday visit; woman indicted on money laundering; racism issues at a local Culver’s; Columbia Heights city councillor called on to resign over racist incidents; Duluth…

Do you have a particular food that reminds you of home? Maybe it's your grandma's spaghetti recipe, the lumpia your family used to make or the pozole from the Mexican restaurant down the street. Food has the power to comfort us and connect us with our families and cultures. And when we find a restaurant that serves those familiar foods, it can make us feel more at home. Listen back to a conversation from earlier this year, as MPR News host Angela Davis talks about two restaurants that did just that for many Minnesotans — Khyber Pass in St. Paul and Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Both restaurants closed in late 2022. And they're not the only ones: A handful of other longtime Asian-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities closed in 2022 — like Asia Chow Mein in Columbia Heights and David Fong's in Bloomington. The New York Times reported in 2019 the share of Chinese-owned restaurants in major metropolitan areas is on the decline.  Guests: Michelle Kwan is the former owner of Chinese bakery Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Keefer Court closed in Dec. 2022. Emel Sherzad  is the former owner of the Afghan restaurant Khyber Pass in St. Paul. Khyber Pass closed in Nov. 2022.  Ánh-Hoa Thị Nguyễn is a poet and writer raised in St. Paul by parents from Vietnam. She's worked in grocery stores and restaurants, and has written about the connection between food and cultural identity.

Do you have a particular food that reminds you of home? Maybe it's your grandma's spaghetti recipe, the lumpia your family used to make or the pozole from the Mexican restaurant down the street.Food has the power to comfort us and connect us with our families and cultures. And when we find a restaurant that serves those familiar foods, it can make us feel more at home.Listen back to a conversation from earlier this year, as MPR News host Angela Davis talks about two restaurants that did just that for many Minnesotans — Khyber Pass in St. Paul and Keefer Court in Minneapolis.Both restaurants closed in late 2022. And they're not the only ones: A handful of other longtime Asian-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities closed in 2022 — like Asia Chow Mein in Columbia Heights and David Fong's in Bloomington.The New York Times reported in 2019 the share of Chinese-owned restaurants in major metropolitan areas is on the decline. Guests: Michelle Kwan is the former owner of Chinese bakery Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Keefer Court closed in Dec. 2022.Emel Sherzad  is the former owner of the Afghan restaurant Khyber Pass in St. Paul. Khyber Pass closed in Nov. 2022. Ánh-Hoa Thị Nguyễn is a poet and writer raised in St. Paul by parents from Vietnam. She's worked in grocery stores and restaurants, and has written about the connection between food and cultural identity.

Two pizza guys with two unique journeys: John Puckett founded Caribou Coffee, grew it, sold it, and then bought into a Neapolitan Pizza joint called Punch. He shares Punch's growth and the choice to grow it slowly into a dozen locations. Fascinating story of how Punch's business flipped from mostly dine-in, to mostly delivery during the pandemic. Plus, Chris Kolstad made mistakes as a young man - how he went from prison to a business owner of the Pizza Man in suburban Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

Do you have a particular food that reminds you of home? Maybe it's your grandma's spaghetti recipe, the lumpia your family used to make or the pozole from the Mexican restaurant down the street.  Whatever the dish may be, food has the power to comfort us and to connect us to our families and our cultures. And when we find a restaurant that serves those familiar foods, it can make us feel more at home.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks about two restaurants that did just that for many Minnesotans — Khyber Pass in St. Paul and Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Both restaurants closed in late 2022. And they're not the only ones. A handful of other longtime Asian-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities closed in 2022 — like Asia Chow Mein in Columbia Heights and David Fong's in Bloomington. And the New York Times reported in 2019 the share of Chinese-owned restaurants in major metropolitan areas is on the decline.  Guests: Michelle Kwan is the former owner of Chinese bakery Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Keefer Court closed in December 2022.  Emel Sherzad  is the former owner of the Afghan restaurant Khyber Pass in St. Paul. Khyber Pass closed in November 2022.  Ánh-Hoa Thị Nguyễn is a poet and writer raised in St. Paul by parents from Vietnam. She's worked in grocery stores and restaurants, and has written about the connection between food and cultural identity.

Do you have a particular food that reminds you of home? Maybe it's your grandma's spaghetti recipe, the lumpia your family used to make or the pozole from the Mexican restaurant down the street. Whatever the dish may be, food has the power to comfort us and to connect us to our families and our cultures. And when we find a restaurant that serves those familiar foods, it can make us feel more at home. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about two restaurants that did just that for many Minnesotans — Khyber Pass in St. Paul and Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Both restaurants closed in late 2022. And they're not the only ones. A handful of other longtime Asian-owned restaurants in the Twin Cities closed in 2022 — like Asia Chow Mein in Columbia Heights and David Fong's in Bloomington.And the New York Times reported in 2019 the share of Chinese-owned restaurants in major metropolitan areas is on the decline. Guests: Michelle Kwan is the former owner of Chinese bakery Keefer Court in Minneapolis. Keefer Court closed in December 2022. Emel Sherzad  is the former owner of the Afghan restaurant Khyber Pass in St. Paul. Khyber Pass closed in November 2022. Ánh-Hoa Thị Nguyễn is a poet and writer raised in St. Paul by parents from Vietnam. She's worked in grocery stores and restaurants, and has written about the connection between food and cultural identity.

Fifteen-year-old Rahma Mohamud is in the cafeteria of her high school in Columbia Heights. It's lunchtime, the room is full of classmates and it smells like the nachos that are being served for a meal. But Rahma isn't eating right now. She's standing in front of a table piled with colorful scarves. It's World Hijab Day, and Mohamud and her friends from her school's Muslim Student Association have set up a booth to give their non-hijab-wearing classmates a chance to ask questions.“I feel some of the students who don't wear it don't really know what it is. They just see it and I feel like they might have questions but may be too shy to come up without seeming ignorant,” Mohamud said. “Today is just a day where everybody can just learn what it is, get questions that might be uncomfortable to them out of the way and just bring our community closer.” Mohamud has been wearing a hijab since kindergarten. Today her hijab is black — her favorite color — and it's made out of jersey. It's just easy to throw on, she said, and she likes that it stays in place easier than chiffon. She's also wearing a black abaya — a full-length dress, which she also loves — it's an easy, instant outfit. Click here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvjAgm8LYIMBut she wants her classmates to know how important the hijab is for her. “Hijab is something that's a choice. A lot of people when they talk about the hijab, they try to make it seem like it's something that's forced on Muslim women, but in reality, it's our own choice,” Mohamud said. “It's something that it might not be beautiful to some, but to us we feel like it's a beautiful choice to make and modesty is beautiful in our eyes.”While Mohamud is talking, a few students wander over from their tables to take a look at the booth. There's a mirror set up at the table and one of Mohamud's friends offers the girl, Lydia Kennedy, who's a senior, a chance to try a hijab on. “I guess it's World Hijab Day, so we came over to ask some questions — we were a little bit curious about the hijab,” Kennedy said. “I asked if there's a certain age you have to start wearing it, and they said, no, it can kind of be whenever you want.” The hijab booth was an idea thought up by members of Columbia Height's Muslim Student Association. Rehab Diriye, a senior, is the group's president. After the initial months of the pandemic, when she returned to in-person classes, she noticed her Muslim classmates were doing their daily prayers in random corners of the school. So she talked to other students and staff at the school, and she set up a prayer room, complete with rugs. “We just really wanted to unite the school and specifically the Muslim population and I think we accomplished that last year with events like a Ramadan event and culture night and we hope to continue that,” Diriye said.  This is the first year they've been able to put on the hijab day event. Diriye hopes she's able to communicate what it means to her to wear a hijab.“I love seeing other Muslim women and being identifiably Muslim. It's just a great feeling to say ‘Salaam Alaikum,' and then being able to recognize you as Muslim,” Diriye said. “Obviously there are downsides of that in terms of like, violence, thankfully I haven't been through any of those experiences.” Diriye said wearing a hijab is something that also has an effect on her Muslim friends. “I like making other Muslim women feel comfortable just by my presence and just because I wear hijab.” 

El puntaje de crédito es aquello que lo representa al momento de solicitar un préstamo, a la larga puede incluso ayudarle a ahorrar dinero. Sobre todos los detalles del crédito, cuáles son los factores que impactan de manera positiva o negativa, el reporte y el puntaje de crédito, nos habla Maritza Gonzalez, Gerente Comunitaria de Chase en Columbia Heights, Washington DC. Escuche la entrevista realizada por María Esther aquí,

In today's episode of The No Limits Selling Podcast, we have Yianni with us. He embarked on his journey in real estate after a long and successful career in global digital marketing where he worked with some of the world's most prominent brands. Today, he will be sharing some tips on thriving in a competitive real estate market. Yianni's tip:  Hire agents from diverse backgrounds and stay differentiated to Find opportunities that aren't publicly available and secure more off market properties. Guest Bio: Yianni served as the Group Managing Director of social@Ogilvy and was based in Sydney, Australia where he managed a staff of 16 people working across advertising, digital marketing, and communications disciplines. Under his leadership, the social@ogilvy team was able to double revenues, reduce costs, and win several prestigious awards across Asia-Pacific. He maintains an active real estate portfolio that includes rental units in Adam Morgan, U Street, and Columbia Heights, and is always excited to meet new people who share his energy for the dynamic Washington, D.C. property market. Find Yianni Konstantopoulos: Website, LinkedIn [EDITOR'S NOTE: This podcast is sponsored by No Limits Selling. It is a fun, fast-paced podcast that delivers hard-fought business advice that you can implement today to improve your sales and performance] Interested In Our Real Estate Coaching Services? Explore Our Website: Link Feeling Not Well Today? You Can Use Our Mindset Boosters App To amp Up Your Mood: Link Find us on Social Media:   LinkedIn | Facebook community | Instagram Like what do you listen to? Subscribe to our podcast! Ready to become fearless? We can help you become fearless in 60 days so you accomplish more in your career Schedule A 15 min Call with Umar

¿Vale la pena gastar tanto dinero en un objeto para sentirse apreciado o mostrar aprecio? En entrevista Maritza González, Gerente Comunitaria de Chase en Columbia Heights, Washington DC, nos habla sobre el gasto en esta temporada y además comparte su experiencia sobre cómo desde niña aprendió a ser prudente y sabia en el gasto. Escuche la entrevista,

DC Council is closer than ever to decriminalizing unlicensed street vending, but … as the year end nears, sellers pushing for the change may be running out of time. DCist's Hector Arzate has been talking to vendors about why these changes matter, and how they would affect street vendor corridors like the one in Columbia Heights. Sign up for our morning newsletter for more news about the city (and the 'burbs!). And follow us on Twitter for the same. We're at @citycast_dc. And we'd love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a post Thanksgiving Spreading Happiness Podcast complete with stuffing, turkey, 3 kinds of cranberry, gravy, green beans and so much more! The boys celebrated Thanksgiving with the family and had a lovely time. Plus, they talk about Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Gratitude Week (make sure to grab your socks, link below!).  John and Mark had lots of TV appearances including NewsMax, News12, Newsday and PIX11. Plus the usual haunts like good new, bad jokes, John's love life and more. Gobble, gobble! Business to highlight: Patrick's Pet Care https://patrickspetcare.com/ Patrick's Pet Care provides the highest level of care to all pets by creating an experience rooted in a genuine love of animals, a commitment to do the right thing, and a comprehensive, personal approach to meeting the needs of all the living creatures and people who depend on us. Patrick Flynn founded Patrick's Pet Care in March 2012 as a dog walking and pet sitting company in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. His values for operating a pet care business are based on a genuine love of animals, lifelong learning, fostering local community, a commitment to do the right thing, and a personal approach to meeting the needs of all the animals and people who depend on Patrick's Pet Care. Fundamentally, Patrick aims to create thriving relationships between people and their animal companions, using science and consent based methods without fear, pain or force. His business has been recognized by readers of Washingtonian as a Top Pet Care Provider, and has been voted “Best of DC” three times by readers of Washington City Paper. Two locations in Washington DC Small Dog Day Care is located at 3303 11th Street NW in Columbia Heights. All Day Day Soga Care and Grooming for dogs up to 85 pounds at their Brookland location is 3509 12th Street NE Finding John's Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/  Hosted by John & Mark Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks. Visit John's Crazy Socks here: https://johnscrazysocks.com Follow @johnscrazysocks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. The Spreading Happiness Podcast is produced by Launchpad 516 Studios. For show ideas, guest inquiries, general feedback, sponsorships and media inquiries, drop an email: thespreadinghapinesspodcast@lp516.com Information about Speaking Engagements with John and Mark: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/speaking-engagements-1  Subscribe to The Spreading Happiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts and get notified of new episodes, every Tuesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spreading-happiness-podcast/id1611218712 

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today's show: • Bill Jensen is co-owner and beverage director of the Tail Up Goat and the Reveler's Hour in Adams Morgan. Among many awards of note, he was honored with Michelin's 2021 Washington, D.C. Sommelier Award. He's in to treat us to some tastes and talk of his wine favorites from the Finger Lakes for your Thanksgiving table; • Lane Levine owns A Friendly Bread, launched four years ago as a fresh sourdough bread business. He has mastered that which previously seemed impossible - producing a preassembled, frozen, single-serve, heat-and-eat sourdough grilled cheese sandwich that heats to a crispy, gooey meal in under 10 minutes. We get to try some in studio; • Hungry yet? Get ready for more when James Wozniuk, owner and executive chef of the Makan Malaysian restaurant in Columbia Heights joins us. Makan is an immersion in the complexities and simple pleasures of Malaysian dining. And, by the way, Makan was included on the Michelin Bib Gourmand List in 2021 and 2022; • Chef Stefano Marzano is president, founder and culinary director of Mighty Meals, providing a convenient, healthy meal delivery service made with locally sourced ingredients by professional chefs, all from a menu that changes weekly.

A LINE OF VERSE was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the March 2022 ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Festival. https://www.oxfordcommafilms.com/ https://www.facebook.com/OxfordCommaFilms/ https://twitter.com/oxfordcommaflms https://www.instagram.com/oxfordcommav/ Director Biography - Vanessa Powers Vanessa M. H. Powers is a theater director, filmmaker, artist, coffee enthusiast, and occasional human being. She can often be found trying to be in too many places at once. She is always working on a host of projects with her film company, the Oxford Comma Film Cooperative. She is also gearing up for another season of directing with St. Matthew Community Theatre in Columbia Heights (crosses fingers for 2022.) In addition, she does video freelance work as an AD, Editor, DIT, and Script Supervisor. In her (clearly abundant) free time, she can be found trying to be a human - spending time with her supportive family, friends, and snort-tastic bulldogs. Playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it's only $3.99 per month. Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

This podcast is in Spanish in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Rafael Ulloa, vicepresidente ejecutivo de contenido para El Tiempo Latino DC, entrevista a Hugo Medrano, fundador del Teatro Gala en Columbia Heights, Washington, DC para el mes de la Herencia Hispana.

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Leon Andrews, Jr the head of NLC R.E.A.L program.   A candid conversation about helping cities fight racism And, much more   7 Steps to an Amazing City:   Attitude Motivation Attention to Detail Zing Inclusiveness Neighborhood Empowerment Green Awareness   Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.   Links Mentions During Show:   equalmeasure.org AmazingCities.org AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast   About  Leon Andrews, JR. Leon T. Andrews, Jr. brings to Equal Measure more than 25 years of policy, management, and leadership experience, most recently as the inaugural leader of the National League of Cities' Race, Equity, And Leadership (REAL), which started as a CEO initiative and became a department within the organization. As the founder of REAL, Leon led NLC's strategy to help its members respond to racial tensions in their communities and address the historical, institutional, and systemic barriers that further inequity and racism in our nation's cities. During his time at NLC, where he also served as program director and senior fellow for NLC's Institute for Youth, Education & Families, Leon raised and managed over $25 million from foundations and corporate partners and provided direction to city officials and community leaders around the country on strategies for health and wellness, youth and workforce development, education reform, and civic engagement. Prior to his tenure at the National League of Cities, Leon completed a research fellowship at the Forum for Youth Investment. He has also worked with the United States Department of Justice, United States Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, the United States Public Interest Research Group, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, YouthBuild Pittsburgh, the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and as an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University. He has served as Board Chair for the National Recreation and Parks Association and ChangeLab Solutions. Along with his significant professional accomplishments, Leon brings to Equal Measure a compelling personal story that serves as the foundation for his lifelong focus on racial equity and community impact. He is a first-generation American whose grandmother, mother, and father moved to the U.S. from Guyana in the 1960s. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he developed a passion for football, playing the violin, and attended Howard University. He attributes those formative years, along with his time at Howard, to shaping his passion for building and sustaining communities. He lives with his wife, Dr. Kristine Andrews, and their three daughters in his childhood home.         About Your Host, Jim Hunt: Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.   Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City”   Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.   Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.   Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.   Amazing City Resources:   Buy Jim's Popular Books: The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City: https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city   Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too) https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too   FREE White Paper: “10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown” AmazingCities.org/10-Steps   Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event: Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at AmazingCities.org/Speaking   Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town: Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting   Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities: Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development   A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are joined by Martin DiCaro of The Washington Times and Adam Coleman, founder of Wrong Speak Publishing for a freedom-themed Fourth of July weekend special. -Martin Di Caro brings 25 years of broadcast journalism experience to the Washington Times. He has won numerous prestigious awards throughout his career in major media markets across the country. Before coming to the Times, Martin was a news anchor at Bloomberg Radio's Washington bureau. From 2012 to 2017, he covered transportation at NPR member station WAMU 88.5 in Washington, where his work on the yearslong Metrorail crisis earned Martin his second Edward R. Murrow award, which included hosting the radio station's first podcast, Metropocalypse. Martin worked as a reporter for AP Radio in New York and Washington for eight years starting in 2008. He lives in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of D.C. and his interests include reading history and following his beloved New York Jets.-Adam B. Coleman is the Author of “Black Victim To Black Victor“, Op-Ed Writer, Public Speaker, Host of “A Good Faith Space” Twitter Spaces show, and the Founder of Wrong Speak Publishing. Adam was born in Detroit but raised in a variety of states throughout America. He writes openly about his struggles with fatherlessness, homelessness, and masculinity. He is always questioning the world around him, even if they are uncomfortable questions to ask.He strongly believes that we should all have the ability to speak freely and is now advocating for people who feel voiceless to be heard.He is attempting to help change the narrative and the way we discuss cultural narratives by being honest, humble, and resolute. His articles have been published in The New York Post, Newsweek, The Post Millennial, The Federalist, Unherd, ScoonTV, Free Black Thought & Human Defense Initiative.He has also appeared on Newsmax, The Hill's “Rising” and “Fox & Friends” on FOX News.-Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com

In the basement of a Columbia Heights home, Baheerullah Shinwari offers an assortment of nuts and hot tea. There are enough almonds, pistachios and cashews to feed a dozen people, but there are only a few people seated on traditional Afghan floor cushions and rugs. Hospitality is an important part of his culture, the father of five explained. “Can I make you some lunch?” Shinwari offered in Pashto. Kerem Yücel for MPR News It is a tradition in Afghan culture to serve candy and nuts to the guests who come to the house. Kerem Yücel for MPR News Baheerullah Shinwari offers tea to Ahmad Shah during an interview. Since the United States pulled out of Afghanistan after a 20-year war last August, Minnesota has seen an influx of more than 1,500 newly arrived Afghans to the state. Among the Afghan evacuees was the Shinwari family which includes Baheerullah, his wife and five children, ranging in age from 2 to 13. All of them are learning English together. “Once they learn English, life will be easy for them,” Shinwari said. He adds that he hopes they will all become doctors.  The Shinwari family is not unlike other groups of new Minnesota residents, like Hmong and Somali refugees who arrived here in the 1970s and 1990s, who've come here to escape natural or man made-disasters. Five agencies in Minnesota have been at the forefront of efforts to resettle refugees: the International Institute of Minnesota, Minnesota Council of Churches, Arrive Ministries, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. Shinwari is still working on his English, so helping translate is Ahmad Shah, who worked as an interpreter in Afghanistan before coming to Minnesota himself in 2016. Kerem Yücel for MPR News Ahmad Shah (left) and Baheerullah Shinwari (right) pose for a photo in Shinwari's home. Shah founded the Afghan Community of Minnesota and also works with one of the five resettlement agencies in Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Churches. When Shah first came to Minnesota there were about 300 Afghans in the state, he recalled. In the last several months since the end of the war, that number has grown to around 1,800 and counting. And they are relying heavily on the people like him who have already settled in for help with basic needs like transportation, filling out paperwork, finding work and enrolling children in schools.  “We make their connections with communities and different organizations,” Shah explained. “Then they will understand in the future and they can solve their own problems.” Shah said Shinwari was lucky he already had a cousin living in Minnesota who found him this home. The resettlement agencies help with six months of rent and other resources. For the Shinwari family, that time period has passed and this is the first month the Shinwaris are expected to pay all their bills on their own. Shah said that is when it is most important for the growing community to help one another. Shinwari, who has a background in military service working alongside Americans, found work as a security guard and then another job at Boston Scientific on his own, Shah said. Kerem Yücel for MPR News Baheerullah Shinwari and his son Yasser play in their home. Help is only temporary State Refugee Coordinator Rachele King explains the hard work is just beginning for many newly arrived Afghan individuals and families that came with nothing and have experienced a great deal of trauma. Assistance from the state resettlement agencies is not expected to be a long-term resource. “It is really buying people time to fully integrate and draw on the resiliency they have, skills they came with and the experience and hope and desire for a future here,” King said.   King explains individual presidential administrations set a cap for how many refugees the country will accept every year. Those numbers fell to historic lows under the Trump administration and continued below average under the Biden administration and during the coronavirus pandemic. The federal government then consults with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and resettlement agencies to see how many refugees they can reasonably accommodate when factoring in housing and other challenges. Kerem Yücel for MPR News Yasser, son of Baheerullah Shinwari, steps out from their home. In the case of Afghan evacuees, who worked along U.S. troops, King said the federal government created a parallel system for newly arrived Afghans that gives them humanitarian protection status for two years, but does not give them refugee status or a clear path to permanent residency, which is the goal since most fear for their lives if they returned to Afghanistan. “So that is a really huge question, challenge and concern for so many of the people who are here right now because it's an open question of what permanency looks like and what exact path that will take.” Congress recently declined to pass a measure, the Afghan Adjustment Act, that would have created a path to permanent residency for newly arrived Afghans. Sarah Brenes, the Refugee & Immigrant Program Director for The Advocates for Human Rights, said in the absence of an adjustment act, organizations like hers are working hard to mobilize volunteer attorneys to represent individuals and families in asylum claims, one of the two main paths to permanent status.  “We are partnering with other legal service providers, resettlement agencies and community organizations to also support those who may be eligible for Special Immigrant Visas based on their work with the U.S. Government while in Afghanistan,” Brenes said.   Besides questions about how they will be able to stay in the United States, Shah said many newly arrived Afghans are extremely worried about their family members or colleagues among the thousands of Afghan allies the U.S. left behind in its chaotic withdrawal. “Twenty-four hours per day, people searching for them to find them and kill them,” Shah said. “Their life is pretty dangerous.” A familiar story The stories of Afghan arrivals and those left behind remind historian Chia Youyee Vang of her own family story. Vang's family members were among some of the first Hmong arrivals in Minnesota in the 1970s. The Vietnam War had spread to Laos and the United States recruited the Hmong to fight against communism.  “We paid for this migration with the blood of our men and women who died on behalf of the American nation, although knowing nothing about it,” Vang said. Vang is now a historian, author and Vice Chancellor of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Vang described how war and natural disasters often lead to new groups arriving in Minnesota. While there are what she calls push factors, like war, there are also pull factors, like the hope for a better quality of life in the United States that lead to new arrivals and various forms of immigration. The first large group of immigrants arrived from Europe, mostly Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Germany. Hmong refugees began arriving in the mid 1970s, and Somali refugees began arriving in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Somali government led to extreme violence. People born in Mexico, India and Ethiopia also make up the largest groups of foreign-born Minnesotans, according to state researchers. Christopher Juhn for MPR News 2017 Aidarus Aden, a refugee from Somalia, holds a sign at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport on Jan. 29, 2017, in protest of the refugee ban that then-President Trump used an executive order to enact. Minnesota is also home to other, smaller refugee communities from around the world. According to a 2017 State Department report, in 2016 people from more than two dozen countries, including Myanmar, Belarus, Syria and Sri Lanka sought refuge in Minnesota.   As communities began to thrive over time, mostly in and around the Twin Cities, Vang explained they invited others to come through a process called chain migration.  “There are pockets all over the state, too, but they are mostly in the Twin Cities where there is a critical mass and you can have social support,” Vang said “So nothing different, in my opinion, than what the Norwegians and Swedes, nothing different than what they did.” New arrivals in workforce  Doualy Xaykaothao | MPR News 2016 Kaw Hai is the lead auto mechanic at SKD Auto Tek in St. Paul, here in October 2016. He's a refugee from the Karen State in Burma. According to 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, resettling refugees benefits the country's economy. While the exact yearly costs of refugee resettlement for Minnesota are difficult to determine, DHS receives approximately $5 million in yearly federal funds to support the statewide resettlement of refugees. State resettlement agencies reported that in fiscal year 2017, Minnesota ranked 13th in resettling refugees but was the highest per capita in the country. Thanks to a reputation as a welcoming state, Minnesota ranked first in the nation for secondary migration, which occurs when refugees move to Minnesota after an initial resettlement somewhere else. As consumers, immigrants, not just refugees, have an estimated more $650 billion in lifetime earnings and annual purchasing power of $5 billion, according to Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. Immigrants pay an estimated $793 million in state and local taxes, annually. Immigrants are also a vital part of Minnesota's economy, according to state Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. The state estimates 10 percent of Minnesota's labor force are born outside of the U.S. About 105,000 new foreign-born residents joined the state over the last decade. “In fact, the only reason we are growing at all is because of international immigration,” Grove said about Minnesota. Minnesota also has an historic more than 200,000 open jobs, which is part of the reason the state created an Office of New Americans — which started services during the pandemic to help get resources to struggling immigrant-owned businesses.  “I think a lot of businesses would like to access immigrant talent and they don't really know how,” Grove said. “Unless you're big enough to have the resources a larger company might have, finding that talent is harder.”  Grove hopes the office will provide more efficient and individualized resources to pair people with jobs that match any previous experiences.  “I think it's just an awakening from an economic perspective, let alone a moral one, that this is imperative,” Grove said. “We have got to make the welcome mat for immigrants in this state as good as it's ever been.” But the office is grant-funded, leaving its future funding uncertain.  Vang said as a more diverse and international population continues to grow in Minnesota, and as conflict across the world continues to drive more movement across the globe, the state has a unique opportunity to embrace change and flourish as a result. “As a historian I keep reminding others, the things happening now, they have happened before,” Vang said. “It is about how we respond to them.” Pay it forward Kerem Yücel for MPR News Baheerullah Shinwari and his son Yasser sit front of the their house in Columbia Heights on May 11. Baheerullah Shinwari has hope. Hope that he, his wife and their five children — with help from the community — will thrive. Shinwari also looks forward to the day his family can pay it forward and help other new arrivals to Minnesota.  “I am happy, life is going well.” Full series North Star Journey What should we cover next? Pass the Mic Immigrants and refugees in Minnesota Connecting past and present

Chelsea Sobolik welcomes David Jimenez, manager of government affairs for Prison Fellowship. They discuss what Second Chance month is and why it is important for churches and communities to remember those in prison. They also discuss ongoing efforts to reform our prison and criminal justice systems in ways that promote the biblical ideas of justice, proportionality, and human dignity – without compromising public safety.Guest BiographyDavid Jimenez serves as the manager of government affairs for Prison Fellowship's advocacy and public policy team, where he oversees federal and state legislative campaigns. His background is in public policy advocacy and institution building, most recently as a primary manager for the American Enterprise Institute's outreach to college students, faculty, and administrators. As an undergraduate at Bowdoin College in Maine, Jimenez studied history and political theory. After graduating, he participated in the Hudson Institute's Political Studies Fellowship and was a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Romania.A proud alumnus of Prison Fellowship's internship program, he first became passionate about criminal justice reform while serving urban youth in New Jersey, where he saw up close the urgent need for restorative approaches to incarceration, law enforcement, and violence. He is passionate about theology, social policy, ethics, and culture. A Pittsburgh native, Jimenez lives in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C.Resources from the ConversationFollow Prison Fellowship's workSubscribe to ERLC's Policy Newsletter

As we continue to watch the devastating events in Ukraine unfold, the call to stand in solidarity with those suffering the ravages of war comes to all the faithful. As we joined with the whole Church in consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as we offer prayers and Masses for an end to the violence, as we give of our financial resources to help those in need, we strengthen our ties with our brothers and sisters across the world. But what does life look like for those in Ukraine? Right here in our own backyard, at Immaculate Conception school in Columbia Heights, eighth-grade teacher Maria Zownirowycz has a unique inside look, with many family members still in Ukraine. https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/immaculate-conception-eighth-graders-learn-ukrainian-easter-traditions-discuss-current-events/

According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, members of the Columbia Heights and Fridley Police Departments were called to the 3900 block of 3rd Street NE just before midnight Thursday night for a report of a person being shot. When they arrived, they found a girl, identified by the sheriff's office as 15-year-old Derryanna Davis, and performed lifesaving measures. However, Davis died at the scene. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement Friday afternoon:“This is a horrific loss of life. We will continue the investigation until the truth is found and justice is served. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time.” --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/leah-gordone/support

Senior Pastor, Michelene Verlautz, of St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights, MN offers insight of how she's been uncovering opportunities to guide conflict scenarios to prevent families from engaging with adversarial traditional routes. Her story of pastoral leadership offers redemption to not only families and kids, but to the underserved populations within her community.  Directory of Mediators: www.thekatallassogroup.com/directory

In this episode, I interview Tyler Hambley from the Maurin House, a new Catholic Worker House in the suburbs of Minneapolis. The Hope of the Poor Tyler’s first experience of Catholic Worker-style life came when he was a divinity student in Durham, North Carolina. He started gathering with a small group to pray vespers every evening at a local Episcopalian church, and over time the group started meeting after vespers for meals. The church grounds had become a sort of hangout for the local homeless population. One of the intercession at vespers is “let the hope of the poor not be in vain”. As Tyler explained, we have to let our prayers become a lived reality, not just words. In this case, the embodiment of the prayer started by inviting some of the homeless to their community meals. Over time, friendships developed, and eventually, some members of this group started renting housing together and taking in the homeless. Things developed organically until there were three houses with around 20 people living in them as a community. Over time, however, Tyler and some of the other members of the community began to feel attracted to the Catholic Church. Eventually, Tyler’s family joined another family from the Durham community to start the Maurin House in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis. Intellectual Influences The writers Stanley Hauerwas and Alasdair MacIntyre had a big influence on Tyler. They taught him the importance of shared practices in community life, of becoming a certain kind of person rather than making certain decisions. Hauerwas says that if one has to make a decision, all may have been lost. If we have to decide whether to act in a virtuous manner, it shows that we are not yet virtuous people. Becoming virtuous means acquiring certain virtuous habits of thought and action. We can only live as Christians by following a certain tradition as a community. As individuals, the best we can do is try to make good decisions, but as a community we can build a way of life within the Christian tradition. The Living Tradition Traditionalism, however, is dangerous, since traditionalists have a flawed understanding of the tradition. They think of it as if it were a static thing that stays unchanged. In reality, however, the tradition is a living thing, a story that we continue. A tradition or culture which is closed off from further experience and further development dies. The Benedict Option Rod Dreher’s “Benedict Option” is, at least in theory, inspired by MacIntyre’s book After Virtue. There is a lot of good in the Benedict Option idea, but the motivation is flawed. The Benedict Option is presented as an answer to the growing hostility of the surrounding culture. This is the wrong motivation for building community. Fear of the surrounding culture will not produce the kind of practices that will form persons in virtue. (In a recent podcast episode, I discussed the Benedict Option at length with Dr. Cameron Thompson.) The anger of “culture warrior” Catholics stems from a fear that they will lose access to the comforts and prestige of suburban American culture. The culture warriors are often seen as the opposites of the so-called “liberals”, who are willing to compromise their values to maintain the world’s favor. These two ideologies seem opposed to one another, and yet they are actually the same. Both are unwilling to reject the comfort of our consumer society, embrace voluntary poverty, and follow Christ through self-sacrificing service to the poor. Radical or Superficial The real division is not between progressives and conservatives, but between radical Christians and superficial ones. Christianity isn’t compatible with consumerism and the comfortable security obtained through insurance and high-paying jobs. This sort of comfort and security will inevitably undermine the Faith. In contrast, radical communities can provide their members with a different kind of support and security, based on mutual self-sacrifice and trust. For more on this topic, see our blog post about preppers and suburbanites. The Hospitable Family Christian parents are called to raise their children, of course. This does not, however, mean that they can ignore the needs of the wider community. In fact, as Tyler mentioned, the Catechism says that Catholic families “should live in such a way that its members learn to care and take responsibility for the young, the old, the sick, the handicapped, and the poor.” In some ways, care for children and care for the poor are very similar and reinforce one another. Just as Christian couples are called to be open to life and the inconvenient demands it puts on them, we’re all called to be open to aiding the poor in a sacrificial manner. Both kinds of openness are part of building a “culture of life.” In both cases, those who give generously “receive back a hundred fold”. We shouldn’t see the poor or children merely as those we help. Rather, children, the poor, and all the weak and vulnerable mediate Christ for us. That's a very different perspective than the standard social justice one! Families living in community can experience a certain amount of tension between the demands of family life and the demands of community. On the other hand, Tyler explained that as a father he feels he needs community. Too much emphasis on the family unit can leave parents as isolated individuals accountable to no one. Accountability and obedience aren’t just for children; parents also need support, guidance, and correction from others. Advice on Starting a Community In closing, Tyler gave some advice to those who want to build community. It is best not to start with grand expectations or plans. Instead, it is better to find a few others with similar interests, and start engaging in shared practices: particularly in shared prayer, but also in shared meals and recreation. Out of the friendships that develop a community can grow over time. Learn more about the Maurin House at their website.

In today's episode we talk with Columbia Heights, DC's very own Anna Mvze! Anna Mvze was just on a Texas run and we caught her on her last night in Houston. We cover everything from new music, her time at Centro Popular in Fort Worth, meeting Krystall Poppin, music background, relationships, personal topics and much more. Tune in and get to know the woman behind the art. #TheOT Follow The Overthinkers Podcast IG: theoverthinkerspod Facebook: The Overthinkers Podcast Twitter: theotpod Follow Anna Mvze IG: annamvze Facebook: Anna Mvze Twitter: annamvze