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My library finally re-opened post-pandemic and I went in for a celebratory look around. Though it supposedly had been re-modeled, it seemed to look exactly the same. (Except now there seemed to be no way to access the card catalogue? WTF?) I took a look at the theatre section because, you know, Theatre Nerd, and was struck by how much the selection of plays resembled the selection of plays that were in the library when I was growing up. It struck me that the accepted literary canon of theatrical greatness has not really been updated since the 1950s. When I was growing up, the theatre section looked like Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. And today, the theatre section looks like mostly Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. This doesn't mean that theatre folk only read Miller and Williams but I think it does mean that the culture as a whole still only considers Miller and Williams worth keeping in the collection. There may be a scattered addition from a contemporary writer – maybe if it's a library that's really trying to expand, you'll see some August Wilson or Suzan Lori Parks or an Anna Deavere Smith. My library had an Annie Baker, even. But for the most part, in libraries and bookstores across America, the bulk of a theatre section will be Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams – maybe, on occasion, some Mamet, Albee, Simon or Durang – but most shelves will be the Miller and Williams collection. I'm curious about this. To keep reading The Canon Is Stuck visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 426 Song: Love Me Tender Image of the Queens Public Library play shelf by me, Emily Rainbow Davis To support this podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review! Rate it wherever you listen or via: https://ratethispodcast.com/strugglingartist Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis or PayPal me: https://www.paypal.me/strugglingartist Join my Substack: https://emilyrainbowdavis.substack.com/ Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Me on Mastodon - @erainbowd@podvibes.co Me on Bsky - @erainbowd.bsky.social Me on Hive - @erainbowd Instagram and Pinterest Tell a friend! Listen to The Dragoning here and The Defense here. You can support them via Ko-fi here: https://ko-fi.com/messengertheatrecompany As ever, I am yours, Emily Rainbow Davis
Joseph Heathcott discusses his latest book, Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic (Fordham University Press, 2023), an engaging hybrid of text and visual that features a trove of his personal photography of urban spaces throughout NYC's most diverse borough. Including: airports, overgrown yards, possibly the last living speakers of indigenous languages, the Queens Public Library, racial covenants and civil resistance in early real estate development, and much more that, like the borough itself, is centerless, mundane, surprising, vibrant, challenging, and beautifully contradictory. Joseph Heathcott is Chair of Urban and Environmental Studies at The New School. His work has appeared in a wide range of venues, including books, academic journals, magazines, exhibits, and juried art shows. His most recent books include Urban Infrastructure: Historical and Social Dimensions of an Interconnected World; The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Design: Global Perspectives from Architectural History; and Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900-1930. Tyler Thier is a writing administrator, adjunct professor, and freelance critic. His research is concerned with violent writings and controversial media -- namely, content produced by hate groups and other extremists. He writes a lot about visuals (specifically "bad" or otherwise maligned pieces of pop culture) and how they shape our social realities. For better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Joseph Heathcott discusses his latest book, Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic (Fordham University Press, 2023), an engaging hybrid of text and visual that features a trove of his personal photography of urban spaces throughout NYC's most diverse borough. Including: airports, overgrown yards, possibly the last living speakers of indigenous languages, the Queens Public Library, racial covenants and civil resistance in early real estate development, and much more that, like the borough itself, is centerless, mundane, surprising, vibrant, challenging, and beautifully contradictory. Joseph Heathcott is Chair of Urban and Environmental Studies at The New School. His work has appeared in a wide range of venues, including books, academic journals, magazines, exhibits, and juried art shows. His most recent books include Urban Infrastructure: Historical and Social Dimensions of an Interconnected World; The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Design: Global Perspectives from Architectural History; and Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900-1930. Tyler Thier is a writing administrator, adjunct professor, and freelance critic. His research is concerned with violent writings and controversial media -- namely, content produced by hate groups and other extremists. He writes a lot about visuals (specifically "bad" or otherwise maligned pieces of pop culture) and how they shape our social realities. For better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Joseph Heathcott discusses his latest book, Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic (Fordham University Press, 2023), an engaging hybrid of text and visual that features a trove of his personal photography of urban spaces throughout NYC's most diverse borough. Including: airports, overgrown yards, possibly the last living speakers of indigenous languages, the Queens Public Library, racial covenants and civil resistance in early real estate development, and much more that, like the borough itself, is centerless, mundane, surprising, vibrant, challenging, and beautifully contradictory. Joseph Heathcott is Chair of Urban and Environmental Studies at The New School. His work has appeared in a wide range of venues, including books, academic journals, magazines, exhibits, and juried art shows. His most recent books include Urban Infrastructure: Historical and Social Dimensions of an Interconnected World; The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Design: Global Perspectives from Architectural History; and Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900-1930. Tyler Thier is a writing administrator, adjunct professor, and freelance critic. His research is concerned with violent writings and controversial media -- namely, content produced by hate groups and other extremists. He writes a lot about visuals (specifically "bad" or otherwise maligned pieces of pop culture) and how they shape our social realities. For better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Joseph Heathcott discusses his latest book, Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic (Fordham University Press, 2023), an engaging hybrid of text and visual that features a trove of his personal photography of urban spaces throughout NYC's most diverse borough. Including: airports, overgrown yards, possibly the last living speakers of indigenous languages, the Queens Public Library, racial covenants and civil resistance in early real estate development, and much more that, like the borough itself, is centerless, mundane, surprising, vibrant, challenging, and beautifully contradictory. Joseph Heathcott is Chair of Urban and Environmental Studies at The New School. His work has appeared in a wide range of venues, including books, academic journals, magazines, exhibits, and juried art shows. His most recent books include Urban Infrastructure: Historical and Social Dimensions of an Interconnected World; The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Design: Global Perspectives from Architectural History; and Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900-1930. Tyler Thier is a writing administrator, adjunct professor, and freelance critic. His research is concerned with violent writings and controversial media -- namely, content produced by hate groups and other extremists. He writes a lot about visuals (specifically "bad" or otherwise maligned pieces of pop culture) and how they shape our social realities. For better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joseph Heathcott discusses his latest book, Global Queens: An Urban Mosaic (Fordham University Press, 2023), an engaging hybrid of text and visual that features a trove of his personal photography of urban spaces throughout NYC's most diverse borough. Including: airports, overgrown yards, possibly the last living speakers of indigenous languages, the Queens Public Library, racial covenants and civil resistance in early real estate development, and much more that, like the borough itself, is centerless, mundane, surprising, vibrant, challenging, and beautifully contradictory. Joseph Heathcott is Chair of Urban and Environmental Studies at The New School. His work has appeared in a wide range of venues, including books, academic journals, magazines, exhibits, and juried art shows. His most recent books include Urban Infrastructure: Historical and Social Dimensions of an Interconnected World; The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Design: Global Perspectives from Architectural History; and Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900-1930. Tyler Thier is a writing administrator, adjunct professor, and freelance critic. His research is concerned with violent writings and controversial media -- namely, content produced by hate groups and other extremists. He writes a lot about visuals (specifically "bad" or otherwise maligned pieces of pop culture) and how they shape our social realities. For better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/photography
New York City leaders are zeroing in on building more housing to solve the city's housing shortage.Plus, the Queens Public Library's renovated Broadway branch in Astoria is back after almost a year-long delay due to budget cuts. Also, WNYC's Michael Hill and Elizabeth Kim discuss the legacy of former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh. And finally, we hear from young people eligible to vote in a presidential race for the first time this year
He was recently honored by the American Library Association for his work at the Queens Public Library on programs to assist migrants. “Over 200 languages are spoken in Queens,” he says. “We have collections in 50 or so and regularly purchase in about 30.” I struggled to write this paragraph in one. Music: Salieu Suso
Brooklyn Public Library has been hosting Drag Story Hours since 2016. It's one of our most popular, colorful, and well-attended events for kids. In this episode, we explore why Drag Story Hour is important, and how it's had to change in recent years in response to an increasingly tense political climate.More resources:June is Pride Month! Celebrate at the Library with crafting, story times, film screenings and more!Learn more about Drag Story Hour and explore their resources for parents and caregivers.Have a kid? Attend a story time at a library branches across Brooklyn and check out out our recommendations for new LGBTQ+ books to read with your kid.Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
Outside of Brooklyn, Arthur Miller's name has largely faded from memory. On this episode, we tell the story of the Black community leader who was killed by NYPD chokehold in 1978, the movement pushed forward as a result of his death, and the ways that Brooklyn Public Library's Center for Brooklyn History helps to keep the story alive.Further resources:Listen to the "Voices of Crown Heights Oral History Collection" or visit the Center for Brooklyn History in person. Check out our list of books created specifically for this episode.Watch a recording of the June 2023 public program "Say His Name, Arthur Miller: A Death By Police Chokehold 45 Years Ago."Listen to the 2018 episode about Arthur Miller on Flatbush + Main,the podcast from the former Brooklyn Historical Society.Visit CBH's online exhibit, "Brooklyn Resists," to learn more about Brooklynites responding to systemic racial injustice over the years, and see photos of the 2020 protests in Brooklyn, contributed by community members.Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
May 8, 2024 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Min Jin Lee in a conversation with Kyung B. Yoon. Min Jin Lee is the author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award. Lee is the recipient of the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for Literature, the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award, and the Samsung Happiness for Tomorrow Award for Creativity. She has received fellowships in Fiction from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Lee has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the New York Foundation for the Arts, New York State Writers, and the Bronx High School of Science. She has been honored by the Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Korean American Community Foundation, the Council of Korean Americans, the Queens Public Library, and the Korean Community Center. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The Chosun Ilbo, Vogue, and Food & Wine. She has introduced the Penguin Classics edition of The Great Gatsby. In 2023, Lee served as the Editor of the The Best American Shorts Stories. She is at work on her third novel, American Hagwon and a nonfiction work, Name Recognition. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College and serves as a trustee of PEN America and a director of the Authors Guild. Lee lives in Harlem with her family. Kyung B. Yoon is the President and CEO (as well as co-founder) of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), the first and largest philanthropic organization in the U.S. dedicated to strengthening Korean American communities. Her career in poverty alleviation, development economics, and media encompasses her roles as the Executive Producer of Television at the World Bank Institute and a correspondent for WNYW-Fox Channel 5 where she made history as the first Korean American broadcast reporter in NYC. Kyung is currently a contributing reporter to CUNY-TV's Asian American Life, which is broadcast nationally on PBS stations and for which she received an Emmy nomination. She has previously served as the board chair of Philanthropy New York and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, as a trustee of the New York Foundation, and as a board member of the United Way of New York City. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1817-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-min-jin-lee
Listen in on one of BPL's most popular art programs: a theater workshop where, once a week, budding thespians come together to read plays, talk about character motivations, and dig into some surprisingly emotional and political topics.Read a transcript of this episode on our website.Join fellow thespians at Central Library's theater workshop. Or, find a creative writing workshop at branches across BPL.Read along with the theater workshop by checking out the plays on our booklist.The Library needs your help to protect our funding or risk losing over 16 million dollars. Send a letter to your elected officials. Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
We revisit an episode from January 2021 in honor of National Library Workers Day, and ask: what do librarians do all day? When they're not planning programs or working the reference desk, these librarians are also obscure trivia players, birders and ... sword fighters! Read a transcript here.Have a minute? Vote for Borrowed and Banned in the Webby's! We were nominated for an award in the "Best Writing for Podcasts" category. Celebrate National Library Workers Day by thanking your favorite library worker or attending one of BPL's National Library Week events.Listen to "On the Frontlines," an episode from our Borrowed and Banned series about library workers fighting for the freedom to read.Check out these lists of hobby books for adults and for kids.Read our blog posts about birding with kids and historical birding in Prospect Park.Not for the faint of heart: Learned League. Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
Ross Perlin, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA) and the author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York (Grove, 2024), talks about the many languages spoken in New York that are at risk of disappearing.EVENTS: Virtual eventThursday, Mar. 21, 6:00pmQueens Public LibraryA “Literary Thursdays” series eventVirtual Q&A and book talk Virtual eventThursday, Mar. 28, 12:00pmLive from New AmsterdamIn conversation with Russell Shorto In-person eventWednesday, Apr. 10, 6:30pmSouth Street Seaport Museum In-person eventThursday, Apr. 18, 7:00pmNYPL World Literature Festival
Teens and older adults are perhaps the two age groups you might think have the least in common. But a new program at BPL seeks to bring the two generations together ... by having them debate.Read a transcript of this episode on our web page.Resources mentioned on this episode:Learn more about services for older adults at BPL and programs for teens!Listen to "Bridging the Gap," a podcast series on our BKLYN Community Audio feed and check out these books about debate.Take this very short survey to let us know what you think about Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL. Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
Brooklyn has 62 neighborhood libraries, each with a distinct architecture, culture, and soul. To kick off the new season and to celebrate our audio stories coming home to Brooklyn, we'll take a tour of the borough with the help of our neighborhood libraries and some of our stalwart patrons who visited all 62 of them ... in a matter of days!Read a transcript of this episode.Take our Browse the Branches challenge! Not in New York City? You can read your way through the branches with this book list.Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for our city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library and New York Public Library.Did you miss our dedicated series about book bans? Never fear. You can binge every episode of Borrowed and Banned now. Start with our first episode.Help us keep our libraries open by fighting for city funding. Write to your city leaders! Or, send a letter on behalf of Queens Public Library or New York Public Library.
Min Jin Lee could be considered an exemplar of the old adage “slow and steady wins the race.” The author's bestselling 2017 novel Pachinko—a National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller that was adapted into a television series for Apple TV+ in 2022—took 30 years to write from its inception as a short story. Her debut novel, Free Food for Millionaires (2007), took five years. These extensive periods of time become understandable, or even seem scant, within the sprawling, multigenerational contexts of her novels—Pachinko spans almost a century—into which she pours deep anthropological, sociological, and journalistic research. Lee is also the editor of the just-published The Best American Short Stories 2023 (Mariner Books) anthology, and she's currently at work on American Hagwon, the third novel in her diasporic trilogy.On this episode, she talks about the complex role of time in Pachinko, her miraculous recovery from chronic liver disease, and why she likens short-story writing to polishing diamonds.Special thanks to our Season 8 sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes: [00:25] Min Jin Lee[03:39] Viet Thanh Nguyen[06:08] Free Food for Millionaires[06:10] Pachinko[06:19] The Best American Short Stories 2023[08:08] Amy Tan[08:09] Salman Rushdie[09:36] “Bread and Butter”[09:37] “Motherland”[09:38] “The Best Girls”[10:04] William Trevor[10:06] Alice Munro[12:45] Yale University[17:23] Harvard Business School[17:34] Fashion Institute of Technology[47:37] Queens Public Library in Elmhurst[49:21] The Bronx High School of Science[49:32] The Hotchkiss School[49:33] Phillips Exeter Academy[58:46] American Hagwon[01:03:33] Stoner by John Williams
Jay Jaxon was the first African-American haute couturier, having worked in the prestigious luxury houses of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Jean-Louis Scherrer in the 1960s and 70s. Rachel Fenderson uncovered Jaxon's work while researching as a student in Parsons Paris' Fashion Studies program. She has since organized exhibitions at the Queens Public Library and Queens Historical Society about Jaxon's work. In this episode of Transition of Style, we celebrate LGBT History Month in the United States by discussing Jay Jaxon. Let's get a sneak peek at what Jay Jaxon's life in Paris would have been like – not only as an American in Paris, but an African-American non-heterosexual man in Paris. Where was he during the 1973 Battle of Versailles Fashion Show, the iconic fashion spectacle that put American and French designers and models on the map? What would life have been like for a 20- or 30-something year-old non-straight man in Paris? Listen to the episode to find out. Links Transition of Style website Rachel Fenderson website Jay Jaxon's retroactive obituary in the New York Times Your host's website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more at TheCityLife.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/support
Skye Patrick is the Library Director of LA County Library, one of the largest public library systems in the nation, serving one of the most diverse populations. She was previously Broward County Library's Director and held leadership roles at Queens Public Library in New York and San Francisco Public Library.Patrick was appointed to the Executive Board of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), the premier membership association of North America's leading public library systems, in July 2017. ULC is on the cutting edge of library innovation, and Patrick has joined a dynamic team of leaders and works alongside the board to inspire libraries to evolve and grow.In January 2019, Patrick was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal, a national publication. The award honors outstanding achievement and accomplishment reflecting the service goals of librarianship, including free access to information for all, encouragement of reading enhancement and expansion of library services to all residents, and strengthening the role of the library within the community.As the Library Director, Patrick continues to reinforce the Library's role in the community as a civic and cultural center, a hub for public information and services, and an institution of literacy, innovation, and lifelong learning.Chapters is a multi-part series concerning the history and the lessons of civil rights violations or civil liberties injustices carried out against communities or populations—including civil rights violations or civil liberties injustices that are perpetrated on the basis of an individual's race, national origin, immigration status, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.This project was made possible with support from Chapman University and The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a state-funded grant project of the California State Library.Guest: Skye PatrickHosts: Jon-Barrett IngelsProduced by: Past Forward
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New York City is home to 3 of the country's largest public library systems - New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. Although the city's libraries serve 10s of millions of visitors a year, libraries tend to be under resourced and under appreciated. In fact, NYC libraries are currently facing drastic budget cuts which would impact millions of library patrons, young and old. In this episode, we unpack the importance of the library system to communities as well as the challenges city libraries are facing going into the next budget cycle.
The All Local noon update for June 7th, 2023.
To Jelani Cobb, reading, writing, and education are inherently acts of empowerment, and sometimes even ones of defiance. A staff writer at The New Yorker since 2015 and recently appointed the dean of Columbia Journalism School, where he has been on the faculty since 2016, Cobb has written on subjects ranging from the power of Dave Chappelle's comedy, to the vital lessons of Martin Luther King Jr., to Donald Trump as a rapper. Cobb is also the author of the books The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress (2010) and To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic (2007). Given the precarious moment we're in when it comes to truth and the future of not just journalism, but democracy itself, he is unquestionably one of the most essential writers, historians, and thinkers of our time. On this week's episode of Time Sensitive, Cobb talks about timing and flow in hip-hop, why being a “first Black” leader in any high-profile profession is like “doing a high-wire act without a net,” and his belief that the future of journalism will include greater transparency around how a story gets made.Special thanks to our Season 7 sponsor, L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.Show notes: [03:39] DJ Kool Herc[03:49] “Hip-Hop at Fifty: An Elegy”[03:56] To the Break of Dawn[08:05] August Wilson[09:13] Skip James[27:10] Run-D.M.C.[27:16] LL Cool J[27:24] Q-Tip[27:25] Phife Dawg[27:27] Salt-N-Pepa[27:41] Kool G Rap[27:45] Pharoahe Monch[37:17] Queens Public Library[39:27] Adell Patton[41:18] Elizabeth Clark-Lewis[43:06] David Carr[43:23] Ta-Nehisi Coates[49:58] The Devil and Dave Chappelle: And Other Essays[53:21] “Trayvon Martin and the Parameters of Hope”[59:14] “Postscript: Rodney King, 1965-2012”[59:46] “Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump, and the Pursuit of Low-Level Crimes”[01:02:21] Between the World and Me[01:03:51] Columbia Journalism School
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://thecitylife.org/2023/03/09/brooklyn-new-york-and-queens-public-library-systems-culture-pass-initiative-launch-citywide-book-display-contest/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citylifeorg/support
This is the second of two bonus episodes recorded live at the Queens Public Library on December 15, 2022. After interviewing New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks, Mark and Max reflected on the Chancellor's remarks and took questions about the making of School Colors, why they chose District 28, and what they learned.This event was co-produced with The CITY and Chalkbeat New York, and moderated by Chalkbeat's Reema Amin.
Swipe Up 221 - Unfiltered Opinions on the News and Entertainment World - Ray Taylor ShowSubscribe: InspiredDisorder.com/rts Binge Ad Free: InspiredDisorder.com/plus Show topic: Welcome to Swipe Up, part of the Ray Taylor Show! In each episode, host Ray Taylor gives his honest and unfiltered opinions on the latest news, current events, entertainment updates, and other random posts he finds on Instagram. Join Ray every Thursday as he shares his thoughts and insights on a variety of topics and encourages listeners to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SwipeUpPodcast. Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective on the news or just want to be entertained, Swipe Up has something for everyone. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now! Story 1 (00:00:): Warner Bros. Discovery is undergoing a period of restructuring in 2022, which has included the scrapping of several films and TV shows. Despite facing backlash for these decisions, Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels has stated that it was a necessary move. The company is now "done with that chapter" and has "command and control over the business now", looking forward to growth in the future. As part of the restructuring, more than a dozen shows, including "Westworld" and "The Nevers," will be removed from HBO Max. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to license 13 of these removed shows to third-party free ad-supported streaming (FAST) services, with the remaining shows potentially being available on FAST platforms or other streaming services. It is not yet known which FAST platforms will offer the removed shows, with Warner Bros. Discovery planning to provide more information about its own FAST offering in 2023.Story 2 (00::): Breaking news: the FDA has granted accelerated approval to Leqembi, a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease that can slow cognitive decline in patients with early stages of the disease. Leqembi is the first drug of its kind with clear evidence of effectiveness in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, although it is not a cure. A large study found that patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's who took Leqembi saw a 27% slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who took a placebo. However, there are potential side effects including bleeding in the brain, which patients should discuss with their doctors. Biogen and Eisai, the companies that make Leqembi, will need to request full approval based on additional studies. It is not yet clear whether Leqembi will be covered by most insurance providers under accelerated approval or if that will come later after full approval.Story 3 (00::): A video has sparked outrage online after it appears to show New York police officers allowing members of the far-right group, the Proud Boys, to ride the subway for free after they protested a drag event in Queens. The incident occurred on December 29, 2022, after members of the group clashed with supporters of the drag event at the Queens Public Library. The NYPD said they were escorting the Proud Boys out of the area and placed them on the subway to remove them before the situation could escalate further. However, the Proud Boys were allowed to ride the subway without paying, while Black and Latino New Yorkers reportedly accounted for 88% of the arrests for fare evasion in the first six months of 2022. The video has led to accusations of hypocrisy and favoritism towards the Proud Boys by the NYPD. The NYPD said they are reviewing the incident and that the officers involved will face disciplinary action if it is found that they violated any policies.Shout Out To: @igndotcom@abcnews@buzzfeednewsJOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/links
This is the first of two bonus episodes recorded live at the Queens Public Library on December 15, 2022. Mark and Max interviewed New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. Banks was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams and is just finishing his first year on the job.The previous leadership of the NYC DOE had supported diversity planning processes in five school districts across the city, including District 28, the subject of School Colors Season 2. Once Covid-19 hit New York, these diversity plans fizzled out, but they were never officially cancelled. So we started by asking Chancellor Banks if he thought diversity planning would ever come back — and if not, why not?This event was co-produced with The CITY and Chalkbeat New York, and moderated by Chalkbeat's Reema Amin.
District 28 is both diverse and segregated. There's a Northside and a Southside. To put it simply: the Southside is Black, and the further north you go, the fewer Black people you see. But it wasn't always like this.Once upon a time, Black parents in South Jamaica staged an epic school boycott that led to the first statewide law against school segregation in New York. The Southside hosted two revolutionary experiments in racially integrated housing. So what happened between then and now?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
So much of the present day conversation about District 28 hinges on the dynamic between the Northside and the Southside. But why were the north and the south wedged into the same school district to begin with? When we asked around, no one seemed to know.What we do know are the consequences. As soon as the district was created, white and Black folks looked over the Mason-Dixon line and saw each other not as neighbors, but as competitors for scarce resources. And the Southside always seemed to get the short end of the stick.On this episode: how the first three decades of District 28 baked in many of the conflicts and disparities that persist to this day.Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
Queens, New York is often called “the most diverse place on the planet.” So why would a school district in Queens need a diversity plan? And why would so many Queens parents be so fiercely opposed?Welcome back to School Colors — Season 2.Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
In the early 1970s, Forest Hills, Queens, became a national symbol of white, middle class resistance to integration. Instead of public schools, this fight was over public housing. It was a fight that got so intense the press called it "The Battle of Forest Hills."How did a famously liberal neighborhood become a hotbed of reaction and backlash? And how did a small group of angry homeowners change housing policy for the entire country?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
Until recently, District 28 was characterized by a white Northside, and a Black Southside. For more than a hundred years, we've seen how conflicts around housing, schools, and resources have played out mostly along this racial divide. So how did District 28 go from being defined by this racial binary, to a place where people brag about its diversity?In this episode, we take a deep dive into two immigrant communities — Indo-Caribbeans and Bukharian Jews — that have settled in Queens: how they got here, what they brought with them, and what they make of their new home's old problems.Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
Queens has changed a lot in the last few decades — and so has District 28. New immigrant communities have taken root and the district is, on the whole, pretty diverse. But most Black folks still live on the Southside, and the schools below Liberty Avenue continue to struggle.A lot of parents and educators agree that there needs to be some change in District 28. But the question remains: what kind of change? When we asked around, more diversity wasn't necessarily at the top of everybody's list. In fact, from the north and south, we heard a lot of the same kind of thing: "leave our kids where they are and give all the schools what they need."So what do the schools on the Southside really need? And what's at stake for Southside families when we "leave those kids where they are" and fail to meet their needs for generations?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
In some ways, this entire season was prompted by the parents who organized against diversity planning in District 28. So in this episode, we let the opposition speak for themselves.Who are these parents? What do they believe and why? And why were they ready to fight so hard against a plan that didn't exist?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
In 2018, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan to replace the Specialized High School Admissions Test, or SHSAT. For years, advocates had argued that the test favored white and Asian students while systematically keeping Black and Latinx kids out of the city's most elite and well-resourced high schools. But many Asian American parents felt targeted by the mayor's plan, and they mobilized to defend the test.So when the District 28 diversity planning process was rolled out a year later, many Chinese immigrant parents in Queens saw this as “just another attack." This time, however, they were ready to fight back.The SHSAT is just one example of "merit-based" admissions to advanced or "gifted" education programs. These programs can start as early as kindergarten and they have become a third rail in New York City politics. In this episode, we ask why gifted education gets so much attention, even though it affects relatively few students. How do we even define what it means to be "gifted"? And by focusing on these programs, whose needs do we overlook?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
"I know this work can take you under if you let it, so I try not to let it take me."Pat Mitchell is the beloved longtime principal of P.S. 48, an elementary school in South Jamaica. She cares deeply about her students, many of whom struggle with poverty and unstable housing. While school was often a place of stability for her students and their families, COVID-19 changed everything.In this special episode, we follow the first pandemic school year through the eyes of Ms. Mitchell.Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
Over the course of this season, we've explored a rich history and complicated present — but what about the future?In this episode, we catch up with parents who became activated on both sides of the debate over the diversity plan. Since the diversity plan never came to fruition, what's to be done about the inequalities that persist in District 28?Click here for a full episode transcript.Join us at the Queens Public Library on December 15!Are you using School Colors in your own teaching or organizing? Fill out this audience survey.School Colors is created, reported, and written by Mark Winston Griffith and Max Freedman. Produced by Max Freedman, with Carly Rubin and Ilana Levinson. Edited by Soraya Shockley. Additional reporting by Carly Rubin and Abe Levine.Project management by Soraya Shockley and Lyndsey McKenna. Fact-checking by Carly Rubin. Engineering by James Willetts. Additional research by Anna Kushner. Original music by avery r. young and de deacon board, with additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how recent redistricting has changed what politics and campaigning looks like in New York. NYC's New District LinesFirst, we'll take a look at the new electoral map being drawn up for New York City. Dennis Walcott, chair of the New York City Council Redistricting Commission and CEO and president of the Queens Public Library, joins to discuss the new district lines, and the process that's gone into shaping them. Meaningful Representation For Communities Of InterestNext, Jerry Vattamala, democracy program director at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund unpacks the community advocacy that's gone into the redistricting process, and why his group is pushing to keep Asian American communities 'whole'. [Begins at 24:16] Reporter Roundtable: Policy, Power and RedistrictingThen, NY1 political reporter Emily Ngo, and Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, break down what the new district lines could mean for the politics and policy ambitions of New York's local, state and federal legislators. [Begins at 35:25] Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Listening back to all 8 episodes, I realize we’ve created a multilingual memory book that speaks to how far we’ve come as a borough and how far we still have to go. This memory book would not be complete without hearing from the producers themselves whose deep connections to their communities allowed unique access and intimate encounters. In the final episode, we bring them together to discuss the making of “Our Major Minor Voices.” This episode was produced by Melody Cao in conjunction with Anna Williams and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
This episode is also available in Bangla. You can find it in our podcast feed. यो शृंखलाको नेपाली संस्करण हाम्रो पडकास्टको फिडमा उपलब्ध छ। In this episode, we hear the stories of two New Yorkers from Bangladesh who have devoted much of their life’s work to preserving and nourishing the Bangla language among the Bengali community in Queens. The first story is about Naznin Seamon, a poet and teacher. In addition to writing poetry in Bangla and English, Naznin is a proud Bangladeshi and teaches her students not only about the Bangla language but also about the history, traditions, and culture. In the second segment, we’ll hear from Hasan Ferdous, a journalist and retired UN official, who tells us about the origins of the boimela, or Bengali book fair, in Queens, and what the Bangla language has meant to his own life. If you’re listening with others and want to discuss, here are some guiding questions: How do you integrate different languages into your daily life? How do you think we can create a city or society that is more friendly to English language learners? What does the Shahid Minar represent, and why is it so important? Recall a time when language has confused you. How did you feel? In what ways was it similar/different to the way Naznin describes feeling when she heard the word "lemme?" Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: NYC boimela This episode was produced by Trisha Mukherjee in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Voiceover work by Naznin Seamon, Saud Choudhury, and Mita Ganguly. Special thanks to Dwijen Bhattacharjya. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
This episode is also available in Hindi. You can find it in our podcast feed. क्वीन्स मेमोरी पॉडकास्ट का ये एपिसोड अँग्रेज़ी में है. अगर आप हिन्दी में सुनना चाहे, तो कृपया हुमारे पॉडकास्ट फीड पे जाए. This episode brings us stories from different generations of Queens residents, from the 1970s to the present day. Each guest recounts their unique journey to calling Queens home. Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Sunnyside Community Services Manavi South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM NYC) Chhaya CDC This episode was produced by Indranil Choudhury in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Special thanks to Jaslin Kaur. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
This episode is also available in Tibetan. You can find it in our podcast feed. For Tibetans in their native country and around the world, preserving the Tibetan language means preserving their culture. Since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, these vital parts of Tibetan identity have been under grave threat. For the past six decades, Tibetan refugees have managed to keep their culture alive in India, where they formed a democratic exile government once headed by the Dalai Lama. Since the US Immigration Act of 1990 provided immigration visas to 1000 of these refugees, exiled Tibetans have made homes away from home in America as well. In this episode, we’ll hear how the sizable Tibetan community in Queens has managed to preserve their mother tongue. Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Tibet Action Institute Tibetan Community of New York Yindayin Coaching Tendor’s Songs This episode was produced by Tenzin Tsetan Choklay in conjunction with Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Voiceover work by Tenzin Sangmo and Dan Harumi. Additional music by Tenzin Dorjee (Tendor). Special thanks to Tibet Action Institute, Tibetan Community of New York, Yindayin Coaching Center, and Yodon Thonden. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
Gawa sa Ingles itong episode ng Queens Memory Podcast. Kung gusto ninyong makinig sa Tagalog, mahahanap ‘nyo rin ang bersyong iyon sa aming podcast feed. This episode is also available in English. You can find it in our podcast feed. Sa maraming grupong Asyanong nakatira sa New York City ngayon, ang mga Pilipino ang pang-apat sa pinakamalaki. At higit sa kalahati sa kanila ay matatagpuan sa Queens. Sa episode na ito, maririnig natin ang mga kuwento mula sa "Little Manila" ng Woodside - isang kapitbahayan sa paligid ng Roosevelt Avenue mula sa 63th hanggang 70th Street. Umusbong itong "Filipino enclave" mula noong 1970s. Mga rekomendasyong binanggit sa episode: Woodside on the Move Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts Empire of Care by Catherine Ceniza Choy “The Sisterhood”on The Experiment podcast Si Rosalind Tordesillas ang nag-produce ng episode na’to, kasama sa paglikha sina Melody Cao, Anna Williams, at Natalie Milbrodt. Si Cory Choy ang nag-mix at edit, at si Elias Ravin ang nagsulat ng musika. Mga nag-voiceover sa Tagalog: Jaime Aenlle Carlo Cruz Angela de Marie Paz Herrero Agnes "Bing" Magtoto Joel Rufino A. Nuñez Maraming salamat kay Jake Hofileña at Bing Magtoto sa tulong nila sa pagsalin. Narinig ‘nyo rin sina Joey Golja, Mary Jane de Leon, at John Bahia, na nagbahagi tungkol sa Little Manila. Salamat din kay Jaclyn Reyes para sa Mabuhay mural launch audio. Bahagyang sinustentohan ang podcast na ‘to ng National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom. Inaari ng mga tagalikha ng episode na ito ang mga pananaw, findings, konklusyon, o rekomendasyong ipinahayag dito. Hindi nangangahulugang ang mga iyan ay mga opisyal na patakaran o paninindigan din ng National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, City University of New York, o ng kanilang mga empleyado.
This episode is also available in Tagalog. You can find it in our podcast feed. Mapapakinggan din itong episode sa Tagalog. Mahahanap ito sa aming podcast feed. Of the many Asian groups that call New York City home today, Filipinos are the fourth largest. And over half of New York’s Filipinos can be found in Queens. In this episode, we’ll hear stories from Woodside’s “Little Manila” – a neighborhood around the Roosevelt Avenue stretch from about 63rd to 70th street. This Filipino enclave dates back to the 1970s. Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Woodside on the Move Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts Empire of Care by Catherine Ceniza Choy “The Sisterhood” on The Experiment podcast This episode was produced by Rosalind Tordesillas in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Voiceover work by Arianne Arreglado. Special thanks to Joey Golja, Mary Jane de Leon, and John Bahia, who you also heard in the episode. Mabuhay mural launch audio courtesy of Jaclyn Reyes and Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
This episode is also available in Mandarin. You can find it in our podcast feed. In this episode, our producer, Stella Gu, presents the story of a family tragedy in the wake of a historic flood. Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Better Than the Powerball, Julie Satow, NYT, Jan 11. 2019 NYC Funded a Pilot to Make Basement Apartments Safer, But Then It Went Off Track, Roshan Abraham, Next City, Oct 13, 2021 This episode was produced by Stella Gu in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Voiceover work by Xia Liangjie and Chen Xiaojun. Special thanks to Chen Xiaojun, Zhang Dechao, and Xia Liangjie. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees. The news clips quoted in the episodes are from: After Ida: Three More People Found Dead In Basement Apartment In Queens, CBS New York, Sep 2, 2021； New York Flooding: At Least 9 Die as Storm's Remnants Bring Flash Floods, Tornados to Northeast, ABC11, Sep 2, 2021; The Wrath of Hurricane Ida: New York Announces its First-Ever Flash-Flood Emergency, DW News,Sep 2, 2021; At Least 12 Killed in NYC Amid Basement Apartment Flooding during Ida, ABC7NY, Sep 2, 2021; Ida Flooding Kills Queens Family, Including Toddler, ABC7NY, Sep 2, 2021
Urdu is currently the sixth most widely spoken Asian language in Queens. In this episode, we hear from two Urdu speakers who immigrated to the US from Pakistan and have made Queens their home. Sabir Ali immigrated from Pakistan in search of better economic prospects. After 24 years in the States, he reflects on how his horizon has expanded in ways he could not have imagined, and how he has made friends from all over the world. Aelya Askary sought asylum in the US a few years ago with her husband and three children. She discusses navigating the changes over the years and what they have gained and lost from their move. If you’re listening with others and want to discuss, here are some guiding questions: What do you think gets lost in translation when you immigrate from another country to the United States? Think about this from the following perspectives: linguistic cultural social religious The Queens Memory Podcast is a production of the Queens Memory Project. For full transcripts, show notes from this episode, and past seasons, visit QueensMemory dot org forward slash podcast. This episode was produced by Syma Mohammed in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
This episode is also available in Nepali. You can find it in our podcast feed. यो शृंखलाको नेपाली संस्करण हाम्रो पडकास्टको फिडमा उपलब्ध छ। In this episode, we hear the stories of two Nepalis who made their way to Queens looking for economic opportunity. Both thought their time here would be temporary. Neither have returned home. The first story is about a Nepali domestic worker. An estimated 3,000 Nepalis work in private homes in New York City, according to Adhikaar, a non-profit that offers literacy and workers’ rights classes for Nepali immigrants. In the second segment, we'll hear from another Nepali immigrant – Pasang Sherpa – who left his home behind to find a livelihood in the U.S. Luckily, he managed to build a new home, a family, and a community. The Nepali domestic worker in the first segment also lives in Queens. To respect her wish to remain anonymous, we have used the pseudonym 'Dolma' instead of her real name. If you’re listening with others and want to discuss, here are some guiding questions: What surprised you most about the United States/Queens? What were your expectations about the US before you came, and how did your expectations match up to reality? What do you remember about your first day in Queens? What are your earliest memories of Queens? Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Adhikaar, a New York-based nonprofit that works with with the Nepali-speaking community for human rights and social justice Pasang Striking Style: barbershop in Jackson Heights: @pasangstrikingstyle / https://www.facebook.com/pnsherpa This episode was produced by Peter Gill and Shradha Ghale in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Voiceover work by Sharareh Bajracharya, Jigdel Dorjee Kuyee, and Marion Machado. Special thanks to Narbada Chhetri of Adhikaar and to Thupten Chakrishar of the Himalayan Elders Project. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
The 1970s, 80s, and 90s saw a wave of Korean immigrants coming to the US, many finding their way to Queens. The Korean American population in the US skyrocketed, reaching 1.2 million people by the year 2000. Flushing, Queens was a little Koreatown back then – where Korean families lived and worked. In this episode, we explore the theme of memory through the story of two sisters – Soojin and Eugina, who rode this wave of immigration from Korea to Queens in the 80s. They landed in their halmoni’s – that is, their grandmother’s – kitchen. If you’re listening with others and want to discuss, here are some guiding questions: What do you remember about your first day in Queens? What are your earliest memories of Queens? What’s it like to live in Queens? What kind of life do you expect your children to have in the future? Do you have any childhood memories around race? How did those experiences shape how you think about race and identity today? Parents and caregivers, how do you talk about race with the children in your life? How do you help them to challenge stereotypes? Do you know what your family's earliest days in the US were like? Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Korean American Story Stop AAPIHate Asian Americans Advancing Justice This episode was produced by Heidi Shin in conjunction with Melody Cao, Anna Williams, and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Special thanks to HJ Lee at Korean American Story, Jo Ann Yoo at the Asian American Federation, Dr. Pyongap Min, Dr. Jey Kim and Soojin and Eugina for sharing their family's story. Voiceover work by Soyun Jeong, Eunbin Go, and Hyunae Lee. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
In this season of the Queens Memory podcast, “Our Major Minor Voices,” we feature stories from our neighbors of Asian descent in Queens, New York. One in four Queens residents identifies as Asian American – that’s over 650,000 people with roots in more than 120 Asian countries. They speak over 800 languages and make up the largest urban concentration of Asian Americans in the nation. The stories in the third season of the podcast, “Our Major Minor Voices,” document the experiences of our borough’s rich and diverse Asian communities in their own voices. Each episode features stories about identity and belonging from this broad array of people who have made valuable contributions through their cultural traditions, belief systems, and linguistic diversity. Bookended by the season introduction and finale, the series includes eight bilingual episodes representing the most widely spoken Asian languages in Queens: Bangla, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Tagalog, Tibetan, and Urdu. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these communities have been in turmoil. Already grappling with longstanding issues such as income inequality, immigration barriers, and racial stereotyping, Asian Americans now faced concerns for their personal health and public safety. In this unique moment, we aim to document the stories of these vital communities and capture snapshots of our ever-changing neighborhoods as they are now. Season Three’s production team includes Melody Cao, Anna Williams, Natalie Milbrodt, Jiefei Yuan, Cory Choy, Meral Agish,Tenzin Choklay, Indranil Choudhury, Shradha Ghale, Peter Gill, Stella Gu, Syma Mohammed, Trisha Mukherjee, Heidi Shin, Rosalind Tordesillas, with music by Elias Ravin. This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
In Season 3 of the Queens Memory podcast, “Our Major Minor Voices,” we feature stories from our neighbors of Asian descent in Queens, New York. Too often, these voices are deemed “minor” – as in “of a minority.” But in this series – as in our borough – they are a major force. One in four Queens residents identifies as Asian-American. In this episode, Executive Producer Melody Cao chronicles the turmoil these communities are experiencing in the present, as well as the richness of their pasts in our borough. If you’re listening with others and want to discuss, here are some guiding questions: What does ‘HOME’ mean to you?When did you start to call Queens home?What makes Queens feel like home to you? Resources mentioned in the episode can be found below: Asian American / Asian Research Institute, CUNYAsian American Center in Queens CollegeChinese-American Planning Council This episode was produced by Melody Cao in conjunction with Anna Williams and Natalie Milbrodt. It was hosted by J. Faye Yuan. Mixing and editing by Cory Choy with music composed by Elias Ravin. Special thanks to Wayne Ho, Joyce Moy, and Madhulika Khandelwal The news clips quoted in the episodes are from: “Anti-Asian Attacks in NYC Woman Arrested in Spree of Beatings ” — News 4 Now, July 23 2021;“Anti-Asian incidents top 6,000 since start of pandemic” — CBS Evening News, May 6 2021;“Asian woman struck in head with rock in Queens; Police investigating as possible hate crime” — ABC 7 Eyewitness News, November 27 2021;“Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans On The Rise” — NBC News Now, February 20 2021 This podcast has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this episode are those of its creators and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of National Endowment for the Humanities, Queens Public Library, the City University of New York, or their employees.
Part 2 of 2. TPP had the privilege of interviewing Claire Marie Lim, also known as dolltr!ck, for this episode. A professor in the Electronic Production & Design department at Berklee College of Music, she specializes in instruction for live electronic performance, production, and programming, and is an advocate of womxn and Asian representation in music technology. She is an Ableton Certified Trainer, Bitwig Certified Trainer, and Apple Certified Pro. In music education and arts activism, Claire collaborates with the Girls Rock Campaign, Beats By Girlz, and the Queens Public Library network, and has received support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Queens Council on the Arts. She develops curriculum for various ages and experience levels, having consulted for the International Center of Photography, Queens College, Coursera, and the Berklee network. Claire also independently runs the doll troop, a mentorship experience where K-12 girls can shadow her in electronic songwriting sessions and live shows.
Part 1 of 2.TPP had the privilege of interviewing Claire Marie Lim, also known as dolltr!ck, for this episode. A professor in the Electronic Production & Design department at Berlkee College of Music, she specializes in instruction for live electronic performance, production and programming, and is an advocate of womxn and Asian representation in music technology. She is an Ableton Certified Trainer, Bitwig Certified Trainer, and Apple Certified Pro. In music education and arts activism, Claire collaborates with the Girls Rock Campaign, Beats By Girlz, and the Queens Public Library network, and has received support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Queens Council on the Arts. She develops curriculum for various ages and experience levels, having consulted for the International Center of Photography, Queens College, Coursera and the Berklee network. Claire also independently runs the doll troop, a mentorship experience where K-12 girls can shadow her in electronic songwriting sessions and live shows.
The Queens Public Library, celebrating its 125th Anniversary, is of the nation’s largest public library systems with 66 locations in the most diverse urban […] Read More
Libraries have long been a great escape for a lot of people – the perfect place to slip away from the hustle and bustle of life. But, when the pandemic forced libraries to shut their doors, library leaders had to move swiftly to make sure they could still serve their communities. Our guest this week is Dennis Walcott, President and CEO of the Queens Public Library. He joins us to talk about how the Queens Library pivoted during the pandemic, and how COVID-19 isn't putting a damper on the Library's125th anniversary celebrations.
Libraries have long been a great escape for a lot of people – the perfect place to slip away from the hustle and bustle of life. But, when the pandemic forced libraries to shut their doors, library leaders had to move swiftly to make sure they could still serve their communities. Our guest this week is Dennis Walcott, President and CEO of the Queens Public Library. He joins us to talk about how the Queens Library pivoted during the pandemic, and how COVID-19 isn’t putting a damper on the Library’s125th anniversary celebrations.
Literature teacher returns book to library 63 years overdue; Evolutionists use different teeth to repeat their dogma; California teachers propose ethnic chanting to Aztec gods; Intolerants demand American Medical Association sacrifice a doctor to their outrage; Epigeneticists use semantics to bypass laws against experiments on unborn; Bill Nye claims he can prove there is no life after death; California democrat proposes law to force haters out of police forces . . . and other stories reviewed during this March 22, 2021 broadcast of Answers News. - - - - - - - - - - - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - - - - - - - - - - - Jesus (Matthew 5:43-48) Articles Book returned to New York library was 63 years overdue https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/03/17/Queens-Public-Library-63-years-overdue-Betty-Diamond/1851616013506/ Oldest primate fossils indicate our ancestors walked with dinosaurs https://newatlas.com/science/oldest-primate-fossils/ California proposes curriculum with chanting name of Aztec god who accepts human sacrifice https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-schools-aztec-gods Editor of prestigious medical journal JAMA fired for questioning the existence of "structural racism" in the medical profession. https://notthebee.com/article/editor-of-the-prestigious-medical-journal-JAMA-fired-for-questioning-the-existence-of-structural-racism-in-the-medical-profession Pre-embryos made in lab could spur research, ethics debates https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pre-embryos-lab-ethics-health-1.5953497 Life after death: Bill Nye says 'overwhelming evidence' proves there is no afterlife https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1387330/life-after-death-bill-nye-evidence-afterlife-proof-nde-evg California Bill Proposes Removing Cops Who Express Religious Or Conservative Beliefs https://thefederalist.com/2021/03/16/california-bill-proposes-removing-cops-who-express-religious-or-conservative-beliefs/ Lightning strikes played a vital role in life's origins on Earth https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316132121.htm - - - - - - - - - - - Photo by Amirreza Jambi https://unsplash.com/photos/_4ifSWfBWss --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/answerstv/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/answerstv/support
Queens Public Library is one of the nation's largest public library systems with 66 locations in the most diverse urban area in the world. President and CEO Dennis Walcott discusses QPL's most in-demand services and during the pandemic, initiatives for Black History month and the Library's 125th anniversary in 2021. For more, visit QueensLibrary.org
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the 10th episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In our final episode of season two, we hear once again from Queens residents about their hopes and fears for the future, as well as one quarantine wedding, 20 years in the making. On the final episode of season two of Queens Memory Podcast, we begin with a 20-year love story. Kate O’Connell and Michael Scott Robinson first met in an acting class. The pair recount their first kiss, their courtship, getting engaged in 2013, and Kate’s cancer diagnosis one month before their original wedding date in 2018. “I wasn’t going to do ‘tragic bald bride.’ Nope. That’s not me,” she said. So they postponed. Kate got better. And they set a new wedding date for 2020. Their plans were once again derailed -- this time by COVID-19. Kate, an ER nurse who has worked in a hospital throughout the pandemic, quarantined from Scott in their own house. Fear and stress and all the feelings that have struck some people throughout these trying times ultimately inspired the pair to hold a virtual wedding. “I realized that we still had this amazing celebration that we were entitled to, that we could create and share,” said Scott. Listen to Kate and Scott’s wedding vows and hear about how they created a little bit of happiness for themselves, their family, and friends. Later in the episode, we hear one more time from Queens residents about what they believe life “after COVID” will look like. From fears about students being left behind in their schooling, to hope that the traditional in-person working environment will be reimagined, even after it’s safe to come back; our Queens neighbors remain vigilant and hopeful. Many are rightfully determined that the Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked nationwide protests this summer, remains active and that conversations continue and work toward equal rights and equal treatment is never ceased. Individuals whose voices can be heard in this segment are: Tunisia Morrison, Tiffany Nealy, Yvette Ramirez, Khaair Morrison, Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman, Richard Parker, Aleeia Abraham, Shante Spivey, Keshia Desmarattes, Ty Hankerson, and Franck Joseph. To close out the final episode, our whole team shared what they hope for the future after COVID, and reminisced on their favorite memories of the season. This episode of the Queens Memory podcast was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore’, in conjunction with Anna Williams, Giulia Hjort, Syreeta Gates, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Editing by Anna Williams and mixing by Briana Stodden, with music composed by Elias Ravin, the Blue Dot Sessions, Audio Network, as well as, Dale Stuckenbruck (violin) and Heawon Kim ( piano), who played "The Marriage of Figaro" during Kate O’Connell’s and Michael Scott Robinson’s Zoom wedding ceremony. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the ninth episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this episode, we hear from artists and creatives in Queens about how they have managed to shine through the pandemic, by finding innovative and fun ways to express themselves while staying safe. In mid-March, as the pandemic was starting to take hold in New York City, Governor Cuomo issued a ban on gatherings of 500 people or more -- a move that would prove to be only the beginning of great steps taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. That same day, Broadway went dark. Restrictions grew tighter in the following weeks, and soon enough, public spaces were closed and New York became a vastly different city. Faced with new social distancing rules, members of the arts community did what they do best: They got creative. Crockett Doob, a writer and drummer from Queens, plays drums on a makeshift setup at 33rd Street and Astoria Boulevard so he won’t disturb his neighbors. When he lived in Sunnyside, he played on the 39th Street bridge, where he enjoyed the noise of the traffic which allowed him to play as loudly as possible. Now, playing in a more exposed location, he enjoys the anonymity wearing a mask allows him, so he can play as excitedly as he wants. Richard Parker is a tattoo artist in Queens and the designer of the Black Lives Matter mural on Jamaica Avenue. Having spent his entire life weaving through the borough, from Corona to Bayside to Flushing and beyond, Parker calls himself a “Queens mutt.” Parker sees the world coming to a standstill as an opportunity for artists, “Now is the time to do what you want to do, especially in New York City.” By designing the BLM mural and his other art projects, Parker says he has been called an “activist” by the community, a title which he says he obtained simply by expressing himself through his art. Lifelong Queens resident Sapphira Martin is a dancer, podcast producer, and writer. She and her mother are the owners of dance studio, It’s Dance at the Brown Barre. She is also co-host of The Black Girl Podcast, alongside four other proud and strong black women. She has focused during the pandemic on supporting her Queens community. She leads classes via Instagram for her dance students and continues to work remotely on her podcast and subscription box service, SassBoxx, co-curated by Martin for black women. She has leaned heavily into her creative outlets over the last few months, and the Black Lives Matter resurgence that took place this summer drove Martin further to create and show up. “Black lives have always and will always matter,” she says. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore in conjunction with Theresa Gaffney, Anna Williams, Syreeta Gates, Briana Stodden, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. This episode was edited by Anna Williams with mixing by Briana Stodden and music composed by Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the eighth episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. On this episode, we hear from educators of different backgrounds about how virtual learning has impacted their students and the way they do their jobs. On March 15, 2020, Mayor De Blasio announced New York City schools would close to slow the spread of COVID-19. On March 23, 1.1 million students and 75,000 teachers in the city switched to remote learning. Less than two weeks later, De Blasio extended the closure to the end of the school year. As of the publishing of this podcast, NYC schools remain closed for most children. Tiffany Davis-Nealy, of South Ozone Park, traveled the world as an education consultant before becoming the principal of PS 165 in Flushing. Davis-Nealy was a motivated student, raised in Bed-Stuy at PS 40 and transferred to PS 121 in Queens in the fifth grade, where her mother fought for her to be placed in advanced classes. Nealy felt destined to be an educator because she wanted to be like one of the teachers who shaped her life so positively. She majored in psychology and education in college and then began her career in Harlem in the 1990s. Nealy would later work for Columbia University, PS 21, and finally, currently, at PS 165. Nealy states she has learned a lot about her students since the onset of COVID-19 and the switch to virtual learning. She has noticed a higher level of food insecurity among the families than she had previously been aware of. In fact, Flushing is what is known as a food desert -- where there are fewer than 10 retail food stores per 10,000 residents. Nealy notes that many of her students had relied on lunches received in school as their primary food source. While organizations and the city have stepped up to help provide meals, there remains a struggle to support families and make virtual learning work for everyone. Shawn Chandler, an attendance teacher for the Department of Education, is eager to help people through the uncertain future of the pandemic. Born in Queens, Chandler has worked for the DoE for 15 years, where he tracks down young adults who have stopped attending school for various reasons and helps get them on a course to graduation. Chandler also owns Sing 2 School Inc., a hip-hop educational company. Predictions have been made far and wide about what schools will look like when they reopen amid COVID-19, what the US can learn from other countries about safely reopening, and even what schools will look like years after the pandemic has ebbed. Chandler has his own theories. While he acknowledges that the implementation of remote learning has not been seamless and that the practice itself is not for everyone, he predicts that hybrid-lessons and attending in-person a few days a week will be much more common in coming years. Chandler is hopeful that whatever changes are coming to the education system will be effective in keeping students in school. Remote learning has been especially difficult for students with special needs and their families. These students who require the most direct support in a classroom have suddenly had to transition to learning at home with their families. In New York City, 228,000 children with disabilities have been affected by the closure as services have changed. Keisha Desmarattes is a lifelong Queens resident and a special education teacher. Formerly a social worker, Desmarates earned her MA in social work in 2014. She recalls teachers scrambling to prepare for what teaching is going to look like this fall. When the closures began, most teachers assumed it would be back to normal by September. Desmarates laments the disadvantages her students experience with remote learning, but she is committed to ensuring they receive all the care and support she can provide. She notes her dream of opening a women’s youth center for young girls to gain the tools to succeed. Shanté Spivey is principal at a school for special education in Queens. She has always chosen to work with children who have special needs as she holds out hope for those who people feel can not learn. Spivey has noticed many difficulties her students and their caregivers have faced since the switch to remote learning. She recalls one student who lives with a grandmother and has one tablet and unreliable WiFi for 11 people who live in the home. This week, NYC students with advanced special needs returned for in-person instruction. Both Spivey and Desmarates advocate for better support for special education students and commit to providing the best services they can for the community that they whole-heartedly support and see the potential in. “If you can tap into children in the manner that you need to, this world would explode,” said Spivey. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore in conjunction with Syreeta Gates, Theresa Gaffney, Anna Williams, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. This episode was edited by Anna Williams with mixing by Briana Stodden and music composed by Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the seventh episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. On this episode Queens leaders talk about campaigning during a quarantine and ways they have found to continue to support their communities. Unemployment filings skyrocketed as COVID-19 settled upon New York City and the world as businesses closed and workers were laid off. By early May, the New York Department of Labor announced they had paid $6.8 billion in unemployment since the start of the pandemic. This number is nearly three times greater than the total unemployment payments made in 2019. While food pantries and other nonprofits scrambled to answer the call for help, their resources were strained by the sharp spike in need. On August 1st, Queens residents gathered outside the New York Hall of Science to receive food distributions. Senator Jessica Ramos hosted the event, which also offered free COVID-19 testing. Senator Ramos hosted regular fresh food distribution events in the months after the pandemic upended life and income for many Queens residents. The event on August 1st was the 14th distribution. Michael Pereira, who was born and raised in Queens, was in attendance and talked about how this time away from work has enabled him to take better care of himself physically and mentally. He also talks about the systemic dietary oppression Latinx families face, as well as, the negative health impacts of low-income, predominantly minority neighborhoods due to low housing quality. Meanwhile, politicians and aspiring leaders try to adapt to campaigning and staying in touch with communities while social distancing. Queens resident Mary Jobaida was forced to derail her campaign for the New York State Assembly District 37 when the shutdown began. Jobaida immigrated to Queens from Bangladesh in 2001 and has lived in the area ever since. She talks about watching the gentrification of neighborhoods, pricing herself and her neighbors out of options. A 2019 report by the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development found that, in Queens, the neighborhoods of Jamaica and Hollis were most at risk. This map shows gentrification throughout all of New York City. Jobaida decided to run for State Assembly in District 37 to help those who have been affected, against incumbent Catherine Nolan who was first elected in 1984. Jobaida says she originally thought about running for State Assembly in 2018. She filed the paperwork to do so in spring of 2019, using her professional name “Mary.” In April 2020, the board of elections removed her from the ballot upon learning her full name is Meherunnisa. Their stated reason being that the name in the application filing must match the candidate’s legal name. Jobaida, along with Moumita Ahmed, who was also removed for the same reason, sued the BOE, claiming xenophobia was behind the decision. In May, a judge ruled the two women will appear on the ballot. Continuing her campaign while social distancing, Jobaida was severely limited. A number of her organizers and campaigners contracted COVID-19, four of whom died. One month before the election, unable to afford mailers, Jobaida utilized volunteers to operate phone banks. The Democratic Primary Election took place on June 23, 2020. Jobaida lost to incumbent Catherine Nolan by 1,153 votes. Jobaida won 5,041 votes, while Nolan won 6,554. Jobaida suspects if she had been able to campaign in person, she would have won, and vows to continue the fight. Brent O’Leary of Long Island City is running for City Council, District 26, which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, and part of Astoria. O’Leary announced his campaign in the summer of 2018 - three years before the 2021 election. Now, he’s glad his campaign launched so early, as they were able to build momentum. However, the pandemic has slowed fundraising, he said, as most funds are normally raised during in-person events. He is also reluctant to ask people for money in the midst of the pandemic. Instead, O’Leary co-founded two emergency food pantries, in Sunnyside and Woodside. Ultimately, official campaign events ceased, but remaining active in his community helped keep O’Leary in the public eye, and demonstrated his priorities, he said. The campaign is now getting back on its feet. O’Leary talks about his support of the current Senate bill to cancel rent for small businesses who are struggling due to COVID-19. On last week’s episode of Queens Memory Podcast, we heard from local small business owners about the impact the pandemic has had on their businesses. According to a Hospitality Alliance survey, only 19% of New York City businesses paid rent in June, and only 26% of landlords waived any rent. With the primary election less than a year away, O’Leary wonders what campaigning will look like in the coming months. Across the country, candidates have had to transition their campaigns to socially distanced tactics. Read about what State Congressional and Senate candidates are doing differently to campaign in the New Yorker and NY1. With an uncertain future, O’Leary commits to heed professional advice regarding COVID-19, praises New York City for its effective response to the virus, and voices support for the effective use of masks in preventing the spread of the disease. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore’ in conjunction with Anna Williams, Giulia Hjort, Roshni Khatri, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Mixing and editing by Briana Stodden with music composed by Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the sixth episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this episode, Queens small business owners share what it has been like to operate in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic -- their struggles and perseverance. On March 20th, Governor Cuomo announced that New York City was going “on PAUSE” with an executive order, wherein all non-essential businesses were to close their doors. This included restaurants, shops, and other small businesses to reduce their workforce by 100%. Food service was hit especially hard. New York lost an estimated $1.9 billion in sales and 250,000 jobs in March, according to a survey conducted by the New York State Restaurant Association. Local advertising company and community blog, Give Me Astoria, established a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for the Astoria Relief Fund. Founder of Give Me Astoria, Sonia Mylonas, along with designer Eleni Louca and Editor-in-Chief Lou Lou Chryssides, successfully raised $25,000 -- delivering over 5,000 meals to essential workers from over 100 local restaurants. The fund provided monetary compensation for restaurants to bring back their employees to prepare and deliver meals to essential workers, though the team says many restaurant owners contributed more, as they were grateful to have a reason to work again. Meanwhile, other non-essential businesses found new ways to work within the guidelines of the executive order. Local audio and video business owner Jonathan Jetter was able to operate his company, Right Angle Productions, from his office, as the only person there. Jetter recalls working long hours in the uncertain days leading up to the lockdown as he tried to finish projects in case he was forced to halt his work. However, while business has slowed, Jetter has been able to keep his company up and running. Jetter laments that no rent relief program for businesses has been instituted. (Note: Jetter was interviewed on 07/23/2020 and this episode was posted on 09/10/2020). According to a Hospitality Alliance survey, only 19% of New York City businesses paid rent in June, and only 26% of landlords waived any rent. An estimated 64% of restaurants in New York State may close as a result of the impact of COVID-19. Food blog Eater NY provides an ongoing list of local restaurants that closed their doors permanently during the pandemic. Several bills have been proposed by New York politicians, including a bill to the New York City Council that would repeal commercial rent tax for the remainder of the pandemic. However, nothing has been enacted yet. While the struggle to remain open has hit many business owners, those that have been able to remain operational have had to learn new ways of staying safe. Demetrios Vasiadis, owner of 14th Street Laundry in Astoria, talks about navigating the safe operation of his laundromat -- deemed an essential business -- during COVID-19. Vasiais maintains a blog for the laundromat, in which he describes everything from new safety measures to changes in traffic conditions. He attributes an increase in business to the security and comfort the blog provides customers. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore’ in conjunction with Anna Williams, Briana Stodden, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Mixing and editing by Briana Stodden with music composed by Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the fifth episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected the documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this episode, we hear from first responders of color who have been on the front lines of the pandemic from the very beginning. Diana Wilson has been an EMT with the New York Fire Department for 17 years in Springfield Gardens. Rob Semple has been a firefighter with the FDNY in Corona for less than a year. Both Rob and Diana are first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rob, who is new to the force, remembers their 20-week training being cut short by two weeks in order to get more firefighters in the field as soon as possible to help with the pandemic. Indeed, medical 911 calls to the FDNY rose from 4,000 to 6,500 per day, including a notable spike in calls involving cardiac arrest, and a 400% increase in cardiac arrest home deaths. Diana notes a new rule for paramedics, implemented because of the pandemic: Limit your use of CPR. This rule was put in place by the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City, in an attempt to keep COVID-19 positive people from entering hospitals and infecting others. However, following widespread objections, the New York Health Department rescinded the order. Previously, according to New York City EMS protocol, CPR should be initiated to all patients in a state of cardiac arrest, unless signs of obvious death are present or the patient has Do Not Resuscitate orders in place. Diana and Rob discuss the emotional toll they have felt during these trying times. Diana lost her husband to an illness in April 2019, and after COVID-19 took hold in New York City, she sent her children to live somewhere outside of the epicenter. She reports feeling isolated without her family around her, especially after two of her colleagues died by suicide in the midst of the pandemic. Similarly, Rob notes that many of their fellow firefighters find comfort in spouses and significant others, which Rob does not have. While the FDNY offers mental health support, neither Diana nor Rob have utilized it, though both encourage people to find support within their communities. Rob also reflects on the unifying effect 9/11 had on the FDNY as a result of so much shared loss, and they lament that the pandemic hasn’t brought about the same response. Fellow EMS worker Christell Cadet tested positive for COVID-19 in March and was told to come into work anyway. (In the early days of the pandemic this was not unheard of because hospitals were so overwhelmed.) Cadet has asthma, a respiratory condition which she is 20% more likely to have as a Black American woman than a non-Hispanic white American woman. Eventually, Cadet went to the hospital, where her condition worsened and she was put in a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator. (COVID-19 patients that require ventilators are always put into comas.) Cadet awoke from her coma a month later. All medical personnel responding to the COVID-19 pandemic work long hours, are under immense stress, and literally put their lives at risk while working. It is an incredibly dangerous job, and workers like Cadet and 100,000 others have paid a high price. For this reason, there has been a widespread call for hazard pay to be distributed to essential workers, like medical staff, who put their lives on the line for us all. Hazard Pay has been a point of contention between first responders and the government since the onset of the pandemic. “Hazard Pay” is additional pay for workers performing hazardous duties. Diana, as an EMS worker, has not received hazard pay for working on the front lines of the deadly pandemic. She reports hearing that doctors and nurses received hazard pay -- which could be because certain private hospitals and private companies have offered bonuses or increased pay for employees working in hazardous conditions. Yet no city or state funding for hazard pay has been passed in New York -- meaning no front line medical workers in city hospitals have seen any additional payment for battling COVID first-hand. Governor Cuomo has expressed support for hazard pay. Early on he called for 50% hazard pay to come from the federal government. He has supported the passage of the Heroes Act, which would allocate $200 billion for hazard pay. While the act was passed by the House of Representatives in May, it - or any other stimulus package - has yet to be passed by the Senate. The pay gap between FDNY employees has long been a point of contention, even before COVID-19. As noted in the episode: Starting pay for FDNY EMT is $35,000 and rises to $50,000 over five years. Starting pay for FDNY paramedics is $48,000 and rises to $65,000 over five years. Starting pay for FDNY firefighters is $45,000 and rises to $110,000 over five years. Starting pay for NYPD officers is $42,000 and rises to $85,000, with an upwards estimate of $100,000 with overtime and other benefits. As discussed in last week's episode of Queens Memory, the Black Lives Matter movement has swept the nation. Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old black woman who worked as an EMT in Louisville, KY. On March 13, she was shot and killed by Louisville police while asleep in her bed. Diana discusses her fears about raising children in a time and place where they will be judged by the color of their skin. Rob shares their dismay that the pandemic hasn’t slowed the murder of black, brown, and trans people. Indeed, the number of police shootings in 2020 shows no significant change from the same timeframe in 2019 and 2018. Instead, murders of transgender people in 2020 has surpassed last year’s total. Rob and Diana have noticed a lack of cultural and racial awareness among their colleagues. In Queens, where half the residents identify as POC or BIPOC, emergency response workers like EMS or firefighters must work quickly and comfortably in homes of families whose cultures may be unfamiliar to them. FDNY EMS workers are made up of 54% racial minorities, while firefighters are only 22% racial minorities. Cultural Competency in Disaster Response is the awareness of culture, race, gender, class, age, and faith in an emergency and being able to work professionally while respecting the different factors that may play into the encounter. Training materials can be found online, but it is unclear if Cultural Competency training is provided to or required of FDNY workers. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore’ in conjunction with Sam Riddell, Anna Williams, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Editing by Anna Williams with mixing by Briana Stodden and music from Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the fourth episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this episode, we hear first-hand accounts of our Queens neighbors who have participated in the Black Lives Matter movement, their experiences at protests, and what we can do to keep the movement going. Black Lives Matter protests have swept across the country in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, with many demonstrations taking place in Queens. Krystal Padilla of Woodside talks about getting involved in protests for the first time, describing herself as a “quiet and shy person,” and how she felt particularly passionate about supporting BLM as she has faced harassment as a Latina woman. Padilla, like so many others, followed the call to action. Born and raised Queens, resident and community activist Ty Hankerson spoke at and helped organize several demonstrations this summer. Hankerson emphasizes the importance of protesting but also the necessity of doing work beyond the day of a march, including getting out to vote. Organizer Tunisia Morrison from South Jamaica talks about her efforts to get a Black Lives Matter mural in Queens. Morrison was distinct about her desire for every person who works on it to be black and to come from the local area. When she voiced this opinion to community leaders, she says it served as a “big spark” for everyone involved. Morrison was instrumental in the placement of the Black Lives Matter mural now on the street along Rufus King Park, and outside Queens Family Courthouse. Lawyer, activist, and organizer Khaair Morrison (Tunisia’s brother) talks about his connection to the community and the work he has done, which includes holding an Instagram live session with his mentor, Congressman Gregory Meeks which drew over 100 viewers, to talk about police reform in Congress. Queens Memory Podcast staff member Anna Williams attended a Street Riders NYC ride and included a recording of her experience. The activist group began its rides on June 6, and has drawn over 10,000 cyclists. The route Williams followed traveled from Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, across the Queensboro Bridge, and into Manhattan. Lulu White of Ridgewood used her embroidery talents to raise funds for the Pittsburgh Black Business Relief Fund. Her piece includes the James Baldwin quote: “You're talking about the people who have the power, who intend to keep the power. And all they can think of are things like swimming pools, you know, in the summertime, and sort of made up jobs to simply protect peace and the public property. But they show no sign whatsoever of understanding what the root of the problem really is, what the dangers really are.” Queens Memory Podcast producer Giulia Hjort and White discuss learning about the Black Lives Matter movement, taking part in protests, and their continued self-education on racism. “Vigil” by Queens Memory Podcast composer Elias Ravin plays at the end of the episode, which was composed in honor of George Floyd. This season of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore in conjunction with: Anna Williams, Syreeta Gates, Giulia Hjort, Theresa Gaffney, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Editing was done by Anna Williams with mixing by Briana Stodden and music by Elias Ravin and the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
The Borough We Became: Queens Residents On Life During COVID-19
The Queens Memory Project brings you the third episode of season two of the Queens Memory Podcast. This season we have collected documented experiences of Queens residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this episode, we hear from students and a teacher in Queens who are experiencing the many impacts of virtual learning, their thoughts on the future, and how to stay positive in trying times. Governor Cuomo delivered a press briefing on May 1st, in which he announced that New York schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year. He advised schools to begin work on plans to create safe in-person learning environments, but said it was too soon to speculate on a fall semester reopening. Anthony Gadaleta, a teacher from The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica, Queens, shares his experience working from home in a small shared space with his wife, an adjustment that has affected millions of Americans. Here’s some advice on making shared space work at home. Gadaleta also talks about connecting with his students via virtual learning. Teaching physics, computer science, and math this way proved to be a struggle, but Gadaleta did his best, noting that certain adjustments were made to lesson plans based on what could realistically be taught virtually. Students and faculty of The Mary Louis Academy have transitioned to virtual learning amid the pandemic, while mourning the loss of assistant principal Joe Lewinger, who died in March of COVID-19. “We lost pretty much the heart of the school. So for us, it hit immediately,” said Gadeleta. “He was already a huge impact on me and my career and my understanding of what it takes to be a good teacher.” Meanwhile, high schooler Marvin Lezama shares his concerns about the long-term effects of virtual learning, such as students being unable to re-acclimate to a traditional academic and social setting. He considers the effectiveness of the techniques used in this new medium of education and the loss of the Regents Exam. While schools in a number of states are set to reopen this fall for in-person instruction, many will still utilize virtual learning for the safety of staff and students. Though virtual learning has been helpful in this time of crisis, there are some perceived pros and cons amongst those experiencing it. And 12-year-old Jason Tejada shares his feelings about virtual learning, sharing space and technology with his family, and how he stays positive. As of the release of this podcast, New York City schools are set to re-open part-time on September 10th. If your child will be back in the classroom this fall, here are some tips that you can follow to keep them safe, which include taking their temperature before they leave, investing in the right mask, and having them shower when they get home. This episode of Queens Memory was produced by Jordan Gass-Poore’, in conjunction with Anna Williams, Briana Stodden, Jo-Ann Wong, and Natalie Milbrodt. Mixing and editing was done by Briana Stodden with music by Elias Ravin and from the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks for funding support from the New York Community Trust. Queens Memory is an ongoing community archiving program by the Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY.
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