Wpkn Community Radio

On January 4th, Cambridge, Massachusetts police officers shot and killed 20 year-old Sayed Arif Faisal, who was a UMass Boston student majoring in Engineering. The Justice for Faisal movement was born, bringing together a coalition of groups to demand justice and organize for a better future. One of the groups at the heart of the Justice for Faisal movement, is Muslim Justice League (or MJL). Host Mike Merli speaks to Fatema Ahmad, executive director of MJL and an active organizer within the Justice for Faisal movement. For more on the Justice for Faisal movement: https://muslimjusticeleague.org/justice-for-faisal/ For more on Muslim Justice League: https://muslimjusticeleague.org/ https://www.facebook.com/MuslimJusticeLeague https://twitter.com/MuslimJustice {This episode of Mic Check originally aired on Sunday April 16, 2023}

-Hudson nuclear waste water dump on hold -More than 2 feet of rain in 6 hours, floods Fort Lauderdale -“Climate change is a threat to human well-being & planetary health” -Spring has sprung unusually early in the eastern United States -sea waters are rising by large, measurable amounts -Homes constructed in risky areas overvalued billions of dollars -Salmon fishing off the California coast is facing a spring ban

Im very pleased to welcome to Digging in the Dirt Isabella Rossellini. In addition to a very successful modeling career, Isabella has starred in some extraordinary films, Like “Blue Velvet”. I Invited her here today not to talk about films but to talk to me about her wonderful organic farm in Brookhaven Long Island, called Mama Farm …..where Ms. Rossellini has a popular CSA and raises endangered breeds of farm animals.

Host: Steve di Costanzo Doug Holcomb the CEO of Greater Bridgeport Transit and Matt Pentz the CEO of Norwalk Transit Department talk bus transportation, diesel vs. Electric, Effects of Covid on ridership and plans for celebrating this year's Earth Day.

Today WPKN’s General Manager Steve di Costanzo welcomes: LifeBridge Community Services a nonprofit based in Bridgeport serving the community for over 170 years. Mission: Partnering with individuals, youth, and families to improve well-being, strengthen resilience, and create a brighter futureLifeBridge provides a combination of behavioral health services, youth development, and asset-building resources for families, our impact strengthens our community as a whole. Steve speaks with Edith Boyle, the President & CEO as well honorees of Creating from the Heart (upcoming FREE event April 27 at The Knowlton) Shanika Rucker and Razul Branch. He will also talk with Key Note Speaker Cey Adams- visionary graphic designer, visual artist, teacher and founding creative director of DEF JAM Recordings.

Today WPKN’s General Manager Steve di Costanzo welcomes the following to his April GM Report to the Listeners: John Bastone from RecordRiots to talk with Steve about WPKN’s Music Mash Record Fair coming up this Saturday at Read’s ArtSpace- It’s a sold out show with dealers! LifeBridge Community Services a nonprofit based in Bridgeport serving the community for over 170 years. Mission: Partnering with individuals, youth, and families to improve well-being, strengthen resilience, and create a brighter futureLifeBridge provides a combination of behavioral health services, youth development, and asset-building resources for families, our impact strengthens our community as a whole. Steve speaks with Edith Boyle, the President & CEO as well honorees of Creating from the Heart (upcoming FREE event April 27 at The Knowlton) Shanika Rucker and Razul Branch. He will also talk with Key Note Speaker Cey Adams- visionary graphic designer, visual artist, teacher and founding creative director of DEF JAM Recordings. S

Nigerian Highlife musician Okwy Osadebe is interviewed by Ebong Udoma.

Host: David Green If you are interested in your health and well-being (who isn't?) then spend your lunch hour with us at NOON by tuning into @wpkn89.5 for our monthly live interview series Spotlight On Arts and Culture: "The Arts and Healing." We will examine the power of creative expression as a means of coping, healing, and restoration. We will hear about how the arts can be a bridge to mindfulness, reflection and transformation, particularly in the context of the current state of our world. Our guests are Dianne Niklaus, a Creative Wellness Coach; Darcy Hicks, visual artist and Co-director of Education at The Norwalk Art Space; Felicity Kostakis, artist and art teacher; Tatiana Mori, Director of the Greenwich Arts Council; and Patricia Spugani, Community Outreach & Lighting Designer at Town Players of New Canaan which recently produced Ordinary People to contribute to the conversation around mental health. Tune in and enjoy! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ey5-VTpx Connecting. Informing. Promoting. Advocati

I'm here with the winner of the 5th annual Bill Duesing Organic Living on the Earth Award, Michael Nadeau. Michael is one of the leading authorities in the field of sustainable organic and ethical land care strategies in the United States. He is sought after for creating attractive sustainable and restorative environments using organic practices that respect the ecology of the property and reflect the philosophy of the client. Michael’s organic and sustainable holistic land care approach carefully maximizes wildlife habitat with specific plantings and techniques, improving the overall health of land, water, and wildlife. He is a co-founder of CT NOFA’s Organic Land Care program and owner of a organic land care consulting business. https://www.michaelnadeau.org/

* Father of School Shooting Victim Calls for National Education Strike to Demand Acton on Gun Violence; Manuel “Manny” Oliver, co-founder of Change the Ref, a group advocating for gun safety measures; Producer: Melinda Tuhus. * New Tactics Are Required to Resist and Defeat GOP Authoritarianism; Bill Fletcher Jr., labor and racial justice activist & author; Producer: Scott Harris. * Massive Protests in France Continue to Oppose Increase in Pension Retirement Age; Jeffrey Mackler, National Secretary of Socialist Action, a staff writer for their publication; Producer: Scott Harris.

Laura Modlin's Solar/Lunar Report Steve Munno's Small Farms Report Vincent Kaye with his Honey Bee Update Patrick Comins -- Executive Director of the Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) will discuss legislation and strategies to protect bird migration in Connecticut. Hosted by Richard Hill, Laura Modlin and Chris Ferrio

Okwe Osadebe, son of the renown Nigerian Highlife king Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, shares his newest tracks and talks about his music and his Igbo culture. Interview by Richard Hill, April 4, 2023

This GaiaGram marks the 150th edition in the series. A lot has changed over the four years of airing these environmental headlines. I started producing them to alert us to the increasing amount of negative events that are inexorably changing planet earth and to hopefully get those of you who hear these stories to collectively get off your rear ends and do something about it. This is the time of year we celebrate Earth Day. I would hope that we all may make every day Earth day and in whatever small way change the way we conduct our individual lives to save the planet, as we have known it, for future generations to enjoy. I produce GaiaGram for my children and grandchildren. Please share if you care.

Prof. Jon Shelton, author of The Education Myth -- How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy, discusses his theory that neo liberalism has fused competition and meritocracy with education in the US economy. Christopher Viles, professor of English and American Studies at UCONN - Storrs, analyzes the rising threat of fascism emerging from a multitude of sources across the US. Panel: Ruthanne Baumgartner, Scott Harris and Richard Hill

A conversation with Stan Heller about efforts to reduce impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers and other small engines; plus good news on efforts to stop the Mountain Valley fracked gas pipeline through WV and VA.

My guest now is Craig Floyd. Craig has been here on DITD several times before. I always like talking with Craig, because of his incredible knowledge of regenerative and organic growing, his work ethic and empathy for those who have less than the rest of us. Craig is retiring from running the Giving Garden in Stonington CT., which grows tons of wholesome food and gives it away.

My guests this show are two local Bridgeport residents doing good things on their Urban farm called Park City Harvest. Richard Myers & Shawn Joseph just self published a new book entitled "Grow to Eat" - A vegetable Growing Guide and Cookbook.

- Antarctica melting ice to affect global deep ocean current by 2050 -Exxon's low carbon business to generate billions of dollars -Six tornadoes hit the Northeast -Niño climate event is responsible for raising global temperatures -Congress to try to overturn protections for the nation's waterways -New rules for coal- and oil-fired power plants -Deforestation threatens “orangutan capital of the world” -Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the China -Duke Energy now has largest solar power plant ever

What is it like to be a queer religious leader in Ron DeSantis' Florida? What are the implications for the rest of the nation? Come to the Sunshine Cathedral, #myqueerchurch, in Fort Lauderdale Florida to find out. More info on Sunshine Cathedral at: https://sunshinecathedral.org/ {This story was produced by Mic Check host Isabelle Barbour, and it originally aired on March 5, 2023. More info on Isabelle's work can be found at: https://www.truthtellerconsulting.com/}

Changes in federal policy around the child tax credit and school lunches are poised to exacerbate already rising levels of hunger and food insecurity. Come hear how FRESH New London, a small but mighty organization, is working to take care of people, build power, and change systems in New London, Connecticut. More info on FRESH New London at: https://freshnewlondon.org/ {This story was produced by Mic Check host Isabelle Barbour, and it originally aired on February 5, 2023. More info on Isabelle's work can be found at: https://www.truthtellerconsulting.com/}