Wpkn Community Radio

Host: Steve di Costanzo Gm, of WPKN Guest: Carolyn Vermont - CEO Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield. An individual who has really given back to the many communities she has served: Urban Family Development (21 years); President of the Bridgeport NAACP (6 years); she's sat on boards such as CT Against Gun Violence (8 Years); St Vincents Hospital (5 years); Board of Trustees Fairfield University (6 years)

Host: Steve di Costanzo, GM of WPKN Guest: Pierre F. D’haiti- founder of Haitian Awareness Inc., a civic leader, immigration advocate and currently the Assistant Academic Affairs Community Engagement Housatonic Community College

Host: Steve di Costanzo GM Report to the Listeners February 2023 WPKN’s General Manager does his monthly ‘Report’ today from 12noon to 12:55pm. Today his guests include: Pierre F. D’haiti- founder of Haitian Awareness Inc., a civic leader, immigration advocate and currently the Assistant Academic Affairs Community Engagement Housatonic Community College; other guests include Carolyn Vermont, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County and Josue Jorge, Director of Communications; the final guest will be Assistant Academic Affairs Community Engagement Housatonic Community College; our final guest Sheena Graham is an educator, songwriter and poet who teaches at Harding High School and Central High School, Bridgeport CT. She has worked with students across grade levels throughout her career and continues to be energized by her students and colleagues. Sheena has been featured in the book “Notable Valley African Americans.” She has received the Beard Excellence in Teaching Award, Teacher Of the

The February 19, 2023 Episode of Mic Check was In Memory of Donny Simmons and Sade Billie, who both tragically passed away early this year. This program revisits host Mike Merli's December 16, 2018 conversation with Donny and Sade about their work with the Housing Not Jails Collective in New Haven. The version of that conversation here is lightly edited, and includes the introduction from last night (Sunday February 19, 2023). Housing Not Jails was an initiative under the Connecticut Bail Fund that was led by homeless / unhoused folks in the community. They organized, strategized, mobilized, and drafted policy proposals. They held rallies and press conferences, spoke out, and fought for their rights and the rights of everyone experiencing homelessness. Donny and Sade were two of the lead organizers with Housing Not Jails. They loved each other, and they loved their people. They fought hard against criminalization, profiling, and constant police harassment, while organizing for the homeless community in New

The Farm Stand presents: --Laura Modlin's report on Harriot Tubman --Steve Munno talks about National CSA Week coming up soon --Hector Geraldo aka Freedom shares the story of how he and his wife started the SEAmarron Farmstead in Danbury, CT and how his project will empower young people of color trying to get into farming as a livelihood. Freedom gives a short course in hemp in all its many forms and uses. Panel: Richard Hill, Chris Ferrio and Laura Modlin

In the wake of the Memphis police murder of Tyre Nichols, Dr. Gerald Horne, professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Houston, discusses the history and evolution of policing in America, from the militias to the slave patrols to the era of modern militarized police forces that prey upon working class communities of color. Panel: Ruthanne Baumgartner, Scott Harris and Richard Hill P

-L.A.’s halts plan to chop down 13,000 shade trees citywide -Health and environmental concerns from Ohio derailed train cars -36.3 million trees died in California in 2022 -Half of plastic pollution in existence was produced in the last 20 years -Sri Lanka will ban single-use plastics -January had "the most extreme heat wave in European history." -The U.S. government fails to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales -Switzerland’s longest dam now wears nearly 5,000 solar panels.

* Chinese "Spy Balloon," New US Philippines Military Bases Inflame US-China Tensions; David Vine, Professor of Anthropology at American University; Producer: Scott Harris. * Ohio “Bomb Train” Derailment Releases Dangerous Toxic Chemicals; Amanda Kiger Director of River Valley Organizing; Producer: Melinda Tuhus. * US Corporate Media Ignores Report Concluding US Sabotaged Russia's Nord Stream Pipeline; Bryce Greene, a regular contributor to Extra! The newsletter of the media watch group FAIR.org; Producer: Scott Harris.

A CT state rep from Waterbury and a Bridgeport community advocate discuss the issue of environmental racism and efforts in this year's General Assembly to strengthen the state's environmental justice law.

Laura Modlin's report on the Snow Moon, the return of daylight and more; Steve Munno's Winter Farm Report Vincent Kaye: the Honey Bees in Winter Kimberly Stoner on the new Green Amendment to the CT Constitution Hosts: Richard Hill and Chris Ferrio

First-ever satellite to detect greenhouse emitters launches Higher-than-normal rainfall fills Lake Shasta to nearly normal New “water barons” are buying up water rights all over the world 2 Nigerian communities file claims against Shell in London High Court The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance committed to net-zero by 2050 Google has updated its Maps to show stops to charge EV cars. New Windows could cut the energy costs of buildings by 40 percent 54% of new electric-generating capacity in the U.S. to come from solar energy monarch butterflies in California have rebounded for a second year in a row

* GOP Removal of Rep. Ilhan Omar from House Foreign Affairs Comm. Driven by Bigotry and Hate Svante Myrick, incoming President of People for the American Way Producer: Scott Harris * Police Killing of Forest Protector Activist, Won’t Deter Atlanta’s ‘Stop Cop City’ Campaign Shaheen Rana, an Activist with Atlanta’s Stop Cop City Campaign Producer: Melinda Tuhus * National Debate on Policies to Address Police Violence Must Include Local Community Control Max Rameau, Pan-African theorist and author Producer: Scott Harris

My guest this afternoon is Mark Ridsdill Smith who wrote The Vertical Veg Guide to Container Gardening on Chelsea Green Press. Mark has a website and Facebook page that inspires and supports people to grow food in small urban spaces. He has appear on many television shows and written for the Guardian’s Live better campaign. I'm pleased to have him here today to help us grow more food ourselves even in the tiny cramped spaces of the city.

This month it's two conversations. one with Artist Rita Valley about her show with fellow artist Lydia Viscardi at Camp Gallery, and secondly, arts organizer Elinor Slomba of ArtsWest Ct, which is amplifying and supporting the arts communities in West Haven through events, increased information and coverage and creating venues.

Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor emeritus in Economics at St. Mary's College, gives his assessment of the US economy in 2022 and offers his predictions for 2023. Dr. Rasmus' analysis differs from that of mainstream economists: he identifies the main cause of inflation as a "supply side" problem as opposed to a problem of too much demand. He argues that the single-minded strategy of Fed interest rate hikes will not solve the root causes of inflation and will certainly lead to a recession in 2023. Interview by Richard Hill

Two callers discuss personal challenges. Scotty is dealing with alcoholism and maintaining sobriety with help from the Emotion Roadmap and psylocibin. Norman has a request for a neighbor and he is struggling with his fear of rejection.

Six of seven Colorado River basin states sign agreement Recent California flooding and severe weather led to about $7 billion Emirates heavy rains, might be due to cloud seeding Extreme heat events are increasingly far outside the historical record The state of our oceans can measure the world's health Rising sea levels could cover twice as much land Deforestation pushes Amazon rainforest toward a tipping point Abu Dhabi-based company are producing fresh water from seawater Cost of electricity from new solar power plants fell 89%

* Threat of Nuclear War and Climate Crisis Moves 'Doomsday Clock' 90 sec. to 'Midnight'; Robert Socolow, theoretical physicist and professor emeritus at Princeton University; Producer: Scott Harris. * Rising Israeli-Palestinian Violence Amid the Oppressive Daily Reality of an Occupied People; Issa Amro, Founder, Youth Against Settlements in Hebron & Executive Director of Friends of Hebron; Producer: Melinda Tuhus. * Long Running Race and Class Divide in Peru Provokes Protest and Escalating Violence; Francesca Emanuele, a Peruvian sociologist, and columnist; Producer: Scott Harris.

{January 29, 2023 episode of Mic Check} Host Mike Merli checks in with Lela Florel, founder of Preserve Remington Woods. Lela shares her story, and speaks about the environmental justice movement she's been leading for the past several years. For more information on Preserve Remington Woods, and ways to take action: www.preserveremingtonwoods.com/

Host: Rob Fried, Director Guests: Joe Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult and Joan Levy-Hepburn Also Stephanie Campbell and Amy Dingwall from the non-profit Kennedy Collective.