AirGo

Dorothy Holmes has found her way into the movement through the most terrible of circumstances–her son, Ronald "Ronnieman" Johnson was murdered by CPD officer George Hernandez on October 12th, 2014. Dorothy has emerged as an organizer and activist, coupling the fight for justice with a loving campaign to provide resources, support, and love to others who have had to face violence as she has. She joins AirGo to talk about her own path, Ronnieman, and more.

Recorded live 6/16/16 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

Fall From Grace - nicodxmvs

Take It - Sirens

Come to We 'Go: A Chicago Showcase and Celebration, on Friday 6/17! Free and all ages. https://www.facebook.com/events/913429428756200/

Vanessa Sanchez is the Director of Yollocalli Arts Reach, a remarkable organization and branch of the National Museum of Mexican Art that works with youth, primarily in the city's Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods. In a city full of of nonprofit efforts that talk the talk, and ultimately take up space and resources without fostering dynamic spaces for young people to create, Yollocalli stands tall as a welcoming, unpretentious home for free art and new media programs, including street art, mural internships, experimental video, music, storytelling, radio and journalism. Vanessa is also one of the creators of Villapalooza, a fantastic annual festival, community celebration, and block party in Little Village.

Recorded live 6/9/16 at WHPK in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

Only Time Will Tell - @kodyakhiphop

Keep You In Mind - @guordan-banks

Tweak Harris is an MC and activist whose forceful bars and warm smile have been central to the movement across Chicago, especially in the victorious fight for a trauma center on the South Side of the city. Coming off an electrifying performance at the magnificent "Ain't No Mothership: An Expedition of She" event last month, Tweak comes by the studio to talk about her new music and more.

Recorded live 6/2/16 on WHPK 88.5FM

Music from this week's show:

sinsisaw/thedeepestblue - ELWD

Real Talk - Tweak

God (The Rookies) - Tweak

Sol Patches is an actor, rapper, poet, organizer, and gender abolitionist from Chicago. Under the guidance of AirGo alum Ricardo Gamboa and Coya Paz at the Free Street Theater, Patches has tackled roles on stage and screen, including Louder Than a Bomb as a member of the Goodman Theater team and in Pronouns, a new film that has been accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival. They are also an activist and organizer, working with the Let Us Breathe Collective and other organizations across the city.

Recorded live 6/26/16 at WHPK 88.5FM

Music from this week's show:

TWOsDay II - Two Fresh

What White People Invented - @SolPatches

Shani Crowe is an interdisciplinary artist from the South Side of Chicago. Her newest exhibition, Braids, is a series of portraits of Black women whose hair has been braided and styled into "a variety of original looks and wearable works of art." She joins Damon and Daniel to talk about the project, her lineage as a visual artist, and more.

Recorded live 5/19/16 at WHPK88.5FM in Chicago

Music on this week's show:

Breakdance Lesson N.1 - @kaytranada

Braid My Hair - Mario

BLK Girl in the Auditorium - @JBambi

All Falls Down - Kanye West

Felonious Monk is a comedian and commentator who has built some of the city's most vibrant, subversive comedic rooms. His work with Dave Helem on the Blipster Life comedy series, produced in venues across the city, has brought comedy into the movement, and has created in-between spaces for one of America's most segregated art forms. He is a regular contributor to The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

Recorded live 5/12/16 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

Say You Won't - @Brasstracks

Heavn - @JamilaWoods

Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross

L.A. VanGogh is a multitalented rapper, vocalist, producer, and musician whose fantastic new collaborative project with producer and DJ Ambi Lyrics is entitled safensound presents L.A. VanGogh. The project's sound, birthed from both artists' hands, ears, and minds, is grounded in this sonic moment more completely than most, and is in self reflection that dodges Drake-like corniness in favor of honest thoughts and declarations.

Recorded live 5/5/16 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

I Wonder - @ambil

Changed My Number - @youarenowSafensound (@LaVanGogh & @ambil)

9 ta 5 Bluez - @youarenowSafensound (@LaVanGogh & @ambil)

Untitled 108 - @bruceleekix

All Falls Down - @kanyewest

As a moment continues to transition to a movement, one of the most pivotal questions is how a generation of people fighting for liberation can maintain their spirits, bodies, souls, and presence while still actively doing some of the most difficult work one can do. Black Girl in Om is an organization that creates "spaces for women of color to breathe easy" through their online publication and pop-up wellness experiences across the country. Founder/Creative Director Lauren Ash and Art Director Zakkiyyah Najeebah join Damon and Daniel to wellness, art, and more.

Photo by Erica Jones

Record live 4/14/2016 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

Blk Girl Soldier - @jamilawoods

Oxygen (prod. @montebooker) - @sminoworld

Everybody Loves the Sunshine - Roy Ayers

Live At The Barbecuue - Main Source feat. @Nas

Summer Fields is a student at the University of Chicago, where she has seemingly been making cool stuff since she first showed up. She is the founder of The Quad, a podcast telling the stories and sharing the voices that are often unheard at UChicago. She also works as an intern at Hearken, "an audience-driven framework and platform enabling journalists to partner with the public throughout the reporting process." A former ABC News Politics Fellow, she's currently writing her thesis on race and public media. Plus she's as much of a Larry David fan as Damon and Daniel are.

Recorded live 4/7/16 at WHPK 88.5 in Chicago

Music from this week's show:

Bus Ride - @kaytranada

Freedom Interlude - @noname

I Think It's Going to Rain Today - Nina Simone

Highness is a band and collective whose unique sound, which they call omnisoul, lights up stages and eardrums across the city. With each show, their appeal and energy becomes even more undeniable. Daniel and Damon go offsite to interview the band at the rehearsal studio as they prep for the release show of their new The Highness Collective EP.

Recorded 3/31/16 on WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music on this week's show:

Israel (Sparring) Instrumental - @chancetherapper feat. @noname

Straight Loneliness - @kaytranada

Pearl - @highnessmusic

Radio Play - @highnessmusic

Because 789 - @highnessmusic