Champions of the Lost Causes

Host Marvin Stockwell talks to former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy about his long life of championing causes - from his early days in the Peace Corps and as an activist, to his long career in politics, which most notably includes his time as mayor.

Many credit Tom with turning the former industrial city's economic fortunes around. After he left office, Tom spent years as a consultant with the Urban Land Institute. It was in this role that Tom led a ULI panel in Memphis to advise on the highest and best use of Memphis' Fairgrounds and Mid-South Coliseum. When the panel recommended reactivating the Coliseum, it was a major victory for Marvin and other Coliseum activists. In this conversation, Marvin and Tom reexamine the issues that have kept the Coliseum closed and speculate on what might eventually reactivate the historic building.

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks with Michael Lawrence-Riddle, Executive Director at Self-Evident Education, at his office in Northampton, MA. The two discuss Michael's work with educators, students and communities to encourage people to think critically about the role of race and institutional racism throughout United States history. They also talk about their shared experience as musicians in addressing social justice issues.

For more information about Self-Evident Education, visit selfevidenteducation.com

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks with Muck Rack Senior Director of Communications Linda Zebian at her home in Wilbraham, MA. The two discuss championing the cause of the free press in a polarized age of disinformation, and how, by developing relationships with journalists and PR pros alike, Muck Rack plays a unique role in fostering a dialogue between these increasingly connected and interdependent professions.

For more information about Muck Rack, visit muckrack.com

For more episodes of this podcast, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks with Christine Lutts, board chair of Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery, at her home. Over the last twelve years, Christine and her organization have made steady progress in restoring Dickson Memorial Chapel & Conservatory and Greenlawn Cemetery as places of peace and beauty in Salem, MA.

For more information about Greenlawn Cemetery, visit friendsofgreenlawn.org

For more episodes of this podcast, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Alicia Lehrer, executive director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council at her office in Providence, RI. The two discuss the group's origins, how their work to clean up the river and surrounding land has progressed, and how it evolved into the collection of connected parks, bike paths, and greenspaces that improve the quality of life for thousands of residents.

For more information about the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, visit wrwc.org

For more episodes of this podcast, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Friends of The High Line's Chief Program and Engagement Officer Asima Jansveld about The High Line's earliest days, facing down demolition threats, working through adversity and, finally, persevering! The two also talk about the new challenges that came from The High Line's success, and The High Line Network, a learning cohort of people engaged in best-practices infrastructure-reuse work.

For more information about The High Line, visit thehighline.org

For more episodes of this podcast, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Rochelle Joseph, board chair of Support The Pink House, a group working to preserve the historic landmark, which has drawn countless photographers to capture its unique beauty. The 10-year fight to save it has had many twists and turns and it's not over yet. The Pink House is once again under demolition threat.

For more information about The Pink House, visit supportthepinkhouse.com

For more episodes visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks with ioby CEO Nupur Chaudhury at the Sheraton Hotel lounge in Brooklyn. The two discuss how ioby has grown and changed over the years to help fund neighborhood-level change all over the country, which include Marvin's own causes - saving the Mid-South Coliseum and the summer road trips for the podcast. They also talk about ioby's improved site functionality, and what the future may hold for peer-to-peer learning among ioby project leaders.

For more information about ioby, visit ioby.org

For more episodes visit ⁠⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Kim Yim, president of the Pleasant Village Community Garden in East Harlem. What began as people seed-bombing vacant lots in the early 1970s to beautify their neighborhood grew into a community garden that serves as a place to build community, grow food, share meals and, through composting, reduce waste and improve the environment. The two talk about how the garden grew, the challenges they've faced, and how Kim and her community work to solve problems and continue to improve the space and welcome newcomers.

For more information about the Pleasant Village Community Garden, visit pleasantvillagecommunitygarden.com

For more episodes visit ⁠⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠⁠

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Host Marvin Stockwell talks to Feed More President and CEO Doug Pick about the organization's efforts to collect, prepare and distribute food to people facing hunger across 34 Central Virginia cities and counties. The two talk about Feed More's origins and explore why people champion causes and give of themselves to help others.

For more information about Feed More, visit feedmore.org

For more episodes visit ⁠championsofthelostcauses.org⁠

For other fine podcasts, visit ⁠backtothelight.net