Connections Podcast

According to the New York State Health Foundation in 2018, Black women are 2.3 times more likely than white women to experience potentially life-threatening complications during or after childbirth. What can be done to eliminate the disparity? We talk with medical experts about what the science says, and with State Senator Samra Brouk about proposed legislative solutions. Our guests: Samra Brouk , New York State Senator (D, WF), District 55 Twylla Dillion, Ph.D., executive director of

Leaders at Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County made a major announcement Thursday morning. The nonprofit is changing its name to JustCause . Leaders say low-income people in the community have negative interactions with the justice system, and often don’t feel that it works for them. JustCause is working to change that perception by providing pro bono legal services. This hour, we talk with JustCause attorneys about how they are fosting this change, sometimes one case at a time,

We talk with two more candidates for Rochester City Council. It's part of a series of conversations we're having with Council candidates prior to the primary. Our guests share their platforms and priorities, and discuss issues affecting Rochester. Our guests: Anthony Hall Brittan Hardgers

Local festival organizers say state and federal guidance regarding events has been confusing or lacking, which has made it difficult for them to made decisions about their programming. Governor Cuomo announced Monday that the New York State Fair will return this summer, but at 50 percent capacity. In Rochester, the Park Avenue Merchants Association cancelled the Park Avenue Summer Arts Festival for the second year in a row. Other festivals are still on the books, but with adaptations and

We discuss mental health in the workplace — both now and in the post-pandemic world. How should companies identify, understand, and respond to mental health concerns? Our guests share their expertise: Megan Clifford , psychotherapist and mental health first aid instructor Michelle Pedzich , chief human resources officer at Canandaigua National Bank and Trust Carl Binger , licensed mental health counselor, and author of "Progressive Darkness"

What do Rochester City School District students think about the district’s proposed budget? How will it impact them? We talk with students about their priorities and what they want the school board and the superintendent to know before the final vote. Our guests: Sarah Adams, student leader with the Youth Advisory Committee, and freshman at East High School Joshua Karnes, youth organizer at Teen Empowerment ’s Eastside site, and freshman at School of the Arts Seven Williams, youth organizer at

New York becomes the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana... but what if your town decides to say no? Municipalities will have some discretion over what is allowed, and what is restricted. Smoking in town parks? Dispensaries? Home cultivation? There is likely to be heated debate in the months to come; some towns are already hearing from residents who are concerned about "family values." Our guests discuss what's next: Stephanie Townsend , member of the Pittsford Town Board Peter Ricca,

How should communities address child sexual abuse? It's a question that has been raised in recent weeks after Hilton elementary school principal was charged with sexually abusing his students. State Police say there are now 11 victims at Northwood Elementary School, all boys, between the ages of 8 and 12. The principal, Kirk Ashton, faces a number of charges, including first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. How

A fourth-grade lesson about slavery has led to backlash. A worksheet given to students in a Pittsford classroom taught that slaves voluntarily agreed to work for colonists in "exchange for the trip to America." Superintendent Michael Pero apologized for the worksheet's "highly insensitive" tone. The incident, and others like it, has led to conversations about how to teach lessons about slavery in accurate and culturally sensitive ways. Our guests this hour share their perspectives: Jeremy Smith,

If 911 is going to send fewer police officers to emergency calls, who goes instead? Monroe County has put together a Forensic Intervention (FIT) Team . The goal is to provide an appropriate response for every individual situation. How is it funded? How does it work? We explore it with our guests: Corinda Crossdale, deputy county executive for Health and Human Services Meghan Jenner, manager of the Office of Mental Health Services, and FIT supervisor