Connections Podcast

The City of Rochester is reporting progress on its “Let’s Get REAL: Race, Equity, and Leadership” initiative . The project provides direction for improving equity in Rochester and other participating communities. Over the last year, the initiative’s team hosted workshops, seminars, and training sessions for City of Rochester employees, who joined open discussions about race. In a survey, some participants shared that they were confused about the differences between race, racial equity, diversity

A local writer and activist has generated some buzz with a piece he’s written about the legacy of Kobe Bryant. Writing as a guest blogger for 540 West Main Communiversity, Chris Thompson explores what he calls Bryant’s complicated legacy and his own mixed feelings about the late basketball superstar. Thompson says the amount of vitriol aimed at Bryant days after his death seems disproportionate, adding “any praise for his life is not an attack on his accuser, and sympathy for his accuser is not

Democrats are trying to move on from the mess in Iowa, while Trump gloats about the dysfunction. What should the party do from here? Is this the end of Iowa’s first-in-line status? We discuss those questions with our guests: Jen Lunsford , attorney with Segar & Sciortino, and current candidate for the 135th Assembly District Jeremy Cooney , former chief of staff for the City of Rochester, and Democratic candidate for the 56th Senate District Patrick Coyle , field director for Citizen Action

Last month the Rochester City School District laid off more than 100 teachers. What happens to them? The RCSD is working with community leaders and local school districts to find jobs for the teachers who were cut in the middle of the school year. We discuss how they’re doing that. We also talk to the RCSD’s superintendent about the current state of affairs. In studio: Terry Dade , superintendent of the Rochester City School District Doug Lauf , assistant superintendent of human resources at

What if there’s a heaven, but it’s kind of… boring? That’s just one of the many questions explored by the recently departed NBC series, “The Good Place,” which aired its finale last week. The show takes a humorous look at the afterlife, with some not-so-humorous ideas sprinkled in. What kind of standards would be realistic to determine who gets into heaven, and who gets into hell? Are they the same for all people? Should there be a sliding point scale? Our guests explore it: Deanna Spiotta , non

Weekend Connections is a collection of some of the most noteworthy moments from the week on Connections with Evan Dawson. This episode includes conversations about: The impact of the earthquakes that have hit Puerto Rico; Whether or not newspapers should endorse political candidates; What Brits think about the so-called "Megxit" news; The legal rights and experiences of adoptees in New York State. This edition of Weekend Connections was produced by Connections intern, Emmarae Stein.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli joins us to discuss his office’s ongoing audit of the Rochester City School District. DiNapoli released a letter last week, warning that the audit has uncovered some deeper concerns about the district’s fiscal health. DiNapoli explains his role, and when he expects to wrap up the audit. Then, we welcome members of the Rochester City School Board to discuss DiNapoli’s comments. In studio: Van White , president of the Rochester City School Board Beatriz

This year, the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. 2020 also marks suffragist Susan B. Anthony’s 200th birthday and the 75th anniversary of the museum. To mark these historic occasions, the museum has invited music producer, author, and civil rights activist Tena Clark as this year’s keynote speaker for its birthday dinner celebration. Clark has worked with music legends including Aretha

The World Health Organization will decide Thursday whether the coronavirus epidemic should be declared a global public health emergency. China reports 170 people have now died from the virus in that country, and diagnoses have now been made in at least 18 other countries, including the U.S. The CDC maintains the risk level is low in the U.S., with only five coronavirus patients identified. This hour, we’re joined by local physicians and researchers who discuss the state of the coronavirus and

For the first time in nearly 85 years, adoptees born in New York State are able to access their original birth certificates. Legislation making that possible went into effect earlier this month. WXXI’s Beth Adams reported on the law and what it means for local adoptees; they say the day the law was passed was monumental. This hour, we’re joined by local adoptees who share their stories, and we hear from a lawyer who says she thinks the legislation doesn’t go far enough. Our guests: Beth Adams ,