Connections Podcast

Do companies have a responsibility to respond to social challenges? Earlier this month, the investment firm BlackRock sent a letter to its public and private clients, saying that in order to receive the firm’s support, they need to contribute to society. It’s called social impact investing, and it’s on the rise. According to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment Foundation, socially responsible investing assets hit $8.72 trillion in 2016 – an increase of 33 percent from 2014. So

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: Divides that exist in the women's movement; The #MeToo movement and understanding consent; The opioid epidemic and paths to recovery; New City Cafe.

On any given day last spring, nearly one in 10 children in the Rochester suburbs had a negative balance on a school lunch account. Because of that, many were denied lunch. That’s according to a recent Democrat & Chronicle report by Justin Murphy. He explored what’s known as “lunch shaming” in Rochester-area districts. The practice refers to schools across the state withholding food, providing alternate meals, making students “earn” their lunch by doing chores, or giving students wristbands

Investigative journalist David Cay Johnston has written a new book on the Trump administration. In It’s Even Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration Is Doing to America , Johnston writes that Trump is unlike any president before him; he says the evidence is that Trump’s entire focus is on enriching and helping himself. The book seeks to explain all of the ways that the administration is serving insular interests and not the common good. Johnston joins us in studio for the hour.

Dove has faced backlash in recent months over what some critics say is cultural insensitivity in its ads. It's not the only brand that has faced this kind of criticism. Our panel discusses why corporate America so often misses the mark, and how that might change. Our guests: Juanita Washington , editor-in-chief of BreakThru Magazine Andrea Holland , public speaking and communications coach Anne Esse , creative director and change strategist Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière, creative arts advocate

Actor and comedian Aziz Ansari is dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct. Those allegations have set off a debate about consent and communication during sexual interaction. Many women have said that the Ansari story offers an instructive parallel to their own experiences with men. Our panel debates the lessons. Our guests: Nicole Trabold , Ph.D., LMSW, National Research Service Award Fellow at the University of Rochester School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry Allison O’Malley, chief

New City Cafe in the Beechwood neighborhood opened in June, and it already has a number of regular customers. The cafe is part of 441 Ministries, a grassroots, faith-based organization based on Parsells Avenue. Its mission is to "re-neighbor" the community through a number of programs, including mentoring opportunities for teenagers. New City Cafe was born from that mission. It employs teens from the neighborhood and provides them with skill-building opportunities. And it just might be the best

The new federal tax bill was advertised as a way to cut taxes for most Americans, but what about SALT? It stands for State and Local Taxes, and it has been a big deduction for many taxpayers. The federal bill has a new cap on the deductions. Experts say it could impact many taxpayers -- not just the wealthiest -- but there are conflicting reports on what is actually going on. Our panel explains and answer your tax questions. Our guests: Kevin Woodworth , CPA and manager at DeJoy, Knauf &

Research shows that spanking and other forms of corporal punishment for children do not improve behavior. Instead, the data indicates that physical punishment can lead to aggression, problems at school, mental health issues, and even child abuse by parents. Despite that, surveys show that about 65 percent of Americans approve of spanking. This hour, we discuss the facts, why some parents believe in spanking, and what the experts recommend as the most appropriate methods for disciplining children

Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and the CDC says that growing crisis is caused by opioids. Local leaders are joining together to help combat the epidemic. This hour, we preview the Churches Combating Addiction Conference , which will bring together experts in law enforcement, hospitals, recovery agencies, and churches. Our guests share their insight and answer your questions about the opioid epidemic. Mike Hennessy, event spokesperson Jim VanBrederode