Connections Podcast

Nearly 85,000 refugees were admitted into the United States in fiscal year 2016, and New York was one of three states that helped settle more than a quarter of them. We're joined by refugees living in Rochester, who share their compelling journeys and discuss the challenges they face. Plus, we talk about how the community can help them settle into their new lives, especially around the holidays. In studio: Abdullahi Mohamed, refugee from Somalia Parwez Askarzada, refugee from Afghanistan Kar Nar

Here's a question for you: As you prepare to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, are you dreading discussions about politics with friends and family? According to a new PBS NewsHour poll, 58 percent of American adults dread having to talk politics around the dinner table. So what can you do to keep conversations civil or avoid talking about politics altogether? Or is discussing issues that divide us important in these settings? Our guests weigh in: Melanie Funchess , director of community engagement

From the Red Wings to the Flash to the Rhinos, Rochester was once considered a hub for minor league sports, but the landscape has changed in recent years -- especially in the last week. The owners of the Rochester Rhinos announced Thursday that they need help to keep the soccer team in Rochester. Declining ticket sales and a lack of corporate and fan support pushed owners David and Wendy Dworkin up against a deadline: if they don't raise $1.3 million by November 30, the team won't play in 2018.

When white supremacists posted racist flyers around the town of Pittsford, residents rallied against racism and pushed for change. They formed a group called PittsForward , and one of its members -- Kevin Beckford decided to run for the Pittsford Town Board...and won. Beckford is the suburb's first African American town board member. He joins us to discuss his journey and how he thinks the flyers and PittsForward impacted the election. In studio: Kevin Beckford, Pittsford Town Board member-elect

New research shows that the average life expectancy of homeless men and women in Rochester is more than two decades shorter than that of men and women who are not homeless. There's also a significant difference in the life expectancy of homeless men versus homeless women. Harry Murray is the Nazareth College professor who did the research using data from the House of Mercy. He published his findings in a new report called "Homelessness as Death Sentence." We discuss the data and we'll talk about

As more women across the country feel empowered to share their experiences of being sexual harassed or sexually assaulted -- often in the workplace -- some people are asking the question, "What could detail the #MeToo movement?" A piece in the Daily Beast addresses that and offers a warning. We discuss it with our guests: Vanessa Cheeks , reporter for Open Mic Roc Erin-Kate Howard, co-founder of Lady Parts Theatre Company Kelsey Claire Hagen, comedian

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: Black Lives Matter and sanctuary counties, with Monroe County Sheriff-elect Todd Baxter; Sexual harassment and abuse in the context of women's history; The medical benefits of birth control, and the Trump administration's efforts to allow employers to deny coverage; R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People , and the impact of "Everybody

What are your thoughts on charter schools? That question garners many different answers, and it is one of the most polarizing subjects we can discuss on the program. This hour, we preview a documentary called Backpack Full of Cash . It will be screened at The Little Theatre on November 30, and it explores how different cities have privatized their schools, and the impact that move had on their public schools. This hour, we discuss the costs and benefits of charter schools, the impact on public

We discuss a difficult, often grim, but vital issue this hour: when people with disabilities are murdered by their caregivers or family members. According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, more than 400 people with a disability were murdered by a family member or caregiver in the last five years. In court, perpetrators often receive lighter sentences, and when these crimes are covered in the media, they are frequently described as "mercy killings." Disability rights advocates are calling

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is the author of many books, and she coined the phrase "Well behaved women seldom make history." She's a feminist historian who is the 300th Anniversary University Professor at Harvard University, where she teaches courses in American history and women’s studies. Thatcher Ulrich is in Rochester for an event titled “Curiosities: History in Odd Things” at the University of Rochester's Rush Rhees Library. But first, she's our guest on Connections.