Connections Podcast

The Rochester Regional Group is bringing the first African-American president of the Sierra Club to Rochester for its annual Environmental Forum. Aaron Mair is committed to not just environmental activism, but social justice as it relates to our environment. We discuss his mission and his work. Our guests: Aaron Mair , president of the Sierra Club Cornelia Kelly, organizer for Mothers Out Front in Rochester Peter Debes, secretary for the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club

We continue our series of conversations with the twelve candidates for Rochester City Council. This time up: Jackie Ortiz Mitch Gruber Tom Hasman

The art community has a role in helping all of us deal with turbulent times. That means different things to different people, of course, but right now in Rochester, that concept is on display: at the Memorial Art Gallery; in theaters; in dance communities like Borinquen. The theme for Borinquen's upcoming event is "Together We Dance / United We Soar." At the MAG, Jonathan Binstock says, "Art connects us all across time and geography," and he believes current exhibits exemplify this. Our guests:

One of the most talked about new shows is also one of the most controversial. The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why is about a teen suicide. Some critics have praised the show as original and moving. Suicide prevention groups have said it glamorizes teen suicide, and they worry about the effect that could have on viewers. In fact, the Monroe County Office of Mental Health wrote a series of points to respond to the show, and to help guide young viewers. We discuss it with: Kristina Mossgraber ,

The Abundance Food Co-op is opening a new store and expanding its mission. We talk about food sustainability, minimizing food waste, and the co-op's upcoming Earth Day march. Our guests: Paula Hanson and Katie Malarkey, co-presidents of the Abundance Food Co-op Board of Directors Jim DeLuca, general manager of Abundance Food Co-op Meaghann Schulte, director of marketing and PR at SunCommon Chris Whitebell, marketing and outreach manager of Abundance Food Co-op

Imagine cleaning out your attic or basement and accidentally stumbling upon an important piece of history. That's what happened to a couple in Connecticut. When Libbie and George Merrow discovered a crate full of old letters, pamphlets, and photographs in their barn, they were surprised to learn they had uncovered an archive of the suffrage movement. The collection includes letters from Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Isabella Beecher Hooker, a suffragist and the half-sister of

The NYS Science Learning Standards go into effect in July. With that in mind, we're focusing on how climate change is taught in the classroom. While specific standards regarding climate change education don't come into effect until middle school, there is an expanding focus on climate itself, and weather, and ecosystems in earlier grades. We explore the teaching, the training, and the consequences of kids not being climate literate. Our guests: Lindsay Cray, executive director and co-founder of

Our guest, Robin Givhan, is the only person to win a Pulitzer Prize for fashion criticism. Writing for the Washington Post, Givhan took apart then-Vice President Dick Cheney's attire during a ceremony to mark the liberation of Auschwitz. She wrote, "The vice president was dressed in the kind of attire one typically wears to operate a snow blower." And while diners in high-end restaurants routinely wear jeans and t-shirts, Givhan believes that changing norms do not absolve world leaders of

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: Deaf culture; Misconceptions about poverty; If athletes and entertainers have a responsibility to be agents of social change; Climate change in the wine industry. Evan Dawson talks about what matters to you on Connections, e very weekday from noon-2 p.m. You can listen to the program on WXXI-AM 1370 and WRUR-FM 88.5 in Rochester,

In the middle of National Poetry Month, we spend some time with poets and their work. We discuss upcoming events, and we talk about poetry's place in the classroom. Craig Morgan Teicher , author of the collection of poems, The Trembling Answers Banke Awopetu , author of Always Want More , and budding poet Albert Abonado, poet and director of adult programs at Writers & Books