Connections Podcast

Is La Marketa going to happen? Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren recently announced the release of a request for proposals for the sale and development of land that would “transform a section of the 800 block of N. Clinton Avenue into a Latin American village plaza.” That dream has been discussed for nearly 30 years in Rochester. Our guests talk about their vision and the possible impact. In studio: Mayor Lovely Warren Jackie Ortiz, member of Rochester City Council Daisy Algarin, senior marketing

Another Star Wars film, another protest, another round of allegations from white supremacists that the film is anti-white. What's the evidence? Why, the film's heroes include an empowered white woman, alongside men of color. And the film's villains are primarily white men. On top of that, some viewers detect political overtones. Well, here's one point that's not debatable: Hollywood has disproportionately featured white men for years. Star Wars happens to prize diversity and female leads. What

When you were in school, did you learn about redlining? Did you learn about our American history of housing discrimination, and how deeply it hurt people and families of color? Many schools still don't teach this. A local teacher recently wrote to Connections, saying, "Frankly I don't think people know the history of segregation in Rochester from redlining, to zoning codes, to housing covenants, to the (1975 U.S. Supreme Court’s 5 – 4 decision) in favor of Penfield's blatantly discriminatory

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: What constitutes protected speech; What to expect regarding environmental and climate issues under the Trump administration; Access to donor breast milk; If we should allow social media posts to live forever.

We continue our annual Connections tradition by talking to community leaders about their favorite books of the year. We also get insight into how they think, what they read, and why. Our guests: Melanie Funchess , director of Community Engagement for the Mental Health Association of Rochester (This Bridge Called My Back by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria E. Anzaldúa) Dr. Eric Caine, chair of the department of psychiatry at the University of Rochester (The Last Policeman by Ben Winters) Rowan Collins,

We continue our annual Connections tradition by talking to community leaders about their favorite books of the year. We also get insight into how they think, what they read, and why. Our guests: Marvin McMickle , president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (Black Prophetic Fire by Cornel West) David Ryder, pastor at Flour City Church (Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis) Evvy Fanning, English teacher at Pittsford Sutherland High School (Day by Elie Wiesel) Joel Seligman,

What might we expect regarding environmental and climate issues under the Trump administration? We discuss the President-elect's appointments for Secretary of State and head of the EPA, their views on climate science, and more. Our guests: Lawrence Torcello , associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at RIT Karen Berger , lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Rochester

Breast milk is considered the gold standard for protective nutrients fed to newborn babies, especially premature infants. But what if mothers aren't able to produce enough milk? The American Academy of Pediatrics, among other groups, recommends that underweight infants without access to their mothers' breast milk be given priority access to donor milk. Easier said than done: donor breast milk is expensive and rarely covered by insurance, especially in New York State. WXXI's Karen Shakerdge has

When you hear the word “library,” your first thought may be of books, but 21st century libraries are transforming into learning labs, technology centers, and community gathering places, where building engagement with patrons is a priority. Our focus this hour is on public libraries and their vision for the future despite the challenges they face. How can libraries continue to provide valuable community services when securing funding is often a struggle? And how are libraries evolving to meet the

Last week, police identified the man responsible for distributing flyers that promoted white nationalism throughout Pittsford and Brighton. After an investigation, the Monroe County District Attorney's office determined that the flyers were political in nature and constituted protected speech. Members of PittsForward , a community group formed to celebrate diversity in Pittsford, want to know why this kind of language is not considered threatening or criminal. We discuss the legal points, and we