Counter Stories

By Counter StoriesSociety & Culture News News Commentary

Counter Stories episodes

March 12, 2020 How are people of color affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the St. Paul teachers strike?
Counter Stories looks at three news stories and their impact on communities of color.
The spread of the coronavirus across more than 100 countries now qualifies as a global pandemic. The U.S. has over 1000 reported cases. Communities of color, especially Southeast Asians, are concerned about attacks based on a fear of coronavirus. This week, New York City has put in place a hate crimes task force to assist the NYPD in investigating coronavirus-related assaults against Asians.
We look at how the St. Paul teachers strike impacts other workers including teacher assistants, school bus drivers and canteen workers.
And in our tribute to Women’s History Month, we celebrate the achievements of women of color.
Hosts
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University and cultural consultant.
Anthony Galloway, executive director of Arts-US Center for the African Diaspora.
Hlee Lee, owner of “the other media group”
Luz Marie Frais, Equity Coach and Founder of The Savvy Coach
48 min
February 13, 2020When probation leads to prison
Close to 100,000 Minnesotans are on probation, some of them for sentences of 20 or 30 years. And simple technical violations — such as missing a meeting with their parole officer — could land them back in prison.
According to a recent study, 31 percent of Minnesota’s prison population is made up of people who violated their probation.
Last month the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission approved a five year cap on probation sentences — but that cap is not retroactive.
In this episode of Counter Stories, the hosts talk with three guests who are working to reform Minnesota’s parole and probation policies.
Guests:
Kelly Lyn Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, and is also co-director of the Institute’s Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center
Philip Holmes and David Boehnke, members of Decarcerate Minnesota, a grassroots organization working with the Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee
Hosts:
Luz Maria Frias, Equity Coach and Founder of The Savvy Coach
Anthony Galloway, Executive Director of Arts-US
Jo Erickson, Producer, Counter Stories
50 min
February 13, 2020 When probation leads to prison
Close to 100,000 Minnesotans are on probation, some of them for sentences of 20 or 30 years. And simple technical violations — such as missing a meeting with their parole officer — could land them back in prison.
According to a recent study, 31 percent of Minnesota’s prison population is made up of people who violated their probation.
Last month the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission approved a five year cap on probation sentences — but that cap is not retroactive.
In this episode of Counter Stories, the hosts talk with three guests who are working to reform Minnesota’s parole and probation policies.
Guests:
Kelly Lyn Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, and is also co-director of the Institute’s Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center
Philip Holmes and David Boehnke, members of Decarcerate Minnesota, a grassroots organization working with the Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee
Hosts:
Luz Maria Frias, Equity Coach and Founder of The Savvy Coach
Anthony Galloway, Executive Director of Arts-US
Jo Erickson, Producer, Counter Stories
50 min
February 04, 2020 Racism and cultural appropriation in news headlines
With so many stories in the news involving race, racism and cultural appropriation, the co-hosts of Counter Stories decided to make this week’s show a “grab-bag” of sorts, including:
Meghan Markle's experience with British media forced her and Prince Harry to exit the royal family - the Counter Stories team looks at the outright racism displayed by both tabloids and such mainstream outlets as the BBC.
Singer and rapper Lizzo graced the cover of the February issue of Rolling Stone magazine. But the photo shoot, which had her posing both as a Mexican saint and in Southeast Asian ceremonial dress, sparked a conversation about cultural appropriation.
Plus, The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it's legal to refuse jobs to people with dreadlocks... A TSA agent plays with a Native American woman's braids. And fears around the coronavirus fuel anti-Asian rhetoric.
44 min
February 04, 2020 Racism and cultural appropriation in news headlines
With so many stories in the news involving race, racism and cultural appropriation, the co-hosts of Counter Stories decided to make this week’s show a “grab-bag” of sorts, including:
Meghan Markle's experience with British media forced her and Prince Harry to exit the royal family - the Counter Stories team looks at the outright racism displayed by both tabloids and such mainstream outlets as the BBC.
Singer and rapper Lizzo graced the cover of the February issue of Rolling Stone magazine. But the photo shoot, which had her posing both as a Mexican saint and in Southeast Asian ceremonial dress, sparked a conversation about cultural appropriation.
Plus, The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it's legal to refuse jobs to people with dreadlocks... A TSA agent plays with a Native American woman's braids. And fears around the coronavirus fuel anti-Asian rhetoric.
44 min
January 16, 2020 Sisters in Loss
Black, Native American, Hmong and Latino women share their experiences of coping with the loss of their child during pregnancy in a new book, “What God is Honored Here.”
The worst nightmare for any parent is the loss of a child. As a society we are uneasy and reluctant to talk about death and certainly not about the death of a child. The trauma can be devastating as parents quietly cope with their loss. But when fetal loss happens at a significantly higher rate for Black and Native American women, the community looks for answers.
The Counter Stories team looks at the effect of implicit bias and institutional racism on women of color’s reproductive health, and at the greater historical narrative of native women and women of color being continually separated from their children.
Hosts are:
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University and cultural consultant.
Anthony Galloway, executive director of Arts-Us, Center for the African Diaspora.
Marianne Combs, correspondent for MPR News.
With special guests: Shannon Gibney and Kao Kalia Yang, co-editors of “What Gold is Honored Here? Writings on miscarriage and infant loss by and for Native Women and Women of Color.”
47 min
January 16, 2020 Sisters in Loss
Black, Native American, Hmong and Latino women share their experiences of coping with the loss of their child during pregnancy in a new book, “What God is Honored Here.”
The worst nightmare for any parent is the loss of a child. As a society we are uneasy and reluctant to talk about death and certainly not about the death of a child. The trauma can be devastating as parents quietly cope with their loss. But when fetal loss happens at a significantly higher rate for Black and Native American women, the community looks for answers.
The Counter Stories team looks at the effect of implicit bias and institutional racism on women of color’s reproductive health, and at the greater historical narrative of native women and women of color being continually separated from their children.
Hosts are:
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University and cultural consultant.
Anthony Galloway, executive director of Arts-Us, Center for the African Diaspora.
Marianne Combs, correspondent for MPR News.
With special guests: Shannon Gibney and Kao Kalia Yang, co-editors of “What Gold is Honored Here? Writings on miscarriage and infant loss by and for Native Women and Women of Color.”
47 min
December 16, 2019 Counter Stories: Restoring Native American names to Minnesotan landmarks
The debate over the name change of Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska is now before the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Justices will consider whether the Department of Natural Resources has the power to make that change. The lake was named for U.S. Vice President John Calhoun, who defended slavery.
Dakota public historian Kate Beane joined the Counter Stories team to discuss restoring Native American names to well known landmarks.
Beane has been one of the leading voices in the campaign to restore the Dakota name Bde Maka Ska. For Native Americans a name can give a sense of home and history, connecting people to the land and their ancestry. And it’s a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erased Indigenous people’s history and culture.
This episode’s co-hosts are:
Hlee Lee, owner of “the other media group”
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University
Anthony Galloway, Art-Us
Marianne Combs, MPR correspondent
And guest Kate Beane, Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek and public historian
45 min
December 16, 2019 Counter Stories: Restoring Native American names to Minnesotan landmarks
The debate over the name change of Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska is now before the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Justices will consider whether the Department of Natural Resources has the power to make that change. The lake was named for U.S. Vice President John Calhoun, who defended slavery.
Dakota public historian Kate Beane joined the Counter Stories team to discuss restoring Native American names to well known landmarks.
Beane has been one of the leading voices in the campaign to restore the Dakota name Bde Maka Ska. For Native Americans a name can give a sense of home and history, connecting people to the land and their ancestry. And it’s a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erased Indigenous people’s history and culture.
This episode’s co-hosts are:
Hlee Lee, owner of “the other media group”
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University
Anthony Galloway, Art-Us
Marianne Combs, MPR correspondent
And guest Kate Beane, Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek and public historian
45 min
December 05, 2019 Counter Stories: Murder-suicide in Hmong community
The last few months Counter Stories has put a spotlight on the issue of violence against women. In this episode we look at murder-suicide in the Hmong community and the underlying cause of these deaths.
Hlee Lee, owner of “the other media group”
Luz Maria Frias, executive coach and race equity strategist
Anthony Galloway, Art-Us
Marianne Combs MPR correspondent
Don Eubanks, associate professor at Metropolitan State University and cultural consultant
And guest:
Dr Pang Yang-Rhodes, marriage and family therapist
49 min