Crosscurrents

First, an update on how the City of Oakland is handling the coronavirus pandemic. Then, a teen in Los Gatos creates a space where her peers can safely reveal some of their deepest personal struggles. And, from the Uncuffed team at San Quentin, we’ll hear how a man who grew up in Cambodia and ended up incarcerated in the U.S. Plus, a reading from a Bay Area author for our series "New Arrivals."

Most Bay Area residents are passing their sixth week of shelter-in-place. We’ll hear from a diverse group of locals, including a real estate broker, a new mom, and a funeral director. It’s the Quarantine Diaries.

April is National Poetry Month, and for some poetry helps make sense of the world. M.K. Chavez writes poetry that reflects on what’s going on in society and inside of herself. Chavez is the author of "Mothermorphosis" and "Dear Animal," Her work has been honored by PEN Oakland and the Berkeley Public Library Foundation among others. In this interview she talks about themes in her writing such as nature and her mother’s battle with schizophrenia. Click the play button above to listen.

Bay Area book release parties have been canceled while we're sheltered-in-place, so we’re bringing the readings to you in a series we’re calling "New Arrivals." Today, we're featuring San Francisco author C Pam reading from her new novel, " How Much of These Hills Is Gold ."

Each year, little blue creatures wash up along the California coast. They’re about two and a half inches across, blue, and shaped kind of like pringles. S ometimes they’re beached by the millions. They’re called velella velella.

Melissa Jones is the Executive Director of the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiatives, a coalition of the region's public health departments. The coalition has been meeting regularly to discuss best practices for policy decisions around COVID19. One of which is whether or not counties should keep their parks open for residents to access during the shelter in place order.

Public health officials consider the risks and benefits when making policies about going outdoors right now. We’ll hear how the question of equity plays into getting outside. Then, we’ll go to the beach to solve a mystery on the shore. And, a Bay Area poet writes about her deep connection to animals and nature. Plus, we continue our New Arrivals series featuring Bay Area authors.

Cecilia Peña-Govea is La Doña. She is a Chicana artist whose music explores themes of romance, feminism, and identity. In this edition of Bay Area Beats , La Doña talks about finding her sound in San Francisco’s diverse Latinx communities.

Oakland is continuing to close off 74 miles of roads through their Slow Streets Initiative. The closures are supposed to give Oaklanders more safe, outdoor space while we shelter in place. But some residents in East Oakland aren’t open to the idea.

Bay Area book release parties have been canceled while we're sheltered-in-place, so we’re bringing the readings to you in a series we’re calling " New Arrivals ." Today, we're featuring San Francisco author Marilyn Chase reading from her new book "Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa."