Crosscurrents

Now, a poem about becoming ourselves, with the help of our chosen family. This is San Jose Poet, Lorenz Mazon Dumuk reading his poem, “Everyday I become an Egg.”

Today, we take dancing to a deeper level with Afro-Cuban folklore. Experiencing dance as spiritual practice. And, we head over to Oakland's first Haitian restaurant for some hearty, braised goodness.

June is Caribbean Heritage Month. And The Bay Area is home to a vibrant Caribbean American community, including thousands of Haitians. Crosscurrents host, Hana Baba wanted to visit one Haitian American that’s been in the culinary news over the last few years - his restaurant was named one of the tastiest restaurants in the Bay Area by the SF Chronicle, among other accolades. He’s Chef Frantz Felix - the owner of Oakland’s first Haitian restaurant, T’Chaka.

You can experience Caribbean culture in the Bay Area though delicious food. And also through rhythm and dance. Next a dance form that’s deeply connected to the history and faith systems of one Caribbean culture - Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. Reporter Leila Day experienced this dance form on a visit to the Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. And brings us this story

Here’s Nia Pearl reading her poem ‘Bones talk out of the side of their neck. You can hear more from local poets here. 

It’s California’s primary election day. Today, we hear how first time voting can be daunting... and depending on where you are, a potentially baffling experience. Plus, we paddle out with the Queer Surf Collective.

Figuring out where and how to cast a ballot can be difficult to navigate, especially when we are leading busier lives and also investing time to make informed voting decisions. It gets even trickier when it is your very first time casting a vote, like many California teenagers that have just turned 18. 

So our first story today is from TBH, our podcast, by, about and for teenagers. But before we get to that we are excited to announce that after two years of being dormant, we have put together a new cohort to work on a brand new season. 

Stay tuned for that, but for the California Primaries we bring you a story from the last season, about how some teenagers feel underqualified or not educated enough to cast their first ballot.

It was reported by TBH producer Charlotte King during the 2024 presidential election, she shares how she and her friends were thinking about voting for the first time, while they also go ready to leave for college.

Two Bay Area surfers are opening up the possibilities at the shoreline. Kyla Langen and Nic Brisebois are the founders of the Queer Surf Collective. They invite all bodies, all and boards to surf differently, and more inclusively. In 2024, Reporter Leenah Bassouni learned how they are pushing queer culture from the bars to the beach.

Today, one school program in San Francisco is connecting ethnic studies and environmental science, to nurturing belonging. Then, an immersive play that brings audiences to an important moment in local trans history. And, we hear about a little piece of fabric that represents the living history of San Francisco, and LGBTQ+ pride.

The Bay Area is known for its beautiful natural places and for being the birthplace of many social movements. One school program has found common ground between the two. For over 25 years, two high schools in the city have combined ethnic studies with environmental studies.

Reporters Paula Sibulo and Olivia Mendez are recent graduates of San Francisco State. In this story, they wanted to explore how this helps young people feel a stronger sense of connection and responsibility to the land and themselves.