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Dr. Noha Aboelata Sounds the Alarm on Anti-Health Legislation and Bay Area Theater as Resistance: Juan Amador on Culture, Carcerality, and Community
On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Dr. Noha Aboelata, founder and CEO of Roots Community Health Center, to unpack the devastating impact of a new federal law—ironically dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—signed on July 4. The legislation, which slashes Medicaid funding and imposes work requirements on recipients, represents what both Davey and Dr. Noha described as a deeply harmful pivot in public health policy that will disproportionately hurt low-income communities, particularly in cities like Oakland.
Medicaid Cuts: A Crisis Revisited
Dr. Noha called the bill a “huge disappointment,” warning it signals a return to the pre-Affordable Care Act days when basic healthcare was out of reach for many—especially low-income men. “It wasn’t uncommon to hear patients say the only place they could get ongoing care was prison,” she said, highlighting how dire access was before Medicaid expansion.
Roots Community Health Center was founded in 2008, right before Obamacare took effect. It was created to fill those gaps—particularly for those systemically left out of care. The expansion of Medicaid under the ACA was, in her words, a “game changer,” though not without challenges. Roots had to do deep, culturally grounded outreach to get people enrolled, many of whom had gone years without care. The results? Many patients were already suffering from advanced conditions by the time they walked through the clinic’s doors.
Work Requirements = Healthcare Denied
Under the new bill, Medicaid recipients will be required to prove they’re working a minimum number of hours—or volunteering—to maintain their benefits by 2027. Dr. Noha questioned the logic and feasibility of this, especially in urban centers like East Oakland, where jobs may be inaccessible due to prior convictions or systemic barriers.
“If we’re not removing barriers to employment, then all of this is pretty much lip service,” she said. “It’s coercion—telling people they must ‘prove they matter’ to access healthcare.”
She also raised legal red flags: forcing people to “volunteer” for 80 hours a month as a requirement contradicts California labor laws. “That’s not actually volunteering,” she noted sharply.
Under Attack from All Sides
Beyond Medicaid cuts, Dr. Noha pointed to a broader war on public health. From anti-science rhetoric to defunding cancer research, the healthcare system is being eroded on multiple fronts. Davey brought up how right-wing influencers and politicians are not just discrediting public health measures—they’re actively undermining the work of dedicated, trusted medical professionals like Dr. Noha and her team.
With misinformation rising and trust in institutions falling, Dr. Noha underscored the need for consistent, accessible health messaging. “We’re still doing our Tuesday health briefings,” she said, referencing Roots’ public updates aimed at keeping communities informed. “This is not a time for complacency.”
Pressure on Community Clinics
The financial burden of these federal rollbacks is already being felt. “Our Medi-Cal rates are among the lowest in the country,” Dr. Noha explained. “Many providers may choose to see fewer Medi-Cal patients, if any. That puts more pressure on us.”
Without access to affordable outpatient care, treatable chronic illnesses like diabetes or asthma will land more people in overcrowded ERs. And the idea that work requirements will somehow motivate employment? “The likelihood that’s going to increase the workforce is pretty minimal,” she said bluntly.
Community Must Step Up
Davey closed by pressing a vital question: “What is our responsibility as a community to make sure Roots not only survives but thrives?”
Dr. Noha’s answer was clear: “We have to pull together.” She emphasized the importance of sustained community involvement and support, especially for Roots’ next big initiative—a freestanding Young People’s Wellness Center in Deep East Oakland. “If things look bleak to adults, imagine what our youth are feeling.”
She invited listeners to stay informed, support the work, and, if they have means, contribute financially. “If folks can spend a million dollars to go to a white party in the Hamptons, maybe some of that can go to keeping community health centers alive.”
Final Note: Don’t Tune Out
In a time of policy backslides and political posturing, both Davey and Dr. Noha urged listeners to resist apathy. “They’re banking on us tuning out,” Dr. Noha warned. “We have to stay tapped into science, truth, and each other.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with DJ, emcee, and actor Juan Amador—aka DJ Wonway—to discuss his starring role in Aztlan, a powerful new play by Luis Alfaro running at San Francisco’s Magic Theater. The conversation dives into the cultural urgency and political weight of storytelling at a time when ethnic studies and historical truth-telling are under attack.
Wonway, who plays three roles in the production—including a set of twins and the father of the main character—explains how Aslan blends mythology and modern-day realities, exploring themes of incarceration, family, and Indigenous memory. The play follows a man recently released from prison who discovers his family is connected to Aztec gods, setting the stage for deeper reflections on identity, history, and systemic injustice.
The two reflect on how plays like Aslan serve as both resistance and education—especially as ethnic studies are being defunded and banned. Wonway shares that his own academic roots in La Raza Studies at SF State inform his approach to performance and cultural work. He emphasizes that their work is not just for mainstream acceptance but deeply rooted in community empowerment and cultural continuity.
Davey D and Wonway also discuss the broader Bay Area theater renaissance, giving props to creatives like RyanNicole, Cat Brooks, and the Lower Bottom Playaz. They examine whether artists should strive to “make it” in Hollywood or stay rooted in community-controlled spaces, noting the pitfalls of commodification and the power of DIY media.
Wonway speaks candidly about preparing to portray twins live on stage, drawing inspiration from his partner’s twin daughters. He also highlights the play’s commentary on parole and the prison industrial complex, urging audiences to see formerly incarcerated people as human and deserving of care and reintegration.
The show closes with shout-outs to fellow Bay legends and a reminder that Aslan has been extended at the Magic Theater. For those struggling financially, discounted and comp tickets are available by reaching out directly. Wonway makes clear: everyone should have access to this cultural moment.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.
The post Dr. Noha Aboelata Sounds the Alarm on Anti-Health Legislation and Bay Area Theater as Resistance: Juan Amador on Culture, Carcerality, and Community appeared first on KPFA.
View all episodes
On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Dr. Noha Aboelata, founder and CEO of Roots Community Health Center, to unpack the devastating impact of a new federal law—ironically dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—signed on July 4. The legislation, which slashes Medicaid funding and imposes work requirements on recipients, represents what both Davey and Dr. Noha described as a deeply harmful pivot in public health policy that will disproportionately hurt low-income communities, particularly in cities like Oakland.
Medicaid Cuts: A Crisis Revisited
Dr. Noha called the bill a “huge disappointment,” warning it signals a return to the pre-Affordable Care Act days when basic healthcare was out of reach for many—especially low-income men. “It wasn’t uncommon to hear patients say the only place they could get ongoing care was prison,” she said, highlighting how dire access was before Medicaid expansion.
Roots Community Health Center was founded in 2008, right before Obamacare took effect. It was created to fill those gaps—particularly for those systemically left out of care. The expansion of Medicaid under the ACA was, in her words, a “game changer,” though not without challenges. Roots had to do deep, culturally grounded outreach to get people enrolled, many of whom had gone years without care. The results? Many patients were already suffering from advanced conditions by the time they walked through the clinic’s doors.
Work Requirements = Healthcare Denied
Under the new bill, Medicaid recipients will be required to prove they’re working a minimum number of hours—or volunteering—to maintain their benefits by 2027. Dr. Noha questioned the logic and feasibility of this, especially in urban centers like East Oakland, where jobs may be inaccessible due to prior convictions or systemic barriers.
“If we’re not removing barriers to employment, then all of this is pretty much lip service,” she said. “It’s coercion—telling people they must ‘prove they matter’ to access healthcare.”
She also raised legal red flags: forcing people to “volunteer” for 80 hours a month as a requirement contradicts California labor laws. “That’s not actually volunteering,” she noted sharply.
Under Attack from All Sides
Beyond Medicaid cuts, Dr. Noha pointed to a broader war on public health. From anti-science rhetoric to defunding cancer research, the healthcare system is being eroded on multiple fronts. Davey brought up how right-wing influencers and politicians are not just discrediting public health measures—they’re actively undermining the work of dedicated, trusted medical professionals like Dr. Noha and her team.
With misinformation rising and trust in institutions falling, Dr. Noha underscored the need for consistent, accessible health messaging. “We’re still doing our Tuesday health briefings,” she said, referencing Roots’ public updates aimed at keeping communities informed. “This is not a time for complacency.”
Pressure on Community Clinics
The financial burden of these federal rollbacks is already being felt. “Our Medi-Cal rates are among the lowest in the country,” Dr. Noha explained. “Many providers may choose to see fewer Medi-Cal patients, if any. That puts more pressure on us.”
Without access to affordable outpatient care, treatable chronic illnesses like diabetes or asthma will land more people in overcrowded ERs. And the idea that work requirements will somehow motivate employment? “The likelihood that’s going to increase the workforce is pretty minimal,” she said bluntly.
Community Must Step Up
Davey closed by pressing a vital question: “What is our responsibility as a community to make sure Roots not only survives but thrives?”
Dr. Noha’s answer was clear: “We have to pull together.” She emphasized the importance of sustained community involvement and support, especially for Roots’ next big initiative—a freestanding Young People’s Wellness Center in Deep East Oakland. “If things look bleak to adults, imagine what our youth are feeling.”
She invited listeners to stay informed, support the work, and, if they have means, contribute financially. “If folks can spend a million dollars to go to a white party in the Hamptons, maybe some of that can go to keeping community health centers alive.”
Final Note: Don’t Tune Out
In a time of policy backslides and political posturing, both Davey and Dr. Noha urged listeners to resist apathy. “They’re banking on us tuning out,” Dr. Noha warned. “We have to stay tapped into science, truth, and each other.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On this edition of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with DJ, emcee, and actor Juan Amador—aka DJ Wonway—to discuss his starring role in Aztlan, a powerful new play by Luis Alfaro running at San Francisco’s Magic Theater. The conversation dives into the cultural urgency and political weight of storytelling at a time when ethnic studies and historical truth-telling are under attack.
Wonway, who plays three roles in the production—including a set of twins and the father of the main character—explains how Aslan blends mythology and modern-day realities, exploring themes of incarceration, family, and Indigenous memory. The play follows a man recently released from prison who discovers his family is connected to Aztec gods, setting the stage for deeper reflections on identity, history, and systemic injustice.
The two reflect on how plays like Aslan serve as both resistance and education—especially as ethnic studies are being defunded and banned. Wonway shares that his own academic roots in La Raza Studies at SF State inform his approach to performance and cultural work. He emphasizes that their work is not just for mainstream acceptance but deeply rooted in community empowerment and cultural continuity.
Davey D and Wonway also discuss the broader Bay Area theater renaissance, giving props to creatives like RyanNicole, Cat Brooks, and the Lower Bottom Playaz. They examine whether artists should strive to “make it” in Hollywood or stay rooted in community-controlled spaces, noting the pitfalls of commodification and the power of DIY media.
Wonway speaks candidly about preparing to portray twins live on stage, drawing inspiration from his partner’s twin daughters. He also highlights the play’s commentary on parole and the prison industrial complex, urging audiences to see formerly incarcerated people as human and deserving of care and reintegration.
The show closes with shout-outs to fellow Bay legends and a reminder that Aslan has been extended at the Magic Theater. For those struggling financially, discounted and comp tickets are available by reaching out directly. Wonway makes clear: everyone should have access to this cultural moment.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.
The post Dr. Noha Aboelata Sounds the Alarm on Anti-Health Legislation and Bay Area Theater as Resistance: Juan Amador on Culture, Carcerality, and Community appeared first on KPFA.