Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Ph.D. is a retired Professor Emerita in African American and Religious Studies and affiliated Faculty in Women Studies at the University of Florida. She obtained her BA from Antioch University in Human Service, her MA in Religious Studies & her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Temple University. Zoharah Simmons became a SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) field secretary in the summer of 1964 when she joined hundreds of other college age volunteers who traveled to Mississippi to work in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. Dr. Simmons worked in the NY Office of SNCC organizing High School and College Friends. Simmons and a group of those who had worked on Julian Bond’s campaign formed the Atlanta Project of SNCC, which became the organization’s first major Southern urban project. Since her years with SNCC, Simmons has served as an organizer with the National Council of Negro Women and later with the American Friends Service Committee. Dr. Simmon’s primary academic focus was on Islamic Law and its impact on Muslim women.

Frank Joice is a member of the National Council Of Elders and active on the planning committee of the King and Breaking Silence project. He is a long time Board member of the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR). Joyce works on antiracist organizing with CHANGE IS THE POINT in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

His writing has been published at AlterNet, Riverwise, Counterpunch, The Fifth Estate, The Detroit Free Press and in many anthologies. He and Karin Aguilar-San Juan, are co-editors of The People Make The Peace, Lessons From The Vietnam Anti-War Movement. He is currently writing a book about unlearning white supremacy.

On this week’s program, your host, Justin Mog, comes in out of the rain for a discussion about sustainable floodplain management and recovery in the wake of disasters like Hurricane Helene. Joining us this week is Eileen Shader, Senior Director of Floodplain Restoration at American Rivers (https://www.americanrivers.org/), who shares the results of a new analysis of the nation’s floodplains by American Rivers and Conservation Science Partners which found that 90% of floodplains across the lower 48 have been adversely impacted by human actions. Listen in as we explore how the flood damage in western NC demonstrates how rivers are dynamic systems that need space to move across the floodplain. Learn how the National Flood Insurance Program influences where and how communities build next to rivers; and how NFIP flood hazard maps work, and how they can be improved. We discuss ways that communities, states, and the federal government can help affected communities rebuild better after floods; and the need for dam removal projects across the country.

For a list of organizations accepting donations to assist flood victims in Appalachia go to: https://www.lpm.org/news/2024-09-30/how-to-help-hurricane-helene-survivors-in-appalachia

...And in western North Carolina: https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene

Other opportunities to support recent flood victims include:

https://www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf/

https://easttennesseefoundation.org/grants/neighbor-to-neighbor-disaster-relief-fund/

https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/nonprofits/disaster-relief-fund/hurricane-helene-response

https://www.unitedwayabc.org/news/hurricane-helene-relief-efforts

https://donate.mannafoodbank.org/

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/belovedasheville

https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/

Additional resources:

Natural Defenses: Safeguarding Communities From Floods:

https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/natural-defenses-safeguarding-communities-floods/

Weathering Change: Policy Reforms that Save Money and Make Communities Safer

https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/weathering-change/

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

Sacrifice Zones airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm and forwardradio.org, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Sunday at 11 am, Monday at 8 am and Tuesday at 2 pm. This podcast is in the public domain.

A friend of mine conducted this interview in early summer in a friend’s kitchen, while I did what I could to assist Laila with cooking a dish called Maqluba or “upside down”. The interview was with Laila Hasan with Women of Hebron. It is a collective of women who cross-stitch on fabrics and clothing and then Laila travels here to the US to sell them. These crafts help support their families in the West Bank. Talking to people about the plight of the Palestinian people in the West Bank is the main mission of Laila’s work. The propaganda that saturates our media landscape is very, very heavy with a bias toward the government of Israel. It is incredibly important to counter that narrative whenever possible. Unfortunately, none of us who got to meet Laila when this interview was done in August have heard from her since the bombing of Lebanon began.

Resources for study:

Joe Sacco “Footnotes In Gaza”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6796708-footnotes-in-gaza

Youth Against Settlements in Hebron:

https://kuminow.com/yas/

Recipe for Maqluba:

https://theodehlicious.com/chicken-maqluba-recipe/

Israel’s plan to annex the West Bank:

https://truthout.org/articles/settlers-are-already-executing-smotrichs-plan-to-annex-west-bank-residents-say/

United Nations Relief and Works Agency:

https://www.unrwa.org/

More information about annexation of West Bank:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/08/israel-palestine-west-bank-annexation-netanyahu-smotrich-far-right/

On Sept. 30, 2024, the Louisville League of Women Voters hosted a panel discussion of Amendment 2 which would drastically change the Kentucky Constitution to allow for taxpayer funding of private (including religious) schools. It will appear on the 2024 General Election ballot. Panelists were: Maddie Shepard, a teacher at JCPWS and President of the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA); Dr. Sheila Schuster, a licensed psychologist and a mental health advocate who leads the Advocacy Action Network; Kumar Rashad, a teacher for over 20 years who specializes in mentoring minority males; and Dee Pregliasco, former President of the Louisville League of Women Voters and a former teacher, prosecutor and judge. The moderator was Dr. Geneva Stark, Clinical Professor at Univ. of Louisville.

This week on Truth to Power, we bring you final highlights from The People's Summit on Food Systems and Urban Agriculture: Food Vision 2030, which took place on September 13th, 2024 at Louisville Central Community Center. It was hosted by Forward Radio’s proud Community Partner, the Urban Agriculture Coalition and the Food In Neighborhoods community coalition, more broadly.

Today we’ll listen in to the afternoon Workshop: Growing Food & The Policies We Need, which featured several amazing panelists:

Mariah Corso & Jody Dahmer, Beargrass Thunder (native plant landscaping)

Catherine Shake, Jefferson County farmer and Extension Board

Sarah Beth Sammons, Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District

Nico Phillips, Louisville Metro Parks Urban Agriculture Program

Tia Bowman, Louisville Metro Real Estate Program

Moderators: Andrew Kang Bartlett, FIN & Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Madeline Karcher

Learn more at https://foodinneighborhoods.org/peoples-summit/

On Truth to Power each week, we gather people from around the community to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else!

Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://forwardradio.org

K.A. Owens interviews Educator and Poet Pamala Wiley. Topics: an upcoming Poetry Laboratory and the Power of Transformative Art.

Recorded Thursday October 3, 2024, 7PM.

How the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 could have marked a turning point in economic history. Based on an article I wrote for Monthly Review:

https://monthlyreview.org/2024/10/01/richard-iii-the-tudor-myth-and-the-transition-from-feudalism-to-capitalism/

Please consider donating to Monthly Review as well as to Forward Radio! Thanks.

Patty and Brian drop in on Bob Cline for some classic rock/critical thinking crossover conversation and singalongs!

Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com.

Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod

Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover.

To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button.

You can find Lyndsay at her website https://www.lyndsayrush.com/ and on IG at @maryoliversdrunkcousin

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

1- A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush

2- Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan

3- A Five Start Read Recommended by Fellow Book Lover Meg Longley @ohlongley - Meet Me at the Museum by Ann Youngson

4- Weyward by Emilia Hart

5- I Miss You When I Blink: Essays by Mary Laura Philpott

6- I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

7- The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

8- Pets in the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Vet by Dr. Amy Attas

Media mentioned—

1- The Wild Robot (2024)

2- Saltburn (Prime Video, 2023)

3- Wuthering Heights: Hollywood's worst case casting decisions -

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240925-wuthering-heights-hollywoods-worst-casting-decisions

4- A Room With a View (1985)

5- Downton Abbey (2010)

On this week’s program, your host, Justin Mog, takes a stroll in our local parks with Kelly Cox, Volunteer Coordinator for Metro Louisville Parks and Recreation. There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities across Jefferson County that Kelly is seeking the public’s help with, including lots of fun fall activities, such as:

Parks Maintenance/Operations:

Adopt-a-Park partnerships

October projects with groups

Planting spring flowering bulbs in November

Spooky Stories on the Porch (need storytellers) – Joe Creason Park, October 31, 11:30-1p.m.

Community Centers programs and events:

Fall Camp Week: Metro Arts Center (Artist’s Assistant)

September 30-October 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Urban Forestry:

TreeWeek with TreesLouisville – October 12-20

Mulch Monday – October 14, 1-3

Tree Walk at Joe Creason Park – October 15, 7 p.m.

Branching Out at George Rogers Clark Park – October 16 5-7 p.m.

Tree Giveaway at Joe Creason Park – October 18, 11-2 p.m. (500 trees)

Community-wide Planting Day with TreesLouisville:

November 9, 11:45- 3p.m. at St Bartholmew Church & surrounding neighborhood (150 trees will be planted)

Jefferson Memorial Forest:

Forest Adventure Campout – October 19, 2p.m.

(archery, guided hikes, climbing wall, pumpkin decorating, hayrides)

Trail Maintenance/Creation - Wednesdays and every other Saturday

Riverside: Farnsley-Moremen Landing:

Halloween Trick or Treat Event – October 23, 5:30-7:30

Also need volunteers for gardening/landscaping/trail maintenance

Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center

Trunk or Treat – October 26, 4-6 p.m. – started in 2012 (250 kids)

Last year: 1600 kids and adults; hoping for 40+ vehicles. They provide candy.

Iroquois Amphitheater:

Jack O’Lantern Spectacular – October 1 – November 2

Volunteer shifts: Sun – Thurs 6-9:30p.m. / Fri & Sat: 6-10:30

And fellow volunteer administrators are encouraged to get involved with KAVA (The Kentuckiana Association for Volunteer Administration), which meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month (education, training, networking), and hosts a monthly eNewsletter for local volunteer opportunities.

Learn more and get involved at http://bestparksever.com or call 502-574-PARK

Louisville Parks & Recreation: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks

Community calendar: https://louisvilleky.gov/events?field_departments_target_id=896

Jefferson Memorial Forest: https://www.wildernesslouisville.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Riverside, The Farnsley-Moreman Landing: https://riverside-landing.org/

Jack O’Lantern Spectacular https://www.jackolanternlouisville.org/

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com