This episode aired on 11/06/24 on WICN 90.5FM

In this episode of Public Hearing, I sit down with Julie Orozco, Executive Director of Abby’s House, a key Worcester organization supporting housing for women and children. We discuss the city’s housing challenges, reflect on our shared experiences in Leadership Worcester, and explore how art, diversity, and advocacy shape a vibrant, healthy community.

Key Topics:

• Intro to Julie Orozco and Abby's House
  • Julie’s journey to becoming the first Black executive director of Abby’s House, which supports women affected by domestic violence with housing and resources.
• Housing Crisis and Accessibility
  • Julie highlights the gap between local wages and rental costs, addressing systemic issues in Worcester's housing market that make it difficult for residents to afford housing.
• Economic Development and Commuter Strategy
  • We critique Worcester’s commuter-focused strategy, which has impacted housing affordability for long-term residents.
• Art, Community, and Placemaking
  • Drawing from our Leadership Worcester experience, we discuss the essential role of art and cultural spaces in creating safe, engaging communities.
• Advocacy and the Importance of Diverse Communities
  • Exploring how resilient, mixed-income neighborhoods support Worcester’s growth and the role of diversity in fostering a healthy community.
• Dinner Table Conversation Starter
  • As election season has been here, Julie prompts listeners to think about what exposure they may be missing when considering the health and diversity of their community—and how this may shape their views and votes.

Chapter Markers:

• [00:00:00] Introduction
  Overview of Public Hearing’s mission and today’s guest.
• [00:02:00] Meet Julie Orozco
  Julie’s background and her work-life balance reflections.
• [00:04:00] Abby's House and the Mission
  Mission, impact, and housing challenges at Abby’s House.
• [00:06:30] Housing Affordability in Worcester
  The disconnect between wages and housing market rates.
• [00:09:00] Worcester's Economic Development Strategy
  How commuter-focused growth impacts local affordability.
• [00:15:20] The Role of Art in Community Building
  Importance of accessible art and placemaking for community safety and engagement.
• [00:18:45] Need for Mixed-Income Neighborhoods
  The essential role of income diversity in sustainable communities.
• [00:25:40] Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
  Julie’s “dinner table” question about diversity, exposure, and voting.

This episode of Public Hearing is packed with honest insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Worcester, particularly around housing and affordability. I hope you join me on this journey as we unpack what it means to build a thriving, inclusive city.

Tune in every Wednesday at 6 PM on WICN 90.5 FM or wherever you get your podcasts. Let’s keep the conversation going on what we can do to support every student’s success in Worcester and beyond!

Learn more and follow at QueerForCities.com/PublicHearing

Created & Hosted by Joshua Croke.
Our Audio Producer is Giuliano D'Orazio.

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