Hudson Mohawk Magazine

In September 2001, poets and writers gathered in Thatcher Park for an afternoon of poetry readings, book sales, and community. The Albany Word Fest continued in 2002 in Thatcher Park and then moved to Valentines in Albany in 2003. In 2005, the event was moved to April to celebrate National Poetry Month, and a new tradition was born.

For the next 15 years, the Word Fest brought poets and writers together in the spring for readings, workshops, open mics, slams, and more. The one-day gathering grew into a week-long literary festival.

In 2020, a week after the schedule of events was announced for that year's Word Fest, the event was cancelled as the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over nearly 20 years, many great artists took the stage to share their work. This week, we look back at five poets - Alan Catlin, Carole Rossi, Nancy Klepsch, Don Levy, and Shannon Shoemaker - who stepped up to the mic to tell their story at the 2016 Word Fest Open Mic at the UAG Gallery on Lark Street on Friday, April 22, 2016.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine,

We begin with Mark Dunlea’s interview with Ukraine Solidarity Capital District and their criticism of Madea Benjamin’s view for peace in Ukraine.

Then, an interview with an end-of-life doula by Veronica Marloulis ahead of next week’s Death Cafe.

Later on, Willie Terry shares the last part of his roundtable on the impact of women on the Civil Rights Movement

After that, I interview a special guest Blaise Bryant

Finally, retired meteorologist Hugh Johnson joins us to reflect on climate, weather, and our on-again, off-again spring.

Now joining Brea Barthel and Blaise Bryant once again is retired National Weather Service meteorologist Hugh Johnson, for our weekly discussion of weather and climate.

Blaise Bryant has been co-hosting Hudson Mohawk Magazine once a week almost every week since January 2022, but is stepping down to focus on producing segments. Hear how he manages to produce radio work despite being blind from birth, and how he plans to bring perspectives on disability issues and advocacy in his future work. Produced by Brea Barthel, th eco-host he's leaving behind.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine:

We begin with Mark Dunlea’s coverage of an April 12 rally at the state capitol.

Then, Sina Basila Hickey interviews Assembly person Sarahana Shrestha regarding issues in the budget.

Later on, Lavender continues her “Dear World” series in anticipation of Earth Day 2023.

After that, we hear from Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry host part 5 of “The Struggle Continues”, the Impact of Women on the Civil Rights Movement.

Finally, Taína Asili speaks with singer-songwriter María José Montijo, who is a self-described “weird, cosmic, and queer islander” from Puerto Rico, now based in the Bay Area of California.

Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha is regularly at the capitol advocating for many NYS issues including the 'Build Public Renewables Act', 'Tax the Rich' (Corporate Tax Bill), raising the minimum wage, 'Coverage for All', and housing justice. She came onto Hudson Mohawk Magazine to speak with Sina Basila Hickey about budget issues and the interconnectedness of issues affecting NYers.

In anticipation of Earth Day, Lavender continued her Dear World series with added questions about climate change. This group of interviews comes from air travelers flying to and from New York.

As Code Pink Co-founder Medea Benjamin tours the Capital Region with Albany Women Against War to call for peace in Ukraine, the Ukraine Solidarity Capital District will distribute leaflets at the events to criticize what they view as Benjamin’s attempts to shift responsibility for the war away from Russian aggression and onto the U.S.. Anton Konev and Susan Dubois describe the group's positions with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Tuesday April 12, faith leaders joined with 1199 SEIU health care workers at the State Capitol to call on State lawmakers to reject various proposed cuts in healthcare and instead invest $2.5 billion more. We hear first from Marcelle Dinnall, the emcee, followed by Mark Emanation of the Capital District Labor Federation, Rev. West McNeil of the Labor-Religion Coalition, Rev. Arelis Figueroa, and Rashia Tyler of the NYC Council of Churches. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Author Nancy Castaldo spoke with Hudson Mohawk Magazine's Sina Basila Hickey about her latest book "The World That Feeds Us" about how our food is produced in a sustainable way from different places in the world. This book came after her former book "A Farm That Feeds Us" which is based on a typical Hudson Vallery farm. NancyCastaldo.com