Hudson Mohawk Magazine

The majority of college classes these days are delivered by faculty who often struggle to earn a living wage, go without benefits and can’t necessarily count on having their job the next semester, or the next year, leaving students in the lurch, not able to count on the classes they need to graduate or not able to go the distance with a cherished advisor. This is the case throughout the country, and throughout the Capital District. The union drive by contingent faculty at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs has just gone public. Key member of the organizing committee, Skidmore Teaching Professor Ruth McAdams, brings us the latest.

Dr. Ghourchian is an Economics professor at Siena College. HMM correspondent Eunice Jeong spoke with Dr. G about how the economic system disrupts the ethics behind medical accessibility and current and future insurance policies. While there are so many people who are going through the vicious circle of not having enough expenses for health care, what can be the next step to take from the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare?

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine:

We begin with Mark Dunlea’s conversation with Alexis Goldsmith about the Lights Out Norlite rally at the governor’s mansion on Saturday, April 30.

Then, Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry brings us more news from the NY Nurses Association Lobbying Day in an interview with Association Vice President Tonia Bazel.

Later on, we observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, with a piece Cathy Silber pulled together for the occasion.

After that, filmmaker Ira McKinley talks to us about his latest film “Outta The Muck” that will be screened at the Sanctuary on May 7th.

Finally, we speak live with Ruth McAdams, Teaching Professor of English at Skidmore College, about the newly public phase of the campaign to unionize Skidmore’s contingent faculty.

Dr. Katharine Holt is the history department chair at Emma Willard School. HMM correspondent Eunice Jeong spoke with Dr. Holt about Paul Farmer who made great social contributions not only as a doctor but also as a person who cared for each individual. Dr. Holt highlights his work on those who were often neglected by society and whose well-being was threatened. This is a moment to honor and acknowledge his work and the impact that he still has on us.

"Outta The Muck" takes us on a journey with filmmaker Ira McKinley to visit his parent's home, to the land of sugarcane, where he reconnects with family and explores their shared family history that spans seven generations. Ira McKinley spoke with Sina Basila Hickey about their film which will be screening at the Sanctuary.

May 7th:

5-6pm, Be The Media! workshop

7-9pm, film screening

More information at https://www.mediasanctuary.org/event/outta-the-muck-filmscreening/

Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorates the anniversary of the first day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, which, by the Hebrew lunar calendar falls in 2022 between sundown on April 27 and nightfall on April 28. Hudson Mohawk Magazine Producer Cathy Silber observed the day by creating this piece. For information about the Holocaust memorial coming to the Capital District, visit https://www.cdjhm.org/. Final editing by Moses Nagel.

Sources for this piece:

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/warsaw-ghetto-uprising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85OIE0EVvFg&list=PLj1tRCohZq80k-Y_6ml4-As2amr9AM8uJ

https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/warsaw_ghetto_testimonies/bunkers.asp

https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/warsaw_ghetto_testimonies/index.asp

Varsity softball player Emma Thompson talks to Jacob Boston about finding normalcy in her final season of sports at Troy High School and gives advice to young softball players.

Lights Out Norlite, along with 32 other Capital Region organizations and concerned residents, will hold a rally on Saturday, April 30th at 11:30 AM at the Governor's Mansion in downtown Albany, calling on Governor Hochul to direct the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation to deny Norlite’s permit renewals and close the facility. Alexis Goldsmith talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about the event and the environmental problems presented by Norlite.

On April 26, 2022, the Hudson Mohawk Magazine Network Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry attended the New York State Nurses Association lobbying Day at the Empire State Plaza in Albany for Safe Staffing, Nursing Practice, and Health Equity. The NYS Nurses Association called for Universal Healthcare Now and the passage of the "New York State Health Care Act." Willie interviewed Tonia Bazel, 2nd Vice-President of Albany Nurses Association Executive Committee, about their lobby day and the importance of Universal Health Care.

One of the speakers at the Earth Day rally on April 22, 2022 in Albany was Victor Davila, A.C.T.I.O.N. Program Manager at The Point CDC, who traveled up from the Bronx.