Making It Here

In late June we hosted a private tour of the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. The hotel is located in the former TWA Flight Center, which was designed in 1962 by Eero Saarinen. It's known for its iconic, wing-shaped roof and sleek, retro aesthetic. The terminal closed in 2001, but it had been designated a New York City landmark a few years earlier. Then in 2019 the TWA Hotel opened its doors to the public.

In this episode we share conversations with attendee’s of our private tour. Both had unique connections to the space. We'll also share more on a food focused event we held in partnership with the Asian American Federation, NYC’s Open Streets and the Department of Transportation.

The TWA Hotel at JFK is an aviation enthusiast’s dream: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-twa-hotel-at-jfk-is-an-aviation-enthusiasts-dream/

Find your Seoul with Murray Hill’s Korean Delicacies: https://epicenter-nyc.com/find-your-seoul-on-murray-hills-korean-delicacies/

Asian American Federation: https://www.aafederation.org/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA 

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On June 28th the Supreme Court ruled that race can no longer be considered as a factor in university admissions – a move that ends affirmative action as we know it. The decision devalues the diversity that defines our schools, workplaces, institutions, and communities.

In this episode we’re re-sharing a conversation between Epicenter’s S. Mitra Kalita and Lee Bollinger that took place in April – in anticipation of this ruling. Throughout his career Bollinger has fought for the use of racial preferences to promote diversity – perhaps most notably with his role in Grutter v. Bollinger which was effectively overruled last week.

A Legacy of Discrimination: The Essential Constitutionality of Affirmative Action:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-legacy-of-discrimination-9780197685747?cc=us&lang=en&

Lee Bollinger’s Last-Ditch Case to Save Affirmative Action:
https://time.com/charter/6270379/lee-bollingers-last-ditch-case-to-save-affirmative-action/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday June 22nd we hosted a panel on BIPOC Entrepreneurship. The event was sponsored by our friends at UBS. In this episode we’re sharing some of the key moments from that conversation with you.

The panel was moderated by Epicenter-NYC’s S. Mitra Kalita and featured Carla Zanoni the Head of Audience, Marketing and Analytics at TED, Tanais, an author, perfumer and the founder of Tanais Beauty and Perfumes, and Brandon Adams, the owner of Lloyd’s Carrot Cake. 

Brandon Adams, owner of the famed Bronx institution Lloyd’s Carrot Cake 

Tanaïs, author, perfumer and founder of TANAÏS Beauty & Perfumes

Carla Zanoni, head of audience, marketing and analytics at TED Conferences

Become a member: https://epicenternyc.fundjournalism.org/membership/?campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

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June is Pride Month, a time when we not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but also dig deeper into the challenges they face. While we revel in the strides taken towards normalizing queer experiences, especially in places like New York City, we're also faced with a bitter reality. As we speak, the LGBTQ+ community finds itself at a juncture where legislation, instead of protecting, threatens to curb free speech, undermine healthcare, and increase vulnerability.

In this episode we’re sharing a conversation between Sayu Bhojwani and her child, about being nonbinary, PRIDE, feeling safe while traveling and much more. This conversation originally appeared in Sayu’s newsletter, “No. 1 Immigrant Daughter”.

More on Sayu Bhojwani: https://www.sayubhojwani.com/ 

No. 1 Immigrant Daughter newsletter: https://no1immigrantdaughter.substack.com/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018 Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to close the jail on Rikers Island. And come 2027 it will no longer exist. Over the past year three organizations, Freedom Agenda, Create Forward and the Humanities Action Lab, have been working together to create the Rikers Public Memory Project.

In this episode we talk to Regina Campbell, the Director of Oral History & Engagement for the Rikers Public Memory Project. We also hear from two of our neighbors who were directly affected, Anna Pastoressa and Marion Rodriguez.

Learn More: https://rikersmemoryproject.org/

How should Rikers Island be remembered: https://epicenter-nyc.com/how-should-rikers-island-be-remembered/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York City’s newest museum, WHAM!, is ambitious in its goal to lift up the multitude of international cultures in Woodside. In this episode Epicenter’s Co-Founder and Creative Director Nitin Mukul talks to Artist and WHAM! founder Harley J. Spiller. Harley brings more than 40 years of professional museum and curating experience, and currently serves as the executive director of Franklin Furnace Archive. He also sits on the board of directors of City Reliquary as well as the Voelker Orth Museum, Victorian Gardens and Bird Sanctuary in Flushing. 

Meet WHAM!, NYC’s newest art museum: https://epicenter-nyc.com/meet-wham-nycs-newest-art-museum/ 

Learn more about WHAM!: https://whamartmuseum.org/ 

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is the last day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. But as May comes to a close, it’s important to remember that mental health issues in the AAPI community and beyond continue to exist. Epicenter’s S. Mitra Kalita speaks with Abu Nasim. Abu is a New York CIty based psychologist. They discuss why there aren't more South Asian therapists, the social stigma around seeking therapy, inherited trauma related to migration, the model minority myth and so much more.

Asian American Federation Mental Health Directory: https://mhd.aafederation.org/ 

There’s a new directory of Asian therapists. We talked to one: https://epicenter-nyc.com/mental-health-and-asian-americans/ 

There’s one thing uniting Black and Brown entrepreneurs: https://epicenter-nyc.com/theres-one-thing-uniting-black-and-brown-entrepreneurs/ 

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of the public killing of Jordan Neely many of us are now asking ourselves “what would I have done if I was in that subway car?” Being a bystander to an uncomfortable or violent event can be scary and confusing and often people aren’t equipped with the skills to react. Other times we fall victim to the bystander effect, thinking someone else will take action. In this episode Epicenter’s Danielle Hyams speaks to Emily May, the president and cofounder of “Right to Be”. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping people become more responsible bystanders.

"Right to Be" free trainings: https://righttobe.org/upcoming-free-trainings/ 

How to be a more responsible bystander: https://epicenter-nyc.com/how-to-be-a-more-responsible-bystander/

New Yorkers react to the murder of Jordan Neely: https://epicenter-nyc.com/new-yorkers-react-to-the-murder-of-jordan-neely/
Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a desi explosion in theater - on and off Broadway. Life of Pi, based on the best-selling book by Yann Martel, has already been nominated for multiple Tony’s. Monsoon Wedding has been so popular that its run at the St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn has been extended. And Mughal-e-Azam is opening at the Koch Theater at Lincoln Center next month. And these are just a handful of the South Asian-themed works that are captivating audiences across New York City and across the country. In this episode Epicenter's S. Mitra Kalita speaks to New York Indian Film Festival director and film critic Aseem Chhabra about this moment in South Asian arts and culture and the shows you won’t want to miss.

Tickets for Life of Pi: https://lifeofpibway.com/ 

Tickets for Monsoon Wedding: https://stannswarehouse.org/show/monsoon-wedding-the-musical/ 

Tickets for Mughal-e-Azam: https://www.davidhkochtheater.com/tickets-and-events/mughal-e-azam-the-musical-play/ 

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part II of our series on Drag Story Hours in NYC we hear from parents and advocates. We'll also share more on how neighbors are fighting right wing groups like the proud boys. And later - some tips on what you can do to help.

Listen to Part I: https://omny.fm/shows/epicenter-nyc/why-nyc-kids-need-storytellers-in-drag

Drag Story Hour NYC: https://www.dshnyc.org/ 

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=epicenternyc&campaign=7018a000000yJx6AA 

Our intro music: http://karavikamusic.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.