Making It Here

Since 1993 Queens Theatre has produced programs that celebrate the diversity of the borough. And starting this Friday, May 13th, they’re hosting two weekends of performances and events in the first-ever Forward Festival of the Arts. The festival will highlight the artistry of deaf individuals and other performers with disabilities.

In this episode we talk to Queens Theatre's Executive Director Taryn Sacramone about how they’ve worked to make the experience accessible to more of our neighbors and why representation of artists with disabilities on stage is so important.

We also hear from one of the key organizers of the Forward Festival of the Arts, Gregg Mozgala. Gregg is a New York City based actor, artistic director, and arts administrator. 

Festival schedule/tickets: https://queenstheatre.org/calendar/category/forward-festival

Queens Theatre: https://queenstheatre.org/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In September of 2021 we set up our first vaccine pop-up in Queens Village, one of the least vaccinated zip codes in the borough. By the end of day one, more than 60 people had been vaccinated. 

But eventually we saw what the rest of New York City was seeing - fewer and fewer people looking for a shot. And even though 75% of our neighbors received their initial doses, less than 40% percent have gotten their booster. Now, we’re seeing a new wave of COVID-19 cases, so does this coincide with a spike in vaccinations?

In this episode Epicenter-NYC reporter Danille Hyams talks to Adriana Proano about the recent rise in cases, whether or not the city is prepared to provide testing for all who need it, and why incentives are a great way to get more of our neighbors protected. Adriana is the site supervisor for Epicenter-NYC in Queens Village. 

Vaccine Help: https://epicenter-nyc.com/vaccine-help/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March, Mayor Eric Adams announced his plan to rid the city of homeless encampments. But while Adams has pledged to provide housing, many homeless individuals don’t want to stay in a shelter. Between horrible living conditions, strict rules, and very little privacy, some feel it’s even worse than living on the streets. 

In fact, out of the 239 encampments cleared at the end of March, only five people moved to shelters. This is why the mayor has favored what’s known as a Safe Haven. A Safe Haven is considered a “low threshold” shelter, which means it has less rules, more privacy, and oftentimes, mental health and substance abuse services. 

In this episode we talk to Shams DaBaron. Shams, also known as “Da Homeless Hero” is a local advocate. He remembers what it was like to be homeless and living in a shelter in New York City.

Follow "Da Homeless Hero" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/homeless_hero

Homeless New Yorkers oppose sweeps – and shelters: https://epicenter-nyc.com/i-want-an-apartment-just-like-you-homeless-new-yorkers-oppose-sweeps-and-shelters/

Brooklyn Eviction Defense: https://brooklynevictiondefense.org/en/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queens-based artist Liz Phillips has been creating interactive multimedia installations for 50 years. She combines audio and visuals with new technologies to create experiences that are unique for each visitor. Her work has been on display at top art museums around the world including The Whitney Museum of American Art and Lincoln Center. She’s also exhibited installations at festivals, alternative spaces, and even public spaces.

In this episode Liz talks to Epicenter’s co-founder and creative director, Nitin Mukul, about what led her to create sound installations before the category even existed, how she uses sound to help people tune into natural landscapes, and what the future of sound art looks like.

Liz Phillips website & "Relative Fields in a VR Garden": http://lizphillips.net/w/

Join our growing network of artists: https://epicenter-nyc.com/artists/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 24th Putin announced a quote unquote “special” operation to de-militarise Ukraine. Just moments later the assault began through airstrikes and missiles. And soon after, came a large ground invasion.

That same day Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted martial law. Now, 48 days later, the war wages on. Millions have fled seeking safe haven abroad, including journalist and mother, Yana Miroshnychenko. Yana and her 5 year old son traveled from Kyiv to Brooklyn after their home was shelled and robbed. Her husband, Igor Miroshnychenko, is a sports journalist-turned politician who remains in the country along with their other family members.

In this episode Yana talks about what that first night of war was like and her experience leaving the country, her husband, and family behind - all while six months pregnant.

Donate clothing etc. as Miroshnychenko gets ready for a new baby!: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9kXy-5I15r5D7TwKTKNwdCekHoK5IR6JoIORi7iVC5NPUxQ/viewform

Razom’s list of resources: https://linktr.ee/razomforukraine

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last summer, thanks to a grant from the Knight Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, we spoke to award winning actor April Matthis about how she coped with the changes brought on by COVID-19 and what she thinks the future of theater in New York City looks like. Now, Nearly a year later, a lot has changed. For starters, April is back on the stage, currently starring in “Help” a The Shed. 

“Help” is a new play by author and poet Claudia Rankine. The work follows a Black woman who moves in spaces where she frequently encounters white people. April explains that the play turns the lens on race toward white people instead of pathologizing Blackness.

In this episode Epicenter’s S. Mitra Kalita talks to April about “Help”, what it’s like working in an all-white cast, and how she feels about performing in person while COVID restrictions across the city begin to lift.

April Matthis: https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/april-matthis/profile/

https://twitter.com/april_matthis?s=20

"Help" at The Shed: https://theshed.org/program/225-help-a-new-play-by-claudia-rankine

Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund announces support for URL Media: https://www.lenfestinstitute.org/diverse-growing-audiences/pursing-accountability-while-recognizing-humanity-knight-lenfest-local-news-transformation-fund-announces-support-for-url-media/

URL Media: https://url-media.com/

Epicenter-NYC membership: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-case-for-epicenter-membership-one-auntie-to-another/

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout the pandemic many of our neighbors struggled to make ends meet for the first time in their lives. And oftentimes it was New York City’s human services workers - employed by nonprofits - who were the ones to step up and help. But for all they do, nonprofit workers are notoriously underpaid. In fact, a recent study showed that in New York City wages are so low that around 15% of non-profit employees qualify for food stamps. Enter the #JustPay Campaign. They’re working hard to create a comprehensive wage schedule for government-contracted human services workers.

In this episode we hear from Na’ilah Amaru, the director of policy and campaigns for the Human Services Council of New York, about how we need to push elected officials to end government-sanctioned poverty wages for nonprofit workers.

Nonprofit workers helped NYC get through the pandemic. Now they want better pay:
https://epicenter-nyc.com/nonprofit-workers-helped-nyc-get-through-the-pandemic-now-they-want-better-pay/

Join #JustPay: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeRXNlVgnl_2JzJqtEA-RWQujeIiBk2ycykPmKXr4uvoE0OQ/viewform

Find your representative: https://www.mygovnyc.org/

Become an Epicenter-NYC member: https://epicenter-nyc.com/become-a-member/

COVID-19 Questions: [email protected]

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past year 16 men died in the Rikers Island Jail Complex. Among them was Stephan Khadu. He was just 24 years old. 

Stephan was sent to Rikers to await trial. His mom, Lezandre, had major concerns about the conditions. And in the summer of 2021 she learned that her son came close to death. For the next few months he continued to struggle with his health… and officers frequently failed to get him the medical help he needed. 

Then, in September, Lezandre got the call that would change her life. In this episode she shares the story of her son.

16 men died in Rikers last year. Here is one of their stories: https://epicenter-nyc.com/16-men-died-in-rikers-last-year-here-is-one-of-their-stories/

THE DATA BEHIND JAIL DEATHS IN AMERICA: https://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/data/jails/NewYork.pdf

Chinatown rallies against proposed “mega jail”: https://epicenter-nyc.com/chinatown-rallies-against-proposed-mega-jail/

Become an Epicenter-NYC member: https://epicenter-nyc.com/become-a-member/

COVID-19 Questions: [email protected]

Mask survey: https://forms.gle/gs5ThPRrkuPddosu7

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In spring 2017, then Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he’d be closing Rikers Island Jail - a deteriorating facility that’s overcrowded, understaffed, and plagued by violence.  Four new neighborhood facilities will be constructed in its place. The Manhattan facility is set to be built right in the heart of Chinatown, and it’ll be the tallest jail in the world–stretching 40 stories high. They’re calling it a Megajail.

But Chinatown residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the plan. Norina Li is one of those concerned residents. For more than three decades, her parents have run K.K. Discount, a small store that sells home goods and Asian decor. It’s just a block away from the site where the jail is set to be constructed. 

In this episode we talk to Norina about the Megajail, and what she thinks might happen to Chinatown if no one puts a stop to it. We also hear from Victoria Lee, the co-founder of Welcome to Chinatown.

Chinatown rallies against proposed “mega jail”: https://epicenter-nyc.com/chinatown-rallies-against-proposed-mega-jail/

Remembering the Atlanta spa shootings - To be Asian and Atlantan right now: https://epicenter-nyc.com/to-be-asian-and-atlantan-right-now/

Become an Epicenter-NYC member: https://epicenter-nyc.com/become-a-member/

COVID-19 Questions: [email protected]

COVID-19 international travel restrictions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York’s restaurants were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay-at-home orders and capacity limits forced restaurants to adopt a business model entirely based on take-out and delivery. For most, the switch significantly reduced revenue and we began to see restaurants close their doors for good. 

So the city decided to take action–starting the Open Restaurants Program. The program encouraged establishments to set up outdoor dining. It turned out to be a lifeline for restaurants.

Today a conversation with two restaurateurs–Dana Morrisey, and Alfredo Anguiera–both of whose businesses were saved by New York’s Open Restaurants program. 

And later, we speak with an Upper East Side resident named Debbi who explains that if outdoor dining remains in NYC, she might not be able to. 

Permanent outdoor dining serves up opposing voices: https://epicenter-nyc.com/permanent-outdoor-dining-serves-up-opposing-voices/

Become an Epicenter-NYC member: https://epicenter-nyc.com/become-a-member/

COVID-19 Questions: [email protected]

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.