Making It Here

On Friday, President Joe Biden officially nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for a seat on the United States Supreme Court. And at that moment history was made. Jackson is now the first Black woman to ever receive this nomination, and if confirmed, will be the first Black woman to serve in our country’s highest court.

In this episode Anita Hill, a professor at Brandeis University, speaks to WURD Radio CEO and URL Media co-Founder, Sara Lomax-Reese, about her own story and the significance of Jackson’s nomination. She also discusses the op-ed she wrote exclusively for URL Media about what it means for a Black woman to be on the United States Supreme Court.

Anita Hill's op-ed for URL Media: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-duchess-of-sussex-anita-hill-ketanji-brown-jacksons-nomination-to-the-supreme-court-signals-historic-change/

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OlaRonke Akinmowo is the founder of the Free Black Women’s Library. What started back in 2015 on a brownstone stoop in Bed-Stuy has turned into something much bigger. She now hosts monthly pop ups across New York City featuring over 4,000 books written by Black women and Black non-binary authors.

And OlaRonke encourages the community to do much more than read books. From hosting self defense workshops to discussions on Black feminism - her goal is to build this community. In this episode she talks about what inspired her to start the Free Black Women’s library and what’s in store for the future.

Support the Free Black Women’s Library: https://www.thefreeblackwomenslibrary.com/

Read more about the Free Black Women's Library: https://epicenter-nyc.com/nycs-free-black-womens-library/

Epicenter-NYC Vaccine Registration Request form: https://airtable.com/shrcoChuQ8hClm68R

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To say that Maurice and Gregory Hines could dance before they could walk wouldn’t be that much of an overstatement. The brothers were famous tap dancers from Harlem, who found their stride during New York’s golden era of dance. Maurice started training in Manhattan when he was five years old. The brothers would both go on to pursue incredibly successful careers. Maurice found his place on Broadway– as a performer and a director. He also became the first African American to direct at Radio City Music hall. 

Today we speak with John Carlcuccio about Maurice Hines’ extraordinary seven-decade career, his legacy and relevance today.

The brilliance of Maurice Hines shines through in film: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-brilliance-of-maurice-hines-shines-through-in-film/

Epicenter-NYC Vaccine Registration Request form: https://airtable.com/shrcoChuQ8hClm68R

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Street vendors across New York City have faced significant opposition from the city for decades. And although there are around 20,000 vendors in New York City today, there are only 853 General Vendor Licenses in circulation. This means the vast majority of NYC street vendors are left with no other alternative but to work illegally. Now, activists are pushing to get the street vending industry decriminalized. And they continue their fight for new laws–state legislation S1175 and A5081– to be specific. The Street Vendor Project, which is part of the Urban Justice Center, is fighting right alongside them.

In this episode we hear from Carina Gutierrez, the deputy Director of the Street Vendor Project, about what obstacles NYC street vendors are really facing, and why we should join in advocating for them.

The Street Vendor Project: https://svp.urbanjustice.org/

Street vendors fight for the right to be legal: https://epicenter-nyc.com/nyc-street-vendors-fight-for-the-right-to-be-legal/

Epicenter-NYC Vaccine Registration Request form: https://airtable.com/shrcoChuQ8hClm68R

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year after our community began getting the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s hard not to feel like the push to get vaccinated has lost some momentum. And while proper access remains a big issue, there’s still another problem: before anything else, people have to decide they want the vaccine.

So we’re sharing the stories of our neighbors who made the decision to get the jab. We’ve partnered with Queens artist Heidi Howard to help share these stories. Heidi was born and raised in Queens and has been painting portraits since 2008. In this episode Epicenter’s Community Manager, Daniel Laplaza talks with Heidi about their own vaccination story, and how they're helping us amplify the stories of our neighbors.

This work is made possible through a vaccine equity grant from The Fund for Public Health in NYC and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

More on Heidi Howard: https://www.heidihoward.net/

Painting with the power to persuade: https://epicenter-nyc.com/painting-with-the-power-to-persuade/

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 9th a devastating apartment fire in the Fordham section of the Bronx rocked our community. That morning the Twin Parks North West apartment complex was engulfed in a five-alarm-fire. It was the city’s deadliest in decades. 17 people lost their lives — eight children and nine adults. The journey to recovery is long and this is just the beginning. That rings true for Ibrahim Kamana who's best friend died in the fire. In this episode Ibrihim shares details about what that day was really like.

We also hear from Jaharai Sillah, a volunteer with the Gambian Youth Organization, and Captain Michael Kozo, the director of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit.

Gambian Youth Organization: www.thegyo.com/

FDNY Fire Safety Education: https://www.fdnysmart.org/safety/

What we know about the deadly Bronx fire — and what our neighbors need from all of us: https://epicenter-nyc.com/what-we-know-about-the-deadly-bronx-fire-and-what-our-neighbors-need-from-all-of-us/

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the start of the  pandemic there’s been a dramatic drop in blood donations. And now, the US is facing one of the worst blood shortages in decades. New York City is no exception. To give you a sense of just how much New York City hospitals need - it’s around 33,000 blood donations every month. And throughout the past two years there have been times where hospitals were collecting as little as half of that.

But a lot of New Yorkers are still hesitant to donate for a lot of reasons - one big one is the fear of catching COVID. This is why organizations like the New York Blood Center are taking extraordinary measures to stop the spread. In this episode we talk to Andrea Cefarelli. Andrea is the senior executive director at the New York Blood Center.

New York Blood Center (schedule an appointment): https://www.nybc.org/

COVID-19 free at-home tests: https://www.covidtests.gov/

At-home testing instructions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 female representatives have just been sworn into the New York City Council–marking the first time ever that women make up a majority in the city’s governing body. And just 12 days in they’ve been hit with crisis after crisis. A massive covid surge. A snow storm. And a fire in the Bronx that took the lives of 17 of our neighbors. Already, it's been a challenging year.

In this episode we talk to Sayu Bhojwani about how the New York City Council might operate a little differently given its new membership - and the challenges the new cohort might face while they’re in office. 

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

Fresh faces and voices among the women on the city council: https://epicenter-nyc.com/fresh-faces-and-voices-among-the-women-on-the-city-council/

Bronx Fire resources:

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When 2020 came to an end, many of us had the same thought. It’s finally over. After a year that bad, things could only get better…right? Not exactly, almost exactly one year ago we saw a group of protestors invade the U.S. capitol building claiming the election was stolen. We saw extreme weather - like Hurricane Ida that wreaked havoc on the city - taking the lives of some of our neighbors. And now, with the omicron variant, we’re seeing COVID-19 spreading across New York faster than ever. 

But, there was a lot of good going on too, right here in our community. Our neighbors working together against impossible odds. And we’ve done our best to bring those stories to you. In this episode the Epicenter team is sharing our favorite stories and projects from 2021.

Final letter from a publisher: The story of a purple bag: https://epicenter-nyc.com/final-letter-from-a-publisher-the-story-of-a-purple-bag/

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we approach two years since the initial lockdown brought on by the COVID pandemic it’s clear that we haven’t recovered yet. People around the world reported increased feelings of loneliness, depression, and fear. For many, those feelings persist. But artists found inspiration in this. And in a lot of ways the storytelling, reflection and acknowledgement of what we’ve been through is a first step towards healing. Among those artists include director Hsuan-Yu Pan and producer Nancy Wolfe.

Today, Epicenter’s Community Manager Daniel Laplaza talks to Hsuan-Yu and Nancy about their film "ALONE/TOGETHER" which documented people learning how to navigate their new normal.

ALONE/TOGETHER is available for a sneak peak stream online until Dec 19: https://watch.showandtell.film/watch/at2021

Hsuan-Yu Pan | Director: https://www.panvideo.net

Follow Hsuan-Yu Pan here: https://twitter.com/panvideo

Nancy Wolfe | Producer: wherewolfeproductions

Follow Nancy Wolfe here: https://twitter.com/wherewolfe

Our livestream "ALONE/TOGETHER: A conversation with team behind the participatory documentary": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYaMl7bQ4gw

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

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

This episode was brought to you by McKinsey & Company. The Shortlist is McKinsey's weekly curated sampling of need to know stories about work, the economy, and culture: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/the-shortlist 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.