Making It Here

LaGuardia Community College is one of the nation’s top 2 year colleges when it comes to upward mobility. Nearly half the students are part time, often supporting their families while getting their degree. But as the pandemic caused mass closures across New York City, many students lost their jobs and were left stuck between a rock and a hard place. Meanwhile the school has been facing budget cuts and low enrollment. Luckily they’ve received some federal aid, but what happens next year when the stimulus runs out? 

In today's episode Epicenter's Danielle Hyams talks with two students to hear their stories on balancing their education with jobs, families, and on top of all of that, the pandemic. We also hear from the President of LCC on what's in store for the future.

LaGuardia Community College: https://www.laguardia.edu/

The LaGuardia Challenge: https://www.laguardia.edu/challenge/

Epicenter-NYC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicenter_nyc/

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

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.

While our attention has been focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been an epidemic ravaging communities across New York City. One that’s seeing no signs of slowing down. The opioid epidemic.The CDC estimated a record breaking 93,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020 and the majority involved opioids.

Despite organizations doing their best to help individuals dealing with addiction get treatment, the sheer magnitude of the problem leaves them treading water. 

In this Episode Epicenter’s Sam Zachar connects with Roy Kearse, VP of Recovery Services and Community Partnerships at Samaritan Daytop Village, and Luis Laboy, the Program Director for the Bowen Center’s Chemical Dependency Outpatient Program. 

Samaritan Daytop Village: https://samaritanvillage.org/

Bowen Center: https://www.bowencenter.org/

Bronx Opioid Collective: bronxopioidcollective.org

Epicenter-NYC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicenter_nyc/

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

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.

In March of 2020 former Gov. Cuomo passed an eviction moratorium, banning landlords from evicting tenants who are unable to make rent. Later, the CDC issued their own nationwide moratorium. It’s since been extended several times. But over the summer the Supreme Court rejected another extension. They argued that the CDC didn’t have the authority to assert another ban. And since then state and local governments have had to take matters into their own hands to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.

Today, Epicenter’s Sam Zachar speaks with two advocates to learn more about what resources are available for those struggling to navigate an increasingly confusing situation.

Zohran Mamdani is an assembly member for the 36th district in Queens. He also serves in the state assembly. And Sandy Nurse is a city council nominee for the 37th district of Brooklyn.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program information: otda.ny.gov

Zohran Mamdani: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Zohran-Mamdani

Sandy Nurse: https://sandyforcouncil.com/en/

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

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 the summer of 2021 progressed, New Yorkers saw their city transform back into something more familiar. And just last week one of New York City’s most famous performing groups welcomed theatergoers for the first time since the pandemic began. If you haven’t been, The Blue Man Group is a different type of show. Three men painted in blue combine music, dance, comedy...and paint... to create a totally unique and interactive environment. In this episode we talk to Tim Aumiller, the general manager, about what it feels like to be back in front of audiences, and what happened to the blue men when their doors shut.

We also hear from performance artist Christen Clifford of Jackson Heights.

Blue Man Group: https://www.blueman.com/new-york/

Christen Clifford: https://epicenter-nyc.com/featured-artist-christen-clifford/

More on Christen Clifford: http://www.christenclifford.info/about

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

Epicenter-NYC for artists: https://epicenter-nyc.com/artists/

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.

Right now about 35% of the city’s population still hasn’t received their first dose. And Covid infection rates have been on the rise.
 
We set out to learn more about why people aren’t getting vaccinated, or why they are waiting. Vaccine outreach is key. And it can take time to help someone understand the importance of getting inoculated. But we’ll never bring anyone around if we don’t stop to engage, understand and try. 
 
Today - we’re sharing two conversations. First with a couple we met during a protest against de Blasio’s vaccine mandate. And second, with a New Yorker who was hesitant to get vaccinated, but finally did.
 

Our piece on anti-vaxxers: https://epicenter-nyc.com/new-york-citys-anti-vaxxers/

Our piece on the vax-hesitant: https://epicenter-nyc.com/why-the-vax-hesitant-are-changing-their-minds-nyc-homecoming-visit-the-western-catskills/

Epicenter-NYC 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/

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.

Across the city, and across the country, there’s been a major shortage in restaurant workers. Between low wages, often hostile work environments, and the dangers brought on by COVID-19 many employees simply had enough.

And while management scrambles to fill these perpetually open positions - service staff have seen the power balance shift in their favor. One organization, called One Fair Wage, is taking advantage of that shift and working to eliminate the sub-minimum wage for all tipped workers

Today we're joined by Yamila Ruiz, the Communications Director at One Fair Wage. She’s worked in the restaurant industry for over ten years.

We also hear from a local restaurant worker about his experiences in the industry during the height of COVID-19.

One Fair Wage: https://onefairwage.site/

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

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 the pandemic first hit headlines like “New York City is dead forever” began taking over our newsfeeds.
 
But soon community groups both old and new began finding creative ways to help. Maybe this wasn’t the New York we knew and loved. But couldn’t some of these changes lead to something even better? One organization intent on spreading the word that New York is not in fact dead is NYC Next. 
 
In this episode Epicenter’s S. Mitra Kalita talks to Maryam Banikarim. Maryam is a Co-Founder of New York City Next and also the Head of Marketing at Nextdoor.

We also hear from local artist Derick Melander.

NYC Cares: New York State of Mind: https://nycnext.org/video

Love Letter: Harry Belafonte https://nycnext.org/love-letters

Rockaway, Queens Event: https://nycnext.org/rockaway-queens-event

A Moment for Broadway: https://nycnext.org/a-moment-for-broadway

Public Library Poetry Reading: https://nycnext.org/ny-public-library-event

Derick Melander's work: https://derickmelander.com/

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

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.

Because children’s lives weren’t immediately threatened by COVID, it’s taken longer to tell their stories and to really understand how the pandemic will affect them long term.

In this episode Epicenter- NYC reporter Danielle Hyams talks to David Woodlock. For more than three decades at the New York State Office of Mental Health, David served as Deputy Commissioner for Children and Families. Most recently he’s served as the President and CEO of the Institute for Community Living. 

Danielle and David focus on how the pandemic threatens to create a generation of children with long-term mental and physical health concerns.

We'll also hear from Mosammad Khanom, a rising Sophomore at Stuyvesant High School, about her experience as a student during the pandemic.

Subscribe to The Unmuted newsletter: trypico.com/theunmuted

The Institute for Community Living: https://iclinc.org/

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

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.

Despite the fact that there are more women than men living in New York City, just 14 of the 51 seats are held by women today... But that’s all set to change in January, when we’re expecting around 30 to be sworn-in. For the first time in New York City’s history, women are likely to become the majority in the City Council. 

One organization, called 21 in '21, endorsed 74 women across 37 districts. 

In this episode Epicenter’s S. Mitra Kalita talks to Yvette Buckner and Amelia Adams of 21 in ‘21 about their efforts to help women gain representation - and how this will lead to more women in city-wide positions in the future.

21 in '21: https://www.21in21.org/

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

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.

There are over 10,000 street vendors in New York City. From street artists to halal carts and everything in between. Most of them are immigrants and people of color. They often work long hours under challenging conditions….. Conditions that have only gotten worse throughout the pandemic.

Today - A conversation with Matthew Shapiro, the Legal Director of “The Street Vendor Project” at the Urban Justice Center.

We also hear from halal cart owner, Hani Waly. 

“The Street Vendor Project” at the Urban Justice Center: http://streetvendor.org/

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

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.