Melee.

In our latest podcast, Kietryn Zychal and Emily Chen-Newton continue NOISE's focus on urban farming and healthy eating. We spent an afternoon with Aaron French of City Sprouts, Omaha's first community garden. He gave us a tour of the garden at 40th and Seward including their new geodesic greenhouse. We learned about City Sprouts' summer internship program for high school students, gardening classes for adults, tips on composting and where to grab some of the thousands of pounds of free produce City Sprouts and other urban farming nonprofits will be giving away this summer.

Did you know that 'a holler' is a place, not just a way to say 'hey'?

It's OK-- most of our team didn't know either. In our latest podcast episode, NOISE culture reporter Ashley Salem and board vice president Emily Chen-Newton discuss the film, "From the Hood to the Holler," part of the Omaha Film Festival, available online until Apr. 2, 2022.

Emily is from Kentucky where the documentary is set. The film, directed by Pat McGee, follows the campaign of Charles Booker while he makes political history as a Black candidate from the west end of Louisville, Ky. -- which is like Omaha's north side-- in his attempt to unseat the powerful U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.

Listen as Emily and Ashley talk through the nuances and similarities between Louisville and Omaha, set against the backdrop of Booker's maddeningly close race to beat a well-funded Democratic candidate in the May 2020 Kentucky primary.

Produced by Figure Podcasts. 

This episode is an homage to Black motherhood. While the United States recognizes February as Black History month, at NOISE, every day of every month is a moment to recognize Black history and culture. The conversations in this episode are a tribute to Black mothering -- which is not always rooted in biology, blood or even gender. Mothering is the acting of loving unconditionally, protecting, and preparing our little ones to take on this world, and grow into Black history in the making.

Our guests on this episode, Pastor LaShea Pogee, and foster parent Mercedez Langford Brown, chat with NOISE's Ashley Salem about the many dimensions mothering.

Using a garden as a metaphor in this episode their conversations wind up and down the beanpoles of resiliency, self- sufficiency, and self respect. Both raised by strong single mothers, our guests share what seeds were planted in them and how they plan to pass that onto the next generation.

a collaboration of NOISE & Figure.

Over the summer of 2021, Ashley Salem of NOISE spoke with Nancy Williams, the founder of a nonprofit food hub in Omaha called No More Empty Pots. Nancy explained how simple changes in spices and food preparation can transform…or even transport foods from one cultural to another. She also spoke about the importance of plant-based meals for the health and sustainability of individuals as well as the community. Bonus plant-based recipes!

Mia Birdsong, author of “How We Show Up, Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community” speaks to NOISE’s Ashley Salem about how acknowledging our innate interconnectedness can lead to stronger and more equitable communities. If the pandemic teaches us nothing else, it is teaching us everyday how connected all humans are to one another, says Birdsong. NOISE spoke to Mia Birdsong leading preceding a virtual event hosted by Legal Aid Nebraska.

This episode features the song, Windswept by Kevin MacLeod.

Produced by Figure Podcasts. 

COVID-19 update: Boosters, HIPAA, and lessons learned from those who’ve been treating patients and fighting for public health for the last 18 months.

NOISE's Ashley Salem and Emily Chen-Newton sit down with two heavy-hitters of public health and medical expertise to bring you an accurate update on everything from the COVID-19 vaccine boosters to self-care during this time. Dr. Ali Khan, Dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center speaks about the differences between the vaccines and he touches on the complicated topic of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). He explains that public health information is typically exempt from HIPAA, and so it should not be used as a reason to restrict the information publically available about rising case numbers in Nebraska; though it has been used in just this way in recent weeks by NE government officials including Governor Ricketts and the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Jasmine Marcelin, who has been treating COVID-19 patients for over 18 months now as an infectious disease physician shares some of the heaviness she's experienced as a Black female physician seeing the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities over the past year and a half.

Produced/Reported by Emily Chen-Newton and Ashley Salem of NOISE.

Produced by Figure Podcasts.

More than 30 years after his death, the influence of groundbreaking African American choreographer, Alvin Ailey lives on — whether at his dance studio in New York City or right here in Omaha, Nebraska.

NOISEmaker, Ashley Salem went to see the new documentary film, AILEY, about the legendary creator, and after spoke to Aaron Gregory, a local North Omaha dancer and choreographer who danced with the Ailey American Dance company (@aaronderellgrooves).

Gregory's personal experiences navigating the intersections of his identity and dance is why he stands committed to creating safe space for African American youth to explore dance and artistic expression at his studio Love To Groove Movement School (@lovetogroovefitness).

From NOISE & Figure Podcasts. 

In this Melee Special Report Ken Ingram, speaks about the incomprehensible suicide of his son, Nigel Phillips, following a police chase initiated from a traffic stop for expired plates on Thursday, June 10 in Omaha, Nebraska.

His remarks followed a memorial at the spot where his son took his own life after the police pursuit turned into a foot-chase through neighborhood streets and yards. His daughter Sierra Phillips offered prayers to the crowd of mourners.

Ingram spoke about viewing the body camera footage the next day, and being allowed to see his son's body after a delay of a day and a half. It finally allowed him to accept that his son had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as police had initially reported. Ingram's final words were a directive to authorities, offering a different approach to traffic stops for misdemeanor violations.

Produced by NOISE & Figure Podcasts.

Joshua sits down with Breht from Revolutionary Left Radio. 

Music Culxr House

Song: Tear the Fascists Down by Woody Guthrie