Have you been confused about the cost of incarceration? Maybe you're confused about task forces and how they spend money? Or maybe, about city and county district expenditures?

In this episode we share our personal and observed experiences with the ins and outs of criminal legal expenditures. Expenditures come in many forms from court fees, fines, taxes and even medical costs. Did you know that it costs taxpayers $55k a year per person to house an inmate? What about after that inmate releases back into our community?

Our guests speak candidly about the impacts from all sides of these expenditure and also give possible solutions to these massive spending deficits. It is a time in our country to begin a more frugal and effective work in the arena of the criminal legal system so that our community members don’t have to carry the weight of taxable burden repeatedly. Recidivism is interruptable and our money can be spent more wisely elsewhere.

“Being harassed and scared all the time should not be normal for us homeless teenagers. Feeling like I have to shelter my own parents and carry their burdens becomes overwhelming! I love them, they can’t do anything and pretending it is not happening doesn’t work either.”

It was eye-opening and a shock to interview this teen. Most of us, when we think of homelessness we are jaded by our own perceptions and biases. We often do not see the younger generations, or the side effects on family who are afflicted by poverty. Since we don’t know, often we don’t ask - for we don’t even know how to ask.

According to the Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness 2020 Annual Report, Whatcom County counted approximately 103 homeless youth. So, we asked “where are the boots-on-the-ground services to keep youth with their family instead of trying to separate them?” The answers were disturbing. Join us with our special guests as they speak up and out about the long, hard look we all need to take when thinking about and taking action to end homelessness.

Everything from social, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellness are limited; yet these youngest members of the community are our future - and what happens early in life has repercussions later in life. A mother and her daughter open up and share the challenges, their ideas and hope for future generations. Their direct and unique experiences, traumas and creativity in finding solutions is remarkable. We stand beside them, encourage and support them to keep on sharing their experiences. Fortunately, they have managed to climb out of the poverty cycle that held them back, and now they are navigating to some normalcy after nearly 5 years of uncertainty.

Listen to a mother of 5 children discuss what happened when her husband suddenly was in an accident. The crisis impacts the only income, leaving him with disabilities, invoking homelessness and getting stuck in the cycle of poverty. A mother takes us on her journey with candid truth and hope for solutions. Join us as we are honored to have a guest with us to speak about her and her family’s direct experiences being homeless in whatcom county. We listen as she talks about the multifaceted crises that happen when one becomes homeless and how living paycheck to paycheck will never be a way into housing. From homeowner and family of 7 to devastations of disabilities, homelessness and getting stuck in the cycle of poverty she takes us on her journey with candid truth and hope for solutions.

Are the multi millions of dollars that are advertised for housing really available for anyone? Why must we fit inside a box of check marks to gain housing when it is a basic human right no matter what checks are marked? The system is broken and smoldering with inconsistency and oppression but we know resilience is possible if we can all work together for the good of each other, of our communities and for the nation.

This month as we celebrate Black History Month, we highlight The Quest for Equality of Black Americans from American Slave Songs to Dr. Martin Luther King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" and excerpts of "I Have a Dream" and the "Free at Last' Speech!

Every wanted a garden that seems to grow and thrive on its own? Join Antoni as we talk about plants that naturalize in your garden!. Antoni talks about the rules, pitfalls and benefits of the Naturalized Garden. These plants are the work horses of the garden, reseeding and spreading on there own.

Is COVID to blame for the backed up court cases? Or is it clogged administrative problems inside our system, or a problem with the Prosecutor’s or the Defender’s office? The jail has had steep reductions in occupancy load because of Covid rules being implemented, yet our direct reporting from people living inside the jails and awaiting representation, or for court action, there are real gaps in communication, services and justice.

Mental health issues of all types have skyrocketed throughout this pandemic, while at the same time, our community health and public safety people have been overworked. We must understand the problem to find solutions.

In this call, we deliver real and recent examples of the gaps in services for families and adults. When these gaps are allowed, combined with fear and with the current social isolation climate compounds the mental, emotion and physical stressors. The justice system on all fronts is glutted with backup, and the person inside is subject to it all. Now, more than ever, people dealing with “the systems” need help from people who understand the complications.

We talked earlier about Justice, what is it and what does it mean to us as individuals as well as community members? Today we discuss and share our previous perceptions of Restorative Justice in comparison as to what we know today about what Restorative Justice really is.

Restorative Justice is intentional in its holistic ability to include all involved parties such as the accused, children and or family of the accused, professionals working in the system and courts, the victim and their children and family members…ALL PARTIES.

We know humans on some level want to help other humans so how have we gone from loving thy neighbor to a more me, mine, I action? Looking at our own communication assets and liabilities, we are able to shift our perspective simply by learning to communicate on a new level. Moving from domination, punishment and directives to educating and conversing with each other to become better humans, together is key to a thriving nation and world.

Join us as we continue to learn and grow through our real time experiences with the criminal legal system. We have learned a lot these last 15 years and more so the past few years as our work is coming to fruition.

Our founder, Irene Morgan shares a personal encounter with an incarcerated fellow as she was walking through the prison yard with the chaplain of the prison chapel. It only takes one thought to be brave enough to be vocal to create waves of hope and promise for the future for ALL.

Community safety nets-what are they? Why do we need them?

The results of Restorative Justice include healing for all parties, healing for the community and most importantly lays the groundwork for those still incarcerated to heal prior to being released back into the community with a new perspective of their value and purpose.

We spotlight our founder Irene Morgan for her massive contribution to Restorative Justice and the many venues she has participated, works in her writings and the implementation of many parts and pieces of her work. She has and continues to speak up and speak out for justice and equality regardless of pushback. A real trailblazer, and she is here with us!

What does “public safety” mean? To elected officials, the words often mean buying or managing buildings - like jails. To people in bureaucracies, it’s all about money…for it refers to the Public Safety department; so its about budgets, police and equipment.

From childhood we learn what safe or safety means from our protectors. So we have a bias and this bias pre-conditions how we see the world.

Let’s chat about where our money goes as different from where we think it goes. Times have changed - and so do the services that used to exist. There are big gaps, and those gaps are often unseen - for the words used before do not match reality today.

My Music on Vinyl showcases some old Vinyl LP music with a twist! We chat about what old pop and rock gave us in the good old days of analog prod... and versus what we get tuned in to these days on Auto Pop Radio! That's right! Old School/New School! Hey! How Deep Are Your Grooves?