Public Hearing

On this episode of the Public Hearing Podcast and Radio Show; our host, Joshua Croke, connects with Echo Louissaint - one of the cofounders of the Worcester Community Fridge Project - and talks about the power of community coming together, food access and the right to be fed, and getting involved in your local politics — yep, that’s right; vote folx!

Learn more about Worcester Community Fridges here.

Follow Echo and her work at AWordFromEcho.com.

Public Hearing host, Joshua Croke, talks to co-founder and CEO of Redemption Rock Brewing Co. in Worcester, MA about their commitment to community, establishing a benefit corporation (B Corp) joining the likes of Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's, all the way to discussing fare free public transportation and why residents should refuse bad and inaccessible street infrastructure like Dani's puggle.

Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co

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Currently, the Sargent Card Clothing Factory (built 1866) is home to The Bridge Academy and Community Center, a vibrant community of artists, educators and crafts people. The factory and Miss Worcester Diner share a single deed owned by a trust, and they have a sale for $950,000. The landlord has given "The Bridge" a 2 week grace period to match a current offer to purchase the building that started Tuesday, March 16th 2021.

Learn how you can support a community-centered campaign to keep this space home to The Bridge and a host of incredible, resident-led programs. Learn more/donate here: givebutter.com/savethebridge

Josh chats with Jennessa Burks about her experience as a Worcester Public School Student who, fast forward, became a Worcester Public School teacher and then left the district. We explore identity, shared and differing experiences, and the importance of having educational experiences that are windows and mirrors. The ability to see yourself and reflect on your own identity and experience and the ability to see through into other people’s lives and experiences—histories and stories that are shared by the people who lived them.

Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co

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In this episode of Public Hearing, Josh talks with Jennifer Gaskin; founder of the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association (WCACA) and a moderator for Mutual Aid Worcester on Facebook. Jen also serves on the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. Jen and Josh talk about building community wealth, residents supporting residents, and more.

Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co

Share our show with a friend!

In our first episode of 2021, Josh speaks with Etel Haxhiaj; a Worcester resident, former refugee and Albanian immigrant, single mother, and candidate for District 5 on the Worcester City Council. Etel and Josh discuss opportunities for putting residents at the center of decision-making and how a public budget is a moral document.

We’re back with all new episodes of Public Hearing; available wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co!

Share our show with a friend!

Molly & Sarah from Pop It finish their conversation with Josh and go even deeper discussing identity, lived experience, and start a challenging conversation about systems of prostitution.
Check out Pop It, here!

What topics do you want to hear on the show in 2021? Send us a note: publichearing.co

Public Hearing is a podcast and radio show talking about smart cities, systems change, and equity-centered development through the lens of the City of Worcester, MA. We explore challenges facing the community and discuss solutions with a focus on inclusion, equity, and prosperity.

Hosted by Joshua Croke, founder of Action! by Design. Action! by Design is a design studio helping organizations amplify community power through branding & storytelling, community engagement & facilitation, and coalition building. You can learn more about the show at PublicHearing.co

Molly and Josh respond to Sarah’s question about what we spend our time doing with or without pay.. and the history of Yankee Doodle Dandy in this short sidebar convo.

Join hosts of two Worcester-based podcasts, Public Hearing and Pop It for a crossover episode! Molly, Sarah, and Josh talk about everything from Worcester politics to public education to buses using solar powered WiFi thingies to connect communities to the internet.