Reclaiming the Narrative

-RCSD Board Approves Revised Budget

-New Development to Uproot Urban Farm, Staff Still Seeking Answers

-"Board of Elections Does Not Exist to Manipulate Races": Sheppard Speaks Out, Seeks BOE Appointment

-Should Rochester Organize a WPA-Style Artistic Response to COVID?

Community-powered local news for Rochester NY

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM

With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley

Headlines Writer Jason Taylor

Reporter Abi Clark

What would it take to roll out a massive community-based artistic response to the COVID-19 crisis? What role do the arts have to play in documenting and intervening in the current moment? These are some of the guiding questions for a public visioning session being hosted by the Rochester Contemporary Art Center this Saturday. We speak with Bleu Cease, RoCo's Executive Director, to find out more.

Original air date: 5/8/20

"The Board of Elections does not exist to manipulate races and to predetermine the outcome of elections. And when I realized that I was being unjustly treated by personal and political biases that the authoritative figure allowed to infiltrate the process, I made the choice to stand up for what is right."

Posted 5/7/20

Grow Green Rochester staff say they were left in the dark about a new housing development project that's slated to plow the 16-year-old urban farm under. Abi Clark reports.

5/4/20

Labor organizations observed Worker Memorial Day Wednesday in honor of those who have died or been seriously injured on the job. The COVID 19 pandemic has increased the risk to many frontline and essential workers, including Western New York’s farm workers.

WXIR speaks with Emma Kreyche, Director of Outreach, Education and Advocacy at the the Worker Justice Center of New York about the specific struggles facing farm workers.

Original air date 5/1/20

Many local organizations have been working overtime to support people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. But for coordinators of the recently-launched Rochester Mutual Aid Network, the point is not to do charity work, or to speed a return to business-as-usual.

Original air date 5/1/20

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM Rochester NY

with Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley

and Headlines Writer Jason Taylor

“Millions of New Yorkers right now are at risk of overcoming a public health crisis just to enter a debt crisis instead,” says Mohini Sharma, organizer of the Rochester for Energy Democracy campaign.

“What the COVID 19 pandemic is really exposing is how woefully and dangerously inadequate so many of our institutions have always been in serving what’s good for people. Our energy system is really ruled by private oil and gas companies and investor-owned utilities,” she says.

Sharma spoke with WXIR's Darien Lamen about the campaign's demands and COVID relief efforts.

Original air date: 4/24/20

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM Rochester

With co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley

Headline contributors Jason Taylor and Vanessa Ryland-Buntley

Reporters Abi Clark, Olga Yudchits, and Jason Taylor

The 24-hour virtual event raised funds to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color creatives working in the gig economy who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Reporter Abi Clark speaks with Rachel DeGuzman, one of the organizers.

For information on how to apply for the emergency grant: https://forms.gle/wMGvhqFoN2oxzCKq9

Original air date 4/17/20