Reclaiming the Narrative

After 10 years as an opera singer, Rochester-based musician Sally Louise took a break this past year to redefine music in her life. During quarantine, she revisited her love for songwriting and ended up self-producing her debut album “My Hands are on Fire,” which came out earlier this month. Arts reporter Abi Clark talks tracks with Sally Louise on this week's edition of Art Blooms.

Original air date: 5/28/21

Throughout the pandemic, the Monroe County Library System has worked hard to continue providing books and services to community members. Reporter Abi Clark recently spoke to library staff to find out some of the ways the library system has adapted to make sure it’s still accessible to patrons.

For more information and to find a library near you, you can visit www.roccitylibrary.org/location

-Local Citizen Journalist Wins Court Battle to Protect Freedom of Speech

-Inequality Index: New Report Calls for Public Energy in New York

-Monroe County Library System Stays Connected Amidst the Pandemic

-WARP & WEFT: Connection, Isolation, and Imagination

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and feature contributor Abi Clark. Special thanks to Arseniy Gutnik and Mara Ahmed of the Warp & Weft.

Original broadcast date: 5/21/21

RTS Redesign Launches

Forum on Community-Based Emergency First Responder Models

Grassroots Media Spotlight: RocIndymedia

Warp & Weft: Connectedness

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast by WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester, NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporter Mary Lawrence, feature contributor Leslie Hannon and special thanks to Mara Ahmed of the Warp & Weft.

Original air date 5/14/21

Reporter Laura Smith recently spoke with RIT grad student Tymoni Correa-Buntley about her capstone project "Trust Issues: A Study of Declining Trust Between BIPOC Communities and Local Mainstream Media."

You can read the findings of that study at:

http://www.tlcorreabuntley.com/trust-issues-people-the-press

Original air date: 4/30/21

In April, the courts released transcripts from the Daniel Prude grand jury proceedings, allowing the public to judge for themselves whether the state did in fact present the strongest possible case for prosecution, as NYS Attorney General Letitia James previously claimed. After looking through hundreds of pages of transcripts, independent journalist Ben Dean-Kawamura says he’s not convinced.

His article "How the NY Attorney General's Office defended the police who killed Daniel Prude" is available at:

http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/148066

Local trumpet legend Herb Smith will offer a class "Intro to Classical Music and the Barriers of Black Musicians" next Tuesday at the Brainery. Arts reporter Abi Clark reached out to find out more.

Original air date: 5/7/21

A proposal to build a dedicated park for dirt bikes and off-road vehicles is gaining traction in Rochester, after bikers shared testimony about their reasons for riding. Mayor Lovely Warren said Tuesday that her administration was prepared to do a cost analysis of potential sites. Reporter Laura Smith has more on the story.

Original air date 5/7/21

Proposal to Create Dedicated Dirt Bike Park Gaining Traction in Rochester

Inequality Index: Nani's Kitchen Becomes First Rochester Restaurant to Unionize

Ben Dean-Kawamura: State Prosecutors "Acted as Defense" for Police Officers in Daniel Prude Death

Art Blooms: Herb Smith on Reclaiming Classical Music

Warp & Weft: "Bad Monk" by Katherine Denison

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3FM in Rochester NY, with co-host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Laura Smith and Jason Taylor, and arts reporter Abi Clark. Special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Katherine Denison of the Warp & Weft.

Original air date: 5/7/21

RCSD Students, Educators Agitate for Student-Centered Budget

Inequality Index: Marijuana Legalization

Trust Issues: Tymoni Correa-Buntley on How Local Newsrooms Can Do Right by Communities of Color

Art Blooms: All Aboard Soul Express

Warp & Weft: Rupture and Repair

Produced by Darien Lamen for WXIR 100.9 FM and rebroadcast on WAYO 104.3 FM in Rochester, NY. With Co-Host Vanessa Ryland-Buntley, reporters Mary Lawrence and Laura Smith, arts contributor Abi Clark, special thanks to Mara Ahmed and Ian Layton of the Warp & Weft.

Original air date: 4/30/21