A 6.1 earthquake is just the latest jolt to the lives of ordinary Cubans, who are dealing with political uncertainty, frequent blackouts and an oil shortage so severe people have taken to burning garbage for fuel. We speak to four Jacksonville organizers of a youth and labor delegation that recently traveled to Cuba. They discuss the challenges, as well as how supply and power shortages are affecting the nation’s much-lauded healthcare system.

Guests:

• Hakim Jihad, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
• Kaya Cuny, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
• Mike Todd, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
• Wells Todd, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville

Personal injury

Growing up in rural Iowa, Bryson Hendricks faced an early, determinative injury: losing part of his hand. That injury impacted but did not deter him, as he recounts in his new book, Don’t Miss: A Small-Town Boy’s Victory Over Adversity. Now a St. Augustine resident, Hendricks is both an accomplished musician and a (now retired) homebuilder, who continued working construction throughout his life. We ask the author why he wanted to tell his story now and what message he hopes it has for others facing a personal calamity.

Guest: Bryson Hendricks, musician, author of Don’t Miss: A Small-Town Boy’s Victory Over Adversity

Shelling out

A group of local environmental nonprofits are employing oysters to help improve water quality in the St. Johns and Trout rivers. Organizations are creating the largest artificial oyster reef in the St. Johns River watershed, continuing similar work last year along the shoreline at Riverview Park. Oysters are natural filter feeders, with just one adult oyster able to filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. The groups are installing 30-pound structures, called Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat — or POSH — modules made up of recycled oyster shells and concrete to create a plastic-free habitat for oysters to thrive. We ask two organizers how the project is part of a bigger push to bring more environmental education and restoration efforts to North Jacksonville.

Guests:

• Hunter Mathews, founder, Jax Oyster Conservation
• Marshiray Wellington, chair, Riverview Collective Community Organization