Before the midterm elections, Radio Rootz students wrote and recorded their thoughts on voting, politicians, politics, and the choices before the nation. Here is one Election Reflection from Joshua Rodriguez, student at Vanguard High School.
The 2007 National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis over the weekend of January 12-14, one day before Martin Luther King Day. CNPI reporter James Williams, with the Street Vendor Project, interviewed D'Army Bailey, a civil rights pioneer and founder of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, housed in the Lorraine Motel where King was shot.
Another Election Reflection from Crystal Santana, a student at Vanguard High School.
Housing advocates in Brooklyn, New York are raising the red flag after the country's largest subsidized housing complex has been sold. James Williams of the Community News Production Institute reports.
James Williams Reports on NYPD Officer Involved in Sean Bell Killing
CNPI's James Williams, with the Street Vendor Project, reports on the indictments of three officers who were charged with the killing of Sean Bell and the shooting of Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman.
Josh Breibart, DEI Policy Director, introduces panel on NYC Wireless Future.
Josh on WBAI Wake Up Call discussing NYC Broadband Advisory Committee.
Laura Forlano, Board Member of NYCwireless, a community wireless group in New York, and a Ph.D. candidate in Communications at Columbia University researching the socio-economic implications of the use of mobile and wireless technology on NYC Wireless at NY Wireless Future
Bruce Lai, the Chief of Staff to Council Member Gale A. Brewer, who is the Chair of the Committee on Technology in Government at the New York City Council.
Michael Lewis, founder of Wireless Harlem Initiative, a New York based non-profit, which is advocating to bring affordable wireless broadband to Harlem in order to close the digital divide.
New York's Wireless Future at the 2007 Grassroots Media Conference, with Josh, Laura Forlano of NYCwireless, Michael Lewis of Wireless Harlem Initiative, and Bruce Lai, Chief of Staff to Council Member Gale A. Brewer.
Questions and Answer session at Panel on NYC Wireless Future.
3 Hour long recording of the March 30, 2007 New York City Broadband Advisory Committee Hearing
CNPI's Christine Lewis of Domestic Workers United hosts a half hour special on New York radio station WBAI. Marking International Working Women's Day, Christine brings to the airwaves the stories of the City's 200,000 domestic workers and nannies. She was joined by leaders of the domestic workers movement, all immigrant women of color, who detailed their struggle for basic labor rights.
The Radio Rootz scholars from the South Bronx Academy of Applied Media took to their school hallways with mics and recorders to explore their annual celebration of Spirit Week. The curiosity of these middle school students allowed them to discover the meaning behind this celebration of their success and achievements.
CNPI's Teresa Gonzalez, of the Street Vendor Project, speaks to children of immigrants who turned out for the May Day immigrant rights' demonstration in New York City.
CNPI's Christine Lewis reports on the aftermath of two Indonesian domestic workers who were held captive in the home of their wealthy employer in Long Island
New CNPI Documentary Takes Domestic Worker Voices to a National Audience
CNPI's Christine Lewis and Radha Kanan produced a 13 minute Mothers' Day special on domestic workers for the nationally syndicated program Making Contact.
Hundreds of nannies and caregivers marched in New York over the weekend to call for State lawmakers to pass a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Currently domestic workers, who are mostly immigrant women of color, are written out of most standard labor laws. But there is a new movement spurred by the workers themselves to change that. CNPI's Christine Lewis reports.
In July 2007, New York City will launch a new program to replace the Housing Stability Plus Rental Program that assist people who live in the shelter system. While many believe it's time for a change, considering the number of families living in shelters is at an all time high, homeless activists aren't thrilled about the city's new plan known as Advantage New York. CNPI's Sekou Kessely speaks with Vivian Omobogie, both from the African immigrant rights group Nah We Yone, about how the changes could affect immigrants living in the shelter system.
CNPI's James Williams, of the Street Vendor Project, reports from the Red Hook Festival in Brooklyn.
CNPI'S Donald Anthonyson, with Families for Freedom, speaks with Gulf War Veteran Warren Joseph, a Green Card holder who has just won a victory against his deportation orders. Warren Joseph, originally from Trinidad served in the first Gulf War where he contracted the Gulf War Syndrome. As he returned home, Warren began using illegal drugs to help cope with illness, and as he is about to explain, things spiraled downwards and he eventually was arrested. The government then tried to deport him.
Thomas Wilson is a sneaker freak. In this piece, he looks at how much people pay for kicks, the cult of limited edition kicks, and the difference between wants and needs.
Kids these days, they're always playing videos games. Keith Sullivan and Nate Robinson, from the High School of Economics and Finance, find out why their friends play video games, whether boys actually do play more games than girls, and whether gaming is a viable career choice.
Beyonce said it best, you can get crazy in love. Rataysha Lavender, from the High School of Economics and Finance, investigates just how crazy love can make you, with perspectives from high school students to her grandmother.
The world is a great place, right? Well, let's see what happens when seven, almost strangers, get stuck in an elevator. True colors really shine!! This is a story of what some Latinos go through when they live on this side of the border.
Capstone students at Cesar Chavez High School in Washington, DC, worked with Rootz teacher Selina Musuta to create Public Service Announcements about HIV/AIDS in the district. This is the First PSA
Capstone students at Cesar Chavez High School in Washington, DC, worked with Rootz teacher Selina Musuta to create Public Service Announcements about HIV/AIDS in the district. This is the Second PSA.
Listen to our Hip Hop Show... Radio Rootz.. the Takeover
that aired live during WBAI’s Hip Hop Takeover, June 30.
It’s hiphop through our eyes. Romanian Hip Hop, spoken word and, best of all, good HIP HOP Music!!!
CNPI's James Williams of the Street Vendor Project reports on the formation of an International Tribunal to investigate crimes against humanity by the government's failures post Hurricane Katrina.
The Dream Act, a measure that could give some undocumented immigrant students to legally study, has been re-introduced in the Senate. CNPI's Abdulai Bah, of Nah We Yone, reports.
CNPI's Christine Lewis, of DWU, reports from protests in Brooklyn in response to the arrests of 32 youths of color.
Radio Rootz reporters from Vanguard High School, Irene Martes and Beatriz de Jesus, recently traveled to Cambodia to cover the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
They created the following radio documentary.
Take the time to listen, its definitely worth it and you might even learn something new!
Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham, MD Samir Khan, Rataysha Lavender, Katia Reyes and Saima Tayeb, took an in depth look at the life of a Pakistani teenager as her family was tossed from place to place to avoid being targeted after 9 -11.The Rootz journalists uncovered heart wrenching stories about the family's journey as they struggled to become documented, and how DRUM's involvement avoided them from being deported.
Radio Rootz's Jaleel Huntly, Sidra Khatkaty, Ashleigh Rampersad, Nathaniel Robinson Radio Rootz investigates a recent sad incident that occurred in a high school in Elmhurst, Queens, where a Sikh student had his hair cut off by a Muslim school mate. Radio Rootz journalists investigate the root of the problem and find alarming conclusions about attacks against Sikh students in public schools.
The US Social Forum had over 10,000 activists from all types of struggles gathering for a common cause of social justice. CNPI's James Williams, with the Street Vendor Project, kicks off our coverage with the Forum's opening march where he caught up with several of the marchers.
Two of the major themes at the Forum was labor rights and immigration. CNPI's Teresa Gonzalez caught up with Lucas Benitez, an organizer with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which is launching a new campaign for farmworker rights against Burger King.
Why have the USSF in Atlanta? CNPI's James Williams speaks with one of the main organizers of the forum Alice Lovelace to find out.
While the country debates the logic of a guest-worker program, many don't realize that such a program already exists: it's the H2B VISA program. The program has brought hundreds of people from Latin America to rebuild New Orleans. Many of these workers arrive with great expectations. But soon they see they're left with little worker rights and often times return home more indept than before. CNPI's Teresa Gonzalez speaks with one such worker, Daniel Castellanos Coordinator of Trajabadores Huespedes Por La Dignidad.
At the USSF conference there are informational tables staffed by people talking about an end to war, an end to racism, an end to hunger, an end to homelessness and poverty. But just stroll outside the conference and you are suddenly confronted with the reality that poverty and homelessness is all around us here in Atlanta, Georgia. This afternoon homeless and worker activists gathered down town to demand fair wages for many of the city's construction workers who are living either in the streets or the city's dilapidated shelter system. James Williams was there and he brings us this report.
CNPI's Christine Lewis, Domestic Workers United, speaks with Guillermina Castellano, with the San Francisco Day Laborers Program, about domestic work from California to New York.
CNPI's Abdulai Bah, of Nah We Yone, speaks about CNPI on the French language community radio network AMARC.
Michelle Santamaria, Leslie Gonzaga, Manny Diaz, Mariela Estevez, & Jonathan DeJesus de Radio Rootz exploran la vida de la jente en la comunidad de inmigrantes viviendo en Sunset Park , Brooklyn, Nueva York. Imagínese las dificultades que uno encuentra cuando el o ella no sabe el idioma que los envueleve. Los jovenes de Radio Rootz descubren que sí hay ayuda disponible en la comunidad.
A sampler of Radio Rootz audio productions for 2007
For our second year we are back with the wonderful scholars of The South Bronx Academy of Applied Media. This middle school was opened in 2005 and this year our students are a mix of 6th and 7th graders. Radio Rootz is one of the many after-school clubs that SBAAM offers its students and we look forward to the great work of the students. In fact, you can get to know our SBAAM Rootz Scholars by listening to their audio-bios. Put your seat-belt on, these are bios like you have never heard before!
Radio Rootz's Michelle Santamaria, Leslie Gonzaga, Manny Diaz, Mariela Estevez, & Jonathan DeJesus explore the lives of immigrant communities of Sunset Park Brooklyn, New York. We can immagine the difficulties one faces when he or she has no knowledge of the language that surrounds them. These Rootz youth later discover that there is help readily available within the community.
After Katrina many survivors were moved into large FEMA trailer parks. Two years later, they remain warehoused in these trailer parks. Renaissance Village, 100 miles from New Orleans is one such trailer park, which is the largest FEMA trailer park in the country. With 500 trailers, many residents have been stuck there for close to two years. This piece was produced by youth who live in the trailer park -- Eric Walker, Rasheka London and Keyana London, with help from youth from the United Houma Nation, Dana Solet and Cacinda Voisin.
Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on life. What makes us happy? What makes us unhappy? What do we take for granted?
Produced by: Jose Pino, Thomas Walker, Ayana Haith, Fasheena Jones, Daqwuan Walker, Kareem Smith
If I rued the world: Nas was very clear on what the world would look like if he ruled it. But what would the world be like if a group of high school students from New York City were in control? Take a listen!
Produced by: Thomas Walker, Daquawn Walker Ayana Haith, Fsheena Jones, Kareem Smith
After having a fun and exciting 07, Manhattan comprehensive students look forward to successful 2008! Happy 2008!
Prodced by: Ayana Haith, Jennifer Garces, Fasheena Jones, Thomas Walker, Steven Cheung, Kareem Smith
It's Called Renaissance Village. But don't let the name fool you. It's the largest FEMA trailer park in the country. It's located about a hundred miles north of New Orleans in Baker, Louisiana. RIght after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, thousands were sent to live there. PPH trainees in the Gulf Coast produced stories that were aired by the nationally syndicated program Making Contact.
April 30, 2007 – Josh's Testimony before the New York City Council Committee On Technology In Government regarding Net Neutrality (Resolution 712, statement text)
PPH Co-Director Kat Aaron reports on the New York City Broadband Advisory Committee's first public hearing, March 30, 2007.
