Making Contact

Sixty-two years ago, a quarter of a million people gathered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. On today's show, we take a look at the life and legacy of a central organizer of the march, Bayard Rustin. Rustin was an openly gay civil rights leader and a trusted advisor to labor leader A. Phillip Randolph and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This show first aired in June 2021. Featuring: Bayard Rustin, architect of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Ashon Crawley, University of Virginia Associate Professor of Religious Studies and African-American and African Studies Nancy Kates, filmmaker and producer of _Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin_ Bill Sutherland, Fellowship of Reconciliation Reverend A.J. Muste, pacifist and mentor of Rustin George Houser. Fellowship of Reconciliation Louis John, nephew of Bayard Rustin Devi Prasad, pacifist  Credits: Making Contact Team Episode host: Anita Johnson Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Cory Gray – “Medieval Tension” Ketsa – “This Way Joyous”  Blue Dot Sessions – “Rally” Blue Dot Sessions – “Rayling” Dee Yan-Key – “Hold On” Dee Yan-Key – “Go Down Moses” Blue Dot Sessions – “3rd Chair” Andy G. Cohen – “Our Young Guts” Learn More:  Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin, by John D’Emilio | Bayard Rustin Fund | Troublemaker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March on Washington, by Jacqueline Houtman, Michael G. Long, Walter Naegle | I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters by Bayard Rustin, edited by Michael G. Long | Bayard Rustin: Troubles I’ve Seen | Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers | PBS on the March on Washington | History.com on the March on Washington | AFL-CIO and Bayard Rustin | Washington Post | NY Times Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

This week, we're sharing a guest episode from our friends at Project Pulso: Miami's Battle Over Bilingualism. The path for Miami to get as bilingual as it is today has been hard. Deep discrimination and mass resistance were what it took to get here. Today’s episode is about a decades-long power struggle between those who embraced diversity and those who fought to repress it. Produced in July 2024. Featuring: Dr. Paul George, Eduardo Padron, Gregory Samms Making Contact Team - Episode Host: Jessica Partnow - Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang - Executive Director: Jina Chung - Engineer: Jeff Emtman - Digital Marketing Manager: Lissa Deonarain Pulso/In Confianza Podcast Team - Host: Liz Rebecca Alarcón - Producer, engineering, scoring, mixing: Charlie Garcia - Editor: Mark Pagán Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

This story is brought to us by the podcast Kerning Cultures. “Black Panthers in Algeria" tells the story of  Elaine Mokhtefi as she landed in newly independent Algeria in the early 1960s and found herself at the center of a special period in the country’s history when it was known as the “Mecca of revolution.” Elaine encountered world famous radicals, ragtag political parties, spies and military leaders – and became an unlikely sidekick to one of the most iconic liberation groups of our time. This episode first aired on Making Contact in September 2024 and Kerning Cultures in April 2023. Featuring Elaine Mokhtefi Natalia Bin Khaled Vince Justin Gifford Eldridge Cleaver Making Contact Credits Episode host: Anita Johnson Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: [Jeff Emtman](https://jeffemtman.com/) Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain  Kerning Cultures Credits Produced by Deena Sabry and Alex Atack Edited by Dana Ballout Fact checking by Eman Alsharif Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, Paul Alouf and Alex Atack Our team also includes Zeina Dowidar, Nadeen Shaker and Finbar Anderson Learn More Algiers: Third World Capital | Revolution or Death: The Life of Eldridge Cleaver | Kerning Cultures  

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was created in the aftermath of 9/11. To contextualize what's happening with immigration today under Trump 2.0, we bring you one person’s story of being caught in the anti-Muslim fervor post-9/11 and how she became an organizer advocating for the immigrants’ rights. We'll also hear what her story teaches us about avoiding burnout in doing social justice work. This story comes to us by way of Re:Work from the UCLA Labor Center. Featuring: Ainee Athar, immigrant rights and climate justice Making Contact Team Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music:  "Documentary Piano Ambient" by BoDleasons via Pixabay Re:Work Episode "Beyond the Glass Wall" Credits: Hosted by Veena Hampapur and George Chacon Produced by Veena Hampapur, George Chacon, and Saba Waheed Sound design and editing by Veena Hampapur Mixing by Aaron Dalton Learn More:  Re:Work from the UCLA Labor Center | FOC Media Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

In the late 1990s, psychologist Dr. Joseph Gone, a professor and member of the Aaniiih Gros Ventre tribe, returned home during his doctoral training to the Fort Belknap Reservation in north central Montana. There, he set aside Eurocentric concepts of psychology he was learning in school and instead asked tribal members how mental illness is addressed using traditional Indigenous practices. What he learned changed the trajectory of his career. Listen to find out how he helped bring precolonial cultural and spiritual practices into substance use disorder treatment in contemporary Indigenous settings. This show first aired in July 2024. Featuring: Dr. Joseph Gone, psychologist and interdisciplinary social scientist at Harvard University and member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre Tribal Nation of Montana Credits: Making Contact Team: Episode Host: Amy Gastelum Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music credits: Songs: The Horses are Coming, The Gift, Song of Honor Album: The Return of the Buffalo Horses Artists: Darrell Norman and Ramon Kramer Learn More:  **Learn More:** Dr. Joseph Gone American Indian Health and Family Services, Detroit, MI Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

On this week’s show, we’ll continue with the podcast mini-series Crosswinds from the University of Virginia’s Repair Lab and producer Adrian Wood. The show looks at the impact of coal dust pollution on Black neighborhoods in Virginia through the lens of environmental racism. In this episode, we'll listen to how the looming gentrification of one community might impact the pollution. Featuring: Lathaniel Kirts, practitioner-in-residence at University of Virginia's Repair Lab Mark'eta Kirts, resident Lawrence Turner, resident Donquitta Clements, founder and executive director of Break the Cycle Sheila McAllister, Director of City Planning for the City of Newport News Yugonda Sample-Jones, founder and president of EmPower All Millie Taylor, resident Making Contact Team: Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: [Jeff Emtman](http://www.jeffemtman.com/)  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Credit: "That Documentaries" by The\_Mountain via Pixabay Crosswinds Episode 2: Change Credits Hosted, written, produced, mixed and mastered by Adrian Wood Editing by Oluwakemi Aladesuyi of Rough Cut Collective  Scoring by Torrin Purkett and Adrian Wood Produced through the Repair Lab at the University of Virginia Learn More:  Making Contact homepage | Coal Dust Kills | The Repair Lab Listen to the entire _Crosswinds_ series: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

We take a deep dive into coal dust air pollution in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, where trains transporting coal expose residents of predominantly Black communities to harmful dust. We look at this issue of environmental racism with the help of the podcast Crosswinds, featuring producer Adrian Wood. Featuring: Lathaniel Kirts, practitioner-in-residence at University of Virginia's Repair Lab Malcolm Jones, practitioner-in-residence at University of Virginia's Repair Lab Grace Holmes, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality  Dr. Kim Fields, environmental policy expert at the University of Virginia and assistant professor in African American Studies Michael Mines, community leader in Newport News with Flow Church and Peninsula Baptist Association Carl Poole, advocate with New Virginia Majority Making Contact Team: Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music Credit: "That Documentaries" by The\_Mountain Pixabay Credits - Crosswinds Ep. 1: Friendship: Hosted, written, produced, mixed and mastered by Adrian Wood Editing by Oluwakemi Aladesuyi of Rough Cut Collective Scoring by Torrin Purkett and Adrian Wood Produced through the Repair Lab at the University of Virginia Learn More:  Making Contact homepage | Coal Dust Kills | The Repair Lab Listen to the entire Crosswinds series:  Spotify |  Apple Podcasts    

Black students with dyslexia all too often carry a heavy burden in our public schools. This documentary centers around a grandmother who fought for years to get her grandkids — particularly her grandson — properly assessed for dyslexia. Like too many African American boys, Geraldine Robinson’s grandson had been erroneously labeled with an “intellectual disability” and deprived of proper reading remediation. Monica Lopez hosts this episode, which first aired in 2021. Featuring: Geraldine Robinson, Oakland matriarch raising her grandkids Cheryl Theis, Education Advocate, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund Megan Potente, Educational Therapist and Co-State Director, Decoding Dyslexia CA Kareem Weaver, Oakland NAACP Education Committee Episode Credits: Reporter/Producer: Lee Romney Editor: Monica Lopez and Lisa Morehouse Engineer: James Rowlands Making Contact Team: Episode Host: Monica Lopez Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonorain Learn More: International Dyslexia Association Decoding Dyslexia California Dyslexia Guidelines Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

School resource officers are often called upon in middle and high schools to help with routine discipline. But for many children, especially those with disabilities, a law enforcement response to their behavior can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. This week on Making Contact, we hear a story from our podcast partner 70 Million about the relationship between students with special needs and school resource officers and the changes some would like to see in an edited version of “Why Policing Our Schools Backfires.” 70 Million Team Episode Reporter: Claire McInerney Editor: Monica Lopez and Juleyka Lantigua Host: Mitzi Miller Sound Designer: Erica Huang Photo Editor: Michelle Baker Staff Writer and Designer: Kori Doran Lead Fact Checker: Kate Gallagher Lead Producer: Pamela Kirkland Episode Photographer: Zerb Mellish & Michael Minasi Creator/Executive Producer: Juleyka Lantigua Making Contact Team: Host: Anita Johnson Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

In this episode we discuss disability, culture and identity from the perspective of disability communities themselves.   Seattle based activist Dorian Taylor talks about the specific challenges disabled people face while accessing public transportation and Professor Sara Acevedo discusses the powerful ways that common language and terminology can shape our perceptions of disability, and why even today we are seeing further exclusion of disabled people. This program originally aired in 2019. Featuring: Dorian Taylor, Sara Acevedo. Episode Credits Special thanks to CIIS, the California Institute of Integral Studies and the CIIS Public Programs Podcast for use of the Sara Acevedo talk. To learn more about the CIIS Public Programs Podcast log onto https://www.ciispod.com/. The story of Dorian Taylor was produced by Yuko Kodama and Mona Yeh in partnership with KBCS and Finding America, a national initiative produced by AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio Incorporated. Financial support was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Wincote Foundation, The John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Making Contact Team Host: Anita Johnson Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain   Learn More:  CIISPod | Sara Acevedo | Hampshire-Dorian Taylor | Krip Hop Nation | Fixed The Movie Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

The vast majority of care recipients are exclusively receiving unpaid care from a family member, friend, or neighbor. The rest receive a combination of family care and paid assistance, or exclusively paid formal care. Whether you’re a paid home care provider, or rely on personal assistance to meet your daily needs, or a family member caring for a loved one, the nature of the working relationship depends on mutual respect and dignity. In honor of Disability Pride Month, we’ll revisit the dynamic and complex relationship of care receiving and giving. Camille Christian, home care provider and SEIU member Brenda Jackson, home care provider and SEIU member Patty Berne, co-founder and director, Sins Invalid Jessica Lehman, executive director, San Francisco Senior and Disability Action Kenzi Robi, president, San Francisco IHSS (In Home Supportive Services) Public Authority Governing Body Rachel Stewart, queer disabled woman passionate about disability and employment issues Alana Theriault, disability benefits counselor in Berkeley, California Ingrid Tischer, director of development, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) Alta Mae Stevens, in-home caregiver Episode Credits: Host: Laura Flynn and Anita Johnson Contributing Producers: Alice Wong and Stephanie Guyer-Stevens Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music: Dexter Britain: The Time To Run (Finale) Gillicuddy: Adventure, Darling Steve Combs: March Jason Shaw: Running Waters Jared C. Balogh: BRICK BY BRICK DAY BY DAY | INCREMENTS TOWARDS SERENITY Nheap: Crossings Cherly KaCherly: The Hungry Garden Trio Metrik: Vogelperspektive Kevin MacLeod: Faster Does It Learn More:  UCSF: UCSF Study Projects Need for 2.5M More Long-Term Care Workers by 2030 SEIU: Longterm Care Worker Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund Disability Visibility Project Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network National Disability Leadership Alliance Senior and Disability Action Sins Invalid San Francisco In Home Supportive Services Public Authority Family Caregiver Alliance Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.

On this week’s episode, we dive into the hidden biases of the digital age with Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble, author of the groundbreaking book, Algorithms of Oppression. Dr. Noble unpacks how search engines, often seen as neutral tools, can reinforce harmful stereotypes and limit access to critical knowledge. Join us as we explore the forces shaping our digital experiences and discuss the urgent need for accountability in technology. This show first aired in December 2024. Featuring: Dr. Safiya U. Noble, David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences and professor of gender studies, African American studies and information studies at UCLA Making Contact Team: Episode host: Anita Johnson Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Learn More: Dr. Safiya Noble | Dr. Noble @ UCLA | Algorithms of Oppression | Purdue CDS Inaugural Lecture | Dr. Noble discusses the themes of her book

On this week's show, we explore Latino food and culture in Chicago’s historic Pilsen neighborhood and hear about how food can bring communities together. We tag along with the podcast In Confianza with Pulso as they try to answer the question: what does a Latino version of the tv show "The Bear" taste like? We'll head to two restaurants, Cafe Jumping Bean and Pochos, to find out. Featuring: Eleazar Delgado, owner of Cafe Jumping Bean | Miguel Hernandez and Irene Acosta, owners of Pochos  Making Contact Credits Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music credit: "Drums" by Andrewfai via Pixabay In Confianza with Pulso: "What does a Latino version of "The Bear" Taste Like?" Credits Hosted by Liz Rebecca Alarcón Produced and edited by Mark Agan Audio engineering scoring and mixing by Charlie Garcia Learn More Making Contact homepage | In Confianza with Pulso  

In this week’s episode, we take a look at how over six decades after the Korean War, South Korea processed the most international adoptions in history and how the demand for a “domestic supply of (adoptable) infants” may be playing a role in increasing threats to autonomy over pregnancy in the US. This show first aired in November 2024. Featuring Alex Lewis, independent producer and founder of Rowhome Productions | Schuyler Swenson, producer | Lydia Doublestein, registered midwife Making Contact Team Episode Host: Amy Gastelum Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong Engineer: Jeff Emtman  Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Guest Producers Producer/Reporter: Anne Noyes Saini Producer: Schuyler Swenson Music Credits Andy G. Cohen, “Bumbler”  Zé Trigueiros, “Big Road of Burravoe”, “Ponto”  Hogan Grip, “Stance Gives You Balance”  Music was changed only in length and volume levels and can be found here: http://www.freemusicarchive.org/  

To celebrate Pride Month, we have a special show featuring stories from the Making Contact archives. We'll revisit the Stonewall Uprising with the 1989 audio documentary Remembering Stonewall, and then head to the gay rodeo with producer Vanessa Rancaño in a story from 2014. Making Contact Credits Episode host and producer: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain Music "Minimal Documentary" by penguinmusic via Pixabay Bleep sound effect by freesound\_community from Pixabay Remembering Stonewall: The birth of a movement (1989) Narrated by Michael Schirker Produced by David Isay Distributed by Pacifica Radio Archives All Around Cowboy: Inside the world of queer rodeo" (2014) Story producer and host: Vanessa Rancaño This show was part of a partnership with the [UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism](http://journalism.berkeley.edu/) Special thanks to [Claire Schoen](http://claireschoenmedia.com/) Learn More:  Making Contact homepage | Remembering Stonewall on Pacifica Radio Archives |  Making Contact episode "All Around Cowboy: Inside the world of queer rodeo"