Proud

Been listening back to some of my vintage radio features from years past. Listening to the super early stuff can be painful but it’s also good to hear (with the ear) how far I’ve come.

Listened to this piece and I just felt proud–like it was a meaningful story and I did it justice.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1611599

 

It’s got good ambi sound (listen for the squeaking, rolling wheels of the food-hauling cart at the very beginning.) The things people say propel the story further along, and there’s heart in their words & tone.

But when I listen so many things come flooding back that I didn’t mention in this piece: the intense, overwhelming feeling of desperateness I sensed from people lining up for food. The line itself–which was huge and had to managed by the volunteers.

Even the conversation I had with John Arnold, the program’s director, about spirituality and Buddhism and poverty and kindness.

None of this made it into the piece, and I think if I had reported this piece yesterday I would have told it differently with more of these details.

Still, the last thing John says continues to ring in my ears. In regards to helping the poor he says…”We OUGHT to be doing better.”

 

 

Homeless writers find meaning & a sense of self

I spent time at a Journalism 101 workshop for homeless writers involved with the street newspaper, Groundcover News.  Getting their words published means a LOT to this group of writers.

http://michiganradio.org/post/homeless-writers-find-meaning-sense-self

 

 

 

 

 

The boys at the bowling alley

These teenagers practice their social skills while bowling. They’re part of a social skills club for kids with autism.

At their weekly check-in, they fill out a “friendliness” form that rates their actions.

 

Listen to my story here:

http://michiganradio.org/post/autistic-kids-practice-social-skills-bowling-alley

What gay folks can teach us all about economic diversity

I wanted to tell an original story about socioeconomic class for our series, “The Culture of Class.” One that I’d never heard on the radio. It took several late nights of research, but I think I pulled it off. Listen to “Mixing it up on the dance floor” here:

http://michiganradio.org/post/mixing-it-dance-floor

 

The fabulous DJ Urbn spoke with me for this story:

 

 

One of the challenges in reporting this story was getting the audio. The bass was so loud in the club it made recording inside impossible. So all my interviews happened in either the parking lot, my car, or at another location.

 

 

Kids write heartfelt songs

I hung out with some of the fine young people at Flint’s Studio on the Go. They were brainstorming lyrics about their lives. Listen here:

http://michiganradio.org/post/kids-make-music-about-their-lives-struggles

(Pix by Mercedes Mejia:)

Interview

Making music together

And here’s a fantastic slideshow by my fabulous co-worker Mercedes Mejia.

http://michiganradio.org/post/flint-program-teaches-kids-write-produce-music-audio-slideshow

Karate Farmers

Martial arts & land conservancy don’t always go hand in hand. But in the case of the “karate farmers of Flint, Michigan,” they do.

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/karate-farmers-take-back-neighborhood?nopop=1

 

Tiny art raises some serious cash

A couple of friends in Saline, Michigan have found a way to raise a lot of money, by selling small pieces of artwork. In fact, their auction brought in $20,000 in a single day, and all that money gets donated to a local food bank.

That story here: http://michiganradio.org/post/small-art-raises-big-bucks

Teaching social skills via bike maintenance

I hung out at the Open Roads program in Kalamazoo. We were at the house of one of the program’s leaders–a historic, majestic residence in the Edison neighborhood. A sweet little pit bull greeted everyone upon their arrival, and Michal Jackson blasted out of a boom box. Soon enough, the place was hopping with kids & adults and bikes. Lot’s and lot’s of bikes.

Photo by Eric Sweet

Hanging out with the Open Roads folks was fun and also a little wild–so many kids swirling around with so much vibrant energy. I left feeling really frigging happy. You can hear my story about the bike program here:

http://news.michiganradio.org/post/bike-program-sneakily-teaches-basic-social-skills

A relay race, on paper

Green Brain Comics in Dearborn gives comic artists a chance to hone their artistic chops, at the store’s monthly “comic jams.” One artist said the comic jams are just like a relay race, but on paper.

Check out a slideshow with great pics of the event, done by Mercedes Mejia:
http://news.michiganradio.org/post/comic-improv-paper-slideshow

And listen to the story that aired on NPR’s Morning Edition here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/22/133955169/Improvising-Artists-Drawn-To-Comic-Jam

I became a comic book character…

At the Green Brain Comics’ monthly comic jam. It’s like an improvisational relay race with drawing. And artist Jennifer Rose Evans drew me into a comic!

Story coming soon.

Photos by Mercedes Mejia:

My hair was the inspiration for this comic character

 

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