The cost of prescription drugs…eligibility for Maryland’s health insurance marketplace…coping with consequences of hurricanes. Headlines about health abound. We talk recent health news with WYPR reporter Scott Maucione.  Links: Abuse survivors just settled for $880 million in LA, what does that mean for Baltimore Archdiocese victims? | WYPR Maryland DACA recipients eligible for state health coverage starting in November Maryland hospitals urged to conserve IV fluids during shortage | WYPR Maryland drug affordability board gets OK to set upper payment limits | WYPR Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A Washington Post investigation revealed understaffing, violence, bullying, and neglect at Maryland’s maximum security psychiatric hospital. Why did problems persist so long? What now? We speak with reporter Katie Mettler.  Links: After Post report, Md. health secretary says changes coming to mental hospital How a ‘climate of chaos’ went unchecked at Maryland’s max-security psych hospital Maryland state workers push Gov. Moore to spend more on workers, facilities - The Washington Post Clifton T. Perkins CEO Scott Moran agrees to 6-month restraining order - The Washington Post Clifton T. Perkins CEO Scott Moran on leave as staff allege he made threats - The Washington Post Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Gov. Moore claims a strong Baltimore leads to a strong Maryland. Now transportation advocates want him to commit to his word. Nearly 700 million dollars in transit maintenance and repair hangs in the balance … will MTA get what it needs?  Brian O'Malley, president and CEO of Central Maryland Transportation Alliance sifts through the details of this complicated, ongoing challenge for Baltimore. Links: CMTA letter to Gov. Wes Moore, transportation reporting by Baltimore Banner, Draft Consolidated Transportation Program Budget, CMTA response to CTP budget.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore is a city full of neighborhoods with distinct personalities -- from quirky to conventional, from historic to … not so historic. Architecturally speaking, there are absolute gems … as well as diamonds in the rough. Doors Open Baltimore offers a daylong opportunity to explore a few of the city’s most interesting buildings. Lauren Bostic Hill, Executive Director for The American Institute of Architects, Baltimore Chapter and Baltimore Architecture foundation and Nakita Reed, board president of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, offer some highlights. Links: Doors Open Baltimore, Baltimore Heritage.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It’s October -- Fall colors are transforming Maryland's landscape! What makes the lush summer greens transform to vibrant yellows, reds and oranges? Dan Coy, who heads urban and community forestry at the Maryland DNR breaks down the science … and offers tips for leaf peepers this weekend. Links: Maryland DNR fall foliage map, Maryland Fall Foliage Trips, Explore Fall foliage Maryland map.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Deborah Keene, about a memorable dip in the reservoir. For more information about Stoop Storytelling, including live events and the Stoop Podcast, visit Stoopstorytelling.com.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered Florida, North Carolina, and surrounding states this fall. Helene is one of the deadliest storms in recent U.S. history - it killed more than 200 people in the Southeast.  What should Marylanders know about staying ready for severe storms? We speak with Jorge Castillo, chief spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.  Links:MD ReadyKnow Your ZoneDisaster Supply KitHow to Help After Hurricane Helene | FEMA.govMake A Plan | Ready.govDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new book profiles people rejecting pessimism even though they face a progressive, terminal disease: younger-onset, also known as early-onset, Alzheimer’s disease.  The book is inspired by three men: Dennis Myers, Jim Hursey, and Mike Razzi. They met at a support group in Hunt Valley. After forming a deep friendship, they dubbed themselves, “The Optimistics.”   Writer Richie Frieman was inspired by their friendship. He interviewed more than seven dozen individuals diagnosed with young-onset dementia and their care partners. The result is Frieman’s new book, “The Optimistics.”  On December 3rd, Frieman will speak about his book at the Pratt Central Library in Baltimore.  In the next few weeks, the Greater Maryland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is hosting three 'Walks to End Alzheimer’s': in Annapolis this Sunday; in Baltimore on October 26th; and in Salisbury on November 2nd.   Listen to our 2022 interview with the original 'Optimistics.' Links:YES! Young-Onset Dementia Education & SupportDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Wyoming’s Liz Cheney was the highest-ranking Republican woman in the history of the House of Representatives. Now, she’s endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Why?Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore County’s population has tripled since the 1950s. Will voters decide to add seats to the county council? WYPR's John Lee gives us the run-down on Baltimore County ballot questions.  Links:Baltimore County: What’s on the ballot?Baltimore City ballot questions: A breakdownDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Zoe Bell shares a Stoop story about a tumultuous relationship with a Volkswagen Beetle. The next Stoop show is Tuesday, October 15th at Checkerspot Brewing Company in South Baltimore. The theme is, "See Beyond: Stories about disrupting prejudices and preconceived notions.” Proceeds will be donated to the Maryland School for the Blind.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Wood turtles are native to much of our state, but like many species, their survival is facing multiple challenges. Susquehannock Wildlife Society in Harford County is working with the Maryland Zoo and the state Department of Natural Resources to protect the future of the wood turtle. Scott McDaniel, president of the Susquehannock Wildlife Society, and John Garrison, conservation director, explain how radio telemetry helps them find and protect turtle nests.  Links:Video: Radio telemetry processVideo: Wood turtle stomp behaviorWood Turtle Research RecapDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For 140 years Baltimore’s Franciscan Center has responded to community needs -- from food and clothing to counseling and dental care. Now they offer Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy, which gives people skills and confidence that leads to employment and can transform lives. We talk with instructor Chef April Dubose, and with cohort 11 students Detrich Jordan, Shakera Murphy, Harry Lowe, Kimberly Wynn, Linda Hazelwood, and cohort 6 graduate Tiffany Jordan. Links: Franciscan Center, Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A year after the Hamas attack and hostage-taking in Israel, we check in with Sumayyah Bilal and Rebekka Paisner, two friends who create space and dialogue for people of all faiths, especially Muslim and Jewish, to deal with the pain of the war.  Their upcoming event, Visions of Peace, happens on Oct. 22 at 7pm, location TBD. Check here for updated information.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Maryland voters will weigh in on a handful of ballot questions next month, some carrying major implications for the Free State’s future. WYPR reporter Emily Hofstaedter gives an overview on several that will be of concern especially for Baltimore City residents. Links: Baltimore City, County and State Ballot Questions. Editor's note: The original airing of this episode had an incorrect reference to a Baltimore City ballot question. The audio has been corrected for accuracy.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Brian Jolles about a memorable dinner, a thoughtful waiter, and a run-away date. The next Stoop show is Tuesday, October 15th at Checkerspot Brewing Company in Baltimore. The theme is: See Beyond: Stories about disrupting prejudices and preconceived notions.” Ticket proceeds will be donated to the Maryland School for the Blind.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Last night, the International Longshoremen’s Association reached an agreement that extends the union contract until Jan.15 -- raising salaries and giving the two sides 90 days to work out other issues.  The deal was struck after three days of a strike that affected getting cargo on and off ships at 14 East Coast and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas. The strike threatened to cause shortages and raise prices -- and for workers, it promised to be especially painful in Baltimore, where longshoremen and others suffered months out of work after the Key Bridge collapsed in March. We speak with Dave Jamieson, labor reporter for HuffPost.Links:Dockworkers’ union to suspend strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate new contractDockworkers strike at Port of Baltimore as contract expiresDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Images and video of the January 6th insurrection reveal the role Christian nationalism played in motivating rioters. The crowd storming the U.S. Capitol carried crosses, as well as signs and flags with Christian iconography.  A new book takes a deep look at a lesser-known evangelical Christian movement deeply connected to the events of January 6th - the New Apostolic Reformation.  Matthew Taylor is a senior scholar and the Protestant scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies. His new book is: “The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For two decades, Centro Hispano de Frederick has welcomed the immigrant community in Frederick County. Centro Hispano de Frederick is primarily led by volunteers, and provides services ranging from English classes to legal clinics. It also serves as a friendly space where people from other countries can learn and prosper.  We speak with Executive Director Suzanne Salichs, and hear from Evelyn Rodriguez, a participant in Años Dorados, and Rosalie Piña, a student in the Éxito program. This Saturday, Frederick’s Hispanic Heritage Festival will be held along Carroll Creek in Downtown Frederick from noon to 5 pm.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from K.C. about the transformation that can come from learning a family secret. More information about live Stoop events and the Stoop podcast at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We celebrate this weekend’s return of the Baltimore Book Festival with a talk featuring journalist Nico Lang whose book “American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era" chronicles the lives of trans kids around the country. The author spent nine months following the lives of eight trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid teens - and their families. The book explores some of the complexities of growing up trans. Lang will be speaking at 1pm on Sat. Sept. 28, as part of the Baltimore Book Festival, more info here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We speak with Nicole Chi, a Costa Rican-Chinese writer, director, and producer. Chi is the creative force behind the documentary, “Guián,” and the short film, “Los Mosquitos.”  Both films will be shown next week at the New/Next Film Festival, produced by Baltimore Public Media. More than 80 titles from around the world will be screened at the Charles Theater.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

As commissioner of Social Security, Martin O’Malley is applying the same data-drive management tools he used as mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. We ask about backlogs and whether Social Security is running out of money. Links:Hearing on Protecting Solvency of Social SecurityMartin O’Malley is on a one-year sprint to save Social SecurityStatement of Administrative PolicyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic - the CDC considers it an endemic disease - but COVID is still dangerous, and the disease keeps on changing and spreading. So, how can we best prepare ourselves? For answers, we’re joined by virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Yesterday, the Baltimore City Health Department announced it will hold vaccination clinics with the updated COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to the uninsured. Links:When Should I Get My COVID/Flu Shot? And Other Queries To Kick off Respiratory Virus SeasonDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Jen Diamond about emerging from the pandemic. Listen to more from Stoop Storytelling Series. Check out the podcast and schedule of upcoming events.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) brings together scientists, researchers and neighbors to take a deep dive into the ecological health of the city. For years they’ve collected data measuring the health of the air, soil, plants and trees across many neighborhoods -- all in hopes to make equitable environmental decisions to combat the effects of climate change. To find out how it's going we talk with Ben Zaitchik, chair and professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and BSEC lead scientist and with Kelly Cross, president of the Old Goucher Community Association and chair of BSEC’s Equitable Pathways Steering Committee.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

New research from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science suggests that songbirds of different feathers flock together during their migrations… and there’s a lot to learn about these multi-species relationships. For insight, we’re joined by migratory ecologist Joely Desimone, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory. Link:Migratory bird species found to be socially oriented | University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Kelly Harris about a memorable trip to Greece. On September 21st and 22nd, the Stoop Storytelling Series will share tales on the theme, “Keepers of Culture: Stories about people who inspire and enlighten,” at the Maryland Folk Festival.  And on September 27th, the Green Room in Baltimore will host an evening dedicated to the theme: “Neighbors: Stories of Friends, Foes, and the Fences In Between.” Check out the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Juvenile crime overall has declined. But to change the course of the young people caught up in gun violence -- either as victims or perpetrators -- Thrive Academy surrounds them with support -- life coaches who help them figure things out. We talk with Pastor Ebony Harvin and Bilal Rahman, two life coaches for Thrive, and with Secretary Vincent Schiraldi, the head of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.  Links: Thrive Academy, We Our Us, Thrive Academy Life Coach application. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Three times as many people are dying from opioids as a decade ago. Baltimore City sued on behalf of those lives lost, and to combat overdose deaths in the future: The city has won more than $242 million dollars in restitution so far. We ask Interim Deputy Mayor J.D. Merrill, and Sara Whaley, Program Director of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, how it will be spent. Links: Baltimore City Opioid Restitution Fund, Overview of Mayor Brandon Scott's executive order, Restitution Advisory Board Application, Comments or Questions, 988 substance abuse help.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Michael Furr about bottoming out -- and living to tell about it. If you, or someone you know needs help with substance abuse, you can call the 9-8-8 lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or go to this link.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Administering elections has always been important. The stakes are high to get it right. For decades, the high stakes mostly weren’t linked to high tension. But these days, as so many Americans insist the 2020 presidential election was stolen, election workers in some battleground states face threats and harassment.  We speak with Jared DeMarinis, Maryland state administrator of elections, about election security and combatting mis- and disinformation. The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is about six weeks away: Oct. 15. Early voting is set for the last week in October, Oct. 24 through 31. Election day is Nov. 5. Links:Rules and Information for VotersReporting Dis/MisinformationElection Judges FormDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Behind the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers, Gen X, and the Millenials are the Zoomers: the 70 million Americans who make up Generation Z. This group includes the country's youngest voters. A new book, titled, “The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy,” takes a close look at their political motivations and ambitions.  Author Melissa Deckman is the chief executive officer of PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

When there are dozens of ways that youth can be led astray, seduced by social media or maybe more dangerous fascinations, how do you capture their minds and hearts? ‘Beats Not Bullets’ teaches middle- and high-school students skills in the music recording industry as a way to keep them focused on positive activities and lead them toward healthy life choices. Rich Croce and Brandon Lackey, who help run the program, explain how it works. Links: Beats Not Bullets, BNB Application form, MC Bravado music, The LineUp Room, Label Necklace, record label, music video 'Belief'.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Natasha Tylea about putting in the work … honing her craft … and owning it -- no matter who is in the room. Find more information about Stoop Storytelling, including the Stoop podcast, Stoop Specials and Stoop live events at Stoopstorytelling.com.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For a group of Baltimore middle and high school students, squash is more than a vegetable! They participate in SquashWise. The non-profit melds the fast-paced game with personal development and academic excellence. We hear from Abby Markoe, co-founder and executive director, and visit the courts to hear from some of the coaches and students. Links: Community SquashWise sign up, Squash with Your Squad sign up, Greyhound project, Youth Develop Programs.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from retired Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Pamela White about holding her own as a young lawyer, and taking one for the team. There are two LIVE stoop storytelling events coming up: ‘Keepers of Culture: Stories About People Who Inspire and Enlighten’ will be part of the Maryland Folk Festival in Salisbury next month: Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22. And on Friday Sept. 27 the theme is: ‘Neighbors: Stories of Friends, Foes, and the Fences In Between’.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Laura Lippman's novel and the Apple TV series 'Lady in the Lake’ fictionalized the real stories of two tragic deaths in 1969 Baltimore. How their stories were told hinged on which media outlet told them. Baltimore’s Afro News publisher, Dr. Frances 'Toni' Draper, lived through the coverage; she reflects on how reporting on Black communities has changed -- and how it hasn’t.  Links: AFRO archival images, AFRO recent reporting on Shirley Parker's story.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Across the state, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is funding 129 grants totaling $111 million dollars aimed at supporting hundreds of thousands of students with behavioral health screenings, addiction treatment, counseling, family support, wraparound services, and more. This morning, we’ll learn about two of the grants in Howard County public schools. First, Dr. Bruce Wexler is the neuroscientist behind "Activate," an approach that helps kids improve focus, self-control, and working memory using a mix of online games and physical exercises. Activate is backed by BrainFutures, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of Maryland.  Then, Backpack Healthcare is a pediatric mental health company that provides virtual therapy and treatment sessions. We speak with Chief Clinical Officer Jenny Ryan about the needs of children and families. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Lou Smith, who talked about his passion for teaching at event co-hosted by the Maryland School for the Blind. The next Stoop show is tonight at 7 pm at Manor Mill. The theme is, “Rose Colored Glasses: Stories of Summertime Nostalgia.”  Check out the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A wheelchair or high-tech communications device can cost thousands -- often not covered by insurance. Maryland Equips is an innovative state project that accepts and distributes medical equipment for free.  We speak with Lori Berrong, executive director of the Assistive Technology Program within the Maryland Department of Disabilities, and clients Justin Hack and Sarah Starr. Links:Maryland EquipsMaryland Durable Medical Equipment Re-UseMaryland Accessible TelecommunicationsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Thirteen thousand abandoned buildings and even more vacant lots blemish Baltimore City. We talk with Sean Closkey, president of ReBUILD Metro. The nonprofit has transformed more than 500 abandoned buildings and lots in East Baltimore, all led by neighbor input. And Onyx Development’s Rian Hargrave believes access to quality homes in safe neighborhoods is a human right. She tells us how she's working to make it reality for more people in Baltimore City. Links: ReBUILD Metro planning, Onyx Development, Baltimore City Vacants Property Reduction Strategy, a plan to eradicate vacants within 15 years.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What happens when an up-and-coming Philadelphia architect moves home to Ellicott City -- to take a job as a baker? Which lets her care for her frail mother, but doesn’t do much for her love life ...? We ask author Michelle Paris about her latest book, "Eat Dessert First."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Today we offer TWO Stoop stories: One from Christine Harazim about embracing every inch of who you are! And one from Katie Hileman about the power that comes with being comfortable in your own skin. This Sunday Aug. 11 you can tune into the Summer Escapades Stoop Special at 4pm and 11pm on WYPR 88.1fm or at wypr.orgDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It will take years to untangle the many ways in which the pandemic affected life in Baltimore. From employment opportunities and educational choices to decisions about whether to buy a house or have a baby-- the only way to understand COVID’s consequences is to look at the data.  We speak with Amanda Phillips de Lucas, who directs the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, part of the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute. Each year, BNIA publishes its Vital Signs report, which brings together more than 100 indicators - like household size or unemployment rate - to create a snapshot of the quality of life in Baltimore’s neighborhoods. The Vital Signs reports are retrospective; this year’s report looks at the health of Baltimore communities in 2022. Links:Vital Signs 22State of the Neighborhoods - Vital Signs 22Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Kelly Meekins about getting stranded with her family. The next Stoop show is two weeks from tonight: August 16th at Manor Mill in Monkton. The theme is “Rose Colored Glasses: Stories of Summertime Nostalgia.” Check out the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Fourteen Marylanders have died of heat-related causes this year. As climate change drives up the intensity and duration of heat waves, what can public officials do? Hopkins epidemiologist Jaime Madrigano offers insight and solutions.Links:Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response579 - How to Be a Climate Change Advocate: Making Sure Public Health is Part of the Climate Change EquationClimate Change Indicators: Heat Waves | US EPADo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It’s been seven weeks since the Port of Baltimore reopened.  More than 50,000 tons of debris blocked the shipping channel after the cargo ship Dali collided with the Key Bridge on March 26th. Six construction workers died in the bridge’s collapse.  Where is cargo volume today? Has the port been able to retain customers? We ask Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Completed in 1977, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was an iconic fixture in Baltimore’s horizon. Its collapse at 1:28 a.m. March 26th took the lives of six maintenance-crew workers and tore apart a vital link connecting the region. What will the bridge’s replacement look like? Hayes Gardner is an enterprise reporter for The Baltimore Sun. He’s been covering the Key Bridge collapse and clean-up and the plans to rebuild. Links:New Key Bridge expected to be 24% taller than predecessor, with 230 feet of vertical clearanceIn wake of Key Bridge collapse, Maryland explores pier protection for Bay Bridge; initial budget is $145MDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For many, the memorable element of the singing group The Mamas and the Papas was Cass Elliot’s clear contralto. Cass Elliot was born Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore in 1941, attended Forest Park High School in Northwest Baltimore, and left high school six weeks before graduation to find her show business fortune in New York. She was 32 when she died of a heart attack in London after a brilliant run at the Palladium in late July 1974. Her daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, was 7 years old when her mother died, and has just published a memoir, "My Mama, Cass." We talk with her about it.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Susan Kim about surviving childhood embarrassment … and living to tell about it! Find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including live events coming soon, and the Stoop podcast - at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

On Sunday, President Biden ended his bid for reelection with just over 100 days until Election Day. His endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is historic; she is the first Black woman and Asian-American person to lead a major party ticket.  What does this decision mean for President Biden's legacy and the remainder of his term? What do Democrats and Republicans need to do to cement voters' support by November 5th?  We speak with Susan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY. She's covered a dozen presidential campaigns and seven White House administrations. She joins us from Fenwick Island, Delaware. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic party’s likely nominee for president. We speak with Natasha Murphy Chief of Staff for Black Girls Vote, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on outreach to young Black women. She talks about the wave of renewed momentum by young voters, and some of the concerns Black women have for the potential campaigning ahead. Links: Black Girls Vote, Baltimore Votes, Maryland voter registration info, Our Time is Now BGV event on 7.24.24, 9 p.m. register here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Do you ever wonder about who produced the food you enjoy each day? Lindsey Jacobs, Ms. Agvocate USA, wants the public to better understand the farmer to table connection. We learn more in a visit to her Church View Farm. Links: Ms. Agvocate USA, Church View Farm, Cow Week on Maryland Public TV.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Geoffrey Danek, about the bond that can grow between man and beast. Find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series -- including live events happening soon, and the Stoop podcast -- at Stoopstorytelling.com Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It’s hard to know where to turn for financial advice, and recent changes and challenges to federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs have added another layer of complexity.  We speak with Tisa Silver Canady, founder of the Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness. The MCCFW is holding a virtual symposium on July 23rd. Registration information here. Links:Federal Student AidKnow More Owe LessMCCFW Office HoursDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Getting students ready for college or a career is one of five pillars of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the ambitious, expensive ten-year project to make the Free State’s public schools as good as any in the world. We get a progress report from chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland William ‘Brit’ Kirwan. He led the effort that created the Blueprint and serves as vice chair of its Accountability and Implementation Board. Links:Blueprint Pillar 3: College and Career ReadinessAIB Pillar 3: College and Career ReadinessMaryland State Board of Education limits dual enrollment coursesBlueprint blues: Local leaders cite school reform plan’s progress, problems - Maryland MattersDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Jay Herzog about surviving the hazards of theater … and still having the career to tell about it! Visit Stoop Storytelling.com for information, including live events and the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For two decades ArtsCentric has offered their theater audiences storytelling through an African American lens. “The Scottsboro Boys” is their latest: a tumultuous tale of nine Black teens falsely accused of a heinous crime -- told through the power of music. We get a preview from artistic director and director, Kevin McAllister and Angelo Harrington II, who is featured in a leading role as Haywood Patterson. Links: The Scottsboro Boys at ArtsCentric, The Scottsboro Boys history.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Making sure every Maryland school teaches reading with a science-backed approach. Holding schools accountable for test scores. Improving transparency. Maryland’s new state superintendent of schools, has big plans to support local school districts. We ask Dr. Carey Wright about her vision for educational progress.Links:Maryland state schools superintendent Carey Wright starts full four-year termEducation 'Miracle' Worker Seeks Success in a Second StateBlueprint blues: Local leaders cite school reform plan’s progress, problemsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Catharine Deitch shares a Stoop story about her service in World War II as a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps member.  The next Stoop show is July 18th, with stories of mistaken identity at the Green Room in Baltimore. Check out the Stoop Storytelling Series podcast for more true tales.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In her latest historical novel, "The Last Twelve Miles," Annapolis author Erika Robuck reaches back a hundred years to Prohibition, and traces the struggle between two determined women: a federal codebreaker and the smuggler she aimed to catch.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The fear of falling can sap a person’s ability to stave off a fall. We talk to Dr. Kelly Westlake from the Claude D. Pepper Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who is testing how to reduce the fear. And to Dr. Jason Falvey, director of the Center for Disability Justice, whose research probes the inequities of rehabilitation and how to improve rehab access and support. If you'd like to participate in the Claude D. Pepper Center's research, visit this link or contact Kathy Simpson at 410-605-7179 or [email protected] you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

If you’re banged up in a car crash somewhere in the Free State or if you’re shot on the street, chances are you’ll be transported quickly -- maybe by helicopter -- to the R Adams Cowley Shock-Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. The sixty-five hundred badly injured patients admitted there each year get the highest level of trauma care in the U.S. But even though it’s the heart of Maryland’s exceptional Emergency Medical Services, the Shock-Trauma center has struggled for money. That changed this week. We talk with Shock-Trauma’s top doctor, Dr. Thomas Scalea, about how the center's funding situation has improved dramatically.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Jenn Silverman about using data to your benefit AND how to maximize exposure to all of the great meals on offer in Charm City. The next live Stoop event takes place in less than three weeks! On Thursday, July 18 -- with the theme “Mistaken Identity: Stories about Disguises, Spy Games, and Mix-ups!”  Musical guests ‘The Bayberries’ will start at 7:00 pm; the storytellers start spinning their tales at 7:30. It all happens in the Green Room at the Bluebird in Hampden.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Data is power. And it takes skill to use data effectively and equitably. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ ‘City Data Alliance’ has trained hundreds of municipal leaders in capturing, sharing and using data. Some are in Baltimore now -- What are they learning and why? James Anderson, head of Government Innovation programming, talks us through the processDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The pharmaceutical company Allergan will pay the city of Baltimore $45 million dollars to resolve claims surrounding Allergan’s role in the nationwide opioid crisis. The settlement - announced earlier this month - will be paid out in the next two weeks, while litigation continues against other opioid manufacturers.  $5 million of the settlement will be directed to the nonprofit Charm City Care Connection, which conducts outreach and provides services to people who use drugs.  We talk about the organization’s mission with Community Engagement Manager Bakari Atiba. Charm City Care Connection's drop-in center is located at 1214 N Wolfe St. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9am-4pm. Call 443-478-3015 to verify availability of services.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore is the overdose capital of the United States, according to detailed reporting by the Baltimore Banner and New York Times.  The death rate from 2018 to 2022 was nearly double that of any other large city in the country. Black men in their mid-50s to early 70s account for nearly one of out every three drug fatalities.  We speak with Alissa Zhu, a Baltimore Banner reporter and a New York Times Local Investigations fellow, and Nick Thieme, a data journalist for the Baltimore Banner. Links:A horrific number of older Black men are dying from overdoses in BaltimoreAn unprecedented epidemic: This is where people die of overdoses in BaltimoreCouncil will hold four hearings examining city’s response to overdosesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It’s summer! Temps are high, school is out, pools are open, grills are stoked -- and the earth’s tilt is in place. What does ‘summer solstice’ mean, and is it really the longest day of the year? We ask Kelly Lepo, of Baltimore's Space Telescope Science Institute to break it down for us.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Joe Wall about memories of summer camp and learning the truth about what lurks in the woods.   This Sunday, June 23 at 4 pm and 11pm we have a special hour of Stoop Storytelling. The theme is: ‘Turn It All the Way Up! Stories of LGBTQ Pride!’Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion. Even prior to the Dobbs decision, access was a challenge for abortion seekers. The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, reports that the proportion of patients traveling out-of-state to obtain an abortion doubled from 2020 to 2023. Nearly one in five patients cross state lines to obtain an abortion. How do things look on the ground in Maryland, a state with express protections for abortion? We speak with Lynn McCann-Yeh, co-executive director of the Baltimore Abortion Fund. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It's been two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and declared that the Constitution does not grant a right to abortion.  Meanwhile, Maryland voters will have a chance in November to enshrine abortion rights through an amendment to the state constitution. And a new statewide program will train more health care professionals to provide abortion care. The $10.6 million state-funded Abortion Care Clinical Training Program will be administered by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Jessica Lee is an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences in the school of medicine and co-principal investigator of the training program. Mary Jo Bondy, a certified physician assistant, directs UMB's Doctor of Medical Science program and is interim associate dean for the graduate school. Bondy is co-principal investigator of the training program.  Links: Maryland Abortion and Reproductive Clinical Health (MARCH) Interest Form UMSOM and UMB Faculty Receive $10.6 Million in State Funding for Abortion Clinical Care Training Program Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

June 19th is World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. This painful rare disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States. It’s more prevalent among people of African ancestry. About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell trait, which could be passed to their children.  What promise do new cell-based gene therapies hold? We speak with Cimone Vaughan, a 12-year-old living with sickle cell disease, and her mother, Nikia Vaughan, executive director of the Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association. Then, Dr. Jason Fixler, a doctor of pediatric hematology oncology at Lifebridge Health breaks down misconceptions about the disease.  Links:CDC Sickle Cell DiseaseSickle Cell Improvement in the Northeast Region through education projectFDA approves two sickle cell therapies, including first CRISPR medicineBaltimore is a city heavily impacted by Sickle Cell Disease as awareness day approachesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop story from Mike Bainum about the dramatic birth of his first daughter.  Check out the Stoop Storytelling Series archive. The next Stoop show is June 27th at 7:30 pm at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore. The theme is, "B-More Proud: Queer Tales of Charm City."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new Amtrak tunnel has been in development for years. But residents of West Baltimore feel their concerns are being ignored as the project picks up speed. Amy Petkovsek, head of the Community Law Center lays out their demands. Plus, we hear from Angel St. Jean, a Reservoir Hill resident and Amtrak assistant vice president and engineer Luigi Rosa and senior community engagement director, Danelle Hunter.  Link: Amtrak's Frederick Douglass Tunnel plans and community meeting records.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month and Juneteenth, we get previews of two events that highlight the work from some of the musicians, singers and composers who have made an enormous impact on the nation’s arts and culture.  Soprano Alexandria Crichlow and Samuel Springer, Doctor of Musical Arts at Morgan State University give us a preview of ‘Moving Forward And Beyond: A Juneteenth Celebration’ happening at the Walters Art Museum June 15. Then Lea Gilmore, Minister for Racial Justice & Multicultural Engagement and the Music Director at Govans Presbyterian Church along with BSO bassist Jonathan Jensen talk about their collaboration, Juneteenth Jubilee at Govans Church June 10.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Angie Elliott about standing up: for herself, for love, and to family. In celebration of Pride month, Stoop Storytelling has a live show coming up and the theme is ‘B-More Proud:  Queer Tales of Charm City.’ It happens Thursday, June 27 at Creative Alliance.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Does every call to 911 require a police response? Baltimore and cities across the country are testing alternatives - directing calls to civilians trained in behavioral health instead of police officers. Greg Midgette is an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland. He’s co-author of a recent study that examines 911 diversion programs. It’s titled “Improving Baltimore Police Relations With the City’s Black Community.” Then, Baltimore began its pilot program three years ago, in partnership with its police and fire departments, its behavioral health agency, and the nonprofit Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. We speak with Tina Field, director of crisis systems operations at Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc.Check out the 911 Behavioral Health Diversion Program Dashboard.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Joe Gans was the first African American world boxing champion of the 20th century. A Baltimorean, he was also an entrepreneur, philanthropist and started a baseball team that was a precursor to the Negro Leagues. Never heard of him? You’re not alone. There is a dedicated group of people working to change that. We hear from Sara Artes, co-chair of the Joe Gans 150th Birthday Celebration and co-founder of Corner Team boxing gym.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is a Stoop Story from Mike ‘The Persecutor’ Paschall, about why it’s worth fighting hard for what you love. The next LIVE stoop event happens later this month on Thursday June 27. The theme is B-More Proud: Queer Tales of Charm City. Hosted at Creative alliance. More information at Stoopstorytelling.com.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Herring Run Park stretches for 375 acres in Northeast Baltimore, reaching from Morgan State University to Armistead Gardens. It's Heritage Trail offers visitors insight into the park's historical and ecological landscape. We speak with Misty Fae, executive director of the Friends of Herring Run Parks, and board member Charles Minor. On Saturday, June 1st, the Friends of Herring Run Parks will host the free Share Your Heritage Festival from 12-6 pm. Links:Heritage Trail at Herring Run ParkThe Herring Run Archaeology ProjectEmeline JonesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In 1953, the Baltimore City Fire Department desegregated, hiring its first group of ten Black firefighters. Seven decades later, the African American Firefighters Historical Society honors the continued service of Black firefighters across the country. In January, the organization received a grant to support the creation of the International Black Firefighters Museum & Safety Education Center in East Baltimore. We speak with George Collins, a retired Baltimore City firefighter and co-founder of the African American Firefighters Historical Society. Links:Maryland awards $5 million in grants to help preserve Black heritage sitesGovernor Moore Announces $5 Million in African American Heritage Preservation Grant AwardsProud CompanyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Much more than a kick off to summer, Memorial Day is about remembering those who sacrificed their lives in military service. We meet Paula Davis, president of Maryland Gold Star Mothers -- she talks about her son, Justin, and how the group honors the memories of their children through continued service to the military community.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Luis Rosa-Valentin about why not trying in life … is not an option. Rosa-Valentin served in the U.S. Army until 2008, when he was injured during his service in Iraq. Now he is an artist and the president of Single-Handed Arts.  We at OTR want to take this moment to honor and remember all of those who have lost their lives during military service, and send comfort and healing to their families and loved ones. Have a meaningful and mindful Memorial Day.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore has seen a surge in union organizing, with local wins for workers at high-profile companies like Apple and Starbucks. The Baltimore Museum of Industry is marking this moment in time with its latest exhibit, titled: “Collective Action: Labor Activism in 21st Century Baltimore.” We speak with BMI Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Rachel Donaldson, and Courtney Jenkins, president of the Metropolitan Baltimore Council of the AFL-CIO. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

How much do you make? It’s a taboo question, but Hannah Williams is working to change that. Williams is the founder of Salary Transparent Street. You may have seen her videos, where she asks people at parks, farmers’ markets, or just walking down the street, to share their salary. We ask how she developed her passion for salary transparency. Links:STS Resource HubMaryland joins growing list of states requiring wage transparencyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Nurse Vanessa Battista shares a powerful story about what she learned from Colin, a young man dying of cancer. Listen to more tales from the Stoop Storytelling Series. Search the archives or check out the podcast. The next Stoop event is June 27th at the Creative Alliance in Highlandtown. The Stoop Storytelling Series, in partnership with the Queer Jewish Arts Festival, will present, "B-more Proud: Queer Tales of Charm City!"Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Storytelling is an opportunity to share universal lessons about the human condition. Phill Branch is the founder and creative director of Baltimore Story Fest. He previews the groups performing this weekend at the Baltimore Theater Project and shares how to craft an exceptional story.  Schedule:May 17 @ 8pm – Perfect Liars ClubMay 18 @ 8pm – MortifiedMay 19 @ 4pm – What I Learned in TherapyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Rebecca Fielding about her son, Enzo, and how entering into his world exposed her to much beauty and joy. You can find more information -- including live events and the Stoop podcast -- at Stoopstorytelling.com.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

When you need something done in an effective, no nonsense way -- who do you call? Moms. That’s how ‘Moms on a Mission’ at the St. Luke's Youth Center in West Baltimore came to be. Led by the community, for the community, we hear from executive director Amanda Talbot and engagement coordinator Darlene Clark to hear how they do it. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Spring is here, so pack your hiking boots, swimwear and hammock and head to one of Maryland’s 77 state parks. Angela Crenshaw was named director of the Maryland Park Service in November. What is her plan for the future of Maryland’s state parks? This Saturday, New Germany State Park in Garrett County will host the 9th annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival. The festival will feature a native plant sale, guest speakers, ranger-guided walks and more. This program originally aired on March 25, 2024.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Amid the ridges and valleys of Appalachia live some of Maryland’s rarest plant and animal life. Photographer Mark Hendricks captures slithering salamanders and shifting seasons in his new book, "The Central Appalachians: Mountains of the Chesapeake." On May 30th at the Howard County Conservancy, Mark Hendricks will speak about his book and share stories of wildlife encounters. The event starts at 7 pm.  This interview originally aired on March 25, 2024.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Crownsville Hospital in Anne Arundel County was Maryland's infamous segregated mental health asylum, and the only such facility available to Black people in Maryland between 1911 and desegregation in the 1960s. A new book by NBC and MSNBC journalist Antonia Hylton traces the history of Crownsville Hospital, the struggles and triumphs of its patients, the lives of its staff and medical personnel and what this singular institution tells us about mental illness, racism and community in America. Along the way, Hylton grapples with her own family’s experiences with mental illness, and the shame that blossomed in secrecy and darkness for generations. The book is called “Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Emergency room wait times in Maryland are the worst in the country. We ask Anna Palmisano, head of Marylanders for Patient Rights, how long waits can affect health outcomes. Read her op-ed in Maryland Matters: How can we reduce ER wait times in Maryland hospitals? Then, two physicians propose a solution: cut CEO salaries and use the funds to hire more hospital staff. We speak with former state legislator Dr. Dan Morhaim and former emergency department medical director Dr. David Meyers.  Read their Baltimore Sun op-ed: Here’s how to fix E.R. wait times in Md.: Cut hospital executive salaries. A lot. Additional Links: April 10, 2024 meeting minutes - Health Services Cost Review Commission Maryland Hospital IRS 990 Forms Maryland General Assembly Hospital Throughput Work Group final reportCredit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore reports that the one-mile radius around downtown encompasses nearly 134,000 jobs and is home to more than 40,000 residents. How are Black entrepreneurs creating a thriving downtown for visitors and residents? We speak with Baltimore Beat multimedia journalist Sanya Kamidi and Lynnette Dodson, who co-owns Cuples Tea House on N. Howard St.  Read: Black-owned businesses are leading downtown Baltimore's revitalizationDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Cannabis may soon be reclassified on the federal level to acknowledge the drug’s medicinal benefits. Attorney General Merrick Garland made the recommendation last week. Reclassification could mean big changes for states where cannabis is legally sold, as well as new opportunities for research. We speak with author and journalist Baynard Woods about repairing the harms of the War on Drugs. Read his essay in Baltimore Magazine: "How I Learned to Care for a Plant That Long Cared for Me."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Nancy Murray about living her truth.  There is a LIVE stoop event coming up Wed. May 8. The theme is ‘Mother Love: Stories of Being a Mom, Caring for a Mom, and Loving Even the Unlovable Moms.’ It’s happening at White Hall mill. Music at 7, stories at 7:30.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A century ago silent films captivated audiences, complete with live music to enhance the experience. This week Maryland Film Fest offers movie buffs that taste of nostalgia -- featuring the music of jazz, gospel and hip hop artist Aaron Hill. We get a preview!  Maryland Film Fest: 'Body and Soul,' Sat. May 4; Aaron Hill's World; Aaron Hill Youtube; 5M Soulful Self Care.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

One-third of Maryland students were chronically absent last school year - missing 10 percent or more school days, according to the state department of education. Howard County had the fewest chronically absent students, about one in five, while more than half of Baltimore City students missed 18 school days or more.  Hedy Chang is the executive director of Attendance Works. We ask what schools can do to create a strong connection to students and families. On a local level, the Tackling Chronic Absenteeism Project is part of the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts at the University of Baltimore School of Law. We speak with coordinator Rohina Zavala and case manager Christopher Kelly.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Danna Thomas taught in Baltimore City for nearly a decade. Now she’s teaching teachers how to prioritize their mental health in a profession ripe with overwhelming demands. What does it take to stave off burnout? In her new book, Thomas calls for a 'Happy Teacher Revolution.' Thomas will be at Greedy Reads Remington on Tuesday, May 7th to speak about her book. Details here. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Thiru Vignarajah keeps coming back. It’s the democrat’s fourth run for office, his second campaign to become mayor of Baltimore City. He describes how he’d fund schools, his plans to make city streets safer and lessons learned from being a political outsider.  Check voter registration status here, Thiru Vignarajah site here, request a mail-in ballot here, Early voting and other election day info here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Seven hundred thousand Marylanders don't get enough food. The Maryland food bank has been fighting hunger for decades. Now they hope to get at the root of food insecurity with a new grant program -- we hear about it from COO Meg Kimmel. Plus, Eric Jackson, head of the Black Yield Institute and Billy Humphrey, who leads City of Refuge-Baltimore talk about how their nonprofits plan to combat hunger in innovative ways. Links: Maryland Food Bank, Black Yield Institute, City of Refuge-Baltimore.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is a Stoop Story from Devin Morris about claiming the title of "artist." The next Stoop show is May 8th at Whitehall Mill. Storytellers will share tales about motherhood and about the complexities, challenges, and enduring significance of our relationships with our mothers. Listen to more stories by checking out the Stoop Storytelling Series podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Baltimore News Collaborative's Youth Voter Guide is out now. The guide surveys young people and candidates about priorities this election. Baltimore Beat editor Lisa Snowden speaks with WYPR's Bri Hatch about top issues affecting youth, like the cost of housing and how Baltimore’s taxes are levied. Check out the Youth Voices section. Read responses to the candidate survey. The Baltimore News Collaborative is a local newsroom partnership exploring the challenges and successes experienced by young people in Baltimore. The collaborative is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. WYPR, Baltimore Beat, The Baltimore Banner, Wide Angle Youth Media, Morgan State University, and Maryland Public Television are all members. Links:Suspensions are increasing in Baltimore City schools. Is that a solution, or another problem?Coppin State University launches first-ever housing voucher partnership for low-income studentsProposed Baltimore ballot initiative builds community fund by taxing large institutionsMaryland lawmakers consider bill to reimburse college students on mental health leaveMaryland bill stops ‘slippery slope of censorship’ by banning book bansDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

As salvage crews work to remove debris from the Patapsco River, investigators are trying to determine why the cargo ship Dali lost power and collided with the Key Bridge last month. The collision caused the bridge’s collapse and the death of six construction workers.  Lee O. Sanderlin, enterprise reporter at The Baltimore Banner, investigated similar instances of engine failure, in a recent piece titled, “Close calls: For years, ships lost propulsion near Key Bridge with little scrutiny.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

More than $512 million dollars of adult-use recreational cannabis has been sold in Maryland since July 1, 2023. As legislators created the state's legal cannabis market, they passed legislation to remedy the criminal consequences people historically faced for possession of cannabis. Maryland Legal Aid assists people as they navigate the expungement of cannabis charges. We speak to Logan Haarz, a staff attorney with the Community Lawyering Initiative at Maryland Legal Aid.  On Saturday, April 27th, Maryland Legal Aid is hosting a free expungement clinic in partnership with Reid Temple A.M.E. Church of Glenn Dale, Maryland. Find more upcoming clinics around Maryland.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is typically diagnosed in children by about age five in the U.S., according to the National Autism Data Center. About 1 in 36 American children are affected by autism, up from 1 in 44 from previous data. April is Autism Awareness Month. But at Zoe’s Just Dezzerts in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood, autism awareness is part of every day. We visit with Zoe, her mom, Jennifer Goldschmidt, and Kelsey Parker, another employee. Then Taya Dunn Johnson, from the Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake, tells us about the resources the non-profit provides for people with autism and their families. Links: Zoe's Just Dezzerts events, Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake, Awareness event Sat. April 27, and Making Autism Work on Sun. April 28th at Coppin State geared toward helping autistic adults navigate job searches, resume building, mock interviews. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Twelve mattresses are arranged in a circle. Drawn on beds’ white fabric are the outlines of sleeping children. Their hands are curled up by their peaceful faces. That tranquility is betrayed by the title of the installation: "Dream Refuge for children imprisoned." It is on display through May 18th at the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University.  Creator Na Omi Shintani founded the Kitsune Community Art Studio in Half Moon Bay and is a teaching artist at Creativity Explored for Disabled Adults and FootHill College.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In honor of WYPR’s Spring pledge, we’re offering up not one but two stoop stories today. First, a stoop story by Rohaizad Suaidi about fierce love, sacrifice, and pledging support for an adopted country. Then we hear from Gretchen and Warren Hensel, about persistence, timing, and pledging your heart to someone before it’s too late!Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Author Brittany Williams grew up in East Baltimore, taking theater classes and performing in the spotlight. Now she’s turned her talent from the stage to the page. In her latest novel, “Saint-Seducing Gold,” Williams brings readers to 17th century London, where a sword-wielding heroine teams up with William Shakespeare to defeat evil fairies and restore peace.  Williams will join author Molly Horton Booth for a conversation and sword play demonstration at Charm City Books on April 26th. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Patients in Maryland’s emergency rooms experience far longer wait times than residents of other states. What does this mean for the more than 1.7 million patients served each year by the state’s 48 emergency departments? What solutions are hospital leaders exploring?  Our guests: Erin Dorrien, vice president of policy at the Maryland Hospital Association and co-chair of the Maryland General Assembly Hospital Throughput Work Group.  Dr. Neel Vibhakar is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Associate Chief Clinical Officer for the University of Maryland Medical System. Links:Maryland ER wait times continue to disappoint in new data dropMaryland General Assembly Hospital Throughput Work Group Final ReportDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For a group of Baltimore middle and high school students, squash is more than a vegetable! They participate in SquashWise. The non-profit melds the fast-paced game with personal development and academic excellence. We hear from Abby Markoe, co-founder and executive director, and visit the courts to hear from some of the coaches and students!  Links: Community SquashWise sign up, Squash with Your Squad sign up, Greyhound project, Youth Develop Programs.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Daniel and Mary Bell tried to use the courts to win freedom for their family, so history shows us more details about them than many other enslaved people in the 19th century. We know that Francis Scott Key, who wrote our national anthem, was one of the white people who lined up against freedom for enslaved people like the Bells. "The Bell Affair" film tells the Bells’ story; we talk to director Kwakiutl Dreher and historian William G. Thomas III. Thomas says, "We need to see this part of American history differently-- enslaved people, not as nameless and faceless, but as real people acting in history, who are clearly attempting to claim freedom from day one of the United States." And we ask two of Mary and Daniel’s descendants about the strength they draw from this history. Original air date: May 19, 2022. "The Bell Affair" is now available to stream on Amazon.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In the early 20th century, Baltimore City codified racial segregation in housing into law, prohibiting African Americans from moving onto blocks where white residents were the majority. As the city grew, the sewer commission methodically avoided building infrastructure in Black neighborhoods. That’s one example given by historian Andrew Kahrl of how African American taxpayers have been denied the benefits of their dollars. Andrew Kahrl is a professor of history and African American studies at the University of Virginia. His new book is “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America.” He'll be speaking about it on Tuesday, April 16th at the Enoch Pratt Free Central Library. Links:Registration hereVirtual event hereIt’s Time to End the Quiet Cruelty of Property TaxesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Erica Rimlinger about growing up in Baltimore’s Stoneleigh neighborhood. The next Stoop event is April 18th. The theme is “Too Close for Comfort: Tales about Roommates to Remember.” Listen to the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Health disparities, food deserts, the achievement gap. In ‘Just Action,'' Leah and Richard Rothstein argue the profound issues plaguing society are tied to our segregated neighborhoods. They draw a roadmap to desegregation that allies can undertake at the local level.  Original air date: February 5, 2024Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Pompeian Olive Oil has employed locals for more than a century. Since the Key Bridge collapse, how have they supported workers and kept their product flowing? Mouna Aissaoui, executive vice president and chief operating officer, fills us in. Then, Dundalk is home to a diverse community of people affected by the tragedy. We hear how they’re faring from Tasha Gresham-James, executive director of Dundalk Renaissance. And Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore County chief of immigrant affairs, talks about her work with the families of the workers who died in the accident.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Hours after the Maryland General Assembly adjourns, we speak with two journalists who covered it: WYPR's News Director Matt Bush and Pamela Wood of The Baltimore Banner. Lawmakers reached a budget compromise. What new taxes and fees can consumers expect? Juvenile justice was revisited; will longer probation reduce crime? What's the future of Pimlico Race Course? Plus, financial help for Port workers. Links:Here’s what your Maryland lawmakers did this yearMaryland lawmakers wrap work after budget dispute, fatal bridge collapseMaryland PORT Act would give financial relief to businesses, workers impacted by Key Bridge collapseKey Bridge aid and Pimlico takeover headline final bills passed by Maryland General AssemblyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Black teachers in Maryland leave the profession at higher rates than their white teacher counterparts. Why? We talk with Baltimore Banner education reporter Kristen Griffith about what she learned. Plus, Wallace Lane, Michelle Early and Danielle Ferrentino share their very different experiences in the Maryland education system. Baltimore Banner article: "Black teachers are leaving. How can Maryland schools get them to stay?" Original air date: January 11, 2024Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We learn about the Native communities who lived, and still live along Maryland's Eastern Shore. Drew Shuptar-Rayvis a citizen and ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, paints a picture of their traditions and ways of life, drawing on collected oral histories.  Links: Mayaisuwàk (They Speak in One Voice): The Oral History and History of Place of Maryland's Eastern Shore Tribal Communities and Remnant Descendants virtual lunch and learn, Maryland Archives Mayis Indigenous Records Guide.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Sophia Garber about contemplating mortality, the privilege of prioritizing joy, and a very, very long hike. Hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Six months after Richard Worley was sworn in as Baltimore police commissioner, we ask him about his focus on community policing, how he’s recruiting to fill hundreds of vacant slots, squelching the flow of ghost guns, youth who carry in self-defense, and what he’s doing to stave off burnout.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Shannon Sneed is a former Baltimore City Councilwoman running in the Democratic primary for City Council president. What did she learn from representing East Baltimore? What are her priorities if elected? What would she do to limit the economic impact of shutting the port? Find more WYPR coverage of the 2024 Primary Election. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

While the wreckage of the Key Bridge blocks commercial travel, the crews of the Dali and other ships in the Port of Baltimore remain aboard their vessels.  Two local organizations have been checking on the mariners. We speak with Andrew Middleton, who directs the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Apostleship of the Sea, and Rev. Joshua Messick, an Episcopal priest and executive director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center. Find more updates at the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center Facebook pageDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The disruption at the port will likely boost inflation, but Tom Perez, senior adviser to President Biden and former candidate in the 2022 Democratic primary for Maryland governor, said the focus now is finding the bodies of those who died. Find more WYPR coverage of the Francis Scott key Bridge collapse. Photo caption: White House advisor Tom Perez speaks at a press conference on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 27, 2024. Credit: Governor Wes Moore's YouTube pageDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In Maryland, a child is reported abused or neglected every 10 minutes. We hear from program and research director Matila Jones to learn how The Family Tree works discreetly with families to step in and prevent abuse. Then Yuvi Rattigan, director of clinical services at Center for Hope, tells how they help families move on from trauma.  Links: The Family Tree, Center for Hope, Child Abuse Prevention Town Hall on April 10 (registration required, register here). For 24-hour parenting helpline call: 800.243.7337Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

With all the grim news battering Baltimore this week, let's take a few minutes to celebrate the good fortune that befell five local nonprofits two weeks ago—major gifts that could be transformative. Wide Angle Youth Media, Baltimore Tree Trust, Govans Economic Development Corporation, St. Francis Neighborhood Center, and Marian House each received $2 million dollars from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This morning, we’re taking a closer look at one of these recipients - Marian House. The nonprofit serves women and families and offers shelter and treatment for substance abuse, trauma, and mental illness.   Social worker Katie Allston is the president and CEO of Marian House. She’s led the organization for over a decade. Novlette Haughton is a graduate of Marian House. Today, she is a legal advocate at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Joy Kika about her path to business school. What more Stoop? Check out the podcast. The next live Stoop show is April 6th. The theme is "Wit and Wisdom: Stories about Life Lessons and Laughter."  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge would be a disaster in any case, but the deaths of six Latino construction workers who were on the bridge makes it a heart-rending tragedy. We hear from Clara Longo de Freitas, a neighborhood reporter The Baltimore Banner, about a vigil held in their memories and about support coming from the Latino community. Links:More FSK Bridge reportingSupport for families of Key Bridge collapseDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We go On the Record with Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoreman’s Association Local 333, to ask what shutting down the Port of Baltimore means for workers, and with WYPR reporter Scott Maucione to ask about the timeline for reopening. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new collection of photographs and essays documents the central Appalachian Mountains. Amid the misty ridges and valleys of Appalachia live some of Maryland’s rarest animal and plant life. The book is The Central Appalachians: Mountains of the Chesapeake. Mark Hendricks' photos capture hiding salamanders, rare plant life and the shifting seasons across the ancient Appalachian Mountain ranges. We ask Hendricks about finding the right shot, his connection to the region documented in his new book and tips for new nature photographers. Listen to Hendricks discuss his work at Backwater Books, in Ellicott City, on April 21 and at the Annapolis Book Festival on April 27. (Photograph by Mark Hendricks)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Spring is here. Pack your hiking boots, swimwear and hammock and consider heading to one of Maryland’s many State Parks, from the oceanside Assateague State Park to Herrington Manor in the Appalachian range. There is new leadership at the Maryland Park Service. Angela Crenshaw, a veteran park ranger, was named director of the Maryland Park Service in November after serving as acting superintendent since the previous April. What is her plan for the future of Maryland’s state parks? (Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Almost four hundred years ago European settlers landed in what is now St. Mary’s County and established the new state of Maryland. But they weren’t the first to inhabit the fertile ground along the Chesapeake Bay.  Events at Maryland Hall in Annapolis highlight the Indigenous people that inhabited the land long before English Catholic settlers arrived. We hear from program director Bilgesu Sisman, and dancer/educator Louis Campbell (Lumbee, Blackfoot) and tribal historian Rico Newman (Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Confederacy and Elders Council member) and get the rest of the story. Links: Maryland Hall Maryland Day events, Baltimore American Indian Center, Indigenous history of the Chesapeake Bay.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Michael Ziccardi about - quite literally - taking the fall and still landing on your feet.  There are Two LIVE stoop events coming up: on April 6, stories about life lessons and laughter and on April 11, tales of detours and unexpected adventures. More information here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The last day to file your federal and state taxes without an extension is April 15. Beyond tax season, managing your finances can be intimidating. Where to begin? And, how can you tell the difference between helpful information and untrustworthy advice? We ask Sara Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the CASH Campaign of Maryland. The CASH Campaign’s 17th annual Money Power Day offers free financial advice, workshops and consultations Saturday, March 23, at the Poly-Western High School Campus in northwest Baltimore. (Pictures of Money, via Flickr. License: CC BY 2.0 DEED.)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Each year, Maryland municipalities seek to recoup unpaid taxes from property owners through a tax sale. If overdue property taxes are not paid, liens are issued by the city and sold to investors, who can make a lot of money collecting the debt, fees, and interest from the property owner. Eventually, property owners risk losing their homes to foreclosure if they cannot pay the debts. Housing advocates are critical of the tax sale, calling it a predatory system that harms Maryland homeowners and renters and disproportionately impacts majority-Black neighborhoods. Allison Harris is Director of the Home Preservation Project for the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center. The center provides free legal help for those facing tax sale, including several in-person tax sale clinics over the next month. More information on the PBRC's services, including in-person tax sale clinics and phone consultation, on their website. (Bohemian Baltimore, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Each year in Maryland, hundreds of young teens accused of breaking the law are charged as adults. Judges could send their cases to juvenile court, but one third of the time they don’t. WYPR’s Rachel Baye has investigated how judges decide … and the dire results for many kids. Read the investigation by WYPR and APM Reports: Judges use ‘arbitrary,’ ‘horrendous’ reasons to keep teens in adult courtDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Why is Coppin State University funneling a million dollars toward training special educators? We ask Prof. Nicole Anthony and Prof. Anita Weisburger to explain. For information about Project POSE at Coppin State University contact Nicole Anthony, Ph.D. at 410.951.6448 or [email protected] or Anita Weisburger, Ph.D. at [email protected] 410-951-6447. (Original airdate: January 24, 2024)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We talk with NPR Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe about why she collected essays from another dozen-and-a-half alumni for her new book: "HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience." (Original airdate: January 24, 2024)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Chesapeake Bay’s watermen have long put food on the plates of restaurants and family dinners across the region. An often overlooked but crucial part of the Chesapeake Bay’s history are the stories of Black watermen. Now there is discussion among these watermen and their advocates about a memorial and cultural center dedicated to their history. We speak with Vincent Leggett, the founder and president of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation. The nonprofit seeks to preserve and document the maritime history of African Americans on the Chesapeake Bay. We also speak to Clayton Mitchell Sr., who lives on the Eastern Shore and contributes commentary to news site Maryland Matters. (Original airdate: February 6, 2024) Photo by Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program. CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population plummeted in the later half of the 20th century, but there are recent hopeful signs the bay’s oysters are making a comeback. Here to talk about all things oysters is Imani Black, an oyster farmer who is pursuing a Master's degree at University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science at Horn Point Laboratory. She is also the CEO and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture—an advocacy group dedicated to increasing diversity in the cultivation and study of marine life. We ask Imani about recent good news for the region's oysters, diversity within her industry and her connection to the bay's waters. (Original airdate: February 6, 2024)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Tracy Akinade shares a Stoop Story about standing up for herself and her coworkers. The next Stoop Storytelling event today, March 15, 2024. “See Beyond: Stories about dismantling the disability narrative” is set to kickoff at 7pm at the Maryland School of the Blind in northeast Baltimore. Join them for stories bucking the stereotypes about life with a disability.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Photography can capture the perspective of the person behind the lens. An exhibit at the Walters Art Museum, Through Our Eyes, showcases the work of teenage photographers new to the craft. Their work reveals a new perspective of Baltimore, and of a refreshing approach to creative pursuits. Baltimore-native SHAN Wallace is an artist, archivist, and photographer who instructed the teenagers involved with Through Our Eyes. Wallace’s own work has been exhibited internationally and nationally, including at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Contemporary and the African-American Museum and Cultural Center in Prince George’s County. We ask her about the surprising lessons we can learn these young artists.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Last month, scientists created a new, more detailed map of that low background rumble of radiation in our universe. The U.S. National Science Foundation's Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor—or CLASS—a collaboration led by Johns Hopkins University astrophysicists, created the maps.  Joseph Eimer is a senior scientist on the CLASS project and the lead author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal. Links: 'Wiggles' of energy waves over Earth could hold the universe's history New measurement captures clearer picture of our galaxy and beyond Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Maryland’s legislature will wrap up its work this year in three-and-a-half weeks. What will it have done, and how will it affect residents of the Free State? The most fundamental task of any legislative session--even if it doesn’t claim the most headlines--is to pass a budget that’s balanced: which means expected tax revenues high enough to pay for what the state plans to spend. There’s a tug-of-war right now between the House and Senate about taxes. We’re talking about that and other important legislation this morning with WYPR News Director Matt Bush.Links: 2024 Maryland Legislative tracker: What’s advancing ahead of Crossover Day Maryland Gov. Moore doesn’t ‘see a need’ to raise taxes this year New bill reignites debate over LGBTQ-inclusive school health curriculum New state budget could cut millions of dollars from community college funding Maryland House OK’s juvenile justice changes; Differing Senate bill could pass next week Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

How can poetry be a path to healing after abuse?  Vanita Leatherwood is director of community engagement at HopeWorks of Howard County, a nonprofit that serves victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. In addition to shelter, legal services, and therapy, HopeWorks of Howard County also provides workshops focused on self-care and art. We hear about the power of self-expression.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Extreme Risk Protection Orders temporarily remove firearms from someone at risk of harming themselves or others. How can they be a tool to prevent domestic violence? How are 'red flag' laws working in Maryland?  Lisa Geller and Spencer Cantrell are senior advisors at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. They will speak at a virtual seminar about Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Intimate Partner Violence on March 20th. The event is hosted by the Maryland Health Care Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The novel American Ending by Mary Kay Zuravleff received praise from a number of critics. Oprah selected it for her Best Books for Spring reading list. Kirkus Reviews gushed that the voice of the young narrator, Yelena, is so vivid, “it feels like Zuravleff is channeling a real person.” What brings readers to connect with Yelena and her family? These characters, most of them immigrants, lived more than a century ago in a mining town at the southwestern edge of Pennsylvania. What do they have in common with us? The book's narrative is intertwined with real historical events. The Mariana Mine is featured in the plot of American Ending. The mine was built to be safe, but 152 miners died in an explosion there. The disaster is the tenth deadliest explosion in American mining history. Another significant historical event featured in Zuravleff's novel is the Expatriation Act. Learn more on NPR’s “Code Switch” and at the National Archives. (Original airdate: June 20, 2023)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy raised the alarm last year about social media use and deteriorating mental health among young people. In the advisory, headlined Social Media and Youth Mental Health, Murthy highlighted research tying social media use to eating disorders and body-image concerns among young people. Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental disorders. Here to talk about the myths and risks of eating disorders is Dr. Terri Griffith, a psychologist at Sheppard Pratt and the Center for Eating Disorders. More resources can be found at he National Eating Disorders Association's website. You can call the National Association Of Anorexia Nervosa And Associated Disorders’ Helpline at (888) 375-7767, which offers emotional support and referrals. (Marco Verch, Creative Commons 2.0, via Flickr)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Concern for the safety and privacy of young people online is prompting a wave of legislation in several states. The Maryland Kids Code could become among the nation's first laws dictating how social media companies design and sell their products to young people. We asked Marisa Shea, a proponent of the bill and US Senior Policy Manager with nonprofit 5Rights Foundation, to give us the rundown on the Kids Code. (Photo by r. nial bradshaw, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Steve Parke about using art to meet his heroes. The next Stoop event is Friday, March 15th, in partnership with the Maryland School for the Blind. The theme is “See Beyond: Dismantling the Disability Narrative." Check out the Stoop Storytelling Series podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

America’s democracy is in crisis. A University of Maryland constitutional scholar has a plan to fix it -- maybe not the plan you’d expect. In "Parliamentary America," Professor Maxwell Stearns says the flaw is our two entrenched political parties. Stearns will be speaking on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Politics & Prose in Washington, DC and on Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the Pratt Library’s Writers Live! Series.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The 15 members of the Baltimore City Council do not elect the council’s leader from among themselves like most legislative bodies. Instead, city directly elect the president of the City Council. Several candidates are vying for the role in the 2024 election. In the Democratic primary, where the winner is almost assured of winning the seat, incumbent Council President Nick Mosby faces two formidable challenges; Shannon Sneed, who represented East Baltimore on the council from 2016 to 2020, and Zeke Cohen, who has represented Southeast Baltimore’s 1st District since 2016. During his time on the council, Cohen pushed for trauma-informed care and tighter rules on lobbying in the city. Now is running for Council president. What are his priorities, if elected? (Photo by Terrance Williams, The Baltimore Banner)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Housing costs are soaring. Maryland Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day says low supply drives up both rents and home prices. We ask about Governor Moore's legislative proposals to boost new construction, spur affordable development, and increase protections for renters. Links: HB0538/SB0484 The Housing Expansion and Affordability Act HB0599/SB0483 The Housing and Community Development Financing Act  HB0693/SB0481 The Renter’s Rights Stabilization Act  Gov. Wes Moore and housing secretary Jake Day: Maryland is facing a crisis; now is the time to take action | COMMENTARY – Capital Gazette The Baltimore region is building fewer homes. That’s a problem. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Longtime Maryland congressman Ben Cardin’s decision not to seek re-election means Maryland will choose a new U.S. Senator in 2024. The top contenders in the May 14 Democratic primary are David Trone, a self-funding businessman who has represented Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019, and Angela Alsobrooks, county executive of Prince George’s and formerly that county’s top prosecutor. On today's episode we speak with congressman David Trone, and ask him about the opioid crisis, how best to protect women’s reproductive rights in Congress and his priorities if elected to the Senate. In November, the Democratic winner is likely to face former Gov. Larry Hogan, who joined the race for the Republican nomination hours before the filing deadline last month.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Two hotels in downtown Baltimore will be converted into emergency shelters for the homeless. The city’s Board of Estimates approved the deal ten days ago, authorizing $15 million to acquire side-by-side hotels and $3 million to manage the shelters from the end of March through December. We speak to Baltimore City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Faith Leach. Links:City of Baltimore Reaches Deal to Acquire Two Hotels in Response to Housing CrisisBaltimore finalizes $18M deal to acquire hotels for long-term homeless housingFeb 2023 presentation by the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For every dollar invested in preventing evictions, Maryland could save nearly $2.50 in what evictions cost. That’s according to a study by Stout Risius & Ross with the Maryland Center on Economic Policy and members of the Maryland Eviction Prevention Funds Alliance. Lisa Sarro is legal counsel for Arundel Community Development Services. We ask Sarro about the need in Anne Arundel County and who is most at risk of eviction.  Links:Public Justice Center press releaseMEPFA policy analysisSB0370 - Community Schools - Rental Assistance for Community School Families Program and Fund - EstablishmentHB0428 - Community Schools - Rental Assistance for Community School Families Program and Fund - EstablishmentThe Americans Most Threatened by Eviction: Young ChildrenDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Tami Jacobs shares a Stoop Story about the father figures of her childhood. The next Stoop event is next Wednesday, March 6th, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. The theme is “Failing Up - Rising Stronger from Professional Failures.” And the following week - on Friday, March 15 - the Stoop and the Maryland School for the Blind will present, “See Beyond: Dismantling the Disability Narrative.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The day before her wedding, writer Mako Yoshikawa received news that upended her world: Her abusive, estranged father was dead. In her new memoir, "Secrets of the Sun," Yoshikawa reckons with grief and guilt.  Mako Yoshikawa will be in conversation with author Kyoko Mori at Bird in Hand Cafe & Bookstore on Friday, March 8th at 6 pm. Details here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Access is key, and athletes often encounter obstacles to competing in the sport they love. Lacrosse has grown in popularity in recent years, but some fans say the sport has a problem. A Baltimore lacrosse organization is trying to change the sport. We speak with Coach Lloyd Carter, one of the founders of Blax Lax. Blax Lax is set to host its 10th annual Devin Day Celebration with a lacrosse tournament in August, co- sponsored and hosted by Catonsville Community College. And the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s adaptive sports program, the Bennett Blazers, brings together young people with disabilities interested in a range of sports. We speak with Landon Brown, a longtime member of the team, and Coach Gerry Herman, who has managed the Bennett Blazers program since it started in 1990. The Blazers’ wheelchair basketball team advanced to the NWBA Varsity Wheelchair Basketball National Championship on Sunday. That tournament is scheduled to take place in Richmond, Virginia from April 5 to 7. Photo by Szkandera Ondrej, via Wikimedia Commons. (Original airdate: Nov. 20, 2023)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We ask Mayor Brandon Scott, who is running for re-election: why many Baltimore residents do not feel safer, even though crime is down; why it has taken so long to buy hotels to shelter the homeless; and whether he is satisfied with how city schools are run. Links: Mayor Brandon Scott, Maryland Board of Elections info, Environmental Mayoral Forum Wed. Feb. 28 5:30pm.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Juvenile justice, what to do about young people caught up in crime, is a huge issue in this year’s session of the Maryland General Assembly. After weeks of public hearings and committee discussion, the full House and Senate are close to debating changes to policy. To understand what's at issue and what may come out of the General Assembly’s debate over juvenile justice, we turn to Brenda Wintrode, who covers state politics for our news partner, The Baltimore Banner.  (Photo by Kirk McKoy, for The Baltimore Banner)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In Maryland we know Harriet Tubman best for fearlessly guiding people out of bondage. She was also a priceless scout and spy for the Union. Historian Edda Fields-Black, in her book "Combee," recounts Tubman’s vital role when the army liberated hundreds of enslaved rice-plantation workers. Fields-Black will be at the Enoch Pratt's Central Library tonight at 7 pm. Register to attend in-person or view live online. Information here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Aisha Alfadhalah about making her way … and finding community. You can find more information about Stoop Storytelling, including the Stoop podcast, at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore is full of immigrant stories. Susan Muaddi Darraj adds to the tapestry with her debut novel: Behind You is the Sea. It draws on her Palestinian roots and her family’s immigration experience, tracing the intertwined daily lives of three families. On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2023, at 3pm, Muaddj Darraj is scheduled to appear at the Johns Hopkins Barnes and Noble in Charles Village.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The rich tidal marshes and mixed oak and pine forests of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge stretch back into time. Into this lush, mysterious world of cricket song and nesting waterfowl in Dorchester County on the edge of the Eastern Shore, Araminta Ross was born in March 1822. Araminta would later be called “Moses” by the enslaved people she led to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Most of us know her as Harriet Tubman. The steadfast abolitionist grew up on a 10-acre property near the mouth of the Blackwater River. Over decades, Tubman’s childhood home was lost in the swampy marsh, but then rediscovered in 2021. A new documentary, “Ben’s Ten: Chattel Slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” visits the site, and explores, the lives of enslaved people who lived, worked and died here. It’s called “Ben’s Ten: Chattel Slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.” The documentary was produced by Maryland Public Television in partnership with the state’s Department of Public Transportation State Highway Administration. We speak to Dr. Julie Schablitsky, Chief of Cultural Resources at the Maryland Department of Transportation, who helped rediscovery the historical site. We are also joined by Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt, a descendant of Harriet Tubman. (Photo by Lorie Shaull, via Flickr. License: CC BY 2.0 DEED)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The musical legacy of Mahalia Jackson, the Queen of Gospel, is immense. Arena Players tells her story, through song! How do you bring that legacy to the stage? We talk with musical director and performer Tevin Brown, and Tierra Strickland, who portrays Mahalia. Plus, the Banneker-Douglass museum revisits the past with a look to the future … pairing archival civil rights photos with contemporary art. It's called REvisit REimagine. Curator Thomas James gives us a preview! Links: Arena Players performances of Mahalia!, Banneker Douglas Museum, REvisit/REimagine opening party.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Longtime journalist Michele Norris thought no one would talk about race, but she asked anyway: In six words, your thought? Those messages form the core of her book, "Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race And Identity." Learn more about the Race Card Project.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Historian David O. Stewart traces George Washington’s skills as a political operator, as well as the first president’s failure to speak out against slavery as he came to realize its evils. Stewart's biography is titled, "George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father." This interview originally aired on September 8, 2021.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is a Stoop Story from Geoffrey Danek about the highs and lows of goat parenting. The next Stoop event is March 6th, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. The theme is "Failing Up – Rising Stronger from Professional Failures."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore Banner reporter Liz Bowie joins us for a roundup of news about schools. Why are so many kids chronically absent, and why is it getting worse? What’s up with a pay raise for Baltimore teachers? Will the head of City Schools renew her contract?  Read her reporting:Time is nearly up. Will Baltimore City schools keep CEO Sonja Santelises?Baltimore teachers negotiate a 9% pay bump for early-career educatorsFar more Maryland students are missing too much schoolDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Divorce and child custody, employment discrimination, sexual assault, domestic violence--for five decades the Women’s Law Center of Maryland has been responding to, representing and advocating for women. Executive Director Katie Curran O'Malley and Chief Programs Officer Laure Ruth describe their agenda. Plus, former client Meisha Hall describes what she's lived through. Links: Women's Law Center of Maryland, WLC assistance and advocacy. Find the family law hotline here, and the employment Law hotline here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Pattie Archuleta about rediscovering love separated by long years and vast distances.  The next Stoop Storytelling event is March 6, 2024. The even is called “Failing Up: Rising Stronger from Professional Failures” and is scheduled to be held at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. (Photo by Aaron Curtis)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Dating can be a exhilarating, if slightly terrifying, experience. And for people living with disabilities, such as chronic illness, finding love can be a bit more complicated. Chris Mason-Hale mentors young people navigating disability and says he is often asked about dating and love. He is the Community Advocate at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities’ and the Faculty Advocate with the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities. Mason-Hale, who has used a wheelchair since his teenage years, recently wrote a blog post about online dating and disability for Think Equitable, the website of The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality.   (Kassandra Ruhm, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What we think will make us happy, like pampering ourselves, often doesn’t. We ask Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos, who hosts “The Happiness Lab” podcast, how science shows the way. Santos will be in Baltimore on February 22nd for the Baltimore Speakers Series presented by Stevenson University.  Then, one in four US children misses out on dental care. Dentist Dr. Brenda Shah tells about healthy habits and free clinics organized by the Maryland State Dental Association Charitable and Educational Foundation. Give Kids A Smile 2024 locations and dates here. Find additional resources through the Maryland Office of Oral Health: 2024 Maryland Oral Health Resource Guide (Spanish)​ 2024 Maryland Oral Health Resource Guide (English)​ Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Homeownership is often a sign of financial security and success. A home’s growing value is often how many families build wealth they can pass along to their children. But a significant gap exists between the valuation of homes owned by Black homeowners and white homeowners, even for comparable properties. Government and commercial housing industry assessments and appraisals often misevaluate the value of properties and homes owned by Black residents.  According to a December 2022 report to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development compiled by the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth, the state’s tax assessment process consistently leads to higher assessments for properties in Black neighborhoods, and that leads to higher taxes for Black homeowners than white owners. And there have been several high-profile cases of home appraisals seemingly skewed by racial bias. Our guest Aja’ Mallory wrote about these challenges in a recent editorial for our news partner, The Baltimore Banner. She is a Senior staff attorney at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. We also spoke with members of the Maryland Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity, recently created to study the persistent undervaluation of property owned by minorities and find possible solutions. Jacqulyn Priestly chairs the task force. She also works as a communication specialist at the public relations firm Oak Hill Strategies. Greg Hare is a member of the task force and Assistant Secretary of the Community Development Administration at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. (Photograph by Eli Pousson, via Wikimedia Commons.)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Shaun Adamec about a flight he’ll never forget. You can hear his story and others, and get information about live events and The Stoop podcast, here.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

To reassure passengers who might feel that flying was dangerous, the first flight attendants were nurses. But as air travel grew safer, the industry promoted ‘lovely hostesses of the air’ as part of the travel package. How did these young women fight  sexist labor practices and power the women’s movement? We talk with Kathleen Barry, an academic advisor to the new PBS documentary that tells the story: "Fly With Me." Links: "Fly With Me" trailer, "Fly With Me" airs Feb. 20, check local listings.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Nearly a decade and half after she resigned as Baltimore mayor in a plea deal, Sheila Dixon is making her third run to regain the city’s top spot. What is her plan to address crime? To improve the city’s schools? To stem the shrinking population?  Check voter registration status here, find Sheila Dixon for mayor, request a mail-in ballot here, Early voting and other election day info here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Chesapeake Bay’s watermen have long put food on the plates of restaurants and family dinners across the region. An often overlooked but crucial part of the Chesapeake Bay’s history are the stories of Black watermen. Now there’s been discussion among these watermen and their advocates about a memorial and cultural center dedicated to their history. We speak with Vincent Leggett, the founder and president of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation. The nonprofit seeks to preserve and document the maritime history of African Americans on the Chesapeake Bay. We also speak to Clayton Mitchell Sr., who lives on the Eastern Shore and contributes commentary to news site Maryland Matters. (Photo by Brian Witte, AP)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Chesapeake Bay teems with life, and is home to a rich array of creatures from across the branches of the evolutionary tree. One of the crucial contributors to the bay's ecosystem is the oyster. The Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population plummeted in the later half of the 20th century…but there are recent hopeful signs the bay’s oysters are making a comeback. Here to talk about all things oysters is Imani Black, an oyster farmer who is pursuing a Master's degree at University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science at Horn Point Laboratory. She is also the CEO and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture—an advocacy group dedicated to increasing diversity in the cultivation and study of marine life. We ask Imani about recent good news for the region's oysters, diversity within her industry and her connection the bay's waters.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In "Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law,'' Leah and Richard Rothstein argue the profound issues plaguing society are tied to our segregated neighborhoods. The father-daughter duo draw a roadmap to desegregation that allies can undertake at the local level. Richard Rothstein is a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow Emeritus at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Leah Rothstein is an expert on affordable housing policy, and a consultant for nonprofit developers, local governments and private firms.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Elizabeth Talford Scott created fiber-based art that broke all the rules -- so did her career. Her colorful quilts and tapestries evoke ancestors and community. Now nine Baltimore museums and colleges will join to honor her creative legacy. We get a preview from artist and archivist Deyane Moses. Links: Baltimore Museum of Art Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds and Candlebugs; Reginald F. Lewis Museum Black Woman Genius: Tapestries of Generations; MICA, Coppin State University Cryor Gallery, JELMA at Morgan State University; The Walters Art Museum.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Temi Oni about following your heart, even when it means not listening to your parents. Visit Stoop Storytelling for more info about live events and the Stoop podcast.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Crownsville Hospital in Anne Arundel County was Maryland's infamous segregated mental health asylum, and the only such facility available to Black people in Maryland between 1911 and desegregation in the 1960s. A new book by journalist Antonia Hylton traces the history of Crownsville Hospital, the struggles and triumphs of its patients, the lives of its staff and medical personnel and what this singular institution tells us about mental illness, racism and community in America. Along the way, Hylton grapples with her own family’s experiences with mental illness, and the shame that blossomed in secrecy and darkness for generations. The book is called “Madness: Race And Insanity In A Jim Crow Asylum.” Hylton is a Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. (Photo by Mark Clennon)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Did you graduate high school feeling prepared to make financial decisions? Founded 70 years ago, the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE) works to promote high-quality economic and financial instruction in classrooms across the state. We speak with MCEE's executive director Julie Weaver and Amy Cargiulo, a teacher in Howard County. Then, take charge of your budget in 2024. We speak with Jasmine Brewer, executive director of MakingChange, a nonprofit that provides free individual counseling and group workshops on personal finance and home buying. Check out their Facebook page. Find free tax preparation services in Maryland through the CASH Campaign of Maryland.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

(Original airdate: Dec. 5, 2023.) Climate change, driven by human activity, has upset the balance of ecosystems and natural processes the world over. In the Chesapeake Bay, changes to the natural environment that usually occur over hundreds or thousands of years are taking place in the span of a lifetime. Sea-level rise is causing salty ocean water to crawl farther and farther into the bay and onto nearby coastlands. Jeremy Cox is a Chesapeake Bay Journal staff writer who has written about saltwater intrusion. Some of the oldest farmland in the country is on the Delmarva peninsula, and threatened by eroding coast lands and saltwater. Bob Fitzgerald lives on the Eastern Shore in Somerset County. His family has farmed in the same area for many generations. And Sarah Hirsh, Ph.D., has been an extension educator for University of Maryland in Somerset County since 2018. Her research and Extension program focuses on soils, conservation and cover crops. (Photo by Julio Cortez, AP)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Seven hundred thousand Marylanders don't get enough food. The Maryland food bank has been fighting hunger for decades. Now they hope to get at the root of food insecurity with a new grant program -- we hear about it from COO Meg Kimmel. Plus, Eric Jackson, head of the Black Yield Institute and Billy Humphrey, who leads City of Refuge-Baltimore, talk about how their nonprofits plan to combat hunger in innovative ways. Links: Maryland Food Bank, Black Yield Institute, City of Refuge-Baltimore.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from John Couzee about a harrowing winter trip to Colorado. The next free Stoop event is Saturday afternoon at Morgan State University. The theme is “Baltimoored: Stories about transportation barriers to getting around town.” Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Conversations about police reform in Baltimore often include the phrase “community policing,” a model aimed at building relationships with residents, or call for a focus on “repeat violent offenders” instead of low-level offenses. How did we get here? What approaches came before?  We speak with journalist Brandon Soderberg, who co-authored, “I Got A Monster,” about Baltimore’s disgraced Gun Trace Task Force.  Read:Here We Go Again Baltimore’s record police spending isn’t reducing crimeDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Many minimum wage workers in Maryland are seeing bigger paychecks this month. Legislation boosting the state’s minimum wage went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. But the situation is different for tipped workers, like restaurant staff or bartenders. Tipped workers receive a base pay as little as $3.63 an hour, though employers are required to make up the difference if a tipped worker's base wage plus tips equal less than $15 an hour. However, some tipped workers and labor advocates are pushing to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, and legislation has been filed in both houses of the General Assembly to do that. We speak with the chief sponsor of the House bill, Democratic Del. Adrian Boafo, and Mahkaylah Monroe, a waiter at an Outback Steakhouse in Laurel, Maryland. We also talk to opponents of the bill, who argue a raised minimum wage is unnecessary and might endanger the tips waiters and bartenders rely on. Marshall Weston is President and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, an advocate for the hospitality and food service industry. We also speak to Alex McCrimmon, a server at the Clyde’s American Restaurant and Bar in Rockville, Maryland.   (Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We talk with NPR Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe about why she collected essays from another dozen-and a half alumni for her new book: "HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience."  Links: Wait list for Ayesha Rascoe at Enoch Pratt Library 1/31/24, Pratt event virtual stream, pre-order "HBCU Made."   Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Why is Coppin State University funneling a million dollars toward training special educators? We ask Prof. Nicole Anthony and Prof. Anita Weisburger to explain. For information about Project POSE at Coppin State University contact Nicole Anthony, Ph.D. at 410.951.6448 or [email protected] or Anita Weisburger, Ph.D. at [email protected]  410-951-6447.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What is behind the recent purchase of the Baltimore Sun by local conservative media executive David D. Smith? We ask NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik. Plus: Dean Jacqueline Jones of Morgan State’s journalism department and the Baltimore Beat’s editor Lisa Snowden on the sale and how it could impact local journalism and local journalists. Read more:New Baltimore Sun owner on tape bashing city schools, local politicians and moreThe Baltimore Sun has been sold to a conservative broadcast chiefAfter Baltimore Sun sale to David Smith, part-owner Armstrong Williams offers visionEditor's note: Audio has been edited to remove a technical issue at the top of the program.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The animal welfare world - from shelters to vet clinics - is overwhelmingly white. The group CARE - Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity - is pushing for change, by investing in leaders from diverse communities. What does it take to dismantle racism in animal care and control?  Our guests:James Evans, founder and chief executive officer of CAREDr. Azalia Boyd, CARE’s chief veterinary medical officer and chair of CARE’s Veterinary Advisory CommitteeTre Law, senior director of CARE Centers and Community Animal CARE Liaison - Southeast TierLearn more about the Dr. Jodie G Blackwell Black Veterinary Scholarship fund. Check out the Vet REDI training.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Ryan Patterson shares a Stoop Story about finding his footing as a father. The next Stoop event is a week from tomorrow: Saturday, January 27th at Morgan State University. The theme is “Baltimoored: Stories about transportation barriers to getting around town.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Multimedia artist Oletha DeVane makes art from an enormous variety of material: glass, fabric, beads, string, steel and much more. One of six winners of the 2023 Baker Artist Awards, DeVane describes her process and where she draws inspiration. Check out DeVane's Baker Artist portfolio. Watch profiles of the 2023 Baker Artist Award winners. Tonight at 7:30 pm, Maryland Public Television will air profiles of all six 2023 Baker Artist Award winners. You can catch this special on MPT-HD or online at mpt.org/livestream. An encore broadcast of the special will air on Saturday at 8 p.m. on MP2/Create and online.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance released its transit report card for the region. Spoiler alert -- it’s a D+. We ask executive director Brian O’Malley how they measure success and how might things improve. Plus, we hear from Baltimore transit riders about their experiences. Links: Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, CMTA Report Card, Get Maryland MovingDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore’s massive water and sewage system is its most valuable asset, and delivers water and wastewater services to more than 1.5 million people in the city, Baltimore county and neighboring counties. The system is owned and operated by the city, but the future governance is unclear. The Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force has spent months considering potential changes, with disagreement between the county and city on how it should be run. Professor Louise Seamster joins us to discuss how metropolitan areas similar to Baltimore have handled the question of governance over their water and sewage systems, and where those choices have led them. Seamster is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and African American Studies in the University of Iowa, where she studies how cities and counties own and operate water-wastewater infrastructure.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

If you imagine Baltimore city as a human body, its pipes and water mains could be compared to arteries, its trash and recycling services to white blood cells and its sewage lines as the lower intestines. All of this infrastructure, critical for daily life in Baltimore, are overseen by one department: The Department of Public Works. Interim director Richard Luna, named to the position last June, is tasked with the response to several pressing challenges, including aging infrastructure, a 2002 consent decree regarding sewage and wastewater overflows and potential changes to the oversight of the city's water and wastewater systems. (Photo by Elvert Barnes, via Flickr. License: CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

From rowhomes in Baltimore to tobacco barns in Southern Maryland, the survival of historic buildings depends on training the next generation of masons, carpenters, and roofers. We speak with preservationists and business owners, and hear about a national initiative to promote jobs in the historic trades. Original airdate: 12/7/23 Guests: - Nicholas Redding, president and CEO of Preservation Maryland and The Campaign for Historic Trades - Natalie Henshaw, director of The Campaign for Historic Trades and the owner of Henshaw Preservation, a window restoration and historic masonry company - Darius Johnson, who is pursuing a graduate degree in preservation at Goucher College in Baltimore County - Mae Bowley, executive director of Re:Purpose Savannah, a nonprofit focused on the salvage and reuse of historic buildings Learn more: - Labor study on the status of historic trades in the United StatesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Every third Monday in January, we mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And every year, the generation of the Civil Rights Movement, its leaders and the everyday people who powered it, inch further and further into history. The archives maintained by The AFRO American News are seeking to build a link to that history, by preserving the record of its past editions spanning all the way back to the paper's founding in 1892. Alexis Taylor, managing editor of The AFRO American News, is here with me to talk about the legacy news organizations and the history contained in its pages. (Photo from The AFRO Archives)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The year Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, 1968, was a big year for a cause Rev. King championed: the labor movement. King was in Memphis, Tennessee, to campaign with unionizing sanitation workers. In April, he would be shot and killed. His death reverberated across the county. But the success of the sanitation workers in Memphis would have direct consequences for Baltimore and Maryland, where thousands of public sector workers were seeking to unionize. Jane Berger, PhD, is an Associate Professor of History at Moravian University. She is also author of “A New Working Class: The Legacies of Public-Sector Employment in the Civil Rights Movement.” (Photo from the AFRO American Newspapers Archives.)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Christy Villalobos shares a Stoop Story about love, loss, and letting go. Listen to the Stoop podcast. The next Stoop event is two weeks from tomorrow - January 27th - at Morgan State University, in partnership with the Baltimore City House Delegation. The theme is “Baltimoored: Stories about transportation barriers to getting around town.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In "I Will Eat You Alive," audiences are invited to a dinner party. With each "course," a trio of actors confront diet culture, fatphobia, and society’s expectations. We speak with Baltimore playwright Katie Hileman about reclaiming the word "fat."   “I Will Eat You Alive" runs from January 25th through February 10th at The Voxel theater in Baltimore. Related events (to be held in the lobby of The Voxel):-Plus-size clothing swap with The Skylight Boutique, February 3rd, 11:00am – 4:00pm-Round table discussion with the cast and director Katie Hileman moderated by Kayla Stansberry, February 4th, 4:30 – 5:30pm-Two Strikes Theatre Collective storytelling hour, February 10th, 2:00 – 4:00pmDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Black teachers in Maryland leave the profession at higher rates than their white teacher counterparts. Why? We talk with Baltimore Banner education reporter Kristen Griffith about what she learned. Plus, Wallace Lane, Michelle Early and Danielle Ferrentino talk about their very different experiences in the Maryland education system. Baltimore Banner article, "Black teachers are leaving. How can Maryland schools get them to stay?"Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A recent study by the Maryland Center on Economic Policy argues more of Maryland’s welfare funds should go to cash assistance.  We speak with author and MDCEP State Policy Fellow Jasmin Aramburu.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For more than a year and a half, Baltimore City has been running an experiment - $1000 a month to low-income young parents. How are families using the money? How have participants created a sense of community? Tonaeya Moore is the director of policy for the CASH Campaign of Maryland. Tazhane Jordan is a participant in Baltimore City’s guaranteed income pilot program. Learn more about the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF):Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard - BaltimoreBaltimore tests a guaranteed income for 200 young parentsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Lawmakers are gearing up for the new legislative session in Annapolis. On their minds: how to handle a budget shortfall of three-quarters of a billion dollars, and what spending cuts could mean for transportation and climate plans. We speak with Pamela Wood, who covers government and politics for The Baltimore Banner, and Josh Kurtz, founding editor of Maryland Matters. Read more:Maryland’s budget math: $761 million shortfall predictedJuvenile justice among criminal justice reform topics up for discussion in upcoming legislative sessionMaryland offers road map for fighting climate changeMoore: 2024 will be ‘the year for military families’New plan for horse racing focuses on revitalizing Pimlico Race CourseDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

During the pandemic, according to Gallup polling, more Americans reported having depression or receiving treatment for depression. In fact, in 2020 that number was higher than any other point since Gallup started collecting such data in 2015. Many Americans are struggling with depression and other mental illness. We talk to two efforts in Maryland to seeking to meet the rising need for mental health support. Kerry Graves is the executive director of NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore. The organization partners with students to start a conversation about mental health among young people and their friends and family. Julia Wang a student ambassador for NAMI at Johns Hopkins University. Jennifer Redding is a licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services for the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health and the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center in Bel Air, Maryland. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by phone or text at 988. More information here. (Photo by Niles Werner, Flickr. License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore is full of immigrant stories. Susan Muaddi Darraj adds to the tapestry with her debut novel: Behind You is the Sea. It draws on her Palestinian roots and her family’s immigration experience, tracing the intertwined daily lives of three families.  She will be in conversation with CityLit Project executive director Carla DuPree at Bird in Hand books on Tues. Jan. 16. More details here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Sujata Massey about embracing a connected sense of the world. You can hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Ahead of the third anniversary of the Capitol Riot, we look at the threat Christian nationalism poses to American democracy. Robert P. Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute shares survey data on who holds Christian nationalist beliefs. Read the full report. View the results.  Then, the new documentary, “Spiritual Warriors: Decoding Christian Nationalism at the Capitol Riot,” explores the modern roots of Christian nationalism. We speak with Matthew Taylor, senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies. The documentary will be screened January 31st at the Senator Theatre. Taylor's forthcoming book is, “The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian movement that is threatening our democracy.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We talk with Nu Momish founder Gilly Shaw. Her business advocates for, supports and provides resources for new mothers -- whether that means a kind listening ear, or help tackling that mountain of laundry! She recently received a Black Futures Micro Grant from Cllctivly to help grow her business.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We talk with Dawnita Brown, the founder of Binti Circle. The non profit creates community and provides support for Black daughters who are caregivers for their parents or other loved ones. She recently received a Black Futures Micro Grant from Cllctivly to help grow her business.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Drummers, singers, guitar and accordion players - the folk music of Bulgaria is designed to spur dancers and entertain crowds with its striking blend of eastern and western sounds. How are Bulgarians in Maryland keeping this tradition alive and training the next generation of performers? We speak with father-daughter duo Kalin Kirilov and Yana Kirilov, who are pursuing a folklife apprenticeship through the Maryland State Arts Council. Listen to more music from the Balkan Soul Band. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Baltimore School for the Arts and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra are partnering to offer hands-on learning experiences for students. What will this partnership look like? We speak with Jonathon Heyward, music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Roz Cauthen, executive director of the Baltimore School for the Arts, a public performing-arts high school.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Growing up, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore adored her grandmother Gladys Goldstein; not for her acclaim as an abstract artist, but because she nurtured young Sycamore’s creativity. But that changed when Sycamore came out as gender queer. In her latest work, "Touching the Art," Sycamore writes a mixture of biography, criticism, and social history in her sprawling memoir.  This episode originally aired on November 9, 2023. (Photo: Provided by MBS)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a double scoop of Stoop Stories for the holidays! Christmas fanatic Sarah Achenbach describes her ‘not so delicate’ negotiations with in-laws during the holidays … And Kelly Rudis talks about the awe of birth, and the power of transformation. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new report shines lights on air pollution inside Maryland's residential and commercial buildings. The report is titled, Cutting Through The Smog: How Air Quality Standards Help Solve The Hidden Health Toll Of Air Pollution From Maryland’s Homes And Businesses. We speak with Ruth Ann Norton of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative and Hopkins pulmonologist Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos. The pair wrote an op-ed for The Baltimore Banner about ways to address poor indoor air quality. Visit GHHI's website for more information on home environmental health, safety and energy efficiency. This program originally aired on October 30, 2023. Photo by Marek Slusarczyk, via Wikimedia. License: CC BY 3.0.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

At its peak in the late 1800s, the Chesapeake Bay produced more oysters than almost anywhere else in the world. During the twentieth century, however, oyster populations in the bay plummeted to a tiny fraction of their former levels. And 5 years ago—in 2018— a Maryland Department of Natural Resources assessment of the state’s waters found the oyster population had shrunk in half in less than twenty years. But there is recent good news for the bay's oysters. In October, Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland and its partners would plant more than 1.7. *billion* new juvenile oysters--a new one-year record for oyster planting in the Chesapeake Bay. The new oysters are primarily grown at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge. Matthew Gray is an assistant professor at that laboratory, which hosts one of the largest oyster hatcheries on the east coast. Gray talks to us about these powerful mollusks, their habitat and the role they play in the bay. (Photo by Dave Harp, The Chesapeake Bay Journal)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

As you walk to work or drive to the grocery store, you crisscross a network of hidden streams and rivers beneath Baltimore’s concrete surface. A public art installation and walking tour created by a local artist and designer seeks to pull back the pavement on Baltimore’s underground waterways. Ghost Rivers is a series of installations, wayfinding markers, and writings that took several years of research and preparation. Bruce Willen is the artist behind the project, and also the founder of design studio Public Mechanics. When we spoke to him in October, we asked about how he first learned of this underground history, and his other work illustrating the hidden history surrounding us. Guided walking tours led by Willen and environmental advocacy group Blue Water Baltimore are tentatively planned for the Spring. Dates will be announced on the Ghost Rivers website. And listen to an archived episode of Maryland Curiosity Bureau, where host Aaron Henkin learned more about Baltimore's hidden streams and rivers.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Sharing and messaging through social media apps is the modern version of passing a note in class. It’s how kids communicate. We speak with parenting and technology expert Devorah Heitner about setting healthy boundaries for Internet use while giving children space to explore. Her latest book is, "Growing Up In Public: Coming Of Age In A Digital World.”This program originally aired on October 23, 2023. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Marie Louise Kelly, cohost of NPR's All Things Considered, has a resume as long as any journalist today. In her latest book, It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs, she tries to find time for her oldest son as he prepares for college. We also speak with Leslie Gray Streeter, author of a new series of columns for the Baltimore Banner about being a single mother. She discusses facing stigma and uncertainty while raising her young son. This episode originally aired on November 13, 2023. (Photo from Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Stained glass is not just for churches. In Baltimore, if you look for it, you’ll find it all over -- elaborate skylights, charming transoms, colorful portholes. We ask Linda Rabben, an anthropologist and author, what the artful glass tells us about class, race, and social networks in Charm City.  Links: Through a Glass Darkly book, Peale Museum Exhibit for Through a Glass Darkly, Baltimore Architecture Foundation talk at Zion Church of the City of Baltimore Jan 6, at 2pm, Histories about "Two Story King of East Baltimore" Frank Novak, here and here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Falkenhan’s Hardware owner Deb Falkenhan, about the quirky Christmas traditions in her family, and in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore City will end the year with the fewest homicides in nearly a decade. According to the city’s Public Safety Accountability Dashboard, 260 people have lost their lives in Baltimore this year. The city has not been under 300 murders since 2014, when there were 211 homicides. Last year more than 330 people were murdered.  Is the tide turning? If so, why? We speak with Mayor Brandon Scott about the city's violence reduction strategy. Then, each quarter, the Baltimore Peace Movement holds Peace Promise weekends to affirm life and promote community building. We speak with co-organizer Letrice Gant. Learn more about the Baltimore Community Mediation Center. The next Peace Promise Weekend is February 2nd. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Families who practice more than one religion can be faced with a lot to navigate, especially during holiday season. Inclusion, creating community, representation -- are all important considerations that can receive a hyper focus at this time. The Interfaith Families Project in Montgomery County has deep experience navigating through differences. Their community, which meets virtually and in-person in Rockville, has been embracing and celebrating religious diversity for more than a quarter century.  We talk with the two women who guide the way for the I-F-F-P community Rev. Samantha Gonzalez-Block, the Christian spiritual leader. and Rabbi Debbie Reichmann (the Jewish spiritual leader there.  Links: Interfaith Families Project, Sunday Gatherings, Sunday School. Christmas Eve Gathering, 2023.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force may be the most consequential governmental work group you have never heard of. The group was created through by Maryland General Assembly legislation earlier this year to recommend alternative governance models for Baltimore city’s gigantic water and sewage system. Last Friday, consultants hired to work with the task force released a draft report of recommendations outlining possible paths forward. Public comments on the draft report of recommendations are welcome until Friday, January 5, 2024. More information can be found at the county and city websites devoted to the task force. The report will be reviewed at the task force’s meeting on Jan. 8th before final recommendations are to be made at the end of January to Gov. Wes Moore, the State General Assembly, Mayor Brandon Scott, County Executive Johnny Olszewski and other officials. Bill Henry, Baltimore city’s Comptroller, chairs the task force. He joined to discuss the draft and what comes next.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Looking for a last-minute gift? How about a book? Baltimore County librarian Conni Strittmatter shares her suggestions for children and teens, including a sci-fi space drama. Then, Meghan McCorkell of the Enoch Pratt Free Library offers popular picks for adult readers, such as a thriller set in a gothic mansion and a cocktail recipe book!   Books for kids:"Something, Someday," by Amanda Gorman"Dino-Hanukkah," by Lisa Wheeler"How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?" by Mac Barnett"The Story of Gumluck the Wizard," by Adam Rex"Dogtown," by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko"Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus!" by Atinuke"The Lost Library," by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass"Max Fernsby and the Infinite Toys," by Gerry Swallow"Winter Crafts Across Cultures: 12 Projects to Celebrate the Season," by Megan Borgert-Spaniol"Love in Winter Wonderland," by Abiola Bello"Star Splitter," by Matthew Kirby Books for adults:“Let Us Descend,” by Jesmyn Ward"Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus"Iron Flame," by Rebecca Yarros“Day,” by Michael Cunningham“There Should Have Been Eight," Nalini Singh"Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: A Cocktail Recipe Book," by Toni Tipton Martin“13-23," by J.M. Giordano“My Name is Barbra," by Barbra Streisand“Spare,” by Prince Harry,  Duke of Sussex“The Way Forward," by Yung Pueblo"Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education," by Stephanie LandDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Weavers, jewelers, paper-makers, leather workers, candlemakers, cooks, bakers and more--an array of Maryland makers now fill the shelves of the new store by ‘Shop Made in Maryland.’ We talk to Co-Founder and Chief Localist Stacey Price and Tiera Chin, the owner of Yorktown Spice. Links: Shop Made in Maryland, Made in Baltimore, Yorktown Spice.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Judith Pojda about following your instincts … and being brave enough to see where that takes you.  Hear her story and others, and find the Stoop Podcast at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Where is your favorite place to eat out in Baltimore? The city hosts a food scene as multifaceted and charming as the city itself. Matti Gellman writes about food and the restaurant industry for our news partner, The Baltimore Banner. But she reports on more than what's on your plate. Gellman's interests include the area's growing food deserts and barriers to food security. Her perspective is a bit different than many other food writers—in 2021 she learned she had Celiac Disease. The autoimmune disease imposes strict eating habits and affects 2 to 3 million Americans.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, the winter holiday season often augurs a refreshing drink in hand. But alcohol is not an indispensable ingredient for a good time. Many Americans, around 1 in 3 according to Gallup polling, totally abstain from alcohol. So what are your options if you are looking for something to drink that is more sophisticated than a soda but less potent than the holiday eggnog. We ask Darryl Collins, owner of Hopscotch Zero-Proof Bottle Shop in Fells Point. Collins was profiled by Phillip Muriel in the Baltimore Beat in November. His store sells non-alcoholic beverages of all shapes and sizes. Later in the show, Joey Breeden and Rani Singh join us in-studio to mix mocktails. The pair are general managers with the Alfred Restaurant Group, which oversees Osteria Pirata, Anchor Tavern and Duck Duck Goose in Fells Point.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Law-enforcement agencies, including those in Maryland, are making more use of facial recognition technology. This software attempts to identify human faces by matching images or video from surveillance cameras to massive databases of pictures. Proponents say it’s an important tool to keep the public safe. Privacy advocates say it’s a dangerous tool, far too likely to misidentify people. Some point to the experience of a Baltimore County man launched into a harrowing ordeal when police used facial recognition technology. We talk with Eyal Press, who went deep into what happened in the pages of the The New Yorker. Later in the show, we talk to a critic of facial recognition technology, Samantha Masters. She is with Organizing Black, a community organizing group in Baltimore city. Photo by Jonathan McIntosh, via Flickr.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Can Maryland cut greenhouse gasses more than half by 2031?  Jamie DeMarco, Maryland director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, tells us why they, and 40 other businesses and organizations want Gov. Moore to "Get it Done by '31." Links: CCAN letter to Gov. Wes Moore, Chesapeake Climate Action Network.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

At the COP 28 UN Climate Change conference in Dubai--the final hours of talks. Gina Castillo, Climate Policy and Research Advisor for Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services was in attendance, along with her colleague Nikki Gamer, Senior Public Affairs Manager for CRS. They give us an update. Links: UN COP28.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Last year’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen Supreme Court decision forces some states to remove concealed carry permitting requirements. A recent study used modeling to analyze the consequences. We speak with Daniel Webster, Bloomberg Professor of American Health and Distinguished Research Scholar at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Bloomberg School.Links:Study Finds That Dropping Training Requirement to Obtain Concealed Carry Permit Leads to Significant Increase in Gun AssaultsEvidence concerning the regulation of firearms design, sale, and carrying on fatal mass shootings in the United StatesOfficer‑Involved Shootings and Concealed Carry Weapons Permitting Laws: Analysis of Gun Violence Archive Data, 2014–2020Impact of Changes to Concealed-Carry Weapons Laws on Fatal and Nonfatal Violent Crime, 1980-2019Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Maryland’s gun control law--requiring a handgun license--was found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court late last month. The case was heard by a three-judge panel. Now Maryland’s Attorney General Anthony Brown is seeking a rehearing before the entire 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. We speak to Dylan Segelbaum, courts reporter at our news partner The Baltimore Banner. Links:Maryland AG asks full appeals court to rehear handgun license caseMaryland’s handgun qualification license law was struck down. Here’s what you need to know.Appeals court strikes down Maryland’s gun license law; Gov. Moore vows to fight for measureFederal appeals court finds Maryland handgun qualification law unconstitutionalDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A three-act opera about learning to sing and a lot else: meditating, hanging out, goofing off, healing from trauma and the pandemic. We ask the experimental theater company The Acme Corporation's artistic director Lola B. Pierson about their first show in three years. And composer Allison Clendaniel talks about scoring the show - with music, song and found sounds. Links: Acme Corporation tickets.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Shira about the importance of representation, remaining open to conversation, and creating community. Find information about the next live Stoop Storytelling here, coming up Tuesday Dec. 12 at the Senator Theater.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

From rowhomes in Baltimore to tobacco barns in Southern Maryland, the survival of historic buildings depends on training the next generation of masons, carpenters, and roofers.  We speak with preservationists and business owners, and hear about a national initiative to promote jobs in the historic trades.Guests:- Nicholas Redding, president and CEO of Preservation Maryland and The Campaign for Historic Trades- Natalie Henshaw, director of The Campaign for Historic Trades and the owner of Henshaw Preservation, a window restoration and historic masonry company- Darius Johnson, pursuing a graduate degree in preservation at Goucher College in Baltimore County- Mae Bowley, executive director of Re:Purpose Savannah, a nonprofit focused on the salvage and reuse of historic buildingsLearn more:- Labor study on the status of historic trades in the United StatesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We go On the Record with Kevin Lindamood, CEO of Health Care for the Homeless and Jeff Griffin, executive director of the Franciscan Center. Covid relief funds have ended, but the need for nutritious food, healthcare and housing has not. How are the two nonprofits managing to provide what people need? Links: Franciscan Center, Franciscan Center Capital Campaign; Health Care for the Homeless -- You can: Support HCH Clinical Teams, Send a personal message (anonymous) of support to staff, Join the HCH team, including December sign-on incentivesDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Climate change, driven by human activity, has upset the balance of ecosystems and natural processes the world over. In the Chesapeake Bay, changes to the natural environment that usually occur over hundreds or thousands of years are taking place in the span of a lifetime. Sea-level rise is causing salty ocean water to crawl farther and farther into the bay and onto nearby coastlands. Jeremy Cox is a Chesapeake Bay Journal staff writer who has written about saltwater intrusion. Some of the oldest farmland in the country is on the Delmarva peninsula, and threatened by eroding coast lands and saltwater. Bob Fitzgerald lives on the Eastern Shore in Somerset County. His family has farmed in the same area for many generations. And Sarah Hirsh, Ph.D., has been an extension educator for University of Maryland in Somerset County since 2018. Her research and Extension program focuses on soils, conservation and cover crops.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In a new novel, all the threads of Ana’s life— marital infidelity, a gender-fluid child, tensions with her mother—braid together as she celebrates her sixtieth birthday. Lisa Gornick’s fifth novel is "Ana Turns." She and Alice McDermott, whose latest novel is "Absolution," will discuss their books in a virtual event on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. Details here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

That gritty crime drama you’ve been drafting in you head for years…or the sci-fi adventure you plot before bed…What will become of them? What does it take to turn an idea into a book?  We speak with Amy Kaplan, president of the Maryland Writers’ Association. She is the author of several books and short stories, including her most recent, a coming-of-age fantasy titled, “The Mark of the Goddess.” Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Have you enjoyed splashy fall colors this season? People who are colorblind miss out on some of that autumn bliss. EnChroma glasses allow those with ‘color vision deficiency’ see a fuller spectrum. We ask Don McPherson, inventor of  the glasses, how they work -- and learn about a new test for color blindness. You can find the test here. EnChroma Glasses are available on loan at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County. More information here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Mike Ricigliano with the moral: if you can’t fix it, feature it! The next live Stoop show is Tues. Dec. 12, 2023 at the Senator theater. Details are here: ChrismaHanuKwanzakaaFestivus: Stories about the Universal Truths of Holiday CelebrationsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Though the agonizing conflict in Gaza is in the headlines, the war in Ukraine slogs on. Dr. Boris Lushniak, dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health--son of Ukrainian immigrants--tells of the mood in the country’s capital. Plus: what’s the outlook for more U.S. assistance? We speak with U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th).Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The state's massive education reform package - the Blueprint for Maryland's Future - lays out a plan to expand free pre-kindergarten to low-income families. How will school systems and private childcare providers work together?  We speak with Jennifer Lynch, a member of the Blueprint’s Accountability & Implementation Board, and Chris Peusch, executive director of the Maryland State Child Care Association. Links:The State of Preschool 2022 - The National Institute for Early Education ResearchBreaking down the Blueprint: Major changes ahead as Maryland plans dramatic expansion of early childhood educationBlueprint Pillar 1: Early Childhood EducationBlueprint for Maryland’s Future: Prekindergarten Implementation PlanningPrekindergarten Expansion and ImprovementsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In Maryland, some officials and civil rights advocates are concerned there is not enough oversight of how the city uses increasingly sophisticated surveillance tools such as facial recognition technology. We talk about policy at the state and local level with Baltimore City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett and State Sen. Charles Sydnor.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Eyes and body language can give big clues about how someone really feels. What about their laugh? That holds hidden truths, too. We talk to University of Baltimore researcher Prof. Sally Farley about her findings -- and why a simple laugh can reveal if someone is newly in love …  Links: Article about Farley's recent research, link to Farley's ResearchGate.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Twenty-six indigenous writers from the U.S. and Canada -- including one from Maryland--poured stories into a new anthology of dark fiction. Some tales call on the supernatural, some on horrors lived in the real world. It’s called "Never Whistle at Night."   Our guests: Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. co-edited the collection “Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology"Dani Trujillo is an author and one of the project’s contributorsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is a Stoop Story from Kim Worthington about remaking your life after tragedy. Want more Stoop? Check out the Stoop podcast.  The next Stoop event is in less than three weeks -- December 12th at the Senator Theater in Baltimore. Storytellers will share tales about the universal truths of holiday celebrations.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is a Stoop Story from Jessica about an under-dressed guest at Thanksgiving. The next Stoop Storytelling event is coming up December 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Senator Theatre. Join them for, Chrisma-Hanu-Kwanza-kaa-Festivus: Stories about the Universal Truths of Holiday Celebrations.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Kate Myers of Annapolis has written a funny, irreverent novel with lots of romantic twists that also unspools a mystery about what’s being excavated at a archeological dig on a sunny Greek island. We spoke to Myers in last August about her book and the questions it asks about who gets to shape history.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Over the past decade, crimes committed by young people in Maryland fell by fifty percent, according to a recent report by the state Department of Juvenile Services. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, there’s been a rise in juvenile arrests, and certain categories of crime - like carjackings and handgun violations —have risen steeply. We ask Maryland Secretary of Juvenile Services Vincent Schiraldi what's behind the uptick and what DJS is doing to support at-risk youth.Links:Research Brief- Putting Youth Crime In Maryland in Context Crimes by Maryland youth down over last decade, report findsLawmakers assess whether juvenile services are effective, but law enforcement could help, tooGun violence among juveniles is rising. How do you keep them out of the system?Maryland DJS secretary: ‘Many of the assumptions that society seems to hold about youth violence are wrong.’ Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A rich web of nonprofits serves young people in Baltimore, working in schools and neighborhoods to keep kids engaged in positive activities. We speak with Bri Hatch, who covers education for WYPR, about a new collaborative journalism project to examine the challenges and successes experienced by young people in our region.Links:Baltimore nonprofit aims to curb youth crime with citywide after-school programsBudding Baltimore nonprofit helps youth realize their untapped potentialDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Nestled in northeast Baltimore County lies TALMAR: a haven of farmland, woods and soothing sounds. It’s a place people with disabilities can go for socializing, rejuvenating and hands-on horticulture therapy. We meet executive director Kate Joyce, and then stop by for visit with some folks who have been regulars for years!  Links: TALMAR, Sensory-friendly Santa, TALMAR Christmas Tree fundraiser.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Access is key, and athletes often encounter obstacles to competing in the sport they love. Lacrosse has grown in popularity in recent years, but some fans say the sport has a problem. A Baltimore lacrosse organization is trying to change the sport. We speak with Coach Lloyd Carter, one of the founders of Blax Lax. And the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s adaptive sports program, the Bennett Blazers, brings together young people with disabilities interested in a range of sports. We speak with Landon Brown, a longtime member of the team, and Coach Gerry Herman, who has managed the Bennett Blazers program since it started in 1990.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Drums like a heartbeat, voices rising in unison, dancers adorned with beads, feathers and bone. The Baltimore American Indian Center’s 47th annual Pow Wow is this weekend. We get a preview from Christine Duckworth-Oxendine (Lumbee) and Louis Campbell (Blackfoot and Lumbee) both Northern Traditional dancers and educators at BAIC. Links: Baltimore American Indian Center 47th Annual Pow Wow Sat. Nov. 18, Baltimore American Indian Center, Holiday Sponsorship for Native Youth, Native American Lifelines Community Feast Potluck, Nov. 25.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Dave Reichley about the time he helped some neighbors out -- no matter how big the job! You can hear his story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Seems like everyone has ideas about how to improve Charm City … from the cosmetic to new construction. We ask Shelonda Stokes, head of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and Faith Leach, Baltimore City Chief Administration Officer, to walk us through the new Downtown RISE plans. Plus, what’s the worst neighborhood for car thefts in Baltimore? Links: Downtown RISE, Baltimore Banner auto theft map, Baltimore Banner reporting on auto theft.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

R. Eric Thomas writes wry, perceptive essays about things that seem more amusing in his life than they do in yours. He grew up in West Baltimore -- but moving back after more than a decade away triggered stress and latent depression -- as well as some very funny episodes. We spoke to the author in September about his new book, "Congratulations, the Best is Over!"Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new collaboration weaves together the artistry of a local modern dance company and the pithy lyricism of Maryland’s former poet laureate. This weekend will see the premiere of “And Still, We Dream,” by Full Circle Dance Company. The show’s centerpiece is inspired by the work of the late Maryland Poet Laureate and Baltimore resident Lucille Clifton. We speak with Donna Jacobs, the founder and artistic director of Full Circle Dance Company, and Sidney Clifton, the daughter of Lucille Clifton and founder of The Clifton House, a space for emerging writers, artists, and activists. Full Circle Dance Company will present “And Still, We Dream,” this Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30 pm at the Baltimore Theatre Project. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Tracing the picture over decades, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that of Baltimore households with children, more than half are single-parent families. Growing up in a single-parent household struggling paycheck to paycheck can be tough for a young child. Leslie Gray Streeter is the author of a new series of columns for the Baltimore Banner about being a single mother. She joins us to talk about facing stigma and uncertainty while raising her young son. Then we're joined by Danielle Staton, Executive Director of the Jeremiah Program in Baltimore. The Jeremiah Program seeks to address the struggles of single-parent households with programming looking to help both mothers and their children succeed.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Gwen Mayes about lessons she’s learned living with a chronic illness. Find out more about upcoming Stoop Storytelling events on their website.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Burlesque performances are lively experiences often featuring jazzy, sultry music, flashy costumes and bawdy striptease. And now, you too can climb on stage and learn how to perform burlesque. Local burlesque performer Jacqueline Boxx, an instructor with Essential Tease, joins the show to talk about the art of burlesque and the classes she helped design to introduce newcomers to the performance style. Find more information about registration for Spring 2024 classes, including scholarships and the upcoming ticket releases, on their website.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Growing up Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore adored her grandmother Gladys Goldstein -- not for her acclaim as an abstract artist, but because she nurtured young Mattilda’s creativity. That all changed when Mattilda came out as gender queer. She explains in her memoir: "Touching the Art." Links: Ivy Bookshop talk 11.13.23.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We ask two Johns Hopkins doctors about their topics in the upcoming seminars called “A Woman’s Journey.” Thousands of Americans are turning to a new era of weight-loss drugs. What are the risks and benefits? We ask Dr. Selvi Rajagopal, who is part of the clinical faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s division of internal medicine.  Plus, people who are socially isolated are at greater risk for dementia; what could help? Dr. Thomas Cudjoe is an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins whose work focuses on geriatrics and gerontology. He shares his insights. "A Woman's Journey" will be held on Saturday, November 18th at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Details here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

About one in three women in the military -- and one in 50 men -- experience sexual assault or harassment. We hear from Dr. Christine Calmes, a Veterans Administration doctor, about specialized treatment. Then Erica Carpenter and Dr. Paula Smith-Benson, two women vets who overcame the trauma, talk about their experience and how they use their strength to help survivors thrive. Links: MD Veterans Healthcare, Dr. Calmes, head of Military Sexual Trauma program can be reached at 410-637-1231, Veterans Crisis line / call 988 press option 1Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Why is Democrat John Sarbanes leaving Congress after nine terms? What will he focus on during his last 14 months in public office? Plus: Baltimore Banner reporter Adam Willis on redrawing city-council districts and an ambitious plan to reimagine the Inner Harbor.     Read:Harborplace developer pitches 900 residential units, rooftop park at Inner HarborSafe Streets staffer charged, Belair-Edison operations suspended following FBI raidCity Council approves Baltimore redistricting map, countering mayor’s proposalDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Listen in to a Stoop Story from artist and curator-in-Residence at The Peale Jeffrey Kent about how he found himself along the road to becoming an artist. You can hear his story and others at Stoop Storytelling's website. The next Stoop live event is next Thursday, November 9th, at the Whitehall Mill in Baltimore; it’s titled “Not Gonna Work for Me: Stories about Horrible Bosses, Quiet Quitting, and Career Reinventions.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Charm City is blessed with a vibrant arts and culture scene. Now, Baltimore Center stage and Baltimore American Indian Center team up to add to that bounty with a gallery to showcase local Indigenous arts. We hear about the inaugural Indigenous Art Gallery exhibit from Annalisa Dias, who directs ‘Artistic Partnerships and Innovation’ at Baltimore Center Stage. She is a Goan-American artist and co-founder of the non-profit ‘Groundwater Arts.’ Also with us was Ashley Minner Jones, a community-based visual artist in Baltimore who is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It’s the highest disparity of any state in the union: about 30 percent of Maryland’s residents are African-American. Yet African Americans are 71 percent of those behind bars. A new partnership between the Maryland Attorney General and Maryland Public Defender, called the "Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative," takes aim at reducing mass incarceration of African Americans in Maryland.  We speak with Attorney General Anthony Brown and Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue about the MEJC's goals.  The MEJC will hold a public forum on November 6th in Baltimore. Details here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Local clergy Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg traveled to Israel on a listening and solidarity mission. He bore witness to massacre sites and met with families of those taken hostage - we hear how they cope as they await news. The we hear from Sumayyah Bilal and Rebekka Paisner, two friends who bring their Jewish and Muslim communities together in Baltimore in hopes of fostering empathy and understanding.  Links: Towards Wholeness, Sun. Nov. 5 at 4:30p.; Visions of Peace on Nov. 8 at 6:30pm at the Muslim Cultural Center of Baltimore.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Food, water and medical supplies are trickling into Gaza as the war persists. Are humanitarian aid groups able to meet the need? We ask Sean Callahan, the head of Catholic Relief Services, what he’s hearing from workers on the ground. Plus, what is Laila El-Haddad, a local Palestinian journalist, hearing from her relatives in Gaza?  Links: Catholic Relief Services, 10 Things You Should Know About the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Car exhaust, industrial waste and forest fires are well-known sources of air pollution which can negatively impact human health. But a group of lesser-known air polluters hit closer to home; residential or commercial gas furnaces, water heaters and other heating and cooling systems. A new report from an array of environmental justice advocates highlights air pollution emitted by Maryland residential and commercial buildings. The report is titled, Cutting Through The Smog: How Air Quality Standards Help Solve The Hidden Health Toll Of Air Pollution From Maryland’s Homes And Businesses. Our guest Ruth Ann Norton is one of the report's authors. Norton is CEO and President of The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, a nonprofit working to improve health and energy efficiency standards. Visit GHHI's website for more information on home environmental health, safety and energy efficiency. Also with us is Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician, and an associate professor of pulmonary medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He is also a member of the BREATHE Center at Hopkins, a group of scientists and doctors who advocate for lung health. The pair recently wrote a column for the Baltimore Banner about solutions for the growing detriments of poor air quality.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Nikayah Fayson about finding the joy in Baltimore’s unique cultural landscape after moving to Baltimore in high school. Interested in attending a Stoop Storytelling live? The next Stoop event is Nov. 9 at the Whitehall Mill in Baltimore, and is titled “Not Gonna Work for Me: Stories about Horrible Bosses, Quiet Quitting, and Career Reinventions.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new book explores the a league of dangerous women through history. Lisa Perrin, professor in the illustration department at the Maryland Institute College of Art, wrote and illustrated The League of Lady Poisoners. The elegantly illustrated book is about women known for poisoning people throughout history. In addition to her work as an illustrator, she is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur and educator. Her work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, 3 by 3 Magazine and Print Magazine.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The ready-to-wear clothing industry nearly killed the appetite -- and the need -- for home sewing. At Leona’s Sewing Studio colorful fabrics, humming machines and constant camaraderie have helped create a revival of the nearly lost art. We hear from founder Ireatha Leona Woods and three of her students: Brenda Squirrell, Nichelle Midon and Lori Ferrara. Links: Leona's Sewing Studio, Future Designers of America, Custom Wedding Designs,BMI's Redefining IndustryDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Child Victims Act lifts the statute of limitations on when sexual abuse victims may sue perpetrators. Steven J. Kelly is a principal at the law firm Grant & Eisenhofer. He represents some of the first-to-file plaintiffs. We hear their stories.  Plus, what does the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy filing mean for survivors of clergy abuse? We speak with Professor Pamela Foohey of Cardozo School of Law, who argues that the process pushes survivors into settlements. With Christopher Odinet of Iowa College of Law, Foohey recently published the article, “Silencing Litigation Through Bankruptcy,” in the Virginia Law Review. Links:Baltimore Archdiocese bankruptcy brings new time crunch for alleged victimsArchbishop Lori’s Message on Chapter 11What’s a creditor’s committee? 7 abuse victims to negotiate for all in Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcyDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Why has teaching African American history become politicized -- and what must be done to make sure the true stories are told? Today we 'Pass the Mic' to Terri Freeman, head of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. She asks Dr. Edwin T. Johnson Chairman of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and historian and archivist at Morgan State University, about the role cultural institutions play in correcting the rampant inaccuracies about African American history. Then spoken word artist Lady Brion recounts West Baltimore's Pennsylvania Avenue famous past and offers an update on the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District, for which she is executive director.  Links: Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, Pennsylvania Avenue, Black Arts and Entertainment District ,Banneker-Douglass Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Sharing and messaging through social media apps is the modern version of passing a note in class. It’s how kids communicate. We speak parenting and technology expert Devorah Heitner about setting healthy boundaries for Internet use while giving children space to explore. Her latest book is, "Growing Up In Public: Coming Of Age In A Digital World.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a ghostly Stoop Story from Sean MacDonald.  The next Stoop event is November 9th at Whitehall Mill in Baltimore. The theme is “Not Gonna Work for Me: Stories about Horrible Bosses, Quiet Quitting, and Career Reinventions.” Want more Stoop? Listen to the Stoop podcast. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Evie Archer is the new girl in town, and her aging home holds a dark secret. We ask Frederick author Michelle Jabès Corpora: will spirits from beyond help Evie solve a decades-old mystery … or claim her as their next victim? This supernatural thriller for teens is titled, " Holly Horror."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

At its peak in the late 1800s, the Chesapeake Bay produced more oysters than almost anywhere else in the world. During the twentieth century, however, oyster populations in the bay plummeted to a tiny fraction of their former levels. And 5 years ago—in 2018— a Maryland Department of Natural Resources assessment of the state’s waters found the oyster population had shrunk in half in less than twenty years. But there is recent good news for the bay's oysters. Last week, Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland and its partners would plant more than 1.7. *billion* new juvenile oysters--a new one-year record for oyster planting in the Chesapeake Bay. The new oysters are primarily grown at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge. Matthew Gray is an assistant professor at that laboratory, which hosts one of the largest oyster hatcheries on the east coast. He joins the show to discuss oysters and their habitat.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

There is a hidden world buried beneath your feet. As you walk to work or drive to the grocery store, you crisscross a network of hidden streams and rivers beneath Baltimore’s concrete surface. Now, a new public art installation and walking tour seeks to pull back the pavement on Baltimore’s underground waterways. Ghost Rivers is a series of installations, wayfinding markers, and writings that took several years of research and preparation. Bruce Willen is the artist behind the project, and also the founder of design studio Public Mechanics. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ghost Rivers is 5 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2023 in the Remington neighborhood of Baltimore city. More information at GhostRivers.org. And listen in to this archived episode of Maryland Curiosity Bureau, where host Aaron Henkin learned more about Baltimore's hidden streams and rivers.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Many people only see a crime-ridden, violent version of Baltimore City. We hear from photographer J.M. Giordano and Baltimore Peace Movement co-founder Letrice Gant, who are dedicated to helping citizens understand and embrace the truth: there is much more at work than that same old narrative.  Links: Baltimore Peace Movement, Peace Weekend Nov. 3-5, Sat. 10.21 Lost Weekend Book fest talk for ‘13 to 23: How a Summer of Violence Led to a Decade of Activism.'Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Preventing suicide among veterans is personal for state Secretary of Veteran Affairs’ Anthony Woods. He lost his mother, an Air Force veteran, to suicide five years ago. We hear how Woods is expanding the reach of mental-health services. Read Woods' commentary in the Baltimore Banner.  The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988. Veterans can dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.  Plus, Warrior Canine Connection enlists veterans to train service dogs for service members. We speak with WCC founder Rick Yount, and Tina Houser, a U.S. Army veteran who was matched with her service dog, Erik, a year ago. Learn how to become a WCC puppy parent.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

There once was a time when “artificial intelligence” existed only in the pages of science fiction. Now, you hear about AI everywhere; AI-generated images, art and video, AI writing cover letters and college essays. But how would you feel about artificial intelligence making decisions about your health? This emerging technology is being used more and more in healthcare, from analyzing test results to shaping decisions about patient care. We talk with Mark Gladwin about the implications of artificial intelligence technology in healthcare. Gladwin is the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. We also speak to Lauren Rhue, an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland-College Park where she researches the use of emerging digital technology, including AI, in the commercial sector.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

White Potato pie, stuffed ham, blintzes, oyster stew! 'Festive Maryland Recipes: Holiday traditions from the Old Line State' mixes food with colorful graphics and stories to create a celebration of yesteryear. Author Kara Mae Harris gives us a taste!  Links: Event: Pratt Test Kitchen with Kara Mae Harris, Old Line Plate blog. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Gertrude's Restaurant co-founder Chef John Shields about the courage of blazing your path but then following the detour that delivers your dreams.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Since recreational cannabis became legal July 1, Marylanders are spending millions on cannabis products every day. Adult-use sales topped $54 million in September, while medical cannabis sales fell slightly between August and September.  We ask Will Tilburg, acting director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, what products are selling most, how new licenses will expand the business, and who is watching for any impact on teenagers.  Links:MCA Data and ReportsSocial Equity VerificationCannabis Business Assistance FundMaryland Office of Social Equity - Technical AssistanceDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Israel is at war with Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians are dead, and Hamas is holding civilian hostages. We ask Middle East analysts Marc Lynch, and Laura Blumenfeld: What should we expect from this conflict? How does revenge fuel emotions, and what happens when leaders pursue justice at any cost?  Links: Israel's One-State Reality, Gaza and Israel: Five Things to Watch, Let's Get American Revenge, Revenge: A Story of HopeDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Art and history lovers get ready: a new show at Baltimore Museum of Industry dives into the late-nineteenth-early- twentieth century role of the neighborhood corner bar. And the Baltimore Museum of Art turns ideas about male-dominated artmaking on their head in 'Making Her Mark.’  Links: 'The Neighborhood Corner Bar' at BMI, 'Making Her Mark' at BMA, BMI neighborhood bar walking tour, Corner Bar author event, Baltimore Heritage 5-minute history of Baltimore neighborhood bars, BMA Art After Hours, Art and Object article about Making Her Mark.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Kerry Prayer about embracing the unconventional in the pursuit of love and family. The next LIVE Stoop event takes place Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the American Visionary Arts Museum. The theme: ‘Creating Art, Creating Change: Stories About Art as a Tool for Social Justice.’Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It is news no one is prepared to receive. In 2015, artist Marcy Marxer got a call from her doctor. Marxer had breast cancer. The ups and downs of treatment, recovery, plus a lot of funny stuff in between, are captured in a new production called All Wigged Out: The Musical. Marxer and her wife and musical accomplice Cathy Fink take a candid, humorous and lyrical approach to the story of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The pair are Grammy Award-winners with a musical career that spans more than 35 years. They back their vocal harmonies with guitar, five-string banjo, ukulele, mandolin, cello-banjo and other instruments.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Climate change is real. But what do Americans really understand about it -- and about the best actions to combat it? We hear from researchers Prof. Michael Hanmer and Prof. Deb Niemeier about the results from a University of Maryland/Center for Democratic Engagement-Washington Post poll. What they learned may surprise you. Plus, psychotherapist Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan draws on the healing powers of nature to treat eco-anxiety. Links: Center for Democratic Engagement, CDE + Washington Post Poll ; Information about treating eco-anxiety, The Center for Nature Informed Therapy.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Finding treatment for mental illness or substance abuse is difficult: in-network providers who are accepting new patients are scarce. We ask psychiatrist Dr. Henry Harbin about  how to boost access to behavioral health care. Read the report: Equitable Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Care: An Urgent Need Then, finding drug treatment can be challenging. A community center in Elkton works 24/7 to make it happen. We speak with Jennifer Romano, a certified peer recovery specialist and manager of Voices of Hope - Cecil. This program originally aired on August 3, 2023.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Two new books bridge the years since the Civil War. Steve Inskeep, cohost of NPR's Morning Edition, writes of the cunning and affability of Abraham Lincoln. Avoiding the well-tread ground of Lincoln's story, Inskeep instead writes of the President's relationships with friends and family, critics and rivals. The book, Inskeep's fourth, is called in Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America. Then, historian Scott Hartwig leads us onto battlefield during the bloodiest day in American history. Hartwig investigated the Maryland Campaign of the Civil War for decades. He worked in the National Park Service for 34 years as an interpretive ranger, and was supervisory historian at Gettysburg National Military Park. His book is I Dread the Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

There is a quiet epidemic sweeping through young people across the nation. By many markers, the mental health for adolescents and young adults is poor and getting worse. Mental health is a problem for many Americans, but we are focusing on the wellbeing of young people, particularly men. What can be done to help them lead happy, healthy lives in society? Andrew Reiner is a lecturer at Towson University, where he teaches writing, men’s studies and cultural studies. He has also published a book, Better Boys, Better Men, and written for The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publications about masculinity and mental health. Plus, we talk with a mentor working with young men in Baltimore. The nonprofit ‘Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood’ began in 1996 to help young men navigate the dangerous waters of adolescence. Imhotep Simba is an alumnus, and now a mentor, in Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

BIG news for the Natural History Society of Maryland -- like, Mammoth-sized news. A Woolly Mammoth skeleton is headed here … with lectures and events preceding its arrival. We ask Prof. Charles Breeze and Prof. Hali Kilbourne about where it came from, and why some researchers hope to revive the species. Links:  Mammoth master classes at NHSM, upcoming Woolly Mammoth events at NHSM, Oct. 5 lecture with Prof. Hali Kilbourne, Climate Fluctuations of the Pleistocene.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Dance, music, colorful costumes! How is the Mexican folk dance group Bailes de Mi Tierra preserving cultural traditions and passing them onto younger generations? We speak with founder José Reyes. The group is celebrating its 15th anniversary next month. You can see Bailes de Mi Tierra perform this Saturday at 2 pm at Hereford Public Library on York Road in Baltimore County. Find other performances here.  Then, Maryland Latinos Unidos brings together businesses, nonprofits, and individuals serving the state's Latino and immigrant communities. We speak with Executive Director Gabriela Lemus about pandemic recovery and raising up the next generation of Latino leaders.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In her introduction to a 1996 edition of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the author Toni Morrison wrote of efforts to ban the book from library shelves because of its offensive language. “It struck me as a purist, yet elementary, kind of censorship designed to appease adults rather than educate children," Morrison wrote. "Amputate the problem, band-aid the solution.” Morrison’s own books have faced calls for removal. This month, Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest Eye, was among more than 50 books taken off Carroll County public school library bookshelves amidst a national surge in calls for book bans. The American Library Association reported a 20 percent surge in challenges to various books in 2023 over 2022--the year the ALA counted the highest number of book challenges since it started collecting data more than 20 years ago. Our guest Kristen Griffith is covering this story for our news partner The Baltimore Banner. We are also joined by Tiff Sutherland, a librarian at Calvert Library in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Sutherland is also president of the Maryland Library Association.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What is ‘Fringe’? Fancy trimmings that sparkle and shimmer? Or something ‘out there’ and edgy? Both concepts fit the Charm City Fringe Festival! We hear from Fringe Fest lead Zach Michel, and from playwright Josh Wilder, to get a preview! Links: Charm City Fringe Festival, "Who Gave Sylvia the Bottle?" at CCFF, Playwrights Workshop,  Launch party at Le Mondo  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Orbiting a million miles from earth, The James Webb Space Telescope is humanity’s newest eye onto the cosmos. In its first year of exploration, the Webb telescope captured dazzling images of the universe—cosmic cliffs, ghostly nebulas and stars from the farthest reaches of the universe. What’s in store for the Webb telescope? Astrophysicist Macarena Garcia Marin is European Space Agency Instrument Scientist and Project Scientist in the Webb Mission Office at the Space Telescope Science Institute. Nestor Espinoza is an Assistant Astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, where he applies the Webb’s cutting-edge instruments to the study of exoplanets.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Julie Mendez about playing the long game for love. You can find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast, at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Carole Boston Weatherford, and her son, Jeffrey, team up to create an illustrated novel in verse. "Kin: Rooted in Hope," goes deep into a family’s history from slavery into liberty. The poems conjure many voices from as many perspectives--a powerful portrait shaped by enslavement and freedom. Links: Ivy Bookshop event Sat. Sept. 23. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The next step in Richard Worley’s path to being confirmed as Baltimore’s 41st police commissioner comes tonight, when the City Council’s Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee will consider his nomination. We speak with Justin Fenton, an investigative reporter at The Baltimore Banner, about Worley's proposed contract and his predecessor's legacy. Plus, what are residents of Central West Baltimore looking for in the next chief of police? We ask Ashiah Parker, executive director of the No Boundaries Coalition. On Tuesday, September 26th at Baltimore Unity Hall, No Boundaries will hold, "Changing the Narrative: Addressing Gun Violence in 21217." The confirmation hearing before the City Council’s Committee on Rules and Legislative Oversight is scheduled for 5 p.m. It’s open to the public. The full City Council is expected to vote on Worley Oct. 2nd.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Gov. Wes Moore, and several prominent legislators, have signaled that wind energy is an important part of Maryland's renewable energy goals. Last April, Moore signed the POWER Act at Tradepoint Atlantic, where several companies plan to build the parts needed for offshore wind turbines. The POWER Act established one of the nation’s most aggressive offshore wind goals, four times the offshore wind capacity currently approved. We are joined by the primary sponsor of the POWER Act, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian of Montgomery County. Later in the show, we speak with US Wind's CEO Jeff Grybowski. US Wind is one of two companies currently developing hundreds of acres of offshore wind turbines near Maryland's coast. (Photo by London Rachel, Via Wikimedia)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

It may take years for people who were sexually abused as children to come to grips with what happened and decide how to move forward. Until now, if they were past age 38, Maryland law ruled out suing alleged abusers. What will be the effect of new law that wipes out the statute of limitations? The Child Victims Act of 2023 goes into effect on October 1st.  We speak with Delegate C.T. Wilson, who championed this change, and Lisae Jordan,  executive director and counsel at the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA). Resources:Find a Rape Crisis and Recovery Center near youMCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI)RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1-800-656-4673Call 211 for resources in MarylandDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

We Pass the Mic to Diamonté Brown, Baltimore Teachers Union president. She and her guests, education associate Chris Patterson and Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates, discuss what it means to expand teacher advocacy and ‘bargain for the common good.' What does it look like to bargain for things like better housing and healthcare that will benefit everyone inside and outside the classroom?Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from artist, historian and Lumbee tribe member Ashley Minner Jones about why her grandmother’s spirit stays with her to this day. You can hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Charm City is blessed with a vibrant arts and culture scene. Now Baltimore Center stage and Baltimore American Indian Center team up and add to that bounty -- with a gallery to showcase local Indigenous arts. We hear about the inaugural Indigenous Art Gallery exhibit! Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A beloved coffee spot in Hampden faced a sudden closure in July, catching both staff and customers by surprise. But that wasn’t the end of Common Ground Bakery Café; its workers are coming together to reopen later this month as a co-op. Co-ops flip the model on the typical business model. So how do they work? Christa Daring is the Executive Director of the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy. The nonprofit advises and provides financial support for fledgling co-ops in the Baltimore area. Also with us is Jake Urtes, a worker-owner at Common Ground Bakery Café. The coffee shop and gathering place closed this summer after 25 years but is reopening later this fall.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Two hundred-nine years ago, Fort McHenry withstood 25 hours of bombing by the British. We speak with Robert Stewart, assistant superintendent for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, about the African American heroes of Defenders' Day. Join National Park Service rangers and the fifes and drums of the Fort McHenry Guard for a parade on Friday, September 15th at 7 pm through Locust Point. Check out the full schedule of events. Learn more about the Battle of Baltimore. Then, Bmore Historic does away with the trappings of stuffy conventions; instead, those who attend suggest topics and vote on them! We speak with Nicole King, director of UMBC’s Orser Center for the Study of Place, Community, and Culture, and Kate Drabinski, director of UMBC’s Women Involved in Learning and Leadership program. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison broke barriers when she wrote three decades ago about her own experience with manic-depressive illness. After many other books, Jamison has now published what she calls a “lovesong” to psychotherapy--how it developed, and why it works, when it works.  Links: Kay Redfield Jamison, Balm in Gilead, a lecture by Prof. Jamison, Fires in the DarkDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Youth Climate Institute, created by the Howard County Conservancy, is preparing Maryland's next generation of environmental leaders. How does the course cover the science and social ramifications of climate change? We speak with Executive Director Meg Boyd and Jessica Kohout, a former high-school biology teacher and manager of the Youth Climate Institute. Then, two high school students share their passion for climate justice and solutions. We hear from YCI participants Sanjana Ranasinghe, a senior at Urbana High School, and James Obasiolu, a junior at Atholton High School. Learn more about starting a YCI chapter.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here is Stoop story from Ellis Marsalis III about trading card commerce.  The next Stoop show is next Thursday, September 14th at Manor Mill. The theme is, "The One That Got Away: Stories of Lost Loves, Fish, and Other Missed Opportunities." Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Poor planning, too few connections in the community, not enough patrolling. An internal “after-action report” says these factors contributed to July’s mass shooting in Brooklyn, which killed two. What will police do to prevent such tragedies? We speak with WYPR reporter Emily Hofstaedter, who’s been closely following the Brooklyn shooting and its aftermath, and Ben Conark, criminal justice reporter for our news partner, The Baltimore Banner. Links:City of Baltimore Releases Agency After-Action Reports Following Mass Shooting at Brooklyn HomesBaltimore recommends “leadership changes” for BPD in Brooklyn shooting After-Action ReportResidents share gratitude, ask for more resources at Brooklyn Day shooting community forumDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The ready-to-wear clothing industry nearly killed the appetite -- and the need -- for home sewing. At Leona’s Sewing Studio colorful fabrics, humming machines and constant camaraderie have helped create a revival of the nearly lost art. We hear from founder Ireatha Leona Woods and three of her students: Brenda Squirrell, Nichelle Midon and Lori Ferrara. Links: Leona's Sewing Studio, Future Designers of America, Custom Wedding Designs, BMI's Redefining IndustryDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Amos Badertscher broke almost every rule of documentary photography during his decades-long work to capture the heartbeat of Baltimore street life. The Baltimore-based photographer, proudly self-taught, took his camera into the underground clubs and gay bars of Baltimore in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80s and beyond, and was witness to the devastation, desperation, resilience and beauty of the people who called the city home. Badertscher died on July 24, 2023. An exhibit at UMBC’s Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery called “Lost Boys: Amos Badertscher’s Baltimore” explores the singular photographer's work. Beth Saunders, Curator and Head of Special Collections & Gallery within the Kuhn Library and Gallery, joins us to discuss Badertscher’s work and legacy. Later in the show, two members of a support group for queer elders in Frederick, Maryland, join us. Stuart Harvey and Rob Thompson are among Aging with Pride's earliest members.When the group first came together almost a year and a half ago, it was a way to connect, build friendships and share advice among older, queer people in Frederick. Aging with Pride, founded within the Frederick Center, has grown and now encompasses dozens of members and frequent meetings. Image: Amos Badertscher, "Voice Wafers in Time #1" (1975). Courtesy of artist.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

R. Eric Thomas writes wry, perceptive essays about things that seem more amusing in his life than they do in yours. He grew up in West Baltimore -- but moving back after more than a decade away triggered stress and latent depression -- as well as some very funny episodes. We speak about his new book, "Congratulations, the Best is Over!" Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What’s your poultry preference? Soon, options will go beyond just roasted or fried. Upside Foods received USDA approval to sell its cell-cultivated chicken: grown in a lab, no animals harmed. We hear from Eric Schulze, Upside's vice president of Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. Plus, a group of Hopkins students is raising awareness about alternative protein production. Links: Upside Foods, JHU Alternative Protein Project.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Arias sung in foreign languages, big voices, even bigger emotions! Opera can be daunting for some people. But Opera Baltimore meets audiences where they are -- and its ‘Fall for Opera’ outdoor series is just the ticket! We get a preview. Links: Opera Baltimore, Fall for Opera, Opera on the Avenue.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Ira Gewanter about his loyalty to a beloved triumvirate: his hometown Orioles, his religion and his family. Find his stories, information about live events and workshops at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

As summer draws to an end, Labor Day is more than an opportunity for one last weekend at the beach. The federal holiday commemorates the American labor movement, and the centuries-old struggle for workers’ rights. And Maryland is home to the second-largest archive of labor history in the United States, located in the University Libraries at University of Maryland, College Park. Benjamin Blake, Social Justice and Labor Archivist in the University Libraries, joins us to discuss labor history and connecting his work in the archives to today's social movement driving for change. Blake is also one of the faculty members supporting unionization of their own workplace. The push for union representation continues in a range of professions and industries, from carmakers to Starbucks baristas to healthcare workers. Efforts to unionize also persist in the ivory towers of U.S. universities and colleges. While faculty in the University System of Maryland, Morgan State and St. Mary’s College do not have the right to collective bargaining, faculty and graduate assistants across the state have been organizing to exert more say in their working conditions. Two academic workers involved in organizing efforts on campuses in Maryland join us. Jared Ball is a professor of Communication and Africana Studies at Morgan State University. He also founded Black Power Media and hosts the podcast ‘iMIXWHATiLIKE!’ We are also joined by Andrew Eneim, a Ph.d candidate in biophysics and physical chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. There, he helped organize the ‘Teachers and Researchers United’ union. (Image courtesy: University of Maryland University Libraries.)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The start of the school year can be an anxious time for kids. How can parents offer reassurance? When are back-to-school jitters something more serious? We ask psychiatrist Dr. Justine Larson, who serves as medical director of schools and residential treatment centers for Sheppard Pratt.  Plus, Baltimore Banner education reporter Liz Bowie on test scores, bus routes, and school renovations. Read more:Thousands of Howard County students stranded without bus service this weekHistoric Baltimore high schools are getting a face-lift. Parents and alumni want more.Maryland schools recovered from pandemic learning losses in English. Math is a different story. Check out WYPR's education reporting, including this recent story: New survey shows half of Maryland teachers work a second job, even more gain personal debtDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A Red Line revival is underway. Baltimore’s east-west transit project was canceled in 2015. Now Gov. Moore is bringing it back. How different will the new plan be? Will it use light rail or rapid buses in their own lanes? We ask MTA  Administrator Holly Arnold. Check out the Red Line website, including a presentation from the open houses. Read more about the Red Line:Hope for the Red Line is high — so is skepticism - The Baltimore BannerA new bus in town; Quick Link 40 is first step in Red Line launch | WYPRDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

News of a slight bump in COVID-19 cases is raising concerns about new variants of the virus. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remains far below the low points seen earlier in the pandemic, but the uptick is a reminder that the virus, which killed over a million people in the U.S., continues to circulate. Andrew Pekosz is vice chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He joined us to talk about the emerging COVID-19 variants and the expected release of another round of vaccine boosters. Additionally, we also ask about the flu vaccine and how to best protect children headed back to school.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Lynn McDonald shares a Stoop story about the comfort a therapy dog can bring. The next Stoop event is in less than three weeks -- September 14th. The theme is, “The One That Got Away: Stories of Lost Loves, Fish, and Other Missed Opportunities.”Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

National Dog Day is coming right up: The Maryland SPCA is celebrating at the Rotunda. We speak with Katie Flory, director of Community Care & Advocacy for the Maryland SPCA. Beyond this celebration, Flory says the length of stay for animals in the shelter has doubled in recent months, as families cope with inflation and other economic challenges. The non-profit is working to prevent pet surrenders by holding neighborhood wellness clinics and distributing pet food to those in need. National Dog Day at the Rotunda is tomorrow, from 11-5 pm. The Festival for the Animals is September 23rd at Padonia Park Club. Check out animals available in the shelter. Find opportunities to volunteer.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

While the overall rate of homicides has not risen, gun violence in Baltimore city is affecting young people at levels not seen in a decade. Why are so many young people picking up weapons? A new study from the Center for Justice Innovation, titled “Two Battlefields: Opps, Cops and NYC Gun Culture,” seeks an answer. Two of the researchers on the team behind the report join us to talk about its findings. Rachel Swaner is Senior Director of Research & Policy and Basaime Spate is a community research coordinator with the Center for Justice Innovation. Later in the show, we bring the lessons from Brooklyn, New York, to Brooklyn, south Baltimore, where a shocking mass shooting at the beginning of July underscored the epidemic of gun violence searing the country and the city. Joining us to talk about anti-violence work is Freedom Jones, Director of Community Violence Intervention Programs at Jill Fox Center for Hope at LifeBridge Health. Freedom oversees part of Safe Streets, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s anti-street violence program. Antonio Stewart, a violence interrupter with Safe Streets, joins us, as well.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Two anniversaries this weekend: a re-enactment in Annapolis of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. We talk to Carl Snowden, founder of the Caucus of African-American Leaders, and Sharyn Martin, a marcher. That same summer, civil rights workers integrated Gwynn Oak Park in Baltimore County. We speak with Dawn Seestedt, who organized this weekend's Gwynn Oak Mosaic Project & Unity Festival, and protester Charles Mason.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Now that U.S. Senator Ben Cardin has decided not to run for a fourth term, he’s focused on what he can get done in the rest of this one: like strengthening small businesses in his role as chair of that committee. We ask about his agenda.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Dan Brewster had everything a mid-20th-century Democratic politician in Maryland could want: strong voter base, beautiful family, wealth. It unraveled spectacularly, due to his alcoholism and failing to see how voters were changing and not changing. We talk to Brewster’s biographer, journalist John Frece, who's written, "Self-Destruction: The rise, fall and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster."Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

You are what you eat! And organizers of the Vegan Soul Fest hope you’ll include plenty of plant based choices. The two-day festival features cooking demos, speakers, musical guests and plenty of tantalizing foods to sample. We talk to co-organizer Brenda Sanders to get a preview. Links: Vegan Soul Fest, Plant Bliss Foods, Afro-Vegan Society, Land of Kush vegan restaurant, Food & Justice podcastDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Erica Chung about food, love and family. Do you have a good story to share? The Stoop is looking for storytellers for their next LIVE show! The theme is The One That Got Away: Stories of Lost Loves, Fish, and Other Missed Opportunities. It takes place next month at the Manor Mill in Monkton--Sept. 14 at 7 pm -- Caleb Stein is the musical guest! More info here. And if you’re looking for some good stories to watch, check out WYPR’s New/Next Film Festival. That happens tonight through Sunday, all screenings are at the Charles Theater. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Tens of thousands of people in Baltimore left high school without a diploma. That often means they can’t get jobs that would support their family or turn into satisfying careers. Two non-profits aim to make a dent in that problem with high schools for adults. We speak with Lisa Rusyniak, CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. Goodwill is renovating its headquarters in downtown Baltimore to open the Excel Center, a high school for adults, late next month. Then, the nonprofit Elev8 has been operating the South Baltimore Adult High School online and in Cherry Hill for two years, and has graduated its first cohort. We speak with CEO Alexandria Warrick Adams, and students Jennifer Martinez and Lorraine Giddins.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Today is our monthly installment of ‘Pass the Mic.’ In this series, we invite someone in the community--maybe an author, an artist, a community organizer--to collaborate with us: to choose the topic and guests and direct the conversation. Today, we pass the mic to Eric Hatch. Hatch has been working in film and curating festivals for more than two decades, including 11 years with the Maryland Film Festival. This Friday through Sunday, August 18 through 20, WYPR debuts the New/Next Film Festival, which Hatch curated. He, along with Sam Sessa, director of events and community partnerships at WTMD and WYPR, are co-producers of the event.Hatch speaks with filmmakers, Diana Peralta, (De lo Mio) Emma Hannaway (Somewhere Quiet) and Lotfy Nathan (HARKA) about their work. Links: New/Next Film Fest, Beyond VideoDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

In Maryland, on average, ten people die in a traffic crash each week. More than one-fifth of those killed are pedestrians. Crashes rose during the pandemic and are still high. We speak with Chrissy Nizer, the head of Maryland’s MVA. She describes the data presented by the new “Fatal Crash Dashboard." Then, Jeffrey Michael, a transportation safety expert and Distinguished Scholar at Johns Hopkins University, tells what would make pedestrians safer. Check out the recommendations of the Safe Street Consortium.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in late June that the nation's colleges and universities could not take race into account in admissions practices, college admissions offices were not the only people left confused. High school students and school counselors were also plunged into uncertainty. Later in the show, Dr. Aminta Breaux, President of Bowie State University, joins us to talk about affirmative action and college admissions. But first, how are today's high school students thinking about college? The total number of students enrolled in postsecondary education in the U.S. dropped over the past decade. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that undergraduate enrollment was 15 percent lower in fall 2021 than in fall 2010. 42 percent of that decline occurred during the pandemic. But among high school graduates, a majority are still enrolling in college or university, according to the 2021 data from Bureau of Labor Statistics. We sit down with two people closely involved with young students considering their future join us. Brian Stewart is a School Counselor and Department Chair at Catonsville High School in Baltimore County. Marian Hoyt is a school counselor at Howard County’s newest public school, Guilford Park High School, which will open in two weeks in Jessup. Most recently Hoyt has been a school counselor at Bard High School Early College in Baltimore City. She is also on the board of the Maryland School Counselor Association, MSCA, where she is High School Vice President. What are they hearing from their students, many of whom are considering options outside of the 4-year college path? Plus, a conversation with Dr. Aminta Breaux, President of Bowie State University, Maryland's oldest HBCU. In a nearly 300-page decision in late June, the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled affirmative action for colleges and universities across the country.The conservative supermajority on the court ruled public and private institutions of higher learning could not consider race as one of many factors in a student’s admission application.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Marianne Amoss and Sibyl Snow about their unconventional convent stay during spring break one year. You can hear their stories and others at Stoopstorytelling.com  Got a good story to share? The Stoop is looking for storytellers for their next LIVE show! The theme is The One That Got Away: Stories of Lost Loves, Fish, and Other Missed Opportunities. It takes place next month at the Manor Mill in Monkton on Sept. 14 at 7 pm -- Caleb Stein is the musical guest! Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

A new film looks at climate change layered on old racism on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We ask the creators of "Eroding History" how rising salt water and settling land threaten the culture and memory of two African American churches on Deal Island.  Links: "Eroding History" trailer, Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative, Disruption: Baltimore's Highway to Nowhere, Natural History Society of "Eroding History" film screening on Monday, Aug. 14. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Even months after a COVID infection clears, some people are left with debilitating symptoms - brain fog and extreme exhaustion after performing everyday tasks. What does long COVID have in common with ME/CFS - myalgic encephalomyelitis, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome? We speak with Dr. Alba Azola, a rehabilitation physician who works in the Johns Hopkins Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinic. Plus, Melinda Lipscomb and Whitney Fox share about their experiences living with ME/CFS. They are the co-chairs and co-founders of the Maryland chapter of #MEAction. This interview originally aired April 5, 2023. Learn more about ME/CFS:Long Covid Impact on Adult Americans: Early Indicators Estimating Prevalence and CostSolve M.E.For long covid fatigue, a strategy called ‘pacing’ helps, but at a cost TRANSCRIPT:Sheilah Kast: We’re OTR! I’m SK. Good morning. For some people, even months after a COVID infection has cleared, symptoms like extreme fatigue and brain fog linger, interrupting daily life.  Researchers at Stanford University looked at a group of 105 long COVID patients whose symptoms persisted for at least six months. Forty-five of those patients met the criteria for myalgic encephalo-myelitis, previously known as chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s commonly abbreviated as ME/CFS. Like long COVID, ME/CFS has a broad range of symptoms. In April, I spoke with rehabilitation physician Dr. Alba Azola, former co-director of the Johns Hopkins’ Post-Acute COVID-19 Team.’ She now works in the Johns Hopkins Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinic. I asked Azola when, during the pandemic, she noticed patients presenting with chronic fatigue… Dr. Alba Azola: Yeah. So it was quite interesting because I had not been treating that population before. When we opened our clinic in April of 2020, we were focused on or expecting to have a lot of critically ill patients coming in for rehabilitation. But we knew that like with other pandemics like Sars-cov-1 or Merce, that there were going to be patients that were not severely ill but had some lingering symptoms. In the summer of 2020, we started seeing this patients with less severe acute illness presenting with symptoms that to me appeared similar to our autonomic dysfunction patients or patients suffering from condition called pots pots. These patients presented with brain fog, fatigue, palpitations on standing, difficulty tolerating, standing. And what's interesting is that we noticed that similarity and we had physical therapists that knew how to manage this patient population, and we started working with them. But there was a subgroup of patients that were not responding to physical therapy interventions that we use for autonomic dysfunction, the same way that we are used to seeing these patients were experiencing severe post exertional symptom exacerbation. Sheilah Kast: Where symptom exacerbation means they were getting really tired after they exerted themselves. Dr. Alba Azola: It's beyond tired. These patients actually will kind of feel pretty good, do a little more than usual. And this is nothing exaggerated compared to their baseline. Like, you know, for example, doing their laundry or cleaning the house. And then 12 to 48 hours after the exertion, they have a myriad of symptoms that flare, including the sensation of heaviness, feeling myalgia, which is that feeling like when you're going to have a viral infection feeling achy in their body. They also have neurologic symptoms like tinnitus or tremors or even worsening cognitive impairments. So it's a little bit different than just doing the activity and then requiring some rest right after you do it. Sheilah Kast: Some long COVID patients may develop ME/ CFS, but others do not. What what are the similarities between long COVID and ME/ CFS? Dr. Alba Azola: In my clinical experience, we see that post-COVID patients can experience fatigue, but not all fatigue is equal. We have patients that experience some fatigue from deconditioning because they were ill for a period of time and did not have their usual physical activity. We can also see some post-viral illness that requires a few months to recover function back to their pre-COVID baseline. But then there's this smaller subgroup of patients that meet the criteria. For me, CFS diagnosis, which like I mentioned earlier, includes severe debilitating fatigue that prevents them from doing their daily activities for more than six months, post exertional symptom, exacerbation, impaired sleep standing intolerance and cognitive impairments. Sheilah Kast: What symptoms of long COVID are not associated with ME/ CFS? Dr. Alba Azola: You know, if you think about it, there's there's not that many, right? But again, not all long-covid patients. Have the same cluster of symptoms. So so like I said, some long COVID patients have symptoms of CFS but don't have the entire picture for the syndrome diagnosis. So, you know, you can have a patient with Long-covid who experiences isolated cognitive impairment without the presence of severe fatigue that, you know, has post exertional symptom exacerbation or any physical fatigue at all and just purely cognitive impairment. So there are several different types of long COVID patients and some of them have the whole picture to receive the diagnosis of CFS. Sheilah Kast: What does treatment look like for this type of extreme exhaustion? Dr. Alba Azola: Yeah. So for patients that have or meet the criteria for CFS, these patients required a very individualized approach. We certainly hone in to teaching them skills of how to manage their energy envelope, how to pace their day to day activities so that they're not expanding beyond what their energy envelope is. So we do some education. We have occupational therapist or physical therapist that can help the patient implement energy conservation strategies into their day to day activities. Sheilah Kast: Give me an example. Dr. Alba Azola: A simple example would be for cooking. Instead of preparing a meal all at once, break a task into smaller pieces so prep the meal seated without being standing and taking breaks in between so that you don't push through the entire process of prepping the meal, cooking it, and serving all in one one time. Right? You want to break up task into smaller pieces. Sheilah Kast: This is on the record. I'm Sheilah Kast speaking with Dr. Alba Azola co-director of the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID 19 team, about the connections between long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, previously known as Chronic Fatigue syndrome. What are you hearing from patients about what it's been like to seek treatment for ME/ CFS After COVID. Dr. Alba Azola: The treatment available for chronic fatigue syndrome are limited, and providers, medical providers that understand the diagnosis of CFS and the treatments that can help the patients manage their symptoms is even more limited. So prior to the pandemic, patients with had a really difficult time finding longitudinal providers that could help them. There were very few in the nation with long waitlist once the pandemic hit and providers that were like me that were following patients post-COVID started to notice the relationship. We've been sharing the knowledge that has been accumulated through the past decades of this, specialists that have been treated MS patients and trying to spread the clinical pearls that this clinicians have been utilizing. So it's been really interesting now. The patients with long COVID in general have a difficult time navigating the medical system and accessing care. And now we have an even larger number of patients requiring chronic fatigue management. And we're certainly not enough in terms of the post-COVID clinics and the few specialists that were out there in order to be able to provide the care needed for the millions of patients experiencing long COVID and a large number of them qualifying for CFS diagnosis. Sheilah Kast: President Biden and Congress are ending the National Emergency and Public Health emergency declarations. What what comes to mind as you reflect on the three years since the pandemic hit the US? Dr. Alba Azola: It's an interesting time certainly to to see that, you know, the society has. Basically got past the pandemic and people are not using, you know, general precautions like masking in public spaces or crowded spaces. I almost want to invite them all to my clinic. Let's see how this virus can really affect people in a chronic way. For some of my patients, they're going on 2 or 3 years of having disabling symptoms. So I think it's it's a little bit exciting that the numbers of people that are dying from COVID are going down and that we're so good at treating it. And we have developed treatments and preventative strategies. However, patients that do have the COVID infection are always at risk of developing long-covid. And it's sometimes those people that don't feel the need to protect themselves because they're young and healthy that, you know, are basically playing Russian roulette in terms of getting an infection and developing long COVID. We think about 10% in a very, very conservative estimate, about 10% of people that contract COVID will develop long COVID symptoms. Sheilah Kast: Seeing the needs of your patients, a re you concerned that the end of the formally declared emergencies will deprive your patients of of something they need? Dr. Alba Azola: Yeah. I mean I think that there the implications that that has for Medicaid and Medicare coverage in some of our patients it's going to impact their access to care in a medical system where there are clear barriers to care from people with lower socioeconomic status, immigrants, etcetera. So this is just another layer of barrier to access to proper medical care for millions of patients. Sheilah Kast: I'm grateful to you for talking with us. Thank you. Dr. Alba Azola: Thank you for highlighting this topic. Sheilah Kast: Dr. Alba Azola is a rehabilitation physician with the Johns Hopkins Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinic. We spoke in April. Short break, OTR. When we’re back, advocating for the ME/CFS community. I’m SK. Stay with us! Sheilah Kast: Welcome back to OTR.  I’m SK. We’re talking this morning about myalgic encephalo-myelitis. formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome. The shorthand is ME/CFS. It’s a complex chronic disease: a patient’s symptoms typically get worse after they exert themselves physically or mentally. While the exact cause is unknown, in many cases, ME develops after an infection.  And that may be true for COVID infections. Some people with long COVID are experiencing symptoms that mirror ME/CFS … and are joining the call for more research and funding.  Melinda Lipscomb and Whitney Fox live with ME/CFS. They are the co-chairs and co-founders of the Maryland chapter of #ME Action.  When we spoke in April, I asked Melinda Lipscomb what MEAction is, and why they started a Maryland chapter… Melinda Lipscomb: So ME action is a global now movement of people with ME and allies who don't have to pardon me . My brain is going to come in and out at times. Sheilah Kast: That's fine. Melinda Lipscomb: It essentially is an advocacy and activism organization, grassroots patient, led, founded in 2016. And essentially we all found each other online and have come together and have done direct action campaigns and movements to bring attention to this long, stigmatized illness. Sheilah Kast: Whitney When did you notice people with long COVID starting to get in touch with ME Action. Whitney Fox: I noticed an influx of long COVID patients within the first few months of the pandemic, as early as March and April of 2020. People were finding us and noticing the similarities in our symptoms and looking for support, looking for help, tips and guidance on how to navigate the medical system, how to navigate these symptoms that are incredibly debilitating and often disabling. And it's it's just snowballed from there. I feel like every every week a friend or an acquaintance is putting me in touch with somebody who's experiencing these long haul symptoms. Sheilah Kast: And and for you, Whitney, what has it been like to see the pandemic leave people with ME in its wake? Whitney Fox: If I'm being honest, it's traumatizing. It's something that I talk about with my therapist every session. Um, we knew this was coming. We warned our leaders that this was coming. It's infuriating to see this happening to other people. It's depressing to see that they're facing the same kind of stigma and disbelief and gaslighting that I dealt with. But it's also really empowering and really encouraging that there are so many of us and people are finally listening and that the long haul COVID patients, they're not starting from scratch. They have this basis of advocacy from groups like ours, and we take inspiration from groups like Act Up and AIDS Advocacy. So we're not starting from scratch here. And that's the really exciting part for me. Melinda Lipscomb: And I'd like to say for me, my trigger was H1N1, the swine flu in 2009, and I never recover from that. So you could say I have long H1N1. So from from the start of this, I was shouting into the void because I knew what happened to me and what I went through. And I know that I wasn't alone. You know, Whitney and I both came into the ME spectrum because of H1N1. And we have found so many others online who have such a similar story. And we truly knew that this was going to happen with COVID. And it honestly, you know, my entire journey in advocacy and in in education and all of this has been don't want somebody to have to go through what I've gone through. Sheilah Kast: Whitney, what misconceptions do people have about ME? Whitney Fox: I think the big misconception is that ME mainly affects middle aged white women. When you don't fit that stereotype, it makes it really hard to access a diagnosis. And that stereotype is is false. Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected, but ME can affect anyone. I think that was one of the challenges with my diagnosis, was that when I was young, they didn't think something like this could happen to a young person who looks healthy. And unfortunately, that led to a very long diagnostic delay until I hit my 30s and became unable to work. Like Melinda said, I basically had to become disabled and bedbound in order for me to find answers. Another one is that it's just fatigue. The name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome makes it easy to reduce ME to that one symptom, but it's a complex chronic illness that affects multiple body systems. I have symptoms throughout my entire body that can be attributed to me, and it's the kind of fatigue we're talking about really needs its own name because it's not your standard definition of of fatigue. It's fatigue that's lasted six months or more. It's not caused by ongoing exertion. It's not relieved by rest or sleeping. And it's causing a huge decrease in function that affects our ability to do routine daily living activities. 75% of patients are unable to work and 25% are housebound or bedbound. And the CDC even acknowledges that most patients are undiagnosed. So most people are dealing with these symptoms and they have no answers and nothing that they can do to really address the symptoms. Sheilah Kast: That's Whitney Fox, who is living with ME/ CFS or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is on the record. And I'm Sheilah Kast. Also with us is Melinda Lipscomb. They co-founded and co-chair the Maryland chapter of ME Action. We're talking about the group's advocacy and how that has been shaped by long COVID. And Whitney, I wanted to pick up on that. The US Government Accountability Office says as many as 23 million Americans are suffering from long COVID, and as many as 1 million of them are unable to work because of it. Whitney, what is ME Action advocating for right now? Whitney Fox: One of the things that we're working on here in Maryland is establishing contacts and connections with our state legislators and with the more administration. We have a new governor in place, and we really want to try to make contacts with them and work with them on a state level. What we can do here in Maryland, we're continuing to do awareness events. May 12th is ME Awareness Day, and we do proclamations on the county, state and city level to recognize May 12th is ME Awareness Day. We are meeting with our congressional representatives later in April as part of Solve ME and Solve long COVID Advocacy Week to urge for research funding. There is so, so much that we need to do surrounding this illness, but mainly it's we need people to be aware of what this is and and ways and care. Yeah. And we need ways to manage this and navigate this transition from being a healthy, active part of our community to being a person with a chronic illness that's disabling. It's a really hard transition, especially for me. It's been really difficult to unlearn my internalized ableism and give myself compassion and grace as I'm dealing with this incredibly difficult illness that has no support. Sheilah Kast: Melinda What advice would you give to people who have long COVID and who are experiencing symptoms that mirror ME? Melinda Lipscomb: The first thing that I always say is listen to your body and believe yourself. For so long I know I personally it was, you know, put off to stress. It was put off to burn out. I was just overworked. You know your own body and you know that there's something going on. And the difference between you've experienced tired and fatigued before. And this is different to know that there are resources out there you might not be able to get it from your doctor or going online and you know, some of the med sites and finding it easy. But there are many of us out there and you can find us and connect with us through these different support organizations or advocacy organizations and through social media. And third, don't push yourself. You know, we we've grown up in this society where you're supposed to be on all the time and doing all the time. And it's about the hustle when it comes to ME and long Covid, it means that it can hurt you and it means that it can disable you. So rest, you know, even if it's just 30 minutes here a night off there, those things can keep you from the me turning into ME or ME getting worse. Whitney Fox: One more thing I wanted to add to what Melinda said. I want long COVID patients to know that long COVID is recognized as a disability under the ADA and they have access to benefits and protections because of that. I didn't know how to advocate for those things when I first became ill, which is part of the reason why I pushed myself until I became bedbound and unable to work. But there are a lot of accommodations that could really help people at the onset of this so that it doesn't worsen or lead to things like remote work, flexible work hours, using mobility aides, noise canceling headphones, dim lighting and of course COVID mitigation measures, trying not to catch it in the first place and trying not to become reinfected, wearing masks, air filtration. Those are things that we should be fighting for and that a lot of people don't have access to short term and long term disability benefits. But using those when you need to have a prolonged period of rest to fully recover from this illness before jumping back in, I cannot recommend that enough. I wish I had done that with my onset, but like so many of us, I just I just kept pushing through until I couldn't anymore. Sheilah Kast: Wow. Thank you both for telling us about this. Whitney Fox: Thank you. Thank you, Sheilah. Melinda Lipscomb: Thank you so much for having us today. Sheilah Kast: Melinda Lipscomb and Whitney Fox are the co-chairs and co-founders of the Maryland chapter of #ME Action. We spoke in April.  Day before yesterday, August 8th, was Severe ME Day -- a day of remembrance for those who have died from ME/CFS or are experiencing acute symptoms. Since our last conversation, Melinda Lipscomb’s condition worsened and she is now suffering from Severe ME. I’m SK. Thanks for joining us, OTR.  Hope you’ll come back tomorrow.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For the first time since before the pandemic, Baltimore has opened its waitlist for public housing. How will recipients be selected from thousands of applicants? We speak with Janet Abrahams, president and CEO of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City. The application submission period ends at 11:59 pm on August 14th. Plus, City Councilmember Odette Ramos on revamping the city’s inclusionary housing law.   Links:-HABC Public Housing Waiting List-Waiting List FAQs-Inclusionary Housing Bill-Sharp-Leadenhall Legacy residents fear they will be priced out. They say affordable housing is the answer.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Freddie Gray died eight years ago of a broken neck, but just how has never been clear. Investigative reporter Justine Barron presents new evidence -- about the arrest of Freddie Gray, the investigation and the prosecution -- in her book, "They Killed Freddie Gray: The Anatomy of a Police Brutality Cover-Up." Barron will be speaking this Thursday at Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse. RSVP here. On Sept. 2 she’ll discuss the book with Johns Hopkins University professor Stuart Schrader at Charm City Books.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Eyes and body language can give big clues about how someone really feels. What about their laugh? That holds hidden truths, too. We talk to a University of Baltimore researcher about her findings -- and why a simple laugh can reveal if someone is newly in love.  Links: Article about Farley's recent research, link to Farley's ResearchGate.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Kate Myers of Annapolis has written a funny, irreverent novel with lots of romantic twists that also unspools a mystery about what’s being excavated at a archeological dig on a sunny Greek island … and, it asks the question: Who gets to shape history?   Links:  Friday, August 4: Rehoboth Beach, DE 2-4pm | Browseabout Books Saturday, August 5: Ocean Pines, MD 5pm | Caprichos Books Sunday, August 6: Annapolis, MD 5:30pm | Old Fox Books Wednesday, August 9: Baltimore, MD 7pm | Greedy ReadsDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from urban excavation expert Evan Woodard about why he’s dedicated to making history come alive. You can find him on Instagram at Salvage Arc. We have more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series -- including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast - at Stoopstorytelling.comDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

One month ago today, the gun violence plaguing American society reared its head again in south Baltimore. Over the course of ten minutes in the early morning of July 2, 2023, gunfire from multiple, yet unidentified, shooters injured 28 people and killed two. Half of the victims were under the age of 18. The shocking event during Brooklyn Day, a celebration of the neighborhood, threw the community into mourning. On today's show, we look to see how the neighborhood's young people are doing, and what resources are being made available for them. We speak with two religious leader in the community, who both take on mentorship roles with local young people. Reverend John D. Watts, senior pastor at Kingdom Life Church Apostolic, and Kandice Golden, a minister in Rehoboth Church of Deliverance and local small business owner, sat down with us. Officials from the Mayor’s ‘Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement,’ joined us to talk about their mission in the aftermath of gun violence. One of the tools at their disposal is an orange RV called the Peace Mobile.We speak with MONSE interim director Stefanie Mavronis and Rick Fontaine Leandry, MONSE’s ‘Coordinated Neighborhood Stabilization Response Manager’.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Right now, beneath your feet, a century-old system of pipes and drains making up Baltimore City’s water and sewage utilities help deliver water to nearly 2 million people across the region. The system serves the city, Baltimore County, and parts of Anne Arundel, Carroll, Howard and Harford counties, too. It is among Baltimore city’s largest and most valuable assets, worth billions of dollars. Later in the show, we discuss how aging sewage infrastructure is impacting Baltimore city residents. But first, a new regional task force created by the Maryland General Assembly is considering changes to the system that could have repercussions for the many people who use its water. The task force has a deadline in January to present its recommendations to the General Assembly.Our guests are Bill Henry, Baltimore City’ Comptroller and chair of that Task Force, and Lauren Buckler, Deputy Director for Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation. She was named to the task force by County Executive Johnny Olszewski. Later in the show, we talk about the consequences of aging sewage infrastructure for Baltimore city residents. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works reported in 2021 there had been more than 8500 sewage backups in the city in the previous three years.Some of those backups are caused by storms or flooding, when a sudden influx of water triggers the sewage system to spill. Sometimes into streams and sometimes into people’s homes. In 2021, the city expanded its help for residents with sewage backups by paying clean-up crews dispatched to the scene. But this past May, the federal EPA said the city must expand its assistance to include residents who experience sewage backups from causes beyond storms and flooding. Our guest Jennifer Kunze, program coordinator with the grassroots advocacy group Clean Water Action, joins us to talk about the latest. We asked the city’s Department of Public Works about the practice of limited support for clean-ups to backups caused by wet conditions; "If City of Baltimore residents encounter capacity-related sewage backups, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) offers its Sewage Onsite Support (SOS) Cleanup Program, a direct assistance program, which provides cleaning and disinfection services at no cost to residential customers, who reside in Baltimore City, and are impacted by sewage damage caused by a capacity-related wet-weather event resulting from heavy or sustained rain. A capacity-related wet weather event occurs when at least ¼ inch of precipitation is recorded within a 24-hour period that causes the sewer lines to surcharge or overflow. A City resident who incurs costs as a result of a non-capacity and/or dry weather building backup has the option to pursue a general liability claim with the Baltimore City Law Department." More information about the city's Sewage Onsight Support Cleanup Program can be found on the Department of Public Works website.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Baltimore has 15-thousand vacant properties and lots of plans to address them. Bree Jones buys and rehabs houses a city block at a time to stabilize neighborhoods. How’s it going? Plus, Rebuilding Together Baltimore's free house repairs help seniors and low-income families remain at home. Links: Parity, Rebuilding Together BaltimoreDo you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Seventy-eight years after the U.S. first deployed atom bombs an award winning producer asks, essentially, why nuclear weapons still exist … and what will the next generation do about them? We ask Robert Frye about his new documentary. Links: The Nuclear World Project, In Search of Resolution, Youth 4Disarmament Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from ... Liz McAlister about … standing up, and standing in the way, for what you believe in. There is more information at Stoopstorytelling.com Tomorrow, from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. Sunday, Baltimore Beat will host its Summer Jam. That happens at The Compound 2239 Kirk Avenue Baltimore. There will be DJs, bands, and beverages--all enjoyed in support of Baltimore Beat: the city’s Black-led non-profit newspaper. More information here.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

For veterans of the military, the transition back to civilian life can be a struggle. Those who served during the United States’ recent conflicts are much more likely to report a difficult time readjusting to life back home, according to Pew Research Center. 47 percent of veterans who served post-9/11 say the transition was difficult, -compared to 21percent of Pre-9/11 servicemembers. And that can take a toll on the health of veterans and the people who love them. The consequences are tragic, including higher rates of suicide among veterans than adults who are not veterans. Jim Cooper is a coordinator for the Maryland Chapter of ‘Heroes on the Water.’ It’s a national organization with chapters across the country that provides recreational and therapeutic outlets for veterans and their families. Plus, the passage of the PACT Act in August of 2022 was hailed by supporters, including the White House, as the most significant expansion of Veterans Administration healthcare in 30 years. For decades, U.S. military veterans exposed during their service to toxic substances, like radiation, chemical weapons and carcinogenic burn pits were denied benefits. Veterans who apply by August 9 are eligible to have their benefits backdated to August of last year. (Photo courtesy Heroes on the Water)Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

What’s behind the rise in tick-borne illness? And what can you do to protect yourself? Nicole Baumgarth is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She arrived last September to head the public health school's new Lyme and Tickborne Diseases Research and Education Institute. Learn more about the geography of tick-borne disease on the Johns Hopkins Lyme and Tickborne Disease Dashboard. Then, a conversation about the value of green space, no matter how small.  Katie Lautar is the executive director of Baltimore Green Space, a non-profit helping local communities manage and advocate for parks, gardens, and other pockets of nature in their neighborhoods. Sylvester Myers is part of Baltimore Green Space’s Forest Stewardship Network. Find out more about how to get involved and learn more about the green spaces in your neighborhood on their website.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Laura Lippman’s new psychological thriller swirls around characters caught as teenagers in headlines about the Prom Mom and the “Cad dad.” She follows them into their 30’s and hurtles toward an end we don’t see coming. Plus, what’s going on with Lippman herself?   Tuesday, July 25, 6:00pm The Ivy Bookshop Presentsat Whitehall Mill3300 Clipper Mill RdBaltimore, MD LINK Wednesday, July 26, 7:00pm Politics and Prose5015 Connecticut Ave NWWashington, DC LINK Thursday, July 27, 5:00pm Browseabout Books Presentsat The Lewes Public Library111 Adams Ave,  Lewes, DE LINK Friday, July 28, 12:00pm Mystery Loves Company Bookstore Luncheonat Doc’s Sunset Grill104 W Pier St, Oxford, MD LINK to purchase tickets Saturday, July 29, 2:00pm A Likely Story Bookstore Presentsat Exploration Commons50 East Main StreetWestminster MD  LINK    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A good book can capture a child’s imagination. Baltimore County librarian Conni Strittmatter shares summer reading picks for kids, including a graphic novel about a young Vietnamese refugee’s arrival in the U.S. Check out the library's calendar of events. Plus: nonprofit leader Amber Ivey shares a story about a Baltimore girl who makes friends with a robot in "AI... Meets... AI." Titles:"Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock" by Jesús Trejo"Our Pool" by Lucy Ruth Cummins"Wombats Are Pretty Weird : A (Not So) Serious Guide" by Abi Cushman"Hands-On Science: Matter" by Lola Schaefer"The Disney Villains’ Cookbook""Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret" by Judy Blume"Let's Fill This World With Kindness: True Tales of Goodwill in Action" by Alexandra Stewart"Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam" by Thien Pham"The Legacies" by Jessica Goodman"Four Eyes" by Rex Ogle (not mentioned)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Maya Kosok and Max Romano about a cross-country journey on two wheels.  Check out upcoming Stoop events and the Stoop podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When women got their own chance to cycle the Tour de France, nearly four decades ago, they faced skepticism, chauvinism, poor equipment and sparse finances. Baltimore documentarian Jill Yesko’s new film "Uphill Climb" shows how they persevered.   "Uphill Climb: The Women Who Conquered the Impossible Race" can be seen on Discovery Plus and on Peacock, which is also covering the new women’s race that starts on Sunday: Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Watch the trailer and check out the film's four-part companion podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, drag performers have made a home in the ancient ridges and valleys of the Appalachian mountains. In Cumberland, Maryland, in the historic Embassy Theatre downtown, you can catch a glimpse of something glamorous and unique to this corner of the Rust Belt. Photographer Michael Snyder, who grew up in nearby Frostburg, first experienced the Cumberland drag scene more than a decade ago. He would return again and again, before starting to photograph the drag performers. His pictures capture the glamour and grit of Cumberland’s queens. Bruce Baker, known on stage as Mary Jane LaFay, joins us to talk about performing in Cumberland's drag scene. Snyder's photography exhibit, "The Queens of Queen City," is open July 29 through August 19, 2023 in Allegany Art Council's Saville Gallery in Cumberland. Later in the show, Kijana West discussed founding a new hub for LGTBQ+ community building in the region. Safe Space Cumberland opened last November, and offers virtual and in-person services. Scenes from queer life in Allegany County are also captured in Rae Garringer's essay in the recent edition of the Virginia Quartely Review. Garringer is the founder of Country Queers, an ongoing, multimedia, community-based oral history project documenting rural and small town LGBTQIA+ experiences. (Photo by Lindsay Ryklief)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In its report, “Should I Stay or Should I Go? Retaining the Teachers Baltimore City Students Need,” the Fund for Educational Excellence spotlights the extraordinary pressures on public-school teachers. We speak with Kwane Wyatt, program director for analysis and engagement at FFEE. Then, Baltimore City teachers Cheryl Owens and Corey Gaber describe how the profession's expectations have grown unwieldy and propose changes to offer relief.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide a year ago. How do counselors in Central Maryland handle calls? What assistance can they offer? We speak with Dan Rabbitt, policy director for Behavioral Health System Baltimore, and senior hotline counselor Chris Niles about de-stigmatizing mental illness and saving lives. You can call, text, or chat 988 24 hours a day.  Links:MD Department of Health - 988Find a local same-day support clinicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report card on the health of the Chesapeake Bay released recently looks beyond the traditional indicators of nitrogen, phosphorus and water, and reviews what’s going on with the people in the bay’s massive watershed. On ecological indicators the new report card by UMCES, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, finds the bay is making progress, though the watersheds of some of the rivers that feed the Bay are not as healthy. Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz joins us to discuss the invasive and indigenous creatures in the bay. After years of falling numbers, are crab populations moving in the right direction? And what threat do invasive species, like the Blue Catfish, pose? Department of Natural Resources' winter dredge survey is a bay-wide effort to estimate the number of blue crabs living in the Chesapeake Bay. The survey estimates of the number of crabs over-wintering in the bay and the number of young crabs entering the population each year, among other data sets used to manage the crab's population. But first, Bill Dennison, Vice President for Science Application at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, joins the show to discuss some of the new findings. Dennison is a professor of marine science and is set to become UMCES interim president in September. UMCES report includes a new component this year—environmental justice—where it finds marked disparities. Suburbs tend to show lower impacts of environmental stress than cities and rural areas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is a Stoop Story from Julia Dugan about a mountain trek gone wrong. Want to hear more from the Stoop Storytelling Series? The latest podcast episode features a story from historian and educator Joanne Martin, who co-founded the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago, Adrienne Kilby was looking for a way to make friends and enjoy nature. So, she founded Baltimore Queer Hike. We speak with Kilby and co-organizer Shanae Giles about finding community and celebrating the outdoors. Links:Popular trails in Maryland Trails recommended by the Baltimore Banner This interview originally aired on April 14, 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With hundreds of acres to exercise, bike, stroll or gather, Druid Hill Park is a green oasis in Baltimore. But getting to the park requires crossing up to ten lanes of traffic. We speak with Monalisa Diallo, who lives in the Mondawmin neighborhood, and John Kwamya, who serves as Green Space Coordinator for the New Auchentoroly Terrace Association. Plus, artist Graham Coreil-Allen is president of the New Auchentoroly Terrace Association and one of the founders of The Access Project for Druid Hill Park. He describes methods for making intersections and crosswalks safer for all.  Links:Short film series: Stories for ChangeMaryland's Crash Data DashboardBaltimore City DOT Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets Design EffortBaltimore City’s 2022 Complete Streets Annual ReportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s your poultry preference? Soon, options will go beyond just roasted or fried. Upside Foods received USDA approval to sell its cell-cultivated chicken: no animals harmed, grown in a lab. We hear from Eric Schulze, Upside's vice president of Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. Plus, a group of Hopkins students is raising awareness about alternative protein production.  Links: Upside Foods, JHU Alternative Protein Project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent headlines are alarming. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, shortened as PFAS, have been found in our rivers, drinking water and our bodies. The human-made "forever chemicals" do not easily break down, and pose a lasting health risk to humans and the environment. A report from the U.S. Geological Survey published last week found that the drinking water coming out of faucets in nearly half of American homes contain these chemicals, also called PFAS. But how persistent are so-called, “forever chemicals?” And what can we do to reverse the contamination? Tasha Stoiber, Ph.d., is a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, with a focus in PFAS. We're also joined by Melanie Benesh, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group, where she is an expert on toxic chemical regulation. We also hear from scientists coming up with the next-generation of filters to remove these chemicals from our drinking water. Dr. Danielle Nachman, Ph.d, is senior scientist and project manager for the ‘Applied Chemistry and Physics Group’ at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disability Pride Month started as a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act--signed into law in July 1990. It marked a significant milestone for the civil rights of Americans with all kinds of disabilities. For people and advocates in the disabled community, Disability Pride month also means celebrating the full breadth of experience of those with disabilities. Make Studio in Baltimore City is hosting Disability Pride Arts Fest on July 15. Jill Scheibler, cofounder of Make Studio, joins the show. Also joining are two of the artists featured in the Disability Pride Arts Fest, Tyrone Weedon and Louis Middleton. Later in the show, we take a look at a new art exhibit featuring the work of Judith Scott. She is a celebrated artist whose work has been shown at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, and other prestigious museums. Scott started honing her craft only in her mid-40s. Scott was born with Down syndrome in 1943, then rendered deaf by an attack of Scarlet Fever in her infancy. But her deafness went undiagnosed for years, and was interpreted as low IQ. She was considered ineducable and spent the next 36 years institutionalized. Now the American Visionary Art Museum is featuring Scott’s work in a new solo exhibition, open through June 2024. The exhibit, “The Secret Within: the Art of Judith Scott,” includes the artist’s intricate sculptures, as well as personal perspectives on Scott’s life from some people close to her. Gage Branda, a Curatorial and Development Coordinator at AVAM, joins us to describe the exhibit he helped assemble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum, two exhibits, worth a look: One explores the synergy between the work of Steven, Alexandra and Zac Posen, a father and his daughter and son. The other features local cartoonist Barbara Dale, not at all afraid to speak her mind, as she makes people laugh.  Jeffrey Kent, chief curator, gives us a preview of the two exhibits, which he hopes will inspire visitors to realize their own creativity that lies within.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is a Stoop Story from Jeffrey Kent about following his dream even when his family advised him otherwise … and how art saved his life. Now, a quick turn to another local artist who has had the courage to follow his dreams. Landis Expandis, former lead singer of the rock-and-soul quintet The Almighty Senators; Also a DJ, a surreal and abstract painter. Landis Expandis’s  music, energy and art bring joy and inspiration to many -- and now he is in a tough place. Expandis, who is immunocompromised, encountered a series of health challenges and has kidney and liver failure, the latter due to lymphoma. The Baltimore arts community has rallied to offer support. Here’s part of the Go Fund Me page set up to help cover costs for him and his family: “For the past 35 years, Landis Expandis has dedicated his soul to Baltimore crossover music, bringing us immense joy through music, painting, dance parties, and all around magic. Now it's time to ask for support for Baltimore's Best and his spouse in their time of need.”   We at On the Record send Landis our hopes for his continued recovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s next at selective colleges in Maryland, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has said they can’t consider race when they choose students? We ask Professor Julie J. Park of the University of Maryland and Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed: What’s the value of diversity? And how can schools achieve it?   Links:What the Supreme Court Rejection of Affirmative Action Means   What Could Colleges Do Without Affirmative Action?  Affirmative action's end spells more isolation for students of colorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parts of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future are starting to show up in families’ lives: like thousands of new slots in pre-K. Tutoring to help pupils read at grade level. We speak with Maryland Matters reporter William J. Ford and to Brit Kirwan, chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland, who led the charge for the Blueprint. Links:Blueprint board could approve ‘majority’ of school system plans next monthBreaking down the Blueprint: Major changes ahead as Maryland plans dramatic expansion of early childhood educationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up, children learn about the Underground Railroad. The secret route of hideouts and hidden pathways enslaved people used to claim their freedom. But it turns out that a part of the Underground Railroad network was actually… a real railroad. The B&O Railroad Museum has a permanent exhibit showing how 27 enslaved people used the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to escape, or try to escape. Some stowed away, some disguised themselves, some walked the tracks.  We’re marking Independence Day by revisiting our conversation in October about the people who sought freedom along the B&O tracks. This episode recently won an award for Outstanding Public Affairs programming from The Chesapeake AP Broadcasters Association. We’ll hear the risks they took from the museum’s executive director Kris Hoellen and Chris Haley of the Legacy of Slavery project at the Maryland archives. Learn more about Mt. Clare Station. Plus, Julia-Ellen Craft Davis, recounts her great-great grandparents' brave mission to escape slavery in Georgia, traveling by train in a daring disguise. The railroad museum is set to host Music for Mankind on July 14. Recording Artist Wordsmith will play music inspired by those who took the perilous journey to freedom along the Underground Railroad. (Original Airdate, 10/11/22)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got plans for the Fourth? We get a preview of the Dundalk Independence Day parade, which features giant balloons, bagpipes and more! Plus, we speak with an archeologist about a recent discovery: the unearthed remains of one of Maryland’s first colonists, a teen-ager.  Links: Dundalk Parade info, St. Mary's archeological finds, Historic St. Mary's City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Catherine Deitch about traveling the globe in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp during World War Two. Find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series -- including live events coming up, and the Stoop podcast at Stoopstorytelling.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you remember back to learning about the Revolutionary War in school, you probably remember hearing about famous battles at Concord or New York. But you probably did not learn about the several thousand Black soldiers who fought for independence. One of them was Thomas Carney, born in 1754 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A new book, The Story of Mr. Thomas Carney, tells the story of his life for young readers. Steven Xavier Lee is the author. Lee is an educator, museum expert, designer and environmentalist who was founding director of the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum near Catonsville. He is an adjunct professor of history at Stevenson University and serves on the Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is here! What’s happening for young people in Baltimore? Turns out, a lot! We get a preview of ‘Story Tapestries’ -- music, art and performances that will delight kids in libraries across the state for July. Plus, great destinations open their doors for ‘Field Trip Fridays’.  Links: Story Tapestries, Baltimore's Promise, Summer meals in Baltimore City.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What impact do immigrants have on Baltimore County’s economy? What countries do the new residents hail from? We talk with Rich André who offers highlights from a new report, Gateways for Growth. Plus, Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Immigration Affairs Outreach Coordinator for the Baltimore County Office of Community Engagement, and Annette Karanja, head of Haki Zetu, about how the New Americans Task Force works to eliminate barriers and encourage empathy.  Links: Gateways for Growth, New Americans Task Force, Resources for Immigrants in Maryland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting this weekend, adults 21 and older will be able to buy recreational cannabis from dispensaries across the state. We ask Baltimore Business Journal reporter Matt Hooke what economic impact legal cannabis is expected to generate. Plus, Wendy Bronfein of Curio Wellness and Nicole Harrison of Mary & Main describe how businesses are preparing for new customers.   Links:SunMed Growers expands with $16M cannabis edibles factory‘It’s going to be hot’: Maryland cannabis firms stockpile and staff up for big demand starting SaturdayMaryland's recreational marijuana bill will open marketplace in July, allow for pot cafésSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Brewster had everything a mid-20th-century Democratic politician in Maryland could want: strong voter base, beautiful family, wealth. It unraveled spectacularly, due to his alcoholism and failing to see how voters were changing and not changing. We talk to Brewster’s biographer, journalist John Frece, who's written, "Self-Destruction: The rise, fall and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster." This afternoon at 4 p.m., Frece will discuss the book at the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center,  321 Main Street in Reistertown. On Aug. 1, he’ll talk about "Self-Destruction" at the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road in Baltimore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tola’s Room engages all the senses. The home museum is chock full of photos, food offerings, music and artifacts -- all inspired by the spirit of Puerto Rico -- and in memory of the family patriarch. We hear from its creator, artist and educator Christina Delgado. Links: Tola's Room, Un Verano en Baltimore! happening Saturday 6/24 from 5 to 8pm, Bmore Art interview with Christina Delgado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Justin Fair about embracing his fearlessness … and finding himself along the way.  Find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series -- including live events coming up, and the Stoop podcast at Stoopstorytelling.com . Pride is this week! There are lots of events including the fabulous parade that kicks off Saturday at 1:00 PM. The route begins at North Charles and 33rd Street, and heads south toward WYPR! Where there will be a welcoming committee!  From 3 to 9 p.m, the Pride Block Party along  Charles Street between 23rd and North Avenue will showcase an array of vendors, food, DJ’s and talent!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1970s, the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore was the center of a vibrant LGTBQ+ community. The Washington Monument in the heart of Mount Vernon saw rallies for gay rights in the 1970s and ‘80s, and in 1975 the first gay Pride rally was held near the foot of the monument. Mount Vernon is also where one of the first support groups for people with AIDS formed in April 1983. The group met in the First & Franklin Presbyterian Church, a unique pillar of a growing LGTBQ community. John McLucas is a long-time member and Church Elder at First & Franklin. He joins the show to talk about the history of the congregation, the social justice mission at the heart of the church's faith and how today's worshippers wrestle with sexuality and religious creed. Then, the Maryland Center for History and Culture hosts an array of books, pamphlets, artifacts, photographs and more reflecting local LGTBQ+ life. Abby Doran, an education programs specialist, and Sandra Glascock, a special collections archivist, talk about the collection. What can we learn from the center’s LGBTQ+ items and the history they preserve?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new novel American Ending by Mary Kay Zuravleff received praise from a range of critics. Oprah selected it for her Best Books for Spring reading list. Kirkus Reviews gushed that the voice of the young narrator, Yelena, is so vivid, “it feels like Zuravleff is channeling a real person.” But there must be something beyond the irresistible writing that makes us care so much about Yelena and her family. After all, these characters, most of them immigrants, lived more than a century ago in a mining town at the southwestern edge of Pennsylvania. What do they have in common with us? The Mariana Mine is part of the story. The mine was built to be safe, but 152 miners died in an explosion there. It was the tenth deadliest explosion in American mining history. Another significant historical event featuring as part of Zuravleff's novel is the Expatriation Act. Learn more on NPR’s “Code Switch” and at the National Archives.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Seventy five years ago - on June 20th 1948 - Ed Sullivan, the slightly awkward but lovable TV variety show host, first made his way into American homes. Toast of the Town, later renamed The Ed Sullivan Show, would be seen by millions every Sunday night for more than two decades, from 1948 to 1971. Sullivan did more than entertain. ‘Sunday Best’ a new documentary produced by his granddaughter, Margo Precht Speciale looks at how and why, during a time of fierce segregation, Sullivan was never afraid to cross racial lines when booking his show.   Beginning June 20th, see a happy anniversary clip from the show, HERE. Fans can also tune into the YouTube channel the week of the anniversary to see key performance clips by Tony Bennett “What The World Needs Now Is Love/I've Gotta Be Me/People/What The World Needs Now Is Love (Reprise)” on June 18th; The 5th Dimension “Up, Up & Away” on June 19th; and Connie Francis “Second Hand Love” on June 25th. See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the U.S., and more specifically it celebrates the news of the 1863 emancipation finally making it to enslaved people Texas, at the far west of the confederate states, more than two years later.  Maryland has observed Juneteenth since 2014, but it didn’t become a federal holiday until two years ago. This afternoon at 5 p.m. Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall in Savage—20 miles south of Baltimore in Howard county— will host its first Juneteenth celebration.  We hear from Norma Broadwater, manager of Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall and from Ireatha Leona Woods, organizer of the event and proprietor of Leona’s Sewing Studio. Links: Juneteenth Celebration at Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall, Leona's Sewing Studio.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop story from Jabari Lyles about dancing to your own rhythm. Lyles, former Director of LGBTQ Affairs for the Baltimore Mayor’s Office, talks about founding his high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. There is a live Stoop shows coming next Friday. On June 23rd, at the Smith Theatre at Howard Community College, the Stoop will share stories on the theme, “These are the People in Our Neighborhood: Stories about community, conflict, culture and coming together.” You can hear more stories at Stoopstorytelling.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist John Blake grew up in West Baltimore, the son of a Black sailor and a white mother, who vanished after his birth. In his memoir, “More Than I Imagined,” Blake details his search for his mother and his identity. As John got older, he searched for answers about his family. Why had his mother left? Was she alive? And where did he fit in the world, as a self-described, “closeted biracial person?”John Blake reflects on these questions in his memoir, “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.” Blake is an award-winning journalist for CNN, who has covered race and religion. His first book was “Children of the Movement,” which profiles adult children of leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As shorts and tank-tops come out for summer, tiny blood-thirsty ticks see an all-you-can-eat buffet. Tick-borne illnesses have been climbing in the United States, a steady surge in several diseases carried by ticks like Lyme Disease and Babesiosis. Plus, most of us know about Patterson Park. But Baltimore is also home to hundreds of scattered, smaller pockets of green, too. And conservationist say they are critical to human and non-human inhabitants alike. Katie Lautar is Executive Director of Baltimore Green Space, a non-profit helping local communities manage and advocate for parks, gardens and other pockets of nature in their neighborhood Sylvester Myers also joins us. He’s a community member who’s part of Baltimore Green Space’s Forest Stewardship Network. Find out more about how to get involved and learn more about the green spaces in your neighborhood on their website. But first, what’s behind the rise in tickborne illness? And what can you do to protect yourself? Nicole Baumgarth is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She arrived last September to head the public health school's new Lyme and Tickborne Diseases Research and Education Institute. She is also a doctor of veterinary medicine. You can learn more about the geography of tickborne disease on the Johns Hopkins Lyme and Tickborne Disease Dashboard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Applying to college is an arduous process. Top picks, admission tests, financial aid, extracurriculars … the list goes on. A non-profit mentors immigrant youth unfamiliar with the process. We hear from the founder, Erin Sullivan, and from Judith Menjivar and Javier Orellana Ostorga, two college students who are reaching for their dreams.  Links: Chesapeake Language Project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The poise and self-possession NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly exudes as a cohost on All Things Considered is not always how she feels inside. In Kelly's new book, she shares a very personal tale; a chronicle of her struggle to find time for family and friends as her globetrotting career grasps for every minute. Her new book is ‘It Goes So Fast: The Year of No Do-Overs.’ As her oldest son prepares for college after years of missed soccer practices and birthdays, Kelly realizes there won’t always be a next time.Plus, a local mom and entrepreneur is helping parents to pursue their own business while raising their families. Tammira Lucas and her sister TeKesha Jamison founded The Cube Cowork in 2016. The co-working space in East Baltimore, on Harford Road, opened during the pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Maryland has a superpower, it might be the insights and energy of entrepreneurs across the state, identifying something customers want, and would be willing to pay for, if there were only a company making and selling it. You do not have to look far to find start-ups trying to make their businesses work. We speak with local entrepreneurs involved in two ventures at Towson University and Community College of Baltimore County. The CCBC's Center for Business Innovation is hosting “B’More Bold Business Conference for Entrepreneurs and Innovators" today. Several hundred people are gathering this morning near BWI at the Maritime Conference Conference Center to brainstorm solutions for start-ups and growing businesses. Across town at the Armory in Towson, another set of entrepreneurs were rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Towson University’s StarTUp welcomed its fifth cohort of founders of new ventures, mostly women, minorities or veterans, who have ideas for businesses in medicine, finance, human resources, food and more. Dennis Sullivan, Executive Director and Associate Professor at CCBC's Center for Business Innovation, and Tasha Lee, owner of Tasha Flowers, join us to talk about cultivating growing business ideas. Later in the show we are joined by Patrick McQuown, who had two decades as an entrepreneur, mentor and educator when he joined Towson University in early 2020 as director of entrepreneurship. Kobby Osei-Kusi took part in last summer's cohort at StarTUp. He founded a company called Pirl Technology, working to develop more effective chargers, for cellphones and for electric vehicles and other devices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the departure of Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison mean for the city’s fight against crime -- and its efforts to interrupt violence?  We ask City Councilman Mark Conway, Baltimore Banner reporter Emily Sullivan, and West Baltimore citizen-safety advocate Ray Kelly their thoughts. Links: Citizens Policing Project, Baltimore Banner reporting by Emily Sullivan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reading creates empathy, drives literacy, and in some cases offers an escape. Freedom Reads, a program to be installed this week in juvenile and correctional facilities in Maryland, will bring dozens of new books -- and all the imagination they conjure -- to young people in the system. We talk to its founder, Reginald Dwayne Betts, and new secretary of Juvenile Services, Vincent Schiraldi. Links: Freedom Reads , Banner Reporting:‘I had to protect myself’: What Maryland is doing to stop kids from seeking guns; Juvenile services agency teaches kids to find their way on a Western Maryland lake  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Towanda Carter about always reaching … always believing, … never failing to believe in yourself. You can hear more stories at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Govans Presbyterian church has big plans for Juneteenth this year! It involves two church choirs, performers from the Baltimore Symphony Musicians Foundation, and selections of Jazz, gospel and R&B! We get a preview from co-creators Lea Gilmore, who is a vocalist and the Minister for Racial Justice & Multicultural Engagement and music director at Govans, and Jonathan Jensen, BSO bassist. Plus, MORE ways to mark the holiday from Baltimore Beat’s arts and culture editor Teri Henderson!  Links: Juneteenth Jubilee Community Concert at Govans Church, Donnell’s Day at Ames Memorial United Methodist Church, H3irloom at Walters Art Museum, Black Celebration at Ottobar, An Opulent Juneteenth, at The Compound.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report card on the health of the Chesapeake Bay released today looks beyond the traditional indicators of nitrogen, phosphorus and water, and reviews what’s going on with the people in the bay’s massive watershed. On ecological indicators the new report card by UMCES, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, finds the bay is making progress, though the watersheds of some of the rivers that feed the Bay are not as healthy. Later in the show, Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz joins us to discuss the invasive and indigenous creatures in the bay. After years of falling numbers, are crab populations moving in the right direction? Bill Dennison, UMCES vice president for Science Application, joins us first to discuss the report card's new findings. Dennison is a professor of marine science and will become UMCES interim president in September. The UMCES report includes a new component; environmental justice. It finds marked disparities. Suburbs tend to show lower impacts of environmental stress than cities and rural areas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we Pass the Mic to LGBTQ advocate and educator Jabari Lyles. His guest -- Londyn Smith de Richelieu, Baltimore City’s new Director of LGBTQ Affairs -- talks about the need to change the culture and attitude toward trans folks from within City Hall. Then Lyles is joined by Legacy Forte, head of BMORE BLXCK, talking about resources they provide for Black trans youth and Toby, a trans tenth-grader at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, on the message he picks up from youth-centered anti-trans legislation across the US: “They want to send the message to younger people because they want to tell them when they’re young: your existence is wrong. You shouldn’t feel safe in your existence. You shouldn’t feel ok with your existence.”  Links: Baltimore Office of LGBTQ Affairs, BMORE BLXCK, Trans Maryland resources, The PRIDE Center of Maryland, PRIDE 2023 events Original airdate: 6/14/22See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is a Stoop Story from Phillip Pack about overcoming decades of racism at Bethlehem Steel and why working together means much more than just finishing the job For more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast - go to Stoopstorytelling.com  Tomorrow, the Charles Street promenade is back -- not a festival but a pedestrian takeover of the historical avenue. No cars from 9 a.m. to to 9 p.m., from Saratoga Street to North Avenue  … so it’s easy to stroll and shop, enjoy live music, fun for kids, and pop-ups! On Thursday evening, check out REVIVE, a home and fashion show with the goal of reviving the drooping fashion and upholstery industries. The Cavanagh House, which offers apprenticeships in these skilled trades, will showcase collections from students in its fashion, home and upholstery programs -- plus award-winning couture designers and tailors from Charm City. Thursday, June 8, 6 to 9 pm. At 701 E. Pratt Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today: an update on the federal consent decree the Baltimore Police Department undertook six years ago. We speak with members of the monitoring team about progress on training, use of force, and sexual assault investigations. Plus, 500 officers short, what happens to community engagement?  Guests:Kenneth Thompson, monitorSeth Rosenthal, deputy monitorEvan Shea, subject matter expertLinks:Outcome Assessment and Audit of Sexual Assault Investigations (May 2023)Compliance Review and Outcome Assessment Regarding Use Of Force (December 2022)Second Comprehensive Assessment Report (December 2022)BPD TransparencySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sprightly invasive insect, native to parts of China and Vietnam, was first sighted in the United States in 2014. Since then, the Spotted Lanternfly has spread to 14 states, including nearly every county in Maryland. Its voracious appetite and rapid population growth has made it a high-priority invasive pest for scientists and pest management agencies across the nation. Kenton Sumpter, an entomologist who works in the Spotted Lanternfly Suppression Program for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, joins us to discuss the tiny planthopper, its life cycle and the threat it poses to Maryland's native flora and fauna. Sightings of Spotted Lanternfly can be reported on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website. Additional information on the pest can be found there, as well. Plus, a fresh-cut lawn is seen as a classy sign of status for many people. But for others its a sign of ecological degradation. Now, some organizations are trying to encourage less lawns and more indigenous plant life. The Green Townson Alliance began holding the Native Garden Contest in 2020 to encourage the growth of native plants, shrubs and trees in yards in Towson neighborhoods. Tanya Ray is a winner from last year’s Native Garden Contest. She was awarded in the Breaking Ground category for newly planted native gardens. Ray joins us to talk about the inspiration behind her garden, and how new gardeners can take their first steps towards including more indigenous plants. Photo credit: Stephen Ausmus/USDA Agricultural Research ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How’s your highway commute? Or -- does your bus arrive on time? Is there enough room? The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board has a new plan called 'Resilience 2050: Adapting to the Challenges of Tomorrow,' and wants to know what users think about it. We talk with Mike Kelly, Baltimore Metropolitan Council president and Todd Lang, Director Of Transportation Planning at BMC, to learn more. Plus, the ‘Transportation Equity Act’ is now law - Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition president Samuel Jordan explains the power behind the new law. Links: Resilience 2050: Adapting to the Challenges of Tomorrow executive summary; BRTB public engagement hub; Community comment meetings for BTRB's plan; Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition; what is in the Transportation Equity Act; MTA Maryland public transportation schedules and routes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memorial Day was first celebrated nationwide on May 30, 1868, just a few years after the end of the American Civil War. The holiday commemorates U.S. military personnel who died in conflicts past and present, domestic and abroad. Many of those who serve today were inspired by the men and women who came before them. Harriet Straus is one of those people. Her military and later civilian career in nursing led her to the University of Maryland, where she is now Manager of Nursing Clinical Education at the Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute. There, she helps train staff and assists patients—many who are veterans themselves. Straus joins us to talk about her service and the family and friends that inspire her to care for her patients. Near Timonium, the Memorial Day ceremony at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is in its 56th year. Jack Mitchell, President of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, joins us to talk about today's ceremony. You can watch it live, starting at 10am on May 29, 2023, on their livestream. (Photo credit: Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is Stoop Story from Angie about finding genuine connection and love. Next Thursday you’ll have the chance to hear more Stoop Stories! The Stoop is partnering with the Queer Jewish Arts Festival and the Creative Alliance to present, “Glitter, Gefilte, Guilt and Guts: Stories by People who are Jewish, Queer, and Here!” The event is Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 7:30 pm at the Creative Alliance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communities have come together to celebrate the diversity of Asian experiences throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As part of Baltimore's Asia North festival, "LGBTQIA(sian)" will explore the intersection of Asian and queer identities through theater. Rohaizad Suaidi is an adjunct professor of theater at Towson University and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. We ask about the power of theater and why representation matters.  LGBTQIA(sian) will take place next Thursday, at 7 pm at The Parlor. Although Asia North is wrapping up, there are a few other events to catch. Next Friday, June 2, a closing celebration will include dance and music performances. The next day, Saturday June 3rd, a walking tour will explore the restaurants and landmarks that make up Baltimore’s historic Koreatown. And there is art connected to the festival’s theme - TRANSition/TRANSformation/TRANScendence - on display at The Parlor and Motor House through June 3rd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prenatal care leads to better health outcomes for both mothers and babies. A new partnership in Baltimore offers prenatal care to patients experiencing homelessness and connects families to essential services. Plus, a look at the Healthy Babies Equity Act, which goes into effect this summer.  Guests:Dr. Iris Leviner, the Director of Pediatrics and Family Medicine for Health Care for the Homeless and the Interim Senior Medical Director at the group's Fallsway clinicDr. Yves-Richard Dole, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Metropolitan OB/GYN, a team of physicians affiliated with The Family Childbirth and Children's Center at Mercy Medical CenterCindy Kolade, the Baltimore Health Navigation and Social Service Manager for CASALinks:Undocumented immigrants’ fight for pregnancy care through MedicaidWith ‘Healthy Babies Equity Act,’ Maryland Will Join Other States that Provide Prenatal Care Regardless of Immigration StatusHealth Coverage and Care of ImmigrantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fight against gun violence, Baltimore police are deploying units called District Action Teams. We speak with journalist Brandon Soderberg, whose new article in Baltimore Magazine delves into how they operate. Read: After The Gun Trace Task Force Scandal, BPD Established New Plainclothes Units. Are They More Of The Same? Then, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison on the goals of District Actions Teams, the uptick in youth violence, and recruiting more officers. Read: BPD's Year 4 Review of Accomplishments of its Crime Reduction & Departmental Transformation PlanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People with disabilities face challenges everyday in a world that mostly caters to able-bodied folks. For people of color those challenges are multiplied. We hear from three advocates - Crystal Brockington, Janice Jackson and Keyonna Mayo, from the IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities, about their life experiences and what they do to teach empathy and understanding. Links: IMAGE Center, Expectations Matter, TransCen, IMAGE Center bike build, IMAGE Center What I Wish For customized devices, Women Embracing Abilities Now, Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council. TRANSCRIPT: Sheilah Kast: We're on the record. I'm Sheilah Kast. Good morning. One in every four Americans lives with a disability. According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disabilities can be physical, cognitive, emotional and also invisible. The image Center for People with Disabilities in Towson provides creative solutions to the challenges associated with living with a disability. Today is an encore of our conversation from April with Krystal Brockington, director of the Out and About program. Brockington is also a certified Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration support broker. I started by asking what the image Center provides for people in the disabled community. CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: The image center is part of the Aging and Disability Resource Centers and we serve the area for over ten years. We serve Baltimore County, Harford County and Baltimore City, where very small nonprofits staffed by people with disabilities. At least 90% of our staff are people with the disability professionals with disability. We also have sister centers for independent living that serve all of the areas throughout Maryland. So really the entire state is covered and we typically provide service to about several hundred people per year, and we have over about 20 programs and services available. Some of those include independent living. So we have independent living planning skills, trainings and information and referral services to help people who are just sort of stuck. They're not sure what to do. We're always a good call for that. We also do veterans support planning for veterans and the veteran directed care program. A lot of veterans will use home services through their VA benefits, and they just need help planning those services to cover throughout the entire month and year. We have an assistive technology program which is really awesome and offers some financial assistance for assistive technology. We also have a lending library and we are part of the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications Program that will help people get evaluated for various types of accessible telecommunications. And as it turns out, we see a lot of people don't even know, like, you know, what devices are out there. SHEILAH KAST: You direct the out and about program. What is that for? CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: That is the nursing home transition program. We provide outreach to nursing facilities and we also assist people with applying for the Medicaid home and community-based services programs. And we also educate people about money falls to persons, which is like a few transition funds and benefits available to people leaving facilities. Mean we've also, you know, over time I think that it has been proven that it's less costly to age in place. So the image center has a number of programs aimed to help people do that. SHEILAH KAST: The image center is in the process of conducting some focus groups. What are those about? CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: Yes. So our newest partnership is with the mid-Atlantic Regional ADA Center, and these are focus groups for people that are African American people of color that have disability. And 70% of the people that we serve are actually people of color or African Americans. So we decided that it was time to have this conversation to help people kind of explore and understand how we use our rights and access our rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, right? Like if there's more room for understanding our rights and things like that, then maybe we could improve the knowledge and use to help reduce the disparities that people see in employment or community living. Actually, through a lot of the focus groups, many people say their first experience with the discrimination was in school. SHEILAH KAST: This is on the record. I'm Sheilah Kast speaking with Crystal Brockington of the Image Center for People with Disabilities in Towson. The nonprofit provides solutions and support for those who live with disabilities and their caregivers. Brockington directs the Out and About program. Tell me more about what you are hoping to learn from these focus groups. CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: We're hoping to learn more about the experiences of people of color with disability. Really? Like, you know. Were you supported when you face discrimination or were you alone? Were you able to get help? Did you know where to go or was this like a long journey? And I think for some people it was a long journey, right? I mean, I think our goal is to eventually design, test and disseminate practical approaches and remedies to help improve people's knowledge and access. So like when they're facing something, they know how to say, well, you know, I'm protected under this act, you know, or this is my. Right to receive education and be accommodated. SHEILAH KAST: Well, let me ask you, as as a woman of color living with a disability, what would you like listeners to better understand about your experience? CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: Um, you know, it's it is really a tough thing to pull apart because as you experience it, you might not at first until looking back, realize what happened. As far as disability. A lot of times people are facing like a certain type of stigma or pity, you know? Oh, and things like that. And then in different like structural barriers that perhaps with like creative solutions can be addressed. But when you find out that it's because of your race or your color, that's hate, right? That's hate and that's fear. And that's not something that is you know, you can exactly think your way out of that is based on a social conditioning. That has to change. Right? And sometimes it can be very dehumanizing. You know, it already is dehumanizing to have someone look at you and assume what your abilities are. Right. Just based on whatever they see. And then, you know, to have hate on top of it, it could be painful, you know? I have a different fight. SHEILAH KAST: I have the impression you have felt this yourself. Can you tell me about a moment? CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: Definitely. I mean, you know, I faced it going to college. You know, I faced it where I was flat out told by one of the registrar's, a person like you shouldn't be in an institution like this, you know? And at that point, I hadn't even gotten to the part of asking for accommodations, you know. But. SHEILAH KAST: But you felt in that moment it was aimed at you because you're African American, not because of your disability. CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: Right. Right. You know, most of the time I have to disclose my disability because I have a hidden disability, you know, So I kind of have to really have a candid conversation about with folk about how my disability impacts me and what it is that I would need as an accommodation. But um, yeah, it's been tough, you know, even with medical visits, you know, you go to the doctor and you're saying, Hey, you know, I know I have these XYZ problems, but I feel like I could do more and maybe they don't believe in you, or maybe they just don't want to take the time to speak to you because of who you are, right? Because of your race or your heritage. So it's definitely hard to say. Separate the two and figure out which one is one more over the other versus just the overall experience of it. SHEILAH KAST: What do you think might come from these focus groups? CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: I think as a community we're going to learn more about each other. That has definitely already occurred, and I think that people will learn that it's okay to speak about it. You know, I think in certain ways there's still fear about even talking about it or like a lot of people battle their obstacles individually and not in a unified way. Right. And so I think that at least some of that community building and coalition will come. And then I also believe that through the work that the regional center is doing, I think we'll actually we'll have a means of designing and testing practical approaches to help people access the information or get help faster. Right. So that they're not saying, okay, this just occurred to me, well, I'll sit on it for a few weeks, maybe I won't say anything about it. Right. Or maybe I just won't get that job. I won't get that job. I won't go to that school. You know, I'll find somewhere else that's more accepting, right? So I think we'll be able to break down more barriers. SHEILAH KAST: Crystal, I'm grateful to you for talking to us about this. And it's important for those of us who who aren't thinking about this often to hear from you. So I'm very grateful. Thank you. CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON: Thank you. Thank you for giving us the platform for doing this. SHEILAH KAST: Crystal Brockington directs the Out and About program at the Image Center for People with Disabilities in Towson. We've been talking about work they're doing to better address challenges some of their clients have, navigating both racist and ableist attitudes. Short break on the record when we're back to advocates for the disabled community, talk about their personal experiences. I'm Sheilah Kast. Stay with us. SHEILAH KAST: Welcome back to On the Record. I'm Sheilah Kast. Today, we're revisiting a conversation from April about the layered experience of living with a disability and living as a person of color. We just heard about focus groups conducted by the Image Center, which offers resources and support for people with disabilities. The Image Center hopes input from the focus groups will help educate their clients, business owners and the public. Next, we heard from two advocates in the disability community, Janice Jackson, who is chair of the Image Center Board and founder of WEAN Women Embracing Abilities Now and Keyonna Mayo, who works in the Image Center's out and about and connect grow programs. First, Janice explained why she started with an Women Embracing Abilities Now. JANICE JACKSON: Sure. Well WEAN is my baby and was birthed out of three support groups that I've had over the span of my life as a woman with a disability. In 1984, I joined the community as a 24-year-old woman. So I went from my able bodied woman to a woman living in a disability community and back in the 80s, you know, pre ADA pre a lot of the legislations that we have now. You know, there wasn't a lot of support out there for a woman with a disability. I didn't know any other women with disabilities. I had no one to go to to just. Talk to or someone to just help me navigate through the disability community. And that was the beginning of my first support group while I was still in rehab because I know I wasn't the only woman feeling like that. So I gathered, you know, the women that were there with me, and that was the start of connecting with other women and just going over, you know, our challenges and what we had to face. So, you know, three support groups later back in 2005, actually combined all those support groups together to establish wean women embracing abilities now. And we've been going strong since that time and just really have reached thousands of women with the connection that they're not the only one that's going through what they're going through. SHEILAH KAST: And when you said you joined the disability community, but of course, it's not a choice what happened? JANICE JACKSON: Yes. At the age of 24, I was standing talking to a girl friend of mine and this young guy, 18 years old, was smoking a cigarette and he dropped it in his lap and lost control of his car and hit me. He came up where I was and hit me and I flew 40ft in the air and broke my neck. Oh, my. SHEILAH KAST: Gosh. JANICE JACKSON: Yeah. So at the age of 24, my life was, you know, on track to where I wanted to be. My goals were being met. And in a matter of a second, my life changed forever. And they flew me to shock trauma. And that started my journey, you know, through the disability experience and never knowing I would be here 40 years later. But I believe this was my calling and this is where I was supposed to do to impact my mission on helping women with disabilities. SHEILAH KAST: Keyonna, we heard earlier about the image Center's out and about program. Tell us more about Connect Grow. KEYONNA MAYO: With that program. You know, we're just getting people, um, teenagers and young adults from the ages of 14 to 24, you know, those independent living skills and that job readiness training. And we're just building up their confidence, getting them to set their goals and things that they're interested in, helping them with their resume and just doing even more interviews. SHEILAH KAST: You both participated in the focus groups conducted by the Image Center, looking at the intersection of being a person of color and a person with a disability. Keyonna, as a black woman in the disabled community, can you give me an example of what you've experienced? KEYONNA MAYO: Well, you know, when I, um, when I got out of the hospital and I did my rehab, um, I called up the doors program and my mother went with me. I had my resume and, you know, my portfolio because I graduated college with a degree in child development. So, my goal was to get back to teaching and go to doors. And I guess it maybe should have been at home in that it was a young lady that was outside, and she was actually crying. But I was late for my own appointment, and I just wanted to get in there and talk to the counselor about how they can help me get back into the workforce. And I've done all of this talking. And the first thing that he says to me is, well, you know, I'm not a wheelchair expert, but don't know if you'll be able to chase after the children, you know? And in that moment, I needed to be lifted up and not really put down. And I don't know if he he's just been there too long or did race play a part of it or whether just because of my disability, it really, you know, took a little blow to my confidence. You know, I'm thinking I'm coming here and I'll be leaving here with some guidance and a job, you know, and some places to go to figure this all out. And that's not what I got. SHEILAH KAST: Janice, have you had an experience like that. JANICE JACKSON: As a person with a disability? We are the educators, you know, and things that we face some people don't even know. That they have biases towards. But unless they're art or unless we speak up on our injustices, some people will never get it. And you know, as a woman with a disability, a black woman with a disability and now aging woman with a disability. All of my intersections are here and I can't separate one from the other. But what I can do is educate people. And yes, I've had situations where, you know, ableism stepped into the room where, you know, people look at things through the lens of someone without a disability. But as an educator, you know, that's how I handle situations because getting mad and upset is just adding to the negative stereotypes that, you know, people with disabilities are angry. So I've always channeled myself and being that that voice for our community because we have to be heard and if we don't speak up, nothing will ever change. SHEILAH KAST: Janice, what do you hope comes from the focus groups that the Image Center is doing? JANICE JACKSON: What I hope to come from these focus groups is just education. You know, we have to have the hard conversations. You know, we have to educate our community, you know, especially those of us. Who are dealing with different isms, whoever's racism, sexism, ableism. You know, and when I roll into a room, I'm not sure which ism is on display at that point, but I know it's there. But, you know, some may be experiencing stuff but can't put a name to it. But these focus groups really just give us a platform to open up to have that real talk. And really it's about education and just giving them ammunition as we struggle through the battles that we face every day in our community. SHEILAH KAST: Keyonna, what are you looking for from the focus groups? KEYONNA MAYO: You know, that's my hope, too, that, you know, it just really people understand some of the things that we we do go through and it makes them you know, when they see something wrong, they could speak up and say something, you know. Equality for us is equality for everybody. SHEILAH KAST: This is on the record on WYPR, I’m Sheilah Kast speaking with disability rights advocates Keyonna Mayo and Janice Jackson. We're talking about their experiences as a women of color who also live with a disability. The Image Center for People with Disabilities is conducting focus groups on the topic. SHEILAH Kast: Janice The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in July 1990. It defines regulations required to accommodate people with all kinds of disabilities that allow them to carry out their everyday activities. And yet, more than three decades after the ADA became law, frustrations remain about access and equality. Janice, why do you think that is? JANICE JACKSON: I truly believe, and this is with any law, you know, you can have laws for days, but if these laws are not enacted or enforced, then they're just words on a piece of paper. And while the ADA has allowed us to move and to gain some momentum, we still have a long way to go. You know, we're still fighting those same battles as hard as we were before the Americans with Disabilities Act. You know, every area that we deal with, it seems like we have taken steps back. You know, the things that we're facing now, housing, there's no housing there’s, you know, transportation, education, employment, you know, all of these are still battles for our community. And, you know, there's been you know, we've undergone some social and racial reckoning with like the MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter movement. But the disability community is yet to see a movement, the movement that we need to be successful as a minority. SHEILAH KAST: Keyonna in July, it'll be 33 years since the ADA became law. What are your thoughts about why frustrations are still around? KEYONNA MAYO: I'll be 40, you know, like this year, and just to think about it, have benefited, you know, over these 17 years being in the disability community. Yes, I have. But there's still so much more that we have to go, you know, to get true equality. And the hardest part is changing hearts and minds. You know, it's getting people to see that, you know, it's just not about the average disabled person. It's about equality for all of us. If I'm able to freely get on the sidewalk and go and live my life, you know, that is the mother with her stroller is able to my aunt, who had knee replacement is able to you know. And so we just we have to get everyone thinking that, you know you just can't think of yourself sometimes you got to think of the community as a whole and what we all need. And you know that true equality, until we are free, really, none of us are free. SHEILAH KAST: Janice, what do you see as solutions to some of these challenges? JANICE JACKSON: It starts with each individual. You know, my mom used to tell me that everyone can't do everything, but everyone can do something. And it starts with people breaking down these attitudinal barriers, dealing with their personal feelings about someone who's different from them. You know, because as we change our attitudes, and we change how we look at people with disabilities or how we look at people who are African American or we look at people just different. The work starts with a person. And if I think if people just start being real with themselves and having those hard conversations with themselves, I think together, you know, these people can come with a clear vision of just helping someone, you know, that needs help and in their community and not just turning a blind eye or live with those biases and prejudices. So I think it starts with individual people and then it branches out into the communities. SHEILAH KAST: I'm grateful to you both for getting us started on this conversation and these hard questions. Thank you. JANICE JACKSON: You're welcome. KEYONNA MAYO: You're welcome. SHEILAH KAST: Keyonna Mayo works with clients at the Image Center for People with Disabilities. Janice Jackson, who chairs the image Center's board, founded WEAN Women Embracing Abilities Now. We've been talking about their life experiences, how they navigate both racist and ableist attitudes and the need for education. We have more information about all the resources we discussed at the On the Record page at npr.org. I'm Sheilah Kast. Glad you're with us on the record. Come back tomorrow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As federal and state housing assistance dries up, parts of Maryland are seeing rates of eviction surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Washington Post reports that in Montgomery County, the number of evictions in January and February were three times higher than in the same time period last year. In a recent investigation, the Baltimore Banner took a closer look at evictions in Anne Arundel County. Reporters discovered a majority of evictions occurred within a square mile of apartment buildings in Glen Burnie. Ryan Little, a data reporter with the Baltimore Banner, joins us to talk about the investigation. Plus, founder of Fight Blight Bmore and co-creator of the Stop Oppressive Seizures Fund Nneka N'namdi joins us to talk about Baltimore's tax sale. For the third year in a row, homeowners will be excluded from the city's tax sale. The Baltimore Banner reports that 2,000 properties were removed. Unlike previous years, though, owner-occupied homes with values of over $250,000 are included.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That was a Stoop Story from Rona Kobell about a chance encounter with danger during a reporting trip to the Chesapeake Bay. Find more information at Stoopstorytelling.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Chesapeake Bay and across the state, a rich array of turtle species call Maryland home. But turtles are in danger because of the effects of climate change and destruction of their natural environment. A 2022 study from Tel Aviv University found 58% of the world’s turtle species are threatened by extinction. World Turtle Day was created in 1990 as an annual observance to help people celebrate these beloved animals and protect their vanishing habitats around the world. Kerry Wixted, program manager with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, joined us to discuss Maryland's turtles and their habitats. Wixted is also a former Wildlife Education and Outreach Specialist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Wixted is set to speak during The Natural History Society of Maryland's celebration of World Turtle Day this Sunday, May 21.  More info can be found on their website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The late congressman Elijah E. Cummings famously said: “Our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see.” The Elijah Cummings Youth Program, in its 25th year, is his testament to that. We speak with executive director Kathleen St. Villier, and students Ryen Eley and Benjamin Caplan, about the experience. Links: Elijah Cummings Youth Program, Justice is Not Just Us podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski ruled out a run for the United States Senate and instead backed fellow Democrat and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the race.  Olszewski is in his second term as Baltimore County’s chief executive. Last month, he presented his $4.9 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024. The county council is scheduled to vote on that proposed budget a week from tomorrow.  So, what’s ahead? We ask Olszewski about a raise for county employees, plans to revitalize Essex, and preventing opioid overdose deaths. Special thanks to gust host, WYPR reporter John Lee. Links:Olszewski pitches budget with “historic” education funding to the County CouncilOnce the only African American on his shift. Now he’s set to become Baltimore County’s first Black police chief.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Policy director Jed Weeks and development director Sonya Thomas from Bikemore talk about Bike to Work week (and month!) and discuss how the nonprofit is working to convince commuters to choose two wheels instead of four for their travel. Plus, how they advocate for transportation policy change. Then Bong Delrosario, director of transportation policy and programs for the Maryland Department of Disabilities talks about transportation challenges facing people with disabilities… and how the state is working to improve their experience. Links: Bikemore, BikeToWork, Transportation options for people with disabilitiesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One in five Americans report experiencing mental illness, according to the National Institutes of Health. That's equivalent to approximately 55 million Americans. But there are significant barriers to accessing mental health treatment, including stigma and cost of care. Darius Sanders is Senior Clinical Social Worker and Therapist in the Outpatient Psychiatric Mental Health Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. He joined us to talk about loneliness and the challenges men face in seeking mental healthcare. Then, a group of dapper motorcycle enthusiasts are taking to the streets in support of men’s health. Ethan Pritchard and Tim Bernstein are two of the organizers behind Baltimore's Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride. Every year in cities across the world, local motorcyclists raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men's mental health. Baltimore's Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride is May 21, 2023. More info at can be found here. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact Maryland’s crisis hotline by calling 2-1-1 and pressing option 1 or texting 898-211. Calling 988 will connect callers directly to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline which encompasses all behavioral crisis services, to include all mental health and substance use. More resources can be found at NAMIMD.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothers Day is Sunday. For many people that might mean planning a brunch or giving special gifts or cards. There are lots of ways to show appreciation and acknowledge the special person who holds that place in the family. Maybe it is an aunt, or grandmother, or another loving person who fills the role. Yet for others, the holiday may trigger a sense of loss -- or hurt, or even regret.  Marjorie Nicole, who lost her mother last year, wants to make sure those who feel heavy-hearted on this holiday have a place to come together. We ask her about 'Missing Our Mothers' Sunday lunch. Links: Missing Our Mothers lunch, K-Love the poet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Wendry Rumrill about … the fierce love of a mother for her son … and for herself. Find more information at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic worsened America’s maternal mortality crisis, with the burden of death disproportionately felt by communities of color. We speak with Dr. Doee Kitessa, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  Then, the Maryland Child Alliance is collecting signatures to put a 'baby bonus' on the ballot - $1000 to new parents in Baltimore. We speak to the group's founder, Nate Golden. The group will have a table at the 3rd Annual Baltimore Birth Festival on May 21st..See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does Tribe 55, a group of Black Women artists aged 55+ amplify its message? With their new exhibit ‘Seen. Heard. Common Ground.’ It opens at JELMA on Morgan State Campus. Dr. Schroeder Cherry, curator, and Stacey Cruise, Tribe 55 member give us a preview. Plus, Baltimore Beat’s arts and culture editor Teri Henderson offers her picks in music and art!  Links: JELMA, Seen. Heard. Common Ground. , KirbytheImmortal1/Purple Freestyle, 4kMicheal/Truss, Deep Sugar After Hours, Sweet Spot: Space Cowboy, Micah E. Wood at Current Space, Crying in the Yard, Martha Jackson Jarvis/BMA, Blossom at Raunjiba Design Center. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuffy nose? Watery eyes? Allergy season seems worse than usual and that may be due to climate change. We speak with Dr. Jean Kim, associate professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Read: “Climate change, the environment, and rhinologic disease.” Then, warming temperatures threaten native plants. Sara Tangren, coordinator of the National Capital Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, talks about adaptation and preserving native species.  Check out the USDA Forest Service's Climate Change Atlas. Learn more about Maryland's native plants. Special thanks to guest host Ashley Sterner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Ross shares a Stoop Story about the childhood lessons he learned from his grandmother, and his changing views on those lessons as he grew up. You can find his story and others at stoopstorytelling.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, 20 middle and high school students from across Baltimore come together to create, edit and assembly writing about the experiences of local young people. CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth was founded by a group of teachers and their students in 2013. The students who join the CHARM team work together to create a range of different online and in-print publications. They also help design the publication and edit student submissions from across Baltimore schools. WYPR producer Sam Bermas-Dawes guest-hosts the conversation with executive director Whitney Birenbaum about CHARM's mission. Birenbaum says the student-run editorial board, who are paid for their work, learn about the publication process—from picking which submissions are placed in the final product, to deciding on design elements. Ariel Stevenson is a high school senior and member of CHARM's publications team. She joins the conversation to talk about her time with CHARM and creative writing. She reads from her poem, "Singing Hearts." In addition to poetry anthologies and a nascent podcast, the journalism team contributes to The CHARM Report, which covers a range of topics in the news. Tianna Hunt wrote about the state of school lunches as in-person classes resumed, interviewing students from schools across Baltimore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American Indians are the smallest population in the US, yet sexual violence against Indigenous women is ten times the national average. Why? Kerry Hawk Lessard of Native American Lifelines talks about the Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. A vigil will honor the memories of Tiffany Jones and Yasmine Wilson, whose mother, Saundra Waddell, still fights for her justice. And Sophia Marjanovic, PhD talks about the race-based federal laws that have fueled attitudes and dangerous actions toward Indigenous people. Links: Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Native American Lifelines, Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Baltimore American Indian Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WYPR reporter John Lee guest-hosts this conversation with Robert McCullough, Baltimore County's new chief of police. Last month, McCullough became the first African-American leader of the agency. How will the 35-year department veteran improve morale on the force and address the public perception of rising crime?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At age 42, Michelle Paris was plunged into a role she’d never imagined: she became a widow. The grief and disorientation knocked her for a loop, but she found a path forward and now has written a darkly funny novel about a widow much like her. We talk with her about her debut novel, New Normal. Links: Speaking event 5.6.23 at Ellicott City Barnes and Noble. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eating disorders are not uncommon, but they are often invisible. The Renfrew Center works to raise awareness about how to recognize if you, or someone you know, is struggling -- and how to get help. Primary therapist Yosan Gebre Ab talks us through it. Plus, a recovery story from Lola Morales, who found help just in time. Links: Renfrew Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Day Al-Mohamed about why being blind needn’t stop someone from doing whatever they set out to do. You can hear her story and others, and get information about live events and the Stoop podcast, at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The events at the ‘See Beyond Festival’ hosted by Maryland School for the Blind give the public a taste of what blind students experience -- the power of adapting to challenges without the use of sight. We get a preview from Rob Hair, Superintendent and CEO. Links: Maryland School for the Blind, See Beyond Festival, A Guide to Rehabilitation Services and Resources for Individuals who are Blind or Severely Visually Impaired.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is Maryland working to protect children? A staggering report revealed extensive abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests and covered up by church leaders. Then, two weeks ago, Governor Moore signed into law a measure making it easier for victims to sue their abusers, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.  What can keep kids safe? We ask Adam Rosenberg, vice president of Violence Intervention and Prevention at LifeBridge Health, and executive director of the health system’s Center for Hope.  The Maryland hotline for child and adult protective services is 1-800-91-PREVENT or 1-800-917-7383. Then, Maryland lawmakers passed a bill this spring to prevent children who are victims of sex trafficking from being criminally prosecuted for charges related to trafficking, like prostitution or theft. Governor Moore is expected to sign the bill into law. We ask Amanda Rodriguez, executive director of TurnAround, how "Safe Harbor" will assist survivors of trafficking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight years ago, Baltimore erupted in protest after Freddie Gray’s funeral. His death sparked calls for police reform and for investment in areas long neglected. What's changed? What concerns do young people have about the future? We speak with a trio devoted to their community: husband and wife, Elder C. W. Harris and Amelia Harris, and musician Todd Marcus. They are all co-founders of Intersection of Change, which works to enrich the social and economic lives of Sandtown residents. Then, young people across Maryland will have the chance to share their ideas and concerns at the 7th Annual Youth Issues Assembly, to be held Saturday, May 6th. We get a preview from Shaleece Williams, Director of Youth Programming for the No Boundaries Coalition; Kathleen Jones, program manager of the group’s Youth Organizers; and high school junior Crystal Diala. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s new Center for Violence Prevention is a multidisciplinary initiative tasked with reducing violence in the city. The program draws on multiple departments within the university, including the medical school, law school and the school of social work. So far this year, Baltimore has seen at least 86 homicides; a majority killed by guns. Recently, several teenagers were among the killed or injured by gun violence in Baltimore. In February, the university announced the inaugural executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention to be Nadine Finigan-Carr, PhD., the director of the Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and an associate professor in the Department Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She joins us to discuss the root causes of violence and the Center for Violence Prevention's goals. (Image credit: Julio Cortez/AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a  family grieves the daughter it lost, its love for the daughter still there twists and chafes, and she looks for ways to escape. We talk with Jaclyn Paul, aka Lena George, about her debut novel that takes us deep inside the family's dynamic. Plus Diana Emerson of Waverly Main Street and Kate Khatib, a worker-owner at Red Emma's gives us a preview of the Waverly Book Festival! Links: Jaclyn Paul/Lena George in conversation at the Ivy Book Shop, Waverly Book Festival , Red Emma's bookstore and coffeehouse, Waverly Main Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community artist Ashley Minner Jones tells of growing up in Dundalk, surrounded by family. Her bond with her grandmother was special. Minner Jones is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and an artist, scholar and historian. She researched and created a walking tour of Baltimore’s Lumbee Community. There’s an accompanying website and a phone app for self-guided tours, too. She also created a recent exhibition called “Safety in Numbers: Portraits of East Baltimore’s “Reservation." Find out about the next live Stoop Show on May 31 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. And listen to more stories from the Stoop Storytelling Series on their podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Bank Jazz Society brought some of the biggest names in jazz to Baltimore, including Duke Ellington, Freddie Hubbard and Carmen McRae. Hundreds of performances in the 1960s and 70s were hosted by the Left Bank Jazz Society in The Famous Ballroom—now the site of the expanded Charles Theatre in the Station North arts and entertainment district. Recordings from its hallowed stage are set to be released Saturday, providing a new glimpse into this stunning chapter of jazz history. Zev Feldmen, founder of Jazz Detective Records and co-producer of the releases joins us to discuss the music and history of the Left Bank Jazz Society. We are also joined by Katea Stitt, Program Director for jazz station WPFW in Washington, D.C, and daughter of jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt. The three LPs are a joint project of local label Jazz Detective Records and Vancouver-based Reel to Real Records. They feature legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt on Boppin’ in Baltimore: Live at the Left Bank, Shirley Scott on Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank and Walter Bishop Jr. on Bish at the Bank: Live in Baltimore.  These LPs are available only at independent music retailers participating in Record Store Day, tomorrow, April 22. To mark Record Store Day on Saturday, Stitt and Feldmen are set to join a panel discussion on the Left Bank Jazz Society at Joe’s Record Paradise in Silver Spring at 2pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buildings are responsible for about 30 percent of all CO2 emissions in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In American cities, energy-use in buildings is often the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Housing experts say electrification, retrofitting and upgrading the state’s housing stock is crucial in order to meet the ambitious goals passed by Maryland lawmakers for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. But a report from a coalition of sustainable housing advocates, including EarthJustice and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, points to significant barriers faced by Maryland's 450,000 low-income households. Susan Stevens Miller is a senior attorney with EarthJustice and a co-author on the report. She joins us to discuss the findings. And we speak with Ruth Ann Norton, CEO and President of Green & Healthy Homes Initiatives, about the work her organization is doing to retrofit homes in Baltimore and across the country. For more information on GHHI's programs and services, go to Greenandhealthyhomes.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are about 28-thousand organ transplants annually in the US. How does organ donation work? Dr. Kathryn Smith, a Johns Hopkins pediatric transplantation doctor who received liver transplants as a teen, talks about her unique perspective. Then we hear from Carmen Blake, mother of organ donor Tim Blake, and Phyllis Weissblum, who received Tim's heart in November, 2019. The two women have forged a friendship. Links: Infinite Legacy Foundation, National Donate Life Month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2012, the American Prison Writing Archive contains more than 3,000 essays by people incarcerated in the U.S. Last year, the APWA was awarded a grant from the Mellon Foundation and moved from Hamilton College to the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins professor Vesla Weaver describes the purpose and potential of the collection. And Jose DiLenola shares how writing helped him make sense of his time in prison. Today, DiLenola is the Clemency Campaign Director for Release Aging People in Prison. Search the American Prison Writing Archive. Learn how to submit work to the archive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and journalist Mark Bowden draws on wiretaps, police interviews, rap videos, text messages and interviews to drive the story of his new book, Life Sentence: The Brief and Tragic Career of Baltimore’s Deadliest Gang Leader.  Bowden, who now writes for The Atlantic and other magazines, began his career at the late Baltimore News American and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is best known for Black Hawk Down, his book about a deadly firefight in Somalia which was turned into a movie in 2001. Mark Bowden’s riveting new book is a look at the violence and isolation that casts deep shadows into the lives of Sandtown residents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is Stoop story from Julia Dugan about a mountain trek gone wrong. The next live Stoop show is June 23rd at Howard Community College. The theme is, “These are the People in our Neighborhood: Stories about community, conflict, culture and coming together.” Listen to the Stoop podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago, Adrienne Kilby was looking for a way to make friends and enjoy nature. So, she founded Baltimore Queer Hike. We speak with Kilby and co-organizer Shanae Giles about finding community and celebrating the outdoors. Check out this list of popular hiking trails in Maryland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People with disabilities face challenges everyday in a world that mostly caters to able-bodied folks. For people of color those challenges are multiplied. We hear from three advocates - Crystal Brockington, Janice Jackson and Keyonna Mayo, from the IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities, about their life experiences and what they do to teach empathy and understanding.    Links: IMAGE Center, Expectations Matter, TransCen, IMAGE Center bike build, IMAGE Center What I Wish For customized devices, Women Embracing Abilities Now, Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The poise and self-possession NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly exudes as a cohost on All Things Considered is not always how she feels inside. In Kelly's new book, she shares a very personal tale; a chronicle of her struggle to find time for family and friends as her globetrotting career grasps for every minute. Her new book is ‘It Goes So Fast: The Year of No Do-Overs.’ As her oldest son prepares for college after years of missed soccer practices and birthdays, Kelly realizes there won’t always be a next time. Plus, a local mom and entrepreneur is helping parents to pursue their own business while raising their families. Tammira Lucas and her sister TeKesha Jamison founded The Cube Cowork in 2016. The co-working space in East Baltimore, on Harford Road, opened during the pandemic. The co-working space features conference rooms, event spaces and, crucially for parents, babysitting services onsite. Lucas says childcare costs remain a significant barrier for parents looking to become entrepreneurs. According to Maryland Family Network, the cost of childcare is often the largest expense in a Baltimore city family with a median income.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can we learn from a clay marble and bottle shards pulled from the earth? We ask archeologist Jay Lunze and Sarah Jesse, director of the Academy Art Museum, how they hope to tell more about the history of The Hill one of the first free Black communities in the country, in Easton, Maryland. And we hear from Yvonne Freeman, a descendant of James Freeman, one of the first free African American homeowners, about why she believes learning from the past informs who she is today. Links: Academy Art Museum, The Hill Community Project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the General Assembly hurtles toward wrapping up its session, we look at what proposals are still in suspense and what’s been decided: Where does the state budget stand, including funding for schools?  The structure of a new industry to sell recreational cannabis?  And gun control?  Guests:Pamela Wood, The Baltimore BannerBryan Sears, Maryland Matters Follow the WYPR Newsroom's coverage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a teenager, Reid Wiseman wasn’t dreaming of being an astronaut -- he was just trying to make it through Dulaney High School in Timonium. But when Artemis II launches next year, Wiseman will be commanding the first crew in fifty years headed toward the moon. He tells us what it means. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from astrophysicist Adam Riess about a force of nature …  that comes in a 4 foot 11 frame ... and another one from astronomer Nora Lutzgendorf about her work on the James Webb Space Telescope! Check out more stories and live events at Stoopstorytelling.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pervasive, pernicious, and persistent -- that’s how Attorney General Anthony Brown describes the child sexual abuse uncovered by his office’s investigation into the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We ask Brown about efforts by Catholic leaders to conceal and protect abusers, and with David Lorenz, Maryland leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, about his reaction to the report, and what is the path ahead.People who want to come forward with stories of abuse can contact the Maryland Attorney General’s office at (410) 576-6312 or e-mail [email protected]. For survivors of sexual abuse, you can get connected to a local rape crisis center by calling 211. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is (1-800) 656-4673. Links:Attorney General's report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of BaltimoreSNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or call 1-877-762-7432. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even months after a COVID infection clears, some people are left with debilitating symptoms - brain fog and extreme exhaustion after performing everyday tasks. What does long COVID have in common with ME/CFS - myalgic encephalomyelitis, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome? We speak with Dr. Alba Azola, a rehabilitation physician and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team. Plus, Melinda Lipscomb and Whitney Fox share about their experiences living with ME/CFS. They are the co-chairs and co-founders of the Maryland chapter of #MEAction. Learn more about ME/CFS:Long Covid Impact on Adult Americans: Early Indicators Estimating Prevalence and CostSolve M.E.For long covid fatigue, a strategy called ‘pacing’ helps, but at a costSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scandal engulfed the Baltimore Police Department following a federal investigation into the 'Gun Trace Task Force.' Leo Wise, of the Fraud and Public Corruption Unit of the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, has just published his account of the case. 'Who Speaks for You? The Inside Story of the Prosecutor Who Took Down Baltimore’s Most Crooked Cops,' takes an inside look at the investigation, and how federal prosecutors built the case against police.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The month of Ramadan is a time of prayer, charity and reflection for Maryland's many Muslim communities. Traditional observance sees daily fasting, prayer and an evening breaking of fast—a meal called iftar. Imam Yaseen Shaikh is Lead Resident Scholar and Head of Community Affairs at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. The ISB serves thousands of Muslims in the Baltimore area. Imam Shaikh often works as a bridge between Muslim families and school administrators to help ensure children receive the accommodations they need to learn. In Maryland universities and colleges, student are asking for an expansion of religious accommodations on campus. Student leaders of various faiths say the rules governing excused absences for religious observance are unclear and vary professor to professor. For Muslim students, Ramadan can be an especially challenging time as they juggle daily observance and fasting with class time and homework assignments. Hassan Ansari, president of the Muslim Student Association at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Safiullah Rifai, president of the Muslim Student Association at the University of Maryland-College Park, join us to discuss working for better accommodations, and what its like to be religious among the increasingly non-religious student body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people rely upon DNA testing to identify mutations or predict their risk of developing, or passing on, serious disorders. And at-home DNA kits like ‘23 And Me,’ ‘My Heritage’ or ‘Ancestry’ have spurred many amateur genealogists into action. Jennifer Mendelsohn is using genetic genealogy as her powerful investigative tool to help Holocaust survivors piece together families and make sense of their past. Her latest endeavor, co-founded with Dr. Adina Newman, is called the ‘DNA Reunion Project at the Center for Jewish History.’   Links: Bolton Street Synagogue talk Sun. April 2, 2pm, ‘DNA Reunion Project at the Center for Jewish History'  Mendelsohn's article about her mother-in-law, Frieda Pertman, Baltimore Jewish Times audio interview with Frieda Pertman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Jennifer Mendelsohn about the spark that ignited her work as a genetic genealogist. There’s a live stoop storytelling show April 12th at Creative Alliance! It’s an all audience show, so bring your most hilarious story that proves truth is the ultimate source of comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Free State looks sure to pass a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion, but access remains a challenge. We speak with Katie Quiñonez, the executive director of a new clinic that will offer abortions in western Maryland. Plus, Baltimore Banner reporter Brenda Wintrode describes how the state’s recreational cannabis industry is taking shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s spring … and that means hundreds of bird species are using the Atlantic flyway to migrate. Baltimore is a favorite stop to refuel.  We hear from Mike Hudson, program manager at ‘Birds of Urban Baltimore’ about what to look for during spring migration and ways to attract birds to your yard.  Plus, Kiera Givens, co-founder of BlackOak Collective, talks about the non-profit's efforts to improve the recruitment and retention of people of color in environmental careers. Links: Birds of Urban Baltimore, BlackOak Collective, NHSM The Science of Birds, Second Annual BURB-a-Thon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opioid epidemic continues to torment families and communities across the country. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the primary driver of overdose mortality in Maryland. Josh Siems was one of the thousands of people in Maryland who suffered a fatal overdose after struggling with substance abuse for years. His friends and family are now pushing for legislation they say will help lawmakers and medical professionals tackle this epidemic.  Plus, Elizabeth Kelly Gray, associate Professor of History at Towson University, traces the history of attitudes toward drugs in her new book, Habit Forming: Drug Addiction in America 1776-1914. Her research found shifting perceptions of drugs and drug users. Some ideas foreshadow what we see today, while other seem laughably outdated.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D. Watkins is tired of the lies. Lies about being tough, about not feeling pain or loss or rejection. In his latest book, ‘Black Boy Smile: A Memoir in Moments,’ Watkins shows how he learned to face those lies and push through to the truth. He hopes everyone, especially young Black men and boys, find that strength from his stories On April 12th, D. Watkins will be in conversation with author Shanita Hubbard at Enoch Pratt Free Library. They will be discussing Hubbard’s debut book, “Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women.” This interview originally aired on August 1, 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Fariborz Zarfeshan about living through the tumultuous diplomatic relationships between Iran and the United States. Check out more stories and live events at Stoopstorytelling.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ari Shapiro’s voice might be one of the most recognized in the nation. Millions listen each night as he hosts NPR’s All Things Considered. Shapiro has covered stories across the globe, and shared them with listeners with what he calls “a level of vulnerability.” His debut book, “The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening,” is part memoir and part globe-trotting adventure, delivering a poignant look at the stories behind the news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 2012, the Goucher Prison Education Partnership has offered college courses to men and women at two Maryland prisons. Executive Director Eliza Cornejo describes how Goucher stays in touch even after participants leave prison to help them continue their studies or find work. And William Freeman, a graduate, now pursuing a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, says signing up for GPEP was a no-brainer, "One, I had the time, and two, there were other individuals who were in close proximity to me that I could witness on any day studying in small groups. And I used to see the level of intent and purpose that they seemed to have with the material and with one another, and I wanted it." Watch Freeman's 2020 Commencement speech here. Learn more about becoming a volunteer with GPEP.  This interview originally aired August 17, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half of all Black Americans in the country's biggest metropolitan areas live in the suburbs. In Liberty Road, sociologist Gregory Smithsimon writes about Black Americans breaking the color barrier in Baltimore County and how white neighbors reacted. The book lays out the role of the suburbs in building a new Black middle class.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than one hundred thousand Americans await an organ transplant, and most organ donations come from deceased donors. Ieesha Johnson, executive director of community outreach at Infinite Legacy, works to dispel myths and educate the public about what it means to be an organ donor. And Danette Ragin, an organ recipient and relative of deceased organ donors, talks about how somebody’s decision to donate a kidney has profoundly changed her life: “Until the shoe is on the other foot, you really probably won’t know the true significance of it. But if you have any reservations, I pray that my testimonial will help you come to a decision to at least try to help someone.” Links: Donor law changes: update your Maryland license donor status; Infinite Legacy, Infinite Legacy Facebook,  B'more Healthy Expo, Donate Life Month at Infinite Legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Jealous is former president of the NAACP and a former candidate for governor of Maryland in 2018. He was born and grew up in California after his African-American mother and white father left Baltimore. Interracial marriage was not legal in Maryland until 1967. Many of the stories Jealous tells in his latest book, including the summers he spent with his maternal grandparents in West Baltimore, are rooted in Maryland. The book is called "Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A Parable of American Healing."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Burger is an avid collector of artifacts, a creator of images and a teller of tales. Those all come together in his book: “What’s Not to Like: Words and Pictures of a Charmed Life.”  His experience includes a decade shooting for the Sun Papers in the late 80s, so he also sees the importance of his role as documentarian: “I was walking around the building one day and I was just taking pictures just to show what it looked like and how a newspaper was made. And now it’s a historical document. Nothing, literally nothing in those photos exists!” Links: Jim Burger Photography, "What's Not to Like?", Books and Brews 3/18 from 1pm to 8pm at Union Craft BrewingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Maura Taylor about the importance of tradition … and her big Irish family. You can hear her story and others and find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast -- at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the decade since Ethan Saylor was killed during a clash with sheriff’s deputies, hundreds of Maryland police recruits and first-responders have been trained in communicating with people with disabilities. We take a look inside that training with Lisa Schoenbrodt, a professor at Loyola University Maryland and co-owner of LeadAbility LLC, and self-advocate educator Kayla Grange. And Patti Saylor, Ethan's mom, shares her hopes for his legacy. Learn more about the Ethan Saylor Alliance. Find information about the Ethan Saylor Memorial Scholarship. Original airdate: 1/26/23See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fuel of the Underground Railroad was its passengers, enslaved people who summoned their courage to flee. The Railroad’s engineer was William Still, a free Black who met them in Philadelphia, fed them and helped them move to freedom. Andrew Diemer, associate professor of history at Towson University, tells the story of that work and what followed in his new book, "Vigilance: The Life of William Still, Father of the Underground Railroad." Original Airdate: 11/9/22See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to quit smoking…and to make that change stick? We speak with Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, who leads the Johns Hopkins Tobacco Treatment and Cancer Screening Clinic, about how mindfulness and medication can diminish cravings. Contact the clinic at: [email protected]. More resources:Maryland Tobacco QuitlineBaltimore City Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation ProgramBaltimore County Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program  Then, YouthWorks is a job program housed in the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. Young people are matched to a local job site, earn a paycheck, and attend personal development workshops. The program will run for five weeks, from July to August. We ask senior program manager Rasheem about the program's impact. Applications are due by April 7th. Find more information about applying here. Check out the YouTube page. These interviews originally aired on January 6th and 20th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities are often shut out of the labor market. We hear how Kennedy Krieger Institute educates employers about inclusivity and accommodation and supports individuals pursuing careers.  We speak with Stacey Herman is the assistant vice president of neurodiversity and community workforce development about Project SEARCH and CORE Foundations. And Brian and Robby McHale talk about working at Ripken Stadium.  Register for the Neurodiversity in the Workplace conference. The conference will be held in Washington, DC from March 22nd-24th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring is on the way--daylight savings time starts Sunday! We’re marching toward the time of year to get outside and move. And we hear over and over from health professionals that spending time in the great outdoors is good for the body, mind, and soul.  What if you can’t get to your favorite state or national park easily … or if roughing it in the wild -- even MILDLY wild -- conjures up threatening thoughts of bruises, bears, and bugs! Backyard Basecamp is dedicated to helping city dwellers, especially their Black and Brown neighbors, to appreciate all the outdoors has to offer, and access green space right where they are!  We hear from Backyard Basecamp's director of programs Tatiana Mason, about the joys of urban exploring and Backyard Basecamp’s coming events. Links: Backyard Basecamp, BLISS Meadows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Miriam Greenleaf Miller about her memorable experience in the great outdoors. Find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including live events coming up and the Stoop podcast - at the Stoopstorytelling.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of identity, what comes to mind? Gender … hometown … profession? For many of us the answer to ‘who am I’ can be complicated. But how often do we really think about what makes up our identity? Cori Dioquino has thought about it -- a lot. She’s woven her ideas, experiences and musings into a one-woman show that combines dance, movement, music and art. It’s called ‘Crisis Mode: Living Pilipino in America.’  Crisis Mode opens Friday, March 17 and runs through Sunday, April 2nd at the Strand theater. Links: Crisis Mode tickets, Asian Pasifika Arts Collective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local gamers can now enjoy music from their favorite video games outside the screen. The Baltimore Gamer Symphony Orchestra and Choir covers music from a wide range of games, from horror and Mario Party to renowned classics and local independent games. Kira Levitsky founded the group in 2013. She talks about her personal connection to music, her favorite video game tunes and the reactions she sees to the unorthodox orchestra. The BSGO plans to host an open house March 22 at Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center in Dundalk. Their next concert is May 12, in the same Dundalk location.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donated art supplies can find new purpose at SCRAP B-More. Executive director Nancy Hotchkiss talks about the site's mission to keep supplies out of the waste stream and to encourage artistic expression. Find information about donating or volunteering. Then, fiber artist Sandra Smith takes us behind the scenes of an exhibit of quilts at the Peale museum. "Quilted Connections: A Sisterhood in Cloth" includes quilts created by Smith, Rosalind Robinson, and Glenda Richardson. All three women are members of the African American Quilters of Baltimore. The exhibit at the Peale is on display through March 18th. Check out audio interviews with the quilting trio. You can also see more of Smith’s quilts at the “Quilts by Marylanders Show” at the United States District Court of Maryland in Greenbelt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Keller was two years into a term as mayor of Hagerstown, MD, when Gov. Wes Moore tapped her to be the first Special Secretary of Opioid Response. The new position leads the state's efforts to counter the destructive opioid overdose epidemic.  Opioid overdose deaths in Maryland are down from pandemic highs. How does Keller plan to reduce them further? Find information about treatment and prevention at Before It's Too Late. Check out the Opioid Operational Command Center's data dashboard.  The Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council will hold a public listening session on March 8th. Details here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Carl Harding about hard work, perseverance and making one’s place in the world. you can find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including live events coming up, and the Stoop podcast - at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eating disorders are not uncommon, but they are often invisible. The Renfrew Center works to raise awareness about how to recognize if you, or someone you know, is struggling -- and how to get help. Primary therapist Yosan Gebre Ab talks us through it. Plus, a recovery story from Lola Morales, who found help just in time. Links: We've Got the Power campaign and events, Renfrew Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis Diggs invested decades shining a light on what no one before had written much about: the history of African-American communities in Baltimore County. From an archived 2008 interview, we hear how churches were a big part of the story, and what it took to desegregate the Maryland National Guard. Diggs died last October at age 90. An exhibit --”In Freedom’s Name”--co-curated by Diggs and Dr. Glenn T. Johnston of Stevenson University, is now on display at several sites in Annapolis.  Another place Louis Diggs’ legacy lives on is the museum in Granite, Maryland--named for Diggs and another historian, Lester Johnson; it preserves the story of Black Marylanders who worked in the quarries of western Baltimore County, and of 40 African-American communities in the county. Check out an oral history from Diggs from the Historical Society of Baltimore County.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re already at the end of February! How are those new year’s resolutions going for you? The most common personal goals Americans commit to each year address a healthier lifestyle: like exercising more and eating better. If you need a nudge in that direction, today you’ll hear about three groups that provide options for people of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels -- to move more, gain friends and carve out space for consistency. Having fun is also a priority! First Pamela Robinson, founder of the 40 Plus Double Dutch Club and Gerri Moore, a co-captain for the DDC Baltimore chapter tell us how they bring women over 40 together for exercise and fellowship. Then Maurice Jenkins, captain of the Black Men Run Baltimore chapter and Madi Friel, a co-leader for Baltimore’s November Project talk about the motivation and camaraderie their groups provide. Links: 40 Plus Double Dutch Club, DDC Baltimore chapter, November Project, Black Men Run Baltimore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women -- merely players.” … “If music be the food of love, play on.” … “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”   … A few of the most recognized lines penned by the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare. Many more familiar lines -- Actually ALL of the other plays in Shakespeare’s canon are jammed into the Vagabond Players’ production of ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).’  It runs through March 12th, directed by Daniel Douek. We get a preview from actor, pianist, director Stephen Deininger and actor and educator Sydney Marks.  Links: Vagabond Players tickets, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company tickets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a decade, Bruce Goldfarb’s job was to be spokesman for Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In his new book, “OCME: Life in America's Top Forensic Medical Center,” Goldfarb traces the history of the office, its rise as a pioneering force for forensic science, and the challenges it faces today.  Bruce Goldfarb will be speaking about his new book on Wednesday, March 1st from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Historic Osler Hall at MedChi, 1211 Cathedral Street, in Mount Vernon. Please RSVP by February 25rd to [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Households who qualify for SNAP food benefits got an increase as the pandemic started. That emergency allotment ends in March. Carmen Del Guercio, president and CEO of the Maryland Food Bank, tells how it’s gearing up for more people needing help. Plus, Baltimore Banner investigative reporter Brenna Smith tells about the surge in SNAP theft.  Links: Maryland Food Bank donations and find food locations; Brenna Smith reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least one of every seven children in Maryland lives in poverty. A new analysis says the real number might be higher -- maybe one in every five children. Whatever the number is, it’s too high. Gov. Wes Moore has pledged to end child poverty in Maryland. He joins us to tell us how he plans to do that, and how long it will take. Then Johns Hopkins sociologist Stefanie DeLuca tells how helping poor families move to neighborhoods where people are doing well … boosts their OWN success. Links:Maryland sought an accurate poverty count. It found 110,000 more kids.Gov. Moore’s first step to ending poverty: Tax credits for low-income familiesPoor families must move often, but rarely escape concentrated povertySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian David O. Stewart traces George Washington’s skills as a political operator, as well as the first president’s failure to speak out against slavery as he came to realize its evils. Stewart's biography is titled, "George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father." Stewart will be talking about the book in a virtual event for the Fort Ticonderoga Author Series on March 12th at 2 pm. Event details here. This interview originally aired on September 8, 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The origins of Black History Month reach back to 1926. From its from the outset, the emphasis has been on the coordinated teaching of Black American history in the nation's public schools.   Blacktastic, A children's festival of Maryland Black history and culture, carries that mission forward today -- and this year, with a special emphasis on Maryland’s Black history. It's interactive online content designed by ‘Arts for Learning Maryland,’  Singers, musicians and actors will bring some Black figure’s of the Free State’s history  to life for K through 12 students across Maryland. We get a preview from Jessica Hebron, Chief Program Officer at Arts for Learning Maryland and from Traci Mathena, Principal at Creative City Public Charter Elementary School. Links: Arts for Learning Maryland, Blacktastic! registration information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Morgan State professor Charles Carter about what can come from dedication and believing in yourself. Hear his story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland set up a ‘truth-and-reconciliation’ commission to come to grips with the shameful history of lynching in the Free State. We talk to its chair, David Fakunle … and to Joseph Koper, author of the book--The Isaiah Fountain Case--that asks when an execution after a trial could be called a lynching.  Links: Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, The Isaiah Fountain Case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where would our country be, what would it be without Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman? Award-winning documentarian Stanley Nelson evokes new insights into how each pushed to freedom from slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore."Becoming Frederick Douglass" will re-air on MPT this Saturday at 10 p.m. Both "Becoming Frederick Douglass" and "Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom" are available to watch online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A change in state law required all jurisdictions to create a new process to review civilian complaints against law enforcement officers. How will Baltimore’s police accountability board function? What power does it have?  We speak with Dana P. Moore, head of the city's Office of Equity and Civil Rights, and Mariel Shutinya, chief of the Police Accountability Division. Then, PAB member Jamal Turner talks about restoring trust between the public and the police. The board’s next meeting will take place in two weeks: 6 p.m. Monday, February 27th at 7 E. Redwood Street in Baltimore. An option to participate virtually will also be available. Links:Baltimore City Police Accountability Board 2022 Annual ReportComplaints against Baltimore police officers grow as new accountability board takes shapeFollowing reform effort, some police accountability boards up and running in counties, some still not formedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arias, librettos, divas! … big costumes and even bigger voices! The non profit Opera Baltimore builds community and conversation through the art that blends theater, music and storytelling. This weekend they take it to the streets! We hear a preview.  Links: Opera Baltimore, Opera on the Avenue, Anne Wiggins Brown history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a Stoop Story from Allison Brown about the trials and tribulations of unrequited love! You can hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pandemic burnout is building zeal for a four-day workweek. Maryland lawmakers are looking at offering a tax break to companies which give it a try. We speak with the bill’s House sponsor, Delegate Vaughn Stewart. Then, Boston College sociologist and economist Juliet Schor shares the results of an international pilot of four-day workweeks.  Links: HB0181: Four–Day Workweek Pilot Program and Income Tax Credit – Established (Four–Day Workweek Act of 2023) The Case for a 4-Day Work Week | Juliet Schor | TED 4 Day Week Global See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, Baltimore’s Open Society Institute Community Fellows take on a project to improve city life. Devan Southerland, whose son has autism, talks about building inclusivity in McElderry Park. Over the next year and a half, she will develop Brown on the Spectrum, to provide resources and cultivate work and other opportunities for young people with autism in Baltimore City. And engineer Anisah Best plans to raise digital literacy among seniors and returning citizens. Best is the founder and CEO of Baltimore Tech Hub. With her fellowship, she will establish ED x Tech Literacy Training.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate scientist David Goodrich bicycled nearly 3,000 miles over paths navigated by enslaved people on the Underground Railroad -- including Harriet Tubman’s route to independence in Canada. Why? What did he learn? We ask about his book, "On Freedom Road: Bicycle Explorations and Reckonings on the Underground Railroad." Goodrich will be speaking at the bookstore Bird in Hand tomorrow evening at 6 pm. Details here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cancers of the blood -- like lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma--make up about one-tenth of all cancers. The prognosis for patients with blood cancers is being revolutionized by new treatments that harness a patient’s own white-blood cells and turn them into cancer zappers. It’s called CAR T-cell therapy; the FDA approved it several years ago and it's now more available to patients with aggressive lymphoma. For about half the patients who get it, this new immunotherapy is a cure.  We speak with University of Maryland oncology professor Dr. Aaron Rapoport, who directs the transplant and cellular therapy program at the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. And with nurse Kathy Ruehle, senior coordinator and manager of the program. The, Sonia Su is cancer-free after three bouts of lymphoma. She shares her story and talks about Kits to Heart, the nonprofit she founded. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Josh Riley about how gifts can come in many forms. Attend the next LIVE Stoop storytelling Mon. Feb. 6 - the theme is Every Body Has a Story. More details here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you name the three branches of American Government? Dozens of Maryland middle-school students will test their knowledge in the National Civics Bee -- an effort to engage young people with their communities -- and democracy. We hear how it works.  Links: National Civics Bee competition info, Test your skills in civics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dance transports audiences and invokes emotions. We hear how performers in Baltimore will honor the legacy of African Americans’ influence on dance, and also carry it forward: The Gordon Center’s ‘Take a Leap Series’ and Baltimore Jazz Collective’s ‘Baby Laurence Project.' Links: Take a Leap dance series, Baby Laurence Project at Creative Alliance, Baltimore Black Dance Collective, Baltimore Jazz Collective. Baby Laurence and Sammy Davis Jr. perform together (Youtube)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore is six months into its test of offering a guaranteed income. Two hundred young parents who live in the city receive $1,000 a month, no strings. How are they spending this money?  We speak with Tonaeya Moore, the senior policy manager for the CASH Campaign of Maryland, a non-profit helping to administer the program. And hear from participant Jewels Hawkins, who lives in East Baltimore. Check out the dashboard of pilot programs across the country. About 30 cities across the country are testing guaranteed-income approaches. We listen back to our conversation from May 2022 with Stacia West of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania and Hopkins epidemiologist Lorraine Dean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shawn Nocher’s latest novel, "The Precious Jules," set in Roland Park, is a family story on edge. When a young sister with developmental disabilities was sent away, shame and secrets were buried. What will happen now that she’s grown, and may come back? Who is her family now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incarcerated people rarely get to tell those on the outside what life is like for them on the inside. In the exhibit “Life on Hold,” at Notre Dame of Maryland’s ‘Gormley Gallery’ artwork by women at the Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup reveals some of the emotions and realities they face from living a life in prison. We get a preview from curator and art therapy lead Casey McKeel. Links: Life On Hold, Gallery Talk, art material donation for participants at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a Stoop Story from Lori James Townes about her work as a forensic social worker and the idea that we are all more than our transgressions. You can take in a live Stoop Storytelling show this Monday, February 6 at Everyman Theater, 7 p.m. The theme is: “Every BODY has a story: The body beautiful … the body as battleground.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the decade since Ethan Saylor was killed during a clash with sheriff’s deputies, hundreds of Maryland police recruits and first-responders have been trained in communicating with people with disabilities. We take a look inside that training with Lisa Schoenbrodt, a professor at Loyola University Maryland and co-owner of LeadAbility LLC, and self-advocate educator Kayla Grange. And Ethan's mom, Patti Saylor shares her hopes for his legacy.  Learn more about the Ethan Saylor Alliance. Find information about the Ethan Saylor Memorial Scholarship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore’s food scene is chock full of creativity, innovation and good eats. The pandemic dealt a blow to many restaurants, which forced some to close … but lots have thrived and there are also many new establishments to experience. Christina Tkacik, who covers food news for The Baltimore Banner, WYPR’s online news partner, walks us through the latest restaurant openings and some new challenges facing the hospitality industry, as well as her recommendations for Restaurant Week. Plus, we hear from General Manager Melanie Molinaro and Training Program Director Ellen Levy about Groundwork Kitchen -- a new restaurant in Pigtown that’s serving up great food while training the next cadre of food service workers, sous chefs and more. Links: The Baltimore Banner food reporting, Groundwork Kitchen, Paul's Place, Baltimore Restaurant Week, Mobilizing Against a Food desert in Pigtown.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his budget plan for next year, Gov. Wes Moore pledges to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and broaden tax credits for parents and working families. Danielle Gaines, editor-in-chief of Maryland Matters, gives us the highlights.  Maryland Matters:Moore introduces $63.1 billion budget, sets focus on expanding state’s economyAnalysis: In budget introduction, Moore takes down Hogan policies Plus, Vinny DeMarco, president of the Health Care for All! Coalition, lays out how the group will be pushing this session for more insurance coverage for young people and immigrants. Find the coalition's Facebook page here. Read DeMarco's Baltimore Sun op-eds:A five-part health agenda for Maryland’s legislatureHere’s how the Inflation Reduction Act will help you See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you remember your first job? Learning the route to get there, depositing your first paycheck, getting to know your coworkers? For teens and young adults in Baltimore City, that opportunity may come this summer.  YouthWorks is a job program housed in the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. Young people are matched to a local job site, earn a paycheck, and attend personal development workshops. The program will run for five weeks, from July to August. We ask senior program manager Rasheem about the program's impact. Applications are due by April 7th. Find more information about applying here. Check out the YouTube page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is a Stoop Story from Phillip Pack about his four decades at Bethlehem Steel.  The next live Stoop show is February 6th at Everyman Theatre. The theme is “Every Body Has A Story: An evening of true, personal tales about our embodied selves.” Find ticket information here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re past the mid-month mark of January … How are those new year’s resolutions going for you? The most common personal goals Americans commit to each year address a healthier lifestyle: like exercising more and eating better. If you need a nudge in that direction, today you’ll hear about three groups that provide options for people of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels -- to move more, gain friends and carve out space for consistency. Having fun is also a priority! First Pamela Robinson, founder of the 40 Plus Double Dutch Club and Gerri Moore, a co-captain for the DDC Baltimore chapter tell us how they bring women over 40 together for exercise and fellowship. Then Maurice Jenkins, captain of the Black Men Run Baltimore chapter and Madi Friel, a co-leader for Baltimore’s November Project talk about the motivation and camaraderie their groups provide. Links: 40 Plus Double Dutch Club, DDC Baltimore chapter, November Project, Black Men Run Baltimore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Democrat Wes Moore becomes Maryland’s 63rd governor, we talk to people who know how hectic things can get behind the scenes of a new administration--chiefs of staff. We speak with former chief of staff to Gov. Martin O’Malley, Matt Gallagher, and Amelia Chassé Alcivar, Gov. Hogan’s current chief of staff. And we ask  law professor and political organizer Larry Gibson about the historical significance of the moment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even those of us who are not very tech-savvy have an idea that there’s a gender gap in technology … but also that women seem to be closing it. What most of is don’t know is much about what women were doing in the early days of the Information Age Would you be surprised to learn that the very first programmers were women--and they did it on a project generated by U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in the northeast corner of Maryland at the end of World War II? Lawyer Kathy Kleiman tells the women’s story in her new book: Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed the World’s First Modern Computer. Original airdate: 11.28.22 Links: Kleiman interviewed on the Clear+Vivid podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we keep the fullness of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy alive? We speak with historian Chris Haley about preserving King’s radical views on economic justice and Black liberation. Plus, we learn why marching in Baltimore’s MLK Jr. Parade is deemed a badge of honor.  Links: Rev. MLK Day of Service events and activities; Civic Works Day of Service; The 6th Branch event at 1100 E. North Ave, 8:30am; MLK Day of Service at Jewish Volunteer Connection; MLK events at Y of Central Maryland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joni Holifield shares a Stoop story about becoming a leader.  Find more from Stoop Storytelling Series by checking out their list of upcoming events and the Stoop podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin Luther King Jr’s birth is marked each year by a day of service. We hear what the nonprofit Civic Works has planned, and how they offer year-round opportunities to give back, through neighborhood clean-ups, urban farming and tutoring.  Guests:Civic Works’ executive director, Dana SteinCivic Works’ Member Development & AmeriCorps Programs Manager, Winfield Local Day of Service Plans:Civic Works6th BranchFind local opportunities through AmeriCorpsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open Society Institute-Baltimore community fellows are known for innovative, bold ideas. We hear from two who mentor young people in East Baltimore. Terry 'Uncle T' Williams runs Challenge2Change, and Isaiah Johnson founded Greenmount East Leadership Project. They teach young people skills that lead to safety and success and both have personal connections to the work. We find out why. Links: Open Society Institute Baltimore 2022 Community FellowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawmakers are gathering in Annapolis, gearing up for the new legislative session. On their minds: how to set-up the adult-use cannabis industry, how to fund a new family and medical leave program, whether to increase the minimum wage -- and working with a new Democratic governor.  We speak with the founding editor of Maryland Matters, Josh Kurtz, and Pamela Wood, who covers government and politics for The Baltimore Banner. Links: A season of change: 445th General Assembly set to begin work at noon At annual luncheon, Democrats lay out priorities and vow to make good on campaign promises this legislative session With new term beginning, Ferguson and Jones enter next phase of their leadership Key issues facing Maryland lawmakers for the 2023 General Assembly session A new start in Annapolis, as Maryland lawmakers get to work with a new governor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long COVID--with symptoms that linger for months like brain fog, dizziness, or heart palpitations --may affect 2 to 10 percent of children who have been infected with COVID, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In September, a new set of guidelines was published to help pediatricians identify and treat long COVID. We speak with one of the lead authors, Dr. Laura Malone, co-director of Kennedy Krieger’s Pediatric Post-COVID19 Rehabilitation Clinic. Then, an athletic, academically engaged high school student is suddenly exhausted. His normal schedule of classes and sports and activities with friends shrinks, as he struggles with dizziness, nausea, and brain fog. We speak with Lucas Denault and his mom, Karin, about his recovery from long COVID. This interview originally aired in December. Read more:Kennedy Krieger Leads a Team That Created New Guidelines to Help Physicians Nationwide Treat Pediatric Long COVID What does long covid treatment look like for kids? Too few clinics are trying to figure it out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may know Ben Jealous as a civil-rights leader -- former president of the NAACP, its youngest president ever when he was named in 2008. You may know him as the Democrat candidate for governor of Maryland in 2018, who failed to unseat incumbent Republican Larry Hogan. Maybe you know that Jealous was born and grew up in California -- in part because his African-American mother and white father left Baltimore after they married; interracial marriage was not legal in Maryland until 1967. But many of the stories Jealous tells in his new book--including the summers he spent with his maternal grandparents in West Baltimore--are rooted in Maryland.  The book is called Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A Parable of American Healing. And Ben Jealous joins us on Zoom to talk about it. Links: Writers LIVE at the Pratt, 1/14/23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christine Ferrera shares a Stoop story about striking up a relationship with a coffee shop. Want more Stoop? Check out upcoming events and the Stoop podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of people make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. What does it take to kick the habit? We speak with Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, who leads the Johns Hopkins Tobacco Treatment and Cancer Screening Clinic, about how mindfulness and medication can diminish cravings. Contact the clinic at: [email protected].  More resources:Maryland Tobacco Quitline1-800-QUIT-NOWBaltimore City Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program Baltimore County Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Brian Frosh to reflect on 36 years in elective office, the last eight as state attorney general. His efforts to limit access to guns, to clean up the environment, to protect consumers’ rights--what does he have to show for it? What should the state do next? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half of all Black Americans in the biggest metropolitan areas live in the suburbs. In Liberty Road, sociologist  Gregory Smithsimon lays out how African-Americans broke the color barrier in Baltimore County, how their white neighbors reacted, and the role of suburbs in building a Black middle class.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atman Smith, Ali Smith, and Andrés González are co-founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. Their new book, “Let Your Light Shine: How Mindfulness Can Empower Children and Rebuild Communities,” is partly about the systems in Baltimore that make life so challenging for Black and Brown children, partly about the authors’ personal transformations through yoga. The volume tells the stories of the Holistic Life Foundation’s founding and its two-decades working to spread love to at-risk youth. This interview originally aired October 20, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beth Frederick shares a Stoop story about her newfound appreciation for her parent’s sacrifices. Want more Stoop? Find events and the Stoop podcast here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine iconic characters like Batman or Daredevil. How would their personalities sound, if presented in the big band style? Stephen Philip Harvey’s latest album, the debut of his jazz orchestra, is "SMASH!" He drew inspiration from superheroes he watched in Saturday morning cartoons, and translated brooding heroes and scheming villains into jazz melodies and harmonies. Check out his upcoming performances here.  This interview originally aired on September 22, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raised in Baltimore, an alumna of Morgan State, April Ryan has covered urban issues from the White House press room for 25 years. Her new book, Black Women Will Save the World, describes pressures on African-American women--including many Ryan has faced--and her ideas for tackling them.  This interview originally aired on October 18, 2022. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.