Saturday, March 18, 202303/18/2023

The Hustler Files Ep 7

In The Hustler Files

A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE HOUSE, PART 1

“Your mind and habits will create either barriers or bridges to a better future” – Dr. Al Siebert. While re-entry programs, 2nd chance hiring, education, and halfway houses are known to lower recidivism rates, it is still, sadly, not the norm. If there is an upside to being jailed in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, it is their 16-bed halfway house with community-based programming and educational opportunities called, most appropriately, The Bridge to the Future House. In part 1 of this two-part story, on location, in the kitchen at the house, incarcerated individuals, Dakota, Matt, Sonny, and Eric, share the stories of what put them behind the wall, and the steps they are taking to become better citizens, parents, and people once they have served their time.

Friday, March 17, 202303/17/2023

Fighting Fascism

In Talk The Talk

3/17/23: Rep Lindsay Sabadosa on health care and affordable housing; MTA President Max Page on MCAS, high stakes testing and state receivership of local schools; Artbeat’s Donnabelle Casis and musician Ken Winoker of Psychedelic Cinema on Saturday’s amazing event at the Academy of Music; historian and author Mark Bray on the rise of fascism in the U.S. and Antifa; Jeff Napolitano and Rose Webster-Smith from Springfield No One Leaves on rent control and Gov. Maura Healey’s housing policies.

Thursday, March 16, 202303/16/2023

An Amazing Mash-up of Headliners

In Talk The Talk

3/16/23: The Shackleton Expedition and the Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra with Ken Winokur—coming to Northampton’s Academy of Music Saturday. Headliners, and headlines with Gazette, and Recorder Exec. Editor Dan Crowley. Edwards Church Rev. Michael McSherry on creation stories and human dominion.
16 y.o. climate activist hero Ollie Perrault from Easthampton on upcoming actions—with Science and Sensibility host Brian Adams. The Valley jazz scene with Ruth Griggs and Paul Arslanian.

Wednesday, March 15, 202303/15/2023

Rock on!

In Talk The Talk

3/15/23: “Rock of Ages” at NHS this weekend — with the play’s Director, Dave Grout, and two student stars; Northampton Councilors Jamila Gore and Garrick Perry on your becoming a critical part of city government; after the Oscars, Larry Hott on great films you should see; Greenfield Councilor Marianne Bullock on unresolved issues with the police; “Building Worker Power Through Solidarity, Cooperation & Care” with, UMass Labor Center prof. Clare Hammonds and Wellspring Cooperative’s Mary Hoyer and Nellie Marshall-.

Wednesday, March 15, 202303/15/2023

Things That Really Matter

In Talk The Talk

3/14/23: Death with Dignity Executive Director JM Sorrell and palliative care physician Jeffrey Zesiger on the proposed state law on end-of-life options. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll on the budget and all things Western Mass. Long-time school superintendent (now Exec Dir. of Educational Collaborative) Todd Gazda on the conundrum of snow days. Alexis Breiteneicher, Exec. Dir. of Valley Community Development Corp., and Humera Fasihuddin, Chair of the Hadley School Committee, on the proposed affordable housing project in that town – the hearing is Monday.

Monday, March 13, 202303/13/2023

Mayors Monday and Council Consideration

In Talk The Talk

3/13/23: Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia on the upcoming 150 year late building dedication and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and his response to the highly critical report on the Holyoke police. Black in the Valley on Black businesses in Amherst and Hadley with Pat Ononibaku and Amilcar Shabazz with hosts Jacquelyn Smith-Crooks and Carlie Tartakov. Amherst Town Council President Lynn Greisemer on money, schools, the library, roads and the upcomingtown-wide vote. Writer’s Block with Megan Zinn and Sean Norton.

Saturday, March 11, 202303/11/2023

The Hustler Files Ep 6

In The Hustler Files

RAISING THE BAR AND LOWERING RECIDIVISM RATES, ONE DEGREE AT A TIME

The word Partake means ‘to consume’ and for those who become incarcerated, having lost everything will when given the opportunity for educational pursuits, be like sponges, ready and willing to participate as education returns them back some of their dignity. At Partakers dot Org, a College Behind Bars degree program through Boston College, Emerson and Tufts University, and most recently the Partakers Empowerment Program (PEP) in association with Brandeis University has for 25 years, within the State of Massachusetts, offered higher education and community mentoring for re-entry, to bridge the divide between those inside and outside of prison and assist with reducing recidivism.

Friday, March 10, 202303/10/2023

People Speak

In Talk The Talk

3/10/23: Rep. Natalie Blais on our schools’ crucial need for state money now; Northampton School Committee Vice-Chair Gwen Agna on choosing (they’re getting close) the new superintendent; ArtBeat featuring Don Sanders, Director of Mass. Int’l Festival of Arts, on the restored WPA murals in Holyoke; Community Action with E.D. Clare Higgins and Energy Director Peter Wingate on our neighbors without heat; former Northampton City Council President (former Mayor Clare Higgins stays with us) on civility, or lack thereof, in public comment.

Thursday, March 9, 202303/09/2023

Tones and More

In Talk The Talk

3/9/23: Members of Northampton High School’s a cappella group, the Northamptones, sing for us—a preview of Sunday’s Silver Chord Bowl. Michael Klare, Hampshire College Professor Emeritus of Peace and World Security Studies, on the War in Ukraine and avoiding war over Taiwan; Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, of Congregation Beit Ahavah, on Purim, International Women’s Day and antisemitism. Johanna Neumann, Amherst-based Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America and DHG columnist, with some good news –finally! Take Five with Glenn Siegel and Angelica Sanchez, pianist-composer, on her concert Friday with the great trumpeter, Wadada Leo Smith, at Amherst College’s Buckley Recital Hall.

Wednesday, March 8, 202303/08/2023

Inner and Outer Space

In Talk The Talk

3/8/23: Amherst College Professor of Humanities, Ilan Stavans, on his new fascinating book,“The People’s Tongue;” Florence-based Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Larry Hott, on the upcoming Oscars; UMass. astrophysicist, astronomer and member of the James Webb Space Telescope team, Kate Whitaker, on peering into time and space; UMass. Minutewomen’s basketball coach, Tory Verdi, on the team’s amazing season and the post-season.