Public Hearing: Recent Episodes
Action! by Design
Public Hearing is a show about realizing equitable and just futures for cities and communities through facilitation, design, and coalition building.
In this special episode of Public Hearing, Josh speaks to Jennifer J. Gaskin, author of the recently released The Exit - Living with Urban Joy. Tune in to hear the inspiration behind Jennifer’s debut book, and explore how faith and cultural traditions like Carnival create opportunities for joy in oppressive environments.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
This season of Public Hearing has explored Digital Equity efforts across the nation and the variety of innovative community-oriented approaches to getting people connected. How can these strategies be adapted to best serve the Massachusetts Gateway Cities and other communities working towards digital justice?
For the final episode of our Public Hearing Series on Digital Equity, Josh sits down with David LeBoeuf, State Representative for the 17th Worcester District (@DavidLeBoeuf) to discuss what we’ve learned so far, legislative efforts to improve digital access in Worcester, and the possibility of a public internet service provider in the Commonwealth.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
With everything moving online, what does it take to make communication accessible for all? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to closing the digital divide.
In this podcast-exclusive bonus episode, Josh continues their conversation with Katie Hearn, Director of The Detroit Community Technology Project (@detcommtech) about the Equitable Internet Initiative and addressing cycles of harm. Miss the first episode? Listen to Communication is a Fundamental Human Right first!
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
With everything moving online, what does it take to make communication accessible for all? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to closing the digital divide.
In our first episode exploring a city outside of Massachusetts, Josh speaks with Katie Hearn, Director of The Detroit Community Technology Project (@detcommtech) about redistributing Gigabit Internet, addressing community need, and common ownership.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
The digital landscape is evolving rapidly. How can communities come together to ensure access for all? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to achieving digital equity.
In this episode, Josh sits down with Gina D. Cooper Benjamin, Deputy Director of The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (@netinclusion) to discuss digital inclusion coalition building, the importance of amplifying youth voices, and how you can support digital equity efforts in your state.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We’re already living in the digital revolution. Are we setting our communities up for success? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to achieving digital equity.
In this episode, Josh speaks to Marvin Venay, Chief Advocacy Officer at Tech Goes Home (@techgoeshome) about the importance of thinking about individual learners holistically, meeting people where they are, and addressing all “three legs of the stool” of digital access.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
How can our communities adapt to an increasingly online world where broadband access, computing devices, and digital literacy are necessary to fully participate in society? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to achieving digital equity.
In this episode of Public Hearing, Josh speaks to Michael DeChiara, Coordinator for the Alliance for Digital Equity in Western Massachusetts about the challenges faced by rural communities trying to get online, and the most sustainable solutions.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
How can our communities adapt to an increasingly online world where broadband access, computing devices, and digital literacy are necessary to fully participate in society? This season of Public Hearing is tackling all things Digital Equity - from small towns to national organizations - to better understand the obstacles and pathways to achieving digital equity.
To kick us off, we’re talking with Paul Matthews (@PaulFMatthews on Twitter), lifetime Worcester resident and Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (@wrrbureau). In this episode, Paul and Josh set the stage for the season with a discussion on the current state of digital access in Worcester, including policy efforts, existing resources, ARPA funding, and more!
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' Gateway Cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Listen to all of our episodes at https://publichearing.buzzsprout.com/ and follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
In this special episode, Josh speaks to Bruja The Villain, founder of The Poet’s Cauldron. Bruja discusses how arts & culture have changed in Worcester, the importance of having space to create art, and what inspired her to start The Poet’s Cauldron, a monthly evening of culture, music, visual, and literary arts in Worcester.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' gateway cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities. Follow us on Twitter @PublicHearingMA to keep up to date on all things Public Hearing!
Prefer the radio? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
In this special episode, Josh sits down with Danielle and Julie Spring, the owners of FEMME, Worcester’s new lesbian bar. FEMME is only one of 25 lesbian bars in the United States, and Danielle and Julie are determined to provide a fun, safe space for all LGBTQ+ people and their allies. Listen to learn about their inspiration for opening the bar, the challenges they faced along the way, and why their motto is to “Be who you needed when you were younger.”
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design where we explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts' gateway cities as they work to create more equitable, liberated, and sustainable communities.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We are back with the final episode of our series focusing on equity-based housing solutions in Worcester! Even though we are wrapping up our housing series for now, we always come back to these issues as they intersect with so many other challenges facing our community. For our guest this week, we are back with Dr. Mattie Castiel, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services for the City of Worcester, to talk about housing issues from a medical and health perspective as well as how we can work together to strengthen further efforts towards creating equitable housing and decreasing negative stigma in our community.
Check out our last Public Hearing episode with Dr. Castiel, “Are people going to keep doing the work that needs to be done after everyone’s vaccinated?”
Stay up to date with the Worcester Department of Health and Human Services on their website and Facebook page.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Welcome back to another episode of our series on housing with this week’s guest, Amanda Mattingly who currently works at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts as an advocate and supervisor with a focus on housing. Josh and Amanda talk about the help and resources that the YW provides to survivors of violence connected to housing and housing insecurity in the community, as well as, how this work is conducted from a trauma-informed lens.
If you are experiencing domestic violence and are looking for support, please call the YWCA of Central Mass Hotline at 508-755-9030.
Check out the YWCA of Central Massachusetts website for more information about housing resources and support.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We continue this week with episode eight of our series on Equity-Based Housing Solutions in Worcester with our guest, Marybeth Campbell, Executive Director of the Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC) to talk about issues that are ingrained in the current system structure that prevent folx from receiving crucial support and divides communities through perpetuating harmful mentalities biases. Marybeth and her team at WCAC are dedicated to preventing the “Cliff Effect” by creating opportunities for resiliency to sustain individuals and families and promote financial empowerment and upward mobility in Worcester.
Learn more about the Worcester Community Action Council on its website or follow their socials on Facebook or Twitter.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Welcome to the third and final episode of our Pass the Mic: Dia De Los Muertos in Worcester series with our guest host Raquel Castro Corazzini, Director of Casita Cultura Latina. This week, Raquel talks with Michel Salazar, coordinator of volunteers for Dia De Los Muertos about the upcoming event on Saturday, October 29th as well as their different experiences immigrating to Worcester and the challenge and beauty that comes with existing in different cultures at once. Michel highlights the impact that local mentors have made on her life and how she wants to be a role model to and empower fellow young adults to get involved in community organizations.
Thank you so much to our first guest host, Raquel Castro Corazzini, and guests Valarie Zolezzi-Wyndham and Michel Salazar for taking the time and effort to help bring important community topics and perspectives to our space of Public Hearing.
Learn more about Casita Cultura Latina and the Dia De Los Muertos event on Casita’s Facebook page.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Welcome back to the second episode of our Pass the Mic: Dia De Los Muertos series with our guest host Raquel Castro Corazzina talking with Valarie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Treasurer of Casita Cultura Latina and founder of Promoting Good. Raquel and Valarie talk about the history behind Dia de Los Muertos through the Latinx immigrant perspective and how the celebration came to be in Worcester as well as the hopes of Casita Cultura Latina as they grow as an organization and inspiration for other cultural identities in Worcester.
Learn more about Casita Cultura Latina and the Dia De Los Muertos event on Casita’s Facebook page. Check out the work of Promoting Good here.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We are jumping back into our conversation surrounding Equity-Based Housing Solutions with this week’s guest, Leah Bradley, Chief Executive Officer of Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc. (CMHA) - a non-profit whose mission is to create a collaborative response to homelessness that fosters long-term housingstability through prevention, quality services, education, and advocacy. Josh and Leah discuss creating dignified spaces for unhoused folx and families and the complexities of housing inequity that have been exposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Learn more about the Central Mass Housing Alliance on their website and Facebook page!
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We’re excited to announce our Pass The Mic initiative which will welcome guest hosts to our show to have conversations with others in the community about specific topics. In this episode, we introduce our first guest host, Raquel Castro-Corazzini to talk about Casita Cultura Latina, a Latine cultural organization that hosts the Día de Los Muertos event in Worcester taking place on Saturday, October 29th from 11:00 am-4:00pm. Josh and Raquel also talk about privilege and the complexities that come with leveraging that privilege in equity work. Tune in next episode for Raquel’s conversation with Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham.
Learn more about Casita Cultura Latina and the upcoming Dia De Los Muertos Celebration in Worcester on their Facebook page.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a guest host or are interested in supporting this initiative, please reach out to our team at publichearing@actionbydesign.co.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We continue our series on Equity-Based Housing Solutions with this week’s guest, Yvette Dyson, the Executive Director of Worcester Common Ground (WCG). WCG is a Community Development Corporation for the Piedmont/Austin Street area in Worcester, MA and has developed 197 units of affordable housing, 27 first-time homeownership properties, and preserved 6 green spaces for community farming and community needs in the past 34 years. Josh and Yvette discuss Worcester’s effort toward Inclusionary Zoning through the work of the Affordable Housing Coalition which will allow for more affordable housing units to be built in the City. Inclusionary Zoning will also help the cultural preservation of our communities and allow for more opportunities for upward mobility.
Learn more about Worcester Common Ground and the resources they have available on their website or Facebook page.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Our conversation on Equity-based Housing Solutions continues with this week’s guest, Dr. Eniya Lufumpa who currently serves as the Department of Health and Human Services Director Strategist and team lead, and is currently the Director of Homeless Services. Dr Lufumpa and Josh shed light on the mindset that individuals should be at the center of all the work that the department does so that they can receive the support that they want and are ready for. Everyone has their own autonomy and we must respect this in order to create safe and equitable communities for all.
If you are in need of support, you can reach out to the Department of Health and Human Services Homeless services division at 508-7998- 486, extension number 31-331. You can also download their app, Stigma Free Worcester for information about services and resources available on Android or iOS
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
In this week’s conversation about Equity-Based Housing Solutions we are talking with Nikki Bell and Desiree Demos from the Living In Freedom Together Organization, otherwise known as LIFT. LIFT is an organization that serves survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and women and others in our community impacted by the sex trade. Josh, Nikki, and Desiree talk about the resources that are available to those who are unhoused as well as folx who may be experiencing other overlapping struggles such as substance use and mental health as well as the importance of approaching these topics with kindness and leading with unconditional positive regard.
Learn more about LIFT and the resources available on their website.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Our conversation with District Five City Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, continues. The aftermath of the Mill Street Pond apartment collapse shed light on the realities of renting in Worcester. Landlords are not held responsible for their mistreatment, and renters are left to fend for themselves. Josh and Etel discuss how housing legislation falls short, and share their thoughts on improving these policies. Listen till the end to hear about innovative housing strategies already existing in Worcester and other cities we can learn from.
Stay engaged with Etel's work on Facebook at Etel for Worcester
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
ARPA update! Tune in to hear from our guest Casey Burns from the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester as she talks upcoming ARPA application deadlines, submission resources, and community involvement in the decision making process. Casey also provides insight about the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and how it can impact funding strategies and priorities throughout the City.
There is $10M available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Community Projects and Programs. Applications are due on September 30th. Check the City’s site for more information and join the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester for free workshops with grant writers to support you in the application process.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org.
Public Hearing is back with the second episode of our series focusing on Equity-based Housing Solutions. This week’s episode is part one of our conversation with District Five City Counselor, Etel Haxhiaj (Facebook: Etel for Worcester) who is back on the show for the second time after previously kicking off season two in our episode “How are we going to make sure our cities have a livable future?” Part one of our conversation with Etel explores the “Housing First Model” and the complexities of affordable and equitable housing through the position of city council. We discuss how the city has been addressing housing issues in Worcester through policies and funding opportunities, such as ARPA, and ways that this still could be improved to best support the community.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Public Hearing is back with a new series on Equity-based Housing Solutions. Throughout this series we will be focusing on how communities might address the housing crisis and support unhoused populations through creating accessible, equitable, and sustainable solutions. To kick us off, we’re talking with Domenica Perrone (Instagram @dfperrone), a Worcester resident with a background in public health who was the 2021 recipient for Central Mass Housing Alliance’s Judy Brown-Cahill award, and currently serves on many boards involved in housing efforts in Worcester. Domenica and Josh explore some of the current challenges, the questions we should be asking as we journey into this topic, and the concept of NIMBY-ism; a “Not In My Backyard” mentality that is lethal to populations of people in need of services.
Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 9/9 from our series: ARPA Funding in Worcester
We are back this week with the final episode of our ARPA Funding in Worcester series. Our guest this is episode is Bill Shaner founder of the “Worcester Sucks and I Love It” newsletter and a previous guest on the show. Josh and Bill talk about how we can continue to stay involved in the conversation surrounding how the remaining ARPA dollars will be spent in Worcester and how we can hold the city accountable so that the funding is sustainable and promoting equity within our community.
Check out the “Worcester Sucks and I Love it” newsletter on their website!
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
June is Pride Month! While Public Hearing celebrates queer all year, we're talking with community members about Pride in Worcester and folx supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community all year round over the next few episodes. This week, Josh talks with Kat Aguilar, founder of K Sense Co and the admin of Pride Worcester 2022. Josh and Kat talk about the importance of sustainability, community and creating equitable spaces and oppurtunities that others can use and build upon to continue the equitable and innovative work in our city. Tune in and share!
Want to learn more about K Sense Co? Check out her website!
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 8/9 from our mini-series: ARPA Funding in WorcesterPublic Hearing is back with another episode of our ARPA Funding In Worcester series with this week’s guest, Ron Waddell. Ron is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Legendary Legacies; a non-profit organization working with black and latino males in the city of Worcester, MA. In this episode, Ron and Josh talk about how we can use the $147 million in ARPA funding that has been granted to the city of Worcester to promote equity and how we can hold city officials accountable as well as how this money can be used to reprioritize how and where we spend resources in our communities in ways that are sustainable.
You can learn more about Legendary Legacies as well as their podcast on their website!
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 7/9 from our mini-series: ARPA Funding in Worcester
Public Hearing is back with another episode of our ARPA Funding in Worcester mini-series! This week we discuss mental health with our guest Amy Ebbeson, clinical director at Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma, also known as Worcester ACTS. In this episode, we talk about the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health issues in our community as well as how crucial it is to also address these kinds of issues in oneself. Education and spreading awareness about mental health not only reduces harmful stigma but can also help individuals live happy and joy-filled lives as well as create equity within our city.
Interested in helping further develop research and education on mental health? Fill out this Google Form that will be used to help create mental health programs to support our community!
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 6/9 from our mini-season: ARPA Funding in Worcester
We are back with another episode of our ARPA Funding in Worcester mini-series of Public Hearing. This week’s guest Jeff Turgeon, Executive Director of Mass Hire, continues the conversation to discuss how ARPA dollars can be used to provide funding for business assistance programs such as the Worcester Job Fund. These resources will be able to help employee’s and employers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as assist folks with the cost of necessary training courses in order for them to obtain jobs or positions that require a little bit more formal training.
Want to learn more about resources that are available through Mass Hire? Check out the resource page on their website!
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 5/9 from our mini-season: ARPA Funding in Worcester
We are back with another episode of our ARPA Funding in Worcester on Public Hearing! During this episode, our guest, Alex Corrales, the Chief Executive Officer of the Worcester Housing Authority, and Josh talk about ARPA funding will be used to create and maintain affordable housing in Worcester. They discuss the importance of having affordable housing available within the city and how this creates and promotes equity in Worcester as well as helping address the systemic failures that are the root causes of homelessness and access to housing.
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 4/8 from our mini-season: ARPA Funding in Worcester
Public Hearing is back with part 4 of our ARPA funding in Worcester mini-series. During this episode, we continue our discussion with our guest, Eric Batista, who will be taking over the role of interim City Manager this June, by addressing some of the common questions and concerns from the community about how the money will be spent and how the funding will be used to create and promote equity in Worcester. Another topic addressed in this episode is how we can make information that comes from the city more accessible in order for the public to be more involved in the decision-making process.
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 3/8 from our mini-season: ARPA Funding in Worcester
We are back with another episode of Public Hearing’s ARPA Funding in Worcester mini-series, with our guest, Jennifer Gaskin, president of the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, which organizes the incredible Worcester Caribbean Festival to showcase some of the arts and culture in our community. This week we are discussing how ARPA dollars can be used to promote Arts & Culture and the local creativity and innovation that Worcester is known for as well as what we as community members might consider advocating for as these funds are distributed.
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
In this episode of Public Hearing, we continue our conversation about ARPA funding in Worcester with our guest, Nelly Medina, a local mother, educator, activist, organizer, to talk about priority populations and how ARPA dollars can be used to support people disproportionately impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic, especially low-end communities and communities of color. We must listen to the impacted members of the community and hold the city accountable in order to promote equity justice and the pursuit of joy-filled futures for all.
Learn more about how Worcester plans to spend ARPA dollars on the City website.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Part 1/8 from our mini-season: ARPA Funding in Worcester
Public Hearing is back this week with another mini-series. During the series, we will be talking with several voices in the community about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and how the approximately $146 million that Worcester has received from the federal government will be distributed throughout different funding areas in the city: Affordable Housing, Social Services, Mental Health, Business Assistance, and Arts & Culture. In our first episode with Gina Plata-Nino we will be giving an introduction to ARPA and answering some of the questions that have been raised in the community; what is ARPA? How can the money be spent? How can we hold the city accountable for using these funds? In next week’s episode, we will be focusing on how funding can be distributed to priority populations in Worcester to promote equity within the City.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
In the wake of responses, Facebook comments, and community discussions to an article published in the Worcester Business Journal entitled “Infiltrating Worcester’s Inner Circle,” we put a call out to the community to talk with folks engaged in Worcester about their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to this article, which upset a lot of people, and broader themes of inclusion, exclusion, and influence in Worcester.
Our guests are Giselle Rivera-Flores (IG @notjustawriter), Jennifer Gaskin (IG @jenny_noire), Nicole Bell (IG @nikkilift), and Valerie Zolezzi-Wydnham (IG @valerie.zolezzi.wyndham). Hear perspectives from people who have been long-involved in Worcester who challenge the position that “you just have to keep showing up” to be included in decision-making circles and question whether these circles should even exist at all.
Hosted by Joshua Croke, Public Hearing is a show about Worcester and the pursuit of equitable, just, and joyful communities. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station, on Wednesdays at 6 PM. PublicHearing.co
In our final episode of our Latino Advisory Commission mini-season, Josh talks with Gina Plata-Nino, a staff attorney at the Central West Justice Center of Community Legal Aid, and a leader in both the Worcester Together effort and the Latino Empowerment and Organizing Network (LEON). Josh and Gina continue discussing our topic and the importance of Latinx representation and community involvement in furthering issues of equity. We talk about youth voice being essential for creating equity within the city and how crucial it is for groups, like the commission, to be held accountable to ensure that progress is being made and equity is being promoted.
Learn more about Worcester Together and how to get involved in the community on their website!
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Share our show with a friend!
Part 2/3 from our mini-season: Establishing the Latino Advisory Commission in Worcester.
This week’s guest is Luis Padraja, President of Quinsigamond Community College and a member of the Latino Empowerment Organizing Network (LEON). In this Public Hearing conversation, Josh and Luis talk about how the creation of a Latino Advisory Commission in our city will allow for more Latinx folk to be represented with a seat at decision-making tables to further advocacy and support for the unique and intersecting needs of Worcester’s Latinx communities
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Part 1 of 3 of our mini-season: Establishing the Latino Advisory Commission in Worcester.
We are back with another mini-series! In this three-part series, we will be discussing the formation of a Latino Advisory Commission in Worcester to better understand the history, the motivation, and hopes for the future. In this episode, we sit down with our first guest Hilda Ramirez who is a member of the Latino Empowerment and Organizing Network (also known as LEON) to talk about the history that has led to the advocacy for a Latino Advisory Commission in Worcester and some of the ongoing efforts of the Latino community working towards creating more equitable spaces and how this work can continue in the future.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
Public Hearing is back with our third and final episode of our Civic Engagement in Worcester mini-series featuring our guests Doug Arbetter and Danaah McCallum. In this episode, we wrap up our conversation with Doug and Danaah and talk about how important it is to vote in local elections and how to get involved in your local government including creating a petition and reaching out to your Councilors. We also talk about the process of running for an elected position in the city of Worcester.
One of the first ways that you can get involved in your local politics is by registering to vote! You can register to be a Worcester voter here. Not sure if you are registered yet? You can check your registration status here.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Public Hearing is back with the second episode of our Civic Engagement in Worcester mini-series. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Doug Arbetter and Danaah McCallum discussing Worcester Politics. We also talk about the recent changes for how the school committee is elected and address some of the confusion that many community members have expressed since the city’s ruling in November, as well as, the importance of teaching youth about their local government and how they can make a difference in their communities.
One of the first ways that you can get involved in your local politics is by registering to vote! You can register to be a Worcester voter here. Not sure if you are registered yet? You can check your registration status here.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Public Hearing is back with another mini-series! In this three-part series we will be discussing the Worcester city government and the importance of community involvement in local politics with Doug Arbetter, who has run for school committee and city council, and Danaah McCallum, formally on the board of election commissioners. In this first episode we dive into the topic of the structure of Worcester's City Government and explain the role of the City Council, City Manager, and School Committee. In the following episodes we will go into further detail about the recent change involving how the school committee is elected, the difference between districts and wards, as well as, how you can get involved in Worcester’s local government and why it is important.
One of the first ways that you can get involved in your local politics is by registering to vote! You can register to be a Worcester voter here. Not sure if you are registered yet? You can check your registration status here.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design about our home city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the people we should be listening to—residents, artists, activists, community leaders, storytellers, and those most impacted by issues facing our city. Our mission is to cultivate community through equity, inclusion, and design, and that work starts at home.
Want to be the first to listen to new episodes? Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester areas? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org
We are back with our first new episode of 2022 with our guest and Worcester-based journalist, Bill Shaner who runs the popular newsletter, Worcester Sucks and I Love It. In this episode, Josh and Bill give a run-down of 2021 in Worcester and talk about important local events and news such as Polar Park, the city council election, and the restructuring of the school committee. They also talk about the importance of supporting local journalism and media and how many local publications do not receive adequate funding.
You can follow Bill and his work with the Worcester Sucks and I Love It Newsletter by checking out their website or checking out his Facebook page!
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design. We help communities address social challenges through facilitation and equity-centered design. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Reach out to our team at theteam@actionbydesign.co
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In our final episode of our Early Education & Care mini-series, Josh speaks with Vanessa Martinez who is the Assistant Director and Subsidy Administrator of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts Early Education & Care Program. She is also a mentor at Project Flourish which helps early childcare workers receive their Child Development Associates Accreditation (CDA’s) while continuing to work in the field. In the episode, Josh and Vanessa discuss the importance of educators building strong relationships with families and the current crisis surrounding the shortage of early educators due to the lack of funding and resources, as well as how this is affecting families and children in our community.
You can follow Vanessa and her work by checking out the YWCA website and Facebook page. Do you know someone working in the early education & care space who might benefit from receiving their CDA? Learn more here.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design. Action! by Design’s vision is a world where all people are valued and have access to opportunities that enable them to live healthy and fulfilled lives on a sustainable planet. We’re a social innovation and change agency that uses facilitation and design to address complex problems facing communities. In his book Designs for the Pluriverse, Arturo Escobar, an author and anthropologist, defines design as a “space for linking theory, practice, and purpose, connecting vision and reality.” This is how we approach our work; we use design thinking and an equity-centered framework as a mindset to inform how we approach and address problems. We use facilitation to ensure we’re centering the voices of those most impacted by the challenges we’re addressing. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Reach out to our team at theteam@actionbydesign.co
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In our fourth episode of our Early Childhood Education & Care mini-series, Josh speaks to Anh Vu Sawyer of the Southeast Asian Coalition about some of the challenges that immigrants and refugees face when coming to the U.S. and how the coalition works towards helping these families adjust and thrive by treating them with dignity and respect and providing a sense of community. Early childhood is a crucial time of development for all children, but for children of immigrant and refugee families, it is also so important to allow them to discover and learn about their culture as well as providing them with the resources to invest in their future.
You can follow Anh and her work by checking out the Southeast Asian Coalition’s website and their Facebook page.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design. Action! by Design’s vision is a world where all people are valued and have access to opportunities that enable them to live healthy and fulfilled lives on a sustainable planet. We’re a social innovation and change agency that uses facilitation and design to address complex problems facing communities. In his book Designs for the Pluriverse, Arturo Escobar, an author and anthropologist, defines design as a “space for linking theory, practice, and purpose, connecting vision and reality.” This is how we approach our work; we use design thinking and an equity-centered framework as a mindset to inform how we approach and address problems. We use facilitation to ensure we’re centering the voices of those most impacted by the challenges we’re addressing. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Reach out to our team at theteam@actionbydesign.co
Share our show with a friend!
In our third episode of our Early Childhood Education & Care mini-series, Josh speaks to Eve Gilmore of Edward Street about challenges surrounding racial and gender equity within the early childhood education and care space along with some of the history behind these issues. Eve also talks about the importance of children receiving high-quality care for their development and well-being, and that our society cannot accept anything less than high-quality for every child. Advocating for educators, children, and families is crucial for the future of our community and society.
You can follow Eve and her work by checking out Edward Street’s website and their Facebook page. To learn more about the legislation they are working on that will require universal early education and care at an affordable level to all families in Massachusetts, visit commonstartma.org.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design. Action! by Design’s vision is a world where all people are valued and have access to opportunities that enable them to live healthy and fulfilled lives on a sustainable planet. We’re a social innovation and change agency that uses facilitation and design to address complex problems facing communities. In his book Designs for the Pluriverse, Arturo Escobar, an author and anthropologist, defines design as a “space for linking theory, practice, and purpose, connecting vision and reality.” This is how we approach our work; we use design thinking and an equity-centered framework as a mindset to inform how we approach and address problems. We use facilitation to ensure we’re centering the voices of those most impacted by the challenges we’re addressing. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Reach out to our team at theteam@actionbydesign.co
Share our show with a friend!
We are back with our second episode of Public Hearing’s mini-season on Early Childhood Education & Care. This week, our guest is Amy O’Leary, the Executive Director at Strategies for Children, an advocacy and policy organization that works to ensure that Massachusetts invests the resources needed for all children, from birth to age five, to access high-quality early education programs. In this episode, Josh and Amy take a further look into the lives and experiences of parents/guardians and children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as well as discuss the importance of continuing to advocate for resources and funding for early education and care workers.
To follow Amy and the work of Strategies for Children, check out their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station.
Public Hearing is a podcast from Action! by Design. Action! by Design’s vision is a world where all people are valued and have access to opportunities that enable them to live healthy and fulfilled lives on a sustainable planet. We’re a social innovation and change agency that uses facilitation and design to address complex problems facing communities. In his book Designs for the Pluriverse, Arturo Escobar, an author and anthropologist, defines design as a “space for linking theory, practice, and purpose, connecting vision and reality.” This is how we approach our work; we use design thinking and an equity-centered framework as a mindset to inform how we approach and address problems. We use facilitation to ensure we’re centering the voices of those most impacted by the challenges we’re addressing. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Reach out to our team at theteam@actionbydesign.co
Share our show with a friend!
Public Hearing, our podcast and radio show about creating equitable, just, and joy-filled communities is back! We’re going to be taking a closer look into issues facing our communities with the production of mini-seasons that work alongside people doing the work. Our first topic: Early Childhood Education & Care with Kim Davenport of Edward Street. In this episode, Kim and Josh discuss the importance of the early childhood development period and some of the challenges and opportunities that are being addressed by advocates for quality early childhood education and care both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To follow Kim and the work of Edward Street, check out their website and follow them on Facebook!
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station.
Share our show with a friend!
Happy Nonbinary People’s Day folx (7.19.21)! This week, Josh dives into conversation with Thu Nguyen about nonbinary identity, running for local office, and the power of community.
Thu Nguyen is a proud Vietnamese refugee, an artist, a youth worker, and the first non-binary candidate for Worcester City Council At-Large. Over the last decade, Thu has dedicated their career to serving our young people, from facilitating after school programming at the Worcester Youth Center to hiring young people for Recreation Worcester to work at our local parks and schools across the city. Thu currently works at the Southeast Asian Coalition working with and supporting small businesses, promoting civic engagement, and strengthening communities. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Thu helped build Mutual Aid Worcester, which has raised nearly $75,000 to support families in Worcester and tackled food insecurity by starting an immigrant and refugee pantry and hot meals program.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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What do pancakes have in common with pushing for food equity? Doughboyz and Justin Amevor, that’s what! This week, Josh talks with Justin about an idea inspired by a dorm room joke that set him on a path to support folx in Worcester achieve food security.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Happy Pride! This month, we’re centering queer voices in our community and the challenges, joys, opportunities, and hopes we face in our cities and our world. This week, Josh dives into Worcester LGBTQ+ history with Bill Wallace, the Executive Director of the Worcester Historical Museum. From gay bars to Worcester’s first Pride Parade, Josh & Bill explore the importance of sharing stories from our past to inform our future.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Josh talks with Deb Hall, recently appointed Executive Director of the YWCA of Central Mass, about pride, race, being queer, and intersectionality. We explore the concept of urgency, what is needed in this moment, and how we might look to the future.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Happy Pride! This month, we’re centering queer voices in our community and the challenges, joys, opportunities, and hopes we face in our cities and our world. This week, Al Green, the Ministry Director for the LGBT Asylum Task Force, talks with Josh about the hurdles in seeking asylum, accessing community-based and social services, and the intersectional challenges that being queer add to finding resources and support in Worcester and the United States.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
Share our show with a friend!
This week on Public Hearing, Josh dives into topics surrounding youth justice, comprehensive sex ed, and achieving equitable outcomes for youth with Dr. Laurie Ross from Clark University.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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How might we design sustainable innovation ecosystems centered around inclusion & equity? This week’s episode of Public Hearing dives into the complexity of economics and empathy. Josh and our guest, Randal Meraki, talk about innovation and possible pathways for realizing a more equitable and inclusive future. Randal is the CEO and Co-Owner of The WorcShop, a 54,000 square foot makerspace & business incubator focused on manufacturing and industrial arts.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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This week’s guest on Public Hearing, Ellie Gilmore, and Josh ask the question, “How might we make zoning sexy and easy to understand?”, and talk about the negative impact that development projects can have on cities when the local community is not involved in important conversations about the decision making process. The local community is a crucial resource that must be utilized in every step of the process to create equitable and valuable change for all residents.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Today, we’re talking with Nicole Coleman; an artist, stylist, activist, community organizer and born and raised Worcesterite and asking the question: “Is public art a mechanism for equitable community building or a tool for gentrification?"
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Today, we’re talking with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services for the City of Worcester, Dr. Mattie Castiel and asking the question: “Are people going to keep doing the work that needs to be done after everyone's vaccinated?"
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Jane Week in Worcester is right around the corner; an awareness and recognition week for the urban theorist Jane Jacobs and her concepts for building vibrant, livable communities. On this Public Hearing episode, Josh talks with Joyce Mandell, author of Jane Jacobs in the Woo; a blog discussing Worcester development projects and asking “What would Jane say?” We talk about the ballpark, Harding Green, and Hillside Beach and what Jane might think of these projects in the city.
“Joyce Mandell has worn many hats at different times of her life – mom, community organizer, sociologist, community development specialist, urban studies professor, and just general feisty rabble-rouser. She is excited to add “channeling the spirit of Jane Jacobs” to the list. She has lived in Worcester, Massachusetts for over twenty-five years and first moved to the East Side when she served as the Economic Development Director of Oak Hill Community Development Corporation from 1995 – 1998. She believes in the potential of Worcester, the power of praxis and the truth to be found both in stories and stillness.”
Read the blog Jane Jacobs in the Woo and follow Jane Week on Facebook.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Grace Sliwoski was born and raised in Worcester, went away for college, and is now raising her family back here in the city. Grace is the Director of Programs for the Regional Environment Council (REC) and sits on the board of Central Mass Grown. The REC is a grassroots environmental and food justice organization. Central Mass Grown is a nonprofit comprised of farmers, buy-local advocates, and community leaders dedicated to raising consumer awareness and increasing the profitability of regional farms.
Grace and Josh talk about food access and food justice (obviously) and how communities can connect through gardens and urban agriculture.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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In this episode, Josh and Oomiya share personal stories of identity and explore ways to support community building, LGBTQ+ youth, and being our authentic selves.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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On this episode of the Public Hearing Podcast and Radio Show; our host, Joshua Croke, connects with Echo Louissaint - one of the cofounders of the Worcester Community Fridge Project - and talks about the power of community coming together, food access and the right to be fed, and getting involved in your local politics — yep, that’s right; vote folx!
Learn more about Worcester Community Fridges here.
Follow Echo and her work at AWordFromEcho.com.
Public Hearing host, Joshua Croke, talks to co-founder and CEO of Redemption Rock Brewing Co. in Worcester, MA about their commitment to community, establishing a benefit corporation (B Corp) joining the likes of Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's, all the way to discussing fare free public transportation and why residents should refuse bad and inaccessible street infrastructure like Dani's puggle.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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Currently, the Sargent Card Clothing Factory (built 1866) is home to The Bridge Academy and Community Center, a vibrant community of artists, educators and crafts people. The factory and Miss Worcester Diner share a single deed owned by a trust, and they have a sale for $950,000. The landlord has given "The Bridge" a 2 week grace period to match a current offer to purchase the building that started Tuesday, March 16th 2021.
Learn how you can support a community-centered campaign to keep this space home to The Bridge and a host of incredible, resident-led programs. Learn more/donate here: givebutter.com/savethebridge
Josh chats with Jennessa Burks about her experience as a Worcester Public School Student who, fast forward, became a Worcester Public School teacher and then left the district. We explore identity, shared and differing experiences, and the importance of having educational experiences that are windows and mirrors. The ability to see yourself and reflect on your own identity and experience and the ability to see through into other people’s lives and experiences—histories and stories that are shared by the people who lived them.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
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In this episode of Public Hearing, Josh talks with Jennifer Gaskin; founder of the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association (WCACA) and a moderator for Mutual Aid Worcester on Facebook. Jen also serves on the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. Jen and Josh talk about building community wealth, residents supporting residents, and more.
Listen to Public Hearing wherever you get your podcasts and onWICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co
Share our show with a friend!
In our first episode of 2021, Josh speaks with Etel Haxhiaj; a Worcester resident, former refugee and Albanian immigrant, single mother, and candidate for District 5 on the Worcester City Council. Etel and Josh discuss opportunities for putting residents at the center of decision-making and how a public budget is a moral document.
We’re back with all new episodes of Public Hearing; available wherever you get your podcasts and on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester’s NPR affiliate station. And, while we celebrate women all year round, our guests for the month of March are all women who live, influence, and/or impact the City of Worcester, MA. Learn more about our show at PublicHearing.co!
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Molly & Sarah from Pop It finish their conversation with Josh and go even deeper discussing identity, lived experience, and start a challenging conversation about systems of prostitution.
Check out Pop It, here!
What topics do you want to hear on the show in 2021? Send us a note: publichearing.co
Public Hearing is a podcast and radio show talking about smart cities, systems change, and equity-centered development through the lens of the City of Worcester, MA. We explore challenges facing the community and discuss solutions with a focus on inclusion, equity, and prosperity.
Hosted by Joshua Croke, founder of Action! by Design. Action! by Design is a design studio helping organizations amplify community power through branding & storytelling, community engagement & facilitation, and coalition building. You can learn more about the show at PublicHearing.co
Molly and Josh respond to Sarah’s question about what we spend our time doing with or without pay.. and the history of Yankee Doodle Dandy in this short sidebar convo.
Join hosts of two Worcester-based podcasts, Public Hearing and Pop Itfor a crossover episode! Molly, Sarah, and Josh talk about everything from Worcester politics to public education to buses using solar powered WiFi thingies to connect communities to the internet.
How should School Committees support public education and how can residents hold them accountable? Season 1 of Public Hearing has been about systems that impact youth; with pretty much every episode highlighting education in one way or another. In our Season Finale (woo hoo!), Josh talks with Tracy O’Connell Novick, a member of the Worcester Public Schools School Committee with kids in WPS (crazy, right?) and how we think about, fund, and prioritize issues in public education. Thanks for a great first season!
All politics is local. However, there are a lot of folx who don’t know too much about their local elected officials and what can actually be done at the local level. In this Sidebar episode of Public Hearing, Josh talks with Danaah McCallum and Doug Arbetter about the importance of voting in local elections, the challenges that many communities face, and ideas to improve our systems of government.
What are students actually looking for when it comes to changes in public education? Is our community truly centering and valuing the voices of the kids experiencing the systems that we’ve built for them? Today, we’re talking with two young organizers; both alumni of South High School in Worcester. And while we talk at a local level, this conversation echoes into so many other districts where students are working to have their voices heard. #PublicHearingPodcast
Continuing our conversation with Dr. Mariel Novas, we dive into catalyzing community connectivity, racism as smog in the air, and finding time for joy in the midst of turmoil.
More about Mariel!
More on WEC.
More on DYS.
Check out this bit on Teach for America Mass!
MEEP? Yes you heard that correctly.
So far in Public Hearing Season 1, we’ve talked with people working across different systems including public education, juvenile justice, and child welfare as well as with individuals who have lived some of these experiences. In this episode, Josh talks with Dr. Mariel Novas; educator, innovator, immigrant, and community builder, about the cross-section of these systems and how intersectionality plays a role in the movement of our nation (and whether that movement is backwards or forwards).
More about Mariel!
More on WEC.
More on DYS.
Check out this bit on Teach for America Mass!
MEEP? Yes you heard that correctly.
The child welfare system is a continuum of services that is setup to ensure children are safe and families have the appropriate resources to provide for the needs of their kids.. but does it? In our episode today, Josh talks to Danaah McCallum, a woman with over 20 years of experience working with the Department of Children and Families, about the complexities of this work and how it intersects with other systems. What do you think about the child welfare system?
More on DCF.
More on the Department of Mental Health.
More on WEC.
This week we sat down with Keyshawn O'Connell—a recent college grad from College of the Holy Cross—who talked to us about some of his experiences growing up in Worcester, attending the public schools, and getting involved with programs like Recreation Worcester, Dynamy Youth Academy (Upward Bound), and Bottom line.
Keyshawn shares his thoughts on how we might strengthen educational spaces for youth including increasing teacher diversity and giving young people a voice at the table.
More on Recreation Worcester.
More on Dynamy.
More on Upward Bound.
How much does opportunity outside of public education impact a students ability to be successful? This week, we talk with Frankie Franco, Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Worcester's Division of Youth Opportunities. Growing up in Worcester, Frankie shares his experiences navigating the public schools, the opportunities he had to join programs like Upward Bound, and how his brother had a different journey.
Learn more about the Latino Education Institute.
Here's some more about REC Worcester and Youth Grow.
The Appalachian Mountain Club can be found here.
More on 508 Bike Life.
How might we redesign the juvenile justice system so it is antiracist, developmentally appropriate, and transformative? We spoke to Katie Byrne who works for the Department of Youth Services as part of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). JDAI has made significant progress in decreasing the number of youth in juvenile detention over the past 10 years, but when you break that down by race and ethnicity, some groups have decreased more than others.
Learn more about JDAI here.
Take a look at the Anne E. Casey Foundation
More on Bryan Stevenson.
Public hearing is produced by Action! by Design. Executive Produced and Hosted by Joshua Croke. Creative Production by Myka Papetti. Audio Editing and Mixing done by Giuliano D'Orazio. Special thanks to Wyle Schumacher, our summer intern, for all the great work!
Welcome to our first Sidebar! Sidebars will be bonus material that either couldn't fit into our radio show (hosted on our local NPR affiliate WICN 90.5) or anything else that we feel is important to share with you!
On this Sidebar, our host, Joshua Croke, was invited to facilitate the first Worcester Education Equity Roundtable Webinar focused on the future of education in the face of a pandemic.
On our first episode of Public Hearing, we spoke with Jennifer Davis Carey, Executive Director of the Worcester Education Collaborative, about the landscape of public education and how it serves (or doesn’t serve) the needs of young people and their families here in the U.S. We also hear from Savonne Pickett, a Worcester-based artist who participated in the Black Lives Matter street mural. Savonne talks to Josh about her experiences with Public Education, Art, and how important it is to have mentors who care.
Public Hearing is a podcast by Action! by Design. Hosted and Produced by Joshua Croke. Our Creative Producer is Myka Papetti. Our Audio Rock Star is Giuliano D'Orazio. Special thanks to Wyle Schumacher, our Summer intern from Babson College!
For more information, transcripts and reference links, visit our website.
Public Hearing listens to voices impacted by systems like public education and juvenile justice and talks to people using community-centered design to fix them. From getting families internet access to keeping kids out of prison, we’re imagining ways to build inclusive, equitable, and prosperous communities.
Hosted by Joshua Croke, founder of Action! by Design. Action! by Design supports community design and innovation from citizen to city.