Making Contact

How do we talk about race and racism in this country?Not as deeply as we should, according to filmmaker and educator Dr. Shakti Butler. On this edition, we hear excerpts from Dr. Butler’s film “Cracking the Codes”, and speak with her about using the medium of film to start conversations around the thorny issues of racial inequity. Featuring: Dr. Shakti Butler, World Trust founder and Creative Director Humaira Jackson, Hugh Vasquez, Y. Jelal Huyler, Aeeshah B. Clottey, Ise Lyfe, Cracking the Codes interview subjects. Thank you to production intern Lisa Barfai and to World Trust Educational Services.

They may not have made it to the Superbowl- but the “Washington Football team” has gotten a lot of attention this season- not so much for their performance on the field, but rather their refusal to change the name of their team.From FedEx Field to High School Football teams, pressure is increasing on teams to stop using American Indian names and mascots. The battle is playing out in stadiums, court rooms, and in the media. And some of America’s best known sports brands may be forced to change. Featuring: Gregg Deal, member of Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, artist, activist Suzan ShownHarjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee advocate for American Indian rights Fili Sagapolutele, congressional aide David Grosso, DC councilmember Sadie Makarechi Jerry Neuwirth, Michael Wright, Washington football fans Robert Jordan, President and CEO Justin Siena High School Dawson Del Dotto, Paul Brown, Sam Hoff, Lupe Padilla-Aguayo, current and former Justin Siena students Scott Gabaldon, Tribal Chair Mishewal Wappo Tribe Find our more at Making Contact

Drone attacks on American citizens. Black sites around the globe where prisoners are tortured. And the prison at Guantanamo is still in operation. As we enter the 6th year of Barack Obamas presidency, his foreign policy legacy is becoming more clear. Independent journalist Jeremy Scahill investigated Obama’s “Dirty Wars” and says the President has put Americans in more danger through actions that fuel hatred and extremism. This speech was excerpted from a presentation by the Lannan Foundation.

The cost of American democracy is the most expensive in the world. In the 2012 elections billions of dollars were spent on political campaigns. But there’s a growing consensus that big business and wealthy individuals are buying power. Authors John Nichols and Robert McChesney have a name for the state we’re in: Dollarocracy. Thanks to Pirate TV for use of their recording

What are the roots of the historic mistrust between people of color, especially African Americans, and the police? And how does 911 really work? Is slow response time just perception, or reality? During the 2nd half of our 2-part special—The Race to An Emergency, we follow the path of a 911 call, and along the way, encounter decades of mistrust that fuel a lack of confidence in the system. Special thanks to KALW Radio.

When you call 911, who answers the phone? How do they decide who to send to the scene, and how fast will they get there? Many people of color believe the emergency response system is prejudiced. But is that really the case?We bring you a 2 part special "The Race to An Emergency, produced by KALW radio in San Francisco. We follow the path of a 911 call, and along the way, encounter decades of mistrust that fuel a lack of confidence in the system. Featuring: Lesley Phillips, Sharena Thomas, Peoples Community Medics co-founders Nikki Anjenique; Sharena Thomas daughter; Rick Rocha, California Highway Patrol dispatcher; Olivia Moy, Wolleen Jones, Oakland police Department dispatchers; Terry Woodard, Oakland Fire Department Communications dispatcher; Jason Murphy, Paramedics Plus dispatcher; Tracy Chin, Rob Thrower, Oakland Fire Fighters; Brian Murphy, Oakland Police Officer; Regina Harris Gilliard, Johnna Watson Oakland Police Department spokespeople; Benjamin Bowser, Cal State East Bay Sociology Professor Special thanks to KALW Radio.

We bring you up to date on our most compelling and resonating stories of 2013. From pregnant women in prison who ve been mistreated; to the tomato fields of Florida, where the power of community radio helps workers take action; then out west, to a national forest in California, where wildfires are raising questions about fire management techniques. We ll also get updates on where those stories stand now.

Over 2 million Syrians have been displaced by that country’s ongoing civil war. Neighboring countries are overwhelmed with refugees. So where else to turn? Heading to more affluent nations isn’t so easy. On this edition, we meet refugees who’ve fled Syria to Turkey, Sweden, and Thailand. They’re trying to navigate a fragmented global refugee policy, in a time of extreme need. Special thanks to our freelance reporters Dalia Mortada, Christopher Holmback, Julia Lundberg, Simba Russeau. Featuring: Ahmad Dabbagh, Ayham Al Fares, Sania, Kais Badro, Syria refugees, Abu Sarah, Hassan Mohammad, Palestinian refugees from Syria. Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International Turkey researcher. Sanna Vestin, Swedish Network of Refugee Support Groups chairman. Gregor Noll, Lund University professor of international law. Anoop Sukumaran, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network coordinator. Patra Jirawisan, Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation Policy & Research Officer. Mother Agnes Mariam, Mother Superior of St. James the Mangled Monastery in Qara, Syria. Host/Producer: Andrew Stelzer Producers: Nancy Lopez, Andrew Stelzer, George Lavender Contributing Producers: Dalia Mortada, Christopher Holmback, Julia Lundberg, Simba Russeau

What does it mean to be an ally in a political movement? From white Americans in the civil rights era, to Israelis in Palestine, to Latino-Americans working with the undocumented…how does one work to support another’s struggle? On this edition, from Mississippi to Zimbabwe, a roundtable discussion on the do’s and don’ts of how to be an effective ally. Featuring: Darria Hudson, racial justice activist and divinity student; Rumbidzai Dube, Zimbabwean human rights lawyer; Leehee Rothschild, Israeli activist and blogger; Ingrid Cruz, immigrants rights activist; Mary King, former member of SNCC and Peace University Professor This conversation was recorded at the 2013 Narco News School of Authentic Journalism.

Years of campaigning for basic human rights for people caught up in America's criminal justice system may finally be paying off. 2013 saw significant changes from sentencing reform, to drug policy, to how people are treated behind bars. On this edition, we look at year victories in the struggle to bring humanity to the world’s largest prison industrial complex. Are these changes really a sign of progress? Or will the ‘tough on crime’ crowd rise once again for another crackdown?