Disrupted

After years of warning from scientists, the global climate crisis is impacting Americans across the country. 2021 has already seen unprecedented ice storms across Texas and one of the worst droughts in modern history in the west. But what kind of changes can we expect in Connecticut? On this Disrupted, we dig into the ways our changing climate is affecting our state. Disrupted this week was produc...

June 19th marks the 156th anniversary of Black emancipation in America. Here in Connecticut there are events around the state to mark Juneteenth - and our state is often seen as being a northern utopia for Black Americans but by the American Revolution, Connecticut had the largest number of slaves of all the New England states. In fact, slavery in Connecticut did not officially end until 1848 - th...

This Program Originally Aired on December 23rd, 2020. As the country’s young population is becoming more diverse , children’s and young adult literature books are struggling with representation. According to a 2019 report on diversity in books, roughly 42% of books feature a white main character. So, what is being done to disrupt this? This hour on Disrupted , we delve into the world o...

This hour, we hear from a social psychologist about the reality of creating truly equitable, anti-racist organizations, and about how some Connecticut companies are cultivating diversity in their workforce. Also, we find out the status of legislation shaping Connecticut’s criminal justice system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, workers at an Amazon facility in Alabama made national news when they announced their intentions to unionize. While the union vote failed, the news is part of a renewed effort to raise working standards across the country. Despite the traditional picture of the white male union worker, today unions are more diverse than ever before. Black Americans are more likely to be members...

This hour on Disrupted, we talk to four experts and practitioners thinking about how to improve outcomes for Black mothers in the state, combating the racism in the medical system and allowing Black women to access the joy of childbirth. We'll also talk about  legislation in Connecticut that would help make doula support more accessible to all women.   See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

In March, Connecticut became just the 9th state to pass the CROWN Act , a bill that outlaws discrimination on the basis of one’s hair. The passage of the bill is being heralded by advocates who say Black Americans have been forced to assimilate to white beauty standards in order to succeed.  This week on Disrupted, we speak with two Kent State professors on their upcoming exhibition and...

This hour on Disrupted, we talk about vaccine access and hesitancy as the roll-out continues in Connecticut. And we discuss how educational institutions are examining issues of equity, inclusion, and belonging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, CNN anchor Don Lemon talks about his new book “This is the Fire: What I say to my friends about Racism” -- he started writing it in response to Floyd’s death.   And the president of the Museum of Chinese in America talks about how she’s working to change perceptions of Asians in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, we talk to three members of the theater community in Connecticut about how the industry moves forward, and what lessons they’ve learned over the last year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, meet three young Connecticut disruptors. These activists are all in their early 20s and they’re finding their voices and power to speak out for issues that are important to them - from racial justice, to transportation, and environmentalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This moment in American history can feel unprecedented. But white supremacist violence and debates over whose rights really matter are hardly new. This hour on Disrupted, we talk to two authors who provide crucial historical and theoretical context to this moment. Keisha Blain co-edited Four Hundred Souls, A Community History of African America. Jamal Greene is the author of How Rights Went Wrong:...

The sports world is riding a new wave of athlete activism. After a year of protests, athletes are openly using their platforms after constantly being told “ to stick to sports.” So how can they foster change? This hour, we dive into why sports have always been political. We’ll also hear from WNBA star A’ja Wilson on what it means to use her platform for change. See omnystud...

This hour on Disrupted, we explore the role equity plays in marijuana legalization - and find out what we can learn from other states.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, we talk to Erik Clemons, who was one of the founders of the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology. He just stepped down as CEO after a decade. He talks about his career in New Haven and about the lessons he learned from being a part of the public/private partnership between the state and Dalio Philanthropies . Also, we talk about how community college admissions plumme...

2020 was  a record year for gun sales in the United States – and the largest increase in purchases came from African American communities. And what’s the disconnect between the 2nd Amendment rights Americans have in theory, and how they play out for African Americans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, 5th District U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes joins us to talk about her career in education and politics. Also, we'll learn more about where the Connecticut GOP is headed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we'll hear from a graduate and a professor about the experience of attending an historically black college and university (HBCUs) and the importance that HBCUs hold in shaping future leaders and our country. We'll also hear more of the history behind these institutions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disrupted is taking a break for impeachment coverage. Join us next week for our conversation on historically black colleges and universities.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, Melissa Harris Perry joins us to talk about her journey as an educator, her media career, and the importance of telling diverse stories.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, we hear about why companies' moderation policies is the new front in the "free speech wars". We'll also hear about Clubhouse, a new audio-only app that is making ripples in the technology world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we talk about how hospitals are reaching out to achieve health equity in communities of color and the challenges of healthcare and vaccine distribution among the undocumented community.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we talk about the grassroots organization behind the Democratic win in Georgia. And, why the violence at the U.S. Capitol was more about maintaining white supremacy and privilege in America.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we also talk with Betts about prison reform, and how he’s working to get more books inside prisons . And it’s a new year, and a new legislative session. State Senator Gary Winfield joins us to give an update on priorities for 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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