On The Record

Fifty-four members strong, Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus is preparing for the 2019 legislative session. Its chair, Del. Darryl Barnes of Prince George’s County, describes the caucus’ goals--like raising the age to buy tobacco products and re-envisioning the future of historically black colleges and universities. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact...

We’re about a decade in to single-stream recycling in Maryland … How is the system working? And how are we doing? Is the process cost effective? Is recycling worthwhile? We ask Robert Murrow, recycling coordinator at Baltimore City Department of Public Works, about the business of recycling. Plus, DPW recycling collection employee Roland Weeks Jr. describes realities of the work ... and his collea...

Safe shelter, safe streets - we meet two Open Society Institute-Baltimore community fellows who are working to improve city life. Ava Pipitone’s app “Host Home” will quickly find shelter for transgender individuals in distress: And artist Graham Coreil-Allen will work with residents to re-envision access to Druid Hill Park so that pedestrians, cyclists, and people with mobility devices can safely...

Here's Stoop Story from Bill Kirkner about celebrating Hanukkah with his swim team. You can hear his story and many others at stoopstorytelling.com, as well as the Stoop podcast. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/h...

Interview with Chancelor Diane Barr of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wypr.org 410-235-1472

Returning ex-prisoners face a steep climb back into society. Some of the challenges they face may grow out of how they’re treated in the criminal justice system. Today we meet two Open Society Institute Baltimore Community fellows working to improve those experiences. Jennay Ghowrwal’s project, REMIND, will train defense attorneys to advocate better on behalf of clients who suffer from mental heal...

During decades of Jim Crow, African-American travelers couldn’t be sure what they’d face at a strange restaurant, a hotel, even a gas station. Would the door be slammed in their face, or worse? The Green Book, an annual listing of establishments welcoming black customers, started in the late ‘30s. We speak with Anne Bruder, a State Highway Administration historian who is researching Green Book bus...

This holiday season, while you’re baking cookies and cakes, note that line “baking powder” in some recipes. In the final product, it is invisible and tasteless, but what does baking powder do? And how has it shaped American cooking? Food historian Linda Civitello’s new book is “Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking”. Original air date: Dec. 20, 2017. Do you have...

Kwanzaa was founded more than half a century ago, aimed at connecting those in the African diaspora to their heritage. A seven-night harvest celebration, Kwanzaa centers around themes of community and culture. Kibibi Ajanku, founder of Baltimore’s Sankofa Dance Theater, tells us how she came to celebrate Kwanzaa and the holiday’s significance. More information about the Kwanzaa events at the Regin...

It’s time to remember someone who understood better than anyone, the stories that echo around Baltimore’s stoops, kitchen tables and lunch counters. Gilbert Sandler, whose “Baltimore Stories” have embellished WYPR’s airwaves Friday mornings for 15 years, died of cancer this week at age 95.This morning we listen back to an interview with Gil Sandler, about his experience on the Baltimore City Colle...

Another set of headlines this week about Facebook and data privacy. Why should we care -- if we’re sure WE’RE not going to believe fake news stories aimed at us, or if WE have nothing to hide? Data breaches and manipulation have been a trend this year, says futurist and technology trend analyst Amy Webb … and they’re part of what will shape the coming year. Webb, who founded the ‘Future Today Inst...

We meet residents of West Baltimore who nurture community and healing through the arts. Jazz composer Todd Marcus draws inspiration from two decades of living and working alongside his neighbors .. with the non-profit ‘Intersection of Change.’ Then Marion Blackwell, manager of the nonprofit ‘Historic Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street,’ talks about restoration of the celebrated Arch Social Club facad...

A builder and a comedian are part of the new cohort of Open Society Institute-Baltimore community fellows--each with a remarkable plan to improve city life. Carpenter Shelley Halstead will transform blocks in the Upton and Druid Heights neighborhoods, one vacant home at a time. Participants in Black Women Build Baltimore will learn valuable job skills, and have the opportunity to buy the homes the...

Democrat Calvin Ball, after three terms on the Howard County Council, is bringing that experience to the County Executive job. We ask about his plans and priorities, including attracting businesses, growing wages, and reducing school overcrowding. Then, Nicholas Redding of Preservation Maryland shares his views on the future of Historic Ellicott City, hammered by two massive floods in two years. C...

Savoring flavors and conversation over a meal can bridge cultures and bring people together. Today we learn how the Mera Kitchen Collective puts that idea in action. Two of its co-founders--Liliane Makole and Aishah Alfadhalah -- tell us what’s behind the community-driven, food-based cooperative and how it empowers refugee and immigrant women by tapping into their passion for cooking, expressing g...

A Stoop story by Fabiola Ramirez about her family’s tale of courage, strength and perseverance. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers mgerr@wypr.org 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his sbdawes@wy...

Americans are doing more and more of their shopping online -- but part of what distinguishes Baltimore are the brick-and-mortar businesses here that have thrived for more than a century. The nonprofit ‘Baltimore Heritage’ has a new project recognizing the owners of 100-year legacy businesses, and project researcher, Richard Messick and executive director Johns Hopkins tell us all about it. Then we...

When former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the biggest donation ever to his alma mater Johns Hopkins, earmarked for student aid, some critics said a huge gift to an elite institution will not correct inequities in higher ed. Hopkins President Ron Daniels said he understands critics who would have like to see the money invested elsewhere. But he contends the Bloomberg gift will trigger funda...

Open Society Institute’s Baltimore field office works to improve city life by offering start-up funding to a group of social entrepreneurs--a new cohort of community fellows every year for the past twenty years. We hear about their legacy and future. Then, we kick off our profiles of the 2018 crop of OSI community fellows with Eric Fishel, whose project aims to help neighborhoods connect with natu...

Dedication and hard work really can make childhood dreams come true. We meet international musician Amit Peled. He plays the cello once owned by Pablo Casals, the renowned musician who inspired him as a boy. The book, “A Cello Named Pablo,” tells the story, urging children to pursue their dreams. Then we visit Peled at his studio to learn what it’s like to teach and study at the world famous Johns...

Beyond arrest and incarceration, how can we reduce violence between intimate partners? Law professor Leigh Goodmark … in her latest book “Decriminalizing Domestic Violence” … argues that relying on the criminal justice system to address violence often harms victims and does little to prevent abuse in the future. Then, the House of Ruth offers a path of 90-minutes sessions over 28 weeks … designed...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Out of the Blocks producer and artist Wendell Patrick-- also known as Kevin Gift--about meeting his musical inspiration, classical pianist Andr\u233\u Watts. You can hear his story and many others at stoopstorytelling.com, as well as the Stoop podcast. Listen to the latest episode of Out of the Blocks. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitc...

‘Fearless Girls Photography’ offers workshops and summer camps to young women in Annapolis who want to explore digital photography. Through field trips and mentorship, participants gain artistic and technical skills, and learn about careers like photojournalism or nature photography. Founder Alison Harbaugh hopes to inspire the next generation of enterprising female photographers. More information...

Legal immigrants, especially those who hope to bring family members to join them, are worried about new regulations from the Trump administration re-defining who should be excluded from the U.S. … because they are likely to become dependant on food stamps, school lunches, Medicaid or other government benefits. Baltimore is the first city to challenge the new definitions in Court. City solicitor An...

Women will hold close to one-fourth of the seats in Congress next month … and women turn out to vote at higher rates than men. It’s worth remembering that a century ago the big dispute was whether women should even have a vote. Suffragists persuaded some states to open the ballot to women … but by 1918 had turned their effort into amending the FEDERAL constitution, to cover the whole country. Elai...