Unconventional Journalist

Stepping back into my voice and the soundboard was a little rough, but by the second half of the episode it was breezy. This episode is a reflection of my break and what I have planned next. Here are two pieces of community shout-outs you should know about! Link Houston is hosting a Mayoral Forum on Transportation, Sat. Sept. 23, from 10am - noon. Join them at the Architecture Center Houston at 90...

Bocafloja  is an interdisciplinary artist of afro-indigenous descent based in Atlanta, GA.  Bocafloja’s mediums of creation include documentary filmmaking, music, literature and photography. His body of work addresses topics such as the Global South, decoloniality, critical race theory and the African Diaspora in Latin America. Bocafloja joins me and B ryan Parras , life-long community organizer f...

The state has officially taken over Houston-ISD, and community members are still making their voices heard during the board meetings held by the appointed board of managers. Actions: Sign the petition -  bit.ly/nostatetakeover Follow @houstoncvpe  for updates and information on how to get involved Need to get caught up on the issue? Texas Education Agency will take control of Houston ISD in June T...

The state takeover of public education is a ruse for privatization. New Orleans no longer has public schools , all privatized, and Houston is headed down the same path. This takeover removes democratically elected board members for the school district and appoints a board of managers. Learn more about how they are choosing the board of managers here . Even though the takeover is this week, there h...

Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC), the organization responsible for the major  chemical fire in Deer Park in 2019 , is currently seeking to renew its operating permit under Title V as determined by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Environmental organizations showed up to pushback on May 4, 2022, at the Deer Park High School’s North Campus. Organizations  Air Alliance Ho...

Anna and Fouad with Rice Students for Justice Palestine and Palestinian Youth Movement , respectively, join me to discuss how Rice University plans to platform Israeli war criminals at the upcoming event, Israel at 75. They are asking community members to show up and protest the event, and to also sign their petition . "The “Israel at 75” conference, which marks the 75th anniversary of Israel...

There is a national movement to privatize public education, and in Texas, the threat is in our backyard. Privatizing schools will prioritize profit over kids and education. Ruth from Houston CVPE joins me to discuss this threat further, and to discuss community movement to fight back. Learn how to opt out of STAAR testing . Read Houston CVPE's blog on busting common myths . Sign the petition ....

Brandon from Jailhouse Justice joins me to discuss the movement against the inhuman treatment and racist abuse of those who are incarcerated at Harris County Jail. Since last January, there have been 31 deaths in the jail, making it the most deaths in a jail across the United States. Follow Jailhouse Justice on Instagram .

Arturo Dominguez, a local freelance journalist, joins me to talk about how he rejected a bribe during his investigation into the county jail deaths. Read his investigation, here .  Listen to an extended interview with Belly of the Beast journalist Demetrius Goines, here . 

With climate change getting worse and the government barely in sight to help, it's important that neighbors know they can band together. Residents, Doris and David, in the Northeast Action Collective speak on how they have organized their neighborhoods to help when the government won't.

Read the article here .  Review the interactive map here . The police training facility in Atlanta is set to destroy 381 acres of the Weelaunee Forest, and Blackhall Studios plans to destroy another 40 acres for a sound stage. Cop City will be the largest police training facility in the United States and is slated to include a mock city where police will train with firearms, tear gas, helicop...

Perri McCary's (Mama PK's) artistic practice spans over the last 30 years focusing on using storytelling, mentorship, and activism to promote peace and challenge systemic oppression. This special interview highlights her work in the community.  I met Mama PK at KPFT, and during my time there she taught me the importance of intergenerational friendships and collaboration. Her work as a writer...

Lewis Raven Wallace (he/they/ze) joins me to discuss why journalists use “allegedly” in the face of video evidence. Lewis is the Abolition Journalism Fellow at Interrupting Criminalization, and author of The View from Somewhere: Undoing the Myth of Journalistic Objectivity.

Chivas Watson, founder of WorkingGroup512 , alleges that he was beaten and arrested by Harris County Police during a traffic stop. The police officer filed a criminal complaint against Chivas, claiming Chivas sought controversy while the police officer's back was turned. However, there is video evidence that shows otherwise. Chivas is asking the community for help by signing a petition and donatin...

This reflection episode is mostly music.  I recap community movement I covered this this year and my goals for next year. 

There was quite a bit going on the Railroad workers' front this week. This segment focuses on the latest update, along with some history on why Congress is allowed to break the strike (spoilers: they gave themselves power to do so in the 1920s).  Links for you:  Why Congress is intervening in a labor dispute between railway companies and freight workers Railroad Workers United Press Rele...

I report on the movements that fight back, yes, but that also includes making community aware of each other. In this report, three interviews with Pasadena community members are featured. Out of Line HTX hosted a Vanessa Guillen documentary viewing at the Texas Chiropractic College, and Agustin, Maria, and Emely interviewed with me before we watched it. To stay updated with Pasadena movement, foll...

Gabriela from Texas Jail Project joins me to recap the movement for a community safety budget in Harris County.  Organizers across coalitions have been working since April to create a Community Safety Budget in response to Harris County's budget hearings. Every year, the Harris County Commissioner's Court has budget hearings to allocate tax dollars across the county, and it was that time of y...

Music is curated by All Real Radio.  You can also read the article:  Houston’s Starbucks Union Goes on Unfair Labor Practice Strike Movement to Unionize Climate Jobs Before the Jobs Exist in Gulf Coast

Today was a quick recap of this week's labor movement news and upcoming events.  Starbucks Union - Houston First unionized Starbucks in Houston! Union leader was fired from Starbucks after almost 9 years Donate to his relief fund Fort Bend County Houston Environmental Organization hosts workshop - “Crossroads: Gerrymandering and Environmental Justice” Wednesday, September 28 at 6PM Learn some...

Here’s the skinny: Fascists intend to protest and disrupt a Drag Bingo event at the First Christian Church of Katy, TX Explicitly Neo-Nazi groups such as the Aryan Freedom Network are planning to attend There is a counter-protest planned, so the Drag community is not alone Here’s the action and links: Attend the counter-protest Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 3pm - 7pm First Christian Church 22101 Morton...

Here’s the skinny: Corporations and vehicles pollute neighborhoods without accountability The government is not transparent about tracking pollution There is an Air Monitoring Network, to set up monitors and gather data on pollution Here’s the action and links: There will be a meeting to review data and create an action plan. If you live in Northside Houston, you should attend. Wednesday, Sept. 21...

Here’s the skinny: ITC Deer Park is up for a permit renewal. ITC fires in 2019 caused a huge black plume over Harris County. This disaster is still under investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. This facility is up for a renewal of their Federal Operating Permit (FOP) which would allow them to continue to operate for 5 years . ITC may receive their permit without public opposition. Here’s...

With plenty of music curated by All Real Radio between topics, here's what I covered:  The potential railroad strike, report by More Perfect Union 8th Starbucks union in Texas Progress on a Starbucks in Houston organizing for a union The free AirMail tool created by Air Alliance Houston and January Advisors to combat corporate pollution, read the article here Actions Review data collected by...

Here’s the skinny: Organizers have created a Community Safety Budget that focuses on education, health, and safety of Harris County residents. The Community Safety Agenda is a proactive and life-affirming vision for how Harris County can keep its residents safe. The Agenda’s budget proposals bring together advocates from varied spaces— health, housing, and immigration justice to education, crimina...