WCNY Community FM

(#49, 6/13/24) In this episode of CNY Latino Podcast, more with Latino poet Juan Felipe Herrara, one of many poets of different cultural backgrounds, who presented at the Syracuse-based Point of Contact Art Center. Also, an interesting compilation of Hugo Acosta's drastic physical change, related to "appearance" (you have to see it - or at least listen to it - to know what he's talking about). En...

Black Girls Don’t Get Love  is a book and multimedia brand for girls of color, designed to turn silence into language and change the way Black girls and women are perceived in society. In this edition of Central Current Radio, "Black Girls" founder Eden Strachan talks with co-hosts Rick Wright and Yolanda Stewart about the organization and the progress she's been able to make in just a short perio...

What's interesting about the history of our dictionary? Plenty! And it can be a lot of fun too, as we find out in this edition of Firebarn Chats, the radio spin-off of the popular Strathmore Speakers Series. In this show, co-hosts Courtney Black and Patricia Black talk with lexicographers Jack Lynch and Bryan Garner, co-authors of the new book " Hardly Harmless Drudgery ," a richly-illustrated his...

This month on North Words, North Country filmmaker Scott Carroll spent a couple of weeks recently above the Arctic Circle, documenting his view of climate change for an app he and others are developing. He talked about the project just before he left for the island of Svalbard. Later, a new book tells the story of early aviation in the Adirondacks, and why planes are so closely linked with the reg...

It's true! Libraries sell their books sometimes -- and they're quite a deal. Tom and Maggie have the scoop on why these are important events for libraries. Plus, preview fun Onondaga County Public Libraries happenings for this summer, like June 13th at the Syracuse Mets.

(#48, 6/6/24) In this episode of CNY Latino Podcast, we interview Latino-Mexican actor Antonio Rodriguez in the famous Landmark Theater of Syracuse. He is part of the cast of a Grammy & Tony nominated theatrical play. We also have an interesting interview with Colombian author Maria Alejandra Barrios, while walking around the Barnes & Noble Bookstore where she had a book-signing. We also feature a...

FOCUS Greater Syracuse has promoted civic engagement, participation, and education in the Central New York community for more than 25 years. Through its programs and initiatives, hundreds of citizens have been successfully connected with local government, organizations, and businesses, resulting in positive changes in our community. In this edition of Built to Serve, host Charles Roberts and FOCUS...

Syracuse Common Councilor Marty Nave and former Councilor Mike Atkins both have great visions for the future of the region's largest city. In this edition of Central Current Radio, they talk to host Rick Wright about the assets Syracuse now enjoys, and what the city needs for even greater success in the future. They call on all citizens to be part of the positive change underway, so everyone benef...

The Manufacturers Association of Central New York has partnered with the MOST to host the second year of " Future Women in STEM ," through May of 2024. The series targeted middle school girls to encourage their exploration and pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Each session was held the second Saturday of each month at the MOST, with each month featuring a local compa...

Researchers report the first signs of a new blood test that could detect so-called Long-COVID. Meanwhile, honeybees are now being vaccinated against a disease that's decimated their numbers. Also in this month's Science Today, Dr. Rich Kopecky tells us about Dark Energy, a mysterious force driving the expansion of the universe. And "Yes, my little chicadee"...what the way those little birds hide t...

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children 18 and under. It kills about 48,000 people overall in the U.S. every year. Dr. Jay Brenner, SUNY Upstate ER physician and former Chair of their Task Force on Gun Violence, and host psychologist Dr. Rich O’Neill, talk about the emotional toll of gun violence on families, communities, and health care workers. Shockingly, people who own a gu...

Amidst a bloody civil war in his native Democratic Republic of Congo, Joachim Birembo witnessed the murder of his parents, while he himself suffered life-threatening injuries. Fleeing that country, Joachim spent the next ten years in a refugee camp in Uganda before re-settling in Syracuse with his family just last Fall. He now works at Catholic Charities as a Healthcare Navigator for other newly-a...

Dan Cummings' guest on this edition of CNY Heroes is Dr. Rebeccah Bernard , a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an expert in “Moral Injury.” The term refers to the lasting impact (emotional, psychological, social, behavioral and spiritual) of actions that violate a person’s core moral values. For veterans and those in military service, moral injury can be caused by such events as: survivor’s guil...

Tom and Maggie have two special guests from Syracuse City Schools. They share their favorite Onondaga County Libraries, and their favorite books!

Micron Corporation's investment in our region presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eradicate the chronic poverty suffered by many of our neighbors. Find out how, from Melanie Littlejohn, the new President and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation. Also in this edition of Central Current Radio, Littlejohn talks with co-hosts Rick Wright and Max Eyle about her passion for servant...

(#47, 5/15/24) In this episode of CNY Latino Podcast, Marisol Hernandez and Hugo Acosta visit the prestigious Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, where they interview the Spanish artist, judge, and professor, Juan Perdiguero. He explains how artistic contests work, and how winners are selected. Then, as part of the 2024 Home and Garden Show in Syracuse, an interview with an Argentinian photographer...

WCNY Community FM is pleased to present this premiere episode of Firebarn Chats, a radio spin-off of the popular Strathmore Speakers Series. In this show, co-hosts Courtney Black and Patricia Black talk with Ann Callaghan Allen, author of "Holocaust Refugees in Oswego, From Nazi Europe to Lake Ontario." In the book, Allen reveals individual stories of the impact the refugees and Oswegonians had on...

This session of Thursday Morning Roundtable features Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, who provides an update on the state of the city and discusses developing more and better housing in the city. For a complete listing of TMR sessions, see the Thursday Morning Roundtable page at wcny.org.

This month on North Words, we learn about an unlikely feminist icon. Josephine McCarty was a 19th Century lobbyist, spy, medical student, and an Albany abortionist, who was also tried for the murder of an Ogdensburg man on a Utica streetcar. Plus, Syracuse writer Roxanne Bocyck tells the story of her grandmother, a Polish peasant who immigrated to the tiny town of Pyrites, New York during its brie...

Tom and Maggie have a special guest, County Legislator for the 6th district, Julie Abbott. She shares how important libraries have been in her life, and about the new, bigger Skaneateles Library.

(#46, 5/8/24) In this episode of CNY Latino Podcast, interviews with several people who attended a community-based event called "Y Basta ya! New York," held in Ithaca, designed to inform and protect Latinos from several issues presented in New York State. Also, an interesting interview with eccentric artist Raúl Cordero, explaining why and how he became what he is now, and talking about his work....

This edition of Central Current Radio features Central Current Reporter Yolanda Stewart, who joins host Rick Wright for a discussion about her career in journalism and her past and current projects for Central Current, the region's non-profit news source.

Find out how YOU can help improve childhood literacy in our own community, in this month's edition of Built to Serve. Host Charles Roberts welcomes Laurie Black, Community Education Director for the United Way of Central New York. Laurie talks about their program " Book Buddies ," and how you can get involved.

It's a scene straight out of Star Wars! A prosthetic arm that can feel hot and cold, just like Luke Skywalker's. But this time, it's not just part of a movie. Also this month, Dr. Kopecky brings us news from the worldwide science journals about how different people differently perceive musical harmonies and instruments, a powerful new telescope that's spotted a brand new neutron star, and some inc...

Desire Ndagijimana fled unrest in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. The refugee eventually made his way to Central New York in 2016. He is now a proud U.S. citizen and resident of the City of Syracuse, who works as a Community Support Specialist for Access CNY . In this month's Our New Neighbors, Desire shares his story with hosts Ibrahim Mohamed and Maryna Bagovska, and offers his advice f...