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What Does A Latino Version of “The Bear” Taste Like?
Jun25

What Does A Latino Version of “The Bear” Taste Like?

On this week’s show, we explore Latino food and culture in Chicago’s historic Pilsen neighborhood and hear about how food can bring communities together. We tag along with the podcast In Confianza with Pulso as they try to answer the question: what does a Latino version of the tv show “The Bear” taste like? We’ll head to two restaurants, Cafe Jumping Bean and Pochos, to find out. Featuring: Eleazar Delgado, ...

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Thirsting for Justice (Part One): East Orosi’s Struggle for Clean Drinking Water (Encore)
May21

Thirsting for Justice (Part One): East Orosi’s Struggle for Clean Drinking Water (Encore)

This episode originally aired on July 25, 2024 as “East Orosi’s Struggle for Clean Drinking Water.” East Orosi hasn’t had safe drinking water in over 20 years. The water is full of nitrates, runoff from industrial agriculture, which is harmful to human health. The community has taken action to find a solution, from lobbying at the state capital to working with neighboring towns.  And they may finally have one. New...

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Mabuhay: Welcome to Little Manila in Queens (Encore)
May07

Mabuhay: Welcome to Little Manila in Queens (Encore)

This episode was originally published on May 24, 2023 as “Queens Memory Podcast: Seeing Signs” Mapapakinggan din itong episode sa Tagalog (This episode is also available in Tagalog): Today’s episode debuts our partnership with the Queens Memory Podcast, a project archiving stories from the most diverse community in the US — Queens, New York. “Little Manila” is a Filipino neighborhood dating back to the 1970s, but it...

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Caste Aside: Dalit Oppression, Healing & Liberation
Apr02

Caste Aside: Dalit Oppression, Healing & Liberation

This episode was originally published on June 12, 2024 as “The Trauma of Caste: A Dalit Feminist Meditation.” .” Caste — one of the oldest systems of exclusion in the world — is thriving. Despite the ban on Untouchability 70 years ago, caste impacts 1.9 billion people in the world. Every 15 minutes, a crime is perpetrated against a Dalit person. The average age of death for Dalit women is just 39. And the wreckages...

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City Lines: Oakland’s History of Development and Disruption (Encore)
Feb19

City Lines: Oakland’s History of Development and Disruption (Encore)

This episode was originally published on Jun 14, 2023 as A History of Development and Disruption: Hella Town. This week on Making Contact, we bring you a story of urban planning and how race has shaped American cities. In his book, Hella Town: Oakland’s History of Development and Disruption, Mitchell Schwarzer explores the origins and the lasting impacts of transportation improvements, systemic racism, and regional competition...

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Urban Roots: Madam Walker & the Rise & Fall of Indiana Avenue
Jan22

Urban Roots: Madam Walker & the Rise & Fall of Indiana Avenue

Madam C.J. Walker was a brilliant entrepreneur who built a haircare empire and became the first African American woman millionaire. You might have heard about her, but not many people know that her headquarters used to be located in Indianapolis, along a once vibrant Black corridor called Indiana Avenue, a place that today is known for parking lots, high-speed traffic, and uninspiring university buildings. Why do so few people know...

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