audio by year 2008

• produced by Naquan
• in 2008

Another Election Reflection, produced by Naquan, a student at Vanguard Hifh School.

• produced by Vanguard High School
• in 2008

2008 is already here and Radio Rootz is hoping for the best year yet!!  Take a listen to our wishes for 2008.

• produced by Kristal Graham
• in 2008

Radio Rootz Special!
As some Radio Rooters prepare for college, they start wondering "How am I going to pay for college and not be broke!"  And so, we turned to the experts.  Listen to our exclusive interview with financial expert, Carmen Wong Ulrich, and learn how to Battle your Debt Demons!

• produced by Alexis Walker
• in 2008

NYC’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) is holding a series of hearings—one in each of the five boroughs—on the renewal of cable franchises in the city.

This is the audio of last night's Queens public hearing which took place at LaGuardia Community College. It was scheduled from 3pm-7pm and structured so that anybody could give oral testimony to the panel on Time Warner’s service and problems or issues the community might have with it.

• produced by BTAHS
• in 2008

Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School takes up a whole city block in Canarsie, Brooklyn.  Every single one of the over 2000 students have to pass through metal detectors each morning.  A lot of students feel upset about the security system, and how we get treated by the security guards.  The Rootz Crew at BTAHS decided to explore this issue of scanning and police in school.  We spent several months working on this piece, starting with reading news articles about school violence and policing, then interviewing, listening to our tapes, and deciding on our audience and goal of the story.  We hope you like it - check it out!

• produced by Tina Salazar
• in 2008

Tina Salazar Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents interested in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.

• produced by Crystal Edwards
• in 2008

Crystal Edwards Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents who share their opinions and interests in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.

• produced by Crystal Edwards
• in 2008

Crystal Edwards Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents who share their opinions and interests in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.

• produced by Vincent Sather
• in 2008

Vincent Sather Interviews  Bianca Salazar who expresses her feeling on what it's like recovering from Katrina almost 3 years later.

• produced by Radio Rootz
• in 2008

Guiliani said good bye to the primaries last week, leaving too soon for New Yorkers to get a chance to vote for their former mayor.  How do New Yorkers feel about this?  Were we ready to make Guiliani the next President?

• produced by Radio Rootz
• in 2008

What are the qualities needed to be President of the United States?  Well, this is what 5 New Yorkers had to say....

• produced by Radio Rootz
• in 2008

Today is Super Tuesday, but for New Yorkers, it's also the ticker tape parade celebrating the Giants victory on Sunday.  Do New Yorkers know just *what* Super Tuesday is, besides something related to the Superbowl?

• produced by Manhattan Comprehensive
• in 2008

Radio Rootz students in New York City hit the streets to see what on people's mind this Super Tuesday.  Who are New Yorkers going to vote for?

Produced by: Ayana Haith, Kareem Smith and Steven Cheung

• produced by Nakia & Rshante
• in 2008

Nakia & Rshante hit Pass Christian's Pass parade on Mardi Gras to interview residents and long time Mardi Gras goer's on how they think the parade has changed, especially on what the Mardi Gras festivities are like now almost 3 years after Hurricane Katrina.

• produced by Vivian Omobogie
• in 2008

Beverly is a sales representative currently working on getting her high school diploma. She's originally from Jamaica, but now resides in Canarsie. Beverly would like to have access at home, but cannot afford a computer.

• produced by Vivian Omobogie
• in 2008

Twenty-nine year old Kenardo enjoys free wireless access thanks to a neighbor in his apartment building. He lives in Brooklyn and is a member of the Air Force Reserves.

• produced by Vivian Omobogie
• in 2008

Originally from Trinidad, 29 year old Kisha now resides in Midwood, Brooklyn. She has her bachelor's degree and works at a day care. Computer prices prevent her from owning a laptop. She also wonders about the difference between dial-up and DSL.

• produced by Donald Anthonyson
• in 2008

Born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, 37 year old Maria has a graduate degree and makes under 50K a year. She laments the price and speed of her DSL connection and is thinking of switching back to dial-up.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

20 year old retail worker, Saliou, has an Internet connection that's giving him trouble. He wishes access were cheaper and faster.

• produced by Vivian Omobogie
• in 2008

Shaun, a 33 year old security guard from Brooklyn, uses the Internet to study for his GED and browse YouTube.com. He thinks his access could be cheaper and faster.

• produced by Felix Ortiz
• in 2008

Arturo is 30 and lives in Queens. He works in construction and shares a house with five other people, but does not have Internet access at home. If prices were lower and he learned a little more about computers, though, that might change.

• produced by Anchanese Levison
• in 2008

Following the devastations of hurricane Katrina, many people were left homeless in Gulfport Mississippi. Two years later, the pace of the rebuilding process is said to be very slow, and the few lucky residents living in FEMA trailers constantly face difficulties when repair is needed. Anchanese Levison of the Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights, an advocacy group that helps residents in housing crisis, files this report.

• produced by La Wanda White
• in 2008

What happens when your community does not receive assistance to rebuild homes and move residents back after a huge natural disaster? What happens when the only union work available is for "able bodied men?" Well, if you are like the women of the Moore Community House in Gulfport, Mississippi, you train your community in construction work and begin doing it yourself. La Wanda White of the Moore Community House has this report from Gulfport, MI.

• produced by Jason Mackenzie
• in 2008

Hurricane Katrina wiped out the coastline in Mississippi. Many folks who lived their either couldn't afford to rebuild or afford the insurance cost to stay there. So big developers moved in and bought many of the former residents' property. Now 2 years later the major development happening along the coast is coming from large casinos. And residents from the nearby African American communities say the development is changing the face of their neighborhoods. Jason Mackenzie of the North Gulfport Community Land Trust brings us this report.

• produced by Sharon Hanshaw & Cass Woods
• in 2008

With little government assistance, too many bureaucratic obstacles to jump through, and an insurance industry that found outs every step of the way, women from all over the gulf coast had to come together to help those in need. One group of women created "Coastal Women for Change" to fill the huge void in Biloxi, Mississippi. They began providing vital services like childcare and information that residents desperately needed but were not receiving such as their land rights and programs available to them for relief. Coastal Women for Change reporters Sharon Hanshaw and Cass Woods bring us this story.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

Labor union leaders and employees at Verizon Business and Verzion Wireless have launched a campaign against the telecommunication giant to allow them to unionize. But union leaders and employees claim that CEO Ivan Seidenberg and his administration have been bullying employees who have expressed a desire to join a labor union. Abdulai Bah of the Community News Production Institute reports.

• produced by Radio Rootz
• in 2008

What is Media Justice? Radio Rootz reporters posed this question to a wide range of participants at the New York City Grassroots Media Conference on March 2. Here's what they said. What does media justice mean to you?

• produced by SAINTS
• in 2008

In time for the March 11th Mississippi primary, youth from Radio Rootz partner group SAINTS (Students Against Infectious Diseases N Today's Society) hit the streets of their local communities to prepare this report.

• produced by CNPI
• in 2008

The Community News Production Institute goes live on the air, Tuesday March 25th at 10 am, on WBAI 99.5 FM.  In partnership with Global Movements Urban Struggles, the amazing members of the Community News Production Institute are launching their inaugural monthly radio show.  This month's show is hosted by Christine Lewis (Domestic Workers United) and Donald Anthonyson (Families for Freedom) and produced by Debra Cole (DWU), Abdulai Bah (Nah We Yone) and James Williams (Street Vendor Project).

• produced by Debra Cole
• in 2008

In this powerful and lyrical piece, Debra Cole, a member of Domestic Workers United, explores the long history of music as a tool for resistance and social change.  Tracing the role of music in struggle from slavery through the civil rights movment to the present, Debra mixes interviews, songs, and her own beautiful voice to create a unique meditation on the fight for a domestic workers bill of rights.  Debra is a reporter for the Community News Production Institute, where she reports from the streets and parks of New York City, the gathering grounds for the city's domestic workers.

• produced by Angela
• in 2008

Angela's Life Map

• produced by Lamour
• in 2008

Lamour's Life Map

• produced by Chanel
• in 2008

Chanel -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by BTAHS Rootz Students
• in 2008

Sounds of BTAHS

• produced by Elena
• in 2008

Elena -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by Avianna
• in 2008

Avianna's Thanks, No Thanks!

• produced by Emilia
• in 2008

Emilia -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by Emilia
• in 2008

Emilia's Life Map

• produced by BTAHS Rootz Students
• in 2008

BTAHS' If I Ruled the World

• produced by Jemima
• in 2008

Jemima -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by Jhovanck
• in 2008

Jhovanck -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by Jhovanck
• in 2008

Jhovanck's Life Map

• produced by Angela
• in 2008

Angela's Thanks, No Thanks!

• produced by Lamour
• in 2008

Lamour -"Thanks, No Thanks!"

• produced by Avianna
• in 2008

Avianna's Life Map

• produced by Vanguard High School
• in 2008

• produced by Bell Multicultural High School
• in 2008

When it comes to digging for music or connecting with old friends, websites like Myspace, Friendster, and Facebook are rapidly becoming the new tools keeping youth in constant communication. Radio Rootz students at Bell Multicultural High School asked their peers what social networking sites they use?

• produced by Vanguard High School
• in 2008

Vanguard students conversed with college students at Hunter college about the elections. Take a listen to what they had to say!

• produced by Jessica Montano, Vanguard High School
• in 2008

Introducing the very humble and dedicated JAYRE. Born and raised in Spanish Harlem, this upcoming unsigned artist has a unique style all of his own.  Fusing together the styles of reggae and techno with pop and Indian influences, JAYRE's music stands out above the rest.

Since the age of 13, JAYRE has had a passion and desire for singing and dancing, creating an eclectic style of dance to a very different genre of music. His dedication and overall essence will surely one day make him a force to be reckoned with.

For more on JAYRE, visit 

www.myspace.com/jayre25

www.youtube.com/jayre25

• produced by Community News Production Institute
• in 2008

The Community News Production Institute aired its second live program on Tuesday April 29th at 10 am, on WBAI 99.5 FM.  In partnership with Global Movements Urban Struggles, this month the members of CNPI covered the Sean Bell miscarriage of justice, DWU's trip to Albany, Amtrak's new tactic of allowing ICE to make immigration arrests on board, exclusive interviews with exploited guest workers from India, and last but not least, a quick interview with Angela Davis! 

• produced by Manhattan Comprehensive
• in 2008

Radio Rootz hit the streets once again and this time jumped on the "International" trainline, the 7 train.  It was a very interesting day to explore and see how much diversity finds itself in and out of the train while traveling through communities such Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Corona and Flushing. In the spirit of diversity and culture, afterward we couldn't rezist enjoying some delicious Chinese food at the Flushing Meadow Mall and later some good old fashioned authentic Mexican food at Plaza Garibaldi. Yummy! But this piece is about our trip on the 7 Train not food. Or is it? Listen for yourself!

• produced by Donald Anthonyson, Teresa Gonzalez, Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

CNPI reporters, Donald Anthonyson of Families for Freedom, Teresa Gonzalez of The Street Vendor Project and Abdulai Bah of Nah We Yone recently interviewed victims of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many immigrant communities here in NYC and other cities across the country. These raids are not just leading to the arrest and deportation of immigrants, but they are also tearing families apart. The interviews were made into a radio story that recently aired on Making Contact.

• produced by Donald Anthonyson
• in 2008

The home and work place of many immigrant families are being raided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Recently, a New York City resident, whose identity is being concealed for security reasons, received an unwanted visit from immigration agents. CNPI reporter Donald Anthonyson of Families for Freedom recently sat down with the victim to find out what took place that early morning day.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

CNPI reporter Abdulai Bah of Nah We Yone recently interviewed a gentleman who's home was raided by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they had claimed to be police officers. The victim asked his identity be withheld.

• produced by Donald Anthonyson
• in 2008

Not long ago, the home of Kathy McArdld and her husband Calvin, was raided by ICE Agents who detained and then deported Calvin back to his home country of Jamaica. He was never allowed to say good bye to his three year old son. Kathy, who has been forcibly separated from her husband by US immigration Officials, recently spoke to CNPI reporter Donald Anthonyson of Families for Freedom.

• produced by Teresa Gonzalez
• in 2008

CNPI reporter Teresa Gonzales, a member of The Street Vendor Project, spoke with a lawful immigrant who's home was raided unlawfully by immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents. She asked her identity be concealed.

• produced by Christine Lewis
• in 2008

Thousands of migrant workers are regularly brought into the Gulf Coast by US based corporations that exploit them and then threaten to deport them if they complain. In April 2006, more than 500 workers from India were lured into this country under false promises. Early this year, some of the enslaved Indian workers walked from New Orleans to Washington DC to protest their illtreatment. They recently came to NYC to express their support for other immigrant workers. CNPI reporter Christine Lewis spoke to one of them, Aby Reju.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

In celebration of workers' international day, CNPI reporters take a look at how Domestic Workers and Day Labors are being treated in their work place here in NYC.

• produced by Christine Lewis
• in 2008

Domestic Workers staged a protest in front of the home of an employer who is said to have abused her nanny. CNPI reporter Christine Lewis was there to compile these voices.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

On April 25, judge Arthur Cooperman cleared three NYPD police officers of all charges in the killing of Sean Bell, a 23-year-old Black male who was gunned down in November 2006 hours after his bachelor party in a Queens club. CNPI reporter Abdulai Bah files this report for FSRN.

• produced by Kristal Graham
• in 2008

The "N" word, once a deeply offensive derogatory term against African Americans, is today commonly used among our younger generation, and most notably in the African-American and Hispanic communities. Youth who use the word say there are a multitude of interpretations of the "N" word, which they sometimes use as a term of endearment toward one another or of self-empowerment, and it is often heard in Hip-Hop music. So if the term is so utterly offensive to so many, should our youth be able to use it?

Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham investigates whether our freedom of speech rights were put into question with the New York City Council's symbolic  "resolution" to ban the "N"word earlier this year.

 Note: this piece is unedited and contains explicit use of the N-word. Listen to the Edited Version.

• produced by Kristal Graham
• in 2008

The "N" word, once a deeply offensive derogatory term against African Americans, is today commonly used among our younger generation, and most notably in the African-American and Hispanic communities. Youth who use the word say there are a multitude of interpretations of the "N" word, which they sometimes use as a term of endearment toward one another or of self-empowerment, and it is often heard in Hip-Hop music. So if the term is so utterly offensive to so many, should our youth be able to use it?

Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham investigates whether our freedom of speech rights were put into question with the New York City Council's symbolic "resolution" to ban the "N"word earlier this year.

• produced by Radio Rootz
• in 2008

This Friday June 6, World Savvy launches the Global Youth Media and Arts Festival with an opening celebration at the NYU commons gallery. This free June festival features the artwork of over 500 students from 20 different schools in all five boroghs, focusing on immigration and identity.

World Saavy's Global Youth Media and Arts Festival celebrates the creativity and vision of NYC youth artists! The Global Youth Media and Arts Program (MAP) is an arts education program for youth ages 10 - 18 in New York and San Francisco which examines an annual global theme.

This is an event you don't want to miss!

• produced by Shanell Williams
• in 2008

Turning 18 in U.S. society technically means that you are legally an adult but for a lot of parents it's a hard reality to face. Bell Multicultural High School senior and recently-turned 18 year old, Shanell Williams takes a look at the struggle between parents and their 18 year old children.