social justice

Take a Trip To Governors Island!

The Lower East Side Girls Club was proud to be an artist- residence in historic Governor’s Island for the 2023 season. Take a ride on the ferry with Sound Studio Director Kelly Webb and Erikka James, Director of Programs, as they tour the house and speak to some of our visitors to the exhibit entitled…

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Growing Abolition with Joseph Capehart

Joseph Capehart is a poet and educator pushing the needle when they can and flipping the table when they must. Black, queer, and concerned with freedom, they are the founder of The Garden, an abolitionist bookstore and community well in Brooklyn. This conversation is part of a collaboration with our mentor, artist and instigator  jackie…

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Growing Abolition with Sophia Dawson

Sophia Dawson is a Brooklyn based visual artist who has dedicated her life’s work to exposing the stories and experiences of individuals who are striving to overcome the injustices they face. This conversation is part of a collaboration with our mentor, artist and instigator  jackie sumell and MoMA PS1 which resulted in an exhibition at…

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Growing Abolition with Timothy James Young

Timothy James Young is a poet, writer, abolitionist and wrongfully convicted man who is currently incarcerated on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison. He has not seen a tree in 24 years due to his incarceration but the students at UC Santa Cruz cultivate a garden with Tim in partnership with Solitary Gardens. Join…

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Growing Abolition with Mariame Kaba

Mariame Kaba is an abolitionist thinker, writer, curator, and organizer based in New York City. Her clarity, passion and love for liberation work resonated deeply with us. We are grateful for this generous conversation in which we take on everything from a discussion of the children’s book “Noodlephant” to the constant “Law & Order” marathon…

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Topeka K. Sam on decriminalizing women and girls of color

Topeka K. Sam, has been fighting for the dignity, decriminalization and decarceration of women and girls of color since her release from federal prison in 2015. In this episode, we were blessed to have this great lady share eye opening information on incarceration as it pertains to young women. Take a listen to learn more…

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Talking Education Reform with Maria Bautista

As the final interview of the Nessa scholarship in radio journalism for the class of 2019, our young reporter Nylia Chiquito, an aspiring educator herself,  reached out to Maria Bautista, Campaigns Director for The Alliance for Quality Education.  One of the most important steps we can take in creating change is the education of our…

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Nick Cannon at Know Your Rights Camp — On Community Building

A huge shout-out to our friends and supporters at the Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC) and of course our big sisters in journalism Nessa and Katrina B who made it possible for us to spend a few minutes with Nick Cannon this spring. Nick was supporting the KYRC movement in Baltimore when our WGRL reporter…

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Patricia Robinson — Superheroes Don’t Always Wear Capes

In this second of our series done by our HOT97 Nessa show interns, we interview the unstoppable Ms. Patricia Robinson of Emmis Communications and The Know Your Rights Camp. Ms Pat, as she is affectionately known, is proof positive that superheroes don’t always wear capes — sometimes they sport 6-inch stiletto heels and leopard print! Patricia…

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Wunmi! The Nigerian Fashion, Singing and Dance Sensation

It was an incredible treat to welcome Nigerian born artist Wunmi into the studio with us to elaborate on all the cool stuff she does – music, dance and incredible style and fashion. Thank you Wunmi for sharing your culture, artistry and energy with us!

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Ms. Leona Tate of the Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum

One of the highlights of our Civil Rights trip to New Orleans and Montgomery, Alabama last year was meeting Mrs. Leona Tate, one of The McDonogh Three. Ms. Tate was one of three African-American girls, who, at the age of six, were the first black students to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans! We…

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Music Box Village – a Tiny Town of Musical Wonder!

Music Box Village in our sister city of New Orleans is truly an experience where art comes alive and vibrates with song! We have had the honor of performing there in the past in a female musical history of New Orleans and are lucky to count Airlift, who run Music Box, as our NOLA family!…

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