Making Contact

I Am Because I Am, explores the expansion of gender identity and presumed roles in our society. A look beyond the socially constructed ideas of what is male, female, masculine or feminine. Especially considering Trump's administration attempts to redefine gender to be solely based on a person's genitalia at birth. Thus potentially threatening Transgender, Intersex and Non-Binary Identity.

On this episode, we look at the 2017 Tubbs Fire in California, and how it impacted the undocumented community. In the face of ICE raids, labor violations, a housing crisis, and wildfires, the broader community is standing in solidarity with those who are forced into the shadows. California's drought has led to an unprecedented number of wildfires that burn hotter, faster, and ever more acreage. Governor Jerry Brown says, "Since civilization emerged 10,000 years ago, we haven't had this kind of heat condition, and it's going to continue getting worse." What does the growing threat of climate-fueled disasters mean for the most vulnerable among us?

Indigenous Women made their voices heard during California Governor Jerry Brown's Global Climate Action Summit. They rejected Brown's support for market driven schemes and shared their vision for climate solutions at protests and at a special Women's Assembly, organized by the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, we'll hear how one community kitchen grew into an island-wide network of mutual aid centers with the aim of restoring power — electric and civic — to the Puerto Rican people.

While some Americans are mentally focused on the 2020 presidential election, all eyes seem to be on the rapidly approaching midterm election. With both Democrats and Republicans vying for control of the House and Senate, the majority party will have the advantage to pass their legislative agendas – producing outcomes that could hugely impact the future of Trump's presidency.

Despite the difficult picture painted by the news, there is hope for our planet. We cover several fights against refineries and market based solutions to global warming. And, we look at one promising solution – the combination of community owned energy and microgrids.

The stage is set for a battle between two worldviews. Is housing a human right, or a commodity? And where on that continuum is California's common ground? This week, we look at the fight over rent control, and police policies that affect the homeless.

This week, we hear from a woman who went to prison under El Salvador's current abortion laws— some of the strictest in the world. And, one reproductive justice organization considers the future of reproductive health access under the US Supreme Court.

This week, we explore the remarkable communities that arise in the aftermath of natural disasters; namely, Hurricane Sandy, and its impact on the Rockaway Peninsula.

This month is the ten year anniversary of the stock market crash of 2018. Nomi Prins talks about her new book, "Collusion: How Central Bankers Rigged the World." And, Julianne Malveaux explains how the crash has continued to devastate people of color, especially black people.