ACE Spectrum

News About the San Quentin COVID-19 Status from “Uncuffed” Podcast and a Report from a Rising Radio Journalist

Posted by Martha Sessums on Aug 6, 2020 in ACE Learning Center, ACE School Report, Continuing Education | 0 comments

By Ben Trefny, News Director, KALW and Bee Soll, KALW Summer Trainee

I wanted to give an update on one aspect of the extensive journalism training we do through KALW, made possible in part with the help of ACE. As I’ve discussed, before, we’ve been working with incarcerated people at San Quentin State Prison for about eight years, now, and recently expanded to work with men at California State Prison, Solano. The stories they produce can be heard regularly on KALW’s Crosscurrents as well as the podcast Uncuffed. There’s been a lot of news in state prisons during the pandemic, and I wanted to share with you an excerpt from the Uncuffed newsletter, to loop you in on what’s been happening:

Almost two-thirds of the population of San Quentin has tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, almost 1,600 have recovered, according to CDCR. But 19 have died, and about 500 are still sick and in custody. Over 1,000 more are sick in other state prisons. Our hearts go out to people in prisons, the communities that love them, and to staff…

In this time of increased danger in prisons, more listeners than ever are finding Uncuffed. This past week, we were fortunate to be featured in two of our favorite podcasts: Ear Hustle, and Snap Judgment.

If you’ve heard of Uncuffed, you’ve probably heard of Ear Hustle. Founders Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams, and Nigel Poor all got their radio start in KALW’s program in San Quentin, and they work right next door to us in the San Quentin media center.

Ear Hustle put out a special summer listening episode, featuring Uncuffed and other podcasts giving voice to people in prison and post-incarceration. We definitely recommend checking out that episode and subscribing to all those shows! There’s a movement now of podcasts made by people in prisons, and we’re very proud to be a part of it.

Separately, the podcast Snap Judgment, based out of Oakland, did a whole episode on the coronavirus outbreak at San Quentin. This is powerful, essential listening if you want to understand what the pandemic has been like inside San Quentin. The episode features the voices and words of three Uncuffed producers: Chanthon Bun, Greg Eskridge, and Thanh Tran. It also includes an excerpt of our most recent episode, Letters from the Outside, as COVID Rages Inside.

 

 

 

 

 

Big props to the producers on the inside and the outside of the prison walls. And thanks to everybody who supports these training programs and the critical journalism that comes out of them.

In our own newsroom at KALW (or, rather, the many home studios around the Bay Area where we’re now primarily producing our work), a team of people are helping teach other rising audio journalists. One of the talented folks in our summer training program is Bee Soll. I asked her to share thoughts about her experience in this most unusual season:

Through my internship with KALW, I’ve learned a ton of new skills, and also had the opportunity to teach myself. Though we are encountering unprecedented times, this internship has taught me the value of solving problems on my own and asking for help when I need it. The staff at KALW are nothing short of amazing — everyone is more than willing to jump on a Zoom call to walk me through something technical or help me with my voicing when I need to be more conversational. This is my second reporting internship, and one thing I find so unique about KALW is the attention given to training the next generation of reporters and producers. Having structure, tasks, and instructions is one of the most important things for me to have during COVID. Though I wish I could hang out with them in person, my coworkers and bosses at KALW are patient, kind, and really want me to learn and grow. I’m excited to meet new radio people as I grow in this industry. Being in this type of creative and social justice-oriented environment inspires me and my work. Overall, I’m so grateful to have joined this team and I look forward to where it takes me!

From Education to Information to Leadership to Financial Assistance, the Alpha Parent Center is Always There for Parents

Posted by Martha Sessums on Aug 3, 2020 in ACE Learning Center, ACE School Report, Continuing Education | 0 comments

By Aida in conversation with Alejandro Espinoza, Alpha Parent Learning Center Lead

ACE Note: The Alpha Parent Center (an ACE Learning Center) is about supporting the parent(s) of any Alpha School’s student. When the coronavirus shelter-at-home order closed schools, the Alpha Parent Learning Center’s focus continued to be on helping parents, just in a different way. Many families saw their incomes plummet or vanish, and Alpha created the Alpha Family Emergency Fund to assist families. Money for food, rent and other needed expenses was offered to each family. ACE donated to the fund as our mission of assisting with learning appropriately changed to assisting our friends and partners at the ACE Learning Centers. 

The ACE Spectrum Blog will focus on telling several parent’s stories about how the Alpha Parent Learning Center is an important part of their – and their family’s – life. Here’s a report from Aida in conversation with Alejandro.

 

Alejandro: Welcome to the discussion Aida. You have a child that attended Alpha Schools. Who is she and what is she doing this next school year?

Aida: I have a daughter, Ximena, who graduated from Alpha Cindy Avitia High School and is now attending San Jose State University this Fall 2020.

Alejandro: That’s great. How long have you been attending the Alpha Parent Center and what areas are you involved in?

Aida: I have been involved with the Parent Center for three years. For these three years, I have gone to college so I can learn how, as a parent, I can support my daughter Ximena when she goes to college. I have also been a part of the Alpha Food Bank for one year and have helped serve food to families in our community. Ximena has been involved in the Dream Club for three years, and there she grew as a person and as a leader. Ximena really liked to raise money to give scholarships to undocumented students to go to college. She has been at the Food Bank for two years.

Alejandro: Why did you want to attend the Alpha Parent Center?

Aida: I wanted my daughter to study in a school that met the necessary learning standards that would give her the motivation and support to go to college. And I wanted to go to workshops for parents to learn about how to support their children at school and encourage them to go to college. I also wanted to learn about resources that the Parent Center provides such as the English classes and the different workshops they hosted.

 Alejandro: What is the main thing you learned at the Alpha Parent Center and what is the benefit to you and your family?

Aida: Really, my daughter and we as a family are very happy with the learning and support we have received from the Parent Center. Through the workshops we have learned about the importance of college and about other resources that exist in San Jose in relation to immigration, college, and housing.

Alejandro: How have the pandemic management requirements impacted you and your family?

Aida: The pandemic had a great impact on our family that we never imagined. My husband’s work stopped for more than three months and mine too. To this day I am still out of work. It is difficult to maintain a family of five without a salary.

Alejandro: How has the Alpha Parent Center helped you through this time?

Aida: It has supported us financially through the Alpha Family Emergency Fund. Also, they have helped us with food through the Food Bank. Finally, the Parent Center has provided us with information about any problem that we are going through.

Alejandro: How are you using the special assistance funds from Alpha – rent, food, other?

Aida: Thanks to the financial support from the Alpha Parent Center we were able to pay part of our rent for the apartment where we live in.

Alejandro: What do you love best at the Alpha Parent Center?

Aida: The attitude of the staff, all the support and availability to give information to families.

 

Entrevista en español: Aida y el Alpha Parent Center

Alejandro: ¿Nombre de los niños que asisten a las escuelas Alpha y nivel de grado?

Aida: Ximena se acaba de graduar este año de la preparatoria de Alpha Cindy Avitia y ahora va ir a la Universidad de San Jose State en este otoño. 

Alejandro: ¿Cuánto tiempo ha estado asistiendo al Centro de Aprendizaje ACE en Alpha y en qué áreas está involucrada?

Aida: Yo he estado involucrada con el centro de aprendizaje por 3 años.  Por estos tres año e ido a talleres para ir a la universidad y aprender como como puedo apoyar a mi hija Ximena ir a la universidad. Tambien e sido parte del banco de comida de Alpha por 1 año y he ayudado a reportir comida para familias en nuestra comunidad. Mi hija Ximena a estado involucrada en el Dream Club por 3 años, donde se a desarrollarse como persona y como lider. A Ximena le gusta mucho recaudar dinero para la final del año dar becas a estudiantes indocumentados para ir a la universidad. Ximena tambien a estado en el banco de comida por 2 años.

Alejandro: ¿Por qué querías asistir al Centro de Aprendizaje ACE en Alpha?

Aida: Por que queria que mi hija estudiara en una escuela que reuniera los estándares necesarios de aprendizaje  que le diera la motivación y apoyo para seguir en una universidad. Y queria ir a talleres para madres/padres de familia para aprender sobre como apoyar a mi hija en la escuela y como ir a la universidad. Tambien queria aprender sobre mas recursos que el centro provee.

 Alejandro: ¿Qué es lo que aprendió en el Centro de Aprendizaje ACE en Alpha y cuál es el beneficio para usted y su familia?

Aida: Realmente, mi hija y nosotros como familia estamos muy contentos del aprendizaje y apoyo que hemos tenido de parte de del centro de aprendizaje ACE. Atra vez de los talleres que el centro hace, hemos aprendido sobre la importancia de la universidad y sobre otros recursos como en immigracion.

Alejandro: ¿Cómo le ha impactado la pandemia a usted y su familia?

Aida: La pandemia tuvo un gran impacto que nunca nos imaginamos. El trabajo de mi esposo paro por más de tres meses y el mio tambien. Hasta hoy en dia sigo sin trabajo. Es dificil mantener una familia de 5 personas con un sueldo.   

Alejandro: ¿Cómo te ha ayudado el Centro de Aprendizaje ACE en Alpha durante este tiempo?

Aida: El centro Ace en alpla nos han apoyado financialmente atra vez del    Fondo de Emegencia para Familias Alpha. Tambien, nos han ayudado con comida atra vez del banco de comida.  Por ultimo, el centro nos a brindado información para cualquier problema por el que estemos pasando.

Alejandro: ¿Cómo está utilizando los fondos de asistencia especial de Alpha – rent, food, other?

Aida: Gracias al apoyo financiero del centro ACE, pudimos pagar parte de nuestro alquiler por el apartamento donde vivimos.

Alejandro: ¿Qué es lo que más te gusta del Centro de aprendizaje ACE de Alpha?

Aida: La actitud del personal, toda el poyo y disponibilidad para dar información a las familias 

Note: This interview has been edited for style and clarity.

 

 

Winners All Around – KALW Summer Trainees Report the News and Graduates Enter at Sundance Institute and AIR New Voices

Posted by Martha Sessums on Jul 30, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

By Ben Trefny, News Director, KALW and Vivian Bossieux-Skinner, KALW Summer Trainee

It’s been a while, but I’ve got a series of posts to share with you from KALW‘s ever active news department. We’ve very proudly been working with 18 trainees this summer, thanks largely to support from ACE, and it’s been both invigorating and important to see the work they’ve been producing.

Here are some examples:

Berkeley Officials Implement New Policies for Police — Bee Soll

Meet the Entrepreneur Who’s Keeping Your Clothes Clean During Quarantine — Noor Bouzidi

Pet Care is Also Human Care During Shelter-In-Place — Babette Thomas

Commercial Fishing During a Pandemic — Vivian Bossieux-Skinner

More from Viv in a moment. But first I wanted to give you a quick update on significant goings on with some of our alums:

Manolo Morales, who was a summer intern with us last year, is an AIR New Voices Scholar! He’ll take part in a 5-month program from now through December. The New Voices retreat will bring together the invited cohort of underrepresented mediamakers to build, reflect, and engage digitally in critical dialogue on their journey as current mediamakers.

Jasmin Mara Lopez, who graduated with KALW’s first Audio Academy class, was selected by the Sundance Institute for its 2020 Film Music and Sound Design Lab, which means she will work with top-notch people in the film industry who will help her with her personal film documentary Silent Beauty!

Congratulations! And now let’s hear directly from one of our current trainees, Vivian Bossieux-Skinner:

My experience so far has been so informative! I was apprehensive going in, because I tend to learn best by watching someone else do something and then doing it myself. So it’s been an adjustment for sure, but it’s also been really great. Since everything is being taught online, I have eternal access to pretty much any document I’ll need, and everyone who might be able to help me is also available on slack. So in a way, it’s really increased the availability of help and consolidated the resources onto a few platforms. I’m also really grateful for the format of the program.

I’m not sure if this is intentional, but I’ve gotten to work with different editors on assignments, collaborate with various people from the Audio Academy and other summer interns. I really feel like my first few weeks was a rotation of working with people and getting to know everyone, and really learn from each person’s individual way of doing things. And to contextualize things a bit for COVID, I think it’s felt really important to be learning about journalism during a time when journalism is needed so much, and when it’s hard for people to know how to contribute to societal change while also staying safe from the virus. It’s made me feel like I can do something about everything going on around me.