KXRW Vancouver Presents

Making Connections

Connecting with a variety of people with interesting perspectives and experiences, to learn about the things they do, how they interact with the world and how they deal with the uncertainty of these unsettling times.

4th Wednesday at Noon or Streaming Online

About Our Show

We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… Our attitudes and actions have great potential to affect those around us. With the awareness that we are all connected, we challenge the listener to look for a connection with the perspective of our guests, consider how their stories resonate with our experience.

Original reporting

Gift of Lift- KXRW News story- 6/6/21

Redistricting in Washington State, League of Women Voters

Not In My Name poem by Beth Wood (Barb Seaman)

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, upset by the racism that’s brought on the Black Lives Matter movement, the pandemic, the administrations blatant disrespect for most of its citizens, you ‘ll probably find strength and inspiration in this poem. It’s written and read by beth wood, a singer songwriter who’s spent a good deal of time in Portland area, now lives in Bend.

Save the Post Office Saturday – 8/22/20 (Barb Seaman)

It was “Save the Post Office Saturday” this past weekend. Thousands of people across the country gathered to demand that Congress shore up the US Postal Service. According to Move On, the USPS revenue comes entirely from postage and services. Not tax dollars. Revenue is expected to be down by 50% this year, so the agency may well run out of money within the next few months. Move On says that while Washington argues about how to support the post office, FedEx and UPS have already gotten stimulus money .

People demonstrated in front of post offices around the Portland area and at two locations in Vancouver. KXRW’s Barb Seaman stopped by one of them.

Covid & Domestic Violence, KXRW Original Reporting

Detective Tanya Wollstein, Vancouver PD Domestic Violence Unit, gives an update on how the COVID Pandemic is affecting the reporting of DV incidents, as of July, 2020.

WEA Riverside & systemic racism | KXRW News Original

Adam Aguilera, Vancouver teacher and member of the WEA Riverside Equity Committee, explains how systemic racism exists in education. The teachers union sent a letter to Clark County Council last week, extending an invitation to Chairwoman Eileen Quiring to educate her as to how racism manifests in schools.

What can you do to help? Taking action in the wake of George Floyd.

Jasmine Tolbert, VP, NAACP Vancouver shares thoughts on ways to get involved and work for change.

Systemic racism and the thin blue line

Episode Library

Making Connections – Peace and Justice Fair 2021

Sept. 11, 2021- a beautiful day for the Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair. I spoke to a few of the 60+ organizations in attendance. There’s alot of good work happening in our area, and it was wonderful to connect with these people.PEACE AND JUSTICE FAIRwww.vancouverpeaceandjusticefair.orgSUPPORT EDUCATION WORLDWIDEwww.supporteducationworldwide.orgLUTHERAN COMMUNITY SERVICES NORTHWESThttps://lcsnw.org/CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBYhttps://citizensclimatelobby.org/TRAVELING DAY SOCIETYhttps://www.allsaints-vancouver.org/native-american-ministries/what-is-traveling-day-society/ ...
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Making Connections – Information Overload: Media Literacy in High School – 8/25/21

Hillary Marshall, Library Media Specialist for Washougal High School, discusses the ways students consume information. Lessons based on media literacy skills are increasingly important, meant to guide students in thinking critically about the information that shapes their attitudes ...
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Making Connections – Stonemason Part 2 – 7/28/21

Here's more of my talk with Micheal Byrne, a stonemason who‘s especially proud of his public projects- Timberline Lodge, Vista House, Multnomah Falls, stone walls along the old Columbia River highway, scenic overlooks in the gorge. I met Micheal a few years ago as a volunteer on the Cape Horn trail, and helped him build one of the overlooks there. Working with this experienced tradesman, learning a little about this traditional craft, was quite an experience!Making Connections: speaking with a variety of people who have interesting perspectives and experiences, to learn about the things they do, how they interact with the world, and how they deal with the uncertainty of ...
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Making Connections- Becoming a Stonemason- 6/23/21

Making Connections 6/23/21 Becoming a Stonemason We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… Our attitudes and actions have great potential to affect those around us. With the awareness that we are all connected, we challenge the listener to look for a connection with the perspective of our guests, consider how their stories resonate with our experience. Micheal Byrne is a stonemason who‘s especially proud of his public projects- Timberline Lodge, Vista House, Multnomah Falls, stone walls along the old Columbia River highway, scenic overlooks in ...
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Making Connections – League of Women Voters – 6/16/21

Making Connections 5/26/21 Transitions for students with disabilities We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… Our attitudes and actions have great potential to affect those around us. With the awareness that we are all connected, we challenge the listener to look for a connection with the perspective of our guests, consider how their stories resonate with our experience. Young people with disabilities face many challenges finding a place in their community after they graduate, especially in a small town like Washougal, Wa. This is a ...
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Making Connections – Equity and Inclusion at Planned Parenthood – 4/28/21

Making Connections 4/28/21 Equity and Inclusion at Planned Parenthood We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… Our attitudes and actions have great potential to affect those around us. With the awareness that we are all connected, we challenge the listener to look for a connection with the perspective of our guests, consider how their stories resonate with our experience. Finally, many companies and organizations are acknowledging the importance of diversity and inclusion. As we undergo training in cultural awareness and implicit bias, many privileged white ...
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Making Connections – Disparities and Health Care- 3/24/21

An interesting, personal conversation with Sirius Bonner, VP, Equity and Inclusion, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. about Health Care disparities for Black and Brown women.Making Connections:We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… ...
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Making Connections – Redistricting: Wonky but Important- 2/24/21

Redistricting is a wonky subject- complicated and sometimes confusing. BUT IT’S SO IMPORTANT! It really will affect the outcome of our elections for the next 10 years. So dig in and learn about it - NOW.I found someone who can help us learn. Alan Unell of the League of Women Voters explains how the process works in Washington state, and how some people lose their voice when districts get locked in to give political advantage.Making Connections:We can understand the world better and learn more about ourselves when we pay attention to the stories of other people. By listening to the voices of others, we strengthen our own… ...
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Making Connections- Hell’s flames or Heaven’s gate- 1/20/21

Hell’s flames or Heaven’s gates- an honest reflection on growing up as an Evangelical Christian. Poet and photographer Joann Boswell speaks about her new book, “Cosmic Pockets” which shares intimate thoughts on faith, spirituality, feminism, and motherhood, mixed with a dose of science fiction, just for fun. Our conversation focused mostly on the religion part- the impression all of the “hell teaching” makes on a young, developing mind.Find out more about Joann Boswell by going to her website,https://joannrenee.com/cosmic-pocketsListening back on this interview, I realized that Joann made a comment that encompasses my whole motivation for doing this show:“When you get to know people, it changes from something on paper to ...
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Barb’s work as a producer/director for a small, local Cable TV channel north of Chicago- back in the 80’s and 90’s- helped shape her curiosity about what makes people tick. After taking a Radio U workshop, offered by the Media Institute for Social Change in 2016, she rediscovered how fun it is to listen to people tell their stories, and to use audio as a means to relate these various ideas and perspectives. She began volunteering for KXRW in January 2020, producing occasional short segments for the morning news.

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