Dante Barksdale, a leader of the violence-prevention program Safe Streets, was shot to death on Sunday in East Baltimore. Barksdale, who was also known as "Tater," dedicated the last decade of his life to mediating conflicts, doing critical neighborhood outreach, and reducing homicides in Baltimore. Here is Future City's 2019 conversation with Dante Barksdale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
COVID-19 has changed the way we gather, moving much of our social, work, and communal lives online. People are using the internet for things like doctors’ appointments and religious services, and countless institutions have had to quickly adapt to deal with the new reality. But getting online isn’t always so easy, especially in a city like Baltimore, where many residents lack access to high-speed internet and the devices or digital literacy skills necessary to use it. On this month's...
It’s been two weeks since Election Day, when a record breaking number of people voted in the midst of a pandemic. On today’s Future City we assess the national and local races and ask what lessons they can teach us about elections and ballot access moving forward. We discuss how election officials pivoted to create safer voting opportunities, the fight to make voting more accessible for currently and formerly incarcerated people, and the impact of both polling and grassroots organizing on electo...
The affordable housing crisis has wreaked havoc on Baltimoreans for decades, and the economic fallout from the coronavirus has only exacerbated the problem. On this month's episode of Future City we're exploring how COVID-19 is affecting housing in Baltimore and beyond. We discuss the disproportionate impact on Black and Latinx Baltimoreans, including the ways that some immigrants have been left out from receiving stimulus benefits. We also hear about the challenges to building affordable housin...
The new school year has started and students, parents, teachers, school staff and administrators across the country are dealing with the uncertainty of education during a global health pandemic. On this month's Future City, we discuss how COVID-19 is shaping education, how schools in Baltimore and around the country are rolling out virtual instruction and how digital and racial inequity are exacerbating educational inequity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by Minneapolis and Louisville police sparked protests around the globe. A Black-led, multiracial, multicity movement has arisen demanding changes to policing in the U.S. and demanding a recognition that Black lives matter. But what kind of changes are they talking about? What reforms are already underway in cities like Baltimore? Does reform go far enough? Does the Baltimore Police Department need to be defunded or dismantled as some protestors are...
This month on Future City we discuss COVID-19. As states like Maryland begin to loosen restrictions and re-open businesses, we check in with public health officials about the implications of that, plus how they rate the responses from Baltimore, Maryland, and the U.S. so far. Plus we hear how other jurisdictions across the globe are reacting to coronavirus, and learn about how volunteers, activists, and the government in the Indian state of Kerala worked together to fight the pandemic. See omnys...
Food insecurity is rampant in Baltimore, with nearly a quarter of the city's residents struggling to acquire healthy, affordable food. On this month's episode of Future City, we discuss why food insecurity persists in one of the wealthiest states in the country, and how local urban farmers, religious leaders, and advocates are fighting for food justice in the city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We discuss how trauma and PTSD shape people’s lives in Baltimore and beyond, and how activists, service providers, educators, and government agencies are using knowledge of trauma to change the city. We learn about legislation mandating that city agencies use trauma-informed practices when delivering services, find out where trauma fits into peace and reconciliation on an international scale in places like South Africa and Northern Ireland, and hear about how harm reduction activists incorporate...
Schools in Baltimore City have struggled over the years, and face a potential sixty million dollar budget shortfall in 2021. Meanwhile lawmakers are debating whether or not to fully fund the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission. On this episode of Future City we ask what it’s going to take to make Baltimore City schools the best that they can be and how to pay for changes to Maryland's education system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
In a year when a mayor resigned over an ethics scandal, many in Baltimore are asking if the time is right for institutional changes to how the city government is run. On this episode of Future City, we’re looking at the history of the Baltimore city government and why it looks the way it does today. We explore how governments in other cities are set up differently, talk about the pros and cons of city administrator and strong mayor systems, and discuss how city governments are using data to driv...
Erricka Bridgeford is a co-creator of Baltimore Ceasefire 365, an organization that seeks to end homicides in the city. The group organizes quarterly ceasefire weekends, asking Baltimoreans to handle conflict nonviolently while celebrating life and sharing resources. They also practice healing rituals at the sites of homicides and offer support to the surviving friends and families of homicide victims. Bridgeford spoke to Future City producer Mark Gunnery for a special podcast extra to accompany...
For the fifth year in a row, the annual number of homicides in Baltimore has surpassed 300. Young people have been at the forefront of the city’s violence. On this month’s episode of Future City, we discuss violence in Baltimore, how it affects young people in particular, gangs in the city and efforts to end cycles of retaliatory violence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Baltimore is at the center of the lead crisis in the U.S., and generations of Baltimoreans have been poisoned by the heavy metal. How did lead exposure become such a drastic problem here in Baltimore? And how can the city deal with lead poisoning in a lasting and comprehensive way? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Over 3.4 billion people use social media, but with privacy concerns and accusations of false information – what’s the future of internet use? New social media sites are emerging pitching authenticity and transparency, but are consumers willing to make the switch to new platforms? Wes discusses media, marketing strategies, and the future of the internet on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here in Maryland, there are nearly 4,000 children in foster care. With so many children in need, how do we ensure a future where children, parents, and foster parents are all provided with the best possible care? Wes discusses interracial adoption, foster parents, biological parents, and the emotional realities of this complex system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the highest imprisonment rate in the world, the United States is long overdue to address the issue of mass incarceration. With 2.2 million people behind bars in this country, what have been the effects? Has our prison system worked? We’re looking to examples in Europe to learn more. Many European models focus on rehabilitation rather than retribution. While some here in the U.S. remain skeptical about the European method of incarceration, many are beginning to implement changes and programs...
When many of us think of the modern workplace, we start thinking about the images we’ve seen of Facebook and Google headquarters: open floorplans, fooseball tables, designer beanbag chairs.Maybe we don’t picture an office at all. Instead, we picture someone telecommuting from home in their pajamas. But do either of these images reflect the reality of the modern workplace? And what trends are emerging that are changing our conceptions about the needs of workers in the 21st century? On this editio...
We live in a society deeply invested in ownership. It’s been the classic way to gain, sustain, and grow family wealth. It’s been the mark of adulthood and stability. Ownership – of a car, of a house, of a phone, clothes - has been a ‘given’ for most of recent history. But will this remain the case? With the rise of the so-called sharing economy and the popularity of Marie Kondo-style minimalism, ownership doesn’t always hold the same appeal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total ----economic burden---- of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
With so many people priced out of higher education – what’s the future of colleges – and where do community colleges fit into this changing landscape? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the holidays – and maybe you still have some last-minute shopping to do. But how are you doing that shopping? Is it the same way you were doing your holiday shopping five years ago – fifteen years ago? Are you driving to a mall – are you hitting up your local shops – or are you ordering packages on Amazon? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Music has long been used as protest. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, John Lennon, and CCR, and so many others, used their music as a way to protest the Vietnam War. They wrote songs that addressed systemic injustices and sought to unite people through the power of their music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Police departments in our country are struggling. In 2015, Gallup reported that public confidence in police was at a historic 22-year low. This was the same year Baltimore was rocked by Freddie Grey’s case and subsequent city-wide riots. While support has grown since then, the disconnect between the public and the police is palpable. What are the messages out there for future cops? Is this a profession that people aspire to? And what are police departments doing to mend relations with the public...
On today’s show, we’re tackling the topic of women’s financial equity. In the past fifty years, women have been entering the workforce in droves, and are increasingly financially independent from their spouses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Questions about the status of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers has reached a crisis point – with children being separated from their parents at the border under a zero-tolerance federal policy – many are asking what is the future of immigration?On today’s show we’ll be breaking down complex legal terms… We’ll be exploring our country’s historical immigration policies… and what’s at stake for newcomers to this country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Art puts the Charm in Charm City. But with federal budget cuts that threaten the Arts, what does the future look like for arts education and cultural initiatives? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is the future of higher education? Some say it’s vocational and trade schools – programs that offer more technical training in specialized fields – many which traditionally haven’t required a bachelor’s degree. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With robots taking so many jobs, what will the future of work look like here in the United States? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
All trends point to the number of independent voters only increasing as the divide between the two major parties grows wider and wider… So what will our future cities look like in terms of party politics? Is this the end of the party system altogether or is the time ripe for a new party to gain national traction? On this episode, Wes explores the history of the two-party system and asks if it's possible for a third party to gain any traction in our current political landscape. See omnystudio.com...
