70 Million: An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable
Making Contact · 70 Million: An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable Prosecutors hold immense power in the criminal justice system. They decide who to charge with what crime, when to offer deals, what sentences to recommend, and much more. Aside from legal statutes, ethical and constitutional rules govern what prosecutors can and cannot do. But a system that incentivizes bringing criminal cases to trial—and winning them—can...
Re:Work Radio: Stranded
Making Contact · Re:Work Radio: Stranded In 2020, India suddenly went into a national lockdown without advance planning or adequate government support. This led to a humanitarian crisis in addition to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Millions of jobs disappeared, and hunger was a serious issue. Tens of millions of migrant workers struggled to get home – often on foot – and many died attempting the journey. In this episode,...
Fallen Heroes 2021: bell hooks, Nawal El Saadawi, Carrie Dann, Margo St. James, and more
Making Contact · Fallen Heroes, 2021 Thousands of social justice leaders in communities all over the world passed away this year. In our annual Fallen Heroes episode, we share words of inspiration from, and about, some grassroots activists that may not have been very well known outside their particular communities. Special thanks to the following for use of audio: Clandestino Institut Outlaw Poverty, Not Prostitutes produced by...
Best of Making Contact 2021
Making Contact · Making Contact 2021 Spotlight In this special year-end episode, Making Contact producers and staff turn the spotlight on some the best shows they aired in 2021. Image Credit: Creative Commons Like this program? Please click here and support our non-profit listener-supported journalism. Thanks! Featuring: Making Contact Producers: Salima Hamirani, Anita Johnson, and Monica Lopez Interim Executive Director:...
Medical Apartheid and the COVID-19 vaccines
Making Contact · Medical Apartheid and the COVID-19 vaccines The world is struggling to contain COVID-19, as variants continue to emerge in countries where the virus is spreading unchecked, killing thousands. Not only could widespread vaccination campaigns help slow the emergence of new variants, they would save countless lives. So why can’t countries in the global south access the novel COVID-19 vaccines? We take a deep dive...
But Next Time, Episode 4: Higher Ground
Making Contact · But Next Time, Episode 4: Higher Ground When communities face the aftermath of catastrophes, what does it take to ensure that the next time will be different? In Houston, it takes a city council member who bicycles in her neighborhood to hear from constituents about what they need most. It takes 12 moms who organize to take legal action against the landlords that have kept their families in moldy, substandard...
But Next Time, Episode 3: Rising Waters
Making Contact · But Next Time, Episode 3: Rising Waters No matter where we come from, or how much money we make, we all deserve a safe and healthy place to call home. In this episode we meet parents who are fighting to save their families’ homes despite a perfect storm of greedy landlords and hurricane-related flooding. Jaime, a mom who lives in subsidized housing in Houston Texas, joins with other moms to stand up to...
A special message from the Making Contact Board of Directors
Making Contact · MakingCon 211130 NewsMatch Pod We’re popping into your feed today with a quick announcement for fans of Making Contact. We know you love the show, and right now we’ve got an extra special opportunity for your support to go twice as far. Every donation you send to Making Contact through the end of the year will be doubled by NewsMatch! And if you sign up as a new monthly sustainer, your donation will be matched...
Beyond Recognition: The Ohlone (Encore)
Making Contact · Beyond Recognition: The Ohlone (Encore) Beyond Recognition: The Ohlone Our radio adaptation and update of the film Beyond Recognition by Underexposed films: “After decades struggling to protect her ancestors’ burial places, a Native woman from a non-federally recognized Ohlone tribe and her allies occupy a sacred site to prevent its desecration. They then vow to follow a new path- to establish the first...
70 Million: Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Hanging Out
Making Contact · 70 Million: Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Hanging Out There’s a place in rural St. Johns, Arizona, where teens who have encounters with officers of the law can play pool, make music, and get mentored instead of going to jail. It’s called The Loft, and it’s the brainchild of a judge who wanted to save the county hundreds of millions of dollars and divert young people towards the support many were not...
