First hour: Rochester Street Films explores the connection between poverty and transportation
Second hour: Dr. Willie Parker on reproductive rights and his book, Life’s Work
If you own a car, think about how easy it is to get in, drive yourself to work, and park near your building each day. It’s something you may take for granted. Yet, for thousands of people living in poverty in the Rochester area, it’s an unattainable goal. 68,000 people in the City of Rochester live below the poverty line, and 26 percent of households in Rochester do not own a car. Those residents often rely on the bus system, spending sometimes more than an hour commuting to their jobs. The inaccessibility of affordable and reliable transportation limits the economic mobility of people living in poverty, further perpetuating the cycle. Reconnect Rochester is exploring the connection between poverty and transportation, and the group will share its findings at its upcoming Rochester Street Films event on Wednesday. We preview that presentation and discuss possible solutions with our guests:
- Dr. Leonard Brock, director of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
- Maggie Brooks, vice president of strategic initiatives for RTS, and co-chair of the transportation work group for the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
- Bill McDonald, program officer for the United Way of Greater Rochester, and co-chair of the transportation work group for the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
- Peter Nabozny, early childhood policy director for the Children’s Agenda, and board member at Reconnect Rochester
Then in our second hour, Dr. Willie Parker is an outspoken abortion provider and a man of faith. In his new memoir, Life’s Work, he writes, “I believe that as an abortion provider, I am doing God’s work. I am protecting women’s rights, their human right to decide their futures for themselves, and to live their lives as they see fit.” But this wasn’t always Dr. Parker’s view. He resisted performing abortions for much of his early career, and it wasn’t until he had a “come to Jesus” moment that he changed his mind. Now, Dr. Parker is one of the few providers in the south where women seeking abortions have few options. Dr. Parker is in Rochester as a guest of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York. He'll join us in studio for the hour. Our guests:
- Dr. Willie Parker
- Dr. Rachael Phelps, medical director of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York
