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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Wednesday, March 1st

NPR

First hour: Urban agriculture

Second hour: A new musical explores our racial divide through humor

Urban agriculture: it's a growing and popular concept in many places, and it's the subject of the next Reshaping Rochester event. So what is the future of urban agriculture in cities like Rochester? Our guests will talk about the success of urban agriculture in Brooklyn, and lessons that might be applied here.

  • Maria Furgiuele, interim executive director of the Community Design Center Rochester
  • Nathaniel Mich, community programs coordinator for Foodlink, and manager of Lexington Avenue Urban Farm
  • Lisa Zeller, 7th grade science teacher and garden club advisor at World of Inquiry School No. 58
  • David Vigil, project director for East New York Farms! in Brooklyn
  • Jannatul Rahman, markets and outreach coordinator for East New York Farms! in Brooklyn

Here's a very ambitious and, frankly, risky idea: a local high school is getting ready to debut an original musical, largely about race and divisions in American society. Byron-Bergen decided not to do a classic musical, and instead is launching 10 (Again). It's set in 1976 in Western New York. The show pushes the boundaries by zeroing in on a wide range of stereotypes about many races, as well as women. Our guests will discuss the show's mission, and how they're using humor to address some painful truths.

  • Mickey Edwards, superintendent of Byron-Bergen Central Schools
  • Laurence Tallman, director of vocal music and drama for grades 7-12 at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School
  • Jerome Spinks, junior at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School who plays the roles of Garfield and Roosevelt
  • Hannah Van Skiver, freshman at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School who plays the role of LaToya
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.