Interviews

• produced by Florence Wapimewah
• in 2008

There is a growing concern over school overcrowding in New York City, hundreds of them are said to be facing this escalating issue. CNPI reporter, Florence Wapimewah recently sat down with New York State Assemble Member Micah Z. Kellner to talk about the issue and the organizing that parents, students and some elected officials have been doing to address the problem.

The interview was aired on WBAI 99.5FM.

• produced by Randi Lynn Gros
• in 2008

As hurricane Gustav made its landfall on New Orleans and other cities of the Gulf region, much of the media attention has focused on the never-seen-before evacuation organized by local authorities. But less has been said about victims who were unable to evacuate more than three years ago when both Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast and three years later are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

• produced by PPH Gulfcoast Trainees
• in 2007

It's Called Renaissance Village. But don't let the name fool you. It's the largest FEMA trailer park in the country. It's located about a hundred miles north of New Orleans in Baker, Louisiana.  RIght after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, thousands were sent to live there.  PPH trainees in the Gulf Coast produced stories that were aired by the nationally syndicated program Making Contact.

• produced by Christine Lewis
• in 2008

Thousands of migrant workers are regularly brought into the Gulf Coast by US based corporations that exploit them and then threaten to deport them if they complain. In April 2006, more than 500 workers from India were lured into this country under false promises. Early this year, some of the enslaved Indian workers walked from New Orleans to Washington DC to protest their illtreatment. They recently came to NYC to express their support for other immigrant workers. CNPI reporter Christine Lewis spoke to one of them, Aby Reju.

• produced by Teresa Gonzalez
• in 2008

CNPI reporter Teresa Gonzales, a member of The Street Vendor Project, spoke with a lawful immigrant who's home was raided unlawfully by immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) agents. She asked her identity be concealed.

• produced by Donald Anthonyson
• in 2008

Not long ago, the home of Kathy McArdld and her husband Calvin, was raided by ICE Agents who detained and then deported Calvin back to his home country of Jamaica. He was never allowed to say good bye to his three year old son. Kathy, who has been forcibly separated from her husband by US immigration Officials, recently spoke to CNPI reporter Donald Anthonyson of Families for Freedom.

• produced by Abdulai Bah
• in 2008

CNPI reporter Abdulai Bah of Nah We Yone recently interviewed a gentleman who's home was raided by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they had claimed to be police officers. The victim asked his identity be withheld.

• produced by Donald Anthonyson
• in 2008

The home and work place of many immigrant families are being raided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Recently, a New York City resident, whose identity is being concealed for security reasons, received an unwanted visit from immigration agents. CNPI reporter Donald Anthonyson of Families for Freedom recently sat down with the victim to find out what took place that early morning day.

• produced by Christine Lewis
• in 2007

CNPI's Christine Lewis, Domestic Workers United, speaks with Guillermina Castellano, with the San Francisco Day Laborers Program, about domestic work from California to New York.

• produced by Teresa Gonzalez
• in 2007

While the country debates the logic of a guest-worker program, many don't realize that such a program already exists: it's the H2B VISA program. The program has brought hundreds of people from Latin America to rebuild New Orleans. Many of these workers arrive with great expectations. But soon they see they're left with little worker rights and often times return home more indept than before. CNPI's Teresa Gonzalez speaks with one such worker, Daniel Castellanos Coordinator of Trajabadores Huespedes Por La Dignidad.

• produced by Teresa Gonzalez
• in 2007

Two of the major themes at the Forum was labor rights and immigration. CNPI's Teresa Gonzalez caught up with Lucas Benitez, an organizer with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which is launching a new campaign for farmworker rights against Burger King.

• produced by Sekou Kessely & Vivian Omobogie
• in 2007

In July 2007, New York City will launch a new program to replace the Housing Stability Plus Rental Program that assist people who live in the shelter system. While many believe it's time for a change, considering the number of families living in shelters is at an all time high, homeless activists aren't thrilled about the city's new plan known as Advantage New York. CNPI's Sekou Kessely speaks with Vivian Omobogie, both from the African immigrant rights group Nah We Yone, about how the changes could affect immigrants living in the shelter system.

• produced by Christine Lewis
• in 2007

CNPI's Christine Lewis of Domestic Workers United hosts a half hour special on New York radio station WBAI. Marking International Working Women's Day, Christine brings to the airwaves the stories of the City's 200,000 domestic workers and nannies. She was joined by leaders of the domestic workers movement, all immigrant women of color, who detailed their struggle for basic labor rights.

• produced by James Williams
• in 2007

The 2007 National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis over the weekend of January 12-14, one day before Martin Luther King Day. CNPI reporter James Williams, with the Street Vendor Project, interviewed D'Army Bailey, a civil rights pioneer and founder of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, housed in the Lorraine Motel where King was shot.