community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Rustbelt Radio for March 10, 2008
by Pittsburgh IMC: Rustbelt Radio collective
Monday, Mar. 10, 2008 at 9:19 PM
radio@indypgh.org (email address validated) 412-923-3000 WRCT 88.3 FM
On today's show... * A University of Pittsburgh study looks at Recidivism and Rehabilitation for former inmates of Allegheny County Jail * High school students in NYC examines Security in schools and the balance between freedom and safety * LGBT teens speak about PERSAD and peer counseling * Local activists work to restore affordable birth control for college students * and more in our local and global headlines...
audio link: 
MP3 at 27.3 mebibytes
Welcome to this week's edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of the news from the grassroots, news overlooked by the corporate media.
On today's show...
Rustbelt Radio is broadcast live from WRCT studios every Monday at 6 PM on 88.3 FM in Pittsburgh, and the program airs again on WRCT every Tuesday morning at 9AM.
We can also be heard weekly on the following stations:
We're also available on the internet, both on WRCT's live webstream at W-R-C-T dot ORG and for download, stream or podcast from our website at radio dot I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot org.
We turn now to local stories.
College students around the country are facing large increases in the price of birth control. In response, student activists and Planned Parenthood are working to restore affordability for this basic health need. Rustbelt Radio correspondent Jessica McPherson spoke with Planned Parenthood’s western Pennsylvania organizer Nikki Kemp, intern and Pitt student Adrienne, and volunteer intern coordinator Molly Johnson.
Nikki Kemp describes how the price increases happened:
Adrienne on how the price of birth control has changed for local students:
Molly Johnson:
Adrienne on how activists are working to restore affordable prices for students:
Nikki Kemp:
Addriene organized a rally at Pitt last week to gather signatures.
And now for this week's report on the prison industrial complex, produced by Fed Up, the local chapter of The Human Rights Coalition.
You're listening to Rustbelt Radio. Later in our program we'll go in depth into a new study released by the University of Pittsburgh on a community collaborative implemented at the Allegheny County Jail.
The Persad Center of Pittsburgh is one of the nation’s oldest licensed counseling centers specifically created to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. In order to better meet the needs of young LGBT people in the area, PERSAD has developed a youth outreach program. This model will have teens reaching out to other youth with information and resources for physical and mental health.
Alexandria Pilecki of PERSAD describes the goals of the Peer Counseling Program:
Alexandria says they need to reach out to a more vulnerable population--- closeted youth:
In order to launch the Peer Counseling Program, PERSAD has hired 2 youth counselors, 20 year old Terrance McGeorge of East Liberty and 19 year old Justine Sumrock of Highland Park. The pair have been trained in counseling skills, motivational interviewing, screening tools, and issues surrounding mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.
Rustbelt Radio spoke with Terrance and Justine about their positions as peer counselours:
We also asked Justine and Terrance to further describe the importance of having young LGBT people reach out to other queer youth.
The PERSAD Center's peer youth counselors will be seen around Pittsburgh at various educational centers and community events including at Chatham College, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Squirrel Hill, Pegasus & Operation Sappho. They also hope to expand to work with school diversity boards, and other venues that are not solely focused on the gay community.
To request these peer youth counselors at your community event, contact PERSAD at 412- 441-9786 or go to www.persadcenter.org.
According to a study from the University Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh, wages for an average working woman in Pittsburgh fall far behind those of her male counterpart.
The Pitt study looked at data from the 2000 census for full-time, year-round workers and found that the Pittsburgh gender wage gap exceeds the United States’ average gender-wage disparity. Women in corporate management jobs in Pittsburgh earn 58.3 percent of men's wages for comparable jobs. Women in non-profit management positions earned 64.3 percent of men's salaries. However, men in both commercial and nonprofit management positions in Pittsburgh earned more than the national average with 109.1 and 103.7 percent of average earnings. In the public sector, the gender wage gap was narrower.
The study attributes the disparity primarily to Pittsburgh’s history. Local women were slower than those nationally to move into the workforce, and while they now make up 48 percent of it, the disparity still exists.
According to Chris Briem from the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban research, “The emergence of women into the regional job market was among the most major and important changes to the regional economy following the loss of heavy industry. The market is now open to the other half of the population, but changing the industrial structure and culture has not come easily to Pittsburgh. Only in the last decade has the physical presence of women in the labor force caught up with the nation. Now, we need to play catch-up on pay equity.”
For more on local news, you can visit pittsburgh dot I-N-D-Y-M-E-D-I-A dot org.
You are listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news overlooked by the corporate media. We turn now to news from other independent media sources around the world.
Last week, after two and half days of deliberation, a jury in Tuscon, Arizona failed to arrive at a verdict in the trial of a U.S. Border Patrol agent accused of killing an illegal immigrant. On January 12, 2007, 22-year-old Francisco Javier Dominguez Rivera was shot and killed at close range as he was being taken into custody by Tuscon Sector Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett. This occured shortly after Rivera had crossed into Cochise County in southeastern Arizona. Corbett reportedly told his supervisors that he shot Dominguez-Rivera because he threatened him with a rock. However, the evidence presented at trial was inconsistent with the agent's statements.
Several organizations, such as the Border Action Network claim that while the Corbett case is egregious and tragic, it is not an isolated incident. Jennifer Allen, director of the Border Action Network, expressed concern that, quote, “A mistrial sends the message that justice’s “blind eye” doesn’t exist for immigrants.”
The group has used the trial as an opportunity to call for the formation of an Independent Review Commission for the US Border Patrol. Says Allen, quote, “It is important that Border Patrol agents know that there are consequences for their actions. Impunity is not a democratic value.” The group hopes that prosecutors will refile the case quickly, and plans to keep pushing for increased accountability of the US Border Patrol.
Police in Miami were called to Edison Senior High School on the morning of Friday, February 29th in response to student riots stemming from an incident the previous day. According to eyewitness reports, assistant principal Javier Perez placed a student in a choke-hold, however school spokesman Quintin Taylor stated that the student attacked Perez and officers. Police entered the classroom, arrested and brutalized the student in front of his classmates, according to eyewitness reports and the Miami Herald.
On Friday morning, students organized peaceful protests and demonstrations. However by the first lunch period at 11 A.M., according to Detective Ed Torrens of the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department, (quote) "It just mushroomed into students throwing chairs, throwing food, and that started a huge melee and fight." (end quote) Dozens of police cars soon arrived on the scene and ultimately, 27 students were arrested on charges such as disorderly conduct, assault on police officers and violently resisting arrest. Seven police officers were injured and at least two students were taken to the hospital, with six or seven more receiving minor injuries. Classes were soon resumed, however the school closed for the day a few hours later.
The mainstream media, according to IMC Miami, has been showing bias in favor of the police officers. Edison High, north of Miami, has over 1,100 students, largely African- and Haitian-American. The Haitian community in particular, along with such organizations as the Power U Center for Social Change and the Miami Workers' Center, have shown solidarity with the students and are calling into question the police officers' actions and moving that charges towards the students be dropped. Edwin Alvarez, whose 18-year-old daughter was among those arrested, was outside of the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assesment Center on Friday, saying, (quote) "She was arrested and treated like a criminal for just being in the area. I have no idea how she is doing." Sabrina Francois, a 16-year-old student, told the Miami Herald that violence only materialized when the police officers showed up. She says that officers (quote) "tasered a student; they hit a pregnant girl with a stick. Even if they were just standing by, they his so many girls. They didn't notify the parents."
The Miami-Dade Police schools commander, Charles Hurley, had earlier denied that tasers were used and, citing state law, refused to release a list of those arrested. Activist Max Rameau, of Miami CopWatch, commented that officials "seem to be more concerned with arresting young black people than with education young black people." The school recently moved up from an "F" to a "D" score among Florida's ranking of public schools.
At a status hearing held Monday, March 3rd for the nineteen juveniles arrested during the incident, Miami-Dade Judge Lester Langer issued night-time curfews to all but one of them and place the one remaining under one-week-long house-arrest for throwing an object at a police officer. All of these students will be able to return to school, however according to the Miami Herald, charges are still pending.
With change as the omnipresent buzz word in this year's electoral campaigns, Election Unspun interviewed Historian Howard Zinn about the origins of change.
That was just an excerpt of Election Unspun, a collaboration between Pacifica Radio and Free Speech Radio News. To listen to more programs of Election Unspun you can visit electionunspun.org
And now for Today in Palestine produced by the IMEMC.
Thanks to the International Middle East Media Center for that report.
We now turn to a musical break:
That was just with the New Plantation
You're listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.
2.3 million people are currently incarcerated in the United States Prison System. With the prison population continually growing, many are questioning the lack of rehabilitative and educational services for inmates both during and post incarceration. A new study released by the University of Pittsburgh shows that a community collaborative implemented at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh reduces recidivism rates and helps former inmates reintegrate into society.
In this unique collaboration, the Allegheny County Jail has partnered with over 60 community based organizations to provide inmates with drug and alcohol treatment, GED training and a variety of other social services both within the jail and post incarceration. Dr. Hide Yamatani, a researcher with the Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh conducted an evaluation of this collaborative.
The study found that these collaborative social services aided ex-inmates reintegration into society.
Few other county jails have similar programs. Yamatani says that this is due to a shift in governmental policy that put little emphasis on rehabilitation which leads to massive prison growth.
Curt Gettig a former inmate at Allegheny County Jail says that social services for inmates incarcerated with drug or alcohol related problems are crucial.
Gettig says when he was incarcerated at ACJ it was difficult to access drug and alcohol services as these rehabilitation programs did not not have sufficient space for all interested inmates. He said he is fortunate that he is currently able to receive drug and alcohol counseling services at the Renewal Center, a partner organization in the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative.
Johann a former inmate at Albion State Correctional Facility and participant in Renewal also expressed concerns about the lack of social services within prison.
Darell, another Renewal participant said that the Pennsylvania State Prison where he was incarcerated had a good GED Program yet not enough openings for interested participants.
Johann says that reentry programs are also extremely important for those being released from State Prisons. He says community service has been a key element in his reintegration into society.
As his community service Johann volunteers at Book ‘Em, an organization that also aims to help stop the revolving prison door.
Johann also believes that in order for inmates to successfully reintegrate into society, employers need to stop discriminating against those who have been incarcerated.
The University of Pittsburgh study showed that in addition to valuing job training, many former inmates also placed strong emphasis on parenting skills. Hide Yamatani:
While recognizing the importance of these social services Yohann did question the scope of some of the services.
Dr. Hide Yamatani says his study demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of collaborative social programs.
* 10rehab.ogg: 1:10
Yamatani said that it is the large scale economic benefits that are enticing to other Counties. Since this study has been released he says that various county jails have approached him about implementing similar programs in their region.
Examining school security procedures at the The Brooklyn Theater Arts High School, students questioned why their school has implemented more security measures than other educational institutions in the region. In the following segment, produced by Radio Rootz these students question the balance between freedom and safety and the underlying reasons for metal detectors and police in schools.
Thanks to Radio Rootz for that segment
And now we present the Indymedia Calendar of Events:
[ Outro Music ]
Thanks for tuning in to Rustbelt Radio here on WRCT Pittsburgh, WPTS Pittsburgh, WNJR Washington, WVJW Benwood, WIUP Indiana and WKCO Gambier.
Our hosts this week are Andalusia Knoll, Ben Klahr and Juliana Stricklen with additional contributions from Jessica McPherson, Carlin Christy, Matt Toups and Johann. This week's show was produced by Phill Cresswell. Special thanks to all of our hosts, producers, and contributors.
You can get involved with Rustbelt Radio! To contact us, or to send us your comments, email radio@indypgh.org. All of our shows are available for download or podcast on our website at http://radio.indypgh.org and this show can be heard again Tuesday morning on WRCT at 9 AM after Democracy Now!
Tune in next week at this time for another edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.
Rustbelt Radio for March 30, 2008 (ogg vorbis)
by Pittsburgh IMC: Rustbelt Radio collective
Monday, Mar. 10, 2008 at 9:19 PM
radio@indypgh.org 412-923-3000 WRCT 88.3 FM
audio: ogg vorbis at 24.4 mebibytes
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