0:08 – Snapshot from the epicenter of the pandemic: New York City
Kevin Powell (@kevin_powell) is a writer, public speaker, and civil and human rights activist, is the author of 14 books, including the memoir, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood. He lives in New York City, and recently visited all 5 hard-hit boroughs to document, with photographer Kay Hickman, what’s happening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
0:25 – April is National Poetry Month, and we’re spotlighting artists working in shelter in place.
Genny Lim is a former San Francisco Jazz Poet Laureate. Her award-winning play Paper Angels has been produced throughout the U.S., in Canada and China. She is author of five poetry collections, Winter Place, Child of War, Paper Gods and Rebels, and co-author of Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, winner of the American Book Award. Her piece is called “COVID-19 Dues” written while in shelter in place.
0:34 – It’s Black Maternal Health Week: highlighting the severe disparities in black maternal health and mortality
Samsarah Morgan is a doula, birth worker, director of Oakland Better Birth Foundation and Nia Healing Center for Birth and Family Life, and author of The Birth Plan.