sharonksobotta

An Israeli Jewish American and a Palestinian Muslim American Call for Ceasefire

What voices are we not hearing? A Palestinian American’s Perspective

While President Biden continues echoing the rock solid support of the United States for Israel and mainstream media is focusing almost exclusively on the Israeli perspective, thousands of Americans and people from across the world are taking to the streets begging for an immediate ‘cease fire.’ This is the perspective of a Palestinian American mother who was born in Jerusalem but now lives in the East Bay. 

October 15, 2023 Preview

This week's show is a mix of hardships and hope--sharing perspectives on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, while honoring marginalized voices and innovators for change. 

Grandparents as Guardians

News for Sunday, September 17, 2023

From the farm fields to the classroom, unions unite to ask for fair and competitive wages. We discuss the film 'A Song for Cesar' from the lens of the filmmakers--Andres Alegria and Abel Sanchez--which will air on PBS this month. We'll also hear from the teachers in the Lafayette School District, who say that while the district may be ranked among the top in the county, the pay scale of teachers is among the lowest.

Lastly, we'll hear from Blues Singer Johnny Burgin. The show airs on KPFA, 94.1 fm or KPFA.org on the third Sunday of each month. 

Lafayette School District Teachers SayThey Deserve More

Lafayette may have a reputation as being one of the top districts in Contra Costa County, but the teachers say their pay is among the lowest and they want more. With students, parents and aides at their side, a few dozen teachers stood in front of Lafayette Elementary Schools picketing with signs and stats. They have rejected the district's offer of a 12 percent raise, saying that in order to stay competitive with peers in the county, they need 14. 

Andres Alegria and Abel Sanchez sing (metaphorically speaking) ”A Song for Cesar”

What started as a simple song that Abel Sanchez wrote to commemorate the work of the late Cesar Chavez, who along with Dolores Huerta, organized the United Farmworkers Union, grew into something much bigger. With the blessings and perspectives of Maya Angela, Dolores Huerta and many others and the filmmaking partnership with Andres Alegria (who is the co-director), the song grew into a music video and then a feature-length film. The film takes on the question of what the role of music and art is in building and sustaining social justice movements as powerful as the United Farmworkers Union. 

Succeeding in life is about so much more than paying attention in class

In this piece, generations of community members involved with the Community Youth Center share their truth of finding a safe place to land and how their paths turned out differently than peers who didn't have the same access. 

Nobuko Miyamoto--120,000 Stories

It’s been some 80 years since 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated in internment camps across the Pacific Coast during World War II and 50 years after people of Japanese Descent came together to form the committee against Nihonmachi (the equivalent of Japan town) eviction, as Japanese Americans faced generations of discrimination and displacement even decades into the aftermath of the relocation and internment camp experience. It’s also been 50 years since the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California became a fixture in San Francisco. As the center celebrates its anniversary, singer, songwriter, dancer and author Nobuko Miyamoto is bringing a performance inspired by her latest album 120,000 to San Francisco on August 5, 2023.

June 18, 2023 Allyship-Pride Month-Connection Through Music & Laughter