Listen Now

This week on WBOI Presents, we are listening back to the Yom HaShoah program organized by the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne. The event serves as a commemoration for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the heroism of survivors and rescuers. Governor Eric Holcomb and Mayor Tom Henry both addressed the event virtually. The keynote speaker for the event was Chad Austin, professor of law, deputy for faculty development, and co-director of international programs at the United State Air Force Academy Department of Law. Special thanks to Rod Ovitt for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Zia Haque, director of The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies and Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College, recently spoke at Manchester University as part of the Values, Ideas, and the Arts series. The full title of his presentation is “PeaceTech: Engineering to Change the World” and it was recorded on March 14, 2022. Special thanks to Anne Gregory for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Last year, an episode of NPR’s Consider This explored the origins of Critical Race Theory. This week, we are going to hear from Indiana University Law Professor Kevin Brown, exploring his experience as one of the 25 law professors who met at the first CRT workshop in Madison, Wisconsin, during the summer of 1989. The full title of his presentation is “Critical Race Theory Explained by an Original Participant.” Special thanks to Purdue University Fort Wayne for organizing this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards is presenting a tour of the state featuring The New York Times best-selling author Ashley C. Ford. The writer, host, educator, and Fort Wayne native will be back home on April 14, giving readers and fans a chance to meet the author. Before her visit, Ford spoke by Zoom with WBOI President and General Manager Terra Brantley. The two spoke about Ford’s memoir “Somebody’s Daughter,” the real life events and relationships that shaped the book, and growing up in northeast Indiana. Ford’s tour includes stops in New Albany and Indianapolis before the final stop in Fort Wayne. Some of the conversation on this week’s episode of WBOI Presents may be inappropriate or difficult for some listeners. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

At the beginning of March, 89.1 WBOI partnered with Indiana Legal Services and other organizations for a virtual event about rental assistance programs and information on renter rights through an eviction. The goal was for participants to find out if they qualify for assistance, how to apply, and share questions. Panelists included: Mindi Goodpaster, Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance Community Outreach Manager, IHCDA Brandon Beeler, Housing Law Center Director, Indiana Legal Services Kelly Lundberg, Deputy Director, City of Fort Wayne Special thanks to Indiana Public Broadcasting for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

We are continuing to examine issues of racial justice through the Values, Ideas, and the Arts Series at Manchester University. The panel assembled includes alumni and current students. The panelists were Myron Chenault, Chris François, Farida Adam, Laura Mejia, Ani King and Estefania Mesta. This conversation was originally recorded at Manchester University on March 7, 2022. Special thanks to Anne Gregory for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Manchester University Professor of English Stacy Erickson-Pesetski spent four summer leading a Shakespeare class at Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility. Her presentation, titled “I never give up, Reflections on Volunteering at a Juvenile Prison” was recorded as part of the Values, Ideas, and the Arts series at Manchester University. It was originally recorded at Manchester University on February 21, 2022. Special thanks to Anne Gregory for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Huntington University is celebrating 125 years of service. The faith-based institution is kicking off the anniversary with a presentation by best-selling author and renowned speaker Tony Evans. The pastor will visit the campus March 31st. Ahead of his visit he talked with WBOI’s Terra Brantley. Tony Evans will speak at Huntington University Thursday, March 31st at 7:30 p.m. in Zurcher Auditorium in the Merrilat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public but tickets are required for guaranteed seating.

In 2019, Patrick Ridout, a lifelong comic book fan and collector as well as a librarian and the Assistant Director of eSports at Trine University, spoke on “The Mighty Atom: Nuclear Energy in Comics and Manga.” This time around, his focus is “Hammers, Superheroes, and Apocalyptic Weapons: Norse Mythology in Comics.” Special thanks to Trine University for organizing this event, and to James Tew for providing audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Dr. Jon Walker, a retired physician from Modestly Mindful, has been on our air before. He was a panelist for an Issues & Ales conversation on rural healthcare in 2018. His presentation, titled “Mindfulness and Impacts on Mental Well-Being” was recorded as part of the Values, Ideas, and the Arts series at Manchester University. It was originally recorded at Manchester University on February 7, 2022. Special thanks to Anne Gregory for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Earlier this month, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers delivered her annual State of Higher Education address. This was Lubbers’ last address in the role. Her resignation will be effective at the end of the 2022 legislative session. Special thanks to Indiana Public Broadcasting for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Last month, Chief Justice Loretta Rush gave her State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. The Indiana Constitution requires the chief justice to provide an annual update on the condition of the courts. Her address this year is called “Indiana Courts: Fulfilling Our Constitutional Responsibilities.” Special thanks to Indiana Public Broadcasting for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

The full title of this week’s show is “Why America Might Go to Hell: Martin Luther King Jr. and Social Justice.” This talk from Timothy Lake, Associate Professor of English at Wabash College, was recorded as part of the Values, Ideas, and the Arts series at Manchester University. It was originally recorded at Manchester University on February 1, 2022. Special thanks to Anne Gregory for providing the audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry gave his State of the City address at the Grand Wayne Center Wednesday. Special thanks to WBOI’s Zach Bernard for providing audio for this program as part of his reporting on this year’s address. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, and Kurt Roembke. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

This week, we are going to hear a presentation from the USF Lecture Series at Allen County Public Library. We’ll hear from Stacey Lehman and Jennifer Richard, Registered Nurses and Assistant Professors at the University of Saint Francis, on how childhood weight and obesity can impact health later in life, risk factors involved, and how families can respond. Special thanks to Allen County Public Library and to Access Fort Wayne for organizing this event, and providing audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

This week, we are going to hear a presentation from the USF Lecture Series at Allen County Public Library. We’ll hear from Stacey Lehman and Jennifer Richard, Registered Nurses and Assistant Professors at the University of Saint Francis, on how childhood weight and obesity can impact health later in life, risk factors involved, and how families can respond. Special thanks to Allen County Public Library and to Access Fort Wayne for organizing this event, and providing audio for this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Before we get much further into 2022, our news team is taking a listen back through some of our biggest stories and favorite conversations from 2021. You can listen to the podcast version of this show wherever you get your podcasts. You can find the original stories available individually at wboi.org. Special thanks to the entire WBOI news team, our staff, interns, assistants, and volunteers for making this show possible. You can support our efforts online at wboi.org, where you can also find more episodes of this program. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Earlier this week, Governor Eric Holcomb gave his State of the State address. Due to safety concerns because of COVID-19 and last year’s State of the State following so closely on the heels of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Governor Eric Holcomb’s 2021 State of the State address was pre-recorded away from the statehouse. This year, Governor Holcomb was back in person with the Indiana General Assembly. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

This past week, local officials and community leaders marked the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The event was hosted by Marilyn Moran-Townsend from Advancing Voices of Women and we’ll hear from local faith leaders, Mayor Tom Henry, and County Councilwoman Sheila Curry-Campbell. WBOI ‘s Rebecca Green reported on the event the day of the broadcast. Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

WBOI’s Zach Bernard moderated a town hall at the end of 2021. Bob Haddad's senior government class at New Tech Academy participated in the event featuring local and state representatives. Zach Bernard has provided guidance to students on how to ask questions effectively the last four years. Since 2021 was an "off" year for Indiana elections, it was decided to forego the typical debate format in lieu of a town hall recorded on Friday, December 10. Participating representatives include, in the order by which they were seated: Republican county councilman Richard Beck Republican state representative Matt Lehman Democratic state representative Phil GiaQuinta Democratic Fort Wayne city council member Sharon Tucker Republican Fort Wayne city Council member Tom Freistroffer Fort Wayne deputy mayor Karl Bandemer (BAN-deh-mer) Our music is by Mark Waldick, Noah Campodonico, Kurt Roembke, and Hope Arthur. Our web producer is Loyal Vandenburg. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.