October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my guest is breast cancer survivor Lolita Bonilla Brooks. Many of us know someone that has been devastated by a diagnosis of breast cancer. According to breastcancer.org, nearly 282,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. this year, and Black women not only have the highest breast cancer death rates of all racial and ethnic groups, they have a 41 percent higher rate of breast cancer deaths than White women. Lolita is here to share her journey on becoming a survivor. Let’s listen to what she has to say.

Real talk, Real people

Breast cancer wreaks havoc in Black women

This is a special edition of Real talk, Real people. We are celebrating our second anniversary of turning the mic over to everyday people to listen to what they have to say about the issues and problems we face as a society. And you guys had a lot to say. On our first episode in October of 2019 we talked about the pros and cons of universal basic income and last week we reran an episode about domestic violence and child abuse as this month puts the focus on that topic. Over the last two years, we have talked about issues that focused on breast cancer, guns, fatherhood, black men voting, COVID-19 and vaccines as well as gay pride, prisons and solitary confinement and term limits for politicians. We took a look at sickle cell, diabetes and health care disparities in the minority community and the overall lack of mental health services for members of the black community. But we also put the focus on black women who started nontraditional businesses, volunteerism, growing your own food, getting kids involved in music and the arts and scholarships for black male teens in high school as well as care for senior citizens. We highlighted local businesses, local people and local nonprofits that are making a difference in our communities. We also brought in a French hat-maker who teaches local people the art of sewing. And we’re not through. Next month we are starting something new and I will talk about that in an upcoming episode. It’s impossible for me to list all the topics but we are taking this opportunity to share some of the highlights of Real talk, Real people over the last two years. We hope you enjoy it.

Happy Birthday! Real talk, Real people turns 2

I wanted to call my listeners attention to the Second Annual Alyssiah Wiley End Relationship Violence Awareness Event that is taking place Oct. 13 at Eastern Connecticut State University. I was invited to speak at the event but was not able to attend this very important event. You may recall that Alyssiah was the 20 year-old Eastern Connecticut State University student who was murdered, her remains found scattered in a wooded area of Trumbull. Her mother, Corrine Martin, a West Haven resident, founded Mothers of Victim’s Equality in New Haven. She previously spoke with Real talk and talked about her two daughters and granddaughter who were lost to domestic violence..

West Haven mother sponsors Violence Awareness Event Oct. 13 at ECSU

We’re picking up where we left off last week in our conversation with Dr. Regina Wilson and certified licensed counselor for New Haven County Shenira Billups about how the pandemic has been particularly difficult for the mental health of young Black kids. Let’s hear what they have to say

Pandemic is Taking a Toll on Black Kids, part 2

The pandemic has been particularly difficult for the mental health of young Black kids because they have had to deal with more than social isolation, anxiety and depression that the pandemic brought. My guests today are Dr. Regina Wilson and Shenira Billups, a certified licensed counselor for New Haven County. They are here to talk about the challenges black kids are facing.  Due to the length of this discussion, we are running it in two parts, today and next Monday.

Pandemic is Taking a Toll on Black Kids

There are many efforts underway by police and community leaders to stop gun violence, but the bullets just keep on flying -- including five shootings in four days in New Haven.  In light of this, we are returning to a conversation we had six months ago with Hamden resident Kimberly Washington.  Eight years ago, she founded the nonprofit "Mothers Demand Action" to bring attention to gun violence in her community and rallied mothers from around New Haven County to her cause. We talked to Kimberly at Hamden High School where she works as a teacher.

Throwback Monday: A network of Black mothers "Demand Action" to stop gun violence

We have a different type of show this week as we welcome French hat-maker Catherine Cazes Wiley to Real talk, Real people. Catherine runs a nonprofit and a for profit business on Chapel Street in downtown New Haven that centers around sewing and hat-making. Sewing and making your own clothes and other household items have seen a tremendous resurgence during the past five years. In fact, the sale of sewing machines is soaring and fabric is flying off the shelves. Catherine’s goal is to teach people how sewing can earn them extra cash and she spends her time teaching classes and making and repairing hats. Let’s hear what she has to say.

Hat-maker teaches the art of sewing

African Americans continue to face predatory lending practices when they apply for credit. And never is this more evident than when Blacks go to buy a car. My guest today is economist and lawyer Ian Ayres. He is the Deputy Dean and the Oscar M. Ruebhausen Professor at Yale Law School. He started his research back when President Barack Obama was then president of the Harvard Law Review and published an article about his findings. Let’s listen to what he has to say.

Black car buyers face predatory lending at dealerships

Attorney Michael Jefferson joins us this week. He is the founder of the Kimaya (Kee Ah Ma) Movement here in Connecticut. You’ve probably noticed the black and white signs around New Haven and Hamden bearing the slogan "Black men vote too." It is one of the ways the Kimaya Movement seeks to educate Black men and help them become more viable and effective members of their communities. Let’s hear what he has to say.

The Kiyama Movement Seeks to Educate Black Men

My guest today is Dr. Kristen Zarfos with Trinity Health of New England. She is a breast cancer specialist and medical director of the Karl J. Krapek Sr. Comprehensive Women’s Health Center at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford. Black women are needlessly dying and she is here to tell them why. Let’s listen to what she has to say.

Pulling Back the Veil on Black Women’s Health

There are many minority women who are chucking their 9-5 jobs and striking out on their own. And they are breaking ground by opening businesses not traditionally associated with minority women. My guest today is New Haven resident Shantel Garcia, the owner and founder of Innovative Consulting and Solutions, an entity that helps business owners and executives keep their companies organized, productive and financially sound. She is here to tell us how she got started and offer tips to women contemplating starting their own business. Let’s hear what she has to say.

New Haven Woman Gains Ground in Non Traditional Business

What a difference a day makes. Last Tuesday, Democratic state Rep. Quentin "Q" Phipps, who represents Middletown, and Barbara Fair of Stop Solitary CT taped an episode about the bill, SB1059, which stops the inhumane treatment of the solitary confinement of prisoners. The bill was passed by the CT House and Senate but Gov. Ned Lamont had yet to sign it into law, even though he publicly stated he would. On Wednesday, the governor blindsided supporters of the bill when he vetoed the measure and instead issued an executive order to reduce the time prisoners could be confined. Much of what Barbara and Q had to say remains relevant so we decided to run the episode with updated comments about the governor's veto from Barbara. 

The Road to Justice Never Ends

Gay Pride Month is being celebrated throughout the US and by sane people and governments worldwide. I had to put it that way because in some countries being gay is illegal. And to me, that’s just insane. My guest today is Patrick Dunn. He is the executive director of the New Haven Pride Center. He says there is much to celebrate as barriers continue to fall but he is concerned about the lack of resources for LGBTQ+ youth who are homeless and have very little support from families because they are gay. Let’s listen to him reflect on Pride month, the Legend Drag show and how he is trying to help LGBTQ+  youth who are struggling.

Celebrating Gay Pride

Eating healthy can help low-income people control obesity and diabetes. But eating healthy foods isn’t cheap and that is where community gardens comes in. My guest today is Eliza Caldwell, who listeners may remember from last year when she offered tips on planting vegetables and when to do it. She is the program manager for the community gardens at Gather New Haven. Once again, she is here to talk about the value of growing healthy food and how it benefits low-income communities.

Nourishing the body doesn't have to be expensive

I think it is around the age of 1, that we discover the joy of music. I don’t care if it’s classical, R&B, hip-hop, pop or jazz, music plays a crucial part in most people’s lives. But do you ever wonder where these musicians learned to play instruments and polish their craft? My guest today is Ty Scurry. He is the owner of the Family Music Center on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, where the motto is "Believe, Achieve, Become!" He has his attention on bringing music and the arts to low-income children and communities. Let’s hear how he is doing that and how you can be part of his community musical event.

The Family Music Center has a place for you

Real talk, Real people is a podcast that turns the mic over to everyday people to hear what they have to say about the problems and social issues we face as a society.