csmonitor--2020-06-23--Why racers are standing behind NASCAR's only Black driver

Bubba Wallace steered the No .
43 to the front of pit road , NASCAR champion Kyle Busch pushing the famous car on one side and close friend Ryan Blaney pushing on the other .
The entire 40-driver field and their crew members followed .
After the car came to a stop , Mr. Wallace climbed out , sat on the window ledge and sobbed .
Richard Petty , his Hall of Fame team owner , gently placed a hand on Mr. Wallace 's shoulder .
As federal authorities descended on Talladega Superspeedway on Monday to investigate the discovery of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stall , the entire industry rallied around the Cup Series ' only Black driver .
“ The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and [ to ] know who and why , ” said seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson .
“ And we want to stand with our friend.
” Mr .
Petty , at his first race since the coronavirus pandemic began and at Talladega on race day for the first time in more than 10 years , stood side by side with Mr. Wallace during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everyone stood behind the car while Brad Keselowski held the American flag at the front of the display of solidarity .
The idea to stand with Mr. Wallace started with Mr. Johnson , while former series champion Kevin Harvick suggested they all push the car to the front of the grid , Mr. Wallace said .
One by one , after the anthem , they hugged Mr. Wallace .
He then had a long embrace with Mr .
Petty .
And then he went racing .
If not for a shortage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to race for the win .
A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Mr. Wallace .
He went to the fence and slapped hands through the wiring with a group of fans , many wearing “ I Ca n't Breathe ” shirts as they cheered .
He apologized for not wearing a mandatory mask but did n't put it on because “ I wanted to show whoever it was , you are not going to take away my smile.
” “ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I ’ ve ever had to witness in my life .
From all the supporters , from drivers to crew members , everybody here ... thank you guys for coming out .
This is truly incredible and I ’ m glad to be a part of this sport.
” It was Mr. Wallace who successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago and he was the target when the noose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motorsports garage stall Sunday afternoon at the Alabama track .
A member of Mr. Wallace 's crew reported it to NASCAR , and by Monday morning U.S. Attorney Jay Town said his office , the FBI , and the Justice Department 's Civil Rights Division were involved .
“ Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought , this type of action has no place in our society , ” Mr. Town said .
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Mr. Wallace – his team was also granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight – and the FBI was “ currently on site ” at the track .
He said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham to “ use all their resources ” to find the perpetrator .
“ Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life , '' Mr. Phelps said .
`` There is no room for this at all .
We won ’ t tolerate it .
They won ’ t be here .
I don ’ t care who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” NASCAR has tried to distance itself from the Confederate flag for years at the risk of alienating a core group of its fan base .
At Mr. Wallace 's urging , it went ahead with the ban as the nation grapples with social unrest largely tied to George Floyd , an unarmed Black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police .
NASCAR has not outlined how it will enforce the restriction and this week 's race at Talladega , in the heart of the South , presented the series with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the track all weekend and a plane flew above the track Sunday pulling a banner of the flag that read “ Defund NASCAR . ''
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey said she was “ shocked and appalled ” by the “ vile act ” against Mr. Wallace .
“ There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state , ” Ms. Ivey said .
`` Bubba Wallace is one of us ; he is a native of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.
” Mr .
Petty said in a statement he was “ enraged '' by the “ filthy act ” of racism .
Retired champion Jeff Gordon called it a “ cowardly ” act while retired champion and current team owner Tony Stewart seethed in a social media post : “ Angry .
Outraged .
Disappointed .
Those words don ’ t fully describe how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll damn sure stand up to anyone who engages in this kind of behavior.
” Mr. Phelps said he was the one who told Mr. Wallace about the noose .
“ It was a difficult moment for Bubba , a difficult moment for me , ” he said .
`` He ’ s handled it with the grace that he has handled everything that ’ s happened over the last few weeks . ''
Mr. Wallace said after the noose was discovered : `` This will not break me .
I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.
” Mr. Wallace has previously worn a shirt that says “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” over his firesuit and sported a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in a race last month in Martinsville , Virginia .
Talladega is one of the more raucous stops on the NASCAR schedule , but the pandemic prompted the series , like all sports , to ban or sharply limit fans .
Up to 5,000 fans were allowed in , but there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them had access to the the infield or the Cup Series garage .
Under strict new health guidelines , a very limited number of people can access the garage .
That would include crew members for each of the 40 teams , NASCAR employees , Talladega staff members , and any contracted safety crews or security guards .
Mr. Phelps declined to discuss whether cameras in the garage area might have captured anything of value but noted NASCAR has an approved list of who is allowed access that has been turned over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of what the FBI is looking at , ” he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Bubba Wallace steered the No. 43 to the front of pit road, NASCAR champion Kyle Busch pushing the famous car on one side and close friend Ryan Blaney pushing on the other.
The entire 40-driver field and their crew members followed. After the car came to a stop, Mr. Wallace climbed out, sat on the window ledge and sobbed. Richard Petty, his Hall of Fame team owner, gently placed a hand on Mr. Wallace's shoulder.
As federal authorities descended on Talladega Superspeedway on Monday to investigate the discovery of a noose in Mr. Wallace's garage stall, the entire industry rallied around the Cup Series' only Black driver.
“The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and [to] know who and why,” said seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. “And we want to stand with our friend.”
Mr. Petty, at his first race since the coronavirus pandemic began and at Talladega on race day for the first time in more than 10 years, stood side by side with Mr. Wallace during the national anthem before Monday's rain-postponed event. Everyone stood behind the car while Brad Keselowski held the American flag at the front of the display of solidarity.
The idea to stand with Mr. Wallace started with Mr. Johnson, while former series champion Kevin Harvick suggested they all push the car to the front of the grid, Mr. Wallace said.
One by one, after the anthem, they hugged Mr. Wallace. He then had a long embrace with Mr. Petty.
And then he went racing.
If not for a shortage of fuel, Mr. Wallace might have had a chance to race for the win. A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Mr. Wallace. He went to the fence and slapped hands through the wiring with a group of fans, many wearing “I Can't Breathe” shirts as they cheered.
He apologized for not wearing a mandatory mask but didn't put it on because “I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile.”
“This sport is changing,” he said. “The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters, from drivers to crew members, everybody here ... thank you guys for coming out. This is truly incredible and I’m glad to be a part of this sport.”
It was Mr. Wallace who successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago and he was the target when the noose was found hanging in the Richard Petty Motorsports garage stall Sunday afternoon at the Alabama track. A member of Mr. Wallace's crew reported it to NASCAR, and by Monday morning U.S. Attorney Jay Town said his office, the FBI, and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division were involved.
“Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society,” Mr. Town said.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Mr. Wallace – his team was also granted unusual access to its car Monday morning to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight – and the FBI was “currently on site” at the track.
He said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham to “use all their resources” to find the perpetrator.
“Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life," Mr. Phelps said. "There is no room for this at all. We won’t tolerate it. They won’t be here. I don’t care who they are, they will not be here.”
NASCAR has tried to distance itself from the Confederate flag for years at the risk of alienating a core group of its fan base. At Mr. Wallace's urging, it went ahead with the ban as the nation grapples with social unrest largely tied to George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police.
NASCAR has not outlined how it will enforce the restriction and this week's race at Talladega, in the heart of the South, presented the series with its biggest test in the early going. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the track all weekend and a plane flew above the track Sunday pulling a banner of the flag that read “Defund NASCAR."
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she was “shocked and appalled” by the “vile act” against Mr. Wallace.
“There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,” Ms. Ivey said. "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.”
Mr. Petty said in a statement he was “enraged" by the “filthy act” of racism. Retired champion Jeff Gordon called it a “cowardly” act while retired champion and current team owner Tony Stewart seethed in a social media post: “Angry. Outraged. Disappointed. Those words don’t fully describe how I feel. #IStandWithBubba and I’ll damn sure stand up to anyone who engages in this kind of behavior.”
Mr. Phelps said he was the one who told Mr. Wallace about the noose.
“It was a difficult moment for Bubba, a difficult moment for me,” he said. "He’s handled it with the grace that he has handled everything that’s happened over the last few weeks."
Mr. Wallace said after the noose was discovered: "This will not break me. I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”
Mr. Wallace has previously worn a shirt that says “I Can’t Breathe” over his firesuit and sported a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in a race last month in Martinsville, Virginia.
Talladega is one of the more raucous stops on the NASCAR schedule, but the pandemic prompted the series, like all sports, to ban or sharply limit fans. Up to 5,000 fans were allowed in, but there were far fewer than that Monday and none of them had access to the the infield or the Cup Series garage.
Under strict new health guidelines, a very limited number of people can access the garage. That would include crew members for each of the 40 teams, NASCAR employees, Talladega staff members, and any contracted safety crews or security guards.
Mr. Phelps declined to discuss whether cameras in the garage area might have captured anything of value but noted NASCAR has an approved list of who is allowed access that has been turned over to authorities.
“It will be part of what the FBI is looking at,” he said.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--How much does social distancing cost? For schools, too much.

As schools consider how and when to reopen their buildings during the pandemic , many are finding themselves overwhelmed by the potential expenses that would come with operating under social distancing guidelines : protective equipment , staff for smaller classrooms , and additional transportation to keep students spread out on bus rides .
The burdens loom large in particular for urban , under-resourced districts that often have neither the space nor the budgets to accommodate new health protocols .
In Hartford , Connecticut , Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez shudders at the thought of how to afford a scenario where each teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades , she said , she has individual teachers with up to 27 students in their classrooms .
`` My budget would be non-existent , '' she said .
The vast majority of American school districts have yet to announce when they will resume in-person instruction .
The trajectory of the outbreak remains uncertain , and many are waiting on direction from their states .
Many are developing plans for at least some distance learning , and budgets are one of the factors that could determine how much they do from afar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state 's poorest cities , Superintendent Katrina McCombs said costs for classroom cleanings , protective equipment , and other virus-related expenses are a concern , especially because the city relies on cash infusions from a state government that is facing a $ 10 billion shortfall over the current and next fiscal years .
New Jersey has not yet issued guidelines for reopening schools , but Ms. McCombs said she hopes the governor leaves flexibility for big urban districts like hers , where families could be at especially high risk for exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I think the big thing that comes to mind right away ... just thinking about those logistics of our city , I would hope that as the governor is rolling out those recommendations they can take those unique factors into consideration especially in our large urban districts , '' she said .
As schools reopen it will cost the average school district about $ 1.8 million to make social distancing possible , according to an estimate published by AASA , the School Superintendents Association , and the Association of School Business Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of districts that are bracing for cuts due to the economic downturn and hoping for additional federal aid .
`` You have a significant increase in costs for school districts at a time when school districts are going to have less money .
Why ?
Because you see all of the states ' budgets are going to be decimated , '' said Ben Domenech , executive director of AASA .
`` How is that going to play out ? ''
In the town of Stonington , Connecticut , school board chairwoman Alexa Garvey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the state eased guidance in place for the summer that there should be only one student on each seat of a bus .
There are also unresolved questions about providing masks .
`` Does every child need a mask ? ''
she said .
`` What are our obligations to supplying those masks ? ''
The superintendent of Florida 's Miami-Dade County Public Schools district , one of the nation 's largest , said at a recent National Press Club panel that it was considering teachers ' and parents ' input on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes forced by the pandemic and the associated costs .
`` Based on the demands of social distancing and precautions , there will not be enough money to have the old system back in a fully functional way , '' Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said .
Schools with more resources will have more options .
The affluent town of Greenwich , Connecticut , where the school system has 12.2 students for every teacher and instructor on staff , is like many others developing approaches for various scenarios .
To keep up social distancing when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the district could use media centers , cafeterias , and other spaces for classrooms to spread out staff .
In Hartford , which has 14.7 students per teacher , the district serves many high-poverty communities and also brings in thousands of students from 60 other towns through school-choice programs .
The superintendent there said the challenges associated with reopening are so severe , it may be time to come up with entirely new models for instruction .
`` Is it that the entire ecosystem has to be examined ? ''
Ms. Torres-Rodriguez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to smaller class sizes , where are we going to get more teachers from ? ''
`` We know that we have experts in our community right now .
We have our corporate .
We have our industry .
We have higher ed , '' she said .
`` So how do we leverage our retirees , for example ?
How do we leverage our soon to be college upper class students ?
Industry ?
I just think it is an opportunity . ''
This story was reported by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio , contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

As schools consider how and when to reopen their buildings during the pandemic, many are finding themselves overwhelmed by the potential expenses that would come with operating under social distancing guidelines: protective equipment, staff for smaller classrooms, and additional transportation to keep students spread out on bus rides.
The burdens loom large in particular for urban, under-resourced districts that often have neither the space nor the budgets to accommodate new health protocols.
In Hartford, Connecticut, Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez shudders at the thought of how to afford a scenario where each teacher had dramatically fewer students. In some grades, she said, she has individual teachers with up to 27 students in their classrooms.
"My budget would be non-existent," she said.
The vast majority of American school districts have yet to announce when they will resume in-person instruction. The trajectory of the outbreak remains uncertain, and many are waiting on direction from their states. Many are developing plans for at least some distance learning, and budgets are one of the factors that could determine how much they do from afar.
In Camden, New Jersey, one of the state's poorest cities, Superintendent Katrina McCombs said costs for classroom cleanings, protective equipment, and other virus-related expenses are a concern, especially because the city relies on cash infusions from a state government that is facing a $10 billion shortfall over the current and next fiscal years.
New Jersey has not yet issued guidelines for reopening schools, but Ms. McCombs said she hopes the governor leaves flexibility for big urban districts like hers, where families could be at especially high risk for exposure given the number of multi-generational households.
"I think the big thing that comes to mind right away ... just thinking about those logistics of our city, I would hope that as the governor is rolling out those recommendations they can take those unique factors into consideration especially in our large urban districts," she said.
As schools reopen it will cost the average school district about $1.8 million to make social distancing possible, according to an estimate published by AASA, the School Superintendents Association, and the Association of School Business Officials International. The expense will strain budgets of districts that are bracing for cuts due to the economic downturn and hoping for additional federal aid.
"You have a significant increase in costs for school districts at a time when school districts are going to have less money. Why? Because you see all of the states' budgets are going to be decimated," said Ben Domenech, executive director of AASA. "How is that going to play out?"
In the town of Stonington, Connecticut, school board chairwoman Alexa Garvey said it would help immensely with finances if the state eased guidance in place for the summer that there should be only one student on each seat of a bus. There are also unresolved questions about providing masks.
"Does every child need a mask?" she said. "What are our obligations to supplying those masks?"
The superintendent of Florida's Miami-Dade County Public Schools district, one of the nation's largest, said at a recent National Press Club panel that it was considering teachers' and parents' input on how to continue instruction in light of changes forced by the pandemic and the associated costs.
"Based on the demands of social distancing and precautions, there will not be enough money to have the old system back in a fully functional way," Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
Schools with more resources will have more options.
The affluent town of Greenwich, Connecticut, where the school system has 12.2 students for every teacher and instructor on staff, is like many others developing approaches for various scenarios. To keep up social distancing when buildings reopen, Superintendent Toni Jones has said the district could use media centers, cafeterias, and other spaces for classrooms to spread out staff.
In Hartford, which has 14.7 students per teacher, the district serves many high-poverty communities and also brings in thousands of students from 60 other towns through school-choice programs. The superintendent there said the challenges associated with reopening are so severe, it may be time to come up with entirely new models for instruction.
"Is it that the entire ecosystem has to be examined?" Ms. Torres-Rodriguez said. "If we're going to go to smaller class sizes, where are we going to get more teachers from?"
"We know that we have experts in our community right now. We have our corporate. We have our industry. We have higher ed," she said. "So how do we leverage our retirees, for example? How do we leverage our soon to be college upper class students? Industry? I just think it is an opportunity."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Kantele Franko in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--A different kind of care package: Concertgoers ‘Blanket the Homeless’

Mr. Newman tells the story of a fan who skeptically took a few bags after a show but returned while he was packing up his guitars .
When the fan handed a package to a homeless person , the recipient kept repeating , “ Is this for me ?
” The fan says , “ The next thing , we ’ re standing on the street , hugging in the rain.
” Mr. Newman ’ s own awareness of homelessness grew a few years ago into a charity he calls Blanket the Homeless .
After his concerts , his fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as emergency blankets and nutrition bars that they then give to those in need .
A resource guide in each bag is the result of a partnership with a nonprofit that also targets the vulnerable , St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco .
Ken Newman understands how difficult it can be to interact with people who are homeless .
He admits he gets disheartened seeing someone openly using drugs , or trashing a space .
But there are people on the street who are “ absolutely filled with grace and benevolence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
When Ken Newman plays a concert , his merch table looks quite different from that of other musicians .
Whether he ’ s playing solo acoustic gigs or amps-cranked-to-the-max shows with his trio , Berkeley Bronx , the San Francisco-based frontman sets out the same unusual set of goods .
His display consists of bags stuffed with emergency blankets , socks , gloves , nutrition bars , antiseptic creams , and contraceptives .
The bundles are free .
But they ’ re not intended for the audience members to keep for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t singing tonsil-baring songs by Led Zeppelin , Bruce Springsteen , and Radiohead – “ I have a wide range , ” says the vocalist – he uses his voice to enlist concertgoers to assist his unique charity , Blanket the Homeless .
The part-time musician asks his audiences to take his care packages and distribute them to San Francisco ’ s transient population .
It ’ s an ingenious distribution system .
Since 2017 , his informal street teams of volunteers have given out over 5,000 bundles .
They ’ re vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not just , ‘ Here ’ s a Clif Bar .
This will give you something to eat , ’ ” says Mr. Newman during a recent video call .
“ You have no idea the impact that you can have just by saying ‘ hello , ’ just by acknowledging the person ’ s presence on the street.
” Mr. Newman came to his endeavor through evolution .
His first spark of awareness came during an earlier career as a freelance photographer .
A newspaper assigned him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for homeless people in San Francisco ’ s Tenderloin neighborhood .
“ Here are these kids acting just like kids and having a really good time and running around and squealing , ” says Mr. Newman .
“ And I ’ m thinking , ‘ Oh , they don ’ t have homes.
’ ” Fast-forward to several years ago , when Mr. Newman recalls walking down Chenery Street after playing an exhilarating gig at a bar with the quartet he was in at the time .
The tip jar split five ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t like Mr. Newman needed the money .
By then he ’ d launched Magnet Productions , a successful live trade show presentations company .
Why not donate all gratuities from future shows instead ?
“ Here ’ s the thing : When I made the decision to do that , I started to see [ homelessness ] around me more , ” says Mr. Newman , who started playing regular benefit shows for the nonprofit Compass Family Services .
“ I just woke up to it.
” Eager to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story of a friend who had started distributing blankets to homeless people in Boston .
Mr. Newman spent $ 500 on blankets .
Then he talked to a songwriter who ’ d once lived on the streets and she recommended that he bundle in other essentials , too .
Blanket the Homeless was born .
What Mr. Newman didn ’ t anticipate was the effect of asking his street teams – the fans who typically help by handing out flyers and putting up posters – to interact with people on the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He recalls a show at the Lost Church theater in which one attendee had a snarky attitude about the packages but took a few with him .
Twenty minutes later , while Mr. Newman was packing up his guitars , the audience member returned .
He was soaking wet .
The man told him that when he ’ d handed a package to a homeless person , he stared at the package in disbelief and kept repeating over and over again , “ Is this for me ?
” The homeless man began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ The next thing , we ’ re standing on the street hugging in the rain.
” Mr. Newman ’ s voice catches as he recounts the anecdote .
He wipes his eyes .
“ His story gets to me because of the look on his face .
He looked at me like something fundamental had shifted in him.
” Mr. Newman understands the difficulty for the more well-off to interact with those on the streets .
There are days when he gets riled up because homeless people trash a garden at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He gets disheartened when he sees someone openly using drugs .
He gets angry when they yell inappropriate comments to his girlfriend on the street .
So why does he persist with Blanket the Homeless ?
There are people experiencing homelessness “ absolutely filled with grace and benevolence that you never expect , ” he says .
Mr. Newman cites comedian Margaret Cho ’ s street performances on behalf of homeless people as inspiration .
Years ago , her “ Be Robin ” fundraisers – a nod to comic Robin Williams , renowned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performers including Mr. Newman .
( Ms. Cho has been known to join him for a rendition of “ Wonderwall ” by Oasis . )
The sign on a guitar case , opened to collect donations , read , “ If you have , give ; if you need , take.
” Ms. Cho says it ’ s the opposite of a model in which donors just shell out money to forget about the problem .
“ With something like Blanket the Homeless or Be Robin , there ’ s a really direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think that ’ s a real charitable donation .
Your time and effort is being spent on something that isn ’ t too much about financial contribution .
It ’ s more of a heart contribution.
” Mr. Newman ’ s full-hearted efforts to develop Blanket the Homeless began to run into logistical issues .
On the day of a show , he ’ d unlock his storage unit and fill as many as 100 supply bags .
Enter the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco .
The goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1860 to help the city ’ s most vulnerable community members , aligned perfectly with that of Blanket the Homeless , says Executive Director Shari Wooldridge .
They offered Mr. Newman a helping hand – many hands , really – to put the packages together .
They also added weather-proof laminated brochures to the bundle .
“ They ’ re a resource guide , ” explains Ms. Wooldridge .
“ It provides information about where shelters are , where survivors of domestic abuse can go , addresses and phone numbers for legal services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where San Francisco restrooms are.
” The partnership has been a mutual blessing because it has introduced the St. Vincent de Paul Society to potential new donors .
“ Promoting his events through our website gives us an opportunity to be seen by a new group of people , ” says Ms. Wooldridge .
Mr. Newman ’ s latest fundraising venture on behalf of his charity is a vinyl compilation album titled “ Blanket the Homeless.
” Among the contributions from local artists is a plaintive piano ballad by Mr. Newman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ We Should Do It Again , ’ which was just culled from stories that I heard and cardboard signs that I read by people living on the streets.
” When Mr. Newman looks out his window , he thinks of people who don ’ t have the luxury of four walls .
It ’ s made him less quick to complain , more grateful for the good in his life .
“ The benefits that I ’ ve gotten from my commitment to homelessness far , far , far outweigh the costs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called and told me , ‘ I just saw this guy wrapped up in an emergency blanket and looking at one of the blue brochures.
’ I said , ‘ Oh , that ’ s great !
’ That ’ s what keeps you going .
”

For fans who help musician Ken Newman distribute bags of small essentials to homeless people, one reward is making a human connection with someone they might otherwise ignore.
Mr. Newman tells the story of a fan who skeptically took a few bags after a show but returned while he was packing up his guitars. When the fan handed a package to a homeless person, the recipient kept repeating, “Is this for me?” The fan says, “The next thing, we’re standing on the street, hugging in the rain.”
Mr. Newman’s own awareness of homelessness grew a few years ago into a charity he calls Blanket the Homeless. After his concerts, his fans can take care packages of items such as emergency blankets and nutrition bars that they then give to those in need. A resource guide in each bag is the result of a partnership with a nonprofit that also targets the vulnerable, St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco.
Ken Newman understands how difficult it can be to interact with people who are facing homelessness. He admits he gets disheartened seeing someone openly using drugs, or trashing a space. But there are people on the street who are “absolutely filled with grace and benevolence that you never expect,” he says.
When Ken Newman plays a concert, his merch table looks quite different from that of other musicians.
Whether he’s playing solo acoustic gigs or amps-cranked-to-the-max shows with his trio, Berkeley Bronx, the San Francisco-based frontman sets out the same unusual set of goods. His display consists of bags stuffed with emergency blankets, socks, gloves, nutrition bars, antiseptic creams, and contraceptives.
The bundles are free. But they’re not intended for the audience members to keep for themselves.
Why We Wrote This For fans who help musician Ken Newman distribute bags of small essentials to homeless people, one reward is making a human connection with someone they might otherwise ignore.
When Mr. Newman isn’t singing tonsil-baring songs by Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, and Radiohead – “I have a wide range,” says the vocalist – he uses his voice to enlist concertgoers to assist his unique charity, Blanket the Homeless. The part-time musician asks his audiences to take his care packages and distribute them to San Francisco’s transient population. It’s an ingenious distribution system. Since 2017, his informal street teams of volunteers have given out over 5,000 bundles. They’re vital supplies delivered with a human touch.
“It’s not just, ‘Here’s a Clif Bar. This will give you something to eat,’” says Mr. Newman during a recent video call. “You have no idea the impact that you can have just by saying ‘hello,’ just by acknowledging the person’s presence on the street.”
Mr. Newman came to his endeavor through evolution. His first spark of awareness came during an earlier career as a freelance photographer. A newspaper assigned him to photograph children at a child care center for homeless people in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. “Here are these kids acting just like kids and having a really good time and running around and squealing,” says Mr. Newman. “And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, they don’t have homes.’”
Fast-forward to several years ago, when Mr. Newman recalls walking down Chenery Street after playing an exhilarating gig at a bar with the quartet he was in at the time. The tip jar split five ways amounted to $10 each. It wasn’t like Mr. Newman needed the money. By then he’d launched Magnet Productions, a successful live trade show presentations company. Why not donate all gratuities from future shows instead?
“Here’s the thing: When I made the decision to do that, I started to see [homelessness] around me more,” says Mr. Newman, who started playing regular benefit shows for the nonprofit Compass Family Services. “I just woke up to it.”
Eager to do more, Mr. Newman was inspired by the story of a friend who had started distributing blankets to homeless people in Boston. Mr. Newman spent $500 on blankets. Then he talked to a songwriter who’d once lived on the streets and she recommended that he bundle in other essentials, too. Blanket the Homeless was born.
The power of connection
What Mr. Newman didn’t anticipate was the effect of asking his street teams – the fans who typically help by handing out flyers and putting up posters – to interact with people on the street they might otherwise not talk to. He recalls a show at the Lost Church theater in which one attendee had a snarky attitude about the packages but took a few with him. Twenty minutes later, while Mr. Newman was packing up his guitars, the audience member returned. He was soaking wet. The man told him that when he’d handed a package to a homeless person, he stared at the package in disbelief and kept repeating over and over again, “Is this for me?” The homeless man began crying. The concertgoer told Mr. Newman, “The next thing, we’re standing on the street hugging in the rain.”
Tony Avelar/Special to The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Shari Wooldridge is executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Society, a 160-year-old San Francisco nonprofit whose goals align with Blanket the Homeless. For the care packages, they provide a resource guide of information on where to get free food and shelter.
Mr. Newman’s voice catches as he recounts the anecdote. He wipes his eyes. “His story gets to me because of the look on his face. He looked at me like something fundamental had shifted in him.”
Mr. Newman understands the difficulty for the more well-off to interact with those on the streets. There are days when he gets riled up because homeless people trash a garden at the building that his girlfriend manages. He gets disheartened when he sees someone openly using drugs. He gets angry when they yell inappropriate comments to his girlfriend on the street. So why does he persist with Blanket the Homeless? There are people experiencing homelessness “absolutely filled with grace and benevolence that you never expect,” he says.
Mr. Newman cites comedian Margaret Cho’s street performances on behalf of homeless people as inspiration. Years ago, her “Be Robin” fundraisers – a nod to comic Robin Williams, renowned for helping people experiencing homelessness – featured performers including Mr. Newman. (Ms. Cho has been known to join him for a rendition of “Wonderwall” by Oasis.) The sign on a guitar case, opened to collect donations, read, “If you have, give; if you need, take.”
Ms. Cho says it’s the opposite of a model in which donors just shell out money to forget about the problem. “With something like Blanket the Homeless or Be Robin, there’s a really direct result,” says Ms. Cho. “I think that’s a real charitable donation. Your time and effort is being spent on something that isn’t too much about financial contribution. It’s more of a heart contribution.”
Helping hands of a nonprofit
Mr. Newman’s full-hearted efforts to develop Blanket the Homeless began to run into logistical issues. On the day of a show, he’d unlock his storage unit and fill as many as 100 supply bags. Enter the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco. The goals of the nonreligious nonprofit, established in 1860 to help the city’s most vulnerable community members, aligned perfectly with that of Blanket the Homeless, says Executive Director Shari Wooldridge. They offered Mr. Newman a helping hand – many hands, really – to put the packages together. They also added weather-proof laminated brochures to the bundle.
“They’re a resource guide,” explains Ms. Wooldridge. “It provides information about where shelters are, where survivors of domestic abuse can go, addresses and phone numbers for legal services, where people give out meals, and where San Francisco restrooms are.”
The partnership has been a mutual blessing because it has introduced the St. Vincent de Paul Society to potential new donors. “Promoting his events through our website gives us an opportunity to be seen by a new group of people,” says Ms. Wooldridge.
Mr. Newman’s latest fundraising venture on behalf of his charity is a vinyl compilation album titled “Blanket the Homeless.” Among the contributions from local artists is a plaintive piano ballad by Mr. Newman.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“I wrote a song called ‘We Should Do It Again,’ which was just culled from stories that I heard and cardboard signs that I read by people living on the streets.” When Mr. Newman looks out his window, he thinks of people who don’t have the luxury of four walls. It’s made him less quick to complain, more grateful for the good in his life.
“The benefits that I’ve gotten from my commitment to homelessness far, far, far outweigh the costs,” says Mr. Newman. “Someone called and told me, ‘I just saw this guy wrapped up in an emergency blanket and looking at one of the blue brochures.’ I said, ‘Oh, that’s great!’ That’s what keeps you going.”


csmonitor--2020-06-23--Farm to food bank: Moving farmers from ‘dump’ to ‘donate’

“ It seems like such an obvious solution right now , ” says Emily Moose of A Greener World .
“ Why not do what we can to help those two get connected ?
” Thanks to an initiative by the agriculture nonprofit A Greener World , Georgia rancher Chad Hunter was able to give the grass-fed beef he usually sells to restaurants to a local food pantry instead – and still get paid .
Now , a growing number of nonprofit programs and government initiatives are working to solve these parallel needs – finding a way to give farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and getting it to those individuals and families who are hungry .
The number of food-insecure Americans jumped from 37 million in 2018 to as many as 54 million today , according to data from the Department of Agriculture and Feeding America , the country ’ s largest hunger relief organization .
For months , those involved in the agricultural sector have witnessed two concerning developments .
Farmers who sell to the “ food away from home ” sector have lost their markets , and have been left to throw out milk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprocessed pigs and chickens .
At the same time , the number of people who need food assistance has skyrocketed .
On a recent Monday morning , Tom Brugato went to watch his company deliver food .
This , by itself , was not unusual .
Mr. Brugato is president of the Pacific Coast Fruit Co. , one of the Northwest ’ s largest produce distributors , with nearly 200,000 square feet of warehouse space and a client base that includes dozens of restaurants , grocery stores , processors , and wholesalers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a church .
And it was the priest , wearing mask and gloves , who gave out food boxes – some 650 over the course of about 45 minutes , part of a new federal effort to pay farmers and distributors to get their wares to a rapidly growing food-insecure population .
“ We watched three big lines of cars go around the church blocks , ” Mr. Brugato says .
“ The need .
I didn ’ t realize the need.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No paywall .
For months , those involved in the agricultural sector have watched two alarming trends .
Farmers who sell to the “ food away from home ” sector – schools , restaurants , stadiums , and so forth – have lost their markets , and have been left to throw out milk , leave vegetables unharvested , and even euthanize unprocessed pigs and chickens .
At the same time , the number of people who need food assistance has skyrocketed .
The number of food-insecure Americans jumped from 37 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , according to data from the Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) and Feeding America , the country ’ s largest hunger relief organization .
Feeding America estimated in early May that an additional 17.1 million Americans could soon find themselves without enough food , on top of the 40 million people the organization and its network of 200 food banks already serve .
Now , a growing number of nonprofit programs , as well as federal and state initiatives , are working to solve these parallel needs – finding a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking unsellable food and getting it to those individuals and families who are hungry .
“ It seems like such an obvious solution right now , ” says Emily Moose , director of communications and outreach for A Greener World , an agriculture nonprofit that helps farmers develop environmentally sustainable and animal welfare-approved practices .
“ Why not do what we can to help those two get connected ?
” In April , her organization launched a series of fundraisers to pay farmers 90 % of market rate for giving their products to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranchers such as Chad Hunter , from Jakin , Georgia , had something to do with the grass-fed beef he usually sells to local restaurants .
For four years now , the ranch his grandfather started , Hunter Farms Inc. , has worked to raise and process cattle more sustainably and humanely than it had as a conventional , grain-feed operation .
It ’ s a more costly process , Mr. Hunter says , but more rewarding , and he has developed a following among local chefs who like sourcing his beef for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he says , that restaurant market evaporated .
So when he got the call from A Greener World , “ it was just great , ” he says .
He reached out to a local church to see if it might be willing to distribute his food as part of its food pantry efforts ; the answer was an enthusiastic yes .
So he happily delivered his grass-fed steaks , knowing that they would go to a good cause and that he would also get paid .
A Greener World is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect farmers to food-insecure populations .
In Hudson , New York , the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming has recently launched the Local Food for Every Table initiative , an effort to coordinate with local farmers to purchase set amounts of food that will go into the food relief system .
Giving farmers a contract for the season helps them plan their operations , explains Kathleen Finlay , Glynwood ’ s president , and also helps food pantries connect with smaller , regional growers .
“ There ’ s a catalytic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finlay , whose organization has already raised tens of thousands of dollars for the initiative .
“ Can we integrate regional food systems and emergency food systems in a way that will serve folks in need well beyond this pandemic ?
” Glynwood ’ s efforts come on top of a recently announced New York state program , Nourish New York , that earmarks $ 25 million for food banks throughout the state to purchase surplus agricultural products from New York farms .
A new federal program , the USDA ’ s Farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar mission – to use government dollars to buy food that had been going to institutional markets and redirect it to people who are hungry .
These government efforts have garnered both praise and criticism .
The federal food box program asks farmers and distributors to bid for contracts , and some agricultural groups have raised questions about how and why the USDA picked some producers over others .
Others worry that smaller farm operations are being left out of the process .
Some food banks , meanwhile , have suggested that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sidestepping the state-level hunger relief distribution system that is already in place .
For some years , says Andrew Morehouse , executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts , food pantries have been shifting away from canned and other shelf-stable products toward fresh food .
This is partly due to fewer donations from grocery stores , which themselves have less waste because of increasingly refined inventory systems .
But it is also due to a growing movement to get high-nutrition food to those who arguably need it most .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , distributes more than 1 million pounds of local vegetables every year , Mr. Morehouse says ; add in food sourced from a Quebec distributor that collects and resells produce , and from retail stores , and the number goes up to 3 million pounds .
The food bank also recently bought a farm in the fertile Pioneer Valley and has contracted with two local farmers to farm it ; they will pay rent in produce , which will in turn go to those in need , Mr. Morehouse says .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fresh , local food into food pantries and other hunger relief programs has been accelerating even before the coronavirus pandemic .
Most agricultural groups are applauding the government ’ s efforts .
They see the new programs as lifelines for farmers who are facing huge financial stress .
“ It represents an unprecedented investment in fresh produce by the federal government , ” says Mollie Van Lieu , senior director of nutrition policy for the United Fresh Produce Association , of the farmers-to-families program .
“ They are going to buy more in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program ] than they have in the past few years combined.
” Mr. Brugato ’ s Pacific Coast Fruit Co. was one of the companies that won a contract through this initiative .
The government money , he says , helped him keep employees at work , pay farmers for produce , and even send enough orders to his packing box manufacturer that it was able to bring back its workforce .
“ It ’ s impacting us in a beyond positive way , ” he says .
Editor ’ s note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“It seems like such an obvious solution right now,” says Emily Moose of A Greener World. “Why not do what we can to help those two get connected?”
Thanks to an initiative by the agriculture nonprofit A Greener World, Georgia rancher Chad Hunter was able to give the grass-fed beef he usually sells to restaurants to a local food pantry instead – and still get paid.
Now, a growing number of nonprofit programs and government initiatives are working to solve these parallel needs – finding a way to give farmers a new market by taking unsellable food and getting it to those individuals and families who are hungry.
The coronavirus pandemic triggered two alarming trends – farms dumping unsellable food amid record levels of hunger. Now, thanks to ingenuity and heart, a number of programs are working to connect farmers with folks in need.
The number of food-insecure Americans jumped from 37 million in 2018 to as many as 54 million today, according to data from the Department of Agriculture and Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger relief organization.
For months, those involved in the agricultural sector have witnessed two concerning developments. Farmers who sell to the “food away from home” sector have lost their markets, and have been left to throw out milk, leave vegetables unharvested, and even euthanize unprocessed pigs and chickens. At the same time, the number of people who need food assistance has skyrocketed.
On a recent Monday morning, Tom Brugato went to watch his company deliver food.
This, by itself, was not unusual. Mr. Brugato is president of the Pacific Coast Fruit Co., one of the Northwest’s largest produce distributors, with nearly 200,000 square feet of warehouse space and a client base that includes dozens of restaurants, grocery stores, processors, and wholesalers.
But this time the distribution center was a church. And it was the priest, wearing mask and gloves, who gave out food boxes – some 650 over the course of about 45 minutes, part of a new federal effort to pay farmers and distributors to get their wares to a rapidly growing food-insecure population.
Why We Wrote This The coronavirus pandemic triggered two alarming trends – farms dumping unsellable food amid record levels of hunger. Now, thanks to ingenuity and heart, a number of programs are working to connect farmers with folks in need.
“We watched three big lines of cars go around the church blocks,” Mr. Brugato says. “The need. I didn’t realize the need.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
For months, those involved in the agricultural sector have watched two alarming trends. Farmers who sell to the “food away from home” sector – schools, restaurants, stadiums, and so forth – have lost their markets, and have been left to throw out milk, leave vegetables unharvested, and even euthanize unprocessed pigs and chickens. At the same time, the number of people who need food assistance has skyrocketed.
The number of food-insecure Americans jumped from 37 million in 2018 to as many as 54 million today, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger relief organization. Feeding America estimated in early May that an additional 17.1 million Americans could soon find themselves without enough food, on top of the 40 million people the organization and its network of 200 food banks already serve.
Now, a growing number of nonprofit programs, as well as federal and state initiatives, are working to solve these parallel needs – finding a way to give farmers a new market by taking unsellable food and getting it to those individuals and families who are hungry.
“It seems like such an obvious solution right now,” says Emily Moose, director of communications and outreach for A Greener World, an agriculture nonprofit that helps farmers develop environmentally sustainable and animal welfare-approved practices. “Why not do what we can to help those two get connected?”
In April, her organization launched a series of fundraisers to pay farmers 90% of market rate for giving their products to local food banks. This meant that ranchers such as Chad Hunter, from Jakin, Georgia, had something to do with the grass-fed beef he usually sells to local restaurants.
For four years now, the ranch his grandfather started, Hunter Farms Inc., has worked to raise and process cattle more sustainably and humanely than it had as a conventional, grain-feed operation. It’s a more costly process, Mr. Hunter says, but more rewarding, and he has developed a following among local chefs who like sourcing his beef for their menus.
But with the pandemic, he says, that restaurant market evaporated. So when he got the call from A Greener World, “it was just great,” he says. He reached out to a local church to see if it might be willing to distribute his food as part of its food pantry efforts; the answer was an enthusiastic yes. So he happily delivered his grass-fed steaks, knowing that they would go to a good cause and that he would also get paid.
“A catalytic opportunity”
A Greener World is one of many nonprofits that have tried to connect farmers to food-insecure populations. In Hudson, New York, the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming has recently launched the Local Food for Every Table initiative, an effort to coordinate with local farmers to purchase set amounts of food that will go into the food relief system. Giving farmers a contract for the season helps them plan their operations, explains Kathleen Finlay, Glynwood’s president, and also helps food pantries connect with smaller, regional growers.
“There’s a catalytic opportunity right now,” says Ms. Finlay, whose organization has already raised tens of thousands of dollars for the initiative. “Can we integrate regional food systems and emergency food systems in a way that will serve folks in need well beyond this pandemic?”
Glynwood’s efforts come on top of a recently announced New York state program, Nourish New York, that earmarks $25 million for food banks throughout the state to purchase surplus agricultural products from New York farms. A new federal program, the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program, has a similar mission – to use government dollars to buy food that had been going to institutional markets and redirect it to people who are hungry.
These government efforts have garnered both praise and criticism. The federal food box program asks farmers and distributors to bid for contracts, and some agricultural groups have raised questions about how and why the USDA picked some producers over others. Others worry that smaller farm operations are being left out of the process. Some food banks, meanwhile, have suggested that the federal program is reinventing the wheel, sidestepping the state-level hunger relief distribution system that is already in place.
A shift toward fresh produce
For some years, says Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, food pantries have been shifting away from canned and other shelf-stable products toward fresh food. This is partly due to fewer donations from grocery stores, which themselves have less waste because of increasingly refined inventory systems. But it is also due to a growing movement to get high-nutrition food to those who arguably need it most.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, for instance, distributes more than 1 million pounds of local vegetables every year, Mr. Morehouse says; add in food sourced from a Quebec distributor that collects and resells produce, and from retail stores, and the number goes up to 3 million pounds. The food bank also recently bought a farm in the fertile Pioneer Valley and has contracted with two local farmers to farm it; they will pay rent in produce, which will in turn go to those in need, Mr. Morehouse says.
In other words, this trend toward getting fresh, local food into food pantries and other hunger relief programs has been accelerating even before the coronavirus pandemic.
Most agricultural groups are applauding the government’s efforts. They see the new programs as lifelines for farmers who are facing huge financial stress.
“It represents an unprecedented investment in fresh produce by the federal government,” says Mollie Van Lieu, senior director of nutrition policy for the United Fresh Produce Association, of the farmers-to-families program. “They are going to buy more in the first month [of the USDA program] than they have in the past few years combined.”
Mr. Brugato’s Pacific Coast Fruit Co. was one of the companies that won a contract through this initiative. The government money, he says, helped him keep employees at work, pay farmers for produce, and even send enough orders to his packing box manufacturer that it was able to bring back its workforce.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It’s impacting us in a beyond positive way,” he says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--The four best audiobooks of June to take you places

In June , take an armchair trip across the world – first through the mind of an intrepid detective , then into America ’ s meadowlands and orchards , on to a dystopian future set in France , and finally back to a Tennessee of the past .
`` Trouble is What I Do '' by Walter Mosley Read by Dion Graham ; Hachette Audio ; three hours and 30 minutes The latest installment in the Leonid McGill detective series plays out like an old-fashioned detective potboiler – but it ’ s a perfect update to the genre , filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humor , and depth of knowledge .
Author Walter Mosley takes every hardboiled stereotype and flips it on its head .
As private investigator , McGill takes on a 94-year-old client from his past – one Philip “ Catfish ” Worry – and he must negotiate both sides of the law .
Narrator Dion Graham is a complete delight , with a wide array of character voices and a knack for voicing both men and women .
Though too short , this is a fantastic distraction that you can sink into and finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The End of The Ocean '' by Maja Lunde Read by Jane Copland and Jean Brassard ; Harper Audio ; nine hours and 53 minutes Twenty years in the future , a father and daughter stranded in drought-stricken Europe experience the devastating effects of climate change .
While scavenging for supplies , they stumble upon a sailboat stuck in a parched garden miles from the shore – a connection to a second , separate narrative centered around lost love and set amid a growing water crisis .
Both stories unfold against chilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though love and forgiveness remain at the heart of the book .
The story is read by two narrators ; Jean Brassard has an engaging French accent and a firm command of the plot , while Jane Copland maintains a refined British accent and a nuanced and rich performance .
Grade : A- “ The Beekeeper 's Lament : How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America ” by Hannah Nordhaus Read by Xe Sands ; Tantor Audio ; seven hours Fans of science , bees , cultural history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Author Hannah Nordhaus follows a small but dedicated group of beekeepers who pollinate American crops by literally trucking their colonies to farms across the country .
Her writing can be a bit glib and occasionally disjointed , but overall , this audiobook is compelling for three reasons : The fascinating story of beekeeper John Miller and his cohort , Nordhaus ’ explanation of bee culture , and her breakdown of the likely causes of colony collapse disorder .
Narrator Xe Sands is perfectly lively , chummy , and spirited .
Grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Lisa Wingate Read by Emily Rankin and Catherine Taber ; Random House Audio ; 14 hours and 30 minutes The unregulated landscape of early American adoption is explored in this historical novel set in Tennessee ; a family of children orphaned in the 1920s is tied to a modern-day tale of romance and mystery .
Unfortunately , the historical aspect of the novel far outshines the ho-hum contemporary plotline , in which a politician ’ s daughter carries out an investigation into the past .
The backstory , however , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embrace appropriate Southern accents , are age-appropriate for their characters , and bring energy to the story .
Grade : B

In June, take an armchair trip across the world – first through the mind of an intrepid detective, then into America’s meadowlands and orchards, on to a dystopian future set in France, and finally back to a Tennessee of the past.
"Trouble is What I Do" by Walter Mosley
Read by Dion Graham; Hachette Audio; three hours and 30 minutes
The latest installment in the Leonid McGill detective series plays out like an old-fashioned detective potboiler – but it’s a perfect update to the genre, filled with multilayered characters who display insight, humor, and depth of knowledge. Author Walter Mosley takes every hardboiled stereotype and flips it on its head. As private investigator, McGill takes on a 94-year-old client from his past – one Philip “Catfish” Worry – and he must negotiate both sides of the law. Narrator Dion Graham is a complete delight, with a wide array of character voices and a knack for voicing both men and women. Though too short, this is a fantastic distraction that you can sink into and finish in one sitting. Grade: A+
"The End of The Ocean" by Maja Lunde
Read by Jane Copland and Jean Brassard; Harper Audio; nine hours and 53 minutes
Courtesy of Harper Audio
Twenty years in the future, a father and daughter stranded in drought-stricken Europe experience the devastating effects of climate change. While scavenging for supplies, they stumble upon a sailboat stuck in a parched garden miles from the shore – a connection to a second, separate narrative centered around lost love and set amid a growing water crisis. Both stories unfold against chilling backdrops of environmental collapse and unrest, though love and forgiveness remain at the heart of the book. The story is read by two narrators; Jean Brassard has an engaging French accent and a firm command of the plot, while Jane Copland maintains a refined British accent and a nuanced and rich performance. Grade: A-
“The Beekeeper's Lament: How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America” by Hannah Nordhaus
Read by Xe Sands; Tantor Audio; seven hours
Courtesy Tantor Audio
Fans of science, bees, cultural history, and memoir will enjoy this nonfiction work. Author Hannah Nordhaus follows a small but dedicated group of beekeepers who pollinate American crops by literally trucking their colonies to farms across the country. Her writing can be a bit glib and occasionally disjointed, but overall, this audiobook is compelling for three reasons: The fascinating story of beekeeper John Miller and his cohort, Nordhaus’ explanation of bee culture, and her breakdown of the likely causes of colony collapse disorder. Narrator Xe Sands is perfectly lively, chummy, and spirited. Grade: B+
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate
Read by Emily Rankin and Catherine Taber; Random House Audio; 14 hours and 30 minutes
Courtesy of Random House Audio
The unregulated landscape of early American adoption is explored in this historical novel set in Tennessee; a family of children orphaned in the 1920s is tied to a modern-day tale of romance and mystery. Unfortunately, the historical aspect of the novel far outshines the ho-hum contemporary plotline, in which a politician’s daughter carries out an investigation into the past. The backstory, however, is both fascinating and horrifying. Both narrators embrace appropriate Southern accents, are age-appropriate for their characters, and bring energy to the story. Grade: B


csmonitor--2020-06-23--How outrage over killing of Iranian girl is helping women’s rights

“ It ’ s a long road to change the culture of a nation , ” says Nasrin Izadpanah , a lawyer in Tehran .
“ You can ’ t change it overnight , but like other nations that have done that , it is doable , ” she says .
“ People ’ s social consciousness will change , the culture will evolve.
” Critical in this case is widespread anger over Iran ’ s current law , which stipulates that Romina ’ s father , as the male guardian of his daughter and therefore “ owner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death penalty .
At most , he faces 10 years in prison .
Lawmakers quickly approved a measure to criminalize child abuse and neglect , now often called “ Romina ’ s law , ” that had languished for 11 years .
President Hassan Rouhani urged that the bill be fast-tracked , along with another drafted 8 years ago criminalizing sexual and physical abuse of women .
Women in Iran are afflicted by killings by male relatives at a rate of about one each day .
And , as they often do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and elsewhere , most intrafamily murders in Iran disappear in silence .
But the barbarous details of Romina Ashrafi ’ s death , beheaded by her father in a so-called honor killing , spread quickly , moving the needle of outrage and change toward protecting the lives of women and children .
Farmer Reza Ashrafi may have considered the death of his 14-year-old daughter Romina in the name of family honor inevitable .
But its ability to spark an uproar that is challenging Iranian traditions of patriarchy and improving women ’ s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely .
After all , hundreds of Iranian women die each year in so-called honor killings .
Yet revulsion over Romina ’ s gruesome murder by his hand in late May , amplified by the power of social media , has done just that : prompted a national debate in Iran that shows how significant evolutionary change can come to even the most traditional corners of a society .
Romina had a boyfriend , 15 years older : a biker with a bearded hipster look , three tattoos on his neck , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the local school in their village of Sefid Sangan in northwestern Iran .
Romina ’ s father did not approve , according to family accounts told to Iranian media .
He bought rat poison and told his wife to convince Romina to use it to commit suicide , or at least teach her to “ hang herself , ” to save him the trouble of killing her .
Amid such threats , the student with A grades , long black hair , and an easy smile – whose once-adoring father used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the school principal – last month ran away with her boyfriend .
“ I ’ m leaving , Daddy .
You were going to kill me anyway , right ?
” Romina reportedly wrote in a goodbye note .
“ If people ask about me , tell them I died.
” When Mr. Ashrafi located her , days later , he convinced authorities despite her protests that Romina would be safe in his care .
Yet the father beheaded his daughter with a sickle as she slept .
Most intrafamily murders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often do in Pakistan , Afghanistan , Turkey , and elsewhere .
But the barbarous details of Romina ’ s death spread quickly , moving the needle of outrage and change toward protecting the lives of women and children .
A deputy justice minister whose portfolio includes children ’ s rights , Mahmoud Abbasi , said Romina ’ s father was “ stuck in the Middle Ages.
” Lawmakers quickly approved a measure to criminalize child abuse and neglect , now frequently referred to as “ Romina ’ s law , ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hassan Rouhani urged that the bill be fast-tracked , along with another drafted eight years ago criminalizing sexual and physical abuse of women .
That latter bill has yet to be passed , even though official 2018 statistics indicate that two-thirds of married women have been exposed to domestic violence .
But the steps signal how social media – with both the wider awareness it engenders , and popular pressure it can bring to bear – has enhanced the impact of activists pushing for social change , even among the most hidebound .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Iran ’ s current law , based on Shiite Muslim tradition , which stipulates that Mr. Ashrafi , as the male guardian of his daughter and therefore “ owner of the blood , ” can ’ t face the death penalty for murdering her .
At most , he faces 10 years in prison .
“ It ’ s a long road to change the culture of a nation , the thinking of a person that , for hundreds of years , from their dads and their grandfathers , they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can kill them , if your wife says something , you can do that , ” says Nasrin Izadpanah , a lawyer in Tehran who often handles family cases .
“ You can ’ t change it overnight , but like other nations that have done that , it is doable , ” says Ms. Izadpanah .
Removing “ cultural poverty ” requires starting with how children are taught at school to “ learn that they can ’ t act as the law , ” she says .
“ Five years from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change anything about the law , but people ’ s social consciousness will change , the culture will evolve , ” she says .
Indeed , Iranian women have achieved far more than most of their regional peers .
They are vice presidents , doctors , and lawyers – even a Nobel Peace Prize winner – and form the majority of university students and graduates .
Yet they are afflicted by killings by male relatives at a rate of at least one each day in the country of 83 million .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in Tehran , convened after Romina ’ s death , sociologist Saeed Madani stated that 20 % of all murders in Iran are honor killings .
Those percentages track rare official figures released by Iranian police in 2013 and 2014 .
In 2011 , at least 340 Iranian women were victims of honor killings .
Wide exposure of Romina ’ s case has , in fact , triggered a cascade of news about half a dozen other recent grisly murders , which include poisoning , the forced drinking of acid , stabbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father ’ s killing of his adult daughter with an iron bar for coming home late at night .
“ We ’ re at this stage that , with people ’ s access to social media ... access to information has changed exponentially , even in the last six or seven years , ” says Tara Sepehri Far , the Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch in Washington , D.C. “ A whole generation of people who never caught up with lap-tops and e-mail now use a phone , have social media accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Ms. Sepehri Far , noting that even remote villages have 3G and 4G networks .
“ So what is happening is these cases are getting more attention , while the [ past ] grassroots work is finally paying off .
Because ultimately , you ’ re dealing with a society that is evolving , ” she says .
“ When this sparks domestic outrage , then [ authorities ] have to move the ball in some way.
” Urgent legal reforms are needed , lawyer Alireza Azarbaijani told the Iranian Labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real problem is patriarchy “ exacerbated by traditional fanaticism and ignorance that are sugarcoated with such notions as honor , dignity , or protection of namous [ family female chastity ] .
” Even the death penalty may not be deterrent enough , suggests Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei , a senior lawyer .
“ We have dozens or perhaps hundreds of Romina-like cases in Iran , but they are kept hidden and receive no media coverage , ” he told ILNA .
The solution is “ raising awareness ... to avert such harsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men.
” Iran ’ s supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has not spoken publicly of Romina ’ s death .
But his website reposted these comments from 1997 : “ Any violation or physical harm against women has to be responded to with severe punishment.
” Yet the challenge is encapsulated in Romina ’ s own divided family .
Her mother , Rana Dashti , says she can ’ t look her husband in the eyes and will seek the death penalty .
But the death notice does not include a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pictured in its place – and Mr. Ashrafi is listed as the top “ mourner ” of a males-only lineup .
Still , few defend the murder .
The conservative Farhikhtegan newspaper called prison a “ lenient punishment.
” Even Kobra Khazali , the ultraconservative head of the Socio-Cultural Council of Women and Family – who argues vehemently against raising the minimum marriage age for girls above 13 , or allowing women into sports stadiums – called for the judge to “ focus on the larger public aspects of the crime and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting “ created a shock and spread like wildfire , ” says a political analyst in Tehran , who asked not to be named .
“ The direction of the wind is changing , even among the conservatives .
They can not accept that a father can kill his children .
Maybe it was tacitly agreed decades ago , but not anymore.
” Still the challenge of making change is immense , says Parvin Ardalan , a veteran women ’ s rights activist .
In 2005 – after dozens of women were attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched the One Million Signatures Campaign , which some credit as the seed for today ’ s progress .
When the Monitor spoke to her in Tehran in early 2009 , she had just been awarded the Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women ’ s Freedom , and faced multiple security charges .
The petition aimed to “ increase consciousness in society and thinking of equality , ” she said back then .
These days , that same dynamic is enhanced exponentially by social media and “ mass awareness , ” which pressures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ardalan , who now lives in Malmö , Sweden .
She recalls the limits of the previous era of grassroots activism , when she and fellow campaigners went door to door to spread their message .
During a seven-day stint in Evin prison , she gave a women ’ s rights booklet to an interested female guard .
“ We tried to use everywhere as a platform for ourselves , ” recalls Ms. Ardalan .
“ What has changed ?
Now the news is increasing a lot ... making people have a reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @

“It’s a long road to change the culture of a nation,” says Nasrin Izadpanah, a lawyer in Tehran. “You can’t change it overnight, but like other nations that have done that, it is doable,” she says. “People’s social consciousness will change, the culture will evolve.”
Critical in this case is widespread anger over Iran’s current law, which stipulates that Romina’s father, as the male guardian of his daughter and therefore “owner of the blood,” can’t face the death penalty. At most, he faces 10 years in prison.
Just as a brutal killing in America is helping to change thought about racism, so has one in Iran, challenging traditions that have long devalued the lives and rights of women and children.
Lawmakers quickly approved a measure to criminalize child abuse and neglect, now often called “Romina’s law,” that had languished for 11 years. President Hassan Rouhani urged that the bill be fast-tracked, along with another drafted 8 years ago criminalizing sexual and physical abuse of women.
Women in Iran are afflicted by killings by male relatives at a rate of about one each day. And, as they often do in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and elsewhere, most intrafamily murders in Iran disappear in silence. But the barbarous details of Romina Ashrafi’s death, beheaded by her father in a so-called honor killing, spread quickly, moving the needle of outrage and change toward protecting the lives of women and children.
Farmer Reza Ashrafi may have considered the death of his 14-year-old daughter Romina in the name of family honor inevitable. But its ability to spark an uproar that is challenging Iranian traditions of patriarchy and improving women’s and children’s rights had to appear unlikely.
After all, hundreds of Iranian women die each year in so-called honor killings.
Yet revulsion over Romina’s gruesome murder by his hand in late May, amplified by the power of social media, has done just that: prompted a national debate in Iran that shows how significant evolutionary change can come to even the most traditional corners of a society.
Why We Wrote This Just as a brutal killing in America is helping to change thought about racism, so has one in Iran, challenging traditions that have long devalued the lives and rights of women and children.
Romina had a boyfriend, 15 years older: a biker with a bearded hipster look, three tattoos on his neck, and a reputation for “harassing” girls at the local school in their village of Sefid Sangan in northwestern Iran.
Romina’s father did not approve, according to family accounts told to Iranian media. He bought rat poison and told his wife to convince Romina to use it to commit suicide, or at least teach her to “hang herself,” to save him the trouble of killing her.
Amid such threats, the student with A grades, long black hair, and an easy smile – whose once-adoring father used to bring her cakes and snacks, according to the school principal – last month ran away with her boyfriend.
“I’m leaving, Daddy. You were going to kill me anyway, right?” Romina reportedly wrote in a goodbye note. “If people ask about me, tell them I died.”
When Mr. Ashrafi located her, days later, he convinced authorities despite her protests that Romina would be safe in his care. Yet the father beheaded his daughter with a sickle as she slept.
Most intrafamily murders in Iran disappear in silence, as they often do in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and elsewhere. But the barbarous details of Romina’s death spread quickly, moving the needle of outrage and change toward protecting the lives of women and children.
A deputy justice minister whose portfolio includes children’s rights, Mahmoud Abbasi, said Romina’s father was “stuck in the Middle Ages.”
“Owner of the blood”
Lawmakers quickly approved a measure to criminalize child abuse and neglect, now frequently referred to as “Romina’s law,” that had languished for 11 years. President Hassan Rouhani urged that the bill be fast-tracked, along with another drafted eight years ago criminalizing sexual and physical abuse of women.
That latter bill has yet to be passed, even though official 2018 statistics indicate that two-thirds of married women have been exposed to domestic violence. But the steps signal how social media – with both the wider awareness it engenders, and popular pressure it can bring to bear – has enhanced the impact of activists pushing for social change, even among the most hidebound.
Critical in this case is widespread anger over Iran’s current law, based on Shiite Muslim tradition, which stipulates that Mr. Ashrafi, as the male guardian of his daughter and therefore “owner of the blood,” can’t face the death penalty for murdering her. At most, he faces 10 years in prison.
“It’s a long road to change the culture of a nation, the thinking of a person that, for hundreds of years, from their dads and their grandfathers, they’ve learned if your child says something, you can kill them, if your wife says something, you can do that,” says Nasrin Izadpanah, a lawyer in Tehran who often handles family cases.
“You can’t change it overnight, but like other nations that have done that, it is doable,” says Ms. Izadpanah. Removing “cultural poverty” requires starting with how children are taught at school to “learn that they can’t act as the law,” she says.
“Five years from now, maybe we can’t change anything about the law, but people’s social consciousness will change, the culture will evolve,” she says.
Indeed, Iranian women have achieved far more than most of their regional peers. They are vice presidents, doctors, and lawyers – even a Nobel Peace Prize winner – and form the majority of university students and graduates.
Many killings
Yet they are afflicted by killings by male relatives at a rate of at least one each day in the country of 83 million. At a conference on the “Pathology of Filicide” in Tehran, convened after Romina’s death, sociologist Saeed Madani stated that 20% of all murders in Iran are honor killings.
Those percentages track rare official figures released by Iranian police in 2013 and 2014. In 2011, at least 340 Iranian women were victims of honor killings.
Wide exposure of Romina’s case has, in fact, triggered a cascade of news about half a dozen other recent grisly murders, which include poisoning, the forced drinking of acid, stabbing of a pregnant wife, and a father’s killing of his adult daughter with an iron bar for coming home late at night.
“We’re at this stage that, with people’s access to social media ... access to information has changed exponentially, even in the last six or seven years,” says Tara Sepehri Far, the Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch in Washington, D.C.
“A whole generation of people who never caught up with lap-tops and e-mail now use a phone, have social media accounts, and use WhatsApp and Telegram,” says Ms. Sepehri Far, noting that even remote villages have 3G and 4G networks.
“So what is happening is these cases are getting more attention, while the [past] grassroots work is finally paying off. Because ultimately, you’re dealing with a society that is evolving,” she says. “When this sparks domestic outrage, then [authorities] have to move the ball in some way.”
Urgent legal reforms are needed, lawyer Alireza Azarbaijani told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA). But the real problem is patriarchy “exacerbated by traditional fanaticism and ignorance that are sugarcoated with such notions as honor, dignity, or protection of namous [family female chastity].”
Cases “kept hidden”
Even the death penalty may not be deterrent enough, suggests Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, a senior lawyer.
“We have dozens or perhaps hundreds of Romina-like cases in Iran, but they are kept hidden and receive no media coverage,” he told ILNA. The solution is “raising awareness ... to avert such harsh treatment of women at the hands of men.”
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has not spoken publicly of Romina’s death. But his website reposted these comments from 1997: “Any violation or physical harm against women has to be responded to with severe punishment.”
Yet the challenge is encapsulated in Romina’s own divided family. Her mother, Rana Dashti, says she can’t look her husband in the eyes and will seek the death penalty. But the death notice does not include a portrait of Romina – a red rose is pictured in its place – and Mr. Ashrafi is listed as the top “mourner” of a males-only lineup.
Still, few defend the murder. The conservative Farhikhtegan newspaper called prison a “lenient punishment.”
Even Kobra Khazali, the ultraconservative head of the Socio-Cultural Council of Women and Family – who argues vehemently against raising the minimum marriage age for girls above 13, or allowing women into sports stadiums – called for the judge to “focus on the larger public aspects of the crime and sentence the man to death.”
Graphic reporting “created a shock and spread like wildfire,” says a political analyst in Tehran, who asked not to be named. “The direction of the wind is changing, even among the conservatives. They cannot accept that a father can kill his children. Maybe it was tacitly agreed decades ago, but not anymore.”
An old battle
Still the challenge of making change is immense, says Parvin Ardalan, a veteran women’s rights activist. In 2005 – after dozens of women were attacked by police for street protests – she launched the One Million Signatures Campaign, which some credit as the seed for today’s progress.
When the Monitor spoke to her in Tehran in early 2009, she had just been awarded the Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women’s Freedom, and faced multiple security charges.
The petition aimed to “increase consciousness in society and thinking of equality,” she said back then. These days, that same dynamic is enhanced exponentially by social media and “mass awareness,” which pressures authorities to make changes, says Ms. Ardalan, who now lives in Malmö, Sweden.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
She recalls the limits of the previous era of grassroots activism, when she and fellow campaigners went door to door to spread their message. During a seven-day stint in Evin prison, she gave a women’s rights booklet to an interested female guard.
“We tried to use everywhere as a platform for ourselves,” recalls Ms. Ardalan. “What has changed? Now the news is increasing a lot ... making people have a reaction, to demand a response.”