KUCI: Ask A Leader

Municipal Foreign Policy Poised to Save the Planet

We devote the whole hour to Ben Leffel, UCI PhD candidate in Sociology, Kugelman Citizen Peacebuilding Research fellow, and co-creator of the Center for Innovative Diplomacy digital archive. He talks about the 30 year old legacy of municipal foreign policy that began here in Irvine, as well as his work with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability an important, international strategic alliance. The archive can be accessed at :http://escholarship.org/uc/uci_cid and details about the ICLEI at: https://www.iclei.org/. For those interested in details about the 4/28/19 CA Redistricting Commission public information forum at the Fullerton Police Department go to: http://shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/.

Climate Action Hits The Road Again AND The Central Park Five Voiced in Opera

Shahir Masri will weigh in about the climate initiatives moving through Congress and about his next climate change awareness trek, this time up the West Coast. He’ll pack copies of his book, Beyond Debate: Answers to 50 Misconceptions on Climate Change. Have a peek of the tour and other progress at:https://www.shahirmasri.com/on-the-road-for-climate-action.html In the second segment (minute 27:25), performer, teacher, and activist, Dr. Derrell Acon talks about his singing role in the Long Beach Opera world premier of The Central Park Five by Anthony Davis. In addition, he talks about the LBO’s companion justice-themed lectures during this season. Details are available at: https://www.longbeachopera.org/the-season/2019-season.

Poseidon Proposition AND Science Meets Message

Joe Geever, of Residents for Responsible Desalination, will provide an activist’s tutorial on all those desalination plants in place or proposed along the California Coast. In the second segment (minute 31:54), presenting for our consideration is Kimberly Duong with the anatomy of a researcher and a spokesperson. To bend an old adage: Water issues everywhere and not a moment to squander.

”Secrets of My Heart” for our consideration with Sarah MacKenzie

Jazz Singer and Pianist, Sarah Mackensie, sits in Studio with Claudia to talk about her just released album, "Secrets of My Heart" on the Normandy Lane Music label.

CA Redistricting Commission Applicants, Start Your Engines AND The Wayward Artist 2nd Season is Here

We hear from CA Auditor’s Office, Margarita Fernández, Chief of Public Affairs and Quality Assurance and member of the executive management team for the California State Auditor’s Office. Her agency is tasked with overseeing the CA citizen redistricting process. This program suits up everyone for participating in that process, including the public meeting in Irvine April 7th, 12:30-2:20 p.m. at the Duck Club. Follow the process at: http://shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/ In the second segment (minute, 30:27), Craig Tyrl, artistic director of Wayward Artist, lifts the curatin about his troupe’s second season opening April 12th, inside the Grand Central Art Center, in Santa Ana. Details for this robust season are available at: http://www.thewaywardartist.org/.

Building Bridges

In these times, for those hungering for a bit more intellectual honesty and some nuance along the Muslim-Jewish divide, we hear from two distinguished leaders in the LA metropolis. First is Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. In the second segment (minute 30:22) is Aziza Hasan, executive director of NewGround a Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change, based in Los Angeles. Having lived lives of bridge building, in some unassuming and some very privileged settings, both individually make their best cases for crossing particular divides-goodness willing.

Under the Costa Mesa City Council Hood AND Self-Help Graphics Live at Laguna Art Museum

Costa Mesa City Council Member Arlis Reynolds posts us on how Costa Mesa is governing; attending to their regional share of emergency housing, among other things getting done on that council. In the second segment (min 31:05) we check out what’s on those walls at the Laguna Art Museum, the intentional and irrepressible work from Self-Help Graphics; with Victor Viesca, CAL State LA professor of liberal studies, and Marinta Skupin, Curator of Education at the Laguna Art Museum. Details about the exhibit that continues through May 27th, and special events are available at: https://lagunaartmuseum.org/.

Environmental Justice in the Coastal Zone AND Girls STEAM Conference at UCI

On the heels of the CA Coastal Commission’s recent adoption of a sweeping new environmental justice policy, Andrea Leon-Grossman, LA Deputy Director of AZUL takes up the impact of this and other policies in the coastal domain. Then in the second segment (minute 25:12), Danielle Watt and Jacques Bordeaux post us on the upcoming Girls in STEAM Conference on April 27th, 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at UCI. Information is available at the Girls in STEAM Conference website/http://www.castl.uci.edu/node/1031, dwatt@uci.edu, or 949-824-9473.