radioplasma : voices + ideas

Naiomi Robles is a community organizer, and member of the group 413 Boricuas, who shared the information about an event in solidarity with the families currently living in Holyoke, displaced from Puerto Rico, and the victims from hurricane María.

The invitation is to gather at Veteran’s Park in Holyoke at 4:00 PM, to leave behind shoe prints as a reminder of the lives lost in Puerto Rico.  There will be chalk prints left behind, trying to get as many prints represented as possible. The pathway will continue to City Hall where the event will conclude by having a vigil and moment of silence, around 6:30 PM.

You can follow the activities of 413 Boricuas, and get involved on their planning of events on Facebook.

Let’s talk!

This is our first iteration of a new series of conversational discussions on topics of interest, led by Holyoke local media, and open for everybody to participate and follow up.

On this first session, we discuss the Puerto Rican Parades, that took place in Hartford, Springfield, Holyoke, during the previous weeks, and happening in New York, on June 10th, 2018.

“Let’s talk – Hablemos” is an approach to generate a diverse and open series of conversations, where journalist, Natalia Muñóz, News Director at Holyoke Media, along with Radioplasma’s producer and host, Iohann Rashi Vega, will share and present points of view on news, events, issues, and affairs of our local, regional, and national environment.

We want to invite everybody to suggest topics of conversation, and join us. Let’s talk!

We welcome all opinions and points of view, from everybody in the community.

You can reach out to Natalia Muñóz on Holyoke Media, at natalia@holyokemedia.org and you can reach out to Iohann R. Vega on radioplasma, at iohann@radioplasma.com

This morning of June 8th, 2018, CNN reported the news, conforming the death of chef and storyteller, Anthony Bourdain, at the age of 61, by apparent suicide.

We at radioplasma, wanted to honor his legacy as storyteller, and influencer on media creation, utilizing food, culture, and a personal approach to every place he visited, making it a whole learning experience.

On this session, journalist Natalia Muñóz, News Director at Holyoke Media, joins me on this conversation to honor Bourdain’s work, andalso to address suicide awareness.

We had an inspiring morning conversation with Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Democrat Candidate for Congress in the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.

On this session, we discussed the motivations for Tahirah to run for Congress, the needs for new perspectives in Congress regarding the needs and struggles in the Western Mass communities, and some of the priorities on Tahirah’s campaign, such as universal health care; eliminating barriers for prosperity; civil rights; access to education, internet.

You can follow Tahirah’s campaign, events, and get to know more about her vision and her platform, on her website: www.tahirahforcongress.com

The Holyoke Farmer’s Market is ready to start on May 31st. Located outside City Hall on High Street, between Suffolk and Dwight Streets, every Thursday, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, until October 11th. Local farmers and businesses offer their fresh produce, vegetables, goods, and products for the public. Andrés Villada, is the manager of this historical, and important event that brings the community together, and provides local farmers and businesses owners with a space and venue to offer their products to the public, while creating a communal space for social interactions, and conversations.

On this session, we talked about the plans for the 2018 Holyoke Farmer’s Market, and the relevance of a marketplace for the community.

For more information about the Farmer’s Market, how to become a vendor, provide feedback, ideas, suggestions, or activities, you can contact the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

It’s an honor to have Olivia Mausel as our guest on this episode, as she is bring recognized by the City of Holyoke for her work and dedication to preserve and share the history of the city.

After being at the Holyoke Historical Commission, Olivia continues working on projects that involve the preservation, research. and education of the historical legacy of Holyoke. On this episode, we honor Olivia and we have a fascinating conversation about her work, and an invitation to participate in a workshop on how to safely clean gravestones at the Smith’s Ferry Cemetery, scheduled for May 19th and 20th.

You can find more information about the workshop on Facebook

Also, you can visit the Holyoke Preservation Trust  to know more about the projects Olivia is currently working on.