The idea of a cooperative, or co-op, where everyone who works at a company is also a part-owner, is nothing new. New York state is home to more co-ops than anywhere else in the country. To wrap up our series on work and labor, we’re checking in with Brooklynites who are organizing and maintaining worker co-ops, and in the process creating a less exploitative, more equitable workplace, way of life, and world.  • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to this week from Yvonne Marquez.

• LINKS
Center for Family Life is a neighborhood-based family and social services organization with deep roots in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Since 1978, CFL has grown with the Sunset Park neighborhood, responding to emerging needs with effective programs in counseling, employment, education, the arts and recreation. Today, our services engage more than 13,500 people each year at 10 community locations.

Brooklyn Packers is a worker-owned, Black-led food sourcing, packing, and distribution cooperative. We form a conduit between farms and the city, building Brooklyn food sovereignty. As anti-capitalists under capitalism, we organize to make, and be a part of, a solidarity economy. To this end, we guarantee worker-owners the same salary and equal company voting rights; we buy from small, sustainable food businesses in our local economy, with a preference for cooperatives and women / LGBTQIA+ / POC-owned farms; and we facilitate community access to our products by only charging for our labor (i.e. we never mark up food). In addition to Brooklyn Supported Agriculture, Brooklyn Packers handles bulk food acquisition, packaging, and transport for like-minded clients.

Yvonne S. Marquez is an independent reporter and audio producer based in Brooklyn, New York. For nearly a decade, Yvonne has dedicated her journalism career to ​telling stories important to LGBTQ people. Her work has appeared in Texas Monthly, Texas Observer, The Dallas Morning News, In These Times, Spectrum South, The Alcalde, and OutSmart Magazine. Yvonne graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a journalism degree. She currently attends the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, where she specializes in health/science reporting and audio journalism.

• MUSIC and CLIPS
This episode features a clip from “The Rural Co-op (1945 to 1955)”. This episode features music by Sarana. Hear more at sanaracreations.fi.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3k81smR

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

Historian Benjamin Hunnicutt has called the push for more free time the “forgotten American dream"; but somewhere along the way the pursuit of that happiness was replaced by the idea that work and wealth are ends in themselves. This week, we're imagining the utopian and dystopian futures of work. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Alisha Bhagat, Muhammad Floyd, Rob Cameron, Brad Parks, James Earl King, Carlos Luis Delgado, Christopher Lazariuk, and the Kaleidocast podcast.

• LINKS

Assemblymember Kenny Burgos was born and lives in the Bronx, New York. Assemblymember Burgos graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University at Albany. He has worked as a Deputy Chief of Staff and Budget Director on the New York City Council.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is the global programs and research manager for 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit devoted to advancing the 4-day week. He also offers keynotes about deliberate rest through his own company, Strategy and Rest. Alex's work has been written about in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Guardian, and other venues. Alex is the author of four books, including SHORTER: WORK BETTER, SMARTER, AND LESS– HERE’S HOW (US | UK); REST: WHY YOU GET MORE DONE WHEN YOU WORK LESS (US | UK); and THE DISTRACTION ADDICTION (US).Together, these books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. His op-eds and articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, the South China Morning Post, and many other venues.

Ashley Nelson is the Communications Director at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, a global network of over 300 historic sites, museums, and memory initiatives in more than 65 countries dedicated to remembering past struggles and addressing their contemporary legacies. In addition, Ashley has written on culture, politics and women for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and The Nation.

Alisha Bhagat is a futurist focusing on the creative use of futures tools to impact long term positive change, particularly around social justice and equality. She utilizes systems thinking, mapping,and speculative futures to engage with stakeholders on strategic visions and the actions needed to achieve them. She has worked with public sector partners on topics such as the future of feminism, neo-nationalism, and the impact of COVID-19.

Carlos Luis Delgado lives with his roommates and a large cat in Brooklyn, New York. He writes speculative fiction early in the morning before the cat wakes up to yowl for breakfast and edits other people’s fiction at night after it’s eaten dinner. In 2016 he won the People’s Telly Award for Outstanding Comedic TV Writing. He holds a BA in English Literature from Rutgers University and wonders when he can let it go. Follow @Delgadowrites.

Christopher Lazariuk is a writer, producer, creator, and sound designer seeking representation for his debut cli-fi thriller novel: THE PYRITE VICTORY. Christopher is a member of the Brooklyn speculative Fiction Writers group, and a contributor to the Kaleidocast Podcast.

Rob Cameron is a teacher, linguist, and writer. He has poetry in Star*Line Poetry Magazine and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. His essays and short fiction have appeared in Foreign Policy Magazine, Tor.com, the New Modality, Solarpunk Magazine, and Clockwork Phoenix Five. His debut middle grade novel Daydreamer is forthcoming from Labyrinth Road, Summer '24. Rob is also lead organizer for the Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers, a guest host and curator for the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series, and executive producer of Kaleidocast. Follow @cprwords.

The Kaleidocast podcast is an audio literary magazine with a mission to showcase new voices in speculative fiction alongside stories from today’s top writers. The show was created to improve the writing of active Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers members by motivating them towards a tangible goal: Write at a professional level. The show is in its 4th season, and has recently partnered with the Octavia Project to mentor girls and non-binary youth: https://www.kaleidocast.nyc/post/octaviaprojectmentorship. Please support the Kaleidocast's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kaleidocastnyc.

Muhammad Floyd is an accomplished self-starter with a wide skillset focused on start-to-finish photo/video production from setup to post. Muhammad is adept at photography, camerawork, lighting, and sound, with deep technical knowledge of Canon, Sony, Panasonic, and Blackmagic hardware. He is an end-to-end specialist well-versed in motion graphics, color grading, and other post-production techniques dedicated to delivering under budget and ahead of schedule, while always adhering to the client’s vision.

• MUSIC and CLIPS

This episode featured clips from the BBC series “Tomorrow’s World”, ABC News, Business Insider, and “From the Archives (1966): Issues and Answers with Richard Nixon”.

This episode featured music from freesound, setuniman, danjfilms, and podcastac. It also featured Harry Partch’s “Delusion of Fury”, used by permission of Innova Recordings and the Harry Partch Foundation.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3CH73XL

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

They say, “love your job, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” But what happens when you turn a hobby or interest into a profession? This week, we spoke with members of the Nets Gaming Crew – a professional NBA2K team affiliated with the Brooklyn Nets, and the founder of CoExist gaming – a hub for professional gamers in the NYC area, about what happens when play becomes work.  • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Kuye Youngblood, Alex Bernstein, Ian Curtis, Letta J, and Mike Ren.

• LINKS

Ivan Curtiss, also known as OG KING CURT, is the General Manager of The Brooklyn Nets Gaming Crew of The NBA 2K League. He also co-founded The (MPBA) MyPlayer Basketball Association, which is commonly regarded as the most competitive online NBA 2K League in the country. Curtiss is considered a pioneer within branding and gaming and has often been known in the industry as the “Godfather of 2K”. As an industry professional, Curtiss has been featured on platforms like The Undefeated, Getty Images, Dimer 2K, Nets Daily and more. He has also launched his own podcast, The #OG2CENTS Podcast, which aims to bridge the gap between lifestyle and gaming. The show airs every Sunday. Alongside his podcast, Curtiss has created his own line of merchandise to promote his brand and influence. His mission is to spread awareness about the NBA 2K League and gaming culture as a whole. 

Alexander "Steez" Bernstein is a power forward for The Brooklyn Nets Gaming Crew of The NBA 2K League. He is originally from Santa Ana, CA.

Jaye (Letta J): Founder & CEO of Coexist Gaming. Gamer. FGC Champ. Grammy Nominated. Recording Artist. Songwriter. Anime Lover. Afro-Latina. Executive Chef. Wine Enthusiast. Foodie. Leftie. Tatted. Author. Educator. Activist.

Mike Yi Ren is a Chinese-American Game Designer and Video Producer currently living in Brooklyn, NYC. Previously, he lived in Shanghai, China for 8 years. His professional experience includes projects for Ubisoft, Netease, RADII China, Lonelyleap Films, and other recognized international organizations. Through his company, Arcadia Creative Consulting and Design Ltd., he specializes in Game Design, Film & Animation, and Graphic Design in production and consulting roles. His independent games have been covered in press including Rock Paper Shotgun, Kotaku, Vice and more.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3GTLrtr

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded more of workers: longer hours, angrier customers, and increased exposure to disease. Now, workers across the country — from baristas to warehouse workers to nurses — are organizing to demand safer, fairer workplaces. Workers in New York City are leading this wave of action, unionizing more workers than anywhere else in the country. Producer Melanie Kruvelis spoke to striking workers, elected officials, and community members to understand what's at stake for New York City's workers — and how organizing in the five boroughs impacts working people across the country. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Melanie Kruvelis, Zach Lennon-Simon, Lee-Sean Huang, Cara Levine, Megan, and striking workers everywhere!

• LINKS

Melanie Kruvelis is a graduate student at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.

Eric Dirnbach is a union organizer, researcher and activist in New York City and is a volunteer with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee.

Emily Gallagher is serving her second term as a New York State Assemblymember for District 50 (Williamsburg and Greenpoint) after 16 years as a devoted community activist.

Wen Zhuang is on staff at the NewsGuild of New York where she works on strategic communications and organizing. She is also an organizer with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. If you and your coworkers want to learn how to shift the balance of power at your workplace and win better working conditions or a union, fill out a form to be connected with an organizer: https://workerorganizing.org/support/

Arianna Ayala is a worker at the Starbucks Reserve in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, organizing with Starbucks Workers United.

Zach Lennon-Simon is an award winning documentary and narrative filmmaker who is Brooklyn born & raised. Zach graduated from the SUNY Purchase Film Conservatory. From there he has worked on teaching high school teens how to make their own films and tell their stories to the world. Zach is an avid believer in the power of personal storytelling and also believes that Stevie Wonder was sent to us to tell us what true love and happiness really feels like.

Lee-Sean Huang is a Taiwanese American designer and educator. He is a part-time assistant professor at the Parsons School of Design, part of The New School. Lee-Sean and his fellow part-time faculty are currently on strike while they are fighting for a fair contract. This is his first time taking part in a collective bargaining process and strike. He is also part-time faculty at SVA, the School of Visual Arts. And previously taught at the College of Staten Island. Outside of teaching, Lee-Sean co-founded Foossa, a community-centered design and strategy consultancy. He currently works as the Director of Design Content and Learning at AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts), the oldest and largest professional association for design in the U.S. He earned a bachelors in Government from Harvard and a masters in Interactive Telecommunications from NYU. He currently splits his time between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island. 

Cara Levine is a Case Manager in the Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Sanctuary for Families and is a member of the bargaining committee of their staff union, Sanctuary United. Sanctuary United is a part of NOLSW, the National Organization of Legal Service Workers, UAW Local 2320. She organizes in solidarity with Palestine as a leader and member of Jewish Voice for Peace-New York. She spends a lot of time thinking about community, how people interact with each other and build relationships, and about what to cook.  

Megan is a case manager with Sanctuary for Families living in Flatbush, Brooklyn. She is also a part of Sanctuary United’s bargaining committee. She has been with the agency for just over a year, and plans to continue in the field of social work as an advocate. She also engages in other forms of activism, such as abortion clinic defense, canvassing for nonviolence, and engagement in Flatbush community services. When she’s not working, she enjoys lifting weights, playing guitar, and cooking.

• MUSIC and CLIPS

"Logjam" by Podington Bear

"Fingernail Grit" by Podington Bear

"Back Stairs" by Podington Bear

"This Is an Emergency: Flattening the Curve from the Bottom Up" webinar, Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee

"Amazon Labor Union President Christian Smalls Opening Statement before Senate Banking Committee" video, C-Span

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3VEENfb

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

Art has long been a lever for working class solidarity and social justice. It’s also a collaborative form of labor that props up some workers and devalues others. This week, we're taking a long, hard look at two works of art: Rodrigo Valenzuela: New Works for a Post Worker’s World, an exhibition on view at BRIC House through December 23rd, and 7 MINUTES, a play produced by Waterwell that premiered at HERE Arts Center last spring. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Justin Bryant, Elizabeth Ferrer, Marc Enette, Waterwell, Lee Sunday Evans, Arian Moayed, Andrew Tilson, and Matthew Munroe aka Superlative Sain. 

• LINKS

Born in 1982, Santiago, Chile; based in Los Angeles, CA Rodrigo Valenzuela has presented solo exhibitions at the New Museum and Asya Geisberg Gallery, both NY; Light Work, Syracuse, NY; University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, CA; Orange County Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CA; Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA; Luis de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene, OR; and the Portland Art Museum and UPFOR, both Portland, OR. He has participated in group exhibitions at The Kitchen, The Drawing Center, Wave Hill, and CUE Art Foundation, all NY; Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, FL; Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE; Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA; and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX, among others. He has also exhibited his work in solo shows internationally at Arróniz Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City; Peana Projects, Monterrey, NL, Mexico; Galería Patricia Ready and Museo de Arte Contemporàneo, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; and Galerie Lisa Kandlhofer, Vienna, Austria. Valenzuela has participated in residencies at Dora Maar, Fountainhead, Light Work, MacDowell, Glassell School of Art, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Kala Art Institute, Vermont Studio Center, Center for Photography at Woodstock, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. He is the recipient of the 2021 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in Photography, the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship, and the Joan Mitchell Fellowship. His work is included in numerous public and private collections, including those of the Whitney Museum of American Art, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Frye Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and The Center for Photography at Woodstock. He is an Associate Professor and Head of the Photography Department at UCLA. Valenzuela received his BFA in Art History and Photography from the University of Chile, his BA in Philosophy from Evergreen State College, and his MFA in Photo/Media from the University of Washington.

Ebony Marshall-Oliver is an actress, singer, and storyteller. She began singing in church as a little girl. After being cast in her first musical- Bubbling Brown Sugar- in her mid twenties, she decided that acting would be her career. She enrolled in the Integrated Program at AMDA NY. Her first professional job after graduating was Seussical the Musical with TheatreWorksUSA. With this role, she became a member of Actors Equity Association. Broadway credits include Ain't No Mo' and Chicken and Biscuits. Off Broadway theaters she's worked at are Waterwell, Clubbed Thumb, The Public Theater, to name a few. She can be seen on season 2 of The Ms. Pat Show (BET+) and season 3 of Evil (Paramount+).

Mei Ann Teo (they/she) is a queer immigrant from Singapore making theatre & film at the intersection of artistic/civic/contemplative practice. Their critically-acclaimed work has been seen at The Bushwick Starr, Waterwell, The Shed, Shakespeare's Globe, Woolly Mammoth, Theaterworks Hartford, Belgium's Festival de Liege, the Edinburgh Fringe, Beijing Int'l Festival, among others. Awards include LPTW Josephine Abady award and the inaugural Lily Fan Director Lilly Awards. They are an Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Work at Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Sarah Hughes has played many roles in her short time in the labor movement, including steward, officer, organizer, and workshop facilitator. She has worked for the National Education Association (NEA), the Professional Staff Congress at the City University of New York (AFT), and university labor studies programs, including CUNY's NY Union Semester. She has also taught a variety of workshops to city workers, electricians, women workers, and others. She holds a masters in labor studies from UMass Amherst. Prior to joining the Labor Notes staff in 2021, Sarah had been a long time fan, subscriber, volunteer trainer and donor. She attended her first Labor Notes conference in 2008, and is excited for many more. She lives in Flatbush with her labor lawyer husband and their toddler, who also loves picket lines.

Waterwell is a group of artists, educators and producers dedicated to telling engrossing stories in unexpected ways that deliberately wrestle with complex civic questions.

Founded by Andrew Tilson, the Workers Unite Film Festival, now in its 11th season, is a celebration of Global Labor Solidarity.  The Festival aims to showcase student and professional films from the United States and around the world which publicize and highlight the struggles, successes and daily lives of all workers in their efforts to unite and organize for better living conditions and social justice.

Superlative, meaning the best of, and Sain meaning to bless, is a multi-talented creative, born in the UK (United Kingdom, England) and raised in Hollis Queens, New York. Born Matthew Munroe, Sain always connected with music by singing with his mother, a vocalist in a church choir who grew up singing. As a child, art was always a passion of Sain's life. Art was always a staple in his life, from drawing full-length comic books to designing logos. Picking up the art of rapping in his early college years, Sain continued with his love of the arts and always wanted to bring his friends with Him wherever he went. Co-creating the creative collective group OGWN with long-time friend Diverze Koncept, he began expanding his ever-growing catalog simply because he loved making music. While pursuing music, he also manages his visual company MMunroeMedia, directing, filming, and editing music videos for other artists, capturing the moment and enhancing the vision with graphics and photography. Superlative Sain takes the term "Artist" to an entirely new level by designing his merch/clothing line, "Be|SUPERLATIVE," Check out this talented artist and be a part of his Rise.

• MUSIC and CLIPS
This episode featured clips from “Why Work?” (1996) by Bill Moyers.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3ATfJZS

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

This season, we’re taking an in-depth look at work and the history and future of labor organizing in Brooklyn. To kick off our series, we spoke with Dr. Joshua Freeman, CUNY professor and author of Working-Class New York: Life and Labor Since World War II; Celeste Headlee, NPR journalist and author of Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Melanie Kruvelis, Ashley Sandberg, and Zakiya Gibbons.

• LINKS
Joshua B. Freeman is Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus) at Queens College, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Affairs. His books include Behemoth: A History of The Factory and the Making of the Modern World (Norton); American Empire, 1945-2000: The Rise of a Global Power; the Democratic Revolution at Home (Viking); and Working-Class New York: Life and Labor since World War II (The New Press). He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, Newsday, The Nation, Dissent, Jacobin, and other publications. Professor Freeman lives in New York City.

Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter and Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Her latest is Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It. Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed over 34 million times. In her 20-year career in public radio, Celeste has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel. Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media. She is the host of Newsweek’s “Debate” podcast and “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events. Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board for the National Center of Race Amity. Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS
This episode featured clips from “Why Work?” (1996) by Bill Moyers.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3AEHkOG

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

Ekushey February (or 21st of February) is commemorated by Bangladeshis across the world to honor students and activists who died in the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in what was then East Pakistan. Many years later, February 21st became known as “International Mother Language Day” across the world, a time for all people to reflect on, cherish, and protect the rich linguistic heritage of our human family. For the final episode of our language season, we sit for “cha” and “adda”  and hear the stories of Bangladeshi community members right here in Brooklyn. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Ifti Chowdhury, Sohel Mahmud, Annie Ferdous, Kadar Rahim, Hanif Yazdi, the Royal Bengal Teahouse, Adriana, Leen, Nidal, and the Arab American Family Support Center.

• LINKS
Ifthekar Chowdhury AKA ifti is a New York-based musician, songwriter and music producer from Sylhet, Bangladesh. He grew up between Dhaka, New York City and Washington, DC. Growing up he was exposed to sufi music, kirtan and other forms of Bengali traditional music blended with music from the middle east and Latin America. His love for music and poetry from around the world gave him the opportunity to sing in different languages and build cultural bridges as a curator and producer at Royal Bengal Tea house. He has traveled to the UK, Mexico, Bangladesh and Colombia to collaborate with visual and culinary artists and curate cultural experiences that engage all the senses.

Sohel Mahmud is a Bangladeshi broadcast journalist, social worker and organizer based in Brooklyn. He has previously worked with Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM), SHETU, CAAAV, BRIC, and Human Rights Watch. He also works as a translator, Interpreter and social media content creator. With more than one million followers, he is passionate about telling the story of Bangladeshi immigrants in the U.S. Watch more of Sohel's work on DWIPTV.

Royal Bengal Tea House (also known as RBTH) is an organization founded in 2014 to build a South East Asian community of musicians and support expatriates of Bangladeshi origin. It has since expanded to create musical events hosting performers and welcoming attendees of every nationality. Royal Bengal Tea House has also been involved politically, advocating for human rights issues in the United States and supporting humanitarian efforts overseas ranging from fundraising concerts for refugees and marginalized communities due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Follow Royal Bengal Tea House @royalbengalteahouse on Instagram, and The Royal Bengal Tea House on Facebook.

The Arab American Family Support Center is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to provide culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed social services to low-income immigrants and refugees in New York City. Working across four priority areas - Prevent, Promote, Get Ready, and Communicate - AAFSC has served 10,000 community members this past year, across 13 physical locations, to achieve their ultimate goal of strengthening families.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

This episode featured clips from the Royal Bengal Teahouse, and the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, and Jomion & The Uklos live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3I1eMAr

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

The Pulaar Speaking Association on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy provides the Fulani community in Brooklyn with a space to gather, connect, pray, and preserve their culture and language. Shirin Barghi dropped by after Friday prayers to speak with the association’s president and membership. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Hamel Toure, The Pulaar Speaking Association, Hanif Yazdi, Adriana, Amina, and the Arab American Family Support Center.

• LINKS

The Pulaar Speaking Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to highlighting Fulani culture in the US, and building a strong community that contributes to a better global society. To learn more about the Brooklyn chapter, steam Pulaar Radio, or visit their headquarters at 1171 Fulton Street.

The Arab American Family Support Center is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to provide culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed social services to low-income immigrants and refugees in New York City. Working across four priority areas - Prevent, Promote, Get Ready, and Communicate - AAFSC has served 10,000 community members this past year, across 13 physical locations, to achieve their ultimate goal of strengthening families.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS
This episode featured clips from the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, Arooj Aftab, and Adesuwa live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3gDm9C5

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

It is believed that around 80% of the words in the English dictionary are borrowed from other languages. Musician Karim Douaidy grew up speaking French, Arabic, and English. In this episode, he reflects on the linguistic crossover between Arabic and English – two languages thought to have little in common. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Karim Douaidy and Zak Sherzad.

• LINKS
Karim Douaidy is a Brookly-based composer and audio engineer. Follow him on Instagram at @coffee_and_karim_

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

"Faces" by Karim Douaidy

This episode featured clips from the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones live performance on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3LiueKF

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

The question of which came first between language and music is one that scholars will likely debate forever, but what is indisputable is how intertwined the modes of expression are. In this episode, husband and wife Riva Nyri and Monvelyno, who comprise the musical group Bohio Music, sit down with producer Tadia Toussaint to discuss the complex history of the Haitian Creole language, and how they use music to keep its revolutionary spirit alive. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Tadia Toussaint, Riva Nyri, Monvelyno, Bohi Music, and Siji Awoyinka.

• LINKS:

Tadia Toussaint is a Haitian-American musician and journalist from Brooklyn, NY. Follow her at @tadia._

Bohio Music is the musical project of Haitian musicians Riva Nyri & Monvelyno, and uses music and dance to celebrate and preserve Haitian culture. Follow Riva Nyri, Monvelyno, and Bohi Music on Instagram at @riva.nyri, @monvelyno, and @bohiomusic.

Follow Siji Awoyinka at @sijimusic on Instagram.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

This episode featured clips from Bohio Music, and the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, and Jomion & Los Uklos live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3Btby6s

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV 

For over three thousand years, the Aramaic language has been used throughout Mesopotamia. In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, a community of Syrian immigrants preserves this ancient language – and a connection to their homeland – through prayer and song. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Professor Geoffrey Khan, Safaa Jalou, Father Gabriel Adde, the St. George Syriac Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Nadège Fleurimond.

• LINKS

Professor Geoffrey Khan studies, teaches, and documents the various dialects of Neo-Aramaic. You can learn more about his work and hear field recordings at https://nena.ames.cam.ac.uk/

Nadège Fleurimond is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, business strategist, and culinary maven from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. She is the author of Taste of Solitude: A Culinary Journal, and Haiti Uncovered: A Regional Adventure Into the Art of Haitian Cuisine.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

“Flowing Gentle” by Erik Wollo, courtesy of De Wolfe Music.

This episode featured clips from the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, and Jomion & Los Uklos live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3s1BAKU

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV