PublicSource | News for a better Pittsburgh (https://www.publicsource.org/author/jourdan-hicks/)
Previous to PublicSource, Jourdan was engaged as a community-based educator in the Hazelwood section of the city. A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, she’s received formal training and degrees from both Penn State and Duquesne University (B.A Communications Arts & Sciences, M.S.Ed Educational Studies). In addition to her community correspondent work with PublicSource, Jourdan cultivates ideas as a freelance media-communications and education adviser. In her leisure, Jourdan enjoys traveling, discovering new music and watching (mostly critiquing) contemporary film. Preferred pronouns: She/Her/Herself.
For this episode we’re turning the microphone to my PublicSource colleagues. You’ll meet Jennie Liska, director of loyalty programs, Naomi Harris, our new higher education reporter, and Jay Manning, visual storyteller and producer.
Black women are not a monolith. So, building on the first part of the episode about Black women in Pittsburgh, I spoke with Jahqwhan “Jah” Watson. A native Ohioan by way of Cleveland — who came to Pittsburgh as a Pulse social service fellow last summer —Jah picks up where Naomi Ritter and Janel Young left off. We explore more of what gets left out of the conversation when discussing Black women in Pittsburgh and the unique experiences that shapes and cages their identities.
Jah’s reflections are important because they’ve had a life not shaped by what we're used to as long-time residents of Pittsburgh. Their reflections come from trying to acclimate into a city with its own set of systems, rules for socialization and history. Jah’s reflections are intimate, authentic and a fresh take on how we talk about Pittsburgh nurturing and shaping Black women.
“Whatever my experience in Pittsburgh is has really sort of like beat me out of myself, and I'm really having to beat back.
Black women are not monolithic people. The experiences that sculpt our lives matter. How our stories show up in studies observing our quality of life deserves context.
Two words can be used to explain the predictions for the looming presidential election of 2020. Record. Breaking. It’s being predicted that in this election, 17 million more Americans than in 2016 will show up next week to cast their ballots in Biden v. Trump. If you’ve noticed, in our media, on TV, radio, social media there are targeted efforts to make sure that all eligible voters turn up and turn out on Election Day.
Many consumers are relying on delivery workers to shop for and deliver their groceries to protect themselves during the pandemic. With increased demand, some customers have been making their orders look more appealing by adding big tips and then reducing or zeroing it out after the job is done. On this episode, Selena Eisenberg, who is also a mom with ambitious career dreams of her own, shares the personal toll of being baited and how it prompted her to strike out as an independent personal shopper.
Since the pandemic began to affect Allegheny County, Lorenzo Ruilli has been hiking under bridges and through urban brush to help the homeless. On this episode, learn how he is putting together bags of food and hygiene products and why he does it.
What does a kid make of a historic event that is affecting people throughout the world? On this episode, third-grader Felix Wodzak shares what he understands about the effects of the coronavirus, the history of past pandemics and what's getting him through the days stuck at home.
In this episode, Thomas Jackson is that familiar face, a postal worker of nearly two decades with a route running through the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of East Liberty and Lincoln-Lemington.
Bringing home a newborn is challenging, and that's why so many new parents lean on family and friends to help them adjust. But this support is near impossible during a pandemic, without taking risks. In this episode, Pittsburgh North Side resident Bethany McLaughlin shares about her time so far with newborn Chloe and the toll it's taking on Chloe's grandparents.
You've seen the footage of the cars in lengthy lines for food bank distributions. Now, hear what it's like on the ground during a pandemic. On this episode, an employee of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank tells us how they are working to safely get food on the tables of those in need.
