Labor Day was initiated in 1882 to honor those who labor in America to add to the nation's growth, strength, and prosperity. To discuss the Labor Movement as it exists today, we SPOTLIGHT Amaya Smith, the National Media Director for The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO.) In that role she runs the federation's national media outreach efforts with the goal of promoting the importance of unions and collective action to the general public. Media includes: Fox News, Politico, The Washington Post
To discuss reaction in Europe to refugees and asylum seekers fleeing bloody conflict, oppression, and persecution, we FEATURE Zama Coursen-Neff, the executive director of the children's rights division of Human Rights Watch, where she leads the organization’s work on children’s rights. Coursen-Neff’s expertise covers a range of issues affecting children, including access to education, police violence, refugee protection, the worst forms of child labor, and discrimination against women and girls. Media include: CBS News, BBC, CNN, NBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post
Obama revealed his new executive order that will ensure paid sick leave for 300,000 federal workers. This week we FEATURE Jessica Milli, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), a leading think tank in the United States committed to advancing women’s economic security and cultivating women’s leadership in the workforce and in their communities. Milli conducts data analysis and research on a variety of issue areas including paid leave, breastfeeding, and the status of women in the United States. Since joining IWPR, Milli has taken on the leadership of their paid sick days research, frequently providing technical assistance to campaigns across the country. Her research explores access to paid sick days by geography, occupation, work hours, income, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as estimating the costs and benefits of proposed legislation. Media includes: The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, NPR, CNN, Jezebel
Associate Professor of Sociology and the Founding Director
Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations at the University of North Florida
For interviews on Freddie Gray.
As the family of Freddie Gray has settled their lawsuit against the city of Baltimore with a $6.4 million dollar settlement, we FEATURE JeffriAnne Wilder, a sociologist and scholar specializing in diversity, race relations and gender issues. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of North Florida. As a black woman and sociologist, Dr. Wilder is very passionate about connecting sociology to the everyday issues occurring within our society. She writes, researches, and lectures on the contemporary experience of black Americans and other racial/ethnic minorities. Dr. Wilder’s sociological expertise was highly sought after during two recent high profile cases: the Trayvon Martin murder trial and the recent “loud music” murder trial of Jordan Davis. Media includes: Nightline, 20/20, NPR, The New York Times, Black Enterprise, The Grio
For interviews on North, South Korean family reunification.
As the Koreas have decided to continue the paused family reunions of 100 families separated by the war between North and South Korea this fall we FEATURE Christine Ahn, a fellow with the Korea Policy Institute and the Oakland Institute. Ahn is a policy analyst who writes and speaks frequently on human rights, poverty, hunger, trade, globalization, militarism and North Korea. She recently led a group of women who crossed the demilitarized zone in aid of peace. Media includes: NBC Today Show, CNN Headline News, NPR, Air America, Al-Jazeera, San Francisco Chronicle, International Herald Tribute
Areas of Expertise: Advertising, Business and the Economy, Feminism, Internet, Labor and Employment, Media and Entertainment, Online harassment and Free speech, Pop culture, Social media
Areas of Expertise: Activism and advocacy, Advertising, Guns, Media and Entertainment, Politics, Social justice, Violence against women, Women and Politics, Women's leadership
Areas of Expertise: Activism and advocacy, Business and the Economy, Elections, Finance, Housing, Politics, Tax, Women and Politics, Women in business, Women's empowerment, Women's issues, Women's leadership