How artists are integrated into a community can be an indicator of how well a city welcomes outsiders overall, according to City of Asylum's new executive director Kristen Wesloh. The North Side-based nonprofit has worked to create a community for writers, readers and neighbors in Pittsburgh for the last 15 years.
Wesloh says she's looking forward to continuing the mission, which includes providing sanctuary to endangered literary writers and presenting over 175 free literary, arts and cultural programs to build social equity through cross-cultural exchange.
Later in the program:
After a personal experience with the challenges of seeking expert medical care, Staci Flint of Garfield created Kyle’s Hope. The organization advocates for families and helps them secure quality care for their loved ones. She spoke with 90.5 WESA’s Elaine Effort about care management, support services and other needs the organization fulfills.
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps recently issued its annual report ranking the overall health of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. (Allegheny notched a middling rank of 34.) Aliana Havrilla, action learning coach with the program, says that these rankings show that where people live makes a difference in how healthy their lives are and how healthy they might be in the future.
And demonstrators held protests and vigils this weekend in reaction to the acquittal of former East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld, who shot and killed unarmed teenager Antwon Rose Jr. last year. High school and college students plan to walk out of classes today and more protests are expected this week. WESA government and accountability reporter An-Li Herring joins David Harris, University of Pittsburgh law professor and WESA legal analyst, to talk about the details of the case, the verdict and what, if any, legal action might be available to Rose's family.
90.5 WESA's Alex Lenigan and Julia Zenkevich contributed to this program.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
