On today’s episode of The Confluence:
State legislature approves an increase in funding to violence prevention work
(0:00 - 8:15)
In the recently approved budget, Pennsylvania increased funding for gun violence prevention programs. Fifty million dollars has been allocated to gun violence intervention and prevention programs, along with an additional $105 million to address similar issues and public safety.
Rashad Byrdsong is the founder and CEO of Community Empowerment Association, Inc., which received state funding for violence prevention efforts in 2021.
“When you begin to look at violence as a disease, you have to look at the root, and the root causes to the violence stemmed from a lot of the disparities that we’re exposed [to] in the Black community and poor communities,” says Byrdsong. “We're looking at things like lack of housing, concentrated child poverty, lack of early childhood development, jobs, training.”
Byrdsong says his organization received about $200,000 from the state in 2021, and intends to apply for more funding in the next year.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is back to touring internationally
(8:20 - 16:19)
For the first time in three years, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will return to international touring next month, presenting 11 concerts in nine cities across three countries.
This also marks the 75th anniversary of the symphony’s first international tour.
Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony, says although the tour is “grueling” for the musicians, it’s also incredibly satisfying.
“The anchor of this tour for us is, we're closing the Salzburg Festival, which is incredibly prestigious,” says Tourangeau. “Usually very few American orchestras go to Salzburg and we are the only American orchestra going to Salzburg this year.”
Billy Porter’s Pittsburgh-based film starts streaming Friday
(16:27 - 22:30)
Actor, singer and red-carpet fashion icon Billy Porter is the biggest entertainer to come out of Pittsburgh in years. Now, he’s also a film director. His directorial debut, “Anything’s Possible,” shot here last summer is a romantic comedy about a Black trans girl named Kelsa navigating her senior year of high school.
The 52-year-old Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner grew up in East Liberty and Homewood and is an outspoken advocate on LGBTQ issues. 90.5 WESA’s Bill O’Driscoll asked Porter what it was like to return to Pittsburgh as a film director.
The film debuts on Amazon Prime on Friday.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.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.
