Community Voices for Change is a talk show highlighting the work of individuals and organizations working to enhance the greater good of communities. Producer and Host Richard Rudolph begins each show with music from Sam Cooke’s Ain’t That Good News Album -“A Change is Gonna Come”. The show is also based on the writings of Howard Zinn and other writers who believe if we get organized “Small acts” multiplied by hundreds, thousands of people we can transform our communities, the state and possibly even the world. Jam Lewis, is the sound engineer.
Upcoming Shows
May 18. The show will feature Seth Berry, the Co-Chair of the Maine Legislature’s Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. We will talk about why he believes CMP’s proposed power line project is a bad deal for Maine: the negative impacts and why there is no clear economic benefits for the state and no clear evidence greenhouse gas reductions. He will also share his thoughts on why Maine should establish a State-Wide Power Authority which would take over CMP’s distribution system.
April 11. April 11. My guest tonight is Jim Hanna, the executive director of the Cumberland County Food Security Coalition. The show will first focus on why community food insecurity exists in Maine and the role that food pantries play in providing food to those in need. We will also talk about the need for a more systemic approach to solving the problem and the work that his organization is currently doing in Cumberland County.
April 4. The show tonight will feature Barry Woods, Director of electric vehicle innovation for ReVision energy of Portland, the state’s largest solar equipment installer. Barry is Maine’s leading electric vehicle evangelist. We will talk about why there is a need to make the transition to electric cars and buses and what the State and Federal Government needs to do to help make it more affordable for folks who want to buy an electric vehicle.
March 28. The show will feature the honorable Troy Jackson, Maine Senate President. We will focus on what he hopes to accomplish this legislative session regarding making prescription drugs more affordable, more accessible and hold both drug makers and middlemen accountable.
March 21:The show tonight will feature Meagan Sway, the policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, where she works to protect and promote civil rights and civil liberties at the local and state levels through advocacy and public policy.
Meagan previously represented men and women unjustly convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama, children sentenced to die in prison, and pregnant incarcerated women seeking to protect their constitutional rights.
Our discussion will focus on Criminal Justice reform in the State of Maine. The ACLU is supporting a number of bills that have been introduced in the Maine State Legislature this year.
March 16: Our guest is state senator Justin Chenette who represents District 31 in the Maine Senate. Justin made history at age 21 in 2012 when he became the youngest legislator in Maine and the youngest openly gay legislator in the U.S.
The show tonight will focus on his current effort to reduce the role that money plays in state politics. He has introduced four different bills to the state legislature.
March 7: The show will feature Caleb Horton and Al Cleveland who are members of the Democratic Socialist Party of Maine. They will talk about the history of socialism in the U.S. and how Democratic Socialism is different than what exists in other countries. They will also talk about the DSP and the issues that they are currently focused on going forward in the state.
February 28: John Carroll, Corporate Communication Director, Avangrid will talk about CMP’s proposal to build a 145 mile transmission line to carry direct current to Massachusetts to meet that state’s clean energy needs. Mr. Carroll will address how this proposal will reduce carbon emissions as well as offer benefits to folks living in Maine.
February 21: Jeff Clements, President of American Promise and staff member, Wambui Gatheru, Citizen Empowerment Coordinator, will talk about their organization leading the charge to win the 28th Amendment so We the People – not big money, not corporations, not unions, not special interests—govern the United States of America. The Amendment process will help set reasonable spending limits in political elections, so that all Americans—regardless of net worth—can take responsibility for our lives, govern ourselves, and honor our national destiny.