Get Connected

2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the National Dance Institute. Founded in NYC by the late, renowned dancer and teacher Jacques d’Amboise on the belief that every child should have access to learning in and through the arts, NDI impacts the lives of thousands of children in New York City and worldwide. Our guests are Executive Director Jermaine Jones and Artistic Director Kay Gayner. For more, including details on their Father’s Day weekend performances open to all, visit nationaldance.org.

It’s a staggering statistic: One in three adults and nearly half of families with children experienced food insecurity in 2023. While food pantries are one of the main resources for those in need, those food pantries are serviced by food banks. Our guest is Greg Silverman, CEO of the non-profit West Side Campaign Against Hunger, on how food banks are combining resources to respond to challenges such as increased demand and inflation. For more, visit WSCAH.org.

Whether you believe the U.S. is on it’s way to becoming great again, or things are going terribly wrong, most of us would agree, we’re having trouble talking to the other side. Yet, our guest has strategies to do just that: Gabriella Timmis is Director of Communications at Braver Angels, a non-partisan organization with a mission of bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. For more, visit braverangels.org.

A Fair Shake for Youth is the city’s longest-running therapy dog program in public schools in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Manhattan. For their 15th anniversary, founder Audrey Hendler talks about how the idea took root with a prison rehabilitation program, and how NYC dog owners can volunteer for kids alongside their own pets. For more, visit afairshakeforyouth.org.

If you’re watching the news, you know thousands of workers in the federal government are being laid off. But some are leaving their jobs voluntarily—stepping down from responsibilities, often in protest of specific policies and new rules. Whatever your job or role, what is the ethical red line that might cause you to leave? What is the balance between financial needs and moral considerations? Our guest Dr. Anne Klaysen is Leader Emerita at The New York Society for Ethical Culture. For more, visit ethical.nyc.

What do NYC’s best after school programs offer and how can they help tap into a child’s potential? Our guest is Sheila Duke, Chief Executive Officer of Roads to Success, a nonprofit that empowers future leaders by helping young people discover their potential and pursue their dreams. Founded in 2001, Roads to Success serves over 7,000 youth and young adults annually. For more, visit roadstosuccess.org.

Our guest is Sarah March, Program Director of Samaritan Daytop Village’s Young Mother’s Program, where women who are in recovery have the opportunity to keep their children with them—a program model proven to improve recovery outcomes. For over 60 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers, serving over 33,000 people annually at more than 60 facilities. For more, visit samaritanvillage.org.

Ballet Hispanico, the nation’s largest Latine/x/Hispanic dance organization and recognized by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, presents Gustavo Ramírez Sansano's masterwork CARMEN.maquia at New York City Center from May 29-June 1, 2025. Our guest is Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro. For tickets and more, visit ballethispanico.org and nycitycenter.org.

May 4-10, 2025 is Survive Stroke Week: An annual event to educate Americans about the symptoms of stroke and the lifesaving treatment options available. Stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in America and the leading cause of adult disability. In 2025, The focus is on the Hispanic Community in the U.S., where stroke ranks as the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic men and the third for Hispanic women. Our guest is Dr. Adrienne Moraff, a board-certified neurosurgeon in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Dartmouth. For more, visit getaheadofstroke.org, founded the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).

Now in it’s 10th Year, The Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival hosted by the New York City mental health and advocacy non-profit Community Access, features short films that explore timely mental health themes, including anxiety, bipolar disorder and more. Our guests are Jordyn Rosenthal, the Director of Advocacy at Community Access, and Simone Thomas-Rowe, whose film “Before My Eyes” is one of ten being screened at the event on May 17 at Village East Cinema. For more, visit mentalhealthfilmfest.nyc and communityaccess.org.

Every year The Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, by raising awareness of suicide and depression, raising money for research and education, and providing assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide. Our guest is Mike Lamma, EVP and COO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, for details on the New York City Walk on June 21. For more, visit afsp.org.

North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest and longest-running no-kill rescue and adoption organization, kicks off their Global Pet Adoptathon on May 1. More than 2000 shelter partners and rescue groups participate in the annual event, which helped adopt over 40,000 pets last year. Our guest is Mike Spiotta, Associate Director of Operations for NSALA. For more, including details on financial incentives for adopting in May, visit animalleague.org.

Our guest is Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle, a leading Jewish organizing involved in democracy protection. Ann and members of the The Workers Circle have recently returned from Selma, Alabama for the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. We’ll also talk about the organization’s historic past and ongoing fight for voting rights. For more, visit circle.org.

April is Autism Awareness Month. And while we rightly celebrate diversity, we often shy away from discussing the unique challenges faced by families and those raising autistic children. Our guest is Julie Mower, executive director of The Phoenix Center, an accredited, not-for-profit school serving students with autism, multiple disabilities and intellectual disabilities in Nutley, NJ. For more, visit thephoenixcenternj.org.

Since April 1, the New York City Department of Sanitation has begun enforcing strict rules on separating food waste and yard waste from trash—issuing fines of up to $300 to property owners who don’t comply with the law. Our guest is Samantha Maldonado, a senior reporter for THE CITY, with an overview of composting guidelines for landlords and residents from her article How to Compost in NYC: A Guide. Samantha Maldonado is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development at thecity.nyc.

We discuss congestion pricing, young activists and the impact of anti-climate mandates with John Opperman, Executive Director of Earth Day Initiative. Their Annual Earth Day Festival is a free, public event during a pivotal time for climate justice. For more about the event in Union Square on April 17, visit earthdayinitiative.org.

As immigration and LGBTQ+ rights take center stage in national debates, The People’s Theater, Latinx Playwrights Circle, and Boundless Theatre Company present the world premiere of "Domino Effect." Onstage at A.R.T. / New York Theaters through April 20, the play explores the triumphs, sacrifices, and resilience of immigrant and queer communities. Our guests are playwright Marco Antonio Rodriguez and cast member Shadi Ghaheri. For more about the play and tickets visit thepeoplestheater.org.

As spring arrives in NYC, the annual Greenest Block in Brooklyn Program is on! It’s Brooklyn’s friendliest competition, hosted by the Brooklyn Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The contest is free and open to all residential blocks, commercial blocks, and community gardens in Brooklyn. Our guest is Community Program Manger Jibreel Cooper. For more, visit bbg.org/community/greenestblock.

Amid the stresses of daily life and the uncertainty of the world around us, having a peaceful place to reflect and unwind can make all the difference. For participants in Project Renewal’s horticultural therapy program, that sanctuary is the rooftop garden at one of the nonprofit’s supportive housing sites, Bedford Green House. At heart of this healing space in the Bronx, is our guest Jonelle Green, Project Renewal’s horticultural therapist. For more, visit projectrenewal.org.

With the New York City Mayoral Primary on June 24, we’re joined by Tim Hunter, representing the NYC Campaign Finance Board. New York City’s landmark Campaign Finance Program provides public funds to candidates for city office via their matching funds program, empowering small donors and candidates of all backgrounds. For more, visit nyccfb.info.