Author: Nick Booth

Birmingham the Curio City – podcast

Programme 17 from the Grassroots Channel and the story of the people striving to reunite a community divided by powerful economic forces. Community artist Sanj Cavanagh and volunteers Julia Downer and Cherie Moore are working with children to create new music and theatre at the Curio City shop in Five Ways in Birmingham. Plus some news from the last podcast and our nomination for the News Statesman New Media Awards.

Links:
Friction Arts (dead link)
The Bostonist (redirect)
New Statesman New Media Awards (dead link)
Alex mendez’s story on the Grassroots Channel

It Shouldn’t Be So Common

Programme 16 of the Grassroots Channel hears about the link between gun crime in Birmingham UK and gun crime in Boston, Mass. Simon Walker, of the community arts project Curio City, tells us about Alex and Isaura Mendez, two visitors to Birmingham who have left a lasting impression on the city.

Links:
The Dorchester Reporter in Boston (dead link)
A map of gun crime in Alex’s Neighbourhood
Isaura Mendez and her work in her community (dead link)
Simon’s work on the Urban Fusion Website (dead link)
Friction Arts (dead link)

Together We Can

In the first podcast from the boys at Kings Norton Boys’ School. In this episode 4 boys attend a conference at the NEC aimed at promoting active citizens around the UK.  Includes interviews with Hazel Blears MP & Beth Ford from the Chicago Police Department. Interviews were conducted by Chris Brown, Max Woolf, Ruairi Hay and Tom Caesar.