Rhode Island lawmakers are taking aim at the state’s housing shortage by passing laws and increasing funding to expand inventory. But local zoning laws that vary between cities and towns are often a barrier to building. We take a look at the political tug-of-war between state and local officials over the housing crisis from our series Zoned Out. Also, Rhode Island’s state primary election is this Tuesday. Political reporter Ian Donnis highlights a few key races to watch. Plus, we look back at the thriving arts scene in Providence in the 1990s, and how the old mill buildings of the city’s industrial past made that possible. That and more on this week’s show.
Mareva Lindo
Mareva joined The Public’s Radio in 2022 and oversees daily news production, writes our Daily Catch newsletter and edits two weekly productions, Artscape and The Weekly Catch.
In 2023, Mareva received two awards from the Public Media Journalists Association for her work with The Public's Radio, including a first-place Multi-Media Presentation award for the 2022 Elections page, and a second-place Short Documentary award for editing and co-production of “The Secret of Chiqui Versace."
A Chicago-made journalist and musician, Mareva strives to document and tell stories driven by community, curiosity, and listening. She is the creator of The Archives podcast at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where in 2017 she conducted an oral history of the school in partnership with StoryCorps. In the past Mareva has reported on public meetings as a City Bureau Documenter, led workshops on podcasting and audio storytelling, and crafted ethnography-based theater as a company member of the Albany Park Theater Project.
She holds a B.A. from Smith College in American Studies with a focus in popular culture. When not at The Public's Radio, she's been known to sing sea shanties and play the fiddle.
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape, Housing
Live/work: How old mill buildings shaped Providence’s 90s art renaissance
Back in the 1990s, Providence was home to a thriving community of artists. One of the things that made it possible was the ample affordable live/work spaces artists found in the old mill buildings of the city’s industrial past. With many of those buildings gone and little affordable housing to spare, can Providence hold onto its reputation as a cultural capital?
Posted inArts And Culture, Housing, The Weekly Catch
The invisible legacy of racially restrictive housing covenants, Providence schools outlook, and more
Buried deep in residential property records across Rhode Island lies an ugly truth: old restrictions in deeds that prohibited people of color from buying a given home. We hear from our own Nina Sparling about how racist restrictions in housing deeds helped shape where Rhode Islanders live today. Also, Providence public schools will remain under state control for another three years. Political reporter Ian Donnis gives us his take on the news, and a few highlights from the week in Rhode Island politics. And we have a studio session from The Whelks, an acoustic trio defined by their three-part harmonies, and a shared love of early country, swing, and Rhode Island. Plus: Our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Studio Session: The whimsical three-part harmonies of The Whelks’ ‘Reverse Mermaid’
For this week’s episode of Artscape, an interview and studio session with Rhode Island band The Whelks, an acoustic trio defined by their three-part harmonies, and a shared love of early country, swing, and Rhode Island.
Posted inHousing, The Weekly Catch
How zoning stifles housing production in Rhode Island, a celebration of Guatemalan culture, and more
Rhode Island has faced a housing shortage for decades, and despite efforts to address it, the problem is getting worse. Today, thousands of people in Rhode Island are homeless, thousands more homeowners and renters are living in unsecure conditions, and home prices continue to skyrocket. The state needs to build more housing, but one of the biggest factors stifling that process is zoning. It’s the focus of our new series, Zoned Out. Also, we visit New Bedford’s Patio de Comidas, a summer-long celebration of Central American cuisine. It culminates this weekend with the Festival Tipico de Guatemala. Plus: A look back on the week in Rhode Island politics with political reporter Ian Donnis, and our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inThe Weekly Catch
Providence awards $1.5 million in reparations funds, Tim Walz in Rhode Island, and more
Two years ago the city of Providence approved a $10 million reparations fund in order to narrow the city’s racial wealth gap. This week, some of that money was awarded to 15 different nonprofit groups. We’ll discuss how that money is being used. Also, we’ll introduce you to our new community engagement reporter, Paul C. Kelly Campos, and talk about how you can help inform our elections coverage this year. And it was 50 years ago when Newport played host to one of the largest outdoor art installations in the world. Back then, the art world didn’t really notice. Today, it’s seen as a pivotal moment for outdoor art. Plus: we bid a fond farewell to CEO and General Manager Torey Malatia. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inArts And Culture, Environment, Politics, The Weekly Catch
South Providence residents push for scrap yard accountability, renewed calls to reconsider Victory Day, and more
A scrapyard in South Providence was shut down last month after two recent fires. This week a judge said it could reopen, despite opposition from state officials and locals who say the facility poses health risks to an already over-polluted neighborhood. And Monday is Victory Day here in Rhode Island, commemorating the surrender of Japan in August of 1945 that led to the end of World War II. We hear from a Newport resident and Japanese internment camp survivor who says it’s time to reconsider the holiday. Also, we hear about a documentary in the making focused on a neighborhood basketball league that transcended racial and class divides during the 1960s and 70s. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inArts And Culture, Environment, The Weekly Catch
A fight over an illegal sea wall at a North Kingstown country club, the uncertain fate of WaterFire, and more
A North Kingstown country club is clashing with state coastal regulators, environmentalists and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after building an illegal sea wall along Narragansett Bay. Now the country club is trying to retroactively change the law. Also, WaterFire is an iconic Providence experience, but the nonprofit that runs it is in dire straits. We talk with the founder and CEO about what needs to happen to keep WaterFire afloat. And we hear from the composer behind a piece making its world premiere tonight at the Kingston Chamber Music Festival. Jerod Tate combines classical traditions with music from his Chickasaw heritage. Plus: political reporter Ian Donnis on the week in Rhode Island politics, and our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inPolitics, The Weekly Catch
What’s the cause of the recent increase in homelessness in Rhode Island, and what can be done about it?
One of the pressing questions going into next month’s Democratic Convention is who Vice President Kamala Harris will pick for her running mate. Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo is on the short list. We talk with political pundits from Brown University and the Boston Globe about that story and more. The number of people experiencing homelessness in the Ocean State is up from last year – by a lot. We’ll talk with the new head of the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness about fighting back myths and getting lawmakers to do more. And Cajun and Zydeco music is synonymous with life down in Louisiana. But, the local group Magnolia has brought the rich sounds of the Bayou to southern New England. Plus our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Studio Session: Magnolia brings the sound of Cajun Country to Rhode Island
The Ocean State is pretty far from Louisiana, but the sound of Cajun country can be found all around Rhode Island – thanks in part to Alan Bradbury and Michelle Kaminsky. They’ve been dedicated to playing and teaching Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music here for decades, bringing back what they’ve learned from master musicians in Louisiana. They’re two members of the Cajun band Magnolia, which has been playing together throughout New England since 1989. For this week’s episode of Artscape, they joined morning host Luis Hernandez in the studio for this interview and live performance.
