Looking At The Legacy of Civil Rights Leader Reverend James Lawson Jr.
The Rev. James Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Today on AirTalk we look at the legacy of Civil Rights leader James Lawson Jr. Here to talk about the late Reverend Lawson is Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and former SCPR trustee. Have memories you’d like to share about the Reverend? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from the Associated Press
Are Blue Collar Careers Having A Comeback?--Gen Z's Rising Interest In The Trades
Gen Z are rapidly entering the workforce, with them and Millennials estimated to soon become the dominant labor force. And while many of them just graduated from four-year universities with bachelor degrees, a growing number of Gen Z job-seekers are opting for vocational trade programs and blue collar careers. According to the latest numbers out of the National Student Clearinghouse, a research center that tracks higher-education enrollment, community colleges with a focus on vocational programs saw a 17 percent increase in enrollment for the Spring 2024 semester, surpassing even pre-pandemic numbers. So, what is spurring this newfound interest in trade occupations, and what does it mean for the future of our workforce? If you are a trades worker or blue collar professional, we want to hear from you. Why did you decide on this career path? And what do you enjoy about your work that other jobs can’t offer? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Joining us to talk about Gen Z's growing interest in trades work is Jennifer Causey, Senior Research Associate at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, and Gregory Gonzales, Department Chair of Welding Technology Department, Santa Ana College.
What’s The Best City To Raise Your Family And How Does It Shape Your Life?
California has some of the best cities in the country for raising a family according to a recent study conducted by WalletHub which ranked 180 American cities among key metrics like housing costs, quality of schools, and recreational opportunities. Places like Irvine and Fremont were among the best, while cities like Ontario in San Bernardino County and Riverside ranked near the bottom. Here today to discuss what makes a city the ideal place to raise a family and what effect a city has on the upbringing of children are Rob Weisskirch, Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and Cassandra Happe, analyst at the personal finance website WalletHub. And we want to hear from you AirTalk listeners! What qualities in a city are you looking for currently? Or what did you look for when deciding to settle down? How do you think the city you’ve raised your family in has affected the way your children have been shaped? We want to know! Give us a call at 866-893-5722, or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
LAist’s Rent Hike Cheat Sheet Is Freshly Updated -- Here’s What’s New
It can be a challenge for tenants to figure out how much their rent could potentially go up year to year. There are 88 cities in Los Angeles County alone…some have rent control, some don’t. And then there are unincorporated areas, some of which have their own rules. Some buildings are older and are subject to rent hike caps. Other, newer buildings are not. Fortunately, LAist housing reporter David Wagner is working hard to make sense of it all for you. He’s been working on an update to his handy guide on rent hikes in L.A. County, and he joins us today to share some of what he’s been working on.
You can find David’s rent hike guide along with more of his reporting on renting in Southern California at LAist.com/rent.
How Important Is Earthquake Insurance? All Your Questions Answered.
Yesterday on AirTalk we talked about a series of small earthquakes that rattled SoCal starting on May 31st with a quake in Ojai, followed by a few in El Sereno and a trio of quakes in Costa Mesa. Today, we’re talking about earthquake insurance. Californian state law requires insurance companies to offer earthquake insurance along with the purchase of homeowners insurance. But how many people actually take the offer? Do you need it? How do you purchase an earthquake insurance policy? What do you need to know when buying a policy? Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss is Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a non-profit information resource for insurance consumers.
What Spotify’s Gamble Can Tell Us About The Future Of Audio Streaming
Earlier this month, Spotify announced that it would be raising the price of its premium memberships, with its “individual” subscription going from $10.99 to $11.99 a month starting in July. This is the second price increase users have seen in a year. It follows an interesting push by the platform as it looks to expand into more than just music, having invested in podcasts and increasing its audiobook presence. As with most price increases, users aren’t pleased, so will the platform’s investment make this business decision a worthwhile one in the long term? Joining us to discuss is Gabriel Solis, dean of arts and sciences, as well as professor of ethnomusicology at the University of Washington.
