Tagged: Stateside

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Roe Versus Wade. That landmark decision made access to abortion services a federal constitutional right, rather than a matter of state-by-state policy.

Dr. Lisa Hope Harris spoke with Cyndy today about Michigan Bill 5711 and how it could affect the state.

Also, John Bebow, president and chief executive of the Center for Michigan and Amber Toth,  the outreach director for the Center for Michigan, spoke with Cyndy about Center's education report released today.

Listen to these stories and more on today's podcast.

There are two ways you can podcast "Stateside with Cynthia Canty"

• Podcast of the entire show
• Podcast of each segment

The following is a summary of a previously recorded interview. To hear the complete segment, click the audio file.

A recent study called “The Public’s Agenda for Public Education” surveyed more than 5,000 Michigan residents to learn how to best improve public education.

John Bebow, president and chief executive of the Center for Michigan and Amber Toth, outreach director for the Center for Michigan, were both involved in the study.

They spoke today with Cyndy about the survey and the state’s future goals for education reform.

“Those who most need that economic ladder that a great education provides, are feeling least well served by today’s system,” said Bebow.

One student with whom Bebow spoke was using dated textbooks.

“We had a student in a community conversation say, ‘my government textbook says Ronald Reagan was the last president.’ We had other people at the opposite end of the spectrum concerned about how we spend money. There are so many concerns expressed. This survey is by no means a lambasting of the education service industry. People are concerned…” said Bebow.

Today we spoke with Jocelyn Benson.

Her group, Military Spouses of Michigan, marched in President Obama's inaugural parade.

Gleaves Whitney provided a history of second inaugural addresses. Guess who gave the shortest.

And Kevin Hofmann spoke with us today about growing up biracial in America.

Listen to these stories and more on today's Stateside.

The following is a summary of a previously recorded interview. To hear the complete segment, click the audio above.

One very clear aspect of President Barack Obama's story is that he grew up biracial in America.

His mother was from Kansas. His father was Kenyan.

Author Kevin Hofmann grew up in a similar environment.  

He was born in 1967 to a white mother and a black father, just two and a half weeks after the Detroit riots.

He lived in foster care before being adopted by a white family, where he became the fourth of their three children.

Hofmann’s memoir is entitled "Growing Up Black in White."

On “Stateside” today he recalled his adoption experience.

“They had approached the adoption agency and said we want to adopt. They only qualified at that time for what was called ‘hard-to-place’ kids. Back in 1967 and in some places today, biracial children are considered hard-to-place.  So that’s how I came to them. My dad was an associate pastor at a large Lutheran church in Dearborn. Much to our dismay, the church was very vocal about disapproving of having this biracial child in their congregation."

The following is a summary of a previously recorded interview. To hear the complete segment, click the audio above.

Today, President Barack Obama delivered his second inaugural address.

According to Gleaves Whitney, many second addresses are somber and straightforward.

Whitney directs the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University, and he spoke with Cyndy about the history of inaugural addresses.

“I think that Eisenhower was the first and only president to write his  prayer into the inaugural address,” said Whitney.

George Washington’s second inaugural speech was the shortest in history, said Whitney.

“Second inaugural addresses usually occur after the president has been chastened by experience. The lofty optimism that often characterizes first inaugural addresses is missing," he continued.

For the entire interview, listen to the above audio.

There are two ways you can podcast "Stateside with Cynthia Canty"

• Podcast of the entire show
• Podcast of each segment
  

The following is a summary of a previously recorded interview. To hear the complete segment, click the audio above.

Among the groups that represented Michigan in today's inaugural parade was the Military Spouses of Michigan.

Jocelyn Benson, who also serves as dean of Wayne State University's Law School, is the president of the group.

The group is about a year old and provides support for spouses of service members throughout the state.

Benson spoke with Cyndy from the parade.

"It's so exciting because we honor our veterans but too often our military families are on the sidelines. To be able to recognize their sacrifices today is incredible," said Benson.

Every child marching with the group seemed to have enjoyed the experience, she noted.

"Instead of feeling isolated, we're able to provide that camaraderie for each other," said Benson.

There are two ways you can podcast "Stateside with Cynthia Canty"

• Podcast of the entire show
• Podcast of each segment

There will be a big parade in Washington D.C. after today’s inauguration ceremony.

Many people from Michigan will be in the parade.

Jocelyn Benson is the president of the Military Spouses of Michigan. She says it’s a great honor for a group whose sacrifices are often overlooked.

Benson says she’s looking forward to the parade, even though the temperatures will be on the chilly side.

President Obama will be sworn in publicly for his second term on Monday.

Michigan musician and storyteller Allison Downey remembers the President's first inauguration: