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With support from the Minnesota Department of Health, KFAI’s Wellness Signal focuses on the care of our bodies, hearts, minds, and communities. These audio stories and interviews share the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic, sagas of mental health, triumphs of recovery, and our care for each other. Tune in as KFAI producers connect with BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ and other underrepresented voices throughout the Twin Cities. Listen below.

SEWA-AIFW Lives Up To Their Name
SEWA-AIFW serves South Asian communities in Minnesota, offering youth programming, respite care and culturally specific meals for seniors, health clinics, book clubs, financial literacy programs and more.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with SEWA CEO Anjuli Mishra Cameron for this audio portrait.

Connect with SEWA-AIFW at their website, www.sewa-aifw.org.

The Anika Foundation Offers ‘Transformative Change’
Anika Robbins is the president and CEO of The Anika Foundation, serving hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans across the state.

The Anika Foundation’s initiatives are rooted in its core “impact levers” of civic engagement, health equity and economic empowerment.

“We want to normalize health and wellness, particularly in the Black community, in the Native American community,” says Robbins. “It’s not something that only the wealthy should be able to access.”

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Robbins on a sunny day in Fairview Park for this Wellness Signal audio portrait.

LeadMN: The Next Leaders in Line
LeadMN is a student leadership and advocacy organization that primarily works on behalf of two-year college students.

“We serve international students, students of color, students with disabilities, parenting students,” says Hawa Fofana, Manager of Equity and Inclusion at LeadMN.

“And so the more traditional 19 or 20 year-old student coming right out of high school isn’t more important than that 35 year-old mom that’s going back to school,” says Fofana.

“We need to meet all those competing needs.”

LeadMN offers leadership workshops and connects students with legislators for their annual Advocacy Day where students learn about how to affect policy change. They also offer scholarships and emergency grants to support students on their educational journey. LeadMN’s Center for Learning trains student leaders on cultural intelligence, conflict resolution, and professional advancement.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes produced that audio portrait with support from the Minnesota Department of Health.

 Test-To-Treat Telehealth Offers Easy Access throughout Minnesota to COVID Treatment
COVID-19 antiviral treatments are effective at reducing chances of severe illness. But if you have symptoms, it’s important to act fast and consult with a healthcare provider within five days of the start of those symptoms. The COVID-19 Test-to-Treat Telehealth program can help you do just that, at little to no cost.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and have tested positive or been exposed to a known case of COVID-19, you are eligible for the state’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Walter James from the Minnesota Department of Health about the new program.

If eligible, you can consult with a clinician for free and get a prescription for a COVID-19 antiviral treatment at care.cuehealth.com or by using the Cue Health App for smartphones. You can also talk to a clinician over the phone at 1-844-609-2415.

Connector and Conductor, Youth and AIDS Projects Serves Young People Living with HIV
Valerie Rubin-RaShaad Crutcher is the Executive Director for the Youth and AIDS Projects, located in Minneapolis. Partnering with the University of Minnesota, YAP serves young people either at-risk for or living with HIV, helping with housing support, medical case management, substance abuse recovery and more.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Rubin-RaShaad and file this audio portrait.

You can learn more about YAP’s services at YAPmn.org.

Bridge Access Program Offers COVID-19 Shots for Those Uninsured
Up until now, insurance status hasn’t affected how or if someone got a COVID shot. Doses were purchased in bulk by the federal government and made available to everyone, for free. But since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended and the latest booster released, vaccines have been commercialized, costing up to 130 bucks a pop.

“COVID vaccines are very expensive. So for people who have no health insurance to have to pay for the vaccine, many of them wouldn’t do it,” says Cristina Flood Urdangarin, the Community Outreach Manager for St. Mary’s Health Clinics.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes reports on a new program aim at connecting uninsured adults with a free COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Antony Stately Advocates for Bivalent Boosters
Dr. Antony Stately is the Executive Officer and President for the Native American Community Clinic in south Minneapolis, which provides primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services the Twin Cities Native American community.

In this episode of I’m Awake with Robert Pilot, courtesy of AM950 Radio, Dr. Stately shares with hosts Robert Pilot and Ogimaa Giniw Ikwe his own experiences recovering from COVID, prior to vaccination availability, and makes a case for getting the bivalent booster, especially for those 65+.

CAPI’s Culturally Specific Food Shelf Supports Families Through Pandemic
Jasmine rice, bamboo shoots, coconut milk and more are offered at the food shelf operated by CAPI USA in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It’s these culturally specific groceries that add a warmth and familiarity to the comprehensive services offered by CAPI USA. In this audio portrait, Basic Needs Manager Chue Vang spoke with KFAI’s Ryan Dawes about how CAPI’s food shelf supported families throughout the pandemic.

CAPI USA: “A Warm Presence in a Very Cold System”
Leila Hussain and Mayly Xiong both work at CAPI USA, serving immigrants, refugees, people of color and other neighbors in the Twin Cities metro. Because many CAPI staff members were either refugees themselves or have family members who experienced the challenges of immigration, the organization has established itself as a trusted hub of information and resources. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Hussain and Xiong about their work at CAPI.

The Blues Will Never Die: KFAI’s LadyJ Shares How the Blues Scene Adapted to the Pandemic
Jacquie “LadyJ” Maddix is the host of KFAI’s Songs of the Soul, airing every Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm. LadyJ is also a television producer, blues musician, mother, performance host and published author. Long intertwined in the Blues music scene, locally and nationally, LadyJ discusses the resiliency of blue musicians as well as her own personal strategies for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pat Nelson: “This is truly self-care time”
Pat Nelson, an African-American queer woman, is the owner and principal of NelsonWorks LLC, partnering with individuals and small/home businesses in the how-to’s of information technology. Her love of technology also lead her to become a licensed Ham Radio operator. Previously Pat worked in health care. She holds a BS in Management and an MS in Community Health and Health Care Administration from Long Island University in New York.

Senior LinkAge Line: A Friend to Navigate Aging
Whether you want help choosing a Medicare plan or need a grab bar installed in your grandparents’ home, the Senior LinkAge Line offers a wide scope of support throughout aging. Their staff and volunteers speak six different languages and can be a hands-on, personalized guide for housing, transportation, adult daycare programs, COVID-19 vaccination and more. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Jetta Wiedemeier Bower about how Senior LinkAge support seniors and their families. You can reach the Senior LinkAge Line at trellisconnects.org or by calling 1-800-333-2433 Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:30.

Living and Adapting with Hemophilia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Hemophilia is an inherited blood disorder that prevents clotting. KFAI’s Jacquie “Lady J” Maddix has two sons living with the condition. In spite of the risks, both sons, Christopher Maddix and David Frelix, each decided to vaccinate against COVID-19. Lady J spoke with Chris and David about this decision and how the pandemic has affected their lives.

At Odds Over COVID: Theater Artist Kim Hines Recounts How Family Responded to the Pandemic
Kim Hines is an African-American queer woman who is a theater artist, author, mentor and educator. She has been in the business of theater over 50+ years and her plays have been performed around the country.Belonging to a family of doctors and medical professionals, she is well-versed in health issues and her family has been severely impacted by the vast array of disinformation surrounding COVID-19. KFAI’s Dixie Treichel spoke with Hines about her personal and professional experiences throughout the pandemic.

Expansive, Yet Individualized, The Aliveness Project Strives to Serve
From its roots serving hot meals to those with HIV in the 1980s to its present-day comprehensive offering of social services, the Aliveness Project has expanded its ‘person-centered-first’ approach throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Matthew Hoppe and Dylan Boyer from the Aliveness Project spoke with KFAI’s Ryan Dawes in this audio portrait.

Jerome Evans Convenes Those Confronting COVID on ‘Bottomless Coffee with Jerome’
Jerome Evans is an African-American queer man who works in marketing with the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. He is also co-chair of the Public Health Advisory Committee for the City of Minneapolis and host of the TV show “Bottomless Coffee with Jerome” on MCN6 sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health. KFAI’s Dixie Treichel spoke with Evans about how his work has met the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Somali Link Radio | Lynn Bahta talks Monkeypox and COVID-19
Lynn Bahta is an Immunization Clinical Consultant for the Minnesota Department of Health. Bahta spoke with Somali Link host Abdirizak Bihi to share valuable insights on Monkeypox, including information on transmission and vaccination. The two also discussed COVID-19 vaccination and disinformation.

Listen here:

Adriene Thornton Shares the Joy of Vaccinating Families Against COVID-19
Across Minnesota, kids 6 months of age and older are getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Children’s Minnesota is among the leaders in this effort, staging vaccination clinics beyond the confines of traditional healthcare buildings, providing vaccines at elementary schools, gyms, parking lots and the YWCA.

“Equality is offering everyone vaccine appointments at our clinics. Everyone has the same opportunity. Equity is realizing not everyone is going to be able to benefit from those clinics and then going out to the community and reaching out to the community to provide what they need when they need it, how they need it, where they need it,” says Adriene Thornton, Manager of Health Equity for Children’s Minnesota.

Listen to Thornton discuss healthcare equity and the joys of vaccinating entire families here:

Dr. Zeke McKinney Weighs In on Local Fade in Mask Requirements
Dr. Zeke McKinney is an Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physician and currently serves as the president of the Twin Cities Medical Society. He’s also a father concerned about the recent fade of mask requirements in public settings. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Dr. McKinney at his clinic in St. Louis Park.

Mask Requirement at St. Paul Public Schools
Following the CDC’s February 2022 update in masking guidelines based on more localized community levels, schools districts throughout the Twin Cities metro took various approaches to their own masking guidelines. While many districts had already made masking optional, masking guidelines were revisited at multiple school board meetings throughout the spring. Ryan Dawes filed this report on the board’s first meeting since the CDC update.

Charisma Smith Taps Into Futurism and Ancestral Energy
Charisma Smith is a mother and Outreach Specialist with Minneapolis Public Schools. When her daughter Blessing first brought up concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith shared the family’s ancestry to illustrate their ancestral resilience. In this audio portrait, Smith shares how she connected with family, innovated her daughter’s eduction and observed institutions aligning with those in need throughout the pandemic. Listen here:

AutheNick Shares Recovery Stories From the Pandemic
For many of those in recovery from alcoholism or drug abuse, the tradition and support of in-person meetings, like those offered by Alcoholics Anonymous groups across the globe, have been absolutely vital to remaining sober. Since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered gatherings in 2020, those in recovery communities have either adapted or, in some cases, relapsed. In this special edition of AutheNick, KFAI host Nick Vanden Heuvel joins three other folks in recovery for an intimate discussion about their recovery journeys over the last two years.

Somali Link Radio | Delta Variant Explained
From Somali Link Radio on KFAI, Host Abdirizak Bihi speaks with Hennepin County Public Health Communications Specialist, David Johnson. In this interview, they discuss the heightened risk of the Delta variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, how the virus affects those who are vaccinated, and masking guidelines. They also talk about COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, like those offered by the People’s Center in the F Building of Riverside Plaza.

Wilson’s Image Offers a Dose With a Haircut

COVID-19 vaccine clinics have popped up well beyond the confines of hospitals and traditional healthcare providers. So far, Minnesotans have gotten their vaccine in parking lots, airport terminals, retrofitted buses, and now barbershops. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes shares how one barbershop in North Minneapolis is helping improve our state’s COVID-19 vaccination rate.

Hmong Community Leaders Push For Disaggregated Health Data

In March 2021, the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) and Hmong Public Health Association (HPHA) released a report that takes a deep dive into COVID-19 mortality rates among specific Asian American communities in Minnesota.

The report reveals disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rates among Hmong, Karen, and Karenni community members when compared to other Asian Minnesotans, which wasn’t initially apparent in the broader data aggregation completed by other public health institutions.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Tiffany Yang from the Hmong Public Health Association and with ThaoMee Xiong from the Mayor’s Office at the City of St. Paul about how disaggregated data could have helped mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Hmong communities and how these communities were uniquely affected by the pandemic.

 

Vax Vox: Minnesotans in North Minneapolis Share Their Stances on the COVID-19 Vaccine
As of June 30, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination rates in Minnesota among those ages 16 or older remain below the state’s goal of reaching 70% by July 1. As accessibility and eligibility have expanded over the spring and early summer, leaders are now focusing more and more on addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

KFAI’s Ryan Dawes spoke with Minnesotans along West Broadway in North Minneapolis to hear their stance on the COVID-19 vaccine, asking whether or not they got their dose(s) and what contributed to this decision. We also hear how or if the pandemic is still affecting these Minnesotans.

From Vaccines to Video Games, Phyllis Wheatley Center Meets People Where There’re At

In this special broadcast, we profile the work of a long-time staple of service in North Minneapolis, the Phyllis Wheatley Center. KFAI’s Ryan Dawes speaks with Phyllis Wheatley Center Executive Director Suzanne Burks, the Center’s VP of Programs and Development Brad Bourn, and the director of the newly formed Digital Tech Works Academy at the Center, Quanda Arch. Hear them talk about restorative programs, vaccine access in North Minneapolis, and how the center is using video games to support upward mobility in the Twin Cities African American community.

Boots on the Ground: We Push For Peace
We Push For Peace is an organization dedicated to providing resources like vocational training, resume building, mental health assessment, community arbitration, retail loss prevention, neighborhood safety, and more to residents throughout the Twin Cities.

Nature and Mental Health
Randolph Briley currently serves as Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In this role, he works to engage Minnesotans in government work and provide access for interested and impacted stakeholders to the policy-development process through engagement and outreach. Before this position, Randolph served for a decade in the Washington DC office of Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01). Among various responsibilities, Randolph advised the Congressman on agricultural, environmental, and natural resource-related policy. Randolph graduated from the Vermont Law School in 2007 with a joint Master’s and Juris Doctor in Natural Resource Law and Policy.”

Social Connection 
This panel discussion examines the link between social connection and mental well-being. Panelists: Anna Lynn, the Mental Health Promotion Coordinator with Minnesota Department of Health; Mary Ann Boe, Project Lead of NicBluCares.com and founding member of ElevateCompassion.org; Tanya Carter, the Suicide Prevention Supervisor with Minnesota Department of Health; Linsey McMurrin, Director of Prevention Initiatives & Tribal Projects at FamilyWise Services; Maria Regan Gonzalez, Population Health Consultant with Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN and the Mayor of Richfield, Minn.

WELLNESS SIGNAL: PRIDE 2021 on KFAI 

Community Spotlight: Cirien Saadeh of The UpTake

Community Spotlight: DJ Illwin

Creativity In A Double Pandemic

Through COVID-19, Queer Oppression and a Racial Justice Uprising

A Visit to the Quatrefoil Library

Living With HIV/AIDS In A Pandemic

Eco Queers

WELLNESS SIGNAL: INTERNATIONAL TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY 2021 on KFAI 

The segment features three public health leaders in a discussion about what this day means to them, how their communities have come together during the COVID-19 global pandemic,why the COVID-19 vaccination matters to them, the complex realities LGBTQIA+ folks have endured within the health care system, their hope for the future, and more.

WELLNESS SIGNAL: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021 on KFAI 

IWD 2021 – Burn Something Collective Talks

Native American Community Clinic

Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment

WELLNESS SIGNAL: BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2021 on KFAI 

Building Black Futures Part 1

Building Black Futures Part 2

KFAI’s Wellness Signal is supported by the Minnesota Department of Health.