Erica Mu

Earlier this week, soon-to-be House Speaker John Boehner filed a brief challenging the constitutionality of the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act. But the 32 million Americans who would receive access to healthcare from the reform bill have more to worry about than Boehner and the Republican party. There’s currently a shortage of primary care physicians in some areas of the nation, and it’s about to get worse.

In April and May, Hear Hear: A Pop-Up Radio Project will be popping up in Oakland and San Francisco public libraries to record memories, tales, and favorite personal stories of local residents. Bring a loved one, come in a group, or come by yourself – your stories will live online, and could even air on 91.7FM!

Where to find Hear Here

April 17, 3 - 7pm

Oakland Public Library – Golden Gate Branch, Community Meeting Room

Over the next 12 months, KALW 91.7FM Local Public Radio will be asking the residents of San Francisco and Oakland to tell stories of how they Work, Eat, Love, Play, Worship, and Create. We want you to share what’s important in your life – your projects, your relationships, your passions – to help us put the “public” back in “public media.” Together, we’ll illuminate life in these two cities, just miles apart, and draw out the common threads that tie us together. And we’ll share what we’ve learned on air, online, on stage, and in public.

How does it work?

Long before Beyonce decided to redefine “diva” for pop culture, the term was associated with high culture. Nevertheless, divas of then and now have maintained a reputation, as late comedian Anna Russell explains, “…you would need to be a glorious-voiced, independently wealthy, sexy, politically motivated, backstabbing bitch.”

Russell was actually talking about opera singers, and what it takes to become one. And she has a point: The path to the opera stage can be filled with challenges. But it can also be fun.

Take a moment and think of a typical love song. It probably declares something like "Love Me Tender" or "It Had to be You." It probably doesn't croon, "I clicked your photo." (Though there is at least one song about online dating. It's called "Web Site Story").