This week on The Exchange, Juneteenth celebrations are coming up this weekend. Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in America. We will talk to the organizer of one largest celebrations in the area in Omaha, that takes place Saturday.
Slavery in the United States took on many forms. Some Native American tribes even had slaves, event though the form of servitude was often markedly different than that practiced on Southern Plantations. Former Black members of the Creek and Cherokee tribes are trying to restore their tribal rights after decades of controversy. Award-winning author Caleb Gayle tells their story in his new book, We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity and Power. We talk with Gayle about their story.
We also have a report on a March for Life against gun violence that took place Saturday in Sioux City, and we hear about a new program that could create dozens of new teachers in Siouxland in the next few years.
The state of Iowa has dedicated more than 45 million dollars to helping para-educators earn their teaching degrees. The accelerated online program begins this fall through the University of Northern Iowa. UNI"s Director of Education Preparation talked with Siouxland Public Media about how the program works.
As a new, 80 million dollar upgrade to the Field of Dreams movie site begins, we a longtime supporter of the film site in Dyersville, Iowa. David Blanchard is the author of the Field of Dreams Movie site and Facebook page. The California film editor talks about the possible effects of the changes on the surrounding farmers and their land.
Speaking of baseball, we also talk with Morningside University graduate Bob Protexter about coaching young players in Iowa and the Soviet Union.
And today we have a preview of an upcoming show at the Orpheum. The Orpheum Theatre will go back in time next week for a show all generations can enjoy. The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, and The Platters will take the stage and Early Clover from the Coasters spoke to Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer about this historic group, his upbringing, life on the road, and more.
