This week on Matter of Fact, a look at parents struggling to fill the role of teachers for their children. We speak with a mom facing extra challenges, as she tries to provide the special education her disabled daughter needs. Then, Soledad O’Brien speaks with Dr. Matthew Blomstedt, the Nebraska Commissioner of Education, about what districts can do to help students after the pandemic. Plus, we’ve been following an ambitious revitalization project in Louisville. How the police killing of Breonna Taylor is making residents worry all that development could lead to displacement. And, Matter of Fact Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to South Carolina, where some homeowners are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to reinforce their homes on higher ground.
After nine months of COVID-19 shutdowns, schools across the U.S. remain a combination of in-person, remote and hybrid teaching models. Education experts say in-person instruction is a critical part of a child’s development, especially for students with disabilities. Nebraska Commissioner of Education Dr. Matthew Blomstedt is the president of the Council of Chief State School officers and is a national advocate for special needs education. Soledad O’Brien speaks with him about the risks versus the benefits of a return to the classroom for the families of students with disabilities.
Ashqelynn Ayers is the Supervising Producer with more than ten years of experience in broadcast television and production. Before joining Matter of Fact, Ashqelynn covered breaking news as a content producer at NBC Washington. As a segment producer at NewsOne Now with Roland Martin on TV One, she covered the major headlines from the African-American perspective. Ashqelynn began her career in her hometown of Missouri City, Texas, which is just outside of Houston.
Parents have been stretched thin during the coronavirus pandemic. Many have been working from home while also being asked to fill the role of teachers for their children. The dilemma has been especially trying on families with children with complex disabilities. A mom opens up about the struggle many parents with special needs students are now facing.
Laura Chavez is an award-winning journalist with a passion for her profession. Starting in 2008, her career allowed her to cover several historic events ranging from the Inaugurations of several United States Presidents to the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic. Before coming to Matter Of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, Laura worked for several O&O news stations in Washington D.C. and Chicago, both in front of and behind the camera. She also produced and directed shows and docu-series for major networks, like Discovery, HGTV, FYI, A&E, Food Network and others, including multiple shows about the impact of Climate Change and the growing wealth gap in the U.S. Along with reporting, Laura is also the Executive Producer of her own production company, What Is Productions, where she works with organizations of all sizes to share their stories and raise awareness for causes in which she believes.
This week on Matter of Fact, the story of a doctor confronting the health care gap in her community. How Dr. Juliet Widoff helped start a free pop-up clinic in a New York City park. Then, how a random act of kindness planted a seed of hope for a Wisconsin chef. And, a look at the new documentary, “A Most Beautiful Thing,” as its up for a Critic’s Choice Award. Soledad O’Brien speaks with the author of the memoir Arshay Cooper along with filmmaker Mary Mazzio and executive producer Grant Hill. Plus, a photo series capturing life’s most precious moments in the midst of the pandemic.
In the late ‘90s, a group of teens from rival neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side formed an unlikely bond. They became the first all-Black high school rowing team. Now, their story is at the center of new documentary called “A Most Beautiful Thing.” It’s based on a memoir by the same name, written by rower turned motivational speaker Arshay Cooper. Soledad O’Brien spoke with Arshay, director Mary Mazzio and executive producer Grant Hill.
How we celebrate major life events has been dramatically changed by the coronavirus pandemic. But, some are still finding ways to share life’s most incredible moments. Photographer Jerry Lara, from the San Antonio Express-News, captures a family welcoming their daughter into the world, even while separated.
See the full photo series here.
An estimated ten million people will lose their health insurance by the end of the year due to COVID-related job losses, on top of the 26 million Americans who are already uninsured. That’s according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Added up, that leaves nearly 8% of the U.S. population without medical coverage. In the absence of a long-term solution, a New York City physician decided to do something about it. See how Dr. Juliet Widoff helped create the “Health Care for the People” clinic to provide medical services for those in need.
In this era of political division, street artists have been taking to the streets of D.C. They’ve made storefronts and sidewalks their canvas for artistic expression, creating a citywide gallery for the social justice movement. Street artists and activists Andy Shallal and Corey Stowers explain the power of street art in their own words.