Building Local Power
Latest Episodes
Rediscovering Toledo’s Black Wall Street
Lifelong Toledo resident Doris Greer takes us back to a time when Dorr Street was the heart of Black wealth, culture, and community. Doris vividly recalls the bustling Black-owned businesses, close-knit neighbors, and a deep sense of pride and ownership.
Healthy Skepticism of Pharmacy Giants is Spreading
Independent pharmacies are the unsung heroes of healthcare, providing critical services that chain pharmacies simply can't match. On this summer special, ILSRs Stacy Mitchell illustrates how corporate giants like CVS and Walgreens have used predatory tac
Absolute Power Corrupting Our Energy System
In the groundbreaking report Upcharge: Hidden Costs of Electric Utility Monopoly Power, John Farrell exposes the severe environmental, financial, and economic costs imposed by monopoly utilities. John joins Building Local Power to discuss how these utilit
A National Strategy for Community Composting
Last month, the Biden White House released its National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. ILSRs Julia Spector joins Building Local Power to discuss how the leading advocacy of ILSR and allied organizations led to community
DOJ Takes On Live Nation/Ticketmaster
In 2019, we aired an episode titled "Independent Musicians and the Antimonopoly Movement," which explored the impact of industry concentration on independent musicians. We are resurfacing that episode in light of recent news that the Department of Justice
Inside Scoop on Local News’ Future
Veteran journalist, Harry Jaffe, reflects on his four-decade career dedicated to covering some of Washington D.C.s stories, emphasizing the crucial role of local reporters in holding public officials accountable and keeping communities informed. Harry, f
Reviving the Riverfront, and D.C.
In 2000, Uwe Brandes moved to Washington, D.C. to join Mayor Williams' administration with a bold vision to transform the Anacostia River waterfront, one of the nations most polluted rivers at the time. Uwe spearheaded a participatory planning process th
The Seed of Local Power
In 1974, in Washington D.C., amidst a backdrop of economic turbulence and social unrest, the seeds of the Institute for Local Self-reliance were sown. David Morris, Neil Seldman, and Gil Friend, driven by a shared vision of community resilience, founded t
Giving DC Its Flowers
Born and raised in DC, Kehmari Norman established her flower shop to bridge culture and floristry. The visionary behind Blk Flower Market drew from her background as a stage designer at Temple University, transforming her skills into landscape design, int