The divide between "red" and "blue" political points of view in the United States is causing many to despair about our nation's future. But a national organization, Braver Angels, is trying to join the two sides by helping people come together to listen and talk in safe and structured settings. Paul Norris and Leslie Lopato say the group offers workshops, skills and many opportunities to sit down with people you think you have nothing in common with -- and come away surprised and uplifted.

America does an awful job educating our youth about money and making sound decisions about it. Our guests Alexandria Downing and Angely Miranda aim to change that narrative.

They're from an organization called, "MyPath", whose mission is to teach youth about banking, savings and building credit as the first steps toward financial prosperity. Programs to aid families and youth are available in the East Bay and beyond by doing an internet search for "financial planning for young adults."

Island City Beat joins Alameda Parks & Rec and 50 volunteers who recently planted 10 native cedar trees in Linear Park between Main Street and the Bayport neighborhood.

We introduce people from the three city groups responsible for organizing and running this important 'green' event: The Rotary Club - Alameda .. 100K Trees For Humanity .. Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA). 100K's Amos White reflects on the health benefits of trees and inequities in the city's tree canopy.

Jeff Gould walks and talks with 2024 city council candidate Thushan Amarasiriwardena on the streets of Alameda about his affection for our city and where his career in AI, other tech is taking him. We touch on Thushan's ideas around the potential abundance thinking holds, his run for council, housing development at the former Svendsons Marine site on Clement street and related transportation issues.

Alameda's Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) and the proposed construction of the Pacific Fusion nuclear research reactor project at Alameda Point also prompts an interesting exchange of views on energy issues.

In January Julia Owens took over as head of the 40-year-old organization that has stepped in where school funding for many activities has been cut. She comes from a background in non-profits focused on children's needs, and is excited about continuing AEF's vital work in Alameda.

She describes its many roles from providing the school district's middle school sports program to offering enrichment classes to grants for teachers' special projects to support for the mental health needs of students.

It's been six-plus years since Alameda approved the transformation of aging federal buildings on McKay Avenue into a facility to care for and house homeless seniors discharged from hospital stays. Spearheaded by the Alameda Point Collaborative, this humanitarian project was delayed by a stubborn clutch of naysayers, the Covid pandemic and federal intransigence.

Now, it's set to open next March and former APC director Doug Biggs reflects on the entire drama and how compassionate Alamedans and our regional officials have prevailed.

Alameda Backyard Growers board president Jillian Saxty wants to spread the ethic of growing your own food as far as possible.

Over 15 years ABG has developed a volunteer gleaning program that provides fresh produce to the Alameda Food Bank as well as offered free instruction to countless Alamedans with backyard and container gardens. Saxty describes ABG's current goals of developing community gardens and offering its expertise to other Bay Area towns.

Five years ago this weekend, the killing of George Floyd, just two days after the controversial arrest of Mali Watkins here in Alameda, prompted the city council to establish the Racial Equity Police Reform Task Force. Jennifer Rakowski, who served on it with 50 other Alamedans, talks about one of its successes -- the Care Team -- and some of its unrealized goals.

She also tells us why she is an advocate for listening to families of victims of aggressive policing.