• Theo Hopestill reflects upon a non-binary life's perspective ... (Part 2)
    Apr 21 2025

    In the second part of our interview trans activist, artist & parent Theo Hopestill explores the range of terminology referring to transgender people. To wrap things up Theo discusses their artistic talents and activity with several long standing art-based businesses in Alameda.

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    19 mins
  • Theo Hopestill reflects upon a non-binary life's perspective ... (Part 1)
    Apr 17 2025

    In the first of a two-part interview Theo, who was assigned female at birth, is a mom and artist who lives in Alameda with their partner and 10-year-old son .. Theo Hopestill is a transgender activist who asserts: "It's important to make room for many different narratives of being queer."

    *coming soon* In a second follow up episode exploring the range of terminology for referring to transgender people we'll also hear from Theo about their artistic work in Alameda.

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    29 mins
  • A conversation with new Councilmember Greg Boller ..
    Apr 6 2025

    Elected to the Alameda City Council in 2024, Greg is a fifth-generation Alamedan who attended local schools, went on to obtain degrees in political science at UC Davis, law at Georgetown University, and public administration at Harvard University.

    Angie Watson-Hajjem interviews Mr Boller via Zoom ..

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    21 mins
  • Vice Mayor Michele Pryor speaks with Island City Beat
    Mar 31 2025

    Following a brief musical introduction our new Alameda City Council member & Vice Mayor Michele Pryor does her first interview here on our podcast.

    She talks about the need to face climate change, the housing crisis and the possibility of using public banking to support local financial resiliency .. and, of course, why she loves our island city.

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    20 mins
  • Meet Savanna Cheer of 'Transform Alameda' ..
    Mar 24 2025

    East Bay native Savanna Cheer came to Alameda in 2018, fell in love with our town & has been galvanized by local issues. She helped found the community group Transform in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing. Transform has challenged Alameda city officials around the tragic death of Mario Gonzales, helped form the city’s Guaranteed Income Program & pushed for a People's Budget for the city.

    Hear her perspective in this episode on these efforts & her vision of what Alameda can be.

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    28 mins
  • Island City Beat interviews Rev Michael Yoshii ..
    Mar 16 2025

    Angie Watson-Hajjem talks with pastor emeritus Michael Yoshii of Alameda's Buena Vista Uniited Methodist Church regarding his life and career - Hear Pastor Yoshii discuss his congregation's work with the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin. (starting at 18:53)

    Alameda City Council will consider a Sister City relationship between Alameda and the West Bank community of Wadi Foquin at this Tuesday's City Council meeting.

    https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7253612&GUID=AAE5FD41-5593-472A-88EC-1D4315342C43

    -- Update: The Alameda City Council voted on Tuesday, March 18th to delay a vote on the Wadi Foquin Sister City MOU.

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    45 mins