June 20, 2011 – Hour 2

In this hour, Marc takes a look at the upcoming Roots Fest, which seeks to unite the West Baltimore community through a celebration of arts and culture. The free, outdoor festival will be held over the “Highway to Nowhere,” Route 40, which has divided the West Baltimore community for decades. Our panel today will discuss the implications and effects of efforts, like the Roots Fest, to bring together communities in Baltimore.

We’re joined by:

Dr. Randy Rowel – Associate Professor in the Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy

Ashley Milburn – Co-executive Director of the Culture Works Project & 2007 OSI Fellow

Denise Johnson – Co-executive Director of the Culture Works Project, a local arts & culture program

Carlton Turner – Executive Director of Alternate Roots

Sheila Gaskins – Director of the play “Last House Standing” – a play, being performed at Roots Fest, about the displacement of West Baltimore residents by the “Highway to Nowhere”