219West CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

On this edition of 219 West, we find ingenuity and creativity flourishing in New York: from computerized dogs working to keep first responders safe, to artists shrinking their creations to the size of a pea and indigenous Mexican craftswomen weaving their way into the New York market to a new sport on the city’s courts. After all that, hang ten at the Rockaway Beach, where surfers gather from all over the world.

This show features a number of immigrant stories: street vendors fighting for licenses to sell their goods, a CUNY student who wrote a picture book about her migration story and the love Latinos have for the only professional soccer team in New York. Plus, a look at the story of Bronx Fashion and a new way to snuggle with puppies.

In this episode, we dive into how vulnerable women are taking their power back, in creative ways, to highlight struggles they face

We'll meet people from all walks of life who have encountered many challenges. Those challenges go from alopecia areata, gender transition, body sizes, gun violence. We also report on people with an unusual hobby. We experience their fight for acceptance and resilience. Now they have the potential to impact someone and inspire others to live authentically. We also visit the international food fest known as Smorgarsburg.

As spring settles in, this edition of 219West looks at the spiritual journey of a young Muslim woman celebrating Ramadan in her own special way. And, with cases rising, we meet a man struggling with lingering symptoms of COVID-19. A so-called long hauler with trouble breathing more than one year after getting sick, Rohan Bright's story is a reminder to continue protecting ourselves, On the fun side of spring, we visit Luna Park, take a virtual ride through New York City and pay tribute to cherry blossoms.

Our March edition of 219 West celebrates the city, with profiles of two collectors with unusual interests - one who sifts through garbage looking for discarded treasures; the other, a Tiktok star with a roomful of human bones. We also visit two museum exhibitions. The Brooklyn Library celebrates New York's Indigenous heritage with art by the Lenape People. And a show at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens investigates the history and future of "Deep Fakes," videos altered so well they look real. We ask: can you believe your eyes?