The Common Ground Initiative

commongroundpodcast

Writer Anthony Payton’s Common Ground Podcast, aims to highlight the diversity of our New Hampshire communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. This podcast is produced in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

  1. 11/17/2022

    EP 17: Q&A with MPAL Executive Director John Rainville

    From the outside, you’d think the colossal building on the corner of Beech and Lake street in Manchester is a police academy or substation with a formidable facade. But inside, there’s an elite-level boxing gym, a well-kept kitchen used for culinary arts classes, and a huge area for wrestling and Aikido classes. This is where MPAL looks to serve the 8,600 at-risk youth within a mile of the facility and beyond. John Rainville, executive director of MPAL, explains that there is magic when officers meet and interact with community members and their children. Listen as Anthony Payton interviews Rainville on the benefits and challenges of the MPAL program in Manchester, NH.  Anthony Payton is a freelance writer and father living in Manchester. He can be reached at anthony.payton@collaborativenh.org. This story is part of his project, The Common Ground Initiative which aims to highlight the diversity of our communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. The podcast is produced by Payton in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. The views expressed in this podcast are the hosts alone and do not necessarily reflect those of GSNC, its partners or The Marlin Fitzwater Center.

    10 min
  2. 10/11/2022

    S1E12 For At-Risk Kids, Seeing Death and Despair Up Close Starts Young; And Q&A w. MY TURN Executive Director Allison Joseph

    In part 1 of our series, “Avoiding Prison or an early Death,” I write about my experiences growing up as at-risk youth in Brooklyn, New York, and how decades later, in a different state, communities are facing these same issues.   In this column, I look at an effective organization in Manchester, MYTURN. MYTURN gives at-risk and disadvantaged youth the chance to focus on their goals and succeed in life. It provides mentorship and safe spaces for these young men and women to gain the skills and knowledge critical to becoming upwardly mobile members of society. I also spoke with a mentor who’s been involved in the criminal justice system and was at-risk himself.  For this interview, I also spoke with Allison Joseph, Executive Director of MYTURN.  Anthony Payton is a freelance writer and father living in Manchester. He can be reached at anthony.payton@collaborativenh.org. This story is part of his project, The Common Ground Initiative which aims to highlight the diversity of our communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. The podcast is produced by Payton in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. The views expressed in this podcast are the hosts alone and do not necessarily reflect those of GSNC, its partners or The Marlin Fitzwater Center.

    16 min
  3. 10/11/2022

    S1 E12: For At-Risk Kids, Seeing Death and Despair Up Close Starts Young; Intervention Must Start Young Too

    In part 1 of our series, “Avoiding Prison or an early Death,” I write about my experiences growing up as at-risk youth in Brooklyn, New York, and how decades later, in a different state, communities are facing these same issues.   In this column, I look at an effective organization in Manchester, MYTURN. MYTURN gives at-risk and disadvantaged youth the chance to focus on their goals and succeed in life. It provides mentorship and safe spaces for these young men and women to gain the skills and knowledge critical to becoming upwardly mobile members of society. I also spoke with a mentor who’s been involved in the criminal justice system and was at-risk himself.   Anthony Payton is a freelance writer and father living in Manchester. He can be reached at anthony.payton@collaborativenh.org. This story is part of his project, The Common Ground Initiative which aims to highlight the diversity of our communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. The podcast is produced by Payton in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. The views expressed in this podcast are the hosts alone and do not necessarily reflect those of GSNC, its partners or The Marlin Fitzwater Center.

    8 min
  4. 10/04/2022

    S1; E11: Media Should Be A Mirror To The Real New Hampshire; Q&A w. NHPR’s Daniela Allee

    While New Hampshire is still a predominantly white state, we are becoming more diverse like the rest of the country. As these communities grow, they need to have a representation and stories in both media and popular culture pertinent to them, their narrative and their voice. This representation needs to run the entire spectrum of news and entertainment, from newsrooms to beat reporters. There should be a pathway for them to have a seat at the decision-making table.  Their representation would likely show us stories about those local residents contributing to their communities, as opposed to the countless stories of illegal immigration. In this episode, Payton shares his thoughts and interviews NHPR reporter and editor Daniela Allee who leads the station's Spanish news initiative,  ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo, New Hampshire?  Anthony Payton is a freelance writer and father living in Manchester. He can be reached at anthony.payton@collaborativenh.org. This story is part of his project, The Common Ground Initiative which aims to highlight the diversity of our communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. The podcast is produced by Payton in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. The views expressed in this podcast are the hosts alone and do not necessarily reflect those of GSNC, its partners or The Marlin Fitzwater Center.

    19 min

About

Writer Anthony Payton’s Common Ground Podcast, aims to highlight the diversity of our New Hampshire communities with stories of people the average Granite Stater might not get to see or meet. The goal is to clarify misconceptions and find the threads that bind us all together as one New Hampshire community. This podcast is produced in partnership with The Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.