The dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development — or USAID — by the president’s Department of Government Efficiency is having profound practical and political implications. We talk with foreign policy experts and two former foreign service officers about what the chaotic shutdown and the cessation of funding has meant to Americans and those they’re helping overseas.
Guests:
- Nevena Trajkov, political science department chair at Jacksonville University.
- Kelly McBride, former senior foreign service officer at USAID.
- Susan Reichle, former senior foreign service officer at USAID.
Then, a local artist is recognized for her extraordinary work. We ask the Jacksonville-based multidisciplinary visual artist about the inspiration for her vibrant paintings and what it means to be selected for the $20,000 Ann McDonald Baker Art Ventures award.
Guests:
- Marsha Hatcher, multidisciplinary visual artist.
- Amy Palmer, program director at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
And, there’s a new way to explore art in Downtown Jacksonville. A recently launched app combines bicycles, public art and local music. The lineup includes some of Jacksonville’s best-loved musicians, including John Lumpkin, Goliath Flores, Grant Nielsen, Cyrus Quaranta, Willie Evans Jr., Keith Kimball, Raquel Che (Love Culture), Ryan DeBuys and students from Jacksonville Music & Art School. Each song is paired with one of the city’s public art installations. We discuss the partnership between Art Bikes Jax and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville with one of the creators of the region’s first Orchestrated Mural Tour.
Guest:
- Ron Rothberg, owner of Art Bikes Jax.
