WUOT Airs New Series on the Working Poor
WUOT's Matt Shafer Powell and freelance producer Leslie Snow delve into the precarious world of East Tennesseans who struggle to make ends meet in a new series, Without a Net: Voices of the Working Poor, airing during Morning Edition Dec. 3-7.
The region's working poor represent a segment of the population often overworked and overlooked, proudly and quietly committing to an ideal in which the ability and desire to work is a fundamental element of character.
"The people I met are one step from disaster," Snow said. "If a car breaks down or if a utility bill is too high, it can be devastating. Some of the people I interviewed live below the poverty line; others make a little too much money to qualify for assistance programs, but not enough to make ends meet. So getting ahead becomes almost impossible."
Snow said the biggest problem initially was finding interview candidates. Lori Galbraith, senior program coordinator at the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC), was instrumental in helping connecting Snow with people willing to share their stories.
After producing the daily segments, Powell and Snow realized they had only begun to scratch the surface in terms of understanding the issues faced by the working poor. An hour-long special on Dec. 7 at noon will explore some of the issues raised in the daily pieces and will feature experts from CAC, a credit counseling service, a free medical clinic and the University of Tennessee.
"The working poor are our neighbors, siblings, cousins, and parents," Powell said. "They work at stores and in restaurants. They fix roads and cars, build homes and schools. They work very hard and don't expect anything more than a fair shot at the American Dream."
WUOT thanks CAC for its assistance with this project. Photos of the participants and the radio segments will be available on WUOT's website.
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Enter to Win: The Met: Live in HD
The contest to win passes to The Met: Live in HD's live and encore performances continues!
Congratulations to James and Nancy B. of Oak Ridge, and Glenn and Phyllis C. of Knoxville, who won passes during November's contest! We STILL have a few passes left to the ENCORE of La Clemenza di Tito at Tinseltown in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 6:30 p.m.! Want 'em? Enter to win passes to that and other shows, which include:
Un Ballo in Maschera
LIVE: Saturday, Dec. 8, 12:55 p.m.
ENCORE: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Aida
LIVE: Saturday, Dec. 15, 12:55 p.m.
ENCORE: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Les Troyens
LIVE: Saturday, Dec. 15, 12:55 p.m.
ENCORE: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m.
The deadline to enter is Wednesday, Dec. 4! Just send an e-mail to Cindy Hassil with this info:
- Name of the show
- Preferred theatre (West Town Mall 9 or Tinseltown)
- Date of the performance
- Your name, phone number and mailing address
Details about The Met: Live In HD, participating locations and tickets
* No purchase/donation is necessary to enter. Passes will be mailed to the winner using the address provided. If there is not adequate time to mail passes, the winner may pick them up at the station during regular business hours. We'll announce the winners (first name, last initial and city/state) in our monthly electronic newsletter, E-Notes.
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Holiday Programming
There are many special programs planned this month to celebrate the holiday season. Local highlights include Jazz for Tots on Friday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m.; the UT Holiday Choral Concert on Monday, the 17th, at 8 p.m.; and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Clayton Holiday Concert at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20.
Other specials include:
Candles Burning Brightly - More than two thousand years ago, in the days of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the religious life of the Jews was brought almost to a halt by the ancient Greeks. But rather than give in to the pressure to assimilate, a band of Jews who practiced their faith in secret returned to their holy city and rededicated the Temple. Their courageous act and its aftermath form the focus of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Sunday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
Handel's Messiah from Boston - No holiday season is complete without Handel's stunning oratorio, and one of Boston's most cherished holiday traditions: Music Director Harry Christophers leads the Handel & Haydn Society Period Instrument Orchestra, Chorus, and internationally-acclaimed soloists in Handel's complete dramatic masterwork, in the acoustic splendor of Boston's Symphony Hall. Sunday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m.
All holiday specials
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WUOT's Fall Fund Drive A Success!
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Publix donated 3,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. |
WUOT's Fall Fund Drive Nov. 12-19 was a huge success thanks to each and every person who pledged! Donors provide over 40% of our budget; in other words, we couldn't be on the air without you. Thank you for believing in public radio!
Here are the results:
- WUOT raised $201,549 during the fall drive, exceeding our goal!
- Because listeners made more than 400 pledges on Community Partnership Day, Publix donated 3,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee to help feed the hungry this holiday season
- Musician Bob Deck wrote a great song for Pet Pledge Day, which he has made free to download
- Thanks to supporters making more than 400 pledges on Pet Pledge Day, Mike from Knoxville donated 800 pounds of food to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley
- Karen Cragwall won the Lyle Lovett tickets. Congratulations!
- Dogs received more pledge "votes" than cats on Pet Pledge Day. Woof!
- isteners met Matt Shafer Powell's challenge, so he dressed up as a bunny and paraded around Market Square. See the photo below for proof!
- Robert Goodwin won the $500 gift card. Enjoy!
- About 110 volunteers collectively spent several hundred hours answering phones, sending out mailings, picking up donated food and providing other important administrative support.
However you donated, whenever you donated, we are grateful for and humbled by your support. Thank you for being loyal partners of this public radio station!
We also thank the following businesses, which generously supported WUOT during the drive:
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