The Giving State - Black Girls Code

When I learned about Black Girls Code, I knew I had to pay them a visit. BGC is a non-profit organization in San Francisco that teaches girls as young as seven about programming, robotics, math, science, and engineering. This is another in The California Report's ongoing series about volunteers in California, called The Giving State. (Photo courtesy of Black Girls Code.)

Bike Party Shares the Road With Kids

As a cyclist, I've always been impressed by families who ride together. I see a lot of parents commuting with their kids, using various attachments and trailers. It all looks a little complicated to me, but I really admire their commitment to green transportation. So, I decided to check out the East Bay Bike Party's family friendly spinoff ride, called Geared for Kids. I filed this story for The California Report at KQED.

A Team Sport for the Visually Impaired

There's a basketball court at a park near my house, and sometimes when I ride my bike past, there are people out there playing basketball in their wheelchairs. This got me interested in doing a piece on team sports for folks with disabilities. I found out that the games were a program of the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program, or BORP, and started exploring the other programs they run. This is how I discovered goalball, which is a team sport for people with visual impairments. When I checked out a scrimmage, I was really impressed with their athleticism, and even got to talk to a Paralympian while I was there. This piece originally aired on The California Report on KQED.

California Songs - Raashan Ahmad's "Oakland"

I interviewed my old friend Raashan Ahmad for The California Report's series "California Songs." The song "Oakland" is off his 2009 album, Soul Power.

The Giving State - Creative Growth

This piece was produced for The California Report at KQED in San Francisco. It's part of The Giving State, a series on volunteers in California. Laura Jaeger volunteers at Creative Growth, an art studio for developmentally handicapped adults in Oakland.

The Giving State - Spokeland

Spokeland is a volunteer-run bicycle co-op in Oakland. I've visited many times, and have learned how to overhaul my bottom bracket, repack my hubs, true my wheels, adjust my derailleurs, and do a bunch of other stuff. My favorite time to come work on my bike is during women's & trans only shop time, which is when I interviewed Senta Burke about why she volunteers at Spokeland. This piece was produced for The California Report's series about volunteers in California, called "The Giving State."