What do we do next?
What do we do next?
Podcast Description
Are you completely overwhelmed by the news cycle and find yourself just looking for direction, guidance, a plan and a semblance of hope? Finding yourself unsure of how to communicate with friends, family and professional relationships but feel compelled to do more? You are in the right place. The goal of this podcast is to give you actionable advice to empower you and enable you to empower others. It's not breaking news, you get enough of that. Together we will find a path forward by having conversations that move the needle and give us all the direction we are looking for. whatdowedonext.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of empowerment, community action, and political engagement, with episodes delving into topics such as local elections, the intricacies of immigration law, and navigating personal and parental conversations around sensitive issues. Specific episodes include deep discussions on running for office, engaging with local governance, and understanding the stakes of immigration terminology.
Are you completely overwhelmed by the news cycle and find yourself just looking for direction, guidance, a plan and a semblance of hope? Finding yourself unsure of how to communicate with friends, family and professional relationships but feel compelled to do more? You are in the right place. The goal of this podcast is to give you actionable advice to empower you and enable you to empower others. It’s not breaking news, you get enough of that. Together we will find a path forward by having conversations that move the needle and give us all the direction we are looking for.
On today’s episode of What Do We Do Next? I sat down with Annemarie Cuccia, the editor in chief of Street Sense Media—a remarkable nonprofit street paper in Washington, D.C., that amplifies the voices of people experiencing homelessness.
Annemarie and I talk about what’s really happening on D.C.’s streets right now—from recent government encampment clearings to the ongoing struggles so many face just to find safety and stability. She shares how Street Sense is helping to rewrite the narrative around homelessness—turning stigma into understanding, and isolation into opportunity.
What I love about this conversation is how it shines a light on the human side of homelessness: the resilience, the creativity, and the deep desire for connection that too often gets overlooked. Annemarie also opens up about how Street Sense Media’s model offers more than just income for its vendors—it builds community, restores dignity, and gives people a voice in shaping their own stories.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference for people experiencing homelessness—or what it actually takes to create long-term change—this episode will leave you thinking differently about what community really means.
Chapters:00:00 – Introduction00:10 – “Street Sense: More Than a Paper”03:18 – Understanding Homelessness Misconceptions08:29 – Displacement Impact from Police Sweeps10:24 – “Non-Congregate Shelters’ Privacy Appeal”13:33 – “Community-Centered Storytelling Advantage”19:11 – “Street Sense’s Positive Impact”22:57 – Online Updates: Homelessness and Policy News25:17 – “Encouraging Support for Street Sense”26:45 – Outro
Quotes:“I see our role as providing real, quality, empathetic, understanding information both to people who are experiencing homelessness or are low income.”- Annemarie Cuccia
“We all need help sometimes, and storytelling is the best way for us to truly see one another and inspire change.”- Molly Ruland
Key Takeaways:Street Sense Media’s MissionImpact of the D.C. TakeoverMisconceptions About HomelessnessShelter Solutions and ProgressSupporting Vendors and CommunityWays to Get Involved
Connect with Annemarie Cucciawebsite: https://streetsensemedia.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/streetsensedc/Twitter: https://x.com/streetsensedc /Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/streetsensedc
Call To ActionPlease consider joining our Substack to help us get this message to as many people as possible. Podcast on News and Politics – What We Do We Do Next
Produced byHeartcast Media
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