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Seg. 1: Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. Seg. 2: Mosquitos. Seg. 3: Karen Lisondra.

Segment 1: Meet Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.

He's a screenwriter and producer who is originally from KCK. Last week, he was in a photo of black creatives in Hollywood that went viral. Hear his story — and how that photo changed how some people see race in the industry.

  • Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, Executive Producer of "S.W.A.T." on CBS

Segment 2, beginning at 17:56: Mosquito experts swarm KC.

If you could decimate the mosquito population, would you? Mosquito experts are in townto grapple with some pressing mosquito questions. We talk to one scientist who has been reprogramming mosquito genetics.

Segment 3, beginning at 37:30: A local theater director tells her own story.

This week, The Storytelling Project is on stage at UMKC. Karen Lisondra tells us how her own world travels has influenced her work in KC.

People don't make cameos in news stories; the human story is the story, with characters affected by news events, not defined by them. As a columnist and podcaster, I want to acknowledge what it feels like to live through this time in Kansas City, one vantage point at a time. Together, these weekly vignettes form a collage of daily life in Kansas City as it changes in some ways, and stubbornly resists change in others. You can follow me on Twitter @GinaKCUR or email me at gina@kcur.org.
Matthew Long-Middleton has been a talk-show producer, community producer, Media Training Manager and now the Community Engagement Manager at KCUR. You can reach him at Matthew@kcur.org, or on Twitter @MLMIndustries.