Think Out Loud

Immigrant Army Recruit | Amazon Organics | Puerto Rico | Mental Health Shelter

By Jenn Chávez (OPB), Sage Van Wing (OPB) and and Andrew Dorn (OPB)
Oct. 5, 2017 6:15 p.m.
A pile of ripe apples

A pile of ripe apples

Baynard Bailey / Flickr 

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  • A U.S. Army enlistment program designed to recruit immigrants with specialized skills in exchange for expedited citizenship has been put on hold, leaving many recruits in limbo. In September, hundreds of enlistment contracts under the program were canceled. We speak with former Oregon recruit Ranj Rafeeq, originally from Iraq, who fled to Canada earlier this summer in fear of being deported if his enlistment contract was canceled.
  • We talk with Desmond O'Rourke, an agricultural economist and global fruit market analyst, about what Amazon's recent acquisition of Whole Foods will mean for the organic produce market.

  • Christy Delafield of Mercy Corps joins us from Puerto Rico to discuss the organization's role in ongoing relief efforts there in response to Hurricane Maria.
  • Multnomah County has been awarded a $2 million grant to help reduce racial disparities in jails. One way they plan on doing this: opening a shelter aimed at African-American women with mental health issues.


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THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: