Boston is a cultural hub for Caribbean communities, with people originally from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad, and other Caribbean countries, comprising nearly 9% of the city's population. The new Boston Caribbean American Association in Dorchester aims to unite these communities and promote year-round political and civic engagement.

Kwame Elias of the Boston Caribbean American Association joins The Common to discuss the coalition's goals and mission, and their strategies for engaging with local Caribbean communities.

Greater Boston’s daily podcast where news and culture meet.

Last Thursday, the Massachusetts House and Senate voted to pass a supplementary budget that will provide an additional $251 million to the family shelter system. It also imposed a maximum of nine months stay limit for current families living in the state's emergency shelters, with certain people eligible for an extension waiver. Now, the bill awaits Governor Maura Healey’s signature.

Today, The Boston Globe's political reporter Samantha J. Gross joins The Common to discuss the reasons behind the nine-month stay limit and how the state plans to spend the additional money on the family shelter system.

Greater Boston’s daily podcast where news and culture meet.

We're going to be upfront with you.

Last week was a hard one at WBUR.

On Wednesday it was announced that the station would be cutting up to 14% of its staff through buyouts and layoffs in an attempt to reduce the station’s expenses by $4 million. This comes after a significant drop in underwriting revenue in recent years, adding to the trend of personnel cuts at public radio stations across the country in recent months.

WBUR Investigative Correspondent Todd Wallack has been covering WBUR's financial struggles. He joins The Common to discuss what is behind the cuts, and what lies ahead for the station. Also, host Darryl C. Murphy makes an announcement about upcoming changes to the show.

Greater Boston’s daily podcast where news and culture meet.