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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Friday, February 28

First hour: Discussing the rise in non-denominational Christians

Second hour: Patricia Wright on conservation and her work with lemurs

There’s been a rise in Americans who identify as atheist – or non-religious. But there’s also a rise in non-denominational Christians – many in their 20s and 30s. If you’re building a music playlist, you can now find curated lists under the title “Hipster Coffee Christians.” So what does that mean? What does it mean for denominational Christianity? Gallup finds that the number of Christians who identify as “nondenominational” has doubled since 2000. We explore the trends in our first hour. In studio:

  • Davis Craig, operations manager for Spiritus Christi Church
  • Josiah Ball, pastor at New Hope Community Church
  • Steve Carter, member of Grace Road Church
  • Abbey Sitterley, member of Grace Road Church, freelance writer, and local singer-songwriter

Then in our second hour, we sit down with Patricia Wright, a woman sometimes described as the Jane Goodall of lemurs. Wright’s work in Madagascar has led to a massive change in public understanding, conservation, and preservation. She’s had a long partnership with the Seneca Park Zoo, and this week she’s back in Rochester. We discuss how much has changed since the 1980s, and what the world can do next to preserve habitats, understand the impact of climate change, and more. In studio:

  • Patricia Wright, American primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist
  • Marissa Krouse, Polar Bears International
  • Jeff Wyatt, chair of the AZA Accreditation Commission, former veterinarian at the Seneca Park Zoo, and board member for Health in Harmony
  • Pamela Reed Sanchez, president and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.