It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed our public education system, forcing a dramatic and unprecedented shift to online learning. But some students were more impacted by this method of learning than others, among them the most vulnerable students. Students experiencing poverty, English language learners and those with special education needs faced more learning obstacles than others. What is the takeaway on the impact of distance learning on vulnerable students a year later? Find out in this episode of San Diego Conversations.

In the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd, activists marched and called for police reform in cities around the nation — San Diego included. The city implemented several reforms that summer, however, community members said the changes did not go far enough. Has anything changed more than seven months later? Find out in today's episode of "San Diego Conversations." www.kpbs.org/sandiegoconversations

Last spring, COVID-19 threw a monkey wrench in pretty much every aspect of life, including K-12 education. By the end of school last year, many agreed online classes weren’t cutting it. Have things improved? Find out in this podcast episode, a follow-up to “Close-Up on Distance Learning,” a Community Conversation hosted by KPBS and the National Conflict Resolution Center. www.kpbs.org/sandiegoconversations

Why the U.S. census is important and how the 2020 census has navigated a bumpy road, including kicking off during a pandemic. How did the census turn out, at least initially, for San Diego? This episode is an update of an earlier Community Conversation: “The Crucial Role of Census in a Pandemic Age.” Watch that conversation here: https://youtu.be/VAlRVYtK3WM www.kpbs.org/community-conversations

What a year, right? Just like everyone, KPBS has had to change how it's done some things since the pandemic started. One of these was to change its events series called "Community Conversations" from being in-person to virtual. We wanted to share some of these crucial conversations with you, and that's why we're bringing you this new podcast, "San Diego Conversations." Just like our live events, these are a collaboration with KPBS and the National Conflict Resolution Center. These will be conversations about issues central to our lives in the San Diego region. Things like the future of policing, the impact of distance learning on kids' and parents' lives, the crucial role of the census during a pandemic and more. You can subscribe to "San Diego Conversations" on your favorite podcast app, or by visiting https://www.kpbs.org/sandiegoconversations