"The Dressmaker of Khair Khana", Steve Babbitt, Yul Kwon

Dakota Midday - 04/10/2012

Dakota Midday is hosted by Karl Gehrke in Vermillion, SD.

In 2005, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon went to Afghanistan to report on a new generation of Afghan businesswomen who had emerged in the wake of the Taliban's takeover.  It wasn't easy, but she found Kamila Sidiqi, who learned to sew to support her family after father and brother had to flee for political reasons.  She eventually grew a sewing business out of her home, employing over 100 women from her neighborhood.  Lemmon tells the story in the book, "The Dressmaker of Khair Khana." She talks about the book and the importance of women entrepreneurs in difficult and war-torn regions.

Photographer Steve Babbitt grew up in the San Francisco Bay area.  For the past two decades he has lived and worked in the Black Hills, which has inspired much of his work.  Babbitt teaches photography at Black Hills State University and has an exhibit at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings.  He joins us for a conversation about his recent work and how digital cameras have made him a better photographer.

Yul Kwon is a television host and former government official, lawyer, and management consultant based in Virginia.  He first gained national recognition as the winner of the reality TV show Survivor: Cook Islands.  He is currently hosting America Revealed on PBS which premiers tomorrow night on SDPB-TV! 

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