Hand Her The Mic

We're back with new artwork, new theme music, and most importantly, another incredible conversation with movement leader and entrepreneur, Kristina Dove of Community Power Consulting. Kristina wrote a powerful piece in Zora (linked below) about her path as a Black woman leader at a progressive nonprofit. She shares what inspired her to do the work and strike out on her own. Edited by Erica Hernandez

To close out Women's History Month, we spoke to ReproJobs, a worker advocacy organization in the reproductive justice, rights, and health movement. Luna (not her real name) has been elevating and amplifying the concerns and calls to action on behalf of marginalized folks in a sector controlled by white feminists for decades. We're at a historical crossroads with regards to women of color and NBPOC in the workplace and the work done by ReproJobs has been critical to get us to this moment. (Note: Luna's voice has been modified to conceal her identity.)

Last year tested women of color activists, but also validated their collective wisdom. We hosted a powerful year-end conversation with movement leaders, Kratina Baker, Kortni Malone, and Cristela Solorio Ruiz. We discussed how 2020 impacted each of them and how to strengthen the fragile solidarity amongst us. 

After the "American Dirt" controversy and the police murder of George Floyd, the publishing industry has faced a reckoning for its dismal record on internal diversity and the failure to publish diverse voices. As one of the few Black executives, Krishan Trotman shares her experience both as an editor and published author. We also discuss the genesis of her book, "The Queens of the Resistance," which profiles Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, and Nancy Pelosi. 

Gaylon Alcaraz, a Chicago-based advocate, shares how her early work experiencing and fighting gentrification led to a lifetime of working for Black and brown women, girls, and nonbinary folks. Our conversation highlights the mostly white women leaders at feminist and reproductive rights organizations that pushed out women of color, essentially gentrifying the movement, while marketing themselves as racial justice champions.

Democrats have failed to fully embrace the racial diversity of their base even in the Trump era. We discussed that and more with MSNBC analyst and author of the "The End of White Politics," Zerlina Maxwell. She shares her own political journey from local organizer to presidential campaign adviser to nationally-known pundit. 

As womxn of color seek to create their own spaces and ventures to free themselves from white supremacy in the workplace, we're excited to introduce Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital and Alex Batdorf of Get Sh!t Done. They've created environments where they live their values unapologetically and foster future leaders.

Even before Stonewall, Black trans women have led the movement for change. We're thrilled to introduce you to LaSaia Wade, an open Afro-Puerto Rican indigenous trans woman and the Executive Director of the Brave Space Alliance. We discuss the current moment and the long overdue recognition of the radical Black political framework.

An activist, facilitator, and storyteller, Mia Birdsong has collected stories of building relationships in a fragmented society that prizes individualism in her new book, "How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community." We also tackle how Black women specifically have had to do the work of building community, but white women get the glory.

The coronavirus hit right when organizers started census and antiracist initiatives. In this episode, we'll hear from leaders in Chicago's Chinatown: Grace Chan McKibben of Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) and People Matter's Consuela Hendricks and Angela Lin. 

Now more than ever, we need to elevate folks who have toiled for better conditions for the undocumented and those living on the margins. We discussed the importance of immigrant leaders and more in our enlightening conversation with Sayu Bhojwani, President of New American Leaders.

While organizations preach solidarity, few achieve it and even fewer know what it takes. We're excited to introduce you to Deepa Iyer, Director of Solidarity Is and host of the "Solidarity Is This" podcast, to discuss her work and how we move forward.

Racial disparities in healthcare have become even more pronounced during this coronavirus outbreak. We explore the intersection of race, gender, and class with Professor Ruqaiijah Yearby of the St. Louis University School of Law and Institute for Healing Justice and Equity.

The coronavirus outbreak has made the case for universal healthcare even more compelling. We're honored to speak with the President-Elect of Physicians for a National Health Program, Dr. Susan Rogers, who spent her career at public hospitals in Cook County and at the Veterans Administration.

We're thrilled to introduce you to Amanda Reyes, Executive Director of Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion fund and reproductive justice organization headquartered in Alabama. In a bonus segment, Amanda shares the history of abortion bans.

We're profiling womxn of color running against entrenched incumbents in Illinois. Kina Collins, U.S. House candidate for IL-07, and Syamala Krishnamsetty, IL House candidate for the 40th District, share why they're running and the how the party apparatus hurts communities of color. Video of this conversation can be found on our new YouTube channel.

Sheri Flanders, improviser, writer, and critic, came to the very first Hand Her the Mic gathering back in 2017, so we were thrilled to welcome her back for our very first multimedia episode. She talked about her visit to Park City as part of the Sundance Press Inclusion Initiative. Video of this conversation will be posted on our new YouTube channel.

To celebrate Black History Month, we had the honor of speaking with Essence McDowell, co-author of "Lifting As They Climbed: Mapping a History of Black Women on Chicago's South Side." Powerful figures like Ida B. Wells-Barnett left behind an inspiring legacy that the book brings to life.

We're excited to share our powerful and inspiring conversation with Minda Harts, workplace expert and author of "The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table." 

Dr. Paru Shah, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joins us to share her research on women of color running for public office and the institutional barriers they face. Recorded 12/17/19.

We're excited to introduce you to cofounder and Executive Director of the New Georgia Project, Nse Ufot, named a "Woman of Color in Politics to Watch" for 2020 by Elle.

Our inaugural episode features social entrepreneur and civic innovator, Kat Calvin, discussing voter suppression and turnout plus what it's like running a nonprofit as a Black woman founder.

Hand Her The Mic will launch this month centering the voices of women and gender nonconforming folks of color in politics and activism, hosted by Sameena Mustafa.