Raíces Verdes

Erica & Niria are two Chicanas from the Northwest organizing mutual aid efforts for members of the Talent, Phoenix and Medford community who lost everything due to the recent #Almedafires. Specifically, they are raising funds to support Latinx & immigrant community members who were previously residing in mobile homes and were severely affected by the fires. In this episode we discussed the environmental implications & injustices on BIPOC when disasters occur, and how mutual aid rooted in community care is the most effective way for our communities to stay resilient. To support their organizing efforts visit: bit.ly/latinxrelief

Latinidad, or the Latinx identity is messy. But we need to talk about the messiness of it so we can be critical of what we mean when say we want diversity in the "environmental movement", in people leading the work of sustainability. Within the Latinx community, who is most impacted by environmental injustices? Is it our Black-Latinx community members, Indigenous people? What is a White-Latinx and where is all this nuance coming from? I hope this episode sparks conversation and something comes out of these messy thoughts on a messy subject

Chiyokten of the Saanich tribe shares medicine through the form of storytelling and reminds us that we have a choice in how we are in relationship with land, water and everything else on this earth. To support their work visit https://protectorsofthesalishsea.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ProtectorsOfTheSalishSea/

Gabrielle Felder is a freelance graphic designer, social media artist, and culture critic. Originally from Orange County, California, Gabrielle currently lives in Portland with her fiance. After beginning her master’s degree in Environmental Health at University of Washington, Gabrielle realized that her true passions lie in art & design, writing, marketing, and activism. She is the creator of the social media platform on Instagram @gfx_prints, which sparked the topic of this episode, focusing on "Radical Black Ecology".

Ki’Amber Thompson is a queer Blaxicana educator, organizer, artist, and entrepreneur from the West Side of San Antonio. Since graduating from Pomona College in 2018 she’s done environmental justice work in Flint, Michigan through the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Michigan and spent a year in Washington, D.C. doing policy, research, and storytelling work with the Ocean Conservancy. Ki’Amber is the Founder and Director of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, an outdoor healing justice program for youth of incarcerated parents in San Antonio.

A soundtrack featuring the Earth stories of 6 BIPOC and their healing journey with land and water. Slow down, take a moment to rest and reflect on your own Earth story as you listen to the soundtrack. Thank you to Paul, Carol, Hannah, John Wesley and Jasmmine for allowing me to record their stories and be part of this work. Special thank you to @_carina.carina for the cover art, and @paliboyoriginal for the music featured in the podcast. Below you can find more information about the participants: https://protectorsofthesalishsea.org/ https://www.facebook.com/yesfarmofficial/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/seattle-bipoc-organic-food-bank-fund https://www.rashawnna-at-klove4art.com/ https://msha.ke/jase.the.crone/

Ashley Abena* Arhin (she/her)| *(Uh-bin-uh) Born and raised in unceded Duwamish Territory also known as Seattle Washington, Abena is a Black woman of Ghanaian decent with kinship in the In-land Ashanti and Coastal Fante tribes. She received her Bachelors Degree from Western Washington University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Education and Social Justice in 2018. Entitled “Understanding Black Connections to Land and Place through Anti-Blackness in the United States” she spent her 4 years in undergrad creating her own major of study; unpacking how environmental injustice came to be within differing Black communities, learning Black environmental ways of knowing and being, and the importance of self actualized education that is culturally responsive in the wake of enslavement.

Kadiatou(Ka-djah-tou)Balde is a 22-year-old Black Guinean-American Muslim womxn. She’s a social architect with a passion for BI&POC community-based sustainability and entrepreneurship - rooted in Islam. Upon graduating last May, she worked with 12 different non-profit organizations as a Diversity in Arts Leadership intern, where she learned the importance of BI&POC solutions and leadership that led to her co-creation of Faithfully Sustainable. To follow her work check out @faithfully_sustainable on Instagram

Zainab Koli is an Indian American Muslim woman whose work sits at the intersection of sustainable fashion, community organizing, and Islam. She is the Co-Founder of two Muslim community organizations, Faithfully Sustainable and NY MSA Showdown. She plans to continue bringing together her background in fashion design and product development and community organizing to build just fashion systems free from social and environmental exploitation by centering the voices and solutions of BIPOC communities. She is currently on a journey of learning about social and environmental justice internally within Islam, her community, family, and culture. Zainab is also looking forward to beginning her Masters in Environmental Policy and Sustainability in the Fall, despite her skepticism of academia. IG: @faithfullysustainable

Cassandra Tejada is a promoter of sustainable fashion and sustainable living. She sets out to take up space within the sustainable fashion community as a Muslim, Dominican, Peruvian, Colombian women. Cassandra shares her own modest and sustainable style and Islamic lifestyle on various online platforms, and she is also an aspiring entrepreneur who is working towards launching a sustainable, modest clothing line. IG: @cassandra_laflor TikTok: @cassandra_laflor YouTube: Cassandra La Flor

Aleyda or Mari for her familia, is from a small town near Guadalajara, Mexico. She graduated from Fairhaven College with an Interdisciplinary major titled “Solidarity Across borders: Understanding Experiences and Imagining New Realities through Storytelling” and a minor in Education and Social Justice. Aleyda is the content curator for Raices Press, a platform to find book recommendations, book reviews, and writing events. Raices Press has a strong focus on social justice and highlighting writing by Black, Indigenous, People of Color to address the White-dominated publishing industry. In this episode we discussed her use of the word "raices" in her platform and how it it connects to her purpose for writing and sharing stories. Aleyda also gifted the podcast a reading of one of her poem's "La Niña del Maiz", which speaks to directly to the idea of raices verdes, and her family's connection to the environment. To read the poem visit the following page: https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/raices-press-healing-through-storytelling/ Raices Press: https://www.instagram.com/raices_press/

From life transitions, COVID-19, ecofascism and all things healing, I wanted to share with you all some chisme. New episodes are coming, because I believe more than ever this is the time to archive and share our stories as Black, Indigenous, People of Color. We are here, we been here, and we will exist in the future. For COVID-19 resources go to https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/resources/covid-19/

In this episode, I interviewed Dario Castellon for the second time as part of the series featuring the artists of Raíces Verdes. Dario is the visual artist for the podcast, and a colleague from my time at Huxley College of the Environment, where we both received a B.A in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development. For this episode, Dario and I spoke about our experiences in the predominantly white and cis-male dominated field that is Urban Planning. As Black, Indigenous, People of Color, how can we take up space in a field that affects so many of our livelihoods?To learn more about Urban Planning and Spatial Justice, check-out the resources in Raíces Verdes website by clicking the link below: https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/resources/urban-planning-spatial-justice/

Sofian Mahmoud is a Palestinian-American creative, and musician born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, that goes by the name Paliboy Original. He is the artist behind the music you listen to during the introduction of the podcast, and recently won Western Washington University’s Freestyle Rap Battle competition hosted by AS Productions and Revival Events. In 2019 they led a workshop titled "Palestinian Indigeneity: Borders & Displacement" alongside their colleague and friend Saniah Naim at the National MEChA Conference in UCLA. Sofian’s musical inspiration comes from the many countries and communities he’s had the privilege of traveling to, and he dedicates this episode to his Siti that passed away last year before being able to return to her indigenous homeland. For resources on Palestine's liberation movement and how to support their fight visit https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/holy-olives-imperialism/

In the last episode of the series, "Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment", I interviewed my mentor and close friend Simón Sedillo. Simón teaches geopolitics and political economy and he also coordinates a study abroad program in Oaxaca, Mexico for native students from the USA. To access Simón's work about the effects of and community based resistance to neoliberalism, militarism, and white supremacy visit https://elenemigocomun.net/. If you are interested in bringing Simón Sedillo to your campus for a workshop or panel, feel free to contact the podcast through Instagram or raicesverdespodcast@gmail.com for a full resume and Simon's contact information!

In the second episode of the new series, "Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment", I had the pleasure of interviewing my former roommate and close friend Cindy Marquina-Negrete. Cindy is a fearless-ish indocumentada born in Mexico City with familial roots in Oaxaca, Guerrero & Morelos. She was raised in the Bay Area for 13 years before moving to Tukwila, WA. Currently she resides in Bellingham, WA where she'll be graduating in the Spring with a degree in Human Services. In this episode we discuss Aztlan, border abolition and the movement for giving land back to Indigenous people.

Ane Leon Guerrero, is a Xicana -Michoacana from Oregon, currently living in Seattle, with a Masters in Higher Education. She enjoys creating and supporting the arts, specifically arts by and for QTPOC. But most importantly she works on cultivating community with other women of color. In Episode #1 of Season II, Ane and I discuss Chicanismo, Indigeneity, and how these identities become more complex as we think about their construction under certain geographical spaces. For more resources on the history of the Chicanx movement, visit https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/intro-to-season-ii-new-series/

Welcome back to Season II of Raíces Verdes ! In this episode I give an update on what I have been up to since November of 2019, and where Season II is headed. The new season will premier on February 4th, 2020 with a new series. Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment will be a series composed of 3 episodes featuring guest speakers. They all will speak on their own experience with the Chicanx identity, their indigenous ancestry and how all these identities connect to their raíces verdes. In this introduction episode I talk about my own connection to the Chicana and P'urhepecha identity, and why I decided to launch this series. For more resources on the history of the Chicano movement, refer to the links in our website: https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/intro-to-season-ii-new-series/

Bonus Episode! Although it's especially important to affirm Indigenous resilience on all "holidays" that promote White supremacy against Indigenous people, EVERY DAY IS STILL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY! This special almost 2hr long episode centers around Chris, his family, and their independent film titled "Uncolonized". Together we discuss the education system and it's effects on Native people, solidarity across Native peoples such as the displaced people of Palestine, relationships to land and water, and so much more. This episode has a lot of information & emotions to unpack so please take your time listening & reflecting. A break is created in the middle of the episode so you can take care of your needs. Below is a link to the official trailer of "Uncolonized". For more information on how to support the film by organizing a showing, getting in contact with Chris, or further resources on Indigenous resilience please email us at raicesverdespodcast@gmail.com Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q2UuwNhAvg *Trailer available in Spanish & French

Craig Freeland is an environmental educator who recently graduated from Denison University. In this bonus episode for Raíces Verdes, Craig shares his love for the Cartoon Network show "Craig of the Creek", a show centering the experiences of a Black boy exploring the outdoors.

After 10 episodes, Season 1 of Raíces Verdes has come to a wrap! Listen to this short recap of the episodes, learn about a fundraising for the podcast and what to look forward from Raíces Verdes!!

Mia is a nursing student at Michigan State University, who also studies Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. In Episode #10, Mia discusses her research on a new type of food system she is calling "hospital based food system initiatives". As a nursing student, Mia acknowledges the purchasing power hospitals have, and believes this wealth should be used to address the health and food insecurity patients face across communities. To learn more about her work and established initiatives listen in!

Liana Bloom studied Medical Anthropology and Global Health with a minor in Nutrition from the University of Washington. She is currently working in the research and healthcare industries in preparation for medical school. In Episode #9 Liana discusses her experience shadowing doctors in clinics near Spokane, Washington and the connection to rural environments and health disparities.

Daniella Navarro is a health educator for Sea Mar, a community health clinic in Washington state, with a background in Biology, Cultural Anthropology, Education and Social Justice. In Episode #8 we discuss the intersection between the health of immigrants in the United States and their environmental displacement. As daughters of immigrants, we can only speak on our experiences as first-generation U.S citizens, and our experience working and living with immigrant communities.

"Health is wealth my babies" - Alexis Hamilton. In Episode #7 "Farming As Generational Wealth", Alexis shares with us a bit about working with Growing Hope an urban farm collective in Michigan serving predominantly Black and Brown families.

Tiffany Pauls is rising senior at Davidson College in North Carolina, with roots in Maryland. In this episode she discusses her experience studying sustainability abroad, in connection to climate justice.

Alanna Miyashiro is an Indigenous Hawaiian scholar, at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, Honolulu. In this episode we discuss the current manifestations happening at Mauna Kea, Hawaii in oposition to the development of a Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the Indigenous sacred lands. Below are resources to donate and support the protection of Mauna Kea by it's Natives people: https://www.puuhuluhulu.com https://org.salsalabs.com/o/2699/donate_page/aloha-aina-support-fund https://www.paypal.me/HULINVDA https://www.instagram.com/protectmaunakea/

Episode 3 highlights the thesis work of Jazlyn Marcos, founder and editor in chief of Generation Eco(http://generationeco.me). Her undergrad thesis focuses on ethical clothing, and the barriers university students face in understanding and participating in ethical consumption of clothing.

In this episode, Nina Tran a queer first-generation student of color discusses the different experiences in her life that have made them reject at times the environmentalist label. What defines an environmentalist? Do you as a person of color identify as an environmentalist?

In this episode, our guest of honor is Dario Castellon, the creator of Raíces Verde's artwork. Together we discuss what it is like living in diaspora and how it affects the memories of our ancestral lands. Would leaving the United States, and returning to Mexico guarantee us a more "green" lifestyle?

For the introduction episode to Raíces Verdes, I will be discussing what it means to be a Fresa de Rancho, and why I chose the name Raíces Verdes for the podcast!