State of Inclusion

In this episode, we'll meet Andrew Assuah, a teacher from Ghana who has come to Greenville to teach French in our public school system. In our discussion, Andrew will share about his dreams for himself and his family as well as the principles he lives by. He'll also give us a glimpse into the differences between how American children and Ghanaian children view their education. Welcome to this very special series, New Roots, New Voices: Listening to Our Immigrant Neighbors, where we will listen to and lift up the voices and stories of local immigrants here in Greenville, South Carolina. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.This immigration series is done in partnership and collaboration with Village Engage and Greenville Immigration and Faith Coalition.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page. 

In this episode, we'll meet Maria Beltran, an immigrant from Ecuador, and a paralegal who works every day on behalf of local immigrants. You'll quickly realize, as I did, that Maria is a force, a person who gets things done, someone anyone would be happy to have by their side. Welcome to this very special series, New Roots, New Voices: Listening to Our Immigrant Neighbors, where we will listen to and lift up the voices and stories of local immigrants here in Greenville, South Carolina. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.This immigration series is done in partnership and collaboration with Village Engage and Greenville Immigration and Faith Coalition.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page. 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing two Afghan sisters. They share about the artwork they did for this project and also offer a view into the challenges they and other girls have faced in their home country of Afghanistan. They also offer wisdom about how our community should think about immigrants and refugees, as well as how we can become better allies.Welcome to this very special series, New Roots, New Voices: Listening to Our Immigrant Neighbors, where we will listen to and lift up the voices and stories of local immigrants here in Greenville South Carolina. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.This immigration series is done in partnership and collaboration with Village Engage and Greenville Immigration and Faith Coalition.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page. 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing four Afghan youth. In their voices we hear the beautiful energy and resilience of the young, even ones who have left so much behind. We will learn a little about their journey and the dreams they have for their future.Welcome to this very special series, New Roots, New Voices: Listening to Our Immigrant Neighbors. where we will listen to and lift up the voices and stories of local immigrants here in Greenville South Carolina. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.This immigration series is done in partnership and collaboration with Village Engage and Greenville Immigration and Faith Coalition.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page. 

Welcome to this very special series, New Roots, New Voices: Listening to Our Immigrant Neighbors. where we will listen to and lift up the voices and stories of local immigrants here in Greenville South Carolina. In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ziad Namouz, a beautiful and generous soul who shares a little of his heritage and culture every day through food. Ziad is one of the founders and owners of the Pita House Restaurant and Grocery, a place I've visited for years,. This interview is a reminder of how much richer our sense of community can be when we take the time to make a personal connections with those we see and interact with regularly. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page. 

This week, we'll hear three different voices from my home state of South Carolina. Listen in as we hear from Laura Hornby with Welcome English Language Learners of Greenville and Interface Ministries, Matt Rollins of First Baptist Greenville, and Dulce López from the South Carolina ACLU. Each of these individuals personally lives out their commitment to loving their immigrant neighbors, providing pathways and opportunities for others to join them and act as well.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page.  

If you are concerned about the safety and well-being of immigrant neighbors in your community, this episode is for you. If you're unsure about what you can personally do and how you can be a better ally, this episode, along with our next episode, is for you. In this episode, we'll hear from Emanuel Gomez Gonzales with Siembra North Carolina. Siembra NC is a team of people taking concrete steps in their community to make a difference in the lives of their immigrant neighbors and friends. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page.  

In this episode, I'll take you along with me on some of my local journeys as others and I work to build a more inclusive and equitable community right where we live.  This is the first in a series of episodes where we explore what it means to practice Self Work and GroundWork on the issue of immigration justice. At a time when our nation feels so divided on this issue, you'll hear how a small group of community members is working to make a difference by starting "close in."Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work, please visit our Support Us page.   

If you're concerned about the state of equity and inclusion in your community and across the country, this episode is for you. And if you're wondering what to do in the face of all the attacks and uncertainty, this episode is for you. We don't pretend to have all the answers to these big questions, but in this episode, we will hear from five guests about how they are feeling, about their big concerns, and what keeps them hopeful. I'll also share my own perspectives on this challenging time and what it means for me and for the work of State of Inclusion.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

In this episode, we'll dig into the idea of civic health--what it is, how you can measure it, and what North Carolina has learned from measuring their state's civic health. Along the way, we'll also discover an approach to create a breakthrough on issues that divide us by using a tool called deliberative dialog, and we'll learn how North Carolina is developing their next generation of citizens and civic leaders. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

In this episode, we'll hear about one person's journey to nurture connection and community in their hometown and about using Civic Saturdays as a vehicle to bring people together. Along the way, we'll explore stories and insights that remind us all just how important a sense of community can be. We'll also share a few ideas about what we can do to foster and grow community in our own backyard. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

In November, Emma Winiski and I led a breakout session at the Government Alliance on Race and Equity annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Our Session was titled Building for All: Connecting Inclusive Practices to Improve the Built Environment and Beyond. In this episode, you'll hear an overview of our Six Practices for Building a More Inclusive Community, and Emma will share how Oklahoma City applies Inclusive Practices to its built environment. If you link to the detailed show notes, there is also a video version of our presentation that includes the slides.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help us continue to grow our work, please visit our Support Us page.  

Over 2024, we had so many rich discussions here at the State of Inclusion Podcast. Join me as we take a few minutes to reflect on our main themes and the wisdom my guests have shared across the year.If you'd like to help us refine our work on equity ecosystem mapping, reach out to me at amesanders@stateofinclusion.com.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page.  

Have you wondered how we can create a local economy that works for everyone? I believe it happens when we make different choices. Different choices in how we show up in our communities, in how and where we shop, what we buy, what we build, and how we invest. This episode is about someone who decided to show up and make a difference in their community by choosing to put their time and money where their heart is and creating a way for others to join them in that work. Note: This interview was previously published on Next Economy Now.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

If you wonder how to build a stronger and more cohesive community in these divided times, this episode is for you. In this episode, we will discuss the role community libraries can and do play as a key part of our social infrastructure. Our community library is one of the last free places where we are all welcome. We will explore how the library can be a place for both community bridging and bonding, as well as a place to grow civic engagement. The simple invitation to "Meet Me at the Library" is an invitation to a specific place, but it can be so much more.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

How can we co-create a more just, compassionate, vibrant, and inclusive economy? In this interview, Judy Wicks shares how the Circle of Aunts and Uncles in Philadelphia does just that as they invest in and support local entrepreneurs. In our discussion, Judy goes even further to help us understand how supporting local businesses can build a more sustainable future for our community. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

Join me as we talk with Darryl Heller, the chair of the South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission. We will discuss how the commission is bringing a restorative justice lens to its approach to reparations in South Bend, Indiana. This conversation offers practical and insightful ways to consider the very important and complex subject of reparations at a local level.  Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page.  

We believe in the transformative power of art. It's a potent tool that can be used to touch hearts and open minds and contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and equitable community. Over the years, we've talked with artists, but this conversation is different. It is about street art, or what I might call guerilla art. Work that lives at the intersection of art and activism. It's about a troupe of artists who engage in activism, support other activists, and use their art to, as they say, "surprise you out of your normal routine." Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

Today, the richest 10% of households own 70% of the country's wealth, including 90% of the wealth from business ownership. We know this wealth gap is felt most acutely by everyday workers and people of color. So, how do we fix this very deep, widespread, systemic problem? In this episode, we hear about tangible and practical ways that communities and businesses can contribute to closing that wealth gap. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

For those of you who are already doing advocacy and coalition work in your communities, this episode is for you. If you are trying to find a way to ensure your community's needs are respected in the face of significant building and development, this episode is for you. We'll hear how to use coalitions to build power and how neighborhoods and communities of color can come together to advocate for what they need. Join us as we welcome Joo Hee Pomplun, the executive director of The Alliance, a coalition of community based organizations working in the Minnesota Twin Cities region and beyond.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

Our work of Equity and Inclusion requires us to think multi-dimensionally, to think about ourselves, but also about those with whom we interact and about the structures in our environment, whether those are systems or physical spaces. My guest, Lori Weitzner, helps us explore the importance of our physical spaces on both a personal and a group level. Lori shares how we can use color and a multi-sensory approach to the design of our spaces and events to help make people feel more welcome, more included, and more grounded. Lori will also discuss how each of us can use color and design in our personal spaces to help us recharge, recenter, and energize for the work ahead. While we're going to talk a lot about color, Lori and I will not talk about colorism. That is an important subject, a separate and significant subject, but one for another day.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

This conversation reminds us that the current systems that keep us from achieving equity and inclusion weren't just an accident of evolution. They were designed—intentionally designed. These past designs and their artifacts also persist in our everyday lives, even when we have stopped many of the harmful practices. Today's guest, Braden Cooks of Designing the We, will share how we can undesign our current systems of inequity and separation and imagine new ways for our communities to design and build a more equitable future.Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page. 

Today's guest is Tawanna Black, founder of the Center for Economic Inclusion. Tawanna makes a clear and compelling case for community leaders to work together with a focus on building a thriving, growing economy that works for everyone in their community. Tawanna also shares how her team has worked directly with communities to help inform, guide, and facilitate that kind of broad cross-sector collaboration. You'll hear her describe how their work gives businesses and governments the tools to do drastically different work, get drastically different results, and do so in shared accountability. If you feel your community could benefit from this kind of cross-sector collaboration, this episode is for you. Find a full transcript and show notes HERE.Sign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.If you would like to help continue and grow our work please visit our Support Us page.     

In this episode, we take a moment to reflect on the State of Inclusion Podcast for 2023 and look ahead to 2024. While DEI may be under assault on many fronts, I'll share why I remain optimistic about this work of equity and inclusion. We'll also listen to and reflect on a few pearls of wisdom from our 2023 interviews.See full transcript HERE.

Our guest, Nick Cotter, has dedicated his life to educating others on the causes and reality of persistent racial and economic segregation and working to address its consequences in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While Nick's work is clearly focused on Pittsburgh, the insights and lessons reach much farther. In our discussion with Nick, we'll come to understand that many of the keys to building a more inclusive and equitable community can be found in our neighborhoods.Access the full transcript and show notes HERESign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community. 

If you want to discover how to become a better listener and learn techniques to help you listen with greater respect and love, this episode is for you. In this episode, Victoria Chance and Mary Anne Inglis of My Neighbor's Voice offer an approach to strengthen our listening skills and, at the same time, build community with our neighbors. Access the full transcript and show notes HERESign up for our newsletter and join us at The Inclusive Community, to discover conversations, insights, and practices to encourage and support each of us working to build a more inclusive and equitable community.Newsletter GIVEAWAY ALERT!!  Anyone who is signed up for our newsletter on or before November 30, 2023, will be entered for a chance to win a free book.  A winner will be randomly selected from all subscribers and will win one book of their choice from our State of Inclusion bookshop.Current subscribers are already entered.   

As part of this work of equity and inclusion, we are each on our own journey of growth. Sometimes, a moment of growth is structured and intentional, but sometimes, it catches us completely unaware. After it happens, we're never the same. In today's episode, I asked three more of my previous guests to share about a moment they grew in their own journey of equity and inclusion. We hear from Paul McCormack, Director of the South Carolina State Parks System, Janeen Bryant, Executive Director of the Community Building Initiative, and Chris Sparrow, adaptive athlete, disability advocate, and Program Director with the Barbara Stone Foundation. Listening to their responses can inspire a moment of growth and learning for us all. I really want you to be able to hear each guest as they speak from their heart. As a result, you'll hear me refer to this as "our unplugged series." Their responses are only lightly edited. You'll hear more pauses and ums, and the sound may not be quite as polished. These episodes will be shorter as well to give you a little more room to sit with and reflect on each of the stories you hear. Access full transcript and show notes HERE

As part of this work of equity and inclusion, we are each on our own journey of growth. Sometimes, a moment of growth is structured and intentional, but sometimes, it catches us completely unaware. After it happens, we're never the same.In today's episode, I asked three of my previous guests to share about a moment they grew in their own journey of equity and inclusion. We hear from Rose Lane of Conserving Carolina, Jerry Hawkins from Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, and Dr. Kathleen Yang-Clayton from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Listening to their responses can inspire a moment of growth and learning for us all.I really want you to be able to hear each guest as they speak from their heart. As a result, you'll hear me refer to this as "our unplugged series." Their responses are only lightly edited. You'll hear more pauses and ums, and the sound may not be quite as polished. These episodes will be shorter as well to give you a little more room to sit with and reflect on each of the stories you hear.  You can find the full show notes and transcript HERE.

In this episode we learn about using the power of community truth-telling as a springboard for systemic change and equity in Cincinnati, Ohio. We talk with Kim Rodgers from the Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University and learn how they provide on-the-ground support to communities, like Cincinnati, to advance progress toward resilience and equity.Access shownotes and full transcript HERE.

In this episode, we hear from an organization that has come to realize equity and inclusion are integral to its mission. As we talk with Rose Lane of Conserving Carolina, she shares how her organization adapted its strategic plan and value statements and how they formally ensure social justice, equity, and inclusion are part of their everyday work. As Rose tells us, "Conservation is part of social justice, and social justice is a part of preservation." Find show notes and full transcript HERE. 

Join us as Jerry Hawkins shares what it means to imagine a radically inclusive Dallas and Fort Worth. Along the way, Jerry also talks about how his organization delivers on its mission of truth, racial healing, and transformation for the communities it serves.Book Giveaway AlertWe love books on community, equity, and inclusion. We think you might too! We're running a book giveaway promotion this week. Anyone who is signed up for our newsletter, The Inclusive Community, on or before September 4, 2023, will be entered for a chance to win.  A winner will be randomly selected from all subscribers and will win one book of their choice from the State of Inclusion bookshop.Please sign up and join us at The Inclusive Community.Find show notes and full transcript HERE.

Hear from Paul McCormack, the South Carolina State Parks Director, as we talk about the actions he and his team are taking to make South Carolina's parks more accessible and inclusive. Along the way, Paul shares a little about what drives his commitment to inclusion and how he came to love the outdoors. This interview with Paul grew out of our 10-week Inclusive Community Outdoor Challenge. Head over to theinclusivecommunity.com to learn more about the challenge and join in.Access the transcript and show notes for this episode HERE.

Join me as we hear from adaptive athlete and disability activist, Chris Sparrow. Chris will share what it has meant for him to get outdoors and re-engage with the sports he loves following a spinal cord injury. Along the way, he'll challenge us all to open our minds to what is possible and step up to help build a more inclusive outdoors. This episode was also part of our 10-week Inclusive Community Outdoor Challenge.Find detailed show notes and the full transcript for this episode HERE. 

Real and lasting community change is about broad community engagement, commitment, and change. That doesn't just happen. It has to be cultivated. Join us in this episode as your co-hosts, Emma Winiski and Ame Sanders, talk about the practice we call GroundWork. It's about reaching across the community and preparing the community soil for the seeds of equity and inclusion to germinate, take root, and grow. This is the third episode in the series: The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community.Find detailed show notes and full transcript HERE. 

Sign up for our newsletter, The Inclusive Community, and join us for the 10-week Inclusive Community Outdoor Challenge. The outdoors has a diversity problem. It is time we noticed and did something about it. Journey along with me, Ame Sanders, as I complete each week's challenge in my own life and community. Together, we'll get outside more, have some fun, experience our public spaces, and do a little Self Work together.Learn more and sign up to follow along with The Inclusive Community Outdoor Challenge HERE.  

Many communities undertake a coordinated program of actions and initiatives to strengthen inclusion and reduce disparities. If you want to see that type of results-focused action in your community or are already part of such a program, this episode is for you. This episode is part of our series of discussions where my colleague, Emma Winiski, and I discuss the Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community. We've identified six practice areas. In this episode, we focus on the practice of Program Work.Find a full transcript HERE.Signup for our newsletter: The Inclusive Community.Other Episodes in this Series:The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community - Intro Part 1The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community - Intro Part 2First episode in this series, focused on the practice of Self Work: Inclusion Starts Here  Interviews That Informed Our Thinking:An interview with Krystal Reyes, Chief Resilience Officer for the city of Tulsa, OK:  Tulsa, Where Urban Resilience and Equity Intersect and their Equality Indicators.An interview with Sherri Chisolm and her work at Leading on Opportunity in Charlotte, NC:  Achieving Economic Mobility for CharlotteAn interview with Rev. Stacey Mills about the Racial Equity and Economic Mobility program that he leads in Greenville, SC:   Getting to Better in My Hometown and their Racial Equity IndexAn interview with Gery Paredes Vásquez, the Director of Racial and Gender Justice at the YWCA Madison, WI: Values-Driven Racial Justice with the YWCAAn interview with Kristy Kumar, Equity and Social Justice Manager for the city of Madison, WI: Finding Joy in Working Toward EquityAn interview with Judith Mowry, Senior Policy Advisor on Equity Strategies and Initiatives for the city of Portland: Toward Equitable Community ServicesAn interview with the MORE Justice Team in Columbia, SC: More Justice Books We Referenced:My bookshop.org link to Community: The Structure of Belonging, by Peter BlockMy bookshop.org link to The Connected Community: Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods, by Cormac Russell and John McKnightAmazon link to Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets, by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnightMy bookshop.org link to The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World, by Marty Linsky , Alexander Grashow , and Ronald Heifetz Bio Emma Winiski:Emma Winiski is a recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, where she worked extensively with city governments to address the opioid overdose epidemic and develop 911 alternative response programs. Previously, she was a Research Analyst in the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Emma has been working with Ame at State of Inclusion since 2018 when she was an undergraduate at Furman University.  

If you have ever wondered what nature has to teach us about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, this episode is for you. In our discussion with Dan Kriesberg and Camille Simone Edwards, we'll explore how learning about and getting in touch with the diversity in the outer world will help us better embrace diversity in our inner world and in our community. This episode is an interview by host Tania Marien, originally aired on her podcast, Talaterra. Find a full transcript HERE.Sign up for our Newsletter, The Inclusive Community.Additional Links:Learn more about Diversity Education in Nature (DEIN)Contact Dan or Camille at DEINConsulting@gmail.comRead the text of An Invitation to a Brave Space.Learn more about Radical Empathy and author Terri Givens.Visit the Talaterra website, learn more about Tania's work, and listen to more episodes there.Dan's Bio:Dan Kriesberg is the author of two books for teachers, as well as over 100 articles on environmental education and essays about his experiences in the outdoors. He lives on Long Island with his wife, Karen. Ever since a young age, whenever possible, Dan spends his time in wild places backpacking, hiking, and hanging out. You can view more of his work at Witness to the Wild   https://www.dankriesberg.com/Camille's Bio:Learn more about Camille by visiting: Camille Simone Consulting.  

Vicki Meath, and her team at Just Economics, are working to build an economy in Western North Carolina that works better for everyone. In this episode, we learn about the creative and practical steps they are taking toward economic justice.  If you are working on economic justice, equity, or inclusion in a smaller city or rural community, this episode is for you. If you're part of a community where state and local policies aren't friendly to economic justice, inclusion, or equity, this episode is also for you. Join us as we learn how Just Economics is leading and empowering change in the communities they serve.Full Transcript HERE.Learn more about Just Economics.Learn more about Tompkins County Workers' Center.Learn about the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility at Winston-Salem State University.Vicki's Bio:Vicki comes to Just Economics with a background in community organizing. She has worked on environmental, social, and economic justice issues ranging from responsible oil and gas drilling to protecting health and human services in the Ohio state budget. In 2006, Vicki worked with Let Justice Roll and Cleveland Jobs with Justice on the successful campaign to raise the state minimum wage and continued to work with Jobs with Justice on the Cuyahoga County Living Wage Campaign and other worker justice issues. Vicki has a strong commitment to and passion for economic justice work. Vicki has a teenage daughter and has lived in the Asheville area since 2007. Vicki has been involved in a variety of community activities and lives in West Asheville. 

At the State of Inclusion Podcast, we are on a journey to discover what it takes to build more inclusive communities. There are few communities working harder at this than Charlotte, NC. In this episode, we talk with Janeen Bryant, Executive Director of Charlotte's Community Building Initiative. Join us as we learn how they are building community in Charlotte, NC.Full Transcript HERE.Learn more about the Community Building Initiative.A Few Additional Charlotte Economic Mobility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives:Leading on OpportunityCharlotte's Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigrant IntegrationThe Mayor's Racial Equity InitiativeCharlotte-Mecklenburg Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ConferenceCharlotte Alliance FoundationMore episodes about Charlotte. Learn about Leading on Opportunity by listening to our interview, Achieving Economic Mobility for Charlotte - with Sherri Chisolm.Listen to the TED Talk that Janeen mentioned, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story.Janeen mentioned Somatic Literacy during our discussion. If you're a little curious about that concept, you might enjoy this article/interview with Adrienne Maree Brown, What your Body Has to Do with Social Change.We also discussed the book, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future, by Margaret J. Wheatley. Check out a brief overview of the book here. Janeen's Bio:Janeen Bryant is the Executive Director for Community Building Initiative (CBI). An advocate and catalyst for building organizational capacity, Janeen Bryant is an inter-sectional educator, facilitator, and community engagement consultant. Most recently, Janeen worked as the Founder and Principal Consultant for Facilitate Movement, LLC where she and her team specialized in crafting proactive strategies that guided institutions to address shifting demographics with responsive leadership to strengthen long-term vision, cultural competency, and empathy. Janeen also served as a liaison and Community Catalyst Coach for twelve communities in the Southeast through her work with My Brother's Keeper Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation. She has served on the boards of MeckEd and the Brenda H. Tapia Family Foundation. 

Inclusion starts with each of us.This episode is part of the series: The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community. In this episode, we explore the practice area we call Self Work. Along the way, Emma Winiski and I will discuss and share ideas for how each of us can progress on our personal journey toward inclusion and equity and why our practice of Self Work is essential to building a more inclusive community. Full transcript HERE. Related State of Inclusion Podcasts:The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community: Part 1 (an overview)The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community: Part 2 (an overview) Additional Resources:Do the Work! An Anti-Racist Activity Book, by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz (Links to my Bookshop.org site)Explore your own biases at Project Implicit.Belonging: A Weekly Practice  This is a weekly practice session over ZOOM that is sponsored by the Othering & Belonging Institute.Resources for White Allies, from the University of Wisconsin - MadisonLearn more about Life After Hate.The End of Bias: A Beginning, by Jesica Nordell (Links to my Bookshop.org site)Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald (Links to my Bookshop.org site)Inclusion Starts With I: Eight Steps to Inclusion: The Personal Journey, by Dr. Mary-Frances Winters (Links to Amazon.com, Please note this is a tiny book. I bought my copy used, given the current pricing.)The Essentials of Theory U: Core Principles and Application, by Otto Scharmer (Links to my Bookshop.org site)Inner Development Goals Model, developed in partnership with the UN. Emma's Bio:Emma Winiski is a second-year Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School. Previously, she worked as a researcher in the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where her work focused on substance use disorders. In 2018, Emma started working with Ame at State of Inclusion as she finished her undergraduate degree at Furman University.

If you are working in city or county government or trying to find a way to engage your broader community in resilience, immigration, or equity work, this episode is for you. If you're trying to understand how work at the intersection of resilience and equity can come together, this episode is also for you. Join me as we talk with Krystal Reyes to learn more about Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the hard work and progress taking place in her city.Full Transcript HERE.Learn more about the Mayor's Office on Resilience and Equity.Explore Tulsa's 2018 Resilience Strategy, follow their progress in the latest progress update, and check out their Equality Indicators.Krystal mentioned a key fact about life expectancy differences within Tulsa. If you want to learn more about life expectancy gaps across the country and in your community, here are additional sources of information for you to explore.The National Center for Health Statistics - Interactive MapNational Equity Atlas Life Expectancy by Race/Ethnicity.Explore Blue Zones Data and Analysis of Zip Code Effect HERE.Learn more about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.Learn more about the Resilient Cities Network.Learn more about the Government Alliance on Race and Equity.Learn more about the Welcoming America Network.Learn more about Bloomberg Philanthropies' initiative to establish Financial Empowerment Centers.Check out our interview, Moving from Talk to Action, with fellow Tulsan, Representative Monroe Nichols.If this episode really interested you, you might want to check out our City Collection. A collection of our interviews that focuses on change at the city or county level.To get the best of our learning delivered straight to your inbox, signup for our newsletter, The Inclusive Community.  Krystal Reyes' Bio:Krystal currently serves as Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Tulsa. In this role, she leads the Mayor's Office of Resilience Equity, which is charged with implementing city-wide strategies to advance resilience, equity and inclusion, community partnerships, human rights, and financial empowerment efforts. Previously, Krystal held various leadership positions in local government and non-profit sectors in New York City, coordinating multi-disciplinary, community-led, and city-wide efforts to address disparities in health and well-being. Throughout her career, Krystal has focused on improving the quality and quantity of early education opportunities for children, improving supports for families and immigrant communities, and developing meaningful community partnerships.  Krystal has a Bachelor of Arts in politics and Spanish literature, as well as a master's degree in public administration from New York University.Krystal was born and raised in Moline, IL, and lived in New York City for 19 years before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2019. Her parents, both immigrants from Mexico instilled in her a strong work ethic and the belief in the value of education. As a high school student Krystal participated in Upward Bound, a federal TRIO program for first generation college-bound low-income students. She credits that program and the supportive staff with giving her the head start she needed to apply to college, enroll, and succeed in higher education and her career. In her free time, Krystal enjoys listening to Bob Dylan, astronomy, and constantly walking her blue heeler dog, Venetia.Contact: kreyes@cityoftulsa.org

In this episode, we'll learn more about a city's journey toward racial conciliation. We talk with a team from Charleston, South Carolina, working to advance equity and inclusion in their city.  Our guests share their hopes and vision for this work, but also candidly share some of their challenges. Join us as we learn more about a 350-year-old city's struggle with race, one that started centuries ago with a legacy of slavery, traveled through the crucible that was the tragedy of the Mother Emanuel shooting, which led the city to formally apologize for slavery. We'll hear how that journey now leads them into the very real and challenging task of defining and achieving racial conciliation. You can find a full transcript HERE.Learn more about Charleston's Human Affairs and Racial Conciliation Commission.Learn more about the original Special Commission that was formed, the City's apology for slavery, and the earlier work that informed the creation of HARCC. Download the Special Commission on Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Conciliation Report - August 2021.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy these past episodes:Getting to Better in My Hometown - an interview with Rev. Stacey Mills about Greenville, South Carolina's Racial Equity and Economic Mobility initiative.Achieving Economic Mobility for Charlotte - an interview with Sherri Chisolm of the Leading on Opportunity Initiative in Charlotte, N.C. Guest Bios:Jerome C. Harris JR (retired)Jerry holds a BA in Sociology and an MS in Urban Planning and Public Policy Analysis from Rutgers University.  He has had over 50 years of professional experience in government, organization development, community and economic development, public policy analysis, and advocacy.  He has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Mr. Harris is the former: CEO/President of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice; Chief Operating Office of the Shiloh Community Development Corporation; Business Administrator and Director of the Department of Housing and Economic Development for the City of Trenton, NJ; Executive Director of the Urban and Public Policy Institute at Rowan University of New Jersey; Assistant Secretary of State and Assistant State Treasurer for the State of  New Jersey.  He has also served as the Essex County NJ Administrator, City Administrator for the City of Plainfield NJ, and the Vice President for Government Affairs for the Metro Newark Chamber of Commerce.Jerry is Co-Chairperson of the City of Charleston Human Affairs and Racial Conciliation Commission. He is President of the Charleston Area Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He is also active with the Low Country African American Giving Circle, The Charleston Area Justice Ministry, and serves on the Board of Salvation and Social Justice Inc.Jerry is married to Dr. Gwendolyn Long Harris and is the proud father of two sons Rahsaan Harris PhD and Jamal Harris (MD) and grandfather of Langston, Avery, and Ellison. Jason Sakran, Charleston City Council MemberJason currently serves as the Director of Expanded Learning for the Charleston County School District, where he leads a team of 350 to oversee the delivery of the best after-school and summer programs in Charleston County. During his tenure with the Department, they have increased quality, streamlined operations, and increased access to free and/or reduced after-school and summer opportunities for thousands of students each year. He is also co-owner of Bon Banh Mi Southeast Asian Kitchen, which is home to 3 locations in the Charleston Lowcountry. He was elected to Charleston City Council in 2019. Jason was co-chair of the Special Commission on Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Conciliation and is the current co-chair of the Human Affairs and Racial Conciliation Commission. Jason currently serves as Mayor Pro Tempore for the City of Charleston. Jason is an alum of the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Charleston Program as well as a past Riley Diversity Leaders Fellow.      

Our guest for this episode, Dr. Kathleen Yang-Clayton, is focused on transforming public organizations and rebuilding trust in government through operationalizing racial equity. We'll hear about her diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work with communities across Illinois through her partnership with the Great Cities Institute. Full transcript HERE.Learn more about the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE).Learn more about Great Cities and their initiative for Operationalizing DEI.Learn more about Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago.Kathleen's Bio:Dr. Kathleen Yang-Clayton joined the faculty in the Department of Public Administration, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2017 after extensive experience in legislative advocacy and voter education, engagement and mobilization. Prior to joining UIC, she led voting rights and voter mobilization work for Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago where she helped to pass landmark legislation expanding voting rights and strengthening election systems in Illinois. She is a Research Fellow at the Great Cities Institute and a member of several national initiatives that integrate public administration and racial equity together from the Kettering Foundation, National League of Cities and the International City/County Management Association. Her current work focuses on the operationalization of racial equity practices inside of large public organizations that increase the public's trust in government and improves government performance, especially but not exclusively in historically marginalized communities. She was appointed associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at her college in 2021.

We again examine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the intersection of business and community. In today's episode, we speak with Tiffane Davis, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, for Michelin North America. Tiffane brings a perspective from inside a company where DEI has been a way of life for decades. Where the approach to DEI is an outgrowth of the company values and where they are also intentional about reaching out into the community. Let's hear how equity and inclusion comes to life at Michelin. Full Transcript HERE.Learn more about Michelin N.A. and shop for tires.Listen to an earlier related episode: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Intersection of Community and Business - With Dr. Nika White Tiffane's Bio:Tiffane Thompson Davis is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Michelin North America, which encompasses approximately 22,500 employees across Canada and the United States. In this role, Tiffane provides strategic and programmatic leadership for diversity and inclusion initiatives, leveraging internal and external resources and best practices.Tiffane is no stranger to strategy and execution, having spent 20 years as a marketing specialist and leader at a diverse range of companies including 3M, Gartner, Newell Rubbermaid, Tempur-Pedic and Michelin.  She has a track record of collaborating and building teams to develop, launch and grow customer-centric products and services by leveraging insights to build go-to-market plans.  Tiffane is passionate about helping others build their self-image and confidence to unlock their potential. With her husband Charles, Tiffane recently co-authored a children's book and launched a men's accessories store. Both endeavors are meant to instill confidence in men and boys, leveraging fashion to express themselves and build their personal brands.Committed to helping people thrive and be their authentic selves, Tiffane is excited to be a part of the community ready to do the work of inclusion.Tiffane holds degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned a degree in Business Management, and the University of Georgia, where she earned her MBA. Follow Tiffane on LinkedIn to learn more about her thoughts on leadership for diversity and inclusion, and building personal brands. 

In today's episode, we speak with Don Williams of JUMPSTART. In our interview, we explore the topic of community inclusion and belonging for individuals returning from prison. In this episode, we'll learn about the systemic barriers in many communities that make it difficult for individuals returning from prison to succeed. This episode will touch on at least two aspects of what we call The Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community. The first is the practice of Groundwork which is about preparing our hearts and shifting our community culture to be open and welcoming to everyone and build a community of belonging. The second is the practice of Systems Work.Full Transcript HERE.Learn more about JUMPSTART.Voices of The Returned: Life After Incarceration hasn't published new episodes in a while, but their content still resonated with me. Their episodes offer an excellent opportunity to hear directly from individuals about their experience with incarceration and beyond. Through this podcast, I also learned that April is National Second Chance month.Don's Bio:True Restoration, Mind Transformation and Personal Elevation. These are the three facets that encompass the life's work, mission and purpose of Determined Don Williams. Don's heartfelt desire to help individuals tap into their “True Potential” is the driving force that pushes him to equip returning citizens to become productive and fulfilled in the mission God has called them to. Don's passion for assisting those who were incarcerated is dear to his heart. He knows all too well how difficult this can be- as he personally endured this journey- and now speaks to youth and adults about making the right choices and living a life committed to giving themselves away. Don has been the keynote speaker and trained numerous organizations about the value of effective communication, customer service, team building, professionalism. Don Williams is an innovative force as well as a visionary enhancing the professional and personal lives of the masses “one life at a time”.  

Working across the community, achieving collective impact, building civic infrastructure, and moving from talk to action. Those things are at the heart of our discussion today.  In this episode, we talk with Monroe Nichols from StriveTogether. StriveTogether animates a network of over 70 communities, reaching around 14 million students with a focus on improving cradle-to-career education outcomes. Based on his experience, Monroe shares with us what it takes for communities to be successful at the changes they wish to see. Find the full episode transcript HERE.Learn more about StriveTogether and their network HERE.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also find our interview with Kalika Curry from Eastside Pathways of interest. Eastside Pathways is a member of the StriveTogether Network. Listen HERE.If you're interested in more episodes focused on equity in education, you might also enjoy The Leading Equity Podcast with Dr. Sheldon L Eakins.Learn more about Impact Tulsa HEREMonroe Nichols Bio:In 2016, Representative Monroe Nichols became the first African American elected to represent House District 72 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. During his time in the Legislature, Representative Nichols has authored legislation focused on providing all students with a high-quality education, all Oklahomans with access to health care services, ensuring Oklahoma's economy works for everyone, revitalizing neighborhoods, and reforming the justice system. Currently serving as Vice Chair of both the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus and the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, Representative Nichols is the incoming Chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus and will assume that office in April of 2023.Prior to being elected, Representative Nichols spent his career in government, private business, higher education, and the non-profit sector, serving as a mayoral aide, chief of staff in the president's office at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, and an economic development director. In 2014, he co-founded ImpactTulsa, a collective impact organization aimed at improving education for all Tulsa area students. From 2014 – 2016, Representative Nichols also served on the Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education.In addition to his legislative service, Representative Nichols is the Director of Policy and Partnerships for StriveTogether, leading the organization's state policy strategy focused on advancing equity to improve student outcomes in communities across the country.Over the course of his career, Representative Nichols has been the recipient of several awards including the United States Department of Justice Award for Public Service. Monroe holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Tulsa and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. 

In today's episode, we explore the topic of building an equitable entrpreneurial ecosystem. Our guest is Magalie Yacinthe. Magalie is a social innovator and an entrepreneur who also works at the community- and systems-level to make the entrepreneurial ecosystem work for everyone.  Along the way, we will learn about an initiative in North Carolina to build out Black Wall Streets across the state. In our Practice of Building a More Inclusive Community, this discussion aligns well with our sixth area of practice, the practice of systems work. Full Transcript Here.Learn more about the Black Wall Street Forward Initiative.Learn more about Hustle Winston-Salem.Magalie mentioned some individuals that inspired her. Learn more about:Paulo Gregory and CohadoSherrell Dorsey and her organization The PlugLearn more about Magalie and explore some of her writing.Listen to Anika Horn's interview with Forward Cities CEO, Fay Horwitt.Listen at Shades and Layers.Magalie Yacinthe Bio:Magalie Yacinthe, an alumnus of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, is a conscious entrepreneur and community leader that has a passion for social enterprises. Magalie currently serves as Executive Director of HUSTLE Winston-Salem, an organization dedicated to leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs with a focus on people of color, women, and marginalized business districts. She also leads the statewide Black Wall Street Forward initiative with Forward Cities, alongside other ecosystem work as Director of Ecosystem Engagement.Magalie is also the CEO of YES Strategies & Solutions, a cost-effective event consulting firm helping nonprofits and corporations accomplish successful programming to carry out their missions. Giving back to the community even through her businesses is essential to the core of who she is. Magalie serves as Board Chair of Forsyth Futures and Board Communications Chair for Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts, Inc. She is an active member of the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Charlotte-Metro Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association. Magalie is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem, 2018 City of Winston-Salem Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award recipient, 2020 Winston-Salem Chronicle Business of the Month, 2020 Winston Under 40 Awardee, 2020 HOPE Outreach MLK Women's Day Awardee, the 2020 recipient of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Arts Council R. Phillip Hanes, Jr. Young Leader Award, 2021 Triad Business 40 Under 40 Honoree, Black Business Ink's 40 under 40 most influential African-Americans in the Triad, a 2022 Awardee of the Institute for Emerging Issues that recognized 22 inspiring leaders who are making North Carolina better by building coalitions and momentum for issues they are passionate about, and was most recently named a 2022 Triad Business Journal Power Player.

When you are part of a large coalition, how do you ensure the participants are centering equity in their work? Listen in on this episode as Kalika Curry, of Eastside Pathways, shares how her organization centers equity in all they do and how they align members in their coalition to the same goals. Along the way, we'll discuss targeted universalism and the four dimensions of racism. Full Transcript HereAdditional Exploration:Learn more about Eastside Pathways and their work in Washington.Learn more about Strive Together and their national network of communities.Learn more about Courageous Conversations equity training.Explore the writings and offerings of Claudia Horwitz.Learn more about systems change and the work of Donella Meadows.Kalika's Bio:Kalika Curry, Community Impact Manager, with Collective Impact organization Eastside Pathways supports Racial Equity and youth initiatives in East King County. Over the last 15 years Kalika has established her practice as a racial equity adaptive leaders, facilitator, and collective convener to reshape relationships and community. Kalika is also a member of the Right to Breathe Association, founder of Pono Pursuit LLC and a volunteer for several local non-profits. Outside of work Kalika enjoys the arts, yoga, being in nature and spending time with her family.

In today's episode, I'll be talking with Nick Cave and Bob Faust, two very well-known artists, art entrepreneurs, and social innovators based in Chicago. Nick and Bob use their art and their platform to advance racial justice and as a way to create and co-create community conversations. One of their installations, Making #AMENDS: Letters to the World Toward the Eradication of Racism, was the spark for our discussion. Full Transcript HereLearn more about MAKING #AMENDS: LETTERS TO THE WORLD TOWARD THE ERADICATION OF RACISMLearn about Nick's career retrospective at the MCA Chicago. Nick Cave: Forothermore Related episodes:Design Matters with Debbie Millman, Interview with Nick Cave and Bob FaustInclusion in Art - with Suzanne ThomasBuilding Community Equity Through Art - with Monique Davis Guest Bios:Bob FaustDescribed as "part artist, part designer and part mediator,” Bob Faust is the principal and creative director for Faust, a Chicago-based art and design studio focused on cultural articulation. He is also the partner and design collaborator of artist Nick Cave, who together founded the dynamic, multi-use creative space called Facility. As an entity, it believes that art and design can create peace, build power, and change the world ... that by fostering an environment and community built from your dreams you will wake up daily within your destiny. NewCity magazine honored Faust as "Best Breakthrough Design Artist" in 2017 and followed up in 2020 naming he and partner Nick Cave "Designers of the Moment." He has also been recognized as a design leader nationally and internationally by publications and institutions such as Communication Arts, NBC5 Chicago, the Society of Typographic Arts and Under Consideration. Faust also serves on the Cultural Advisory Council for the City of Chicago, as well as Chicago Dancemakers Forum Board of Directors and the School of the Art Institute's Fashion Council.Nick CaveNick Cave (b. 1959, Fulton, MO; lives and works in Chicago, IL) is an artist, educator and foremost a messenger, working between the visual and performing arts through a wide range of mediums including sculpture, installation, video, sound and performance. Cave is well known for his Soundsuits, sculptural forms based on the scale of his body, initially created in direct response to the police beating of Rodney King in 1991. Soundsuits camouflage the body, masking and creating a second skin that conceals race, gender and class, forcing the viewer to look without judgment. They serve as a visual embodiment of social justice that represent both brutality and empowerment.Throughout his practice, Cave has created spaces of memorial through combining found historical objects with contemporary dialogues on gun violence and death, underscoring the anxiety of severe trauma brought on by catastrophic loss. The figure remains central as Cave casts his own body in bronze, an extension of the performative work so critical to his oeuvre. Cave reminds us, however, that while there may be despair, there remains space for hope and renewal. From dismembered body parts stem delicate metal flowers, affirming the potential of new growth. Cave encourages a profound and compassionate analysis of violence and its effects as the path towards an ultimate metamorphosis. While Cave's works are rooted in our current societal moment, when progress on issues of global warming, racism and gun violence (both at the hands of citizens and law enforcement) seem maddeningly stalled, he asks how we may reposition ourselves to recognize the issues, come together on a global scale, instigate change, and ultimately, heal.

In this episode we talk with Stephen Piggott, of the Western States Center. We will discuss a resource that he and his colleagues produced: A Community Guide for Opposing Hate. We'll hear more about what motivates anti-democratic groups, how they work, and talk about what communities can do to oppose hate.Full TranscriptDownload the toolkit: A Community Guide for Opposing HateDownload the toolkit:  Confronting Conspiracy Theories and Bigotry at HomeLearn more about the Western States CenterLearn more about the Bard Center for the Study of HateLearn more about Montana Human Rights NetworkLink to action plan, materials, and toolkit from the recent United We Stand Summit, held at the White House.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy our earlier episode: Not in Our Town - With Patrice O'NeillGuest Bio:Stephen Piggott is a Program Analyst & Trainer/Organizer with Western States Center. Stephen is an expert on various forms of right-wing extremism, including white nationalism and the organized anti-immigrant/anti-Muslim movements. Stephen has spent the past decade monitoring and exposing the far-right and previously worked for both the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. He began his work in this field with the Center for New Community. He received his BA in political science with minors in Islamic and Irish studies from DePaul University in Chicago.  

In this episode, we learn about the racial and gender justice mission of the YWCA and how the YWCA in Madison, Wisconsin, uses their values to deliver on that mission in their community. Join me as we talk with Gery Paredes Vásquez, the Director of Racial and Gender Justice at the YWCA Madison. Gery reminds us that we must first acknowledge each other as human beings in our full complexity and then build relationships as a practice and container where growth, healing, transformation, and liberation can happen.Full Transcript Here.Learn more about the YWCA MadisonLearn more about their Summit and purchase tickets. Dates for the next summit are 28-30 September, 2022.To learn more about equity work in Madison, you can also listen to our episode: Finding Joy in Working Toward Equity - with Kristy Kumar.Books mentioned in our discussion:Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, by Adrienne Maree Brown (Links to my Bookshop.org site)When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reflection, by John Paul Lederach & Angela Jill Lederach (Links to my Bookshop.org site) Gery Paredes Vásquez Bio:Gery Paredes Vásquez (ella, tu, she, her) is a lifelong practitioner and collaborator for intersectional justice, healing and collective liberation. She is currently the Race and Gender Equity Director at YWCA Madison, in which role she collaborates with her beloved team and a growing community of artists, advocates, organizers, educators and practitioners in the co-creation of offerings such as the Racial Justice Series Community Series, YWCA Madison's annual Racial Justice Summit, as well as intersectional race-based offerings such as the BIPOC Healing Justice and Co-Liberation Series. In her work, she also provides collaborative consulting services for equity to organizations via YWCA Madison's Creating Equitable Organizations partnership program.As many Latinx people, Gery was born to families of mixed ethnicities and races due to colonization: Indigenous Quechua, Aymara and Guarani with Spanish. This reality shapes her personal journey of learning, unlearning and healing as well as continues to inspire her work for intersectional justice and collective liberation every day.