Us with Dr. Crystallee Crain - Critical Conversations On The Challenges Of Our Time

Hello loves, We're back with a final limited Season three of “Us with Dr. Crystallee Crain.” This season is focused on the tools we have or have overlooked that we can tap into to change our lives and our communities. I'm thrilled to introduce you to a remarkable leader in our community, City Council Member Leon El-Alamin, who embodies the principles of equity, collaboration, and empowerment. He, like myself, are proud Flint natives and have no shame in saying so! Leon's vision is rooted in a commitment to addressing the unique needs and aspirations of all Flint residents. At the heart of his mission is the revitalization of our neighborhoods. He is dedicated to creating safe, blight-free, and thriving environments where families can flourish. He understands that access to affordable housing, employment opportunities, and vital mental health services is essential for reducing recidivism and ensuring the safety of our communities.Leon envisions well-maintained parks, vibrant community centers, and pedestrian-friendly streets that promote connectivity and social interaction. Through strategic investments in infrastructure improvements and community programs, he works tirelessly to foster a strong sense of pride and belonging among residents, bridging economic and social divides. His initiatives focus on workforce development, entrepreneurship, mentoring, urban farming, advocacy, and violence prevention. Join me in welcoming a true champion for our community, City Council Member Leon El-Alamin! Learn more at www.leonelalamin.com.

Obadyah Ben-Yisrayl, formerly known as Christopher Dwayne Peterson, has a complex and controversial story that revolves around a series of crimes committed in Indiana during a short period in 1990. Born on January 20, 1969, in Gary, Indiana, Obadyah later became known as the "Shotgun Killer" due to alleged involvement in a spree of murders involving a shotgun from October to December 1990. Although originally described by a witness as a clean-shaven, slender, white man with long stringy brown hair, Obadyah, a Black man, was eventually linked to the crimes through nefarious means. He had initially confessed to the murders but later recanted his confession, claiming duress. The trials surrounding the "Shotgun Killer" spree involved multiple defendants, multiple murder charges, and multiple venues, which made the legal proceedings complex and contentious. Throughout the trials, Obadyah was acquitted in some cases and found guilty in others. He was initially sentenced to death for the murders but had his sentence commuted to 120 years of imprisonment in 2004. Ronald J. Harris, another individual charged in connection with the murders, was found guilty in two cases and received a 90-year prison sentence. The story surrounding Obadyah's case is controversial for several reasons. From the discrepancy between the initial suspect description and Peterson's appearance to the illegal arrest that impacted the admissibility of evidence, there were several significant factors that influenced the trials. Additionally, the composition of all-white juries and the judge's decision to overrule a jury's decision not to impose the death penalty further added to the controversy surrounding the case. The crimes allegedly committed by Obadyah involved the fatal shootings of seven individuals. The investigations led to his arrest, along with the arrest of his accomplices, based on information provided by witnesses and co-defendants. The trials that followed addressed the various charges and involved the presentation of evidence, including Peterson's confessions, witness testimonies, and firearm analysis. Throughout the trials, there were inconsistencies and doubts raised regarding the evidence and the use of the confessions. Jurors expressed concerns about the reliability of the confessions and pointed out flaws in the investigation, such as the failure to collect fingerprints from the shotgun and the handling of the crime scene. These factors, among others, influenced the juries' decisions in Peterson's trials, resulting in both acquittals and convictions. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the dehumanizing and corruptible system of justice we have and the nature of criminal cases and challenges faced in the system when attempting to arrive at a just verdict.  His story highlights the importance of thorough investigations, fair trials, and the diligent pursuit of justice for all parties involved. Here today we have him on the line with us calling in from Pendleton Correctional Facility. Today we will hear his side of the story and what is needed to get justice for him and the victims families impacted by the murders. Sign his petition linked here. Episode was co-produced by 448 Productions.

Dr. Liza J. Rankow is an interfaith minister, educator, activist, and writer. Her lifework centers the deep healing that is essential to personal and social transformation. Liza is the founder and former executive director of OneLife Institute, a pioneering organization that served for 17 years to support the well-being of frontline activists, caregivers, and others working to lift up the community. Liza has been a spiritual counselor and teacher for more than three decades. She works with individual clients, facilitates healing retreats, and offers classes and workshops in a variety of community and academic settings. Her topics include: Mysticism & Social Change, Sustaining the Soul of Activism, Deepening the Well (multifaith spiritual formation), and several courses on the life and work of Dr. Howard Thurman. She is the producer and co-editor of the six-CD audio collection, The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman (Sounds True, 2010), and created Inner Oasis, a CD of her original guided meditations, in 2011. Previously, Liza practiced as a clinical PA in pediatric hematology-oncology at Duke Hospital. From there she moved into public health research and education, particularly related to LGBTQ+ issues. Liza was the project director on one of the first three federal pilot grants awarded under the Women's Health Initiative to study the health of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. Her professional publications and resource materials contributed to defining this then-emerging field. One of Liza's most profound influences has been her decades-long journey with chronic life-threatening illness. It cultivated a spiritual wisdom within her that informs her work with others, and gave her life a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Her intimacy with suffering allows her to engage the suffering of the world with a sacred tenderness. Her publications include anthologized essays, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and academic articles in both theological and medical journals. She is currently completing her first full-length book. Liza holds a B.A. in Human Development from Hampshire College, Bachelors and Masters degrees in Health Sciences from Duke University School of Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Religion and Social Transformation from Union Institute & University. She lives in Oakland, CA, where she enjoys deep and wide community relationships, and spends as much time as possible in her wildly magical garden. Website - www.lizarankow.org      Blog: Healing Conversations from the Front Lines of Activism - https://lizarankow.substack.com/ Guided Meditations on InsightTimer -  https://insighttimer.com/lizarankow LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/lizarankow

COLAGE on US with Dr Crystallee Crain Founded in 1990 under the name “Just For Us,” COLAGE (originally Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) began with a group of six young people with lesbian and gay parents. The experience at their first meeting was revolutionary, and they wanted to share similar experiences with other COLAGErs. In 1996, the organization explicitly added work with children of bisexual and transgender parents to its mission, and queerspawn, a term of self-identification lovingly adopted by some members of our community, became widely used. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, COLAGE leadership became increasingly aware of the needs of a new generation of COLAGErs. These were children of the “gayby boom,” whose parents had chosen to form families after coming out – often through adoption or reproductive technology – creating new forms of families with intention. As so many of these youth were people of color, COLAGE adopted a new strategic plan that specifically included an anti-racist, social justice platform. Amidst intensifying debates on marriage equality, LGBTQ+ parents – and their children – were increasingly thrust into the public eye, dramatically increasing awareness of LGBTQ+ families. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, COLAGE expanded programming to meet the needs of these increasingly visible families as COLAGErs supported marriage equality fights state-by-state and in the Supreme Court. Today, COLAGE stands as the only national organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth in LGBTQ+ families, and celebrates thirty years of this work.  Today's Guest Angel Martin (they/them) is the National Program Director at COLAGE. They are a second generation queerspawn with a lesbian mom. Angel started COLAGE programming at the age of 7 and has been an active member of the COLAGE community ever since. When they were in high school, they participated in the Youth Leadership Track as a Facilitator in Training during Family Week. They became a facilitator and, eventually, a coordinator for the Waffles age group.  In 2019, Angel was a Program Intern for Family Week. Angel played an instrumental role in establishing COLAGE's Transformative Justice Committee in 2020. Angel is excited to work towards a world where all queerspawn have community. Previously, Angel lived in Los Angeles where they did social work at a homeless services agency. They now live in Manhattan with their partner and is a singer-songwriter in their free time. Click here to learn how to Join COLAGE: https://colage.org/join-us/ COLAGE Upcoming Events: https://colage.org/?post_type=tribe_events Sound: ES Do You Believe - Rambutan ES Life's Good - Hank Lotion ES Koffee in the Forest - HATAMITSUNAMI

Today we have a very special guest a fellow Flint native Leon Benson who has been recently exonerated for a crime he didn't commit.  Benson was convicted for the murder of Kasey Schoen, who was shot five times while sitting in his truck near downtown Indianapolis in the early morning hours of Aug. 8, 1998. He was tried twice. The first ended in a mistrial after six of 12 jurors voted not guilty. Benson was convicted after he was retried in July 1999 and was sentenced to 61 years in prison. After 25 years of his life was taken for a wrongful conviction Leon is out as a free man, putting the pieces of his life and leadership together.  Cornel west writes, that “Empathy is not simply a matter of trying to imagine what others are going through, but having the will to muster enough courage to do something about it. In a way, empathy is predicated upon hope.” I encourage our listeners to consider this idea, not just for the story you will hear from Leon Benson but for yourself and others you encounter in your life. Through a mutual connection, I was lucky enough to meet Leon on day 9 after being released. We were able to welcome Leon home to Flint, in our home town at the headquarters of The Everly Collective.  To complete the welcome, we're bringing Leon on the show today to share with us his wisdom and vision for a better world. Die Jim Crow Records: https://www.diejimcrow.com/el-bently-448 CashApp: $InnocentBornGuilty23 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-leon-reenter-the-world-with-necessities  Facebook: Freeleonbenson IG: elbently448 

Today we have a very special guest, Kwame Che Skakur.  Kwame is an author, preparing for his book tour! He is the chairman of the Second Rainbow Coalition and a fellow revolutionary.  Book title: My Search for Answers, Truth, and Meaning: The Autobiography of Kwame Shakur. In Black Skin, White Masks Frantz Fanon writes, “What matters is not to know the world but to change it.” And that's what our next guest is doing. Learn more at www.secondrainbowcoalition.com. Social media IG: @shakurkwame Facebook: Kwame Che Shakur

Welcome to US with Dr Crystallee Crain. I had the honor to come across a social media post regarding an amazing new book called Fighting Times: Organizing on the Front Lines of the Class War. Authored by Jon Melrod, a long time activist and attorney for political refugees. What I've learned from this book is that Jon has made amazing contributions to the radical notions of community, shared power, as well as corporate and government accountability. It's an honor for me to sit with him today, as we discuss the connection between labor, dissent, and how the world has and must change. Learn more at www.jonathonmelrod.com. What others are saying about Fighting Times? “Indeed, if one were to explain to a working person interested in organizing a union why they should read this book, the key word would be instructive. The tactics so vividly written down in this text remain useful and appropriate.” Counterpunch | Ron Jacobs “…Melrod is not a theoretician. But his book is now an indispensable chapter in the literature on the history of the American working class movement.” Bulatlat | Prof. Roland Simbulan “Under the capitalist system, we're always at the disadvantage because we don't control the means of production and we don't control the market. That's the ultimate contradiction of capitalism. It's not in business to guarantee employment.” Against The Current | Dianne Feeley Chant read from the book “When the unions inspiration through the workers blood shall run There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one For the Union makes us strong In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousandfold We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old For the Union makes us strong”

We are blessed to have our first return guest, Kimberly Turner who is the Designer, Creative Director, & Stylist for Elizabeth In Pearls. Kim is also an advocate for awareness for an important public health issue - endometriosis. According to the Office on Women's Health - Endometriosis, often referred to as “endo,” is a condition that happens when tissue similar to the lining of a woman's uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. March Is Endometriosis Awareness Month and we are having this conversation to raise awareness and provide resources for how to manage our health experiences. The Endometriosis Association began Endo Awareness Month in 1993. ENDO is common. Nearly 15% of American women are impacted, with over 200 million worldwide. In the U.S., research suggests that race plays a significant role in misdiagnosis. Historically, many doctors once believed that White and Asian women got endometriosis and Black women did not. For decades, endometriosis has been thought of as "a White woman's disease". However, doctors now know that race and ethnicity play a large role in whether a woman develops endometriosis, and how long it takes to get a correct diagnosis, and treatment. For example: Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than White women Asian women are most likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than any other racial group Hispanic women were less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than White women Many healthcare providers were educated based on the idea that an endometriosis diagnosis is less likely in Black women. For example, a 1951 study suggested that Black women rarely got endometriosis due to genetic factors. As a result, racial bias has influenced both diagnosis and endometriosis care in the African American community. Endometriosis uniquely affects African-American women. Traditional thinking was that endometriosis was a condition of white women but that conventional thinking is rapidly changing. Unfortunately, when Black women have chronic pelvic pain it is presumed to be due to other conditions like PID (pelvic inflammatory disease, a pelvic infection) or uterine fibroid tumors (very common in Black women). However, endometriosis is real and common in many African-American women.

Sandhya Jha (they/them) is an anti-oppression consultant who particularly loves helping organizations get Diversity/Equity/Inclusion teams off the ground. Sandhya is the founder and former executive director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of 40 organizations working to create equity, access, and dignity as the means of creating peace in Oakland and the Bay Area. An ordained pastor with a master's in public policy, Sandhya is comfortable in the pulpit, on the picket line, or hanging out with friends and friends-to-be over a good cup of tea and a good story. Sandhya's fifth book with Chalice Press, Rebels, Despots, and Saints, will release on MLK Day 2023. What others have said about them? “They dealt with issues of differences, tolerance, and respect in a gentle and inspiring way. She helped us to tell our stories and listen to the stories of our sisters.” “I greatly value her contributions and activism among the South Asian diaspora communities on social justice issues, particularly as it relates to cross-cultural communication, racial, gender, and sexual rights.” https://sandhyajha.com/

www.RhodesPerry.com

Meet Andréa Raquel, a history maker - show stopper and starter, and all-around beautiful human. I've been so blessed to have met her and I'm glad to share her light with my listeners. Today we are tapping into what it means to be a person in the world right now, the ethos that guides us, and how we intend and sometimes unintentionally lead in our communities. Sometimes when we say community we think of physical spaces. I think that notion has changed over time, but more acutely in these past few years when physical space is shared differently and our perception of space, proximity to others, and how we choose to be in spaces is at the forefront of our minds and hearts. To guide us in this thought experiment I'd like to introduce you to my sister Andrea Raquel.

Kim is the Creative Director and Stylist for Elizabeth in Pearls, which is named after her grandmothers Elizabeth - also known as grandmommy - and Pearl - also known as Ma Pearl. As the Founder of Elizabeth In Pearls, she creates uncommon jewelry and art that speak uplifting stories and messages. I'm hoping today we can talk about some of those uplifting messages and the roots of her creative process. I brought Kim on the show to talk about her creative process, and interest in helping people find their own style throughout their journey and how they reflect themselves back to the world. Learn more at www.elizabethinpearls.com.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Elisha Hall, the African American Engagement Director with Compassion and Choices, and Joel Simone Maldanado, who is a recent addition to the Board of Directors and a licensed funeral director, insurance agent, and sacred grief practitioner. Compassion and Choices is an organization dedicated to improving care, expanding options, and empowering everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. The tricky part for people is that we can't predict or know when our journey and our life will end. I've always felt that we should not only have full autonomy over our lives but also the final chapters of our journeys. To me, it's an issue of importance for people of any age and background. We will all face these concerns in our lifetime, more than once, for others and eventually for ourselves. Learn more about Compassion & Choices at www.compassionandchoices.org. Learn more about Joel's works at www.thegravewoman.com. What does Compassion & Choices do? Dementia End-of-Life Care We're working to transform how people die with dementia to ensure people are aware, empowered and supported in getting the care they want – or do not want – should dementia take hold. Healthcare Equity at the End of Life Compassion & Choices is working in partnership with our Leadership Councils and partner organizations to address inequities in end-of-life care and planning. Medical Aid in Dying Compassion & Choices is leading efforts to authorize, implement and defend medical aid in dying so all terminally ill people who are eligible will have access to the full range of end-of-life care options. Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking Compassion & Choices is working to raise awareness about the option of voluntarily stopping eating and drinking.

Gigi Traore is the newly appointed Mayor of Newburgh Heights, Ohio. She is the first black mayor of this town. Gigi is also the Founder & Principal Consultant with G3 MANAGEMENT Firm. For over a decade G3 MANAGEMENT Firm has provided strategic development, management, and sustainable solutions to clients in Midwest states. Professionally, Gigi has over 20 years of experience in politics, nonprofit, and business as an elected official, political operative, nonprofit executive, board member, and business owner. We talk about leadership, legacy, and political changes in the country and in Ohio.

As reported in the IOM Interim report - The International Observer Mission, sponsored by the ICHRP, found that the May 9 Philippine National Elections were marred by a higher level of failure of the electronic voting systems than ever before, along with a higher level of blatant vote-buying, disturbing levels of red-tagging and a number of incidents of violence. According to the IOM report, the election did not meet the standard of “free and fair” because of voters having restricted access to reliable information, access to the voting places without intimidation, and a credible vote counting system. The results gave the Marcos-Duterte team a massive victory that has been met with widespread skepticism and a growing protest. Violations against the people of the Philippines include political killings, shootings, abductions, death threats, political arrests, harassment and surveillance of candidates and supporters, very large-scale red tagging, widespread vote-buying, media manipulation and repression, fake news and harassment of journalists by the Marcos campaign. ____ Today we have the National Coordinator of ICHRP, Drew Miller, and ICHRP members Laila Macfoy and Mack Miller.

I'm so glad to bring on four amazing guests who have dedicated their wisdom and time to researching and understanding health disparities and ways to increase equity in care, research, and overall access. Today the topic we are tapping into an important conversation on health as a human right. It only feels right to acknowledge that on Friday, June 24th - the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v Jackson overturned the right to abortion that was in place since Roe v Wade was decided. Many of us have been dealing with the impact of this monumental change. Reproductive justice advocates and people all over the world are watching this regression of rights and looking for some answers. In a statement posted last week by the Black Women's Health Imperative, they wrote: “....as Black women and gender expansive people, we are under attack at every turn, with neither the courts or Congress coming to our aid. Our voting rights have been eviscerated. Our right to raise our families without fear is nonexistent. Now our hard-fought right to bodily autonomy has been stripped from us. We shoulder all the burdens of citizenship without the most basic benefits.” We will discuss some of the issues that need to be highlighted as we enter into this new era, with already staggering disparities and inequality in our health care system for communities of color and in particular black and brown bodies. To unpack some of these realities, we have Dr Jeannette Wade, Dr Nasra Abubakar, Dr Sharon Parker, and Dr Helyne Frederick.

Today we have a very special guest with us, Beth Santos - the founder and CEO of Wanderful. Beth and I met at the first-ever Wanderfest event in New Orleans in March of this year. She was so supportive and her team created an environment where I felt like I had found my tribe. For me, travel has been a major part of my identity, and that's why I resonate so much with Beth. Since I was a teenager I've had the joy of the world being my greatest teacher, a tool for my own healing, and a resource for personal and professional growth. Stay with us for the next hour as Beth and I talk about travel and leadership. With a background in international development, thoughtful community building, and social enterprise, Beth Santos is out to change the landscape of travel for women worldwide. In 2009, while cruising her blue motorcycle through the streets of São Tomé and Príncipe, Beth created the first iteration of Wanderful as a travel blog aimed to explore the diverse and shared experiences of women traveling the world. Today, Wanderful has exploded to an international community and social network with the active participation of over 40,000 women and gender-diverse people of all ages and backgrounds. This is manifested through an active membership community, chapter events in over 50 global cities worldwide, and annual community events and trips. In 2014, Beth created the WITS Travel Creator + Brand Summit, the leading event for women and gender diverse travel creators, entrepreneurs, and industry to use their voices to champion change in the travel industry, now hosted annually on two continents This event has earned international acclaim and attracted top talent in the travel industry and beyond, leading to the 2019 creation of the Bessie Awards — an award ceremony to honor women of impact in the travel space. In combatting social inequity and encouraging people to travel thoughtfully, Wanderful is the creator of the Moving Forward Anti-Racism Town Hall for the Travel Industry, recognized in Business Insider and Phocuswire, as well as the first Anti-Oppression Toolkit for Travel + Culture Creators. In 2022, Wanderful launched Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival by and for women, hailed by Fodor's Travel as the new festival to add to your radar. Wanderful has been recognized in top publications such as Skift, Lonely Planet, the Boston Globe, the South China Morning Post, Forbes, Business Insider and the Chicago Tribune. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow for International Women's Day, in TimeOut as one of 10 people shaping the future of Boston, as well as a BostInno 50 on Fire, a Chicago Scholars 35 Under 35 Young Leader Making an Impact, a Zell Fellow (a prestigious fellowship for entrepreneurs pursuing their MBA), and an alumna of the Babson WIN Lab. She was recognized by the Obama Administration as one of the top 100 travel bloggers in the US. In 2022, she was named Godmother of the Azamara Onward. She is a dynamic keynote speaker, an entrepreneurship and marketing consultant for the travel + tourism industry, and a supportive coach who thrives on helping people build lasting, impactful communities.

For today's episode, I m honored to speak with long time trailblazer President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe - Kevin Killer. I met Kevin in 2006 when we were both Young People For fellows, a project of People for the American Way. Since then I ve watched his world expand and his commitment deepen as he works to bolster the gifts of his tribe while advocating for access in the halls of power of the American government. As we spend time with President Kevin Killer, we will explore topics of leadership, democracy, and hope. Kevin Killer, an enrolled member and President of the Oglala Sioux tribe, served 10 years in the South Dakota legislature, representing a district that includes the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He is a co-founder of Advance Native Political Leadership, which seeks to train the next generation of Native leaders to run, manage, and lead successful campaigns at all levels of government. He recently completed his fellowship with the Open Society Foundation Leadership in Government program working on Truth and Healing in Native communities in the United States. He attended Lakota College and was the first Tribal College Fellow of a progressive youth leadership development organization, Young People For (YP4). Killer expanded Young People For's tribal college network into an independent, Native-led organization called the Native Youth Leadership Alliance (NYLA) in 2009. Killer serves on the board of the People for the American Way Foundation, and past service includes, the National Indian Education Association, the Lakota College Board of Trustees, the Young Elected Officials Network, the Quad Caucus, and the National Caucus Native American State Legislators. He was a 2015 Bush Fellow. Department of Interior RenamingDepartment of Interior Indian Burial Sites

International solidarity is not a new notion for me as an activist and as a person who identifies as a global citizen. I ve had a long interest in how we identify what self determination and governance means to us. I m curious about how people use or misuse power in the name of a government or in the name of the people . I want to see a world where people have the right to choose how they are governed and how they are able to Because of this, I traveled to the Philippines and spent time in Manila (the capitol) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanoa to get a historical perspective on the importance of this years (2022) presidential election and beyond. During this episode you will hear from education leaders, government leaders, and others who have witnessed the changes and often tumultuous social and political changes. These brave leaders will discuss their country and how the U.S. imperial relationship impacts the livelihood of people in the Philippines. Stay with us for the next hour and learn about the relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines, tap into the importance of the May 9th election, and what the results may mean for the people of the Philippines. I m your host, Dr Crystallee Crain and this is US on Transformation Talk Radio.

Kari Fulton is an award-winning Environmental and Climate Justice, organizer, writer, and historian. She has worked with various domestic and global coalitions to coordinate campaigns and national conferences including Power Shift, the largest youth climate summits in the United States and the People s Climate March. Fulton has trained and engaged students and communities on Climate and Environmental Justice across the United States and the world. Her work has been featured in various media outlets including Black Entertainment Television (BET), Teen Vogue, Essence Magazine, and Chinese Cable Television America (CCTV). Fulton is a mother, a bike enthusiast, and a graduate of Howard University and Georgetown University. www.checktheweather.net

Dr Darlene Hall is a black lesbian psychologist with strong social justice. Born on the same day as the legendary bell hooks, Dr Hall is unwavering in her commitment to mental and physical health, eliminating oppression and improving life chances. Dr Hall has 25 years experience in the mental health field as a direct service provider in community mental health, nonprofit, and private practice settings working with communities that are diverse, underserved, and disenfranchised, including low income, people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, children and youth. Dr Hall has a thriving psychotherapy practice and a consultancy - called Intersections consulting where she provides training, coaching, facilitation, technical assistance and much more.I have brought Darlene on the show to share with us her analysis and perspectives on the impacts of oppression on our mental health and to discuss potential strategies to heal ourselves.I, like many others, understand how we can be directly and indirectly impacted by the isms of the world. Over a decade ago I ran a violence prevention certificate program for practitioners in Oakland, and I used to tell my students that the things that happen to us don t define us. I remind myself about our internal strength and ancestral knowledge of what we know and how we got that knowledge. In this episode Dr Hall and I discuss the connections between stress, trauma, and systems of oppression.

I have never been a fan of the old saying - money makes the world go round. There's a reason for that. Money has been developed as a tool to barter and name a value for items and services. The tool is used by people, but rarely does it benefit everyone. As we know, we live in a capitalist society where profit over people generally rules the day. One of the things I love about doing this show is bringing people to my listeners that believe in a different world. Se-ah-dom Edmo - the Executive Director of Seeding Justice Foundation believes that everyone plays a role in creating and sustaining this world. By building community, living our values, and working together towards this vision, they participate in the creation of justice and inspire hope for the future.With the racial wealth gap growing, and the rights of our communities and our environment under constant attack we need a better solutions. At Seeding Justice, they ve reimagined Donor-Advised Funds with a new program where donors and community benefit and they are spear-heading charitable reform efforts to increase community engagement. Learn more at https://www.seedingjustice.org/donor-in-movement-funds/.

We are all sitting with the reality that a year ago there was a violent insurrection at the U.S. capitol where white supremacists and supporters of the 45th president tried to overturn the 2020 election. While this was not the first or last time there has been a harsh reckoning for the racialized violence that is happening in this country, it was the first time we saw a massive scale action against the capitol and democracy in the 21st century. To make some sense of it all I m bringing two guests to talk about the intersections of these issues. The impact it s having on our lives and our experience of democracy.