Podcasts about dream corps

VANNESSA WADE is the founder of Connect The Dots PR. Often called an “idea oven” and “branding magnet,” she has been featured in magazines such as Black Enterprise and Fast Company.From working on legislative campaigns, to supporting Dream Corps, Wade has been able to help brands position themselves in newsworthy and culturally relevant ways. She is as driven about public service as she is about public relations. She volunteers her time and expertise to various civic organizations including Kids Meals, The Sickle Cell Marc Thomas Foundation and more. Vannessa enjoys traveling, reading and helping clients shine.

“The humanity that connects us is stronger than what has been created to divide us”. Nisha Anand is the CEO of Dream.Org, a nonprofit organization that brings people together across racial, social and partisan lines to solve society's toughest problems. A born change-maker, Nisha was arrested in 1998 while handing out pro-democracy leaflets in the military dictatorship of Myanmar and was sentenced to five years in jail. Her arrest put her on the international stage and changed her thinking on how to bring about lasting change and reform. This is her story and that of Dream.org, an organisation that was founded by CNN commentator and New York Times bestselling author, Van Jones, and that Nisha has led as CEO since 2019. With her team at Dream.org, Nisha works at the intersection of criminal justice reform, green economics and tech equity, to develop innovative solutions to social and racial justice issues. Recorded August 2023.

In this episode, Simma The Inclusionist, is joined by Sean Wilson, the organizing director of Dream.org's Justice Team. With 17 years of lived experience and direct involvement with the criminal legal system, Sean brings insight into a system that he believes is broken and in need of reform. They discuss the importance of talking about race, especially in a society where some are trying to criminalize almost everything. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the role of race in America's history.   Time Stamps [00:02:13] Sweeping race conversations under the rug [00:06:03] Internal transformation in prison [00:09:22] Racial disparities in sentencing [00:14:17] Disparities in drug sentencing [00:19:22] Sentencing and racial identity [00:27:35] Systemic racism and incarceration [00:29:14] Challenging the criminal legal system [00:35:27] Systemic racism in criminal justice [00:43:12] Black codes in the criminal legal system [00:45:10] Racism in the criminal justice system [00:49:00] Country music and rap fusion [00:53:42] Show notes available for download   Simma interviews Sean Wilson, the organizing director of Dream.org's Justice Team, who shares his deeply personal experience with the criminal justice system and the impact of systemic racism. Sean, who was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opens up about his troubled youth, including getting involved in criminal activities such as selling drugs and committing armed robbery. At the age of 17, Sean was arrested and sentenced to 50 years in prison for his crimes. He reflects on the harshness of his sentence, questioning how a judge could sentence a young boy to the same amount of time he had lived on this earth. Sean highlights the racial disparities within the criminal justice system, emphasizing that Black and Brown individuals are often given much harsher sentences compared to their white counterparts for similar offenses. He discusses the historical roots of systemic racism in the criminal justice system, tracing  back to the 13th Amendment and the implementation of Black codes, which restricted the freedom of African Americans and perpetuated a form of slavery through convict leasing. Sean emphasizes that these discriminatory practices continue to target Black and Brown people, leading to disproportionate rates of incarceration. Sean also addresses the issue of racial bias in sentencing, where black individuals are more likely to receive longer sentences compared to white individuals for the same offenses. He highlights the need for judges and prosecutors to view individuals before them as human beings deserving of grace, understanding, and the opportunity for redemption. As the organizing director of Dream.org's Justice Team, Sean is dedicated to closing prison doors and opening doors of opportunity. The organization works in three issue areas: climate justice, tech equity for Black and Brown people, and criminal justice reform. Sean's role involves training and building up leaders to advocate for transformational legislation that will reduce mass incarceration. In terms of recommended resources, Sean suggests reading "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the racial disparities within the criminal justice system. He also recommends "Better Not Bitter" by Yusuf Salaam, one of the Central Park Five, who shares his personal journey of transformation and resilience after being wrongfully convicted. For those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system, Sean suggests watching the HBO documentary "Growing Up Milwaukee," which follows the lives of young individuals assigned mentors, including Sean, who share their stories to deter them from a life of crime. He also recommends the documentary "13th," which explores the history and impact of mass incarceration in America. To connect with Sean and learn more about Dream.org's work, you can reach out to him via email at seanwilson@dream.org or follow him on social media platforms such as LinkedIn (Sean Wilson) and Facebook. You can also visit the Dream.org website and follow the organization on Instagram and Facebook for updates and information on their initiatives. This episode sheds light on Sean Wilson's personal experience with race and the criminal justice system and highlights the urgent need for systemic change to address racial disparities and promote justice and equality for all.   Key Takeaways: Systemic racism is deeply rooted in the criminal justice system, leading to racial disparities in sentencing and treatment. Black individuals are often subjected to harsher sentences and less leniency compared to their white counterparts for similar offenses. The criminal justice system perpetuates harm and fails to provide opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation. Advocacy and reform efforts are crucial to address the systemic racism within the criminal justice system. Open and honest conversations about race are necessary to bring about meaningful change and find common ground for solutions. To learn more about Sean Wilson and his work, visit the Dream.org website and follow him on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Additional resources mentioned include the book "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander and the documentaries "Growing Up Milwaukee" and "13th."   Guest Bio Sean is the Organizing Director at Dream Corps. As someone with 17 years of lived experience and direct involvement with the criminal legal system, Sean brings an advantage and insight into a system he believes to be broken and in need of reform. Before joining the Dream Corps JUSTICE team, Sean was the ACLU of Wisconsin's Smart Justice Campaign Manager, where he managed the campaign to reform probation and parole. In addition, he also serves as a commissioner on the Governor's Juvenile Justice Commission (GJJC), a State Advisory Group (SAG) that advises the DOJ on its juvenile justice programs and funding decisions and serves as an independent forum to discuss juvenile justice policy issues.   Host Bio Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker and facilitator and the host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition)    Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Tiktok Website   Previous Episodes Everyday Conversation on Race with Rosalyn Taylor O'Neale (DEI OG for 47 years) Breaking the Chains: Fighting Caste Oppression with Thenmozhi Soundararajan Breaking Barriers: John Blake on Racial Reconciliation   Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating

Devin: could you just share with us what you see as your superpower?Nisha: I think my superpower is a bridge. I think that I was born a first-generation kid in America. I really was the bridge between the old world and the new. I served as the translator for my dad, who was very much coming to America to fulfill his American dream and yet not fluent in what is America. Me being raised here, I could be that translator. I could really see the different sides to a lot of different arguments. I think growing up feeling like an outsider and feeling like a misfit, I actually ended up fitting in everywhere.Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream.Org, is changing the world in ways some would have said are impossible. By building bridges across what many see as uncrossable chasms, she is leading change on her progressive agenda for social justice and climate change.Nisha is an extraordinary storyteller, so I encourage you to listen to this podcast. She relates stories of some of the 12 times she's been arrested! You won't want to miss anything, and I can't include all her stories in this write-up.She shared the story of helping to pass the First Step Act during the Trump Administration with help from former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:Dream.org achieved a major win with the passage of the First Step Act, a federal bill that aimed to improve the criminal justice system. Nisha was initially skeptical about the possibility of bipartisan support for criminal justice reform. She soon realized, however, that red state governors and various conservative groups, such as fiscal conservatives and libertarians, were also interested in reform. With the help of Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker of the House and Republican representative, the organization worked towards a bipartisan coalition.Despite concerns that the election of President Trump would derail their efforts, Dream.org persevered, and the First Step Act was ultimately passed with support from both sides of the aisle. Over 20,000 people have been released from federal prison as a result of the bill. For Nisha, this achievement solidified the effectiveness of bipartisan collaboration in achieving lasting change.“I worked with Newt, worked with Trump, worked with all sorts of characters to get this passed,” Nisha says. “And that's just a first step. It laid the groundwork for a lot more to be possible than on the state level, with a lot of bills being passed after that.”“So it really did for me solidify that this way works,” she says. “When you have that many people for it, it's durable. It lasts. People don't want to reverse it.”As you can see, Nisha's superpower is bridgebuilding.AI Podcast Summary* Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream.org, was a guest on the Superpowers for Good show with Devin Thorpe.* Dream.org works on issues such as climate change, social justice, and tech, and uses a unique approach of radical inclusivity.* Anand has had success with civil disobedience but also acknowledges the importance of changing hearts and minds.* Her master's degree in international peace and conflict resolution has helped her in building bridges across the aisle.* Anand discusses her work on passing the First Step Act, a federal piece of legislation on criminal justice reform.* She learned that finding common ground on even just 2% of issues can lead to progress.* Anand believes that bridge-building is key to combating polarization in society.* Everyone can develop bridge-building skills by connecting with others on a human level and taking a more inclusive approach to their work.* Dream Corps tackles social justice issues through tech and innovation with campaigns such as Green For All and #cut50.* The conversation ended with a call to action to use our superpowers for good to make positive changes in the world.Nisha's success isn't just a matter of having built unlikely bridges, but the traffic that crosses them. Her impact is huge.She shares the story of another arrest that taught her important lessons about what has become her superpower.Nisha shares her experience of being arrested in Burma while participating in a protest to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of a pro-democratic uprising. She was part of an international delegation of 18 people from eight different countries, including six from the US. They were all arrested and sentenced to five years in jail, but their arrest was a well-coordinated action, and the news made front-page headlines worldwide. A US Congressional Representative, Chris Smith, flew to Thailand to help get them out, and Nisha had the opportunity to sit next to him on the flight back to the States. She had planned to convince him of her opinions, but instead, he opened up the conversation about human rights abuses in the world and asked for her thoughts.Nisha realized that building bridges and connecting through humanity is just as important as passionate activism. The experience was eye-opening for her and happened in 1998.“We had so much in common in human rights abuses, we never got to the stuff we didn't have in common,” Nisha says.Nisha offers some tips for developing skills like hers.“Anyone that has young children, you tell them to listen to respect, to be kind,” she says. “We tell our children these things, and yet we can't practice them ourselves.”We're actually quite good at peacebuilding, she says. We just ignore the relevance of the way we decide with a group what pizza to order or which movie to see. The same skills apply to solving climate change.If you follow Nisha's example and advice, you can enhance your peacebuilding and bridge-building skills. You may even turn them into superpowers you can use to do more good in the world.Guest-Provided ProfileNisha Anand (she/her):CEO, Dream.OrgAbout Dream.Org: At Dream.Org, we close prison doors and open doors of opportunity. We bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom, dignity and opportunity for all.Website: dream.orgTwitter Handle: @thedreamcorpsCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/thedreamcorpsBiographical Information: Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and a boundary-busting national leader for social and racial justice. Once a grassroots activist arrested in Burma for pro-democracy demonstrations, Nisha is known today as a leader in cultivating unlikely and unconventional partnerships to create change. As Dream.Org's CEO, Nisha guides a team of storytellers, organizers, and policy experts working on some of society's toughest problems to create a better future for all. Twitter Handle: @nishamanandPersonal Facebook Profile: fb.com/nishaanand.orgLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/nisha-m-anand/Instagram Handle: @nishamanandOther URL: nishaanand.org Get full access to Superpowers for Good at devinthorpe.substack.com/subscribe

Support for Causeartist and the Disruptors for GOOD comes from: One Tree PlantedOne Tree Planted is a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation.If you are interested in being a part of global reforestation and would like to make a philanthropic donation or become a business partner, learn more here.---> Check out the Causeartist Partners here.---> Subscribe to the Causeartist Newsletter here.In episode 190 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we speak with Nisha Anand, CEO, of Dream.org, on bringing all sides together to solve problems through policy and entrepreneurship.Nisha Anand is a passionate Indian-American activist, dedicated mom of two teenagers, and a true leader . Nisha's remarkable journey began as a radical grassroots activist, fearlessly distributing pro-democracy leaflets in Burma, which unfortunately led to her arrest. However, this experience only fueled her commitment to organizing and ignited her belief in the transformative power of collaborating with unlikely partners to achieve genuine solutions.As the CEO of Dream.Org, Nisha guides a diverse group of individuals who, like her, have come to appreciate the immense value of forging unconventional relationships. Dream.Org is a nonprofit organization that unites people from different racial, social, and partisan backgrounds, empowering them to tackle our most complex challenges collectively.Prior to her current position, Nisha served as Chief of Staff to Van Jones, an esteemed CNN commentator and New York Times bestselling author. Drawing upon her extensive experience in nonprofit development and management, Nisha has been an influential figure in fundraising and consulting for several organizations.Nisha's unwavering commitment to social justice has garnered international attention, stemming from her arrest in Burma in 1998. This pivotal moment thrust her onto the global stage, leading to numerous speaking engagements at prestigious events and conferences. Nisha has also been sought after for interviews by various media outlets, including TV, radio, and print, where she shares her inspiring story.Nisha's incredible transformation from a punk-rock protester to a true champion of common ground is brilliantly captured in her captivating TED talk, "The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground." This thought-provoking presentation has garnered views from around the world, offering audiences a profound perspective on the importance of bridging divides and finding shared solutions.About Dream.orgAt Dream.Org, they recognize that some of society's most pressing issues also hold immense potential for positive change. However, they understand that lasting transformations can only be achieved through the collaboration of a diverse and inclusive coalition.Whether it's addressing the problem of overcrowded prisons, combating the challenges of climate change, or fostering economic opportunities in marginalized communities, Dream.Org believes that sustainable solutions emerge when people from all walks of life come together. They actively seek common ground in unexpected places and are open to partnering with anyone who shares their commitment to finding solutions, even if they hold differing views on various matters. They firmly believe that their communities deserve nothing less.This approach has already yielded significant achievements, such as bipartisan criminal justice reform that resulted in the release of over 18,000 individuals from incarceration. Additionally, Dream.Org's efforts have led to starting salaries of $70,000 for graduates of their tech cohorts and have been instrumental in securing $78.5 billion in federal funding for green initiatives, including public transportation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and environmentally friendly school buses.Through their partnership with Village capital they are a driving force for innvative ways to solve probles throufgh entrepreneurship.Check out their ClimateTech and JusticeTech accelerators and cohorts.Dream.Org, previously known as the Dream Corps, was established by Van Jones, an activist and entrepreneur. Through their various programs, they strive to create a future where fewer individuals are imprisoned, pollution is reduced, and opportunities abound for the younger generation. Together, their vision is to build a nation characterized by freedom, dignity, and equal opportunities for all. ---> Check out the Causeartist Partners here.---> Subscribe to the Causeartist Newsletter here.

Joy Gorman Wettels is the founder of Joy Coalition, an impact producing venture with a focus on creating purpose-driven film and television content for a global audience. She executive-produced the newly-released UnPrisoned, and is currently working on a multi-part storytelling ecosystem inspired by landmark civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize. Her body of work includes, notably, the critically acclaimed series Home Before Dark, the influential 13 Reasons Why, created by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).Other works include The Meddler, named Vanity Fair's #1 film of 2016, and the forthcoming adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. She serves on the Advisory Council for UCLA's Center for Scholars and Storytellers and the Advisory Board for Hollywood, Health and Society at USC. As part of their commitment to social change, Joy Coalition works in collaboration with the Office of the Surgeon General in response to the youth mental health crisis. She's accepted a Sentinel Award, Television Academy Honors for advancing social change, and the 2018 Mental Health America Media Award. “And you see these kids who are put away at 12 and 13 years old. I mean, what is the path for that child, rejected by your family, rejected by your community? There's so little hope there. And so I became drawn to stories of hope of men who were in that situation.My friend Chris Wilson, I helped him sell a book called The Master Plan. He was put away for murder when he was 16 years old. And he was in prison for life, and he wrote a bucket list. He wrote a master plan when he was 18 about what he was going to try to achieve. And he was one of those exceptional stories. And he's now a really successful artist and entrepreneur who spends most of his time giving back to the community and hiring other reentering citizens. Our friend Louis Reed, who consulted on Delroy Lindo's character, Louis is a senior director for Van Jones' Dream Corps, and he was 15 years incarcerated. And I see these people who had made one mistake, and usually it was to survive in whatever situation they were born into. And the folks who are these exceptional stories, who turn it around in such an unbelievable way that they can then coach and help 650,000 other people. With Louis, our consultant who helped Delroy with his character, he has worked on so much policy change with Van Jones with Cut50 and Reform Alliance, and you can't even quantify the amount of work that still needs to be done. But that has been done by the gentlemen who survived the system and devoted themselves to redemption and giving back to the community.”www.joycoalition.com www.imdb.com/name/nm2229726www.imdb.com/title/tt20228406/mediaviewer/rm1596470273/?ref_=tt_ov_iwww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

“And you see these kids who are put away at 12 and 13 years old. I mean, what is the path for that child, rejected by your family, rejected by your community? There's so little hope there. And so I became drawn to stories of hope of men who were in that situation.My friend Chris Wilson, I helped him sell a book called The Master Plan. He was put away for murder when he was 16 years old. And he was in prison for life, and he wrote a bucket list. He wrote a master plan when he was 18 about what he was going to try to achieve. And he was one of those exceptional stories. And he's now a really successful artist and entrepreneur who spends most of his time giving back to the community and hiring other reentering citizens. Our friend Louis Reed, who consulted on Delroy Lindo's character, Louis is a senior director for Van Jones' Dream Corps, and he was 15 years incarcerated. And I see these people who had made one mistake, and usually it was to survive in whatever situation they were born into. And the folks who are these exceptional stories, who turn it around in such an unbelievable way that they can then coach and help 650,000 other people. With Louis, our consultant who helped Delroy with his character, he has worked on so much policy change with Van Jones with Cut50 and Reform Alliance, and you can't even quantify the amount of work that still needs to be done. But that has been done by the gentlemen who survived the system and devoted themselves to redemption and giving back to the community.”Joy Gorman Wettels is the founder of Joy Coalition, an impact producing venture with a focus on creating purpose-driven film and television content for a global audience. She executive-produced the newly-released UnPrisoned, and is currently working on a multi-part storytelling ecosystem inspired by landmark civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize. Her body of work includes, notably, the critically acclaimed series Home Before Dark, the influential 13 Reasons Why, created by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).Other works include The Meddler, named Vanity Fair's #1 film of 2016, and the forthcoming adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. She serves on the Advisory Council for UCLA's Center for Scholars and Storytellers and the Advisory Board for Hollywood, Health and Society at USC. As part of their commitment to social change, Joy Coalition works in collaboration with the Office of the Surgeon General in response to the youth mental health crisis. She's accepted a Sentinel Award, Television Academy Honors for advancing social change, and the 2018 Mental Health America Media Award. www.joycoalition.com www.imdb.com/name/nm2229726www.imdb.com/title/tt20228406/mediaviewer/rm1596470273/?ref_=tt_ov_iwww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

Joy Gorman Wettels is the founder of Joy Coalition, an impact producing venture with a focus on creating purpose-driven film and television content for a global audience. She executive-produced the newly-released UnPrisoned, and is currently working on a multi-part storytelling ecosystem inspired by landmark civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize. Her body of work includes, notably, the critically acclaimed series Home Before Dark, the influential 13 Reasons Why, created by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).Other works include The Meddler, named Vanity Fair's #1 film of 2016, and the forthcoming adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. She serves on the Advisory Council for UCLA's Center for Scholars and Storytellers and the Advisory Board for Hollywood, Health and Society at USC. As part of their commitment to social change, Joy Coalition works in collaboration with the Office of the Surgeon General in response to the youth mental health crisis. She's accepted a Sentinel Award, Television Academy Honors for advancing social change, and the 2018 Mental Health America Media Award. “And you see these kids who are put away at 12 and 13 years old. I mean, what is the path for that child, rejected by your family, rejected by your community? There's so little hope there. And so I became drawn to stories of hope of men who were in that situation.My friend Chris Wilson, I helped him sell a book called The Master Plan. He was put away for murder when he was 16 years old. And he was in prison for life, and he wrote a bucket list. He wrote a master plan when he was 18 about what he was going to try to achieve. And he was one of those exceptional stories. And he's now a really successful artist and entrepreneur who spends most of his time giving back to the community and hiring other reentering citizens. Our friend Louis Reed, who consulted on Delroy Lindo's character, Louis is a senior director for Van Jones' Dream Corps, and he was 15 years incarcerated. And I see these people who had made one mistake, and usually it was to survive in whatever situation they were born into. And the folks who are these exceptional stories, who turn it around in such an unbelievable way that they can then coach and help 650,000 other people. With Louis, our consultant who helped Delroy with his character, he has worked on so much policy change with Van Jones with Cut50 and Reform Alliance, and you can't even quantify the amount of work that still needs to be done. But that has been done by the gentlemen who survived the system and devoted themselves to redemption and giving back to the community.”www.joycoalition.com www.imdb.com/name/nm2229726www.imdb.com/title/tt20228406/mediaviewer/rm1596470273/?ref_=tt_ov_iwww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

“And you see these kids who are put away at 12 and 13 years old. I mean, what is the path for that child, rejected by your family, rejected by your community? There's so little hope there. And so I became drawn to stories of hope of men who were in that situation.My friend Chris Wilson, I helped him sell a book called The Master Plan. He was put away for murder when he was 16 years old. And he was in prison for life, and he wrote a bucket list. He wrote a master plan when he was 18 about what he was going to try to achieve. And he was one of those exceptional stories. And he's now a really successful artist and entrepreneur who spends most of his time giving back to the community and hiring other reentering citizens. Our friend Louis Reed, who consulted on Delroy Lindo's character, Louis is a senior director for Van Jones' Dream Corps, and he was 15 years incarcerated. And I see these people who had made one mistake, and usually it was to survive in whatever situation they were born into. And the folks who are these exceptional stories, who turn it around in such an unbelievable way that they can then coach and help 650,000 other people. With Louis, our consultant who helped Delroy with his character, he has worked on so much policy change with Van Jones with Cut50 and Reform Alliance, and you can't even quantify the amount of work that still needs to be done. But that has been done by the gentlemen who survived the system and devoted themselves to redemption and giving back to the community.”Joy Gorman Wettels is the founder of Joy Coalition, an impact producing venture with a focus on creating purpose-driven film and television content for a global audience. She executive-produced the newly-released UnPrisoned, and is currently working on a multi-part storytelling ecosystem inspired by landmark civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize. Her body of work includes, notably, the critically acclaimed series Home Before Dark, the influential 13 Reasons Why, created by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).Other works include The Meddler, named Vanity Fair's #1 film of 2016, and the forthcoming adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. She serves on the Advisory Council for UCLA's Center for Scholars and Storytellers and the Advisory Board for Hollywood, Health and Society at USC. As part of their commitment to social change, Joy Coalition works in collaboration with the Office of the Surgeon General in response to the youth mental health crisis. She's accepted a Sentinel Award, Television Academy Honors for advancing social change, and the 2018 Mental Health America Media Award. www.joycoalition.com www.imdb.com/name/nm2229726www.imdb.com/title/tt20228406/mediaviewer/rm1596470273/?ref_=tt_ov_iwww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

In this human existence we experience, how do we "come home to ourselves" to truly feel embodied? What does "embodied relaxation" mean to us, and how can we cultivate it? In this talk Anjali shares methods that can lead us to into more spacious states using our bodies, the elements around us, and practices we can explore internally. ____________ Anjali Sawhney (she/her/hers) is a Certified Integral Life Coach from New Ventures West in San Francisco, 2006, and a trained international Leadership Embodiment Teacher (somatic coaching based on Aikido and Mindfulness) with founder Wendy Palmer, 2011. Anjali has coached and led somatics and mindfulness workshops in the movement, nonprofit, corporate, and educational sectors including at the East Bay Meditation Center (where she is also part of the Leadership Sangha Board) as well as the Richmond Community Foundation, California Endowment, Dream Corps, and UCSF. She is also on the facilitation teaching team at Strozzi Institute (Generative Somatics lineage) and Beloved Communities. Anjali also serves directly with untapped BIPOC and LGBTQI+ students, those unhoused, and those in recovery by providing coaching, counseling, and series workshops. Anjali was born in Asia, raised in Los Angeles, and has lived on the east coast of the United States as well as in South and East Asia. She is passionate about rallying untapped folx through coaching, community, and spirituality as well as street protests for equity and systemic change. Anjali is in awe of nature and live music, and on rare occasions is allowed to groove with her teenagers, Aanika and Jai. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

How progressive campaigners in the US managed to win bipartisan legislation by building a hugely diverse coalition that brought together everyone from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Koch Brothers and the religious right, combined with personal stories of everyone from victims of crime to former prisoners. Nisha Anand - former punk rock protestor, chief of staff to legendary organiser Van Jones and now CEO of Dream Corps - was at the heart of this amazing breakthrough. She talks about how they managed it and what the lessons are for campaigners on other issues. Produced by Larger Us and distributed by Real Agenda Radio www.realagendaradio.org

Danielle Norman joins us to discuss breaking into tech with her new skills, career, and opportunities with Dream.org (formally Dream Corps). Check out our sponsor(s): For educational books and gear, visit www.whitneygaskins.com/ Follow us online: Instagram - www.instagram.com/shetoostem Facebook - www.facebook.com/shetoostem Linktree - linktr.ee/shetoostem Remember to rate, review, and describe

VANNESSA WADE is the founder of Connect The Dots PR. Often called an “idea oven” and “branding magnet,” she has been featured in magazines such as Black Enterprise and Fast Company.From working on legislative campaigns, to supporting Dream Corps, Wade has been able to help brands position themselves in newsworthy and culturally relevant ways. She is as driven about public service as she is about public relations. She volunteers her time and expertise to various civic organizations including Kids Meals, The Sickle Cell Marc Thomas Foundation and more. Vannessa enjoys traveling, reading and helping clients shine.

Reaching across the aisle doesn't mean forgetting who you are or your values —in fact, the opposite is true. When collaborating with people who don't share your core beliefs, it is more important than ever to lead with who you are to arrive at your desired outcome. Nisha is a grassroots activist and was arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets. She's got expansive organizing experience, and her work has solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. Her journey from punk rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TEDx talk The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.For show notes visit diabondi.com/podcast

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. ” — Arundhati Roy More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net Given the events of the recent weeks, we wanted to replay an episode we both found great encouragement from - about how social change can happen when there does not seem to be shared beliefs or perspectives. In this encore episode, Nisha Anand shares what she has learned about finding common ground and creating shared solutions that can and do lead to transformation. Enjoy this encore episode with Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream Corps. Can we create social change with others who do not share the same beliefs or perspectives? In our conversation today with Nisha Anand, she talks about how we can do this and why we should. Nisha is an Indian-American activist and the CEO of Dream Corps, a nonprofit that works to bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom and dignity for all. In our conversation you will: Hear about Nisha's activist background which originated in high school Learn about Dream Corps' mission and how the organization seeks to address the toughest problems by creating shared solutions Listen to Nisha describe her understanding of how to use love as a force for good, how it supports inclusion and why it is vital for leaders Learn about the framework Dream Corps uses, called the ‘4 corners of power' Hear some stories about the way Nisha used connection and common ground to make big strides in creating social change Listen to the story behind one of the best pieces of advice she has learned from her mentor, Van Jones, ‘Hope it's your fault and it usually is.' Hear Nisha's thoughts on what qualities are important for today's leaders Learn Nisha's tips for social change leaders today including…. More about Nisha Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and leader for racial justice. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha's expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with ‘unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps' CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha's journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground. Nisha Anand DreamCorps

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. ” — Arundhati Roy More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net Given the events of the recent weeks, we wanted to replay an episode we both found great encouragement from - about how social change can happen when there does not seem to be shared beliefs or perspectives. In this encore episode, Nisha Anand shares what she has learned about finding common ground and creating shared solutions that can and do lead to transformation. Enjoy this encore episode with Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream Corps.   Can we create social change with others who do not share the same beliefs or perspectives?  In our conversation today with Nisha Anand, she talks about how we can do this and why we should.  Nisha is an Indian-American activist and the CEO of Dream Corps,  a nonprofit that works to bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom and dignity for all.  In our conversation you will: Hear about Nisha's activist background which originated in high school  Learn about Dream Corps' mission and how the organization seeks to address the toughest problems by creating shared solutions Listen to Nisha describe her understanding of how to use love as a force for good,  how it supports inclusion and why it is vital for leaders  Learn about the framework Dream Corps uses, called the ‘4 corners of power'  Hear some stories about the way Nisha used connection and common ground to make big strides in creating social change Listen to  the story behind one of the best pieces of advice she has learned from her mentor, Van Jones, ‘Hope it's your fault and it usually is.'  Hear Nisha's thoughts on what qualities are important for today's leaders Learn Nisha's tips for social change leaders today including…. More about Nisha  Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and leader for racial justice. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha's expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with ‘unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps' CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha's journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.   Nisha Anand DreamCorps

We're so grateful Janos Marton joined us on the podcast this week! “Janos Marton is a born and raised New Yorker. He has spent his career fighting for racial justice and taking on corruption – as a civil rights lawyer, special counsel to the Moreland Commission to Investigate Corruption, and as attorney investigating police misconduct for the City of New York. In 2016 he was named the first advocacy director of JustLeadershipUSA, where he managed the historic #CLOSErikers campaign. He then ran criminal justice programs across the country for the ACLU. As a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney in 2020, Janos ran on a bold platform to use prison as a last resort, receiving praise for groundbreaking policies that became the gold standard in the race.” You're going to love this amazing, damn-giving human. Once you've listened, let us know what you think! NEXT STEPS: Follow Janos on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Dream Corps on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Consider getting involved in the work Dream Corps is doing! They're amazing and they need your help today. __________________________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let's Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don't want you to miss a thing! If you love what we're doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can't do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! Keep giving a damn. Love y'all!

In Episode 84, Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream Corps, joins Melinda in a reflective conversation about how we can make unlikely allies and find common ground to create large-scale change in our organizations, culture, and legislation. They share their take on the Supreme Court's draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, its impact on abortion rights across different communities, and the power every individual can have in pushing for an inclusive piece of legislation. Nisha also provides practical steps for creating common ground in communities and workplaces by learning how to have hard conversations, listening to understand, and finding commonalities that can help drive change forward.About Nisha Anand (she/her)Nisha Anand is the CEO of Dream Corps, a nonprofit organization that brings people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to solve our toughest problems. She is the Political Director of Rebuild The Dream, an organization fighting for an economy that works for everyone. Her journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her widely-viewed TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground. With her team of storytellers, organizers, and policy experts, Nisha focuses on criminal justice reform, green economics, and tech equity to create a better future for all.Previously, Nisha served as Chief of Staff to Van Jones, CNN commentator, and NY Times Bestselling Author. Nisha is a senior trainer and consultant with GIFT, the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training. As a certified coach, Nisha is a pioneer in the field of “fundraising coaching”–providing a unique blend of coaching people through their issues around money.In 1998, Nisha was arrested while passing out pro-democracy leaflets in the military dictatorship of Burma and was sentenced to five years in jail with 18 other international activists. Her arrest put her on the international stage, delivering speeches at numerous events and conferences and interviewing for TV, radio, and print. Nisha plays soccer and is the mother of two teenagers and a great dane.To join us for our monthly live event or find educational resources from the episode, visit ally.cc.Connect With Nisha On SocialLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nisha-m-anandFacebook: facebook.com/nisha.anand.31Twitter: twitter.com/NishaMAnandInstagram: instagram.com/nishamanandConnect With Us On SocialYouTube: youtube.com/c/changecatalystTwitter: twitter.com/changecatalystsFacebook: facebook.com/changecatalystsInstagram: instagram.com/techinclusionLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/changecatalystsProduction TeamCreator & Host: Melinda Briana EplerCo-Producers: Renzo Santos & Christina Swindlehurst ChanCreative Director @ Podcast Rocket: Rob Scheerbarth[Image description: LEA promo with photos of Nisha Anand, a South Asian female with long wavy black hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a striped black and white long sleeve; and host Melinda Briana Epler, a White woman with red hair, glasses, and orange shirt holding a white mug behind a laptop.]Support the show

Thursday, May 5th, 2022   Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, leader for racial justice, and the CEO of DreamCorps. Her expansive organizing experience solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. We discuss Dream Corps' work in criminal justice reform, building a green economy, and creating equity in tech.   We all have our humanity in common, which forms a strong and consistent philosophical foundation for building allyship across differences. When we have that human connection, we can do heroic things. We can heal divides.    Follow Nisha Anand on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nishamanand    Follow Mila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/milaatmos    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Sponsors Subscribe to The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen or at jordanharbinger.com/subscribe   Go to Shopify.com/hopeful for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.   Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard    Want to support the show and get it early? https://patreon.com/futurehindsight   Check out the Future Hindsight website! www.futurehindsight.com     Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guest: Nisha Anand Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producers: Zack Travis and Sara Burningham

FOUND IN TRANSLATION TALK SHOW, your home for Latino politics & news, is back this week with updates on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Meeting with White House, Republican infighting on January 6th insurrection and latest anti-Latino attack. Hosts Rafael “Ray” Collazo and Enrique Chaurand then interview Carlos Guevara of UnidosUS to update us on immigration policies from Capitol Hill to our Southern Border. Guevara shares what UnidosUS is calling on President Biden to do now on immigration while Collazo analyzes why we need to push back on the right wing narrative related to immigration policy. Chaurand updates us on latest work UnidosUS Action Fund and Dream Corps are doing to engage Latinos in Climate Change movement while  Collazo gives us his weekly Puerto Rican news update. Finally, hosts discuss their fight over a Mexican/Puerto Rican baller.

Second chance month offers a time to reflect on the policies we can use to improve the lives of our fellow Americans. Amanda Hall, in both her work and personal life, knows just how important a second chance can be. On today's podcast, Amanda joins us to talk about the importance of second chances, and some of the crucial policies we can advance to help more families. From schooling to job training and expungement, several states have shown us effective pathways for reentry. We discuss it all on today's show.

Found In Translation Talk Show is back with host Rafael “Ray” Collazo and new cohost political communications expert Enrique Chaurand. Chaurand interviews Collazo to catch us up on this past year as Collazo has assumed the role of UnidosUS Action Fund's Executive Director. UnidosUS Action Fund is the 501c4 political arm of the nation's largest Latino Civil Rights Organization. Collazo catches us up on his new national platform and the political landscape for Latino voters in 2022. Collazo and Chaurand are then joined by one of the country's leading Latina environmentalist, Jessica “Jessie” Buendia. Jessie is the Dream Corps Vice President of Sustainability and National Director of Green For All, a nonprofit program founded by Van Jones to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Buendia shares with us the importance of Earth Day and Latino climate change engagement. Collazo and Buendia announce an exciting new partnership between Dream Corps and UnidosUS Action Fund to mobilize Latino voters in Florida around the environment. Follow @jessie_buendia and @greenforall and work together to protect our planet for the next generations. At end of episode, Collazo makes huge announcement on next steps for both Found In Translation Talk Show and Bomba Live! Follow @fit_talkshow and @bombalivepr for more content that educates, inspires and entertains.  

This episode features Indian-American activist and racial justice leader Nisha Anand of https://www.thedreamcorps.org/ (Dream Corps). Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha's expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps' CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha and Nancy speak about how we can and must work with people across the divide to come up with lasting solutions to our biggest problems; how these solutions are enriched, not compromised, when we find common ground; and an optimistic take on our ability to tackle the climate crisis. If you're interested in learning more about Nisha's journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion, check out her TED talk, https://www.ted.com/talks/nisha_anand_the_radical_act_of_choosing_common_ground_mar_2020?language=en (The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground).

In this episode Bryn talks with Nisha Anand, activist, bridge builder and CEO of the US NGO Dream Corps. Nisha shares her story of moving from punk-rock political disruptor to cross-party unifier, and her work with Van Jones passing the unique, bilaterally supported First Step Act (2018). Nisha advocates for the ruthless commitment to finding common ground with those on the opposite end of the political spectrum in order to progress key issues of the day, such as criminal justice reform and climate change. You can find out more about Nisha by visiting her website, www.nishaanad.org and learn more about the work of Dream Corps at www.thedreamcorps.org This episode was recorded on 4th March 2022 and produced by Blue Bear Coffee Co. Find out more about the work of Blue Bear  and stock up on ethically sourced coffee by going to our website: www.bluebearcoffee.com or follow us on instagram at bluebearcoffeeco.  

New month greetings Glocal Citizens! February in North America marks Black History Month [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month] and my guest comes to us from a bedrock city in the story of migration and activism in black history by way of his own family's journey from in his native Cape Verde. Temosticles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira is a multi-talented keynote speaker astounding audiences with his unique blend of poetry, hip-hop music, and relevant social messages. He has spoken at many prestigious universities including Harvard University, Brown University and UMass Amherst and he has shared the stage with recording artists Common, KRS-1, and Ludacris. From large audiences at city-wide earth day festivals, to more intimate settings including classrooms and school assemblies, his word inspire people, particularly youth, with powerful messages focused on personal transformation, critical thinking, global responsibility and how young people can use their voices to be leaders in their communities. Merging his talents as a hip-hop artist and passions as an environmental justice activist he has recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign enabling him to publish his stunning 252 page YA (young audiences) graphic novel, Planeta Blu - Rise of Agoo. He wrote this story to inspire the next generation of youth of color. As an African American born in west Africa, he was called to write this book to create a world where a strong, young black woman would be the hero and that other youth of color could see themselves in the same heroic, positive light. This is another lively two-part interview so be sure to tune in x2 for insights into how this justice entrepreneur is re[presenting] superheroes of yesterday and today for a more sustainable tomorrow. Where to find Tem? planetablu.com (https://planetablu.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tem-blessed-4b229440/) On Instragram (https://www.instagram.com/temblessed/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/temblessed) On Twitter (https://twitter.com/temblessed) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/temblessed) What's Tem reading? Autobiography of Malcolm X (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B013ZNNX5C&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_32E6GCG1H7G075Q334X9&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Malcolm X and Alex Haley The Art of Living (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01ER6FZVQ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5AEZ095XBVA4VY2BVAB8&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Thich Nhat Hanh The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005BRS8Z6&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_2TTZNS4ABVKF0Q71V60C&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Don Miguel Ruiz Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy, The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B084DC3SSK&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_21C0HVCBWN2Z4PF9M8SB&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Miguel Ruiz Books by Ram Dass (https://smile.amazon.com/Ram-Dass/e/B001HCS3GS/ref=sxts_entity_h_bsx_s_def_r00_t_aufl?pd_rd_w=ppiTe&pf_rd_p=7b65f550-ae72-40a7-86e4-c165711b4536&pf_rd_r=T7RD5G9KAAX9KAXR2J4Y&pd_rd_r=590ba815-1508-4546-a28a-569817c00564&pd_rd_wg=9LwC0&qid=1643613281&cv_ct_cx=ram+dass) Spawn Comic Series (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/spawn) What's Tem watching? Star Wars (https://www.starwars.com/films) See (https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/see/) What's Tem listening to? Kendrick Lamar (https://www.kendricklamar.com/) A Tribe Calle Quest (https://atribecalledquest.com/home/) De La Soul (https://www.wearedelasoul.com/) Bob Marley (https://dev.bobmarley.com/music/) Nahko and Medicine for the People (https://www.nahko.com/about) Chachi Carvalho (https://chachihiphop.com/) Tem Blessed's Music (https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tem-blessed/194971404) Strela Negra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTHtrrc-hgA) Ceseria Evora (https://www.cesaria-evora.com) Other topics of interest: Van Jones' Dream Corps (https://www.thedreamcorps.org) Upward Bound (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upward_Bound) Knoll Farm and Peter Forbes (https://knollfarm.org/our-story/) Sundown Towns (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adeonibada/sundown-towns-racism-black-drivers-tiktok) Historic New Bedford (https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/africanamerican.htm) Frederick Douglass (https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/frederickdouglass.htm) Cape Verdean Americans (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verdean_Americans) Revolution Leader Amílcar Cabral (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%ADlcar_Cabral) Portuguese Dictator DiAntonio de Oli veira Salazar (https://www.nytimes.com/1970/07/28/archives/antonio-salazar-a-quiet-autocrat-who-held-power-in-portugal-for-40.html) Image Comics (https://imagecomics.com) Dark Horse Comics (https://www.darkhorse.com) *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! Special Guest: Temistocles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira .

How do you build a movement of people with deeply opposing views? How do you get them to buy into your vision? Our guest this week, Dream Corps CEO Nisha Anand, turned the challenge of finding common ground in a divisive political climate into a mission. Dream Corps is a nonprofit organization founded by US TV host and social entrepreneur Van Jones. The organization advances solutions to society's biggest problems by bringing people together across racial, social, and partisan lines. In this episode, Nisha shares practical and valuable insights on how to approach movement building. As a veteran fundraiser, she also talks about an important lesson from Van Jones that pushed her to think about fundraising differently, as well as straightforward yet powerful advice on fundraising that led to a $100 million dollar gift from Jeff Bezos. Learn more about Nisha's work at Dream Corps. -- Learn more about Spring Impact. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

New month greetings Glocal Citizens! February in North America marks Black History Month [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month] and my guest comes to us from a bedrock city in the story of migration and activism in black history by way of his own family's journey from in his native Cape Verde. Temosticles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira is a multi-talented keynote speaker astounding audiences with his unique blend of poetry, hip-hop music, and relevant social messages. He has spoken at many prestigious universities including Harvard University, Brown University and UMass Amherst and he has shared the stage with recording artists Common, KRS-1, and Ludacris. From large audiences at city-wide earth day festivals, to more intimate settings including classrooms and school assemblies, his word inspire people, particularly youth, with powerful messages focused on personal transformation, critical thinking, global responsibility and how young people can use their voices to be leaders in their communities. Merging his talents as a hip-hop artist and passions as an environmental justice activist he has recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign enabling him to publish his stunning 252 page YA (young audiences) graphic novel, Planeta Blu - Rise of Agoo. He wrote this story to inspire the next generation of youth of color. As an African American born in west Africa, he was called to write this book to create a world where a strong, young black woman would be the hero and that other youth of color could see themselves in the same heroic, positive light. This is another lively two-part interview so be sure to tune in x2 for insights into how this justice entrepreneur is re[presenting] superheroes of yesterday and today for a more sustainable tomorrow. Where to find Tem? planetablu.com (https://planetablu.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tem-blessed-4b229440/) On Instragram (https://www.instagram.com/temblessed/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/temblessed) On Twitter (https://twitter.com/temblessed) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/temblessed) What's Tem reading? Autobiography of Malcolm X (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B013ZNNX5C&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_32E6GCG1H7G075Q334X9&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Malcolm X and Alex Haley The Art of Living (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01ER6FZVQ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5AEZ095XBVA4VY2BVAB8&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Thich Nhat Hanh The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005BRS8Z6&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_2TTZNS4ABVKF0Q71V60C&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Don Miguel Ruiz Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy, The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B084DC3SSK&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_21C0HVCBWN2Z4PF9M8SB&tag=glocalcitiz09-20) by Miguel Ruiz Books by Ram Dass (https://smile.amazon.com/Ram-Dass/e/B001HCS3GS/ref=sxts_entity_h_bsx_s_def_r00_t_aufl?pd_rd_w=ppiTe&pf_rd_p=7b65f550-ae72-40a7-86e4-c165711b4536&pf_rd_r=T7RD5G9KAAX9KAXR2J4Y&pd_rd_r=590ba815-1508-4546-a28a-569817c00564&pd_rd_wg=9LwC0&qid=1643613281&cv_ct_cx=ram+dass) Spawn Comic Series (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/spawn) What's Tem watching? Star Wars (https://www.starwars.com/films) See (https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/see/) What's Tem listening to? Kendrick Lamar (https://www.kendricklamar.com/) A Tribe Calle Quest (https://atribecalledquest.com/home/) De La Soul (https://www.wearedelasoul.com/) Bob Marley (https://dev.bobmarley.com/music/) Nahko and Medicine for the People (https://www.nahko.com/about) Chachi Carvalho (https://chachihiphop.com/) Tem Blessed's Music (https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tem-blessed/194971404) Strela Negra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTHtrrc-hgA) Ceseria Evora (https://www.cesaria-evora.com) Other topics of interest: Van Jones' Dream Corps (https://www.thedreamcorps.org) Upward Bound (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upward_Bound) Knoll Farm and Peter Forbes (https://knollfarm.org/our-story/) Sundown Towns (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adeonibada/sundown-towns-racism-black-drivers-tiktok) Historic New Bedford (https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/africanamerican.htm) Frederick Douglass (https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/frederickdouglass.htm) Cape Verdean Americans (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verdean_Americans) Revolution Leader Amílcar Cabral (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%ADlcar_Cabral) Portuguese Dictator DiAntonio de Oli veira Salazar (https://www.nytimes.com/1970/07/28/archives/antonio-salazar-a-quiet-autocrat-who-held-power-in-portugal-for-40.html) Image Comics (https://imagecomics.com) Dark Horse Comics (https://www.darkhorse.com) *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! Special Guest: Temistocles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira .

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. Arundhati Roy More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net Can we create social change with others who do not share the same beliefs or perspectives? In our conversation today with Nisha Anand, she talks about how we can do this and why we should. Nisha is an Indian-American activist and the CEO of Dream Corps, a nonprofit that works to bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom and dignity for all. In our conversation you will: Hear about Nisha's activist background which originated in high school Learn about Dream Corps' mission and how the organization seeks to address today's toughest problems by creating shared solutions Listen to Nisha describe her understanding of how to use love as a force for good, how it supports inclusion and why it is vital for leaders Learn about the framework Dream Corps uses, called the ‘4 corners of power' Hear some stories about the way Nisha used connection and common ground to make big strides in creating social change Understand Nisha's perspective on the power of social media and the challenges that presents Listen to the story behind one of the best pieces of advice she has learned from her mentor, Van Jones, ‘Hope it's your fault and it usually is.' Hear Nisha's thoughts on what qualities are important for leaders to have and cultivate Learn Nisha's tips for social change leaders today More about Nisha Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and leader for racial justice. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha's expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with ‘unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps' CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha's journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground. Nisha Anand DreamCorps

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.  Arundhati Roy More information can be found at www.socialchangeleaders.net Can we create social change with others who do not share the same beliefs or perspectives?  In our conversation today with Nisha Anand, she talks about how we can do this and why we should.  Nisha is an Indian-American activist and the CEO of Dream Corps, a nonprofit that works to bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom and dignity for all.  In our conversation you will: Hear about Nisha's activist background which originated in high school  Learn about Dream Corps' mission and how the organization seeks to address today's toughest problems by creating shared solutions Listen to Nisha describe her understanding of how to use love as a force for good, how it supports inclusion and why it is vital for leaders  Learn about the framework Dream Corps uses, called the ‘4 corners of power'  Hear some stories about the way Nisha used connection and common ground to make big strides in creating social change Understand Nisha's perspective on the power of social media and the challenges that presents Listen to  the story behind one of the best pieces of advice she has learned from her mentor, Van Jones, ‘Hope it's your fault and it usually is.'  Hear Nisha's thoughts on what qualities are important for leaders to have and cultivate Learn Nisha's tips for social change leaders today  More about Nisha  Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and leader for racial justice. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha's expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with ‘unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps' CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha's journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground. Nisha Anand DreamCorps

Nisha Anand is Dream Corps' CEO and a national leader for social and racial justice. Nisha joins Michelle as they discuss solutions for the future and the challenges Nisha faced as a young activist. You will also hear about Nisha's turning point when she realized that discussing what people have in common can lead to working with those you disagree with to solve some of the biggest problems facing America. Nisha describes how Dream Corps is out to prove that finding common ground with those who oppose your views is the best way to make changes to improve lives and pass beneficial legislation.   Michelle Talks About Finding Common Ground With Those With Opposing Views Criminal Justice Reform Climate Change Being A Leader & Activist How To Be Calm When You Feel Passionately About An Issue Links Mentioned   Dream Corps Nisha Anand Nisha Anand's Instagram Nisha Anand's Twitter Nisha's Ted Talk: The radical art of choosing common ground  

Beatie Wolfe interviews radical feminist, punk rock activist and Dream Corps CEO Nisha Anand about her work at the intersection of criminal justice reform, green economics and tech equity. Listen to this show that takes you from a partitioned India to passing the First Step Act via the philosophy of building bridges wherever and whenever we can. Orange Juice for the Ears with “musical weirdo and visionary” (Vice) Beatie Wolfe explores the power of music across Space, Science, Art, Health, Film & Technology by talking to the leading luminaries in each field from Nobel Prize winners to multi-platinum producers and hearing the music that has most impacted them, their “Orange Juice for the Ears”. Beatie Wolfe is an artist who has beamed her music into space, been appointed a UN Women role model for innovation, and held an acclaimed solo exhibition at the V&A Museum. Named by WIRED as one of “22 people changing the world,” Beatie Wolfe is at the forefront of pioneering new formats for music that bridge the physical and digital, which include: a 3D vinyl for the palm of your hand; a wearable record jacket – cut by Bowie/Hendrix's tailor out of fabric woven with Wolfe's music – and most recently the world's first live 360 AR stream from the quietest room on earth. Wolfe is also the co-founder of a “profound” (The Times) research project looking at the power of music for people living with dementia. Nisha Anand's Orange Juice for the Ears First song that imprinted? “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure / First album that shaped who you are? “Nite Klub” by The Specials – from their self titled album / The music you would send into Space? “Without a day” by Car vs. Driver / The song you would have at your memorial? “Requater” by Ida / The album you would pass onto the next generation? “Boxcar” by Jawbreaker's – from the album 24 Hour Revenge Therapy //. This show first aired live on dublab radio. The podcast was mastered by Dean Martin Hovey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dublab-radio/support

Rachel Lauren is a conscious social influencer who is passionate about racial equity, Black life, women's rights, foster care/adoption, and holistic wellness. By profession Rachel is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practitioner and Human Resources professional. Rachel is the Senior Director of People and Culture for Van Jones non-profit organization Dream Corps while concurrently serving as a Managing Partner (Programming and Relationships) for Diversified, a boutique DEI consulting firm. It is not by coincidence that Rachel's passion for people and heart for culture has led her to a career that speaks to who she is and what she believes.

This week on Gin & Justice, Justine and Amanda talk common ground with Nisha Anand, CEO of the Dream Corps. Nisha has been an activist since she was a young child and she talks about her journey from her first protest to becoming CEO of one of the most innovative organizations that advocates for change by finding common ground between often polar opposite views and uses that to make progress.  Another amazing woman, making progress in leaps and bounds!  After this interview, if you want to hear her TED Talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground, found here: https://www.ted.com/talks/nisha_anand_the_radical_act_of_choosing_common_groundIf you want to learn more about Dream Corps, or any of their organizations, visit their website here:https://www.thedreamcorps.org/As always, if you are able, please donate.If you want to learn more about LEAP, please visit their website here: https://leapforladies.org/Remember, they have a FREE CLASS! Starting September 7th, 2021. 

Buckle up and get ready to have a good time. We start with celebrating season 2 of Winner Talk a little more.  Next we talk about Jeff Bezos and his recent space voyage.  And then more importantly we discuss the 200 Million split two ways Jeff Bezos donated to Van Jones of Dream Corps and José  Andrés of World Central Kitchen. Then we talk about LeBron James and him being the first active/non-retired billionaire in the NBA. Lastly we give a shout out to the newly crowed NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks.Sometimes when you hear a song from your past that you haven't heard in a long time, that song takes you back to a special time in your life. This week in "Trav's R&B Corner" we take it back to a very tall R&B singer who's reminding us to enjoy one another company and figure out "What's on Tonight."And once again we bring in our special guest Old Man for another edition of "Easy Money w/ Old Man." This week we talk about a specific stock and the power of a stock splitting.Finally get a word of encouragement and inspiration from this week's edition of "Drop a Gem."

Criminal justice reform, climate change and inclusiveness in the tech sector are extremely important topics in today's society. These are pressing issues that need to be addressed. Dream Corps advocates for a more humane justice system, sustainable and energy friendly solutions, and inclusivity in the tech sector.   Find out how you can be part of making a positive change in society. Want to support Dream Corps? https://www.thedreamcorps.org/ Find the episode on Great.com: https://great.com/great-talks-with/dream-corps/

As an experienced civil rights lawyer and long-time humanizer, Janos Marton is an influential and respected leader in safety and justice work nationally. His commentary on the discussion between reform and abolition is an excellent way to better understand the complexity of the issue. But don't let it be the whole story for you. For answers on abolitionism we either didn't cover or didn't have answers for, explore Mariame Kaba and Ruth Wilson Gilmore (among others). - To contact and for more info on The Community: https://sociatap.com/Thecommunity/- For resources and events in reentry/reform/decarceration work in Wisconsin visit the Wisconsin Decarceration Platform

Van Jones is a TV host, author, attorney, and change maker known for his bridge-building approach to politics ... and his tireless fight for social justice. He's the host of The Van Jones Show and The Redemption Project on CNN, as well as a frequent CNN political contributor. He's been fighting for criminal and environmental justice for more than a quarter century. He's launched or helped launch a huge number of nonprofits and initiatives, including Color of Change, Green for All, Dream Corps, Rebuild the Dream, REFORM Alliance, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He's also the co-founder of Magic Labs Media, the production company behind “The Messy Truth,” a web series about the divides exposed by the 2016 presidential election. And Jones is the author of three bestselling books, including, most recently, Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together, a deep dive on how the country can learn and heal from 2016. Over the past year, he has helped put a major spotlight on the need to reform American policing; helped pass legislation to transform probation and parole laws in California, Louisiana, and Michigan; and won an Emmy Award for “The Messy Truth VR Experience.” And the list goes on. We are so excited for you to hear this conversation with Van Jones!

Van Jones is a TV host, author, attorney, and change maker known for his bridge-building approach to politics ... and his tireless fight for social justice. He's the host of The Van Jones Show and The Redemption Project on CNN, as well as a frequent CNN political contributor. He's been fighting for criminal and environmental justice for more than a quarter century. He's launched or helped launch a huge number of nonprofits and initiatives, including Color of Change, Green for All, Dream Corps, Rebuild the Dream, REFORM Alliance, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He's also the co-founder of Magic Labs Media, the production company behind “The Messy Truth,” a web series about the divides exposed by the 2016 presidential election. And Jones is the author of three bestselling books, including, most recently, Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together, a deep dive on how the country can learn and heal from 2016. Over the past year, he has helped put a major spotlight on the need to reform American policing; helped pass legislation to transform probation and parole laws in California, Louisiana, and Michigan; and won an Emmy Award for “The Messy Truth VR Experience.” And the list goes on. We are so excited for you to hear this conversation with Van Jones!

Van Jones is a TV host, author, attorney, and change maker known for his bridge-building approach to politics ... and his tireless fight for social justice. He's the host of The Van Jones Show and The Redemption Project on CNN, as well as a frequent CNN political contributor. He's been fighting for criminal and environmental justice for more than a quarter century. He's launched or helped launch a huge number of nonprofits and initiatives, including Color of Change, Green for All, Dream Corps, Rebuild the Dream, REFORM Alliance, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He's also the co-founder of Magic Labs Media, the production company behind “The Messy Truth,” a web series about the divides exposed by the 2016 presidential election. And Jones is the author of three bestselling books, including, most recently, Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together, a deep dive on how the country can learn and heal from 2016. Over the past year, he has helped put a major spotlight on the need to reform American policing; helped pass legislation to transform probation and parole laws in California, Louisiana, and Michigan; and won an Emmy Award for “The Messy Truth VR Experience.” And the list goes on. We are so excited for you to hear this conversation with Van Jones!

This week, I welcome Nisha Anand to the show. I first came to know about Nisha when I found her Ted Talk titled, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.   Sounds right up my alley, doesn't it?   A long-time activist and the CEO of a non-profit called The Dream Corps, Nisha has been involved in such work as helping garner bipartisan support for criminal justice reform that was eventually signed into law by President Trump.   Call it compromise, call it bargaining, call it whatever you want, understanding differing viewpoints does not have to equal agreement. But there is no way you can find common ground and work toward solutions to challenging issues if you do not first understand the viewpoints and arguments that differ from your own.   Watch Nisha's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/nisha_anand_the_radical_act_of_choosing_common_ground_mar_2020?language=en   Learn more about Nisha's work with The Dream Corps at https://www.thedreamcorps.org

Welcome back to another episode of The Defiant Business Podcast! Today I have with me Kratina Baker, who is a Senior Organizer at Dream Corps, JUSTICE (formerly known as cut50). Before joining cut 50, she was the North Carolina Organizer for a Global reproductive Rights Campaign, where she led the Digital Strategy for the Campaign and managed Volunteer teams to advocate for family planning and comprehensive reproductive healthcare for individuals around the Globe. Kratina also has a law degree and has offered her legal expertise, working as a consultant for attorneys, advocacy, organizations, and grassroots political campaigns. In her second episode, Kratina will share tactics and strategies on how she creates marketing campaigns, as well as what it means for her to utilize the power of ethical marketing and leading with soul. Show notes coming soon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/defiant-business-podcast/message

Welcome back to another episode of The Defiant Business Podcast! Today I have with me Kratina Baker, who is a Senior Organizer at Dream Corps, JUSTICE (formerly known as cut50). Before joining cut 50, she was the North Carolina Organizer for a Global reproductive Rights Campaign, where she led the Digital Strategy for the Campaign and managed Volunteer teams to advocate for family planning and comprehensive reproductive healthcare for individuals around the Globe. Kratina also has a law degree and has offered her legal expertise, working as a consultant for attorneys, advocacy, organizations, and grassroots political campaigns. In this episode, Kratina will share her story about going to law school and getting a degree while being a mom of three kids as well as how she got started working in the Criminal Justice Sphere. Show notes coming soon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/defiant-business-podcast/message

On this week's episode of Gin & Justice, Justine and Amanda sit down with the National Director of Dream Corps Justice, Janos Marton.  Dream Corps is an organization based on closing prison doors and opening doors of opportunity, especially in the communities of color that have been most impacted by the policies that have led to mass incarceration.  Janos fills us in on the many campaigns that the Dream Corps Justice division is promoting and further shares the successful passing of the First Step Act.Dream Corps Justice is holding its' first monthly "State of Justice," a town hall-esque meeting.  Register now on the Dream Corps Justice Facebook Page. The event is being held via Zoom on April 7th @ 7:00pm EST.Find out more and donate at:https://www.thedreamcorps.org/Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

You are in charge of what your future looks like, regardless of your past or present. Senior Director of Memberships and Partnerships for REFORM Alliance, Louis L. Reed is the absolute living example of that. After spending 14 years in federal prison, Louis is now working towards criminal justice and legal reform. He recognized that he wanted to create a legacy of purpose for himself and is on the path to doing exactly that. I don’t have vast knowledge or education on the prison system, but I wanted to learn what criminal justice reform means and looks like, and  why it’s needed. I was curious to find out what is going on in our prisons, what needs to be changed, what can we do to create change and ultimately a better world for everyone. Louis shares his story and experiences and has a raw, open, and candid conversation with me about the criminal justice system, mental health crisis, and our police system.  I truly believe that it’s in having these types of conversations we can create change and experience empathy. I’m eternally grateful to Louis for having this one with me and look forward to many more honest conversations. Michelle Talks About Louis L. Reed’s Story: From Prison to Criminal Justice Reform What Is Criminal Justice Reform? The Mental Health Crisis In America Refunding The Police Instead Of Defunding First Step Act Ways You Can Help Legal And Criminal Justice Reform Links Mentioned Louis L. Reed’s Website https://www.louislreed.org/  Louis L. Reed on Instagram www.instagram.com/heinspires4real  Louis L. Reed on Twitter https://twitter.com/LouislReed  Dream Corps https://www.thedreamcorps.org/  REFORM Alliance https://reformalliance.com/ First Step Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Step_Act

Aine 0:00 This podcast has been produced in partnership with Diva International (makers of the DivaCup) and Media One Creative. This is Pandora's Box, a podcast that is on a mission to uncover how periods affect the lives of those that experience them around the globe. Join us as we travel the world to find real stories by real women and people who menstruate who are championing change and bringing light to the global impact of menstruation. I'm Aine  Cait 0:27 and I'm Cait, your hosts. Aine 0:32 This episode is going to be a little bit different than the others. You won't be hearing much from Cait or myself. We're going to be passing the mic Topeka K. Sam, Executive Director of Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM). We first met Topeka back in 2019 when we were filming the documentary. She became a very central character in the film. We were just blown away by her story and by the work she does with the LOHM.  Aine 0:56 Some of the most shocking stories we heard when making this documentary were from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated women and people who menstruate. It was very harrowing to hear stories of how these marginalized communities and people are further marginalized and punished just because they have a period. Topeka K. Sam  1:18 As a formerly incarcerated woman, I know firsthand the experiences of having menstruation while incarcerated. I remember the first day I received my period. I'm not talking about when I was in prison, but when I was eight years old, I remember being in school and I just started bleeding. And sorry if I'm being a little graphic, but this is what we go through as women. I remember crying and going to the nurse saying that something was going on with me. They called my mom. And my mom was like, "Oh, well, Topeka. This is what it is." And she started to explain to me how she was seven when she got hers.  Topeka K. Sam  1:54 And I remember receiving this huge piece of cloth that reminded me of a little mini boat that you put in your bathtub, it was so big for my little body. And I got my first purse, because my mother had me put these little pads in this purse and told me that I had to carry them with me to school. And every month I was able to carry a purse while I had these. Topeka K. Sam  2:16 I talk about that particular experience and how it correlates to when I was incarcerated and needing pads. Unfortunately, the pads weren't the size of a boat. They were really thin. They were not what we needed. But what we ended up doing a lot of times, because they weren't giving them out to us, was we had to pay for them. Pads were being used as kind of bartering systems a lot of times with the guards, male guards very often. It allowed me to really, really think through what was happening in this country, how our dignity was being stripped, and how menstrual products and the inequities around those who actually receive them was happening in this country. And there were no conversations that were going on around what happens to women who are imprisoned with periods.  Topeka K. Sam  3:02 I was raised with three brothers, a two-parent home. My parents were together for 58 years prior to my father passing last year. They were franchise business owners. We were the only black family in our neighborhood. I would say I grew up very privileged. We had the best of educations. I laugh and say my father wanted us to be a string quartet because I was trained in piano and flute, one of my brothers in violin, another one in cello, another in percussion. I was captain of every team. I was president of every club. That lets you see what my ambition was. And just the need to succeed, partly because I had parents who did. My mother says I just had that kind of spirit in me of fearlessness and the ability to just do and change the world. But when you have such strong presence, the way you show up in the world actually will determine sometimes what happens in your life.  Topeka K. Sam  3:50 And so I decided that I wanted to go to an HBCU, historically black college, because I wanted to be around other kids of color. So I chose Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. I chose that because a really close friend of the family who I called my aunt Maddie went to Morgan State and told me how great it was. And it wasn't too far from home. And this was my first time away from home. Being there, I was super excited because now I'm in a community with people that were just like me, then also there was fear. The fear was that I was away from home, but I didn't know about anything in life. And so I started to try to find my way. I end up dating guys who were selling drugs, eventually selling drugs myself.  Topeka K. Sam  4:29 One point I had just completely stopped that particular lifestyle. I get a call and I ended up, "Okay, you know what, this is the call that I've been waiting for. I can connect some people together real quick, make some money, open this other business and then that's it. I'm out. One last run."  Or so I thought. So now, I'm in Virginia at a meeting and something just didn't feel right. But what I do know is being arrested and I found myself in a jail, a county jail, in Hanover, Virginia.  Topeka K. Sam  4:57 Before I went in, I was going through uterine issues, and so really heavy cycles. My doctor said I had what was called uterine fibroids. And so I knew going in that I was diagnosed, I was planning to get the surgery that year in 2012. I assumed that because I was still having these heavy cycles while I was incarcerated, I will see if I can get that surgery. And so I applied to do that through the court. I went and got the surgery, or so I thought, and I came back and the cramps were worse, the cycle was heavier. And I said, “Something isn't right.” This did not feel as if anything was actually done. I made a joke earlier, but the seriousness is they were giving us the cheapest sanitary products that they could, and a very, very small amount of them, and as I mentioned with uterine fibroids, often we have very heavy and long cycles. And with that, sometimes I will go through a pack of pads a day. That's how bad it was for me. Aine 5:51 Sadly, so many incarcerated women and people who menstruate have stories about how challenging it was for them to deal with menstruation during their time spent in prison. Topeka introduced us to two formerly incarcerated women named Cass Severe and Naquasia Pollard. Both women now work with Topeka at LOHM, and wanted to share their firsthand experience of menstruating in prison. Cass Severe 6:20  I do recall a horrific experience where one particular day, lots of days, rather, my pad was so, like, saturated with blood that I one point I remember it sliding down my pant leg, you know, and it hit the floor. And it was so embarrassing on top of traumatizing but, you know, that's all I had to work with. That's what I basically got used to at times: just rewrap that same used sanitary napkin over and over again until I was able to obtain something clean. So on top of that, this was affecting my health. Naquasia Pollard  6:58 I remember a time that I was on a visit and I saw it all the way through my clothes. I went to go change and come back to my visit, and the correctional officer said that I was not allowed to do that. Either I sit on the visit and soil my pants or I terminate my visit. I terminated my visit because I didn't want to sit there and soil my clothes. That just doesn't make any sense. It was heartbreaking. Aine7:26 The lack of access to products is not only traumatizing for those who experience it, it brings up some serious health concerns as well. And particularly if somebody is dealing with a health issue that makes their period more difficult or more painful every month to begin with. Topeka K. Sam  7:48 They would give us a pack of pads a month, which sometimes was 12 pads. So you expected to keep a sole pad on for hours in a day, sometimes a day. And then you would have to purchase pads through commissary, and they were costing the same amount of money as you would if you went into the Duane Reade or Walgreens. And so I get to federal prison after being sentenced. And I still had the same issues. And I remember going to the doctor and they told me no, there was nothing wrong. They see that I had the surgery. And I'm like, I know something is wrong with me, we know our bodies. But there they ration the pads out very differently. And so though I was fortunate enough to have the highest paying job, whatever that looks like, $100 a month in prison, I was able to get support from home, I was still only allowed to buy a pack of pads every commissary and so I had to request through medical to get pads prescribed to me because the pads were so very thin and cheap. And I thought it was ridiculous that we actually had to pay for them. Topeka K. Sam  8:46  I remember getting to another prison and I saw a doctor from outside and she touched my stomach and she was like, "Your fibroids are huge." And I just broke down and cried. Because I was like, “Wow. It's the first time there's a doctor who's actually acknowledging the things that I already knew was wrong with me.” This one particular prison, I was told that in order for me to get that documentation and get prescribed pads from the doctor, that I had to quantify my period. And what that meant is I needed to take the used pads and put them in a brown paper bag and show them to the male officer who was often such on duty, I would open the bag so he would see the pads, see that I used the pads so that he can ration out five more pads.  Topeka K. Sam  9:27 The feeling of pain and the feeling of disgust and humiliation that I felt having to go through that still with just the courage to speak up. I knew that there were so many other sisters that didn't have the resources to get what they needed. They didn't have the strength to fight. I knew that I needed to do something about it. And when I came home, started organizing and speaking to other formerly incarcerated women, they were saying the same things. How can something that is part of our makeup, our humanity - why would we have to quantify cycles, have to purchase menstrual products in a system that's already deemed and already built to be inhumane? Aine10:17 I think inhumane is the perfect word to use when describing the experiences that these women had to endure. The shame, trauma, and abuse of basic human rights is just shocking. The stories don't stop there. Menstruation is part of the issue. But the bigger problem is how reproductive health in general is handled in prisons. Topeka K. Sam  10:44 When I think about prison, and I think about these systems, and I think about all the shame and pain that comes to it, it also allows me to think about all the resilience and the fight. Naquasia Pollard  10:55  So I was 19 years old when I got arrested, and I had my daughter while I was incarcerated. After I had her, I was transported to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. I say transported because I went against my will. I wanted more than anything to be with my daughter. I was only 21 years old, and I was told that I had fibroids, I didn't know what it was, what it meant to have fibroids, what were the side effects, etc. When I learned from a gynecologist that was a man while I was incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, he suggested that I get a hysterectomy. They did not want to give me the adequate sanitary napkins, hygiene products to accommodate my heavy menstrual. I went back and forth with the health administration for several years, over five, seven years debating on should I remove my womb. And I was only 21 years old, which was a problem for me. So my other alternative was to either suffer through the pain and wait until I was released or get a hysterectomy. I said no to the hysterectomy and I suffered my whole incarceration with my menstrual. I was soiled through my clothes. It was dehumanizing as a woman. And majority of the women that I had to engage with regarding my menstrual were not sensitive to my needs and were not willing to provide me with the adequate service in order for me to not suffer. As women, they allowed me to suffer. And that's what our criminal justice system does to women that may have abnormal body functions and they still don't have any sympathy for a woman that suffering in the institution. [They] just rather you not be able to reproduce no matter what color you are, because you're just seen as what they call an inmate, and they feel that you don't have any morals or standards. So why should you care to have a child? Cass Severe12:58 I come from being from incarcerated and having my menstrual in prison is a very sickening truth. Just to deal with my menstrual health as a female prisoner gaining access to menstrual products was exceedingly difficult. I didn't have reliable access to pads and tampons. My menstruation was, as I described it, to be a harrowing, shame-inducing experience. As I recall, [we would] place orders weekly in advance. And with that, a lot of mistakes would arise along the way, which we know being formerly incarcerated, you have to expect the unexpectable. So that was fairly common, that you didn't get your products as expeditiously as you needed it. On top of that most women, including myself in prison, were poor, and we didn't have access to money. Some of us didn't have access to money outside of prison. So ordering products became a financial hardship at times, even tampons or pads being marked up prices. So they would inflate the cost and make it even more hard to obtain. Sometimes I remember it being as much as $5 to $6 at a time.  Cass Severe14:20 We couldn't afford it. So we would have to kind of barter, you know. And if you were unliked, so if you didn't have people that, you know, had your back, you were basically out of luck. And that was hard in itself. There were times where even the commissary process was very difficult just trying to get your products in on time. There was a host of different events that made this experience very disturbing for me even down to, like, you know, size, and now it's not. All women come in different shapes and forms. And you know, just having the fact that I might be a heavier bleeder than the next young lady, but they don't really care about those things. Individualism doesn't matter. So it's basically one size fits all. But in contrary, that's not the case. So you just have to make do with what you have.  Cass Severe15:09 I remember telling [the guard] one day, like, I don't have any more menstrual pads left, you know, and I literally could feel me bleeding through my clothes. And he said condescendingly, sarcastically, like, "Hah, go ahead, you know, bleed right through your clothes, I don't care." When I did bleed through my clothes, ultimately, you know, just having the guard make fun of me during that time, and it just, I just realized that I wasn't the only one that went through that, you know. I witnessed my peers, it happened to them. And I just realized that this is the real problem. They just treated us women poorly, collectively. It's not just the lack of supplies for us women, it was just the lack of empathy. And I remember thinking like, “Wow, if only these guards could be trained on how to be humane and have some empathy.” And, if they knew how to treat us properly, like individuals, it could go a longer way.  Cass Severe16:09 Well, it would be remiss for me if I didn't mention that, because of that experience with the pads, I never wore pads again. It didn't dawn on me, like, why did you stop wearing menstrual pads? It was because of prison. Because of that experience of being laughed at. I just got sick, sick of pads. So I had to use tampons, because it just kind of retriggers me from that day. And I remember being in solitary confinement. And that was even worse. And I remember spending about 21 days in confinement and you know, in confinement, you're only given maybe a shower, a week, no water and all that. And I smelled so bad, because I had my menstrual cycle during my time in solitary confinement. And I just remember one night, I had to sleep with my arms over my head because I smelled so, my own stench was so repulsive, that I was trying to figure out how can I sleep to even just manage to be able to get through the night? Stuff like that, because it's impossible, it's nearly impossible to keep clean in prison, you know, and that gave me bouts of depression, feelings of self-loathing, and a lot of isolation because of that, and I didn't want to engage with the rest of the population because I literally felt sick. When my menstrual came around, I would literally feel sick, and I would isolate myself until the seven days was over. And that's how I coped. Aine17:37 After Topeka had this experience when incarcerated, she knew she had to do something. So when she was released from prison, she put the wheels in motion to start Ladies of Hope Ministries. Topeka K. Sam 17:52 We began to work with Senator Booker and Senator Warren, at first on the federal level to draft what was called the Dignity for Incarcerated Women bill. And what that did was start a national conversation around making sure that women had personal hygiene products, free of charge to them at no cost, and making sure that women were no longer shackled during child labor, and making sure that women had the opportunity to be within a certain proximity to each other. And in that work, as I started going around the country, women in each state were feeling the same way. And I began to work with the #cut50 national organization, which is now called Dream Court Justice, to elevate and bring awareness to the issues that women were facing called Dignity for Incarcerated Women. Topeka K. Sam  18:39 I was the director of that campaign and I had the great privilege of working with women from all over the country. We've passed over 12 pieces of legislation statewide, making sure that women have personal hygiene products at no cost to them. And making sure that women are no longer shackled during child labor. We were able to get those provisions put into the Dignity Legislation on a federal level. And so it was the lived experience of not only myself, but also those sisters that were also incarcerated, that helped me to think through ways that we could lead change in this country. Anyone can make a mistake that can land them to a situation such as prison. And while you're there, you would not want to be treated worse.  Topeka K. Sam  19:26 When you think about the prison system and those who are in and, you know, the lack of access to bail or unable to pay bail. And the 'why' people are consistently in and out based on cyclical violations of parole, how people are ripped from their children and in the middle of a global pandemic, you know, our sisters are suffering. And even when there's been legislation that has been passed, we saw it in Florida, where there was legislation to Dignity Bills passed and still they shackled a woman during child labor. And where recently they just awarded a woman $200,000 as compensation for being shackled, as if that was enough.  Topeka K. Sam  20:07  But trust that, you know, that we all have these dark stories, and these dramatic stories and the things that they bring up, but it's these stories that are going to help people to understand what is happening in this country right now.  Topeka K. Sam  20:25 And so the mission of the Ladies of Hope Ministries is to end poverty and incarceration of women and girls. And we look at doing that through two buckets of work: direct services and sustainability, and policy and advocacy. And what we know is that a person cannot speak up for themselves, they cannot think about changing policy, they cannot even think about saying no to an abuser, if their basic human rights are not met for us, which are: safe housing, healthy food, and employment or career development.  Topeka K. Sam  21:01 And so we created Hope House, the safe housing space for women and girls. Our Angel Food Project taps on addressing food insecurity when we partner with Instacart. And through them Wegmans, Fairway Markets, Costco, Whole Foods and other supermarkets, where we pass out fresh bags of donations of food every single day. We also have our Pathways 4 Equity, which is a partnership with Virgin Unite, where we're looking to make sure that women have an opportunity to transform their lives through access to sustainable employment.  Topeka K. Sam  21:33 And then our policy and advocacy work, as I stated, working with Dream Corps to make sure that we pass legislation around the conditions of confinement. But we also worked on parole and probation reform around parole, probation accountability project, making sure that people know what their rights are while they're under supervision. So that not only they are held accountable, but also the systems that actually surveil them are also held accountable, helping people get early termination of sentences, get off probation and parole early, and help them to begin to move forward with their lives.  Topeka K. Sam  22:05 You know, what I do know, right now, doing this work and talking about menstrual health equity, is that reproductive health and health equity in our communities is something that's not there. And so we have exciting programs that are also partnering up with different companies and organizations around legislation that we've already passed, and how are we making sure that we're getting opportunities like training women on how to be birth doulas and death doulas while they're incarcerated for the sisters that are actually there.  Topeka K. Sam  22:40 And also, every time we do a new program or project, we're looking at ways to create equity and equitable opportunities. And so how do we set up a woman so she can create her own business, and be able to use that? That's why we have our Faces of Women in Prison Project. We've trained women in how they use their voice to tell their stories, but also get paid as public speakers. Because it is incredibly important that people understand that their stories are valuable. It's incredibly important that people understand that as they share these experiences, that they are the experts in the space. And as experts, they should be compensated as such. And so it's been an incredible journey in order to do this work from my release from prison in 2015. And it's these factors from my direct lived experience that has allowed me to continue to move forward. Aine 23:32 I want to sincerely thank Topeka, Naquasia, and Cass for sharing their stories. I can't imagine how tough it is to relive those experiences. And I so admire that they're doing so to bring light to this issue, so that others won't have to go through what they've been through. Thank you for tuning into this special episode of Pandora's Box.

This month, Sean and Jules had an eye-opening conversation with Michelle Romero, National Director at Dream Corps, Green For All. The Green For All program fights for a world that is green for all, not green for some. Michelle shed light on the clean air crisis, the need for green jobs, and more.Dream Corps work at the intersection of the environmental, economic, and racial justice movements to advance solutions to poverty and pollution. Under Michelle’s leadership, Green For All has been a leading voice against efforts to dismantle climate and clean energy progress and is working to shift billions of dollars from polluter pockets to polluted communities through carbon pricing and inclusive financing strategies.LinksTo learn more about Dream Corps Green For All, and how to get involved, visit greenforall.org or text “GREEN” to 97483. For information on #FUELCHANGE, check out our blog!The Solar Disruption Theory would be nothing without our amazing guests. Want to join us on an episode? Drops us a line and let us know what you would like to talk about on the show. Include as much information as you would like! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A discussion on the issues with the criminal justice system in America and the work of Dream Corps Justice to make meaningful change. Our guest, Louis Reed, spent 14 years in federal prison and now works as Director of Organizing Partnerships for Dream Corps Justice, founded by journalist Van Jones (formerly of CNN).  

Nisha Anand (CEO of Dream Corps) burst onto the public scene with her 2020 TEDTalk “The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground” which now has more than 1 Million views in over 5 languages. Her unique, powerful, and quite timely take on solving some of the world’s biggest problems has shed a spotlight on the way she has lived, led and worked all her life.In this powerful interview, we shift that spotlight to behind the scenes for an inspiring (and entertaining) story. How does a public CEO, a leader, an activist, a wife and mother balance such important roles in such an intense environment? The answers may just surprise you as we cover everything from stepping into courage and taking on bold challenges to balancing the discomfort of achievement and choosing love for ourselves. Plus a ton of wild and amazing behind-the-scenes stories along the way. Sometimes the timing is just right - and it certainly is for this episode. Enjoy!Some of what we cover during the interview includes: Beginner’s mindLeadership lessons & letting others leadTaking risksTaking on big problems in a bold wayGrowth and getting uncomfortableA message or leaders that survived 2020Expanding your circle to solve problemsFear and finding your purposeStepping into your courageDealing with stress and overwhelmStaying calm in the middle of chaosFriends, mentors and familyStaying curiousSelf-talkThe competitive advantage nobody talks aboutChoosing loveGUEST BIO - Nisha AnandNisha Anand is the CEO of Dream Corps, the national nonprofit organization bringing people together across racial, social and partisan lines to create a better future for all. Previously, Nisha served as Chief of Staff to Van Jones, CNN commentator and NY Times Bestselling Author. A veteran fundraiser and consultant with decades of experience in nonprofit development and management, Nisha has also served as Director of Development for The Ruckus Society, a national direct action training organization, and for San Francisco Women Against Rape, the city’s rape crisis center. Nisha is a senior trainer and consultant with GIFT, the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training. As a certified coach, Nisha is a pioneer in the field of “fundraising coaching”–providing a unique blend of coaching people through their issues around money.In 1998, Nisha was arrested passing out pro-democracy leaflets in the military dictatorship of Burma and sentenced to five years in jail with 18 other international activists. Her arrest put her on the international stage, delivering speeches at numerous events and conferences and interviewing for TV, radio, and print. In 1999, she received her Masters Degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the American University in Washington, D.C. Nisha lives in Berkeley, California with her husband, two teenagers, and their Great Dane.RESOURCESTwitter: https://twitter.com/nishamanand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisha-m-anand/ Website: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/ Personal Blog: http://nishaanand.org/TEDTalk: The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground (Feb 2020)

Beth welcomes Nisha Anand from Dream Corps to the Beth Zemsky Podcast. Links for more: https://www.thedreamcorps.org https://www.ted.com/talks/nisha_anand_the_radical_act_of_choosing_common_ground_nov_2020

Beth welcomes Nisha Anand from Dream Corps to the Beth Zemsky Podcast. Links for more: https://www.thedreamcorps.org https://www.ted.com/talks/nisha_anand_the_radical_act_of_choosing_common_ground_nov_2020

Across America, low-income and minority communities are being hit hardest by the economic and health impacts of climate change. Van Jones—news commentator, author, and founder of Dream Corps —educates us on how we can seek environmental justice for the country’s most vulnerable communities. Van Jones is president and founder of the nonprofit, Dream Corps, a social justice accelerator that backs initiatives that close prison doors and open doors of opportunity for all. Jones has led a number of other justice enterprises, including The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Color of Change. A Yale-educated attorney, Van has written three New York Times Bestsellers: The Green Collar Economy, the definitive book on green jobs; Rebuild the Dream, a roadmap for progressives; and most recently, Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came apart, How We Come Together. In 2009, Van worked as the green jobs advisor to the Obama White House. Host of The Van Jones Show, he is a CNN correspondent and regular guest on political talk shows. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kwamenadir/support

This week we talk with The IZM, a New Jersey-based author, producer, songwriter, and emcee. The IZM talks about his process, performance practice, subverting the mainstream, and being black and gay in the world of hip hop.Bonus Tracks after the interview - "Entrapped" by Gwen Laster - text by Poet Gold, performed by New Muse 4tet (Gwen Laster, Hsinwei Chiang violins, Melanie Dyer viola, Alex Waterman-cello).Helpful links to support the current protest against police brutality towards the black community. Aboriginal Legal Services (Australia) https://www.alsnswact.org.au/donate /https://vals.org.au/volunteers/get-involved/donate-vals/ ACLU https://www.aclu.org/ AIME (Australia) https://aimementoring.com/about Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (Germany) https://www.amadeu-antonio-stiftung.de/ Anti Police-Terror Project http://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/ Bail Project https://bailproject.org Belly Mujinga Fund (UK) https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-belly-mujinga Black Lives Matter https://blacklivesmatter.com/ Black Mama's Bail Out https://nationalbailout.org/black-mamas-bail-out/ Black Visions Collective https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/ The Black Curriculum (UK) https://www.theblackcurriculum.com/ B.L.A.M (UK) https://blamcharity.com/donate/ Campaign Zero https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en La Lucha https://ctul.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1 Color of Change https://colorofchange.org/ The Dream Corps https://www.thedreamcorps.org/ Divine Natural Ancestry https://www.divinenaturalancestry.com/reparationsdonations Equal Justice Initiative https://eji.org/ Embrace Race https://www.embracerace.org/ (for children)Headwaters Foundation https://headwatersfoundation.org/ Innocence Project https://www.innocenceproject.org/ Integrated Schools https://integratedschools.orgKnow Your Rights Camp https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/Little Earth Residents Association https://littleearth.org/impact The Marshall Project https://www.themarshallproject.org/ Minnesota Freedom Fund https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate Minnesota Youth Collective https://secure.actblue.com/donate/minnesotayouthcollective Movement for Black Lives https://m4bl.org/ NAACP https://naacp.org/campaigns/we-are-done-dying/ National Bail Out http://nationalbailout.org/ National Memorial Family Fund (UK) https://www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/ Official George Floyd Memorial Fund https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd Reclaim The Block https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home Reform Alliance https://reformalliance.com/Sony Foundation (Australia) https://www.sonyfoundation.org/general-donation Southside Harm Reduction  http://www.southsideharmreduction.org/ StopWatch (UK) www.stop-watch.org Transgender Law Center in Memory of Tony McDade https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Twin Cities DSA https://twincitiesdsa.org/join/ Unicorn Riot https://unicornriot.ninja/ Voices for Racial Justice https://voicesforracialjustice.org/ We Can't Breathe https://www.wecantbreathenational.org/ Women for Political Change Mutual Aid Fund https://www.womenforpoliticalchange.org/mutual-aid

This week Amy Jo Martin welcomes CEO of Dream Corps, Nisha Anand, & Founder of Life Plan NYC, Chanel Dokun, to the show. Amy Jo, Nisha, & Chanel have an honest & open conversation regarding the Black Lives Matter movement & what we all can be doing to make a meaningful change. Nisha & Chanel share ideas on ways to answer the question, “how can I help?”. They also discuss the importance of starting conversations & being comfortable with getting uncomfortable around asking difficult questions in order to reach a common ground.  Learn more about Nisha: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/bio/nisha-anand/ Follow Nisha: twitter.com/NishaMAnand   Learn more about Chanel: https://www.chaneldokun.com/ Follow Chanel: https://www.instagram.com/chanel.dokun/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Join the Why Not Now? Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whynotnowpodcast/   Follow Amy Jo… FB: http://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Insta: http://www.instagram.com/whynotnow   Buy Amy Jo’s Book: https://amyjomartin.shop/collections/frontpage/products/renegades

Anthony Ray talks with Michael Deegan-McCree, criminal justice reform advocate. McCree talks about his experiences passing federal and state legislation, his transition to working in pretrial justice and how all of this impacts the African American community. Michael Deegan-McCree is a Legislative Advocate concentrated on reforming the criminal legal system, protecting voting rights for all citizens and ensuring access to quality mental health treatment. He currently serves as the Partnerships Coordinator at The Bail Project. Michael plays a pivotal role in developing grassroots and grasstops partnerships to enable The Bail Project to best serve their clients. Michael is a native Californian born and raised in the Bay Area. Before working for The Bail Project Michael worked at The Dream Corps, where he served as the Policy Associate for the #cut50 initiative, helping to lead their state and federal legislative efforts. While at #cut50, Michael played a policy role in helping pass the First Step Act, in 2018, landmark legislation that the New York Times said would "deliver the most significant changes to our criminal justice system in a generation." Michael's concentration on racial and economic inequality within the criminal justice system stems from his progressive ideology especially on issues of Criminal Legal and Mental Health reform. It is his belief that it takes coalitions of directly impacted people, along with unlikely allies from different political-ideological beliefs to deliver lasting structural change that will benefit our communities. Michael has also served as a District Advisor to California State Senator, Majority Whip Nancy Skinner, and an Assistant to Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California's 13th Congressional District.

Van Jones is a CNN political commentator, regularly appearing across the network's programming and special political coverage. The founder of Dream Corps, Rebuild The Dream, Green For All, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and Color of Change, he is presently a fellow at the MIT Media Lab.A Yale-educated attorney, he is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, The Green Collar Economy (2008) and Rebuild the Dream (2012). The second book chronicles his journey as an environmental and human-rights activist who became a White House policy advisor.He delivered this speech at the 33rd Annual E.F. Schumacher Lectures on November 9th, 2013.If you would like a physical copy of this lecture or others like it, visit centerforneweconomics.org/order-pamphlets to purchase pamphlets of published works and transcripts.The Schumacher Center's applied work seeks to implement the principles described by these speakers within the context of the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts. Our work, both educational and applied, is supported by listeners like you. You can strengthen our mission by making a donation at centerforneweconomics.org/donate, or call us at (413) 528-1737 to make an appointment to visit our research library and office at 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, Massachusetts

On The Road host Michael Semanchik talks with 2019 Clio Cloud Conference keynote speaker Shaka Senghor about how his experience in the criminal justice system led him to become a writer and voice for criminal justice reform. He describes what life has been like since being free from prison and calls attention to the great need for lawyers and society at large to remember the humanity of those who have been incarcerated. Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in criminal justice reform and a senior fellow with the Dream Corps. Special thanks to Clio for sponsoring this episode.

Vien Truong (@viendetta), policy expert on building equitable green economy and former president of Dream Corps, chats with Kevin (@kevinsxu) about growing up in a refugee family in the “wrong” zipcodes to devoting her life...

Van Jones is a well-known U.S. media personality who has founded and led many social enterprises, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, and the Dream Corps. He sat down with Chanda to talk about his relationship with Prince, how he uses his voice for good, and why the broader community should care about criminal justice reform.

With the Oakland Teacher Strike in the background, Bedford visits #Cut 50 at The Dream Corps in Oakland in order to have a conversation with Policy Associate, Michael McCree. They discuss Michael’s work in criminal justice reform, and the need for empathy on the part of lawmakers and the public, in order to confront the injustices that are part of our criminal justice system. Michael goes on to talk about the need to take care of one’s self when immersed in advocacy and activism, through sharing about his own struggles and recovery. Join Michael and #Cut50 at the 3rdAnnual Day of Empathy on March 5, 2019 in all 50 states and Washington D.C. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/namingit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/namingit/support

Focusing on Solutions—Not Silos: Vien Truong, CEO of Dream Corps Shaped by growing up in Oakland, CA during the 80s—the city's crack years, she says—Vien Truong has dedicated her career to fundamentally ending poverty. Truong is the President of the Dream Corps, and she believes in the power of an inclusive and equitable green economy. Truong has developed numerous energy, environmental, and economic policies and programs at the state, federal and local levels, and has advised on billions of dollars in public investments for energy and community development programs. In 2016, Truong received the White House Champion of Change award for her work on climate equity. That same year, she was also recognized as a "Power Shifter" on the Grist 50. Bard MBA faculty member Jorge Fontanez spoke with Truong about what led her to this work, and how the Dream Corps is helping to solve tough problems by uniting innovators across racial, social and even partisan lines. The Impact Report brings together students and faculty in Bard's MBA in Sustainability program with leaders in business, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.   impactreportpodcast.com

Across America, low-income and minority communities are being hit hardest by the economic and health impacts of climate change. Van Jones — news commentator, author and founder of Dream Corps — discusses how we can seek environmental justice for the country’s most vulnerable communities.This talk, given on Nov. 13, 2018, is the UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources Horace M. Albright Lecture in Conservation and also part of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health’s 75th Anniversary Speaker Series.Listen and read the transcript on Berkeley News. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Van Jones hosts his own show on CNN, and he’s the founder of The Dream Corps, an accelerator that supports economic and environmental innovation. Its #YesWeCode initiative aims to help 100,000 young people from underrepresented backgrounds find success in the tech sector. Van is an important voice on social justice and STEM education, and Time Magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. In this episode, Van joins Spencer at Zillow Group’s New York office for a live recording in front of employees. The two discuss Van’s impressive background working in communities and promoting green jobs, how to increase diversity in tech and why young people have the power to change the world.

Matt and Ash record live at SDCC (Thurs and Friday) with talks on Marvel: Rising, Conan, Iron Fist Season Two, Bread Bad's 10 Year Reunion, Bob's Burgers, Venture Brothers, Dream Corps, LEGO DC Villians, Robot Chicken

What are leaders designed to be? One thing’s for sure, they’re not designed to give in to the status quo. This episode is packed with leadership tips from Vien Truong, the CEO of The Dream Corps who dares to play bigger. Enjoy!

In this episode, we talk to Vien Truong who is the CEO of The Dream Corps, a nonprofit, a social justice accelerator. Among the things Vien shares is #YesWeCode, their remarkable and empowering project that aims to create more diversity in the tech sector. Listen now!

CNN contributor and civic entrepreneur Van Jones joins The Great Battlefield to talk about his new book, Beyond the Messy Truth, his founding of Dream Corps and his belief that we need bold solutions that build bridges for the problems facing the country | Episode 53

Recorded the day before the events in Charlottesville,VA; Van Jones touches on a variety of different topics including about his 2017 We Rise Tour, his organization Dream Corps, working with Prince, his love of comics/sci-fi, and of course living in a Trump administration. More information about Van Jones is available at http://www.vanjones.net/.

Note: this week's podcast was recorded on the Friday evening before the white supremacist terrorist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Van Jones is the first guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is the president of Dream Corps, a two-time New York Times bestselling author, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, an activist and organizer, as well as commentator on CNN. He is currently traveling the United States as part of the WE RISE tour in an effort to mobilize voters to stand up against Donald Trump by working for systemic change on a local and national level. During this episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Van and Chauncey discuss America at six months under Trump's regime, the Democratic Party's failure to mobilize its voters, Trump's so-called "white working class" voters, what resistance should look like in this moment, and the responsibility that Bernie Sanders' and other third party voters who chose not to support Hillary Clinton on Election Day share for the national disaster that is Trump's presidency.  This week's podcast also features two other great guests. Friend of the podcast and contributor to Jacobin magazine "Werner Herzog's Bear" stops by to share some stories about his recent pilgrimage home to Nebraska and how "Trumplandia" is often misrepresented by the mainstream corporate news media.  Writer and journalist Jared Yates Sexton also sits down at the virtual bar and salon to share his experiences fighting Trump's and other right-wing trolls online. Jared and Chauncey also make some predictions about the violence that Trump has unleashed in America and what they feel is the very real possibility of imminent death and mass mayhem across the United States caused by white supremacists and their allies.  As is their habit, Jared and Chauncey also spend some time discussing professional wrestling, the upcoming WWE Summerslam pay-per-view, and of course Mayweather vs. McGregor. This is bonus content that can be heard at the very end of this week's podcast.  In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega reflects on Trump's threats of nuclear war with North Korea, the white supremacists in the White House, and pleads with listeners to prepare for what seems like obvious and predictable violence at this weekend's Charlottesville white supremacist hate festival. At the end of this week's podcast Chauncey also shares a story about how small the world really is and why we should all count our blessings. 

Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in criminal justice reform, a Senior Fellow with The Dream Corps, and President/Creative Director of Mind Blown Media. His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, was released in March 2016 and debuted on The New York Times Bestseller List as well as The Washington Post Best Seller List. An unforgettable tale of forgiveness and second chances, Writing My Wrongs reminds us that our worst deeds don't define who we are or what we can contribute to the world. Shaka’s story has inspired thousands and serves as a powerful testament to the power of hope, compassion and unconditional love.

“That's the thing about hope. In the moment it can feel foolish or sentimental or disconnected from reality. But hope knows that people change on a timeline that we can't predict. We can never know the power that a word of kindness and or an act of forgiveness will have on the person who needs it most.”Shaka SenghorImagine yourself growing up around the wrong people. Because it's easy, you fall into the wrong crowd. Blink, and you’re in. Deep. A victim of impossible circumstances, it’s not long before you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the reflexive moment — impulsively and without thought – you do the wrong thing. A thing so terrible, it forever alters the trajectory of your life. A thing so unimaginably horrible, you dedicate the rest of your life in service to atonement.This is the story of Shaka Senghor. At the age of 19, Shaka shot and killed a man. Convicted of second-degree murder, Shaka would spend the next 19 years in different prisons, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement.While inside, Shaka made a decision. A decision to fully own his circumstances. A decision to transcend victimhood, understand his past, free his mind and expand his thinking. When he wasn't voraciously reading, he wrote. And it was through this relentless commitment to knowledge, self-understanding and compassion that he ultimately pulled himself out of the anger that led to his incarceration and prevented him from reaching his full potential.Released in 2010, Shaka did not return to a life of violence. Instead, he committed himself to one singular idea: that our worst deeds don’t define who we are, nor do they prohibit our contribution to a better world. Fidelity to this ideal transformed Shaka's utterly broken life into one of meaning, purpose and advocacy. Now a leading voice in prison reform, he is a powerful public speaker, a Senior Fellow with the Dream Corps, a 2014 TED Prize finalist, a former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, a former University of Michigan lecturer, a current Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network and the founder of The Atonement Project. In addition, he recently launched Mind Blown Media, a new media company that aims to create high-impact content focused on the criminal justice system and mass incarceration.Shaka’s memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison* debuted on The New York Times Best Seller List as well as The Washington Post Best Seller List. He has been interviewed by Oprah and his TED Talk, which received a standing ovation, has been viewed more than 1.4 million times and was featured by TED as one of the most powerful TED Talks of 2014. Shaka has appeared on CNN, CBS This Morning, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Good Day New York, and he has been a guest on numerous radio programs, including NPR’s All Things Considered. And if all that isn't impressive enough, Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2016 EBONY Power100, the 2016 Ford Man of Courage, the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award, the 2015 Manchester University Innovator of the Year, and the 2012 Black Male Engagement Leadership Award.I’m honored to share Shaka’s powerful story with you today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

CNN commentator, former Obama administration "Green Jobs" advisor, and founder of Dream Corps, Van Jones stopped by the offices to talk about his #YesWeCode initiative to make the tech industry more diverse. This was an AMAZING interview that veered off into some big topics (as it always does) including the root of global populist movements on the left and right, how technology has exasperated our extreme partisanship, and the time he completely geeked out when meeting Prince for the first time. Also he called (the newly jobless) Bill O'Reilly a "dick"! Check this one out! PCMag.com is your ultimate destination for tech reviews and news. Subscribe to our videos here: https://goo.gl/JfBShr Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCMag Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PCMag Gawk at our photos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmagofficial Get our latest tips and tricks on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pcmag

#YesWeCode’s National Director, Felix Flores discussing how inspiring youth innovation supports education beyond the classroom. #YesWeCode is a Dream Corps initiative that works with partners to help connect 100,000 underrepresented minorities to careers in technology.

For this month's fundraiser, I have four special guests for the podcast. This week's very special fundraising podcast features Van Jones. He has served as President Barack Obama's special adviser for green jobs and is a frequent guest commentator for news outlets such as CNN. He is also the author of Rebuild the Dream” and “The Green Collar Economy" in addition to leading several nonprofits such as Dream Corps.  In this week's episode, Van and Chauncey talk about the 2016 presidential election, "identity politics", Jones' experience talking with Trump supporters during the campaign, how the so-called "smart people" got it wrong, and his new CNN special "The Messy Truth". During this week's podcast Chauncey also shares the wisdom of George Takei on how the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War 2 echoes the anxieties of the present, reads some hate mail from a Trumpthuglican troglodyte, and has an epic Cornel West moment.

So as you know, because you can hardly turn on the television without seeing him, Van Jones is a political commentator on CNN. But as you’ll hear, he’s got so much else going on. He is President of Dream Corps and Rebuild the Dream, and you’ll hear about that. As opposed to so many of the people we see and hear on TV and talk radio, this guy is out there getting it done. You may not agree with Van on every issue, but you’ll have to agree there’s substance there. More biography: Van was President Obama’s green jobs adviser; you’ll hear a little about that. He’s also a Best-selling author. I didn’t even get to ask him at all about his books. There was just too much else to discuss around Trump and race and Hillary and progressives and the state of our nation and the turning point that we face.