Shows
Social Justice Origin StoriesIn Community Vol. 1: The Voices of Social Justice Origin Stories | 2024 + 2025This is Volume 1 of “In Community”, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. This annual series brings together the voices of storytellers whose stories were published in a given year.
To everyone who has listened, watched, shared the stories, reflected on your own, and returned for more storytelling, thank you.
Many thanks to the storytellers who have contributed to this project and have trusted me and this space with their sharing.
Systems of oppression depend on silence, isolation, and the belief that change is impossible. Social Justice Origin Stories exists to challenge that...
2025-12-2359 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesKujo's Kid Zone: Connecting Roots, Bridging Histories, and Empowering Futures with Randy QuansahRandy Quansah, creator of Kujo's Kid Zone, shares a memory of an early experience with racism at school that sparked his journey of self-discovery and awareness of African history and identity. What began as sharing the lessons he learned with his daughter expanded into considering other kids and their families, which then became the inspiration behind his educational show for children. Randy talks about his dedication to educating children about African history, challenging Eurocentric narratives, the importance of cultural representation, and the necessary cycle of growth that comes from leaning and unlearning about ourselves and the world. His message...
2025-12-1055 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesThe Justice We Imagine Vol. 3 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 3 of The Justice We Imagine, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. This series focuses on storytellers' responses to three essential questions:
When is true social justice possible? What shapes our approach to the work? And why does understanding and sharing our social justice origin stories matter?
As you listen to their responses, reflect on what your answers might be.
00:00 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories
00:28 When is True Social Justice Possible?
03:16 Shaping Our Approach to Social Justice
05:04 The Importance of Sharing Social Justice Origin Stories
11:39 Call to Action an...
2025-11-2613 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesFor Those Who'll Come After Vol. 2 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 2 of “For Those Who’ll Come After“, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. In this series, storytellers reach across time, sharing messages and reflections for future generations, sharing what they want them to know, remember, and carry forward in the ongoing pursuit of social justice.
00:00 Introduction: The Power of Stories
00:28 Messages for Future Generations
01:11 The Ongoing Fight for Social Justice
02:03 Acknowledging Our Roots and Resilience
02:57 Concerns and Hopes for the Future
07:28 Rethinking Work and Challenging Inequities
15:49 The Importance of Chronicling Our Stories
17:51 Final Reflections and Call to Action
19:31 Closing and How to Suppor...
2025-11-1220 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesHumanizing Our Neurodivergence: Lessons of Love From The People's Platypus with Sheldon GaySheldon Gay shares his journey of late identification as gifted and neurodivergent, which fostered his commitment to humanizing Black, gifted, and otherwise neurodivergent experiences to promote acceptance and self-love. Through his podcast 'I Must Be Bug'N,' Sheldon aims to dismantle the pathology associated with labels and celebrate the strengths and challenges, what he terms “the 'cape and the kryptonite” of neurodivergent people.
Sheldon advocates for narrative change and more compassionate storytelling about neurodivergence, reminding listeners that labels don’t have to feel like pathology.
00:00 Introduction to Humanizing Neurodivergent Experiences
00:26 The Impact of Late Identification
01:03 Redefi...
2025-10-291h 05
Social Justice Origin StoriesA More HUMAN Approach to Truth-Telling & Building Community: Becoming The Quiet Rebel with Tracie JaeTracie Jae, human culture strategist and educator describes how her family both shielded her from, and prepared her to engage with racial injustice, and shares about the breadcrumbs that helped her to learn that racism shouldn’t be normal. She tells the story of the birth of her identity as The Quiet Rebel, and breaks down her more HUMAN (Honest, Urgent, Meaningful, Accountable, Nuanced) approach to equity conversations and explains why real social change starts with addressing harm, embracing difference, and staying curious about the stories missing from the narratives we’re told about ourselves and the world around us...
2025-10-151h 15
Social Justice Origin StoriesJim Crow 2.0: How Anti-DEI Laws Are Rooted In Systemic Anti-Black Racism with Darryl B. RiceIn this educational segment of Social Justice Origin Stories, Dr. Darryl B. Rice, Associate Professor of Management and Richard T. Farmer Associate Professor at Miami University, shares the research findings he and co-authors Dr. Tsedale Melaku and Dr. Jennifer R. Bishop write about in their forthcoming article: Jim Crow 2.0: Understanding Present-Day Anti-DEI Laws as A Function of Cross Generation Transmission of Systemic Anti-Black Racism in the special issue of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: on “The Backlash Against DEI Programs.
Dr. Rice connects Jim Crow era anti-Black violence and modern anti-DEI legislation, and how social conservatism as a po...
2025-10-011h 15
Social Justice Origin StoriesFor Those Who'll Come After Vol. 1 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 1 of “For Those Who'll Come After“, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. In this series, storytellers reach across time, sharing messages and reflections for future generations, sharing what they want them to know, remember, and carry forward in the ongoing pursuit of social justice.
00:00 Introduction: The Power of Stories
00:28 Messages for Future Generations
01:31 Reflections on Perseverance
04:42 Balancing Joy and Struggle
06:02 Understanding Civics and Politics
07:30 Trust and Community
12:49 Historical Legacy and Greatness
15:24 Final Reflections and Farewell
17:13 Closing and Call to Action
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com...
2025-09-1718 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesReimagining Leadership and Finding Our Role in The Movement with Beca Velázquez-PublesBeca Velázquez-Publes, Founder, Coach & Consultant at The Liberated Leader, opens up about the lessons she learned early on from her parents that made working for social justice a part of her DNA. She talks about the evolving nature of purpose and how her work with the Urban Core Collective solidified her social justice journey, allowing her to build a space that resisted norms in the nonprofit space and push collective growth edges to test new ways of being for work and in community.
Beca also talks about the significance of operationalizing equity and creating inclusive and h...
2025-09-0358 min
The Masks We WearSummer Series: Rewriting The Origin Story (ft. Relando Thompkins-Jones)Sometimes the hardest story to rewrite... is our own. Join me and Relando Thompkins-Jones as we unmask and rewrite origin stories. Whether we’re healing from trauma, shaking off labels the world put on us, or finally seeing ourselves with fresh eyes—rewriting an origin story is an act of resistance, an act of liberation.My episode on Social Justice Origin Stories: https://youtu.be/-GxD-HCS8SI?si=gh-vr22erOlVhAoQFollow Relando for more! Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube...
2025-08-2724 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesExploring Identity and Mental Health Through Comics, Anime, and Culture with Quincy M. SimmonsQuincy M. Simmons, a rising senior at SUNY New Paltz in Journalism, Film, Video, and Black Studies, shares what motivated him to use his love for comic books, manga, and anime to address social justice issues through his podcast, 'The Masks We Wear. He talks about mental health, neurodiversity, and toxic masculinity, and how exploring comics as modern mythology can offer powerful reflections on today’s social and political climate. Quincy also talks about his journey with journalism, how he uses storytelling to inspire and educate, his guiding influences, and the impact he hopes to make with his work. ...
2025-08-2056 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesTake This With You Vol. 2 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 2 of “Take This With You“, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. Storytelling is a gift, and in this series, storytellers reflect on what they hope stays with you after their episode ends. As you listen to their sharing, consider this moment as an invitation to reflect on your own journey.
00:00 Introduction to 'Take This with You'
00:17 Expressing Gratitude to Mentors and Loved Ones
01:47 The Importance of Representation in Education
02:40 Navigating DEI Work and Social Justice
04:42 Grace and Space: Embracing Differences
09:16 Personal Stories of Struggle and Growth
17:33 Supervisory Principles and Institutional Change
21:40 Empowerment Thro...
2025-08-0635 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesMarching to the Beat of Your Own Drum: Finding Your Rhythm with Chinyere NealeChinyere Neale reflects on a time in her life when the frustration she often felt toward well-meaning but uninformed white people who considered themselves allies in racial justice work became a mirror for her own growth. After attending an LGBTQIA+ ally training at work one day, she came to a humbling realization that she also had the capacity to be well-meaning but uninformed in a different way. The experience expanded her understanding of privilege and oppression, and influenced her approach to life as a “never-ending classroom”.
As a retired global public health educator from Detroit with a mult...
2025-07-231h 09
Social Justice Origin StoriesTake This With You Vol. 1 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 1 of “Take This With You“, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. Storytelling is a gift, and in this series, storytellers reflect on what they hope stays with you after their episode ends. As you listen to their sharing, consider this moment as an invitation to reflect on your own journey.
00:00 Introduction to 'Take This with You'
00:17 Reflecting on Interconnectedness and Cooperation
02:42 Everyday Acts of Impact and Intention
06:12 Building Intentional Communities
13:36 The Role of Learning and Practice
15:35 Understanding Transracial Adoption
19:59 Final Reflections and Call to Action
21:16 Closing and How to Support
Supp...
2025-07-0922 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesUsing Intergroup Dialogue as a Catalyst for Social Justice with Kelly MaxwellKelly Maxwell reflects on how coming out as a lesbian in the 1990s sparked a deeper examination of her whiteness and a lifelong commitment to understanding her relationship to privilege and oppression. She traces her journey from growing up in an almost exclusively white small town in Ohio to dedicating 17 years to social justice education through intergroup dialogue at The Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan.
Kelly also shares stories from her family life as part of a multiracial, interracial, two-mom household, and how those dynamics shape her personal and professional values on justice...
2025-06-251h 11
Social Justice Origin StoriesDo The Hard Thing: Confronting Our Privilege as a Path to Justice with Angie FreemanAfter narrowly avoiding a car accident in a parking lot one day, Angie Freeman (they/them) reflects on how that experience, and their initial reaction in the moments before and after learning the other driver was Deaf, expanded their awareness of their unexamined privilege. The experience set them on a path to learn American Sign Language (ASL), learn more about the lived experiences of Deaf people, and sparked a journey of self-work to more deeply understand how privilege operates. This journey continues to inform their life and work today as a speaker and educator.
Angie also shares an...
2025-06-111h 07
Social Justice Origin StoriesThe Justice We Imagine Vol. 2 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 2 of The Justice We Imagine, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. This series focuses on storytellers' responses to three essential questions:
When is true social justice possible? What shapes our approach to the work? And why does understanding and sharing our social justice origin stories matter?
As you listen to their responses, reflect on what your answers might be.
00:00 Introduction to Justice We Imagine
00:28 When is True Social Justice Possible?
03:29 What Shapes Our Approach to Social Justice?
05:14 The Importance of Sharing Social Justice Origin Stories
10:49 The Power of St...
2025-05-2814 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesFighting Anti-Blackness: Loving Ourselves with Daily Practices of Self-Reflection with Nadia BrighamAs an intellectual activist, Dr. Nadia Brigham has possessed the ability to recognize the patterns of injustice from an early age. She tells stories from her early life, highlighting pivotal moments that sparked her passion for social justice.
She reflects on her journey of completing her dissertation research exploring the ways power is wielded through language and narratives that dehumanize Black people, and how the emotionally difficult process of making meaning of the ways anti-Blackness is transmitted to individuals and throughout our social systems led to the surprising yet purposeful emergence of “Radiant & Rising”, a collection of inte...
2025-05-1453 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesThe Justice We Imagine Vol. 1 | Social Justice Origin StoriesThis is Volume 1 of The Justice We Imagine, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. This series focuses on storytellers' responses to three essential questions:
When is true social justice possible? What shapes our approach to the work? And why does understanding and sharing our social justice origin stories matter?
As you listen to their responses, reflect on what your answers might be.
00:00 Introduction and Purpose of Social Justice Origin Stories
00:24 The Power of Storytelling and Community
01:43 Expanding Connections and Future Plans
04:21 Introducing 'The Justice We Imagine' Series
04:26 Essential Questions on Social Ju...
2025-04-3016 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesFollow Your Innate Sense of Justice with Emely Medina-RodríguezDr. Emely Medina-Rodríguez, a social researcher and program evaluator committed to equity and culturally responsive practices, shares the story of her journey from Puerto Rico to Chicago and the events that inform her practice and activism as a researcher. Her storytelling teaches listeners about the need to challenge extractive traditional research practices that don’t prioritize the needs of communities, and to have a power analysis be “part of the equation” in research and evaluation.
00:00 Introduction to Culturally Responsive Evaluation
01:50 The Importance of Community Engagement
06:41 Personal Reflections and Social Justice
07:52 Guest Introduction: Emely Medina-Rodríguez
08:54 Early Life and...
2025-04-161h 24
Social Justice Origin StoriesEducation as an Act of Faith with Keith EdwardsReflecting on significant learning experiences that have shaped his approach to social justice, speaker, author, and coach Dr. Keith Edwards describes education as an act of faith; investing time in cultivating the necessary relationships required to do the work with the belief that we’re making an impact even if we are not around to witness the outcomes.
Speaking from the perspectives of someone who has been invested in and someone who invests that time in others, his storytelling speaks to the importance of unlearning dominant messages of superiority, cultivating critical hope, and understanding the collective damage ca...
2025-04-0258 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesBloom Where You're Planted with Claire DowningClaire Downing, Founder and Principal at The Moonlight Collaborative, shares a story of how witnessing her parents’ activism and the ways they navigated differences as an interfaith family shaped her own commitment to activism; paving the way for her to be able to develop a commitment to continually understand and embrace the complexities of her identities and relationship to privilege and oppression later in life as a white Muslim woman who converted to Islam. Claire also recalls how experiences in toxic workplaces ultimately led her to establish The Moonlight Collaborative, where she partners with organizations that are invested in “crea...
2025-03-1959 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesPhoenix Rising: "You're a Part of Public Health, You Just Don't Know it Yet" with Bryan O. BuckleyDr. Bryan O. Buckley tells the story of how his Caribbean background and the lessons he learned from watching his grandparents' activism shaped his approach to leading for equity in public health. He reflects on pivotal moments in his life and career, the game-changing impact of mentoring and sponsorship, and how his superpower as a connector enables him to build relationships with people closest to the problems to facilitate change in communities and systems. Dr. Buckley affirms that we are all a part of public health, and share a collective responsibility in making the world a better place. He...
2025-03-0547 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesBuild What You Dream: The Rockstar Woman Movement with Shannon CohenIn sharing the Social Justice Origin Story of the global Rockstar Woman™ Movement, founder Shannon Cohen recalls how manifesting her dream of establishing truly inclusive professional networks and affinity spaces for women was born from a mix of inspiration, observation, and agitation, with a particular desire to create spaces that were markedly different from the exclusionary, predominantly white spaces she experienced as a Black Woman in her early days as a professional. Drawing on the legacy of resilience and entrepreneurship passed down from her grandparents, Shannon’s storytelling speaks to the power of betting on yourself, incubating your ideas inst...
2025-02-191h 00
Social Justice Origin StoriesA Lighthouse and A Refuge: The Firehouse Community Arts Center with Phil JacksonPastor Phil Jackson shares the social justice origin story of the Firehouse Community Arts Center in Chicago, essential leadership lessons he has learned from his role as founder and CEO, and the ways the Firehouse lives out its mission to interrupt the cycle of violence among youth and young adults in North Lawndale through the power of the arts and faith.
His storytelling affirms the transformative impact of the arts, establishing and maintaining authentic relationships with your community, and stories of how the Firehouse has become a refuge and a source of inspiration and strength for many...
2025-02-0557 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesUsing Power to Bring More Power to People: Education for Freedom and Justice with Mia HenryMia Henry connects common threads between her training as an educator, the 29 Civil Rights tours she organized and led over the past 10 years, and her current work developing educational curriculum on resistance and social justice as the founder and CEO of Freedom Lifted, which offers justice-centered leadership development through online learning, training, and facilitation.
The social justice origin story of Freedom Lifted emphasizes the importance of understanding power as an abundant resource, the critical work of using our power to bring more power to oppressed people, and drawing wisdom from stories of resistance throughout history when people...
2025-01-201h 16
Social Justice Origin StoriesLooking The Beast In The Face: Unlearning to Relearn with Yusef Bunchy ShakurIn sharing his story of redemption and transformation, Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur names his experiences navigating systemic oppression, his time in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and the people who invested in him in his life as pivotal moments that activated his commitment to social justice. His storytelling affirms the power of vulnerability, self-forgiveness, and the critical role of education and community in personal and collective healing.
Dr. Shakur also highlights the importance of America confronting its true history, addressing internalized oppression, challenging patriarchy, and remembering our inherent worth and capacity for change.
00:00...
2025-01-0956 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesShifting Organizational Culture: Trauma-Informed, Identity-Conscious Supervision with Chelsea PrattChelsea Pratt, a scholar and practitioner in higher education focusing on inclusive and sustainable organizational cultures, workplace well-being, and addressing workplace trauma, discusses the profound impact of trauma and identity in the workplace.
She speaks on the traumatic effects of ignoring harmful identity-based incidents both inside and outside our workplaces, especially for people who live at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression.
In her storytelling, Chelsea highlights the importance of trauma-informed and identity-conscious supervision, drawing from her experiences and research with The Higher Education Supervision Project, a resource that provides tools for trauma-informed and...
2024-12-101h 01
Social Justice Origin StoriesUnpacking the Box of Shame with Arc Telos Saint Amour*This episode comes with a content warning for discussions about sexual and physical violence which may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. If you need support, Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE and https://hotline.rainn.org/online. The Trevor Project’s trained counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 via chat www.TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678-678.
Arc Telos “Tay” Saint Amour (they/them) shares the root...
2024-11-262h 08
Social Justice Origin StoriesHolding Space: The Transformative Power of Being Witnessed and Supported with Leticia PegueroFrom her early experiences watching the women in her family to discovering the writings of James Baldwin through his book 'Another Country' and the awakening that followed and the emotional impact of hearing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Mountaintop speech, Leticia Peguero shares significant moments and influences that shaped her journey into social justice work.
Her storytelling of how she "fell into coaching" connects her personal experiences, her career in philanthropy, and her passion for and transformative work with coaching women of color. She talks about the work of depersonalizing internalized oppression by asking important...
2024-11-121h 10
Social Justice Origin StoriesVisibility, Power, and Centering Queer Black Stories with Monique Alicia GambleDr. Monique Alicia Gamble, a Southerner, a Black queer woman, a digital storyteller, and an assistant professor of political science at a public HBCU in Washington, D.C., shares the significance of storytelling in her academic and creative work, focusing on elevating the stories of people who exist on the margins, particularly those of Black queer women.
Reflecting on pivotal moments in her development, such as the 2016 presidential election and the 2022 midterm election, she emphasizes the importance of visibility, representation, and cultural power. Her storytelling highlights her commitment to making marginalized stories visible, the impact of teaching...
2024-10-301h 06
Social Justice Origin StoriesWorking in Cooperation and Opposition for the Greater Good with Courtney HollandDEI Practitioner, Health Equity advocate, Educator, and lover of STEM Courtney Holland shares how her experiences spending Saturdays at a union hall for auto workers with her father in Detroit and her academic and cultural awakening after taking an Introduction to African American Studies as an undergraduate student laid the foundation for her current understanding of equity issues and her commitment to social justice.
She speaks on the essential role of culturally relevant education, the power of sharing our collective narratives, the complexities of doing DEI work within a capitalistic framework, and the journey of sitting with...
2024-10-171h 24
Social Justice Origin StoriesThe Experiences of Black Chief Diversity Officers at Predominantly White Institutions with O'Juan EdwardsIn this episode, Relando is joined by longtime friend, Dr. O'Juan Edwards, who, in describing his journey to complete his Ph.D, shares a heartfelt memory of how a chance meeting with Coretta Scott King profoundly influenced his social justice journey.
In his storytelling, Dr. Edwards weaves connections to how her life and the legacy of the King family continue to inspire and inform his approach to equity leadership, including the creation of his new business, The Outstanding One Solutions, LLC. He also discusses how that chance encounter influenced his decision to complete his dissertation research, which...
2024-10-032h 14
Social Justice Origin StoriesRooted in Baltimore: Navigating Social Injustice with Barre JonesBarre Jones did not always have an understanding of systemic injustice. In this episode, Barre shares how his moments of activation were sparked during his time in the military, where he felt like he was on the wrong side of the ropes after being sent into Baltimore during the uprising after the murder of Freddie Gray. From his upbringing in Baltimore, Maryland, to his military service and experiences with racial discrimination, Barre's story emphasizes that while contributions to equity work can vary, they are all valuable.
Barre credits much of his current understanding of social justice to...
2024-10-011h 05
Social Justice Origin StoriesFrom Isolation to Advocacy: Confronting Color Evasiveness in Transracial Adoption with JaeRan KimDr. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington, talks about the origins of her non-linear path to Social Work and her dedication to social justice, shaped by her personal experiences as a transracial and transnational adoptee from Korea.
She describes how becoming a parent herself, meeting other Korean adoptees, traveling to Korea, and starting her BSW program with all BIPOC instructors and mentors were transformative experiences that helped give her the structural lens she needed to understand her life experiences.
Her storytelling highlights the impact of community...
2024-10-0156 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesFacilitating Change: Education Justice and Unharmonius Organizing with kyle limIn this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando talks with kyle lim, a passionate racial justice advocate and community organizer. Originally from Singapore, kyle shares some of his experiences navigating complex racial identities and confronting systemic inequities in the U.S., particularly in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In his storytelling about the education justice work at the Urban Core Collective, kyle speaks to the necessity of building community power, addressing systemic flaws, and prioritizing material redistribution for genuine social transformation. His storytelling also honors the critical role of youth in driving meaningful change.
In this...
2024-10-011h 05
Social Justice Origin StoriesWeaving Past, Present, and Future: Healing Timelines with Jouapag LeeJouapag Lee, a passionate advocate for social justice, healing, and liberation, shares her personal journey and motivations. She reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped her activism, including a deeply personal incident of racial and gender-based harassment in college that drastically shifted her worldview and led her into activism and organizing for better campus conditions for marginalized students. Through her Healing Timelines Project, a platform aimed at providing trauma-informed healing resources with a justice lens for Hmong descendants, Jouapag addresses intergenerational trauma, forgiveness, and trust.
01:10 Welcome to Social Justice Origin Stories
02:18 Meet Jouapag Lee
03:55 Jouapag's Social Justice Journey...
2024-09-3056 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesStudent Solidarity as Praxis: Popular Education in Action with Tony NelsonIn this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando is joined by Tony Nelson, who explores his development from his rural Michigan upbringing to becoming an active participant in progressive movements and education. Tony revisits the significance of his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, recalling how attending a campus presentation by Jane Elliott served as a starting point for his emerging consciousness and involvement as a student on campus. Tony also reflects on his years of work at the intersections of social justice, higher education, and the study abroad field, and his regular disappointment...
2024-09-301h 00
Social Justice Origin StoriesMaking Race Heard with Surabhi PanditRelando sits down with Surabhi Pandit, Macro Social Worker, equity advocate, and personal friend, to discuss the powerful role leveraging her networks in student government to organize dialogues on race and equity at The University of Michigan School of Social Work had on her journey. They reflect on their shared experiences in grad school, including the catalytic moments that led to the creation of the ‘Making Race Heard’ Monthly series and the culminating summit at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2011.
Surabhi also shares her insights on inside/outside strategy for working in and orga...
2024-09-301h 25
Social Justice Origin StoriesRedefining Design for Social Change with Kyahdric MosesThis episode of Social Justice Origin Stories features Kyahdric Moses. Moses, a design activist who identifies as a citizen designer, shares his personal journey toward understanding his intersecting identities and his commitment to social good through design.
Kyahdric discusses the power of storytelling, intersecting identities, and the significance of design in addressing social inequities. He shares his journey of political awakening in 2016, and the impact of mentors like architectural designer Liz Ogbu and disability design activist Josh Halstead.
Navigating the challenges of being a queer, Black man in a world not designed for his existence...
2024-09-3059 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesEducation as a Practice of Freedom: with Chasity Bailey-FakhouryIn this heartfelt and inspiring episode of 'Social Justice Origin Stories,' Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury explores the personal experiences and pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to equity and social justice. As a former Detroit public school teacher and now a professor at Grand Valley State University, Dr. Bailey-Fakhoury remembers the lessons learned from her grandmother, the challenges faced during her early years, and the powerful influence of Black educators in her life. She highlights the importance of educators who pour into and uplift students, recalling her own experiences with Black teachers who affirmed her capabilities. The dialogue stresses...
2024-09-301h 02
Social Justice Origin StoriesResisting Oppression by Building Trust and Connection with Amber BanksDr. Amber Banks shares her personal journey into activism and social justice work. She speaks on the complexities of trust, how personal and cultural experiences shape trust, and the intersection of trust with race and power. Dr. Banks discusses the importance of creating spaces where individuals can feel seen and heard and stresses the critical nature of repair in the trust-building process. Her storytelling also touches on the necessity of rest and self-care in sustaining activism and promoting resilience against systemic oppression.
Dr. Amber Banks is the inagural Vice President, Programs at Decolonizing Wealth Project. She is...
2024-09-301h 01
Social Justice Origin StoriesFounding Beliefs, Assumptions, and AspirationsLearn more about Relando's founding beliefs, assumptions, and aspirations that inform his work with Social Justice Origin Stories. Relando also explains the project structure in more detail including the storytelling perspectives of personal journeys, organizational histories, educational segments, and community voices. Consider this an orientation to get acclimated, as well as an invitation to consider your own story and contributions.
What you'll learn in this episode:
00:00 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories
00:32 The Power of Storytelling
01:24 Personal Motivations and Experiences
03:37 Understanding Socialization and Internalized Oppression
06:49 Building Community and Collective Storytelling
09:38 Challenges and Fatigue in Social...
2024-09-3020 min
Social Justice Origin StoriesSocial Justice Origin Stories: Connecting People Across Experiences, Sharing Stories That Inspire Action. Every Journey Has a Beginning. What's Yours?Social Justice Origin Stories is a storytelling project that highlights personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice.
Through truth-telling: the honest sharing of their experiences, storytellers teach us about themselves, enabling us to learn about ourselves and our world through their stories.
By reconnecting with pivotal moments of activation in their lives, they invite us to do the same. Every journey has a beginning. What's yours?
Connecting people across experiences. Sharing stories that inspire action.
In this trailer episode, project...
2024-09-2905 min
Notes from an Aspiring HumanitarianAn Open Letter To The Parents and Families of College Students: Embracing Change and Unconditional LoveIn this week's episode Relando Thompkins-Jones shares insights from his extensive experience in higher education to address the parents and families of college students. In this heartfelt open letter, he emphasizes the importance of giving students space to make their own decisions and mistakes, and the value of unconditional love. Thompkins-Jones discusses the pressures students face when their paths diverge from family expectations and the emotional and financial toll of conditional support. He encourages families to engage in open, authentic conversations to foster deeper, more meaningful relationships as students navigate their personal growth and development.
00:00 Introduction: An...
2024-08-2214 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianCheck on Your "Strong" FriendsIn this episode, Relando discusses the importance of checking in on the "strong" friends in our lives who always support everyone else. He shares practical tips on offering real help, including listening without judgment. He also talks directly to the "strong" friends, affirming that they deserve the same level of care and attention that they so often provide to others. He reminds them to practice self-care, set boundaries, and reach out for help when they need it. Relando emphasizes that we all need community, and asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Support the...
2024-05-2423 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianCritical Race TheoryIn this week's episode, Relando shares an introductory talk he provided on Critical Race Theory as part of a Social Justice Speaker's Series in April of 2021. Much has happened since then from increased pushback against Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and her work in creating the 1619 Project, to efforts in states to effectively ban the teaching of critical race theory. These manifestations of white backlash prove the points made in Critical Race Theory, and reinforce the message that "white privilege is the ability to pass laws that prevent everyone from learning history that makes white people feel uncomfortable." The...
2021-06-2854 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianBlack Anger and Rage Have a Place in Racial Justice WorkContrary to what many of us have been told, there is a place for Black anger and rage in racial justice work. In this week's episode, Relando affirms that there are things that we just should never get used to, and that Black people have every right to be angry about their oppression.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Yes, Anger Does Influence My Work for Racial Justice, and No, We Won't Calm Down: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/yes-anger-does-influence-my-work-for-racial-justice-and-no-we-wont-calm-down/
Pairs Well With
You Deserve Better. Solidarity Should Not Be Conditional in the Fight for Racial Justice...
2021-03-3018 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianEstablishing Community Agreements Should Be A Liberatory Process in Social Justice WorkEstablishing community agreements goes a long way toward building psychological safety between people and groups in social justice work. In this week's episode Relando shares some examples of community agreements that he's found helpful in this process, with the message that establishing community agreements should be a liberatory activity. They are intended to open authentic, radically candid communication instead of limiting it. One key question to ask: "What elements need to be in place for me to show up authentically in the space?"
Blog Posts referenced in this episode:
In Dialogue, "Ground Rules" are Meant to be...
2021-03-1632 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianIt's Okay to ShiftThe pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on the lives of people with marginalized identities, and the workplace is no exception. In this week's episode, Relando shares a call for organizational leaders to center equity in their decision-making, and an affirmation for staff with marginalized identities in the event that their organizations are unwilling to do that.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Reflecting on Organizational Leadership in a Pandemic:https://www.relandothompkinsjones.com/reflecting-on-organizational-leadership-in-a-pandemic/
It's Okay to Shift: https://www.relandothompkinsjones.com/its-okay-to-shift/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon...
2021-03-0217 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianFour Social Justice Considerations for Group Work PracticeAcknowledging power dynamics is important in social justice work. When working in closed groups, none of us passes through some invisible barrier that removes our privilege or oppression. In this week's episode, Relando shares four socially just considerations for practitioners to keep at the top of their minds when engaging in group work.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
4 Ways to Stay Mindful of Social Justice Issues in Group Work Practice: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/4-ways-to-stay-mindful-of-social-justice-issues-in-group-work-practice/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast...
2021-02-1616 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianWe Make Black History Everyday. We Rise, We Survive, We FlyWe make Black History Everyday. We rise, we survive, we fly. Dedicated to Black people everywhere; in this week's episode Relando shares some important imagery that helps to remind him of how we are connected to a larger whole on the path to racial equity and justice.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
We Make Black History Everyday. We Rise, We Survive, We Fly https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/we-make-black-history-everyday-we-rise-we-survive-we-fly/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones...
2021-02-0212 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianCrowdsourced Interview Questions for DEI PositionsIf you are passionate about social justice work in education and are currently in the interview phase for a position that works toward inclusion and equity at an institution, it is important to recognize that you are interviewing that institution as much as they are interviewing you. This is especially true if you hold multiple marginalized identities. In this week's episode, Relando shares examples of questions to ask to provide some additional clarity in deciding if the environment you are considering entering into is the right one for you.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Crowdsourced Interview...
2021-01-1924 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianSometimes We Let People Down in Social Justice WorkThink of a time where you have let others down in your social justice journey. What happened? How did you feel? What did you do? This week, Relando discusses the importance of embracing both-and-thinking, and taking ownership of the moments when we don't follow through with practicing solidarity in social justice work.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Sometimes, We Really Let Each Other Down in Social Justice Work: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/sometimes-we-really-let-each-other-down-in-social-justice-work/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast...
2020-12-2912 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianMerry Christmas vs Happy HolidaysSome people want everyone to strictly address one another with a "Merry Christmas", while others instead prefer to use "Happy Holidays" as a greeting this time of year. This week, Relando explores the underlying issues of this familiar debate and explains why choosing the inclusive route is the most affirming way to care for others this season.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
What's with the Conflict? Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/whats-with-the-conflict-merry-christmas-happy-holidays/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast...
2020-12-2215 minNotes from an Aspiring Humanitarian6 Reasons Colleges and Universities Need to Face Race and Not Ignore ItThe time for false advertisement is over. Anti-racism is about actions not just words. In this week's episode, Relando shares six reasons colleges and universities need to face race and not ignore it.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
6 Reasons Colleges and Universities Need to Face Race and Not Ignore It: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/6-reasons-colleges-and-universities-need-to-face-race-and-not-ignore-it/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring...
2020-12-1515 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianHow Reflecting on Aging as shared Experience Can Create Opportunities for Empathy and ConnectionAre you a person who is older? Can you remember times in your youth when you were dismissed due to your age? Are you a person who is younger? Have you heard others make jokes or stereotypes against people who are older? In this week's episode, Relando shares how pausing to reflect on aging as a shared experience can create opportunities for empathy and connection.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Considering Age as a Shared Identity Creates Opportunities for Empathy: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/considering-age-as-a-shared-identity-creates-opportunities-for-empathy/
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
2020-12-0811 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianRepresentation Matters in Social Work: We Need More Black TherapistsIn this week's episode, Relando shares an experience helping his white therapist understand power and privilege instead of processing his feelings as a client highlighted the need for more Black therapists and Social Workers.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Representation Matters in Social Work: We Need More Black Therapists
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones...
2020-12-0110 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianRipplesWho has created a positive rippling effect in your life? In this week's episode, Relando shares one example of a person who influenced his social justice journey and invites you to consider the ways you can do the same for others.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Ripples
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a...
2020-11-2414 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianPublic Speaking as an IntrovertThere's room for you to lead for equity even if you struggle with public speaking. In this week's episode, Relando shares what keeps him energized about speaking publicly for social justice as an introvert, as draining as it might be.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Speaking
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project...
2020-11-1009 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianYou Deserve Better: Solidarity Should Not Be Conditional in the Fight for Racial JusticeBlack people. If your friendships with the white people in your life require your silence, if the glue that holds those relationships together is predicated on the assumption that you will never hold them accountable for the ways they are complicit with white supremacy, then those “friendships” are no friendships at all, as those relationships do not allow you to be seen as your full self. You deserve better. In this week's episode, Relando shares why, and offers an alternative set of thought processes for white accountability.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
You Deserve Better: White Frie...
2020-11-0311 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianSupporting Black Male Students on College CampusesSupporting Black male students on campus means supporting students that institutions are the worst at retaining. For historically white institutions especially, it is imperative that leaders remain critical of the ways white supremacy culture negatively impacts Black male students’ experiences, persistence, and retention. In this week's episode, Relando offers advice to those who wish to take on this important work.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Supporting Black Male Students on College Campuses
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.no...
2020-11-0314 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianParenting While Black: A Letter to Daycare About "Crazy Hair Day"To be Black and raise Black children comes with a lifetime commitment to safeguarding their physical and emotional safety as much as possible as they navigate systems that are hostile to them. The education system is but one of many. In this week's episode, Relando shares an experience that highlights how some things that are taken as "normal" or "routine" pieces of curriculum can be harmful to Black children.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
On "Crazy Hair Day": A Letter to Daycare
Articles Mentioned:
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy
...
2020-10-2713 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianPreparing Students for "The Real World".Far too often, the burden of responsibility to change and adapt to inequitable systems is unjustly placed on the shoulders of students with marginalized identities. But who is it that really needs to change? Who is it that really needs to adapt to the world as it is now, and be prepared to respond to where it's going? In this week's episode, Relando shifts the burden of responsibility to where it truly belongs.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Preparing Students for "The Real World"
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
2020-10-2412 minNotes from an Aspiring Humanitarian"Positive Vibes Only"One of Relando's challenges with faux positivity thinking is that there’s a really thin line between it and gaslighting.
There’s a point when the law of attraction stuff crosses a line into victim blaming territory that offers simplistic explanations for complex, systemic problems. In this week's podcast, Relando reflects on toxic positivity, and the need for people in our lives who can hold space for a wide variety of emotions.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
"Positive Vibes Only"
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Othe...
2020-10-2410 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianRelando's Three Rules for Posting About "Controversial" Topics on Social MediaHave you ever been warned against using social media to speak out for topics related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice out of fear of being perceived as "disruptive" by current or prospective employers? In this week's podcast, Relando uses an equity perspective to explain his three rules for using media for social justice, as an example of why it's time to redefine "professionalsm" in this area and so many others.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
My Threee Rules for Posting About "Controversial" Topics on Social Media
Support the podcast by becoming a...
2020-10-2412 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianFour Strategies That Are Used to Manipulate People into Rationalizing OppressionOne of the ways that oppression is maintained is through the expectation that large numbers of people will accept explanations of inequity as "natural" and inevitable. One way to resist is to increase our ability to recognize the design in oppressive systems, and understand that another way is possible. This week, Relando describes four major strategies that are used to manipulate people into rationalizing and justifying the oppression of others in order to identify ways to interrupt and intervene.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
The Art of War: How the Masses are Convinced to be Complicit...
2020-10-2412 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianGetting in Our Own Way: Two Barriers of Our Own Making That Limit Social ChangeThis week, Relando describes two major assumptions that if left unchecked, limit our ability to lead for equity.
Blog Post referenced in this episode:
Getting in Our Own Way: 2 Barriers We Contribute to That Limit Social Change
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Other Important Links:
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
2020-10-2414 minNotes from an Aspiring HumanitarianTrailer: What is an Aspiring Humanitarian?This week, Relando shares exactly what he means when he identifies as an aspiring humanitarian and invites you to join in on the work to build a more equitable and inclusive society.
Important Links :
Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog
Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Podcast Website: podcast.notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com
Relando's Website: relandothompkinsjones.com
Social Justice Origin Stories Podcast: socialjusticeoriginstories.com
Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
2020-10-2302 min