Our last episode for the year is so fitting for looking forward to 2023 and beyond because this episode's guest is an organization that is actively imagining and fighting for new futures. A future where we are all safe and liberated.

The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL)is a space for Black organizations across the country to debate and discuss the current political conditions, develop shared assessments of what political interventions are necessary in order to achieve key policy, cultural and political wins, convene organizational leadership in order to debate and co-create a shared movement wide strategy.

To a new future.

You can find M4BL here:

https://m4bl.org/

IG: @mvmnt4blklives

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mvmt4bl

Twitter: @Mvmnt4BlkLives

14.8 million children and counting, StriveTogether is improving the education and economic mobility of communities throughout the country. This week, we're lucky enough to sit down with Parv Santhosh-Kumar, VP of Equitable Outcomes, to learn just how they do it.

This episode is jam-packed with lessons on equitable outcomes, systems change thinking, and holistic transformation of communities. Together, we can all help build a world where a child's potential isn't dictated by their race, ethnicity, zip code, or circumstance.

You can find StriveTogether here:

https://www.strivetogether.org/

IG: @strivetogether

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StriveTogether

Twitter: @StriveTogether

In this episode, we talk Queer API power! Bisma Farzansyed and Yuan Wang from Bay Area's Lavender Phoenix share with us the strength in community, the importance of uplifting our histories, and how to live with one foot in the future.

Lavender Phoenix builds transgender, non-binary, and queer API power. They empower and train grassroots leaders to build transformative, intersectional movements through leadership training, community safety training, healing work, movement building and more. And this week, we get a snippet of that wisdom. Tune in!

You can find LavNix here:

https://lavenderphoenix.org/

IG: @lavphoenix

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavphoenix

Twitter: @lav_phoenix

Political literacy is essential to impact, equity, and justice. Ellisa Brown, founder of Civic Essentials, teaches us the basics of political literacy and how we can begin to make an actual difference in our local politics. We talk about how the government was designed, access to political knowledge, and why it's important now more than ever to build an informed citizenry to create impact for those that need it most.

You can find Civic Essentials here:

https://www.civicessentials.org/

IG: @civicessentials

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/civicessentials

Twitter: @CivicEssentials

As we begin to realize and acknowledge that racial inequity undergirds all issues in society today, I invited our friends at the the Foundation of Inter-Ethnic Restoration (FIER) to teach us about racial literacy. In this episode, Robbie Atkinson, founder, teaches us the four types of racism, defines for us what racial trauma and racial gaslighting is, gives us the building blocks of racial literacy and we share some stories about overcoming racial trauma together.

You can find FIER here:

https://fieratlanta.org/

IG: @fieratlanta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fieratlanta/

Take action: https://linktr.ee/fieratlanta

In this episode, Jasmine Lopez, founder of The Firehouse Dream talks to us about dreaming of a better future for our communities. TFD, recipient of the Sony Create Action Grant Award, provides a safe space in Maywood, IL for young adults to discover and nurture their creativity - providing mentorship, studio space, supplies, programs, etc. We also talk about gentrification, the "brain drain" of neighborhoods, YA/BIPOC mental health, our own dreams and so much more. Tune in!

You can find the The Firehouse Dreams here:

https://www.thefirehousedream.org/

IG: @thefirehousedream

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefirehousedream

Take action: https://www.thefirehousedream.org/volunteer

Give: https://www.thefirehousedream.org/give

Pride started as a riot and the fight continues. We are celebrating Pride this month by welcoming Carey Candrian from the Lesbian Health Fund and the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association.

In this episode, we learn about groundbreaking research that is demystifying misconceptions and providing insights into the distinctive (often unmet) health and wellness needs of the LGBTQIA2+ community. It's a fight not only for the right to marry but for every individual to be able to live a full life of health, wellness, and true love - and LHF & GLMA are providing the research to get us there.

Welcome back to WGP & happy PRIDE!

You can find the Lesbian Health Fund here:

https://www.lesbianhealthfund.org/

IG: @lesbianhealthfund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LHFResearch

Twitter: @LesbianHealthFd

Take action: https://www.lesbianhealthfund.org/take-action

Continuing our celebration of Asian voices, stories, and organizations for APAHM - we welcome John Xu of East Side Stories to the podcast!

In this episode, we share our upbringing in the Midwest, our personal experiences, and the importance of our stories as Asian Americans. It's time y'all hear our stories! Happy APAHM!

You can find East Side Stories here:

Website: https://www.eastsidestories.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EastSideStories

IG: @EastSideStoriesNYC

John's IG: @iamjohnxu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastSideStoriesNYC/

Email: hello@eastsidestories.org

Continuing our celebration of Asian voices, stories, and organizations for APAHM - we welcome Rohan Zhou-Lee, Founder of Blasian March to the podcast!

In this episode, we get candid about our Asian identities, intersectionality, solidarity, and the celebration of who we are. Happy APAHM!

You can find Blasian March here:

IG: @BlasianMarchNY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlasianMarch/

Twitter: @BlasianMarch

Continuing our celebration of Asian voices, stories, and organizations for APAHM - we welcome Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAvote to the podcast!

Christine spent 27 years empowering the Asian American community by uplifting the voices and government representation of Asian Americans. In under 30 minutes, we cover hate crimes legislation, protecting your right to vote, representation (not only in media but in the government), and reforming the current environment that led to the hate we are encountering.

If you're like me and you're looking for actionable steps in solving big issues, tune in and learn about how you can use your own political power to create real change in your local community and government. Happy APAHM!

You can find APIAvote here:

http://apiavote.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APIAVote/

IG: @APIAvote

Twitter: @APIAvote

Email: info@apiavote.org

Register to vote: https://www.apiavote.org/how-vote

Donate: https://www.apiavote.org/donate

We're kicking off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with our first APAHM guest, Simon Tam from The Slants Foundation.

Simon talks to us about the freedom of expression, diverse representation, and art as activism. We discuss ways to combat Asian hate and amplify Asian voices through the arts.

Happy APAHM!

You can find The Slants Foundation here:

http://theslants.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theslantsfound/

IG: @theslantsfound

Twitter: @theslantsfound

Support: http://theslants.org/donate

Last but not least, our 5th and final guest for our Women's History Month lineup is The Ethical Bridge.

Consumption is such a significant part of our lives and there's a lot of good we can do with our consumption power so that's why I really want us to talk about this.

Paty, Gaby, and Angie, of The Ethical Bridge, teach us about the principles of fair trade, what sustainability means to them, and the value of conscious consumerism. Whether it is thrifting, shopping your closet, or supporting social enterprises such as The Ethical Bridge, we can do a lot to make our marketplace more ethical and sustainable.

We also touch on the influence and values from our own individual cultures and the preservation of traditions, as a way of promoting slow fashion, the use of natural materials, and strengthening our global community together.

You can find The Ethical Bridge here:

https://theethicalbridge.com/

IG: the_ethical_bridge

4th up from our Women's History Month line-up is Aunt Flow, a social enterprise working to help end period poverty and provide menstrual products to public spaces. Menstruation is such a natural and big part of life for many people, it's a wonder products aren't free and accessible in public locations like toilet paper is.

Claire, founder of Aunt Flow and former college schoolmate of mine, is working to break barriers to access, smash period taboos, and change the world, one cycle at a time.

You can find Aunt Flow here:

https://www.goauntflow.com/

IG: @GoAuntFlow

FB: https://www.facebook.com/goauntflow/

Twitter: @GoAuntFlow

Advocacy: https://www.goauntflow.com/#advocates-choice

It's still Women's History Month! 3rd from our line-up of women-led organizations is GiGi's Playhouse - an international organization that fosters achievement and acceptance for individuals with down syndrome. And this episode couldn't have come at a better time because coming up is World Down Syndrome Day on March 21!

There will be some sniffles as Heather shares a couple of her stories and lessons she's learned from the GiGi's Playhouse's community. We also squash some misconceptions and talk about ways we can all celebrate and get involved!

You can find GiGi's playhouse (and a playhouse in your area) here:

https://gigisplayhouse.org/syracuse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigisplayhouse/

IG: @gigisplayhousesu

Twitter: @GiGis_Playhouse

It's Women's History Month! 2nd from our line-up of women-led organizations is Catalyst Foundation - an organization that aims to fight human trafficking by alleviating poverty in the rural communities of Vietnam.

In this episode, we celebrate the 20 years Caroline Nguyen Ticarro spent strengthening communities in Vietnam to protect young girls from being sold into human trafficking. We also talk about our Vietnamese backgrounds, family, and her culture camps which aims to connect adoptee families with Viet traditions and culture.

You can find Catalyst Foundation here:

https://www.catalystfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catalystvietnam/

IG: @catalystvietnam

Twitter: @catalystvietnam

It's Women's History Month! 1st up from our line-up of women-found, women-led organizations is the Unconscious Bias Project - found and led by two female academics breaking down barriers in the world of academia and beyond.

With ongoing xenophobia, discrimination, and hate-based violence in the world, it's important to talk about some of the hidden root causes of the issue. Dr. Linet Mera talks about her work using research, evidence, and empathy to fight discrimination. At the end of the episode, we talk about how to tackle the biases in our own minds and the true cost of racism.

You can find the Unconscious Bias Project here:

Email: ubp@unconsciousbiasproject.org

Twitter: @UBP_STEM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnconsciousBiasProject

IG: @ubp_stem

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/unconscious-bias-project

There is no organization quite like this one in Chicago. In this episode, Nathan Cordero and Ernesto Gonzalez talk about the great city of Chicago, and how M3 harnesses the spirit of community and the simple act of helping your neighbor to make an incredible impact. M3 constantly shifts to meet the needs of the community - whether it is health disparities, youth mentorship, pandemic-related relief, or shoveling snow. It's about the simplest acts of kindness.

You can find My Block My Hood My City here:

https://www.formyblock.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myblockmyhoodmycity

IG: @myblockmyhoodmycity

Twitter: @mbmhmc

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MyBlockMyHoodMyCity

Support: https://formyblock.salsalabs.org/igotchu/index.html

Consuela and Angela, of People Matter, gives us a lesson on race and the heightened Anti-Blackness as a result of the violence on East Asian Americans.

Edward Raya, of the Pilipino American Unity for Progress, helps me navigate the conversation about the surge of hate crimes on the East Asian American community. Please note there is a *trigger warning* for this episode.

This week, we're switching gears and going abroad! We sit down with Wendy Shew, of Building Education, to talk about what it's like to build a education non-profit abroad, and her passion for self-development and women empowerment. Filled with questions and giggles, we explore our own relationship with the world and our purpose.

You can find Building Education here:

https://www.bebuildingeducation.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildingeducation/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/buildingeducation/

Support: https://www.bebuildingeducation.org/pitch-in/