Black Robe Podcast

A conversation with a Washington State Department of Labor & Industries employee on what really happens when a workplace injury threatens a family's income and stability, and what every worker deserves to understand before that moment ever comes.

What if the system meant to protect children is actually causing harm?In this powerful conversation, the Black Robe Podcast sits down with renowned scholar, author, and activist Dorothy Roberts to expose the truth behind what she calls the family policing system, often labeled “child welfare” or “child protection.”Dorothy Roberts, author of Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World, explains how families, especially Black and Brown families are routinely surveilled, investigated, and separated, often not because of abuse, but because of poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequality.In this episode, we explore: • Why family separation is framed as “help” and what it actually does • How poverty gets legally reclassified as neglect • Why over half of Black children face child welfare investigations before age 18 • How police, schools, hospitals, and social services work together to police families • The trauma families experience during investigations and removals • What real family support and community investment could look like instead • Dorothy’s upcoming memoir The Mixed Marriage Project and her lifelong advocacy workThis conversation challenges long-held assumptions and invites us to rethink how we protect children, support families, and build safer communities.🎟️ Dorothy Roberts is the keynote speaker at IBJ’s Liberation Gala on February 28.📚 Her books include Torn Apart, Killing the Black Body, Fatal Invention, and her upcoming memoir The Mixed Marriage Project.

In this episode of the Black Robe Podcast, Frederick White and community leader Darryl Crews break down why Black voter turnout, local elections, and civic engagement matter now more than ever.Darryl exposes the real challenges around voting rights, how Supreme Court decisions impact Black communities, and why local government holds more power over our daily lives than most people realize.If you want to understand your civic power, and how to use it, this conversation is essential.Key Topics:- Black voter power & voter suppression- Why local government matters- Supreme Court decisions & community impact- The fight for voting rights- Civic engagement that actually creates change

We are at a time when faith in democracy is being tested across the world. Who really has the authority to make change, and where does your vote have the most impact?Senator Yasmin Trudeau joins the Black Robe Podcast to dissect the shifting balance of government power and the fight for voting rights, both of which shape the future of our communities. Dive with us into urgent questions about federal authority, state leadership, and the essential role of voting rights restoration, especially for people overcoming systemic barriers. Discover what it means to truly reclaim your voice, build trust in turbulent times, and champion community engagement for lasting change. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to the Black Robe Podcast for more powerful conversations on community, advocacy, and change.

What does it really take to fight homelessness, empower youth voices, and make politics accessible? In this episode of the Black Robe Podcast, host Frederick White sits down with Pierce County Commissioner George Conzuelo, a dedicated community organizer, social worker, and advocate for youth empowerment, to uncover the answers.George shares his journey working with Family Promise, where he’s seen firsthand how housing, childcare, and financial stability are deeply interconnected. He explains why lived experience is essential in shaping effective social services and how underrepresented communities can overcome systemic barriers to access government resources, civic engagement, and public service opportunities.This powerful conversation highlights the importance of youth empowerment in politics, the need to build accessible pathways into public service, and the urgency of holding elected officials accountable. George makes it clear that advocacy and political engagement aren’t just for career politicians, they’re for everyone, especially young people ready to use their voices to drive meaningful change.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:-How lived experience shapes social work and community service.-The intersection of housing, childcare, and financial stability.-The role of community engagement in driving social justice.-How Family Promise impacts families overcoming homelessness.-Why youth voices matter in politics and campaign strategies.-Ways to make political spaces accessible for young people.-The importance of accountability and transparency in public service.If you care about social justice, youth empowerment, and building stronger communities, this episode is for you.

This episode is more than a conversation, it’s a call to action. A call to redefine what it means to be a father, to uplift one another, and to build stronger, more connected families and communities.Our host Frederick White sits down with Steve Primas, a seasoned relationship and parenting coach, for a raw and deeply personal conversation about the realities of Black fatherhood.Steve opens up about his own journey as a young black father navigating challenges, breaking generational cycles, and finding strength through vulnerability. Together, they explore the critical need for emotional healing, mentorship, and community support systems that empower black men to show up fully in their roles as fathers and leaders.If you're a father, a mentor, or simply someone who believes in the power of fatherhood, this is a must listen.Subscribe, share, and join the movement toward empowered, present, and purpose-driven Black fatherhood.

Adults with Learning Disabilities Foundation was envisioned in 1988 by Founder and CEO Felix Strozier. The foundation is a community based action organization dedicated to bringing awareness to adult illiteracy by working with a team of volunteers and agencies promoting literacy throughout the country. 

To learn more about AWLD visit their website:https://www.awldfoundation.org

In this episode of the Black Robe Podcast, Host Isaiah Lenard and Founder Carol Mitchell talk with Duaa-Rahemaah Hunter, the Housing Alliance Organizer for Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. Have you or anyone in your family benefit from rent stabilization?

The Resident Action Project (RAP) is a program of Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, a statewide organizing network led by people who live in low-income/affordable housing, and those with lived experience of housing injustice, instability, and/or homelessness.

To learn more on upcoming events and initiatives: https://www.wliha.org

To learn more about the IBJ A.C.E.S Program Launch check out our website: https://instituteforblackjustice.org

If you know a young adult aged 18-35 interested in social justice advocacy fill out the interest form below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuUtGJGsGu4s4abeDD7Dev2cXL49IcwzwY4pyEnBGRO2ieiA/viewform?usp=sf_linkFacebookInstagramTwitter/X

In this episode of the Black Robe Podcast, Host Isaiah Lenard and Co-host Queleah Collins talk with DeVandra Wheeler an author and advocate dedicated to empowering children and young adults. DeVandra has served as a voice for both groups through community and prior military service. DeVandra’s passion for advocacy comes from her first-hand experiences of sexual abuse at a young age. 

Way's to connect with Nova Be Bold author DeVandra Wheeler: https://www.instagram.com/novabebold/https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=nova+be+bold&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8https://www.facebook.com/novabebold/

To learn more about the IBJ A.C.E.S Program Launch check out our website: https://instituteforblackjustice.org If you know a young adult aged 18-35 interested in social justice advocacy fill out the interest form below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuUtGJGsGu4s4abeDD7Dev2cXL49IcwzwY4pyEnBGRO2ieiA/viewform?usp=sf_linkFacebookInstagramTwitter/X

In this episode of the Black Robe Podcast, We learn about IBJ's A.C.E.S Program and the upcoming 2024 launch date!

We also hear from the Black Robe Podcast Host and Co-host who are IBJ Interns, to learn a little bit more about them and their missions towards social justice advocacy.

To learn more about the A.C.E.S Program, check out our website at https://instituteforblackjustice.org/

If you have a young adult interested in social justice advocacy aged 18-35, click the interest form below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuUtGJGsGu4s4abeDD7Dev2cXL49IcwzwY4pyEnBGRO2ieiA/viewform?usp=sf_link