Building Justice

Listen in as Victor Rodriguez Tafoya shares a conversation with Joshua “Gunner” Johnson, Director of the Underground Scholars Program at UC Davis and a key founder of Project Rebound at Sacramento State. Project Rebound provides critical educational resources and support for formerly incarcerated individuals, offering counseling, mentoring, academic services, and career development to help them transform their lives. Gunner shares his personal journey, including his 18 years of incarceration and how that led him to his work helping formerly incarcerated students succeed in higher education. Join us as we learn about the growth of these vital programs and the profound impact they have on students navigating the challenges of reentering society.

In this episode, Victor Rodriguez Tafoya interviews Coach Paul Casey, the owner of Better You Fitness in Hayward, California, who has transformed his own life after spending time in prison. Coach Paul is dedicated to helping others—particularly moms—develop strong mindsets, boost metabolism, and build healthier bodies so they can create better environments for their families. Join us as we explore Coach Paul’s mission and the impactful work he is doing to transform lives, one client at a time. 

Listen in as Anthony Jones, Ari Uzzle, and Victor Rodriguez Tafoya discuss the critical topics of social justice, activism, and criminal justice. Communities of color experience unique challenges within the criminal justice system. For instance, Black communities in California face incarceration rates 9.5 times higher than those of white individuals. This podcast follows the journey of an individual who transitioned from adolescence to adulthood while incarcerated and shares his experiences adapting to society.

The Serna Center and Dreamer Resource Center at Sacramento State are home to various resources for Latine students. In this episode, we speak with Juana Zaragoza and Kimberly Gomez, program directors of the Serna Center and Dreamer Resource Center, respectively. 

Listen in as Associate Professor of Political Science Danielle Joesten Martin talks with Rana McReynolds, Sac State alum and Assistant Professor of African American Studies at San Jose State, about her research on how mass media stereotypes of Black women shape evaluations of Black women candidates in the United States. They discuss Rana’s academic journey, her intersectional research, and the implications of her research for the 2024 presidential election in which one of the major party candidates is a Black, Asian American woman.

Listen in as Sacramento State Professor Elvia Ramirez interviews Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola about her book, The Bricks Before Brown: The Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican Americans’ Struggle for Educational Equality.  In her book, Dr. Martinez-Cola examines the many legal cases that preceded the well-known 1954 school desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. Tune in to hear Dr. Martinez-Cola talk about the ways that Chinese Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans bravely fought against school segregation and helped pave the road to Brown. 

In this episode, Communication Studies student Victor Tafoya and Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Lina Rincon interview the Associate Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), Stephanie Cruz. Stephanie discusses her work to build awareness on how to prevent sexual assault. She offers insights on the global history of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She also shares details on how to get educated and join the movement to prevent sexual assault.

Sacramento State’s 2023 Model United Nations cohort joins the Building Justice podcast in a special episode to discuss their recent participation in both domestic and international National Model United Nations (NMUN) conferences, experiences in the MUN program, and the impact of international relations in their undergraduate studies.

In this episode Political Science graduate student Veronica Mozqueda and Environmental Studies Department Chair Dr. Wayne Linklater talk about air pollution research in Sacramento's environmental justice zones. 

Sacramento State Political Science undergraduate Mai Lam talks with ASI President Natalie Dominguez and Vice President Veronica Boulos about the role of student government on Sac State’s campus. They focus on key agenda points such as Title IX, changes in FASFA, and basic needs provision.