Mikayla Nembhard and Sandra explore how communal self-care and rest sustain long-term justice work. Sandra shares insights on overcoming burnout, processing emotions and offers practical ways to cultivate resilience. Join us to learn how rest can become an act of resistance and why community support is key to staying engaged in the work of justice.

 

Sandra Van Opstal is the Executive Director of Chasing Justice. Sandra is a second-gen Latina living on the west side of Chicago. She is an international speaker, author, and activist.

Sandra’s initiatives in holistic justice equip communities around the world to practice biblical solidarity and mutuality.

 

Mikayla Nembhard is a Content Creator at Chasing Justice. She is a television producer and editor of On The Path as seen on Yes TV Canada. And she co-hosts The Brave Girls Podcast for Brave Global, a charity designed to empower and uplift young women and girls everywhere. Mikayla holds a BA in bilingual communications from York University. 

 

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Our podcast producer, Roslyn Hernández sits down with Justin Guaman to explore how Gen Z can engage in social justice and civic advocacy. Justin shares his journey from a justice-impacted youth to an advocate for marginalized communities, offering insights on finding courage through community, starting small, and collaborating for change. Tune in to discover how you can make a difference on campus and beyond, one step at a time.

 

Justin Guaman is a Queens native of Ecuadorian descent. He has been on staff with InterVarsity for five years. And is currently overseeing two student chapters in NYC. Justin has a degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. He’s been working with justice-impacted youth at Riker’s Island, Harlem, and other NYC communities since 2018. Justin’s passion for this work is rooted in his journey as a justice-impacted youth. Since then, Justin has been working and wrestling at the intersection of Faith & Justice.

 

Roslyn M. Hernández creates resources for the spiritual formation and empowerment of emerging generations through her work as Project Manager at the Fuller Youth Institute and Podcast Producer at Chasing Justice. As a Contributor at Think Christian, her thought-provoking articles and conversations bridge the gap between faith and pop culture. Roslyn is also a Spiritual Director, Public Theologian, and Podcaster providing space for Indigenizing, holy listening, discernment, and healing. 

 

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Chealsia and Katie unpack what mutual aid means and what it can look like in action. Katie shares how mutual aid goes beyond charity by centering relationships, listening, and empowering communities to create their own solutions. Join this conversation and discover how mutual aid can transform how we care for one another!

Katie Nguyen Palomares is Program Manager at Kingdom Capital Network, Sound Engineer at Chasing Justice, and co-host of The Beauty In-Between Podcast. She is passionate about supporting others to make Kingdom impact through their everyday rhythms & community. Off-duty, you’ll find her reading, climbing, or enjoying coffee and good conversation.

Chealsia Smedley is a writer, editor, and content manager with Chasing Justice. Chealsia is passionate about storytelling that sparks curiosity and drives compassionate action. She produces and hosts the Created For podcast, supporting BIPOC Christians in walking with Jesus and living out their callings. In her free time, she enjoys dancing the Lindy Hop and other Black vernacular jazz dances.

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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Chealsia sits down with Tamir Bell to explore what it means to make a difference beyond the voting booth. Tamir shares his journey, from middle school to bridging gaps in his community, confronting ageism, and staying grounded in faith while advocating for justice. Tune in to hear practical ways to get involved, overcome barriers, and identify your passions to take action for change.

 

Tamir Bell's passion for public service began with grassroots organizing, connecting communities with resources to drive progress. As a Gen Z Precinct Committee person and as Political Director to State Rep. Maurice West, he has championed innovative solutions across Illinois. Tamir also serves as Chairperson of the Jackson Charter School Board and is a YMCA board member, focusing on family programs and community well-being. He inspires youth to engage locally, reminding them, "We can't change the world, but we can change our small corner of the world."

 

Chealsia Smedley is a writer, editor, and content manager with Chasing Justice. Chelsea is passionate about storytelling that sparks curiosity and drives compassionate action. She produces and hosts the Created For podcast, supporting BIPOC Christians in walking with Jesus and living out their callings. In her free time, she enjoys dancing the Lindy Hop and other Black vernacular jazz dances.

 

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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Propaganda encourages Gen Z to stay sharp, fact-check, and not get caught up in emotional reactions. Let’s dive into the importance of local elections, the traps of single-issue voting, and how to avoid disinformation. 

Mentioned in this episode: ballotpedia.org

 

Propaganda is an artist, author whose music and prose explore themes of divergence and connection. His worldview was shaped by his father, a former Black Panther, and the multicultural Latino LA neighborhood where he gre up. Prop taught high school for six years, and helped found two charter schools in LA. He is a published author and podcast host sharing his insights on politics and culture through Hood Politics with Prop.

Lashunda Lott, a Chicago native, is a deacon at Grace and Peace Church and a graduate of North Park University in Biblical and Theological Studies. She creates content for Chasing Justice and co-leads the “H.E.R” podcast, exploring topics from the perspective of young Black women. Outside of ministry, Lashunda works with her mom at La’Delish Catering. Passionate about outreach, Lashunda builds community through creative methods, sharing God’s truth and love.

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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Let’s dive into the power of voting and why it’s about more than just picking the next president! Our guest, Kayla Griffin, a passionate advocate for voting rights, shares how decisions made at the local level—from school boards to public funding—affect our daily lives just as much as national elections.

Mentioned in this Episode: www.vote411.org  | www.vote.org | www.whenweallvote.org

Kayla Griffin, a native of Youngstown, OH, is a dedicated public servant committed to uplifting her community. She serves as the Ohio State Director for All Voting is Local and President of the Cleveland Branch of the NAACP. Kayla is also an ordained elder, published author, and speaker, using her platform to advocate for justice and equity.

Our host for this episode is Elena De La Paz! She is a Content Creator with Chasing Justice passionate about storytelling that challenges the "othering" of people, aiming to reveal our shared humanity. As a biracial person of color and an advocate for multicultural and intercultural living, Elena works with migrant communities abroad with Casa Esperanza. while exploring hospitality, generosity, and solidarity across cultures, races, and languages. Casa Esperanza is serving the migrant population that is passing through the northern border town of Los Chiles, Costa Rica, providing free meals and lodging to families in vulnerable situations.

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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Let’s be real—disagreements are everywhere in the work of justice, especially during an election year. But how do we handle them without losing focus on the bigger mission?

In this episode of Chasing Justice, we’re breaking down how to keep it respectful and productive. Tune in for some helpful tips! 

Mentioned in this episode:

The episode was in partnership with @iamccda We hope to see folks at the National Conference in Portland.

https://ccda.org/train-connect/ccda-national-conference

ccda.org/conference  

Roslyn Hernández is the CJ Podcast Producer. She Produces The FYI on Youth Ministry podcast at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). Roslyn lived in México City as a child and grew up in the Central Valley of California. Roslyn hosts the Bible Tea with Roslyn Hernández podcast, she is also a Spiritual Director and writer.

Benji Moncivaiz is COO of CJ and has been in Organizational Development consulting for mission-driven organizations at the intersection of social justice, technology, and community building.  As a Latino who has lived and worked in various countries he lives in the liminal spaces.

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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This season of the Chasing Justice podcast, Sandra will be handing the mic to the Chasing Justice team of Gen Z and young Millennial leaders who are making a difference in their communities as we explore what it means to be engaged socially and civically together.    This season, we're going to be hearing from a range of young leaders on topics surrounding civic engagement beyond voting, how to choose which issues to engage in, the challenge of disagreeing well, and how collective action makes a difference.   Mentioned in this episode: ccda.org/conference  

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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Peacemakers desire harmony and unity, but they also seek justice. Marlena Graves shares how her empathy and discernment cultivate a willingness to find common ground and potential wisdom in opposing viewpoints. She also talks about the tensions Peacemakers feel between truth-telling and the fear of potential relational loss.

 

Marlena Graves is the Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern

Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University. She has written five books and over two hundred articles for outlets like Christianity Today, Relevant, Sojourners, and Christian Century. She also has pastoral, church planting, nonprofit, and board membership experience. Her activism work focuses mainly on solidarity with the poor, immigration issues, and police brutality. She is married to Shawn, a philosophy professor, and has three growing girls. As a missionary to the American Church, Marlena wants people to know God delights in them. She loves to laugh, be in nature, be with family and friends, and hopes to leave a little bit of shalom in her wake.

 

Mentioned in the episode:

The Way Up is Down

Enneagram 9 Devotional

Bearing God

https://marlenagraves.com

 

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Our Enthusiast guest is Danielle Coke Balfour! In this conversation, Dani shares the lows, highs, and challenges of her activism journey. She also talks about the ways in which she brings hope and practical optimism to her justice work. Listen in to hear Dani’s stories and advice about how to manages anxiety in activism. 

 

Danielle Coke is a graphic designer turned artist, advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Oh Happy Dani, an illustration-based educational platform that uses artwork and resources to make complex ideas surrounding racial justice more accessible for the

everyday advocate. Danielle works to inspire her community of over half a million people across social media to do good daily, right where they are. Danielle hopes to inspire others to embody their values and live a life of sustainable activism by using what they have to impact the world around them.

 

Mentioned in the episode:

@ohhappydani

https://ohhappydani.com 

A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well

The Middle Passage

Live Justly Cohort

Martin Luther King 

 

We have an active Patreon community where you can access the full video interview and more resources.

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