Counter Stories

As election day nears, several things weigh heavy on the minds of voters. There is real fear about the safety of getting their ballots counted, voter intimidation, political parties attempting to staff polling locations, and more. 

With the midterm election just weeks away, the crew talks about why voting is important and what may be causing young people to not vote. We also discuss the barriers making it harder to vote, lack of information, and redistricting. Guest: Victor Yang

On our final episode of our Education Series episode, the crew talks higher education. What does diversity and inclusion look like? We talk with Kha Yang, the inaugural Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence, at the University of St. Thomas about her experience and vision for the largest private university in Minnesota. 

Minnesota’s, and possibly the country’s, first female Somali principal joins the crew to talk about her journey to becoming the principal of Gideon Pond school in Burnsville. Her aptness of spreading love and joy is at the core of how she wants to leads her school. 

Many people see environmental work as conservation, protecting the natural spaces throughout this world. But that is only part of the larger environmental justice picture. Our guests Roxxanne O’Brien and Justice Jones have been working in North Minneapolis to educate, empower and encourage urban residents to take a look at how things like air quality, water quality and green spaces effect their daily lives. 

The crew is joined by St. Paul Central’s new principal Cherise Ayers, who plans on making Central work for everyone, where everyone thrives. As an alumnae herself, Ayers has returned with a vision cultivate a Central where everyone thrives. The theme this year: We’re in this together. She takes her responsibly to the school, the community, parents and especially our children very seriously.

As people are getting prepped to go back to school, a new lawsuit has been filed against Minneapolis Public School’s initiative to support and retain teachers of color. In addition to the halting of The WOKE Act in Florida, the crew discusses how not learning the true history of this country only leaves room to repeat history, or, prevents one from understanding how something like putting cotton on a Black child’s head is inappropriate. 

In the first of a series focusing on the education system, the crew talks about back-to-school jitters. As parents (and auntie) of BIPOC children, we have additional concerns about what our children do and did experience in school. We question whether they’re learning the full history of this country and how we can empower them to stand up to the system. 

On our latest Grab Bag show, we talk about yet another racist review of a movie that doesn’t focus on white people, the latest set back on holding someone accountable for the murder of Emmitt Till, and racist happenings at “family-friendly” theme parks.