Deep Democracy

As the Policy Director / Program Manager for Black Women for Wellness, Nourbese Flint has helped to spearhead legislation around reproductive justice, public health, environmental health, sex education, and voting rights in southern California. A longtime Star Trek and DC comics fan and self-described nerd, Nourbese talked with us about building an equitable future for all, the power of community organizing, and turning "black girl magic" into Black women power.Check out Black Women for Wellness: https://www.bwwla.org/

Jessica Byrd is a political strategist focused on recruiting and electing people of color and working with people of color-centered and led organizations on strategic political programming and self-sustainability. She ran Stacey Abrams successful (though stolen) campaign for governor in Georgia, and is the founder of Three Point Strategies—a firm built for and by badass people of color that supports folks in the movement and those who run for office.

As a county commissioner, Tami Sawyer saw that while Memphis might be doing a good job of attracting new businesses to town, the city hasn’t been working for the majority of residents, particularly low-income Black and brown residents. Her mayoral run has been challenging, between an incumbent who doesn’t want to debate and some embarrassing old tweets, but this Memphis native is determined to show her community what deep democracy looks like.

Xiomara Corpeño is a longtime immigrants rights organizer who spent 12 years as the Organizing Director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) in Los Angeles. Through March 2020, she will provide capacity building support to several organizations in Mexico and the United States with the goal of increasing support for vulnerable immigrants and creating leadership opportunities for immigrants. Here she brings us inspiration to keep fighting for a more just world.

A'shanti Gholar got interested in politics through C-span as a kid and got activated by a politician's lies in high school. Today she's the political director for Emerge America, where she works tirelessly toward equal representation. Here she talks about her path there, what keeps her optimistic, and what she's got her sights set on beyond 2020. Check out A'shanti's show The Brown Girl's Guide to Politics here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brown-girls-guide-to-politics/id1457611450!

In the lead-up to 2016, Charlane Oliver and Tequila Johnson, co-founders of the Equity Alliance, led a coalition that registered 85,000 Latinx and Black voters. We check in on their fight, take a look at abortion bans across the country, and dig into the latest Trump administration attacks on abortion. Plus, introducing our Democracy Dumpster Fire segment! This month's fire? The DCCC.Sponsor: The New Yorker - go to newyorker.com/deepdemocracy to get 12 weeks for $6 (50% off!) and an exclusive tote.

A look at why local elections are important to remember in the run-up to 2020, the three big issues heading to the supreme court—abortion "heart rate" bills, voter restriction, and the Census citizenship question—and how they will impact us from years to come. Then our guest Clarissa Brooks tells us all about campus organizing at Spellman, the importance of meeting people where they're at and focusing on the community's needs, calling out Shaun King, and much more. criticalfrequency.org/deepdemocra

Wilnelia and Gina break down everything from what's happening with newly elected women politicians across the country to Ocasio-Cortez's latest committee appearances to why everyone is so intent on Stacey Abrams running for Senate but not president. Then, guest Aimee Allison (founder of She the People and president of Democracy in Color) joins to talk about all the work underway to center women of color and organizers in the growing and increasingly powerful progressive movement.

Welcome to the politics show about moving forward, not getting mad, a show where we lift up movement builders and grassroots organizers and hold both political parties accountable for their role in creating the current messes in the U.S. government. Deep Democracy is about centering the people usually pushed to the margins, and the value that brings to all. Join us for a monthly conversation, beginning March 28th!