Dreams Not Memes Podcast

I spoke to my friend Gilberto, a friend of Christian Caanen ( Episode 271). Gilberto works at the intersection of multiple fields and believes in the power that policy has to create the conditions that allow others to change and become better. Hailing from Curaçao and based in the Netherlands, Gilberto is a policy advocate and activist in the field of human rights, social and climate justice, inclusion and a consultant on the topics of future of work, social impact and democratic innovation. He is a graduate student at Leiden University finishing his MSc. in Public Administration: International & European Governance, is the Secretary of the Supervisory Board of OCAN (advocacy NGO for the Dutch Caribbean),  Consultant at Creativo Design, Member of the Board of Trustees of Krijger & Partners (Government relations consulting firm), John Lewis Senior Fellow at Humanity in Action, Innovation Lead at Innovation C, Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, TILN Fellow for the German Marshall Fund, Climate Reality Leader and also an Ambassador for the African Caribbean Pacific Young Professionals Network. Gilberto believes in the power that every individual has to make a difference in the world that they are in through empathy and radical love.

His work focuses on the bridging of the gaps between different worlds, through facilitation & moderation of panels & conferences, policy advocacy at the highest levels, organizing projects (especially with youth), and creating valuable connections. Gilberto has worked with many organizations including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education Culture & Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality, Leiden University, One Young World, Western Union, The Hague University of Applied Science, European Parliament (EYE), CordAid, and many other NGO’s and companies. Gilberto has taken part in many high-level meetings and forums including Future Leaders Forum (Riga Conference), European Development Days, The Council of State’s (annual) symposium on the Dutch Caribbean, One Young World, Global Parliament of Mayors etc.  Gilberto is also involved with many Dutch Caribbean organizations in the diaspora community including OCAN, WeConnect, Association of Dutch Caribbean Students, Innovation C, CuraDAO and is the founder of Keda Kas (a Covid-19 support channel). Gilberto co-founded his own political party in 2018, the first student party in the Hague. Is a consultant and advisor to multiple political parties and organizations in the Netherlands and continues to push for systemic change that makes the world more inclusive, sustainable and just.

In our conversation Gilberto and I talk about his activism and the equity of work and the art of bringing purpose to our life mission. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

I spoke to my friend from Tik Tok Tim Bauer from Indiana. Tim Bauer is songwriter, music blogger, Montessori teacher, and community member from Michigan City, Indiana. Tim started playing and booking shows in 2004, and currently plays with Tigershark Don't Quit and Neighbor Kidz. Tigershark just released Is it Tuesday, an album that reflects on the social, political, and human experience in 2020 . Tim is also part of middlemusic.org, a blog that focuses on sharing the wonderful, and often underheard music from the midwest and beyond. In our conversation we talk about Bauer's life in the arts as a writer, creator, and educator and our perspectives on the future of music post pandemic. Find out more on Dreams Not Memes. 

Socials 

https://www.facebook.com/tigersharkdontquit/

https://www.facebook.com/neighborkidz/

http://www.middlemusic.org/

I spoke to Sarah Bailey, a friend of Leona Francoise ( Episode 263). Sarah Bailey was born in Canada and grew up in Germany. She is a fashion entrepreneur and is the founder of the clothing brand Bad Boys. The style of Bad Boys is a combination of international styles Sarah experienced and was exposed to throughout her life. Sarah’s dream has been to use fashion to help others feel good about themselves. In our conversation Sarah discusses Entrepreneurship vs 9 to 5 lifestyle, her goals in the fashion industry and her insights with taking risks. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

Shop: https://shopbadboys.com/

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarahbailey/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badboys.collection/

Tiktok: @badboys.collection

I spoke to my friend Lahaina, a storyteller and writer from the islands of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. Lahaina is a friend of Chellette Mina ( Episode 254).  She proudly acknowledges her roots reviving from Tunnuk, the village of the notorious Chuukese musicians, and Uman Fonuweisomw, island of the legendary Chuukese warriors. Lahaina is currently expanding her ventures in storytelling through various projects, one of which is a cookbook of indigenous and traditional Micronesian recipes that come with blurbs of stories told to her from her elders. Other avenues where she tells stories are her travel blog and her Instagram. In our conversation Lahaina shares her experiences with the value of cultural preservation and her experiences with cultural adversity and growing up as a Chuukese woman. 

Lahaina speaks, reads and writes Chuukese - her native language, in which she also serves as a professional global interpreter and translator. Through her translation work, Lahaina helps her community breaks down barriers in the healthcare and justice systems, and emphasize her community member’s voices. She has been in the language field for almost 10 years.

Her goal is to eventually be able to start an afterschool program that teaches the diaspora of Micronesians their culture and native language. Lahaina also pioneered the Chuukese Women Ambassadors, a group consisting of Chuukese women, with the main goal to build an avenue for Chuukese and Micronesian women to tell their stories. They successfully collected and presented a photovoice project and a birth story collection of Chuukese women to the Nation Historical Society. 

Through the organization of this project, The Chuukese Women Ambassadors were initiators of the revival of community gardening in the diaspora of Micronesian communities. Lahaina is a storyteller and a writer. She is currently writing a cookbook of collective Micronesian indigenous recipes to help promote healthy eating in her community through a decolonized diet. She also has a blog that tells her stories and experiences as she navigates her way, as a small island person in the big world. When her circumstances allows, Lahaina enjoys traveling to learn about other indigenous communities and culture. Above all, she is looking forward to connecting and working together with other individuals at the 3rd Indigenous Global Workshop in Sarayaku’s Territory. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

PS: When I mentioned Wu Tang I meant to say Outkast, in reference to the song by Outkast, "The Art of Storytelling" 

 Socials 

 IG: @chuukesegoddess  

Website: www.sweetstuffpdx.com 

I spoke to my friend Ashley Virginia, a musician I met on Tik Tok who is childhood friends with Taylor Wafford ( Episode 102).  Virginia hails from from Greensboro, North Carolina. Ashley Virginia’s style has been described to as bold, unapologetic, and critically vulnerable. Sharing the deeply intimate and terrifying pieces of herself is an important part of her creative process. Ashley started songwriting at a young age as a therapeutic practice and a means of escape, turning to songwriting to express emotions not so easily expressed in mere words. She believes art should be used as a tool for political action and self expression. In our conversation we discuss Ashley's work-music-life balance, her writing process in 2020, and her upcoming record, learn more on Dreams Not Memes.  Social Links  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1XWViw9zm7w5fSy5jOg978?si=TXU7eHb_TvCQaCnKSE-0YQ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ashleyvirginia.music/?hl=en FB: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyvirginia.music Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ashleyvirginia/support-ashley-virginias-debut-album 

Friends of Ashley Mentioned in the Episode 

Quilla - @quillamusic 

Molly McGinn - @busterdilly 

Mark Dillon - @folkyd

@alexeimejouev

@aroundtownsessions