This week, we’re happy to welcome back our good friend, Amber Viola! Amber is the Human Resources Director and mayoral cabinet member for the city of Scranton, and she’s the first black director in the city’s history. She’s also a Navy veteran, social worker, and the first black commander of the Gouldsboro American Legion. We spent the vast majority of our first episode with Amber discussing her upbringing in conservative Christianity, and here eventual break with the church. However, we wanted to hear more about her social and political work in Pennsylvania. Amber’s a go-getter, and she’s spent the last few years campaigning for local and national candidates, heading up a laptop drive for underprivileged kids who were left behind during the Covid-19 online school push, and doing a number of different things to bring awareness to the needs of her fellow veterans, as well as build community for those coming home from service. We can’t help but think that Amber will be running this country, someday (my god, let’s hope so…), and we always have a great time talking with her! You should follow Amber on Instagram (@amber__viola), find her on Facebook (Amber Viola), and keep an eye on her website www.amberviola.com for more info on her current projects!

We also want to let you know about a really cool project involving our friend Phil Wilmont from Ep. 49 – From Awana to Uganda: Seeking Warmer Weather & a Tussle With Tyranny.” He is part of a group of activist film makers working on “The Woman Who Poked The Leopard,” which is a documentary about Uganda's provocative feminist and academic Stella Nyanzi on her journey from Prison to Parliament, and what it means to be a single mother at the front lines of the liberation struggle in Uganda. This documentary is important, and you can help! Consider contributing to their fundraising campaign at www.indiegogo.com/projects/fund-this-film-the-woman-who-poked-the-leopard and follow them on Twitter @DrPoke !