During the pandemic, farm workers had no choice but to keep working long days in the hot sun to harvest the fruits and vegetables that fed our nation. The majority of farm workers in the U.S. are migrant workers, many of whom are undocumented, and who were unable to stay home. Blanca Arroyo, a farm worker in Monterey County California, kept working in the fields even when there was immense fear of bringing COVID home to her family. On today’s show, Blanca shares why this country needs to value the work she and her colleagues do every day, and reminds us all that she is essential in this country. Roundtable guests: Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and Mónica Ramírez, founder of Justice for Migrant Women.

Learn more about Justice for Migrant Women: https://justice4women.org/ 

Learn more about the Dolores Huerta Foundation: https://doloreshuerta.org/ 

Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UzYoWd5dgkoNvLweDIMVaIwAwtZRcFG8XfFCnVPKeM8/edit?usp=sharing

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Many veterans come back from active duty with physical injuries and mental healthcare needs as they transition back to civilian life. A veteran himself, Tim Sutherland continues his commitment to service by working every day to help veterans with their disability claims. By doing so, he ensures they get the care they need from the VA even during the pandemic. Roundtable guest: Jane Horton.

Learn more about Veteran’s Guardian: https://vetsguardian.com/

Learn more about the USO: https://www.uso.org/ 

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/51f3287d-ad64-4ede-836c-3c6a3afd1e72

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Years ago on one fateful day in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, volunteer Liza spoke from her heart and drew a crowd to raise money for the TransLatin@ Coalition. Nowadays, Liza is a case manager for the very same Coalition, working to serve the trans community of Los Angeles. Liza works with her trans community each day, ensuring folx have housing and other basic needs, including having their voices heard. Roundtable guests: Bamby Salcedo, the CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, and activist and model Carmen Carrera.

Learn more about: The TransLatin@ Coalition: https://www.translatinacoalition.org/ 

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/c92f085f-6e00-4760-bd31-84da0b88dda0

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Ameena- “La Patrona”- wears many hats - she’s a rideshare driver, an accountant, and used to run her own non-emergency medical transport business. Ameena loves being her own boss, but experiences the stresses that come with the title, underscored during the pandemic when riders refuse to wear masks. Ameena’s passion for her “hustle” has led her to find ways to uplift the fellow rideshare drivers in her community so they too can drive safely and on their own terms. Roundtable guests: Lewis Howes, of the School of Greatness podcast, and Alissa Walker from New York Magazine.

Learn more about Lewis Howes’ School of Greatness: https://lewishowes.com/ 

Read Alissa Walker’s writing: https://www.curbed.com/author/alissa-walker/ 

Learn more about the Drivers Cooperative NYC: https://drivers.coop/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/bc545da3-7fa8-4260-a1b6-0ca0e33017ee

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What did you do today before 9am? For Leanne Martinez, the chef at the Downtown Women’s Center, putting out 1,000 meals before 9am for women experiencing homelessness, is just her average Tuesday. During the pandemic, Leanne went into work every day to cook healthy and hot meals for the women she serves. Roundtable guests: Amy Turk, the CEO of the Downtown Women’s Center, and restaurateurs Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo.

Learn more about the Downtown Women’s Center: https://downtownwomenscenter.org/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/d5cc9b5c-edab-4b31-a7e6-1a5ab6e9f233

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The COVID-19 pandemic left many in fear of eviction from their homes. It left many people unhoused as well, with moratoriums on evictions and landlords at odds. People like Trini Ocampo, an attorney with the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) worked tirelessly to protect and advocate for those individuals fighting to keep the doors on their hinges. Roundtable guests: Los Angeles City Council Member Nithya Raman and Yvonne Mariajimenez, the President and CEO of the NLSLA.

Learn more about Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles: https://nlsla.org

Learn more about Council Member Nithya Raman: https://councildistrict4.lacity.org/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/5b53a686-c7f5-4a0a-ad7f-6fb2c10062b9

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Imagine being the primary caretaker for your employer- making sure they take their medication, taking them to all their doctors appointments, cooking for them… the list goes on. For Denise, a domestic worker, the amount of jobs she does in a day is endless. Then the pandemic hit, and Denise didn’t stop caring for her employers. For domestic workers, many of whom are undocumented, the pandemic exacerbated a lack of protections that was already grave. Roundtable guest: Kristina Mevs-Apgar from the National Domestic Workers Alliance. 

Learn more about the National Domestic Workers Alliance: https://www.domesticworkers.org/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/d3fb05ef-add2-4e40-8e0b-dc5993445053

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The trauma of COVID-19 has left no ones mental health unscathed. Everyone is affected- kids, older folx, and everyone in between- in unique ways. This week’s essential voice is Dr. Kavner, a school guidance counselor and therapist. Dr. Kavner works every day to support her students through the loss and emotional uncertainty of the pandemic. Roundtable guests: California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and the creator of the Latinx Therapy podcast Adriana Alejandre.

Learn more about Dr. Burke Harris’s work and ACES: https://numberstory.org/

Listen to Adriana’s “Latinx Therapy” podcast: https://latinxtherapy.com/podcast/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/46b8e96f-938e-4538-8865-f32d62a2147b

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Imagine a high school health teacher who encourages you to ask all your hormonally charged questions without making it awkward, and instead empowers you in your health education. What if that same teacher was helping you navigate how to stay safe not only in school, but at home with your family due to COVID-19? Meet Leticia, this week’s essential voice. Roundtable guest: Monica Garcia from the LA Unified School District.

Episode transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/cd91863e-cd8a-4166-a727-5569ff410163

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Remember supporting your favorite restaurants by getting takeout during the pandemic? What if your go-to neighborhood spot was not only fighting to stay open during the pandemic, but also started a local initiative to get free food to frontline healthcare workers? Jenny and FeedER, an Oakland based community initiative, were doing just that.

This week’s essential voice is Jenny Schwarz. Roundtable guests: Nate Mook from World Central Kitchen and Elsa Collins from This is About Humanity.

Learn more about Jenny’s restaurant Hopscotch: https://www.hopscotchoakland.com/

Learn more about World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Learn more about This is About Humanity: https://www.thisisabouthumanity.com/

Episode Transcript: https://app.trint.com/public/6cccb118-97e9-4bd5-99db-2ac794182812

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