In our inaugural episode, cohosts Yodit Mesfin Johnson and Jessica A.S. Letaw discuss their goals for the series and reconnect ourselves and our listeners with our stories and relationships with lands we’re all on. We invite Dr. Matthew Countryman to join in exploring land use planning's history, its ties to systemic injustice, and deepen our shared understanding of how historical injustices continue to shape contemporary land use and housing policies.

Additional resources and reading

• Black Washtenaw Collaboratory
• Justice InDeed
• The African-American Student Project at the University of Michigan Bentley Library
• Kevin Boyle’s book Arc of Justice
• David Freund’s book Colored Property
• Washtenaw Opportunity Index
• NEW’s Champions for Change program
• Inclusive History Project at the University of Michigan
• Contact guest Dr. Matthew Countryman