Growing Democracy Podcast

In this episode, Ashley and guest host Dr. Christie Bahlai (Kent State University, Co-Director ESDRI) talk with Dr. Dorceta Taylor (Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Professor of Environmental Justice, Yale University) about the intersection of ecology, race, and environmental justice - as well the history and present of the American Conservation Movement.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links:

https://environment.yale.edu/profile/taylor

Co-Host Links:

https://bahlailab.org/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-you-know/id1571195823

In this episode, Casey and Shemariah talk with Elaine Tso (Chief Executive Officer, Asian Services In Action) about her path to serving as ASIA's CEO, and how ASIA's programs and mission serve to empower, support, and advocate for the AAPI community throughout Northeast Ohio.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://www.asiaohio.org/

In this episode, Casey and Ashley talk with Fahiem Shabazz (President, New Era Cleveland) and Michelle B. Jackson (Campaign Organizer, PB CLE) about the mission and work of Participatory Budgeting Cleveland.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://www.pbcle.com/

Links to PB results from 3 Cities:

https://www.pbdurham.org/cycle_1_winners

https://www.myvallejo.com/participatory-budgeting-2-01

https://www.cambridgema.gov/news/2021/12/pbvoteresults

Link to short video about PB process: https://vimeo.com/162743651

Links to recent articles:

https://thelandcle.org/stories/city-council-approves-two-major-projects-on-southeast-side/

https://thelandcle.org/stories/the-saga-of-shaker-square/

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2021/11/a-new-cleveland-mayor-a-new-opportunity-for-food-justice-michelle-b-jackson-and-gwendolyn-garth.html

In this episode, Casey and Shemariah talk with Greg Deegan (Executive Director, Teaching Cleveland) about his mission to teach the history of Cleveland in the K-12 classroom.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://www.teachcle.org/about-teaching-cleveland

In this episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Josiah Quarles, Director of Organizing and Advocacy for the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the homeless. This discussion of the "Two Shakers" is part 2 of 2.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://www.neoch.org/our-team

In this episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Tiara Sargeant (DEI Coordinator, Shaker Heights Schools) and Dr. Donna Whyte (professor at Cleveland State University) about their experience living in and attending school in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, OH. This discussion of the "Two Shakers" is part 1 of 2.

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links:

https://www.shaker.org/EquityUnscripted.aspx

https://shaker.life/people/witness-history/

We're back, listeners!

In this podcast relaunch, the three co-hosts - Ashley Nickels, Shemariah Arki, and Casey Boyd-Swan - talk about the relaunch and preview the next few episodes! Look forward to the following discussions in the coming weeks:

Two Shakers: parts 1 and 2

Cleveland in the Classroom

PB CLE: Participatory Budgeting in Cleveland

This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In this ninth episode, Ashley and Casey talk with returning guest Jerry Peña (founder & senior member Gradient A Human Equity Think Tank). Jerry shares his experience as both a community organizer and a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultant for organizations - the conversation also focuses on community organizer responses to current events. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://gradientthinktank.com/team

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In this eighth episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Midtown Cleveland staff Aisia Jones (Director of Community Empowerment) and Samira Malone (Neighborhood Planning Manager). The conversation emphasizes the importance of Black women in local activism, municipal politics, and neighborhood planning. The guests share their experiences with intersectional solidarity in organizing and activism. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links: https://midtowncleveland.org/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In our seventh episode, Casey and Anuj talk with Madhu Sharma, Executive Director and Director of Immigration Legal Services at International Institute of Akron in Akron OH. The conversation explores the intersections of race, religion, and resettlement in Akron, OH with a particular focus on current events. Madhu shares her personal experiences of facing discrimination and the multitude of challenges that racially & religiously minoritized populations face when resettling in Ohio. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

Links:

https://www.iiakron.org/