Into the Mix

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is on a mission to curb conversations about race, diversity, and inequity of all shades. He’s banned books, trainings, and classes. He’s introduced laws and attacked businesses of all sizes. 

But why? What is the motivation behind the so-called “War on Woke” and where do we go from here?

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According to Antonio McBroom, a day without dessert is a disaster. So it makes sense that he’s now an ice cream entrepreneur, slinging scoops of Ben & Jerry’s up and down the Florida coast. 

At the core of Antonio’s business model is leadership training and mentorship for all of his scoop shop managers. So when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis introduced the Stop WOKE act in 2021, he had two options: immediately halt training on diversity, equity and bias, or face potential legal action from the state. 

In the final mini-series of this season, we’re heading to Florida to learn how the Stop WOKE act has censored businesses, chilled critical conversations about equity, and spurred business owners like Antonio to fight back.

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We'll be back in November with our final mini-series of this season which delves into Florida's War on Woke and the ongoing fight to protect diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In the meantime, listen to some of our past episodes of Into the Mix. To learn more about how to support communities in Florida impacted by hurricane Milton, visit HERE.

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Ms. Livvy’s heroic efforts to protect voting rights have come at a cost. Her health has suffered, and she’s tired. But she knows there’s more work to do, especially with the November election on the very near horizon.

In our final episode from Georgia, we’re diving into why your vote matters, why it’s a fundamental right, and the key ingredient to sustaining the fight for voting rights: joy.

Learn more at benjerry.com/vote and get involved with Black Voters Matter here.

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Ms. Livvy has watched as Georgia has become ground zero for voter suppression efforts. Laws that wipe people from the polls are popping up left and right, all claiming to curb so-called voter fraud… even though studies have shown over and over again that rates of voter fraud are between 0.0003 percent and 0.0025 percent.

Here’s what is a real issue: voter suppression. And as we get ready to cast our votes in November, the best way to make sure our election is representative of the country is to ensure that everyone who’s eligible can vote. Here’s how you can help. 

Learn more at benjerry.com/vote and get involved with Black Voters Matter here.

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Voters in Coffee County, Georgia have another name for this place: Crooked Coffee, where elections officials have waged war on voters of color for decades. 

So residents weren't shocked when their tiny community made national headlines following the January 6th attack on the Capitol, after members of the GOP there allegedly allowed Trump associates to copy software and other sensitive digital elections materials in the days following the 2020 election. It was the latest chapter in the long story of so-called voter fraud in this small, majority-Black county – and Olivia Coley Pearson is tired. 

Ms. Livvy, as she’s known in the community, is the descendant of a local voting rights hero, and she’s committed her life to furthering her mother’s legacy of fighting back against intimidation and suppression of voters of color, even as those attacks grow more personal. We’re headed to Georgia to meet Ms. Livvy in action, and to learn how she fought back against bogus voter fraud charges. 

Learn more at benjerry.com/vote and get involved with Black Voters Matter here.

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Ms. Sharon never thought she’d be the one to take down the industry harming her community. But as her fight gains momentum, she’s scoring wins that are making big impact. 

And Jo Banner never thought she’d own a plantation. But it’s a powerful way to protect the past, while defending her neighbors from the petrochemical industry.

In the final episode of our series from the River Parishes, what happens when you dare to re-imagine a better future for your community, your family, and your home.

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The violent history of Cancer Alley began long before the petrochemical industry arrived in the 1960s. Prior to being dominated by plastics plants, this land was home to plantations. 

To understand how this stretch of the Louisiana River Parishes became a “sacrifice zone” – a place where plastic is more important than people – we’re taking a look back at the violent legacy of this land.

Here’s how Ms. Sharon and Jo Banner, a neighbor from nearby St. John the Baptist Parish, are working to honor the past as they fight for their future.

Learn more about the Descendants Project here.

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The beautiful stretch of Louisiana where Ms. Sharon Lavigne lives goes by many names: the River Parishes, The Great River Road, The Mississippi River Industrial Corridor, and, worst of all... Cancer Alley. 

This 85 mile stretch of riverbank houses over 150 petrochemical plants. The majority of these plants neighbor predominantly Black communities, many of which are historical free towns created by formerly enslaved people in the wake of abolition. And now, Ms. Sharon’s schedule is filled with funerals for their descendants, who are falling dangerously ill as the industry chokes out the community.

In this three-part series, the evolving harm of environmental racism, and how Ms. Sharon and her neighbors are rising up against it. Learn more about Rise St. James here.

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How do you close a jail that’s as old as your city? Step one: gather your people.

In the final episode of this series from St. Louis, we’re talking to the politicians, disruptors, and rabble-rousers who joined Inez’s fight to close the Workhouse. Here’s how they did it, and how you can do it, too.

Want to close the jail or pre-trial detention center in your town? Learn more HERE. And check out the Bail Project’s resources on bail reform HERE.

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