Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 - October 15.

Although we here at Needle Movers desire to prioritize the exploration of different cultures all year long, it's always a special time to highlight the perspectives of those different than ours during the times when more people are open and positioned to listen.

Which is why Samantha and I thought it was important to bring this week's guest onto the Needle Movers for Social Equity Podcast.

Natalia Salas, a beautiful career woman, mother, and wife, took time to hop on the mic with us and honestly share her thoughts around Hispanic heritage - specifically her own - and opens up a window of discovery for all of us that are learning more about what it means to have citizenship in a country different than the one you're from.

It's a beautiful thing to hear, and I know you'll love her just as much as Sam and I did.

What you'll hear:

• Natalia shares about her Mexican heritage and how it's different from her husband's Columbian heritage.
• She'll breakdown the difference between the words Hispanic, Latino/Latina/Latinx, and Chicano (I definitely learned something new!)
• She'll share about some of her personal challenges and experiences being Mexican in American
• And you'll hear about the beautiful joys she experiences from her culture.

It's our best episode to date.

And, you can dive even deeper with your children on the beauty of Hispanic Culture when you download our free Hispanic Heritage Lesson & Activity Pack in our Podcast Club's Family Resources Vault.

The Needle Movers Family Resources Vault

Enrich your home with stories and activities that highlight the lived experiences and perspectives of different cultures in America by enrolling in our FREE Family Resources Vault.

Join the vault by clicking here.

Support our Crowdfunded Nonprofit

Needle Movers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and runs on the generous donations of our supporters. If you'd like to make a one-time donation—or become a monthly sponsor— click below to donate or learn more.

DONATE HERE

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Website: needlemovers.org

Do you feel like the word "diversity" gets thrown around a lot?

Do you ever hear people boast or complain about how diverse (or not) their churches, schools, or neighborhoods are?

Have you ever wondered if it was really necessary to have a diverse group of friends or people to do life with?

In this episode of the Needle Movers for Social Equity Podcast, Sam and Deanna are navigating a conversation on what diversity is and isn't and exploring if it is a contributor - at all - to creating a more equitable culture in America.

What you'll hear:

• What diversity is... and what it isn't.
• We talk about how we think God feels about diversity.
• An exploration of a few areas we think diversity is important.
• And we'll introduce our brand spanking new FREE Family Resources Vault, powered by the Needle Movers for Social Equity Podcast!

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The Needle Movers Family Resources Vault
Enrich your home with stories and activities that highlight the lived experiences and perspectives of different cultures in America by enrolling in our FREE Family Resources Vault.

Join the vault by clicking here.

Support our Crowdfunded Nonprofit
Needle Movers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and runs on the generous donations of our supporters. If you'd like to make a one-time donation—or become a monthly sponsor— click below to donate or learn more.

DONATE HERE

Follow Needle Movers:

Instagram: needlemoverspodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/needlemoversforsocialequity

Website: needlemovers.org

When considering our work as an organization and how we so desire to close equity gaps in America...

How we're actively chipping away at helping students of color become better readers in order to perform better in all subjects...

How we want to help parents bring discussions about equality and diverse perspectives into their homes in safe, age-appropriate ways...

How we want to empower people of color to generate wealth in a way that provides more opportunities for their learning, their safety, and life opportunities...

Our biggest wins are not in those areas.

Our biggest win is when God uses us to draw hearts to Him.

It's my belief that it's only when our hearts are submitted to Jesus that true equity is discovered and sustained.

And when we understand equity from his view, we're now empowered to bring his kingdom and will on earth, as it is in Heaven.

I was invited to teach at my beloved church, The Square in Smyrna, GA, as a contributing voice to a summer-long exploration and message series for the book of Colossians.

Colossians is a beautiful epistle exposing Paul's desire for believers to lay down the ways of culture in order to exchange them for the teachings of Jesus, and as a result of that exchange, allow their behaviors and life to reflect their belief in his words.

In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on the passage of Colossians 2:8 - 15, in an effort to discover what Jesus defines as true liberation, and how his believers can enjoy the freedom, comfort, and ease they desperately longed for in the midst of real life suffering and oppression from their Roman government.

It's my prayer that it speaks to your heart in a way that draws closer to him.

Relevant Podcast Episode
Episode #00 - Our Biblical Model
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Website: needlemovers.org

We've recently wrapped up the 2021 Summer Olympics - and there were a few stories that led the way in regards to controversy.

The most notable, and covered, was Simone Bile's step down from the competition, and the praise and criticism that followed her decision to protect her mental and physical well being.

Another that stood out was the conversation about women's vs. men's competitive uniforms, specifically around the fact that women seem to be competing with a lot less clothing than men and the questions about whether it's a necessity for them to compete and perform well.

Our question is - are different performance expectations being placed on women in sports?

If so, are there specific reasons why that is? Should we be having conversations and investigations about the differences in how men and women athletes are treated in order to cultivate equitable environments and approaches to manage them, compensate them, and support them?

Sam and I say yes!

In this episode we're exploring the topic of gender equity in sports, asking questions about the reasons why inequities are there, and what steps need to be taken to close the gap between male and female athletes competing at high levels.

What you'll here:

• We'll talk about a recent review released by the NCAA about their athletic gender equity practices. It's quite the investigation folks.
• We can't even adequately talk about this topic without making room for the impact mental health has on high-performance female athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka.
• And, can we just make room to explore the braveness of the Women's Norwegian Handball Team and their stand against Olympic Uniform Requirements.
• And in true Needle Mover's form, we'll offer up some steps the everyday person can take to move the needle to close inequities in sports.

Referenced articles:
History of Women Athlete Uniforms
Mental Health in Elite Athletes

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Website: needlemovers.org

I'm interrupting our podcast publishing schedule this week in order to make room for this guided time of prayer for the absolute horrors happening in Afghanistan.

If you're struggling with words to say or pray to God, it's my hope that this episode is a tool you can use - at any time - to pray over the country and the people living through these terrible times.

I entered into a place of prayer earlier this week feeling utterly hopeless, but it wasn't long after I started that the scriptures filled my heart with the hope of Jesus and his promised kingdom.

I invite you to join me in prayer for Afghanistan - as you listen, allow the scriptures shared to inspire words to say.

Know you are loved.

DOWNLOAD THE SCRIPTURES USED IN THIS EPISODE HERE.
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Have you ever had a conversation about race, religion, or politics - with someone who believes differently than you - go extremely well?

I've had a gazillion enriching conversations with those whose understandings and feelings align with mine, but my track record with those that disagree with me on hard issues is pretty dismal.

Here's the thing, I feel like God has called me into figuring out how to bring disagreeing people into a space to safely discuss hard but important things (oh dear Lord help me).

Not just discuss things, but really listen to each other in order to learn, grow, and possibly even shift a perspective or two, because no one has the corner on understanding any topic, and because no one has the other's lived experience.

The goal is not to force, badger, demean or guilt people to seeing things your way - no one benefits from that at all - no one wins in the end.

In my opinion, the goal is to get closer to seeing things God's way - this is where the real win is.

Not policy agreement.
Not political alignment.
Not shared race or ethnicity.
Not "being woke."

If we can figure out what God has to say about something, and agree that what he is saying is true, oh what an experience that would be.

And we ALL need more of that, I don't care who you are.

In this episode, Sam and I are exploring the topic of how to have safe conversations about hard things. I admittedly gleaned all types of golden nuggets from a new podcast love called Human Hope by Carlos Whittaker in Episode 9: How To Have Hard Yet Healthy Conversations With People You Disagree With.

We invite you into our exploration - take a listen to our conversation and let us know what you think.
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In March 2021, there was a significant uproar around the cessation of the publication of certain books authored by Dr. Seuss due to insensitive representations of race in the images and words used.

This decision, made by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, brought about strong feelings and emotions.

Book sales that week, however, took flight.

"Copies of the beloved children’s author’s most popular books were virtually flying out of Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s warehouses..." ~Fox News

For many, their love of Dr. Seuss, the nostalgia of their childhood, and the joy the books bring to their children fueled their anger over this decision - believing that the removal of these books from shelves and circulation represents the "cancel culture" challenges we certainly have in our country.

For others, the recognition of these unfavorable portrayals of people of color within the pages of the books felt like a step forward, as well as another reminder of the pain they continue to endure in an oppressive society.

Is there a right side to this?

Is there a wrong side to this?

Is there middle ground we need to find?

In this episode, we're exploring the Dr. Seuss conversation as it relates to the decision to no longer publish the books "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," "If I Ran the Zoo," "McElligot’s Pool," "On Beyond Zebra!," "Scrambled Eggs Super!," and "The Cat’s Quizzer," sharing our feelings and thoughts around what happened, and as always, making room for what it could look like if Christ-likeness were to prevail over it all.

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I (Deanna) was moved into movement around starting the Needle Movers organization in spring 2020.

We were at the beginning of the Corona Virus Pandemic, and our country was being absolutely shook by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.

It felt almost like more that my soul could carry at that time - my deep rooted grief around our nations history was brought to the raw surface once again - and the responses of many of my white-identified friends piled on top of my soul like a ton of bricks.

Some responses were in an attempt to love.
And some - many - were not.

But most, no matter the intent, brought me to tears often.

One friend, however sent me a private  message in the height of it all and simple said, "Maybe you need to start an organization."

As soon as I read it, I felt like God said, "Deanna, now is the time."

And a little over a year later, here we are.

In this episode, my co-host Samantha Schultz and I reminisce about what was going on with us personally when we learned about George Floyd and how his life became the catalyst for starting the work of Needle Movers for Social Equity.

NOTE: We recorded this episode before there was a verdict. Listen all the way till the end for our post-trial thoughts and insights.
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Website: needlemovers.org

The number 1 goal of Needle Movers for Social Equity is to get as close as possible to God's heart regarding equity here on earth.

There are a lot of good things being done to close equity gaps in America, but I believe there's a difference between doing good work and doing "God" work.

God work always equates to doing good work, but good work doesn't always translate to God's desire for our lives.

In this solo episode, I'm (Deanna) digging into the book of Philemon in an effort to explain the Biblical foundation of our organizations' desire for all humans being created and seen through the eyes of God's equality.

NOTE: The booklist mentioned in this episode is currently not available, but coming soon.
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Welcome to the Needle Movers for Social Equity Podcast, where we create safe spaces for conversations around racial and social equity topics while exploring them from a Biblical lens.

Listen in as your hosts Deanna Mason and Samantha Schultz share what they desire this podcast to be and how they desire to impact change around racial and social equity in America.

Follow Needle Movers:
Instagram: needlemoverspodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/needlemoversforsocialequity
Website: needlemovers.org