DEI Practitioner, Health Equity advocate, Educator, and lover of STEM Courtney Holland shares how her experiences spending Saturdays at a union hall for auto workers with her father in Detroit and her academic and cultural awakening after taking an Introduction to African American Studies as an undergraduate student laid the foundation for her current understanding of equity issues and her commitment to social justice.

She speaks on the essential role of culturally relevant education, the power of sharing our collective narratives, the complexities of doing DEI work within a capitalistic framework, and the journey of sitting with anger in social justice work.

00:00 Union Hall Memories: Weekends with My Father

03:30 Social Justice Origin Stories: Introduction

04:38 Meet Courtney Holland: A Journey in DEI

06:30 Reflections on Union Life and Social Justice

12:04 The Power of Collective Bargaining

19:23 Educational Journey: From Suburbs to Social Justice

22:04 Awakening to African American Studies

24:01 The Impact of Culturally Relevant Education

27:26 Navigating Social Justice and Personal Growth

36:41 Reflections on Anger and Systemic Awareness

37:31 Finding Balance Through Education and Dialogue

39:21 The Role of Therapy in Personal Growth

43:17 Global Perspectives on Oppression and Privilege

47:27 Influential People and Mentors

58:48 The Importance of Mentorship and Compensation

01:05:56 Navigating DEI Work in Capitalistic Systems

01:21:04 Final Thoughts and Future Generations

You can connect with Courtney by following her on LinkedIn

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

In this episode, Relando is joined by longtime friend, Dr. O'Juan Edwards, who, in describing his journey to complete his Ph.D, shares a heartfelt memory of how a chance meeting with Coretta Scott King profoundly influenced his social justice journey.

In his storytelling, Dr. Edwards weaves connections to how her life and the legacy of the King family continue to inspire and inform his approach to equity leadership, including the creation of his new business, The Outstanding One Solutions, LLC. He also discusses how that chance encounter influenced his decision to complete his dissertation research, which focused on the experiences of Black Chief Diversity Officers at predominantly white institutions during the anti-Critical Race Theory movement.

O'Juan shares more about the systemic challenges faced by equity officers in higher education, including defunded DEI initiatives and other legislative actions aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

He addresses common misconceptions about Critical Race Theory, pointing to root causes behind the pushback, and shares findings from his research on the emotional and professional toll the anti-DEI backlash has on practitioners in institutions while affirming the need for consistent and structural support and ongoing engagement.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

00:22 Understanding Critical Race Theory

00:38 The Basics of Critical Race Theory

03:08 Key Tenets of Critical Race Theory

04:52 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories

06:07 Guest Introduction: Dr. O'Juan Edwards

07:37 Dr. Edwards' Educational Journey

11:23 Activating Moments and Influences

14:35 Meeting Coretta Scott King

23:00 Dissertation Focus and Research

29:48 Challenges and Insights in Research

00:22 The Importance of Critical Race Theory

02:45 Introduction to Critical Race Theory

45:57 Understanding Racism and Social Construction

46:25 Interest Convergence and Counter Storytelling

48:44 Misconceptions About CRT

50:53 Legislation and Education

52:09 Personal Reflections and Experiences

53:09 The Importance of Historical Education

58:13 Theories on Racism and Genetic Survival

01:02:12 Challenges Faced by Diversity Officers

01:25:40 The Role of Empathy and Support

01:32:56 CRT and Diversity in Higher Education

01:33:45 Connecting with NADOHE

01:34:50 The Year of the Woman and Leadership

01:35:32 The Importance of Conferences and Local Organizations

01:37:30 Mentorship and Support Systems

01:40:01 Family Influence and Personal Journey

01:41:35 Expressing Gratitude to Supporters

01:51:10 The McKnight Fellowship and Academic Support

01:56:13 Inspiring Future Generations

02:05:19 Final Reflections and Acknowledgements

To learn more about The Outstanding One Solutions, visit the website: https://theoutstandingonesolutions.com/ and follow on Instagram @theoutstandingonesolutions.

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

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Barre Jones did not always have an understanding of systemic injustice. In this episode, Barre shares how his moments of activation were sparked during his time in the military, where he felt like he was on the wrong side of the ropes after being sent into Baltimore during the uprising after the murder of Freddie Gray. From his upbringing in Baltimore, Maryland, to his military service and experiences with racial discrimination, Barre's story emphasizes that while contributions to equity work can vary, they are all valuable.

Barre credits much of his current understanding of social justice to his partner and father, and stresses the role of being conscious, educated, and supportive in the fight against discrimination. He hopes that future generations will view these conversations as essential historical records that contribute to a more equitable society.

You can follow Barre on Instagram @lingotheicon

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Dr. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington, talks about the origins of her non-linear path to Social Work and her dedication to social justice, shaped by her personal experiences as a transracial and transnational adoptee from Korea.

She describes how becoming a parent herself, meeting other Korean adoptees, traveling to Korea, and starting her BSW program with all BIPOC instructors and mentors were transformative experiences that helped give her the structural lens she needed to understand her life experiences.

Her storytelling highlights the impact of community, mentorship, and the importance of lived experience in shaping social justice work, emphasizing the need for systemic change to support and empower those with direct experience with the issues. Dr. Kim prioritizes community-based projects and is the author of the blog, Harlow’s Monkey.

In addition to following Dr. Kim on Harlow's Monkey, you can connect with her on Instagram @harlows_monkey, and LinkedIn @jaerankimphd.

00:00 Understanding Adoption and Its Complexities

00:50 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories

02:01 Meet Our Guest: JaeRan Kim

03:34 JaeRan's Journey: From Minnesota to Academia

06:35 Challenges of Transracial Adoption

10:26 Navigating Identity and Racism

16:02 Parenting and Social Justice

25:55 Reconnecting with Korean Heritage

28:09 Discovering Social Work

28:37 Unique Social Work Program

29:24 Internships and Realizations

31:24 Pursuing a Master's Degree

31:46 Starting Activism

33:13 Critiquing Adoption Systems

35:52 Empowering Communities

38:17 Challenges in Funding and Support

42:08 Influences and Inspirations

47:41 Reflections and Future Hopes

55:00 Conclusion and Call to Action

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando talks with kyle lim, a passionate racial justice advocate and community organizer. Originally from Singapore, kyle shares some of his experiences navigating complex racial identities and confronting systemic inequities in the U.S., particularly in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In his storytelling about the education justice work at the Urban Core Collective, kyle speaks to the necessity of building community power, addressing systemic flaws, and prioritizing material redistribution for genuine social transformation. His storytelling also honors the critical role of youth in driving meaningful change.

In this episode:

02:36 Guest Introduction: Kyle Lim

03:32 Kyle Lim's Background and Early Experiences

04:10 Activating Moments and Racial Identity

05:25 Navigating Racial Dynamics in the U.S.

09:21 Challenges in Racial Justice Work

12:35 The Pitfalls of Anti-Racism Pedagogy

18:39 Historical Context and Systemic Issues

22:40 Education Justice and Power Building

32:40 Engaging with UCC's Educational Justice Work

33:26 Student-Led Action for Teacher Compensation

34:17 Building Solidarity and Power

41:39 Facilitation and Leadership in Social Justice

46:28 Sustainable and Inclusive Social Justice Movements

53:09 Influences and Inspirations

01:00:33 Final Reflections and Messages for Future Generations

01:03:04 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Learn more about the Urban Core Collective

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Jouapag Lee, a passionate advocate for social justice, healing, and liberation, shares her personal journey and motivations. She reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped her activism, including a deeply personal incident of racial and gender-based harassment in college that drastically shifted her worldview and led her into activism and organizing for better campus conditions for marginalized students. Through her Healing Timelines Project, a platform aimed at providing trauma-informed healing resources with a justice lens for Hmong descendants, Jouapag addresses intergenerational trauma, forgiveness, and trust.

01:10 Welcome to Social Justice Origin Stories

02:18 Meet Jouapag Lee

03:55 Jouapag's Social Justice Journey Begins

04:05 Facing Harassment and Realizing Injustice

08:31 Organizing for Change on Campus

11:55 The Role of Anger in Activism

17:48 Graduate School and Continued Activism

23:25 Reflecting on Social Justice Movements

26:01 The Healing Timelines Project

26:42 The Path to Nonprofit Work

27:12 Experiencing Burnout and the Healing Journey

27:59 The Role of Joy in Activism

29:14 Founding the Healing Timelines Project

30:55 Understanding Intergenerational Trauma

33:24 Navigating Forgiveness and Trust

39:58 Balancing Passion and Practicality

47:00 Reflecting on Social Justice Origin Stories

48:56 Gratitude and Future Generations

55:06 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Follow The Healing Timelines Project on Instagram

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando is joined by Tony Nelson, who explores his development from his rural Michigan upbringing to becoming an active participant in progressive movements and education. Tony revisits the significance of his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, recalling how attending a campus presentation by Jane Elliott served as a starting point for his emerging consciousness and involvement as a student on campus. Tony also reflects on his years of work at the intersections of social justice, higher education, and the study abroad field, and his regular disappointment in top-down faculty and administrator relationship dynamics with students as an important turning point in his development, motivating him to think of ways he could influence educators and administrators to relate to students differently.

Tony shares that traditional education models are not liberating and don't do a good job of creating critical consciousness, and Popular Education provides many tools for rethinking how we approach teaching and learning.

01:51 Personal Journey and Reflections

04:01 College Experiences and Activism

07:12 Transformative Moments in Education

09:46 Engagement with Social Justice Movements

28:27 Mentorship and Teaching Philosophy

33:50 Challenging Negative Conversations About Students

35:41 Developing Solidarity as Praxis

37:51 Understanding Solidarity vs. Allyship

42:46 Mentors and Influences in Social Justice Work

48:01 The Importance of Community in Social Justice

51:59 Final Reflections and Gratitude

01:30:12 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Relando sits down with Surabhi Pandit, Macro Social Worker, equity advocate, and personal friend, to discuss the powerful role leveraging her networks in student government to organize dialogues on race and equity at The University of Michigan School of Social Work had on her journey. They reflect on their shared experiences in grad school, including the catalytic moments that led to the creation of the ‘Making Race Heard’ Monthly series and the culminating summit at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2011.

Surabhi also shares her insights on inside/outside strategy for working in and organizing within institutions, equity work within philanthropy, being a person of color and navigating various roles in the philanthropic sector in philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of recognizing systemic issues, leveraging privilege, and the critical role of rest and self-care on the path to systemic change.

What you'll learn in this episode

00:00 Finding Your Place in Social Justice

02:44 Guest Introduction: Surabhi Pandit

03:51 Grad School Reflections and Race Dialogues

07:09 The Impact of Harmful Classroom Experiences

08:31 Organizing for Change: Making Race Heard

13:04 Navigating Systems and Creating Change

34:51 The Why Behind Philanthropy

43:14 Embracing Discomfort and Growth

44:57 Influences and Inspirations

45:40 Cultural Heritage and Family Values

51:48 Women in Literature and History

57:31 Navigating Privilege and Oppression

01:09:48 The Importance of Rest and Self-Care

01:18:43 Final Reflections and Gratitude

01:23:23 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

This episode of Social Justice Origin Stories features Kyahdric Moses. Moses, a design activist who identifies as a citizen designer, shares his personal journey toward understanding his intersecting identities and his commitment to social good through design.

Kyahdric discusses the power of storytelling, intersecting identities, and the significance of design in addressing social inequities. He shares his journey of political awakening in 2016, and the impact of mentors like architectural designer Liz Ogbu and disability design activist Josh Halstead.

Navigating the challenges of being a queer, Black man in a world not designed for his existence, Moses outlines the values behind his business, Pink Paradox Design Co, and its mission to support and uplift queer, Black, IPOC, and values-aligned businesses through intentional design strategies.

He also talks about his manifesto, 'House of Graphix,' which advocates for reimagining design education. Kyahdric emphasizes the importance of empathy, radical self-love, and radical storytelling in his work. Tune in to learn about his plans for launching a podcast, selling apparel, creating impactful community connections, and the power of intentional design in creating equitable systems.

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of 'Social Justice Origin Stories,' Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury explores the personal experiences and pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to equity and social justice. As a former Detroit public school teacher and now a professor at Grand Valley State University, Dr. Bailey-Fakhoury remembers the lessons learned from her grandmother, the challenges faced during her early years, and the powerful influence of Black educators in her life. She highlights the importance of educators who pour into and uplift students, recalling her own experiences with Black teachers who affirmed her capabilities. The dialogue stresses the significance of individual contributions to social justice, the transformative power of education, and the necessity of dreaming and building for a more equitable future.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

00:00 Introduction: Education as a Practice of Freedom

01:12 Host Introduction and Project Overview

02:21 Guest Introduction: Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury

03:05 Personal Background and Early Life

04:22 Reflections on Education and Freedom

07:24 Impact of Ancestry and Early Experiences

12:00 Navigating Racial Dynamics in Childhood

24:31 The Importance of Black Educators

31:36 Gratitude to Black Educators

32:24 Returning to Detroit: A Personal Journey

34:14 The Importance of Representation in Education

35:55 Building Transformative Educators

38:29 The Power of Love and Intention in Teaching

44:18 Honoring Influential Figures and Personal Heroes

51:18 Legacy and Future Generations

52:40 True Social Justice and Personal Reflections

56:42 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

01:01:01 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.