Continuing our conversation on immigration, L. Joy is discussing the fastest growing immigrant population in the country-African immigrants. They are also fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for their families here in the United States. Amaha Kassa comes to the front of the class to give us the information and the context we need to know right now.

We have heard from a member of Congress and a Dreamer on immigration for this series. Now to give us the nuts and bolts on immigration-from who is immigrating, how they are immigrating, to who are the “deciders” when it comes to immigration, and is there an actual “line” to become a citizen, L. Joy brings noted immigration attorney Allen Orr Jr. to the front of the class.

Just the word immigration elicits feelings, but do you know the facts? This episode is the first part of a series where L. Joy takes a deep dive into immigration. She is hearing from organizations working on immigration reform, attorneys, elected officials, and others, to help answer what is comprehensive immigration reform, who are the decision makers, and how do we get civically engaged around making positive change around immigration.

L. Joy is happy! Why? Because she’s been civically engaged, along with community partners, around voting rights. Those civic actions have resulted in both houses of the New York State Legislature passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York State. This legislation is how New York is stepping up in the absence of federal protections. Then L. Joy brings Alicia Garza to the front of the class to discuss the work that Black Futures Lab is doing and taking the Black Census.

It’s time to get primed and prepped for the midterm elections. L. Joy walks us through step by step how to on creating a report card for your elected officials, grading them, then engaging them. Next, L. Joy brings Nse Ufot back to the front of the class to discuss the continued laser focused work of the New Georgia Project on winning in Georgia.

Media has always played a part in social justice movements. Cellphones, social media, and the internet give an immediacy and democratization to today’s media, for good and for bad. L. Joy brings Marc Lamont Hill and Todd Brewster to discuss their book, Seen and Unseen, our greater connectivity because of technology,  and how all of this new media is used to amplify the voices of the marginalized.

We are living in a digital explosion. Opportunities are seemingly everywhere but out of reach for too many Americans, especially those already marginalized. The pandemic has heightened the need to close the digital divide, expand education access to credentialed courses in the field, and an immediate call for a digital Bill of Rights. To have the conversation on how we bring dignity to this digital age, L. Joy brings self proclaimed Progressive Capitalist Congressman Ro Khanna to the front of the class.

Franklin D. Roosevelt advocated for it in his 1944 State of the Union Address. Martin Luther King Jr. demanded it over 20 years later during the Poor People’s Campaign. Yet, we still do not have an Economic Bill of Rights. L. Joy brings Nina Turner to the front of the class to discuss how an Economic Bill of Rights for the 21st Century would help close the wealth gap, the mortality gap, and bring us closer to MLK’s Beloved Community.  L. Joy closes out the episode with a meaningful commentary on values.

Check cashing places, payday loan lenders, car title loans, and flex loans are examples of predatory financial products that are pretty much the only resort for people living in low income areas. With repayment rates of up to 400%, how do people who are starting off with less survive if they continuously have to pay more? To break down what we need to know about predatory financial products and solutions to the problem that can help close the racial wealth gap, L. Joy brings Bill Bynum to the front of the class.

According to the United Nations, adequate, effective and prompt reparation is intended to promote justice by redressing gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law. Reparation should be proportional to the gravity of the violations and the harm suffered. To take us on a deep dive into the history and context of reparations and break down where we are today with correcting a great harm, L. Joy brings the esteemed Dr. Ron Daniels to the front of the class.