The Called Activist

What if changing the world begins with something as simple as sharing a meal? In this episode of The Called Activist, Bill Mefford sets the stage with a reflection on how we show up for one another in challenging times. Then, host Crystal Cheatham sits down with chef Lisbeth Meléndez Rivera to explore the transformative power of hospitality. From the stories and traditions we carry through food to the communities we build around the table, Lisbeth reminds us that hospitality is more than a gesture of kindness. It's an act of love, a practice of belonging, and sometimes, a radical form of resistance.

In this episode of The Called Activist, Bill Mefford reflects on criminal justice, political power, and the choices that keep harmful systems in place. Crystal Cheatham then speaks with advocate and organizer Queen Adesuyi about what meaningful advocacy looks like in practice. Together, they explore policy, power, accountability, and what it takes to move from reform toward liberation.

This month on the podcast, we celebrate the ways art, story, and community shape our collective life together. In honor of Pride Month, Festival Center Executive Director Bill Mefford shares reflections on his own journey toward becoming an ally and the relationships that deepened his commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion and justice. We also sit down with artist and curator AnaYelsi Velasco Sanchez to discuss her new exhibition, Under the Same Sun, and the launch of the Festival Center's new rotating arts curation program. Through vibrant color and deeply human storytelling, AnaYelsi's work explores culture, identity, liberation, and our responsibility to one another, inviting us to imagine the kind of world we are building together and the communities we hope to become.

This episode highlights the growing issue of food insecurity through a conversation about the newly launched nonprofit Every Neighbor United for Food (ENUF), founded by Anthony Panzera. The discussion explores how ENUF is working to address gaps in access to reliable, nutritious food by building stronger, more connected community-based solutions. Anthony shares the vision behind the organization, emphasizing dignity, mutual support, and practical action in the fight against hunger. The episode also underscores how food insecurity often remains hidden, affecting neighbors and families in ways that aren’t always visible. An opening reflection from Bill Mefford of The Festival Center sets the tone, grounding the conversation in the Center’s broader mission of community care and justice. Together, the episode invites listeners to see food access as a shared responsibility and an opportunity for collective impact. This podcast is hosted and produced by Crystal Cheatham, Communications Director of the Festival Center.

On this episode of The Called Activist, Festival Center executive director Bill Mefford interviews Kathryn Doan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. Bill speaks with Kathryn about the Amica Center's various programs and services for immigrants, how the immigration system has become more complex, and much more. 

For updates on this podcast and ongoing projects at the Festival Center, you can follow us on bluesky (@festivalcenter.bsky.social) and Instagram (festivaldc).

On this episode of The Called Activist, Festival Center executive director Bill Mefford interviews Eduarda Serafim, an active leader in the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America and the solidarity organizer at DC Jobs With Justice. Bill speaks with Eduarda about her political awakening, the stigmatization of socialism, the future of socialist politics, and much more. 

You can follow Eduarda @eduardafserafim on Instagram and Threads. 

For updates on this podcast and ongoing projects at the Festival Center, you can follow us on bluesky (@festivalcenter.bsky.social) and Instagram (festivaldc).

On this episode of The Called Activist, Festival Center executive director Bill Mefford interviews Alana Eichner, the co-director of the DMV Chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). Bill speaks with Alana about NDWA's goals, how the organization is responding to harmful immigration policies set by the Trump administration, and much more. 

You can follow National Domestic Workers Alliance's work on all platforms @domesticworkers.

For updates on this podcast and ongoing projects at the Festival Center, you can follow us on bluesky (@festivalcenter.bsky.social) and Instagram (festivaldc).

On this episode of The Called Activist, Festival Center executive director Bill Mefford interviews Caroline Pryor, an advocate and organizer who serves as the lead organizer at EmpowerEd and co-chair of the Fair Budget Coalition's Education Issue Group and the Defend DC Education coalition. Bill speaks with Caroline about her passion for education, her upbringing, the current state of education under the Trump administration, and much more.

You can follow EmpowerEd’s work on all platforms @EmpowerEdDC.

For updates on this podcast and ongoing projects at the Festival Center, you can follow us on bluesky (@festivalcenter.bsky.social) and Instagram (festivaldc).

On the first episode of The Called Activist, Festival Center executive director Bill Mefford interviews AnaYelsi R. Velasco Sanchez, an IndoLatinx mujerista, artist, and public educator. AnaYelsi founded both the Interlocking Justice Institute and En Conjunto—a collective providing support, community, resources, and collaborative opportunities to People of Color working independently at the intersection of justice and spirituality. Bill speaks with AnaYelsi about her upbringing, how the faith community can resist the actions of the current presidential administration, and many other topics. 

You can follow AnaYelsi across social media at @brwneyedamzn and find her on Facebook (/anayelsi18).

For updates on this podcast and ongoing projects at the Festival Center, you can follow us on bluesky (@festivalcenter.bsky.social) and Instagram (festivaldc).