The Equity Matters Podcast

People of color and all those whose lives have been marginalized by those in power experience life differently from those whose lives have not been devalued. They experience overt racism and bigotry far too often, which leads to a mental health burden that is deeper than what others may face. Today, we join Lauren Reliford, MSW, Political Director at Sojourners to discuss the link between racism and mental health, how cultural identity can be a protective factor and how we all should find support from family, friends and community.

Keep in touch with Lauren:

Twitter:@MYMStrategies

LinkedIn: Lauren Reliford, MSW

Social Work Policy and the Dignity of Life

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Too often, data is collected and presented in a way that perupates disparity and deficit. By decolonizing data, indigenous communities determine the information they want to gather, think through why they are gathering it, and know who is interpreting the data and if the interpretation is being done in a way that serves the community. Today we join Autumn Asher BlackDeer, MSW, Decolonial Scholar to discuss how data is typically communicated through a deficit-based framework, how to add a cultural lens to the work and how data can be used to elevate the stories of those it is supposed to serve.

Keep in touch with Autumn:

Twitter:@AsherBlackDeer

Website: Autumn Asher BlackDeer

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Culture makes us who we are. In doing project evaluation, it is also important to consider cultural context in which the project operates and be responsive to it by fully describing and explaining the context of the program or project being evaluated. Today, we join LaShaune Johnson, PhD, Assistant Director with Creighton University at Highlander to discuss how to be responsive to the needs and perspective of communities, recognize the need to address power dynamics and how researchers can move beyond inquiry to pursue progressive social change. 

Email: [email protected] 

To learn more about the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation & Assessment, please visit their website here.

To learn more about the Michigan Public Health Institute, please visit their website here.

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Although there is no commonly agreed upon definition for community engagement, at its heart community engagement means mutual decision making through collaboration. People, organizations, and government working collaboratively to create, realize and sustain visions for their community’s future. Today, we join Jodi Cunningham, PhD, Director of Health and Housing at the Community Builders, Inc. to discuss how she deepens relationships with community, promotes the idea of intentional authentic interactions and uses her power to influence decision making with community voice at the center.

Instagram: @Dr.Jodicunningham 

LinkedIn: Jodi Cunnigham, PhD

To learn more about Avondale Children Thrive, visit the BUILD Health Challenge website here.

Avondale Children Thrive was featured on PBS NewsHour. The video can be found here.

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For far too long, communities of color and low-income communities have borne the brunt and burden of pollution to the air, water, and soil they rely on to live and raise their families. Research further goes to tell us that in low-income communities, homes averaged 25 to 60 percent more energy use per square foot. But why? Today we join Jamal J. Lewis, MPH, Director of Energy, Health, and Climate at the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative to discuss how he centers the voices of marginalized communities to make energy more accessible, affordable and clean for all communities. 

Twitter: @JamalJLewis 

LinkedIn: Jamal J. Lewis 

To learn more about the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, visit their website here.

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The environmental movement of the 1950s and 1960s raised awareness of the dangers posed by pollution and environmental degradation. Fast forward sixty years, we understand these environmental problems impact certain locations and people more than others - racial and ethnic minorities and the poor. Today, we join Juanita Hernández-Caudron, LCSW, Environmentalist and Social Justice advocate to discuss how history has shaped many of the environmental consequences we are experiencing now, and what we can do to reverse these inequitable trends.

Keep in touch with Juanita:

Twitter:@JoJoInColorado

Learn more about Juanita’s baking at The Great Mexican Baking Blog

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On July 29, 2020 we released “Long Time Coming” - the first episode of the Equity Matters. Fast forward 365 days, and we have completed 38 episodes, with countless guests and remarkable conversations. On today’s special Instagram live episode,  Dr. James Bell III, host of the Equity Matters Podcast reflects on the good, the bad, and the ugly of podcasting, and what to expect in the coming year from Equity Matters.

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The Community of Practice: A Story to Tell w/ Shimon Cohen MSW, Dr. Marquitta Dorsey, and Dr. Jonathan Singer

There is a clear reason that storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. Stories create an unparalleled sense of connection between storyteller and listener. Fast forward to today, podcasting has emerged as a new vehicle to promote inclusion by valuing and unearthing real, honest, and personal experiences beyond our own. Today we join Dr. Marquitta Dorsey, Shimon Cohen, and Dr. Jonathan B. Singer to learn more on how their own experience podcasting has been used to inspire questions, speak authentically, and challenge their listeners to consider other pathways to social justice.

Keep in touch and connect with our speakers:

Shimon Cohen’s Twitter: @ShimonDCohen 

Shimon Cohen’s Podcast: Doin’ The Work 

Doin’ The Work Podcast Instagram: Doin’ The Work

Dr. Marquitta Dorsey’s Podcast: From Girls to Women

Dr. Jonathan Singer’s Twitter: @SocWorkPodcast

Dr. Jonathan Singer’s Podcast: The Social Work Podcast

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Decolonizing education goes beyond changing the content of curricula and it's not just about adding different voices. It begs us to question the production of knowledge and relearning the way we understand these perspectives. Who is the narrator? Who is being painted as the savior? Who is being othered? All of these questions should be considered as we empower students to embrace other knowledge systems and to not apologize for their own knowledge. Today we join Jonathan Wesley to talk about the process of decolonizing education as a means to decenter whiteness and other dominant identity groups, unpacking intersectionality and how religion has been a tool in his work.

LinkedIn: Jonathan Wesley

Twitter: @SpeakWes

Instagram: @JustJWesley

Facebook: Jonathan Wesley

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With more incidents of police brutality against Black and brown Americans, and more colleges contending with their racist legacies by renaming campus buildings and removing statues that memorialize white supremacists, it's clear that colleges and universities must take a bold stance on the importance of becoming anti-racist institutions. But do students feel comfortable reporting racism? And how effective are the systems in place? Today we join Dr. Branden Elmore, Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Maryland, Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education to discuss how academic institutions can eradicate the culture of silence around racism, regularly assess student's sense of belonging and support their employees of color.

Keep in touch with Dr. Elmore

LinkedIn: Branden D. Elmore, Ph.D

To view Dr. Elmore’s Dissertation Abstract please click here.

Learn more about the University of Maryland, Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education:

Twitter:@UMDcdihe

Website: Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

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