The South holds stories that refuse to fade—stories of resilience, reckoning, and renewal. For queer and trans Southerners, those stories are often equal parts love letter and liberation map.

In this episode, we sit down with Al Murray, Tzedek’s 2025 Pauli Murray Brilliance Award recipient, whose work reminds us that belonging isn’t found, it’s built. Raised in rural Western Kentucky and now rooted in Asheville, Al shares their journey through art, activism, and identity: from escaping the small-town South to returning home to reconcile with its complexities. With humor and heart, they explore what it means to stay, to fight for joy, and to refuse the myth that the South belongs to anyone else.

Together, we weigh: What does it mean to build bridges instead of walls? To stay complicated, visible, and connected in a place that doesn’t always feel safe?

About Al:

Al Murray (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary, trans artist, storyteller, and community strategist whose work bridges creativity and justice across the American South. A self-described “poor kid from rural Western Kentucky turned Southern builder,” Al brings a rare mix of artistry, grit, and systems thinking to their leadership. Currently serving with the WNC Health Network, they focus on data equity and community-driven storytelling that transforms public health into collective action.

Before joining WNC Health Network, Al helped launch Southern Equality Studios at the Campaign for Southern Equality, a program uplifting queer Southern artists through creative visibility and resource sharing. Their career has spanned youth advocacy, harm reduction, and arts-based liberation work, all grounded in a deep belief that we heal when we know one another’s stories.

Al is the 2025 Tzedek Pauli Murray Brilliance Award recipient, honored for their intersectional leadership and unwavering commitment to collective liberation in Asheville and beyond.

Whether you’re a creative, activist, or anyone learning how to stay rooted while building a more just world, this episode is a reminder that our stories are bridges, and that joy, too, is an act of resistance.

Press play and remember: We were built for this.

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

What happens when grantmaking power is placed directly in the hands of the community?

SPOILER ALERT: Amazing things.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on how the Tzedek Social Justice Fund flips the script on philanthropy-as-usual by placing community at the center of decision-making. Tera Coffey, Tzedek's Director of Community-Led Grantmaking, shares her reflections alongside members of the 2024-2025 CLG Committee (CLGC), who bring their stories, struggles, and discoveries to the mix.

Together, they reveal how shifting decision-making to often-overlooked communities builds trust, sparks transformation, and moves both money and power in tangible ways.

Curious what’s possible when philanthropy follows community's lead? Tune in.

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

The silence that descends after community trauma can be deafening. In the aftermath of October 7th, Jewish leaders across Western North Carolina were met with exactly that: grief, fear, and deep uncertainty about how—or even whether—to speak to one another again.

In this episode, we sit down with Judy Leavitt, Frank Goldsmith, and Sam Kaplan of the Jewish Leadership Collaborative of WNC, a volunteer-led coalition of over a dozen organizations working across difference to strengthen community ties. With support from Resetting the Table, they launched a series of brave, small-group conversations designed to move their community from division to dialogue—and to answer the question: How can we simply learn to talk to each other again?

About Frank: Frank Goldsmith is a longtime Jewish community leader and retired civil rights attorney. A former president of the ACLU of North Carolina, he co-chaired the NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture and served on the board of Asheville’s Racial Justice Coalition. At Congregation Beth Israel, he has served as president, chaired the Social Action Committee, and regularly leads services. Frank currently serves on the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Asheville and the WNC Jewish Security Task Force, and held leadership roles with Carolina Jews for Justice.

About Judy: Judy Leavitt is a retired health policy advocate, educator, and justice activist. She authored Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care and has written extensively on social policy. A member of Congregation Beth HaTephila, Judy chaired the Social Justice Committee for 10 years. In 2013, she co-founded Carolina Jews for Justice-West and subsequently led its steering committee, serving on the statewide board for seven years.

About Sam: Dr. Sam Kaplan is a Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville. Sam is celebrated for his engaging and inclusive instruction, including the development and teaching of courses on Women in Judaism and Jewish humor, reflecting his commitment to cultural insight and equity in education. Sam is a dedicated member of the Jewish Leadership Collaborative and  UNCA's Marvelous Math Club, advocating for dialogue, connection, and intergenerational learning across WNC.

Whether you’re part of a nonprofit, activist network, or faith-based community, this episode offers a living example of transformative dialogue in action.

Press play to plug into the collective liberation playbook!

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

What if the future stopped waiting for its turn? This month on The UPLift, we’re handing the mic to six Youth Transformed for Life (YTL) members—and they’re not here to play nice. No filters. No watered-down talking points. Just unshakable truth about identity, belonging, and what community should look like, online and off.

From calling out policies that box people out to reimagining community care, these young voices cut straight to the heart of it, moving from broken systems to personal perspectives: moments of exclusion, flashes of solidarity, and the kind of hope only raw, lived experience can bring.

The takeaway? Youth aren’t “leaders of tomorrow”: they’re leading now. And they’re inviting you to actually listen.

Ready to hear the next generation’s unfiltered take on a fractured world and how they’re piecing it back together? Press play.

Special thanks and much love to Carmen, Au'deiah, Akelia, Daymon, Jimmy, and Kayde-Mae for letting us into your world.

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

Tired of chasing freedom? In this episode, we get real about the intersections of Blackness, queerness, and what it means to honor both Pride and Juneteenth with intention, authenticity, and laughter. We're going all in on radical self-acceptance, joy, and vulnerability with our guests, Adonis Lewis II, Jékksyn Icaro, and Torre White-Garrison. Together, they're building spaces where showing up whole isn't just radical—it's the revolution.

About Adonis: Adonis Lewis II (he/him) is a radical Black/Mexican queer organizer, strategist, and liberator centered at the intersection of healing, justice, and structural disruption. With nearly two decades of frontline experience, Adonis has moved resources, built infrastructure, and co-created space for communities long excluded from power. He co-founded The Power-House Project, a CDC-funded safe space for queer and trans youth of color, and has stewarded over 25 grassroots movements through his leadership with Southern Vision Alliance. Currently based in Asheville, NC, his work spans disaster recovery, digital equity, restorative justice, and support for the unsheltered. Adonis leads with radical empathy, ancestral strength, and an unwavering commitment to collective freedom. Guided through his lived experience and anchored by the mantra "less ego, more impact," his leadership is not about spotlight—but about showing up, doing the work, and making space for others to rise.

About Jékksyn: Jékksyn Ícaro is a multi-hyphenated human. Some of which includes being a multi-racial, trans, nonbinary, neurodivergent, southern queer who has lived in WNC for almost 30 years. Above most labels, Jékksyn identifies as an artist. Be it giving expressive form to physical materials or helping to shape the society they navigate into a more liberated world, it is creativity, innovation, and imagination that nestle at the heart of who they are. Titles and accomplishments aside they are a compassionate soul who has dedicated thier life to The Work of liberation and equity since the age of 16. Jékksyn proudly works with Tranzmission, a non-profit here in Western North Carolina dedicated to making the lives of trans, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-diverse individuals happier, healthier, and safer through advocacy, education, and support.

About Torre:  Torre White-Garrison is a proud Black woman from the mountains of Western North Carolina, raised in the hood by a single mother and shaped by the sharp edges and deep beauty of lived experience. A mother, cultural worker, and truth-teller, she shows up with fierce love for Black people and an unwavering commitment to justice. Torre will always fight for marginalized communities and the liberation of all, naming harm where it lives and calling out the systems that uphold it. Her voice is grounded, unapologetic, and clear: true liberation isn't given—it's taken, built, and defended by us all.

This conversation lays down a blueprint for moving past surface-level celebration and into true liberation—for ourselves and our communities. 

Grab your headphones and hit play; let's blow the box wide open!

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

As antisemitism rises in our streets, schools, and politics, how do we build solidarity that protects both Jewish communities and democracy itself?

In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we're lifting up the layered, powerful stories of what it means to be Jewish in the US South today. From sacred rituals to real-talk resistance, this episode explores identity, resilience, and chutzpah in pursuing the moral imperative to fight for a better world.

This month's guests—Abby Levine, Lisa Forehand, Ashley Lasher, and Stephanie—bring wisdom, warmth, and bold honesty to a conversation about collective repair and radical joy, grounded in tradition and justice.

About Abby: Executive Director of the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, Abby has helped grow a national network of Jewish organizations working at the intersection of identity and justice. A seasoned organizer and Senior Schusterman Fellow, her leadership spans progressive campaigns, racial equity initiatives, and movement-building across faith communities.

About Ashley: An Asheville native and lifelong part of the Jewish Community Center, Ashley leads the Asheville JCC with a focus on joy, inclusion, and ritual. With deep experience in nonprofit development, she works to build spaces that uplift Jewish life and push back against antisemitism through community connection.

About Lisa: Lisa is a culturally Jewish interfaith minister, statewide organizer, and seasoned nonprofit leader, currently serving on the Carolina Jews for Justice leadership team. With a background in intercultural training, philanthropy, and spiritual care, her work bridges traditions and communities to cultivate justice, healing, and sustainable change.

Jewish history teaches us that when one group is targeted, all of democracy is at risk. And in the US South, where sweet tea meets sacred resistance, the fight for justice carries its own flavors of courage. 

🎙️ Don't wait! Pull up a chair, pour yourself something sweet, and hit play.

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

What if the real power of community impact lies in the little, everyday connections—those ripple effects we can’t always see? 

This month, two brilliant minds get candid in reimagining community transformation, starting with a radical proposition: choose yourself first. The challenge? If we really seek to make a lasting impact in our backyards, we must begin from within before it ever gets to the boardroom or the block. 

About Amieris:

Dr. Amieris Lavender, affectionately known as Dr. L, is a policy scholar, writer, and relentless community-builder rooted on the power of connection. She is the founder and managing partner of LoveJoyLiberation Community Relations Firm, where their mission is to spread love with joy for liberation. Her passion sits at the intersection of joy, liberation, and collective healing; through her firm, she works to ensure social evolution isn’t just possible but inevitable by bringing people together in meaningful ways, both big and small. Dr. L practices yoga, is a gardener and writer, and loves hosting parties for her friends.

About Niconda:

Asheville native Niconda Garcia is a lifelong advocate for equity who’s spent more than 25 years shaping change in healthcare, criminal justice, philanthropy, and grassroots organizing throughout Asheville. A self-identified barrier-breaker and champion for everyday leaders, Niconda’s approach is grounded in making sure everyone—not just the usual suspects—gets a seat at the table (and knows they belong there). As the owner of the consulting firm Change the Rubric, Niconda partners with individuals, educators, funders, and organizations to drive social transformation. Her work centers on individual purpose and self-concept as catalysts for growth, supporting people and institutions in becoming their best selves while advancing social change. Niconda is a mother, actor, roller-skater, consultant, and lifelong advocate for social justice.

Together, these powerhouses get honest about burnout, abundance mindsets, and what it means to walk in liberation instead of waiting for permission. If you’re ready for straight-up practical wisdom on how healing, visibility, and radical self-care build stronger selves and communities, this episode’s for you. 

🎧 Ready to rethink how you approach community impact? Listen now and get curious about what becomes possible when you prioritize self-liberation.

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

Can one person really make a difference? This month, we put that question to the test—and the answer is a resounding YES!

In this episode of The UPLift, Ms. Sophie Dixon shares her hard-won wisdom, reminding us that community connection is where the magic happens.

About Ms. Sophie: From serving 15 years as President of the Shiloh Community Association to co-founding WRES 100.7 FM, Ms. Sophie Dixon's work has shaped Asheville across generations, including leading the local NAACP branch and launching a Community Development Corporation. And guess what? She's still going strong!

Her tireless commitment to community evolved into a living legacy rooted in advocacy, mentorship, and systems change. Whether lifting up emerging leaders or challenging injustice, Ms. Sophie has left an indelible mark on the local landscape of collective action and community care.

Ready to discover how one person's dedication can transform an entire community? Listen in as local Ashevillians share her impact on their lives and neighborhoods. With Ms. Sophie on the mic and at the heart of this conversation, you're in for a master class in leading with heart, vision, and relentless purpose. Don't wait; jump in!

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

Are anti-immigration policies really about national security, or is something deeper at play? This episode of The UPLift explores immigration as a human rights issue as we sit down with Julio Tordoya, an award-winning journalist dedicated to amplifying immigrant voices. He shares how storytelling can be a tool for social justice—especially in times of rising anti-immigration sentiment.

About Julio: Julio Tordoya is an award-winning journalist, educator, and co-founder of JMPro Community Media, a grassroots platform uplifting immigrant voices in Western North Carolina. For over a decade, he has bridged information gaps, strengthened community trust, and empowered Latinx populations. His impact earned him a 2024 Tzedek Brilliance Award for his dedication to community storytelling and collective liberation.

Julio reminds us that shared stories and open dialogue can break down misconceptions and build bridges of understanding. His work highlights the power of trust in driving both individual and societal transformation. From fighting for better transportation and mental health resources to challenging harmful narratives, Julio’s work brings the headlines to life—revealing the real people affected by the policies.

Together, we explore how each of us can help create compassionate spaces where every voice is heard and every person is uplifted. Check it out!

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.

When disaster strikes, how do we rise—not just as individuals, but as a collective? In this episode, we reflect on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and ask: Can 2025 be the year of revolutions, not just resolutions? Let’s find out!

Join the Tzedek team as we reflect on how shared humanity and bold collaboration can help us rebuild—not only in the wake of Helene but in co-creating a more equitable and sustainable future. Our conversation explores the transformative power of connection—how meaningful relationships and radical compassion can turn response efforts into long-term movements for justice. Together, we examine lessons from Helene’s impact on Asheville and discuss the vital role of genuine relationships in driving practical shifts toward equity in 2025.

Love this episode? Share it with others who care about making a difference! And don’t miss what’s next—hit "Follow" and stay tuned for more conversations about community, connection, and revolution. Together, we rise!

We'll see you same time, same place next month. Until then, peace.