The Zag

We catch up with 2020 NLC Twin Cities Fellow Janiru Herath to hear more about protest and progress since murder of George Floyd. He reminds us of the long history of police violence in the state and also how his role as a teacher impacts his view on what should happen next.

2019 NLC LA Fellow Elizabeth Cabrera joins The Zag to talk a full house during quarantine, onboarding in a new job via Zoom, and taking the plunge into seeking elected office. Don't miss it.

We need scientists more than ever these days and The Zag found one for latest episode. Don't miss 2020 NLC NYC Fellow Sloka Iyengar as she shares her journey to neuroscience, how she is leveraging science for public good, and what being a NLC Fellow this year meant to her. Don't miss it.

2020 NLC LA Fellows Michelle Sanchez and Michael Deegan-McCree join The Zag to discuss being the importance of being anti-racist and resources to leverage to do that. Plus, they share details on how to invest in NLC LA’s Legacy Campaign to ensure future progressive leaders can access the program.

Support them here: https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/SupportLosAngeles

Pandemic or not, the 2020 Census is vital for how our communities will receive much needed resources and representation in the next decade. 2015 NLC Chicago Fellow Jourdan Sorell returns to The Zag to update us on progress with Census count. Plus, he shares his thoughts as a black man about the systemic violence hurting his community and our country.

2020 NLC Pittsburgh Fellow Leah Jakaitis has used her NLC Capstone Project to focus on how companies are responding to COVID-19, especially how they're treating employees. Her goal is to create a dataset to 'score' employers across all industries, and provide a resource for workers to make informed decisions about where they work. Check out this episode to learn more.

Our most sought after guest, 2014 NLC LA Fellow Tamika Butler, joins The Zag to talk everything from parenting to Hawaiian shirts to much needed equity and inclusion in mobility initiatives like Slow Streets to building community via Zoom. She's one of our favorites. No wonder we wanted her to come on so badly. Don't miss it.

Our first 4 person pod! Tune in to hear how these three NLC LA alums ran our NLC LA Engaged program during COVID times. They also touch on the building community in virtual spaces, what policy areas are most set up for progressive reimagining, and why sourdough baking was so last month.

Christopher Lo-Records, 2014 NLC LA Fellow, is soon to be a published author. Released by an indie press in Riverside, called Inlandia, his book called Care: Stories is comprised of 14 stories about queer characters living in the Inland Empire, CA in a realistically dystopic near future.

The stories are diverse in focus and perspective: an elderly lesbian couple raising their two agoraphobic adult sons, an alcoholic celebrating her 58th birthday, a non-binary person arranging a random hookup with a man down the street, a recently divorced queer woman in her 40s who almost accidentally falls into a co-dependent sexual relationship with a 20 year old man.

Hear more about Chris' writing process and how the book's setting is more relevant than ever.

Alexis Bromley, NLC Omaha 2017, along with her nonprofit One Omaha recognized a gap that needed to be filled by neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One Omaha teamed up with a technology platform in Seattle called "GroopIt" for neighbors to support one another.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2Zdp9h2