Urban Islanders intern Gail Bautista walks us through Zakiyyah's travels in the Philadelphia arts scene, featuring:

Alfeia DeVaughn-Goodwin - Living Statue Artist
Social Media: #iamalivingstatue (IG) and @Alfeia (Twitter)

Alfeia pursues social and racial justice through her performance art as a living statue.

Denise Valentine - Master Storyteller, Story Activist, and Consultant

Denise Valentine is a Master Storyteller, historical performer, consultant and the founder of the Philadelphia Middle Passage Ceremony & Port Marker Project. Denise is a storyteller of lost and found histories of the African Diaspora.  Her signature Historytelling integrates archival research, folk heritage and oral history for performance and exhibition demonstrating the role of expressive cultural arts in sustaining community. Denise has presented worldwide for audiences of all ages at schools, libraries and museums. Currently, she works as an educator for the Museum of the American Revolution. She also serves as advisor to the curatorial team of the new Early American Art Galleries of the Philadelphia Museum of Art opening in 2020.

Special thanks to Serafina Harris, Jacob Harris, Jordan Dale, and Lisa DeSantiago from Temple for their lively discussion!

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/
Man Ray Suite – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/data/uploads/01%20Man%20Ray%20Suite%20Mixtape.mp3

Interested in being interviewed for a podcast or submitting your comments? Contact [email protected]!

Support the show (http://urbanislanders.org)

Zakiyyah and Cooper hear from Reverend James Lawson at Church of the Advocate, hosted by the Saturday Free School.

Reverend James Lawson - Scholar and Activist

A third-generation Methodist minister, the Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr., who was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, earned his local pastor’s license in 1949. Soon after being graduated from high school, he was drafted into the U.S. military, refused to enlist, and as a conscientious objector received a three-year prison sentence, of which he served 13 months. 

Following his prison term, Lawson served as a missionary in India for three years, where he studied nonviolent resistance and embraced the practices of Mohandas K. Gandhi, whom he had first begun to study in 1947. 

In his long and storied history, Lawson orchestrated the lunch counter sit-in campaign in Nashville, Tennessee, the largest and most influential of the southern student sit-in campaigns; developed strategy for the Freedom Riders; and taught the theory and practice of nonviolent direct action to students, activists, future civil rights leaders, and politicians, including U.S. Representative John R. Lewis. The Reverend Lawson has been active in many campaigns and in the instruction of emergent leaders. Often referred to as “the mind of the movement,” the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., called him "the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world." He remains a staunch defender of human rights.

Dr. Anthony Monteiro – Scholar and Activist
Website: http://www.saturdayfreeschool.org

Anthony (Tony) Monteiro is the founder of the Saturday Free School, and is a scholar and activist. He writes in areas having to do with W.E.B. DuBois Studies, Marxism and race. He lives in Philadelphia where he is active in social, economic and politcal struggles.

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/
Man Ray Suite – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/data/uploads/01%20Man%20Ray%20Suite%20Mixtape.mp3

Interested in being interviewed for a podcast or submitting your comments? Contact [email protected]!

Zakiyyah and Cooper visit the Black Urban Growers (BUGS) Conference and chat with a few notable guests:

Zelmi Zoka - Farmer and Land Steward

Zelmi Zoka hails from Detroit, MI, and spends his time growing and healing.

David Bolinda - Immigrant Activist and Entrepreneur

David Bolinda is a Kenyan native who now lives in the states. He works on reconnecting African immigrants with their culture through urban farming.

Rashid Nuri - Founder of Truly Living Well Center
Website: https://www.trulylivingwell.com/

Rashid Nuri is a prolific urban agriculturist, scholar, farmer, and community developer of over 40 years. He is the founder of Truly Living Well Center in Atlanta, and the author of Growing Out Loud - an autobiography about his decades of experience farmer, community organizer, and international travels as a member of the US Department of Agriculture. It is tutorial through reflection offering Nuri’s life lessons as insight for future agricultural activists.

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/
Man Ray Suite – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/data/uploads/01%20Man%20Ray%20Suite%20Mixtape.mp3

Interested in being interviewed for a podcast or submitting your comments? Contact [email protected]!

Zakiyyah visits last year's Netroot's Nation conference, featuring the following guests:

Sangeeth Peruri - Founder and CEO of Outreach Circle
Website: https://client.outreachcircle.com/

Sangeeth Peruri is the CEO and founder of OutreachCircle, a digital organizing platform that harnesses the power of personal relationships to inspire action and drive change. OutreachCircle makes it easy for volunteers, activists and donors to support their favorite cause, campaign or organization.

Other panelists include Sarah Black (Outreach Circle), Dylan Cate (Dylan Cate Strategic), Erika Grohoski Peralta, and Brandon A. Jessup (State Voices)

Thaís Marques - Activist and Organizer
Website: https://twitter.com/thais_tweets?lang=en

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/

Support the show (http://urbanislanders.org)

Urban Islanders visits the Penn Museum's brand new Africa wing!

Tukufu Zuberi - Professor of Sociology; The Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations
Website: https://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/people/tukufu-zuberi

Dr. Zuberi’s research focuses on Race, African and African Diaspora populations. He has been a visiting professor at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also served as the Chair of the Graduate Group in Demography, the Director of the African Studies Program, and the Director of the Afro-American Studies Program. In 2002, he became the founding Director of the Center for Africana Studies, and he has also served as the Faculty Associate Director of the Center for Africana Studies.

Glenn Bryan - Assistant Vice President of Community Relations in the Office of Government and Community Affairs

Mr. Bryan is the Assistant Vice President of Community Relations at the University of Pennsylvania where he directs the University’s comprehensive community relations program, representing the University in local engagement initiatives, especially those related to public education, healthcare, and economic development. Serving Penn’s Office of Government and Community Affairs for nearly 20 years, Bryan has cultivated meaningful relationships with Penn's neighboring civic networks and community-based organizations.

Damon Cunningham - Tour Guide from Africa Wing of Penn Museum

Jannie Blackwell - Former City Councilmember of Philadelphia
Website: http://phlcouncil.com/jannieblackwell/

Councilmember Blackwell has made a life-long commitment to move her community forward, and will always work to foster an end to homelessness, neighborhood blight and poor public education through using the tools of public policy, legislation and public involvement. Her overall vision is to improve her constituents’ quality of life – regardless of race, class, gender, or socio-economic status. She continues to believe that there is a solution to every problem, and that when we work together, everybody wins.

Robert and Wanda Dickerson - Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble
Website: http://www.unitycommunity.com/

Mission:  To educate people about African Culture and history through music, art and the performing arts, especially African Dance and Drum.

Julian Siggers - Director of the Penn Museum

Before moving to Philadelphia in 2012, Siggers was vice president for programs, education and content communication at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada’s largest research museum.  He has also served as director of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum and as head of narrative and broadcast development at the United Kingdom’s National Museum of Science and Industry in London.  Siggers taught prehistoric archaeology for eight years at the University of Toronto, where he earned his Ph.D., with a specialization in Near Eastern prehistoric archaeology.

Special thanks to the members of the First Ashanti Nation. 

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/
Equinox Concert Part 2 – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/index.php?post=the-equinox-concert-mixtapes#.XhTmuRdKhp9

Sydnie Schwarz, an Urban Islanders guest interviewee and Swarthmore College student interviews Nashid Ali and Zakiyyah Ali on Kofi Jamoriah, a revered Philadelphia drummer.

Jamal Dickerson and Steve Jackson - Drummers from Unity Community Center
Website: www.unitycommunity.com

Organization mission:  Unity Community Center of S.J. Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes, preserves and represents the performing arts, literary arts, visual and creative arts, history and culture.  We offer a variety of arts and arts related training programs to youth, young adults and the community.  We also specialize in developmental, discipline and music programs particularly for young people at risk, in order to instill in them an appreciation for the arts, respect for life and the love of humanity.  These programs will build character, artistic skills and improve their academic and life skills.  This will also allow the students to experience the performing arts through developmental, discipline, educational and recreational programs.

Nashid Ali - Drummer and Storyteller

Nashid is storyteller, jeweler, musician and teaching artist working with families and communities through community arts and culture institutions such as Art Sanctuary/ Village of the Arts/Al~Bustan Seeds of Culture/Odunde Foundation and others. He is a Philadelphia Clef Club volunteer, serves on Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation, is a life member of Keepers of The Culture (KOTC) and Philadelphia’s Afro Centric Storytelling Group, and has worked as an children’s advocate through a now defunct oldest Black Foster Care Agency in the nation called Children’s Service, Incorporated, where he helped establish the H.O.P.E. Family Center.  Nashid is also involved in the Peacemakers of Mill Creek, West Philadelphia, and makes metal jewelry wearable art upon request.

Additionally, Nashid is an advocate for community peace and co-founder of D.R.O.P. S.Q.U.A.D. 99 Art Ensemble for Peace and communicates (in conjunction with Brother Shomari) in group discussions directly with State Correctional Institution Inmates on the social and psychological dynamic and impacts of reentry. Finally, Nashid chaired West Philadelphia Empowerment Zone (WPEZ) Health and Human Development Committee.

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/
Drumming recordings taken from various events

Urban Islanders Season 2 Episode 2 continues our coverage of DACO by way of their second annual Cannabis Opportunities conference, hosted at Temple University.

State Rep. Joanna McClinton
Website: https://www.pahouse.com/McClinton/

Joanna McClinton, Esquire, took the oath of office to serve the people of the 191st Legislative District on Aug. 25, 2015 after winning a special election two weeks prior. In Nov. 2018, she became the first African-American and woman to be elected as the House Democratic Caucus chair for the 2019-20 legislative session.

Rep. McClinton has been acknowledged for her commitment to public service and enhancing the quality of life for residents in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties by receiving several awards. They include: City and State PA's 40 Under 40; the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year award; Successful Women Achieving Goals' Women of the Year award; Fun Time Magazine's Women of Influence Award; the PRE-K for PA Champion award; the Spirit of a Dove Community Servant award; the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Light Community award; and the Black Gala Women of Excellence award. 

Naomi Wilson-Blount
Website: http://www.naomiwilson-blount.com/

Naomi Wilson-Blount is an activist against life prison sentences in Philadelphia. She is herself a victim of the injustices of the mass incarceration system via an unjust life sentence.

Brandon J. Flood - Secretary of the Board of Pardons
Website: https://www.bop.pa.gov/Board-Information/Pages/Board-Secretary.aspx

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, Brandon J. Flood spent nearly a decade working for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served in a multitude of professional capacities, that of which include the positions of Legislative Assistant, Senior Research Analyst for the House Democratic Caucus' Legislative Policy & Research Office (LPRO) and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.  In the aforementioned roles, Brandon's area of expertise included research and analysis, bill drafting, public relations and mass communications, organizational administration and legislative advocacy and stakeholder engagement.  

Ora and Arthur Witherspoon – Founders of Hemp Hands
Website: https://hemphands.wakanna.com/Home/

Ora and Arthur Witherspoon are two retired disabled veterans, and are the founders of Hemp Hands LLC, a CBD infused product company. Ora Witherspoon has an extensive background in the healthcare field and with chronic pain management. Arthur has over twenty years of health care management. We are also proud founders of Oracle Healing a nonprofit organization to enhance community services and wellness.

Alonzo Greer

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/

Equinox Concert Part 2 – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/index.php?post=the-equinox-concert-mixtapes#.XhTmuRdKhp9

Urban Islanders Season 2 Episode 1 initiates our coverage of DACO by way of their second annual Cannabis Opportunities conference, hosted at Temple University.

Judy Wicks – Entrepreneur and Founder of All Together Now Pennsylvania
Website: https://alltogethernowpa.org/

Author, activist and entrepreneur, Judy Wicks is best know for founding Philadelphia's iconic White Dog Cafe in 1983, a pioneer in the local food movement. In 2000, Judy founded Fair Food Philly to connect farmers with the urban marketplace. In 2001 she founded the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and the nation-wide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). Judy's memoir Good Morning, Beautiful Business won a national gold medal for business leadership and has been translated into Chinese and Korean. Judy currently runs to projects - the Circle of Aunts & uncles, a micro loan fund for local entrepreneurs, which she founded in 2015, and All Together Now PA, to build regional economies, founded in 2019. 

Zorodzai Marovake – Founder and CEO of the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust

Dr Z. Maroveke (Dental Surgeon) is a Zimbabwean National who is very passionate about building her country. She is the Founder & C.E.O of the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust and the interim Vice President of the Cannabis Industries Association of Zimbabwe. Through the Trust she has successfully pioneered lobbying Government since 2015 to separate Industrial Hemp from Medicinal Cannabis through S.I 208 on 20 September 2019.
 
She is heavily involved in guiding the emerging Industry through policy development and Research and Development. She participated in the DACO Conference 2019 courtesy of State Senator Shariff Street’s invitation and the Co-founder of DACO Madam Cherron Thomas.

James Hillyard Jr. - Musician
Content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKumEbSyBUk&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEfXnQ4eP-URvABJOPmCfg
 
James is an artist of multiple mediums native to Philadelphia.

Victor Lewis - Community Activist

Victor Lewis El is a community activist, who teaches people to live a life based on love of self and neighbor, to be empowered through knowledge, and to regularly participate in community outreach activities to uplift those in need.
As a local businessman for more than 20 years in the acquisition and sale of antiques, collectibles, precious stones and metals, Victor formed Easy Transitions 101 in 2015 to be able to assist families and businesses transition from one situation to another. These transitions were often during difficult times and Victor set out to educate them on the best ways to make their transitions a little easier and even profitable for them.

Desiree Ivey - Co-Founder of DACO
Website: https://www.wearedaco.com/

DACO Misson: Our purpose is to help elevate awareness of wellness and economic opportunities in cannabis. We host annual Cannabis Opportunity Conferences in Philadelphia to demystify the profession and culture of the cannabis industry in minority communities of the US and globally in the African diaspora, while recreating a narrative of opportunities and restorative justice for the growth of the community in light of the massive shifts and associated stigma of the cannabis industry.

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/

Season 2 of Urban Islanders is premiering now! Our first episode was released last Tuesday - listen to this little teaser to hear what else is coming up:

DACO Conferences!! Saturday Free School!! Nashid Ali!! Arts in Philly!! African Exhibit at Penn Museum!! BUGS Conference!! Netroots Nation Conference!! 

All the above and more in our next season. Episode 2 out next Tuesday February 11th @ 12pm, with new episodes to follow every other week!

Urban Islanders Season 2 Episode 1 features a couple of very special guests from the Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities’ (DACO) Summer Conference, Hempin’ Philly:

Cherron Perry-Thomas – DACO Co-Founder
Website: https://www.wearedaco.com/
DACO: Our purpose is to help elevate awareness of wellness and economic opportunities in cannabis. On 19-20 October we will be hosting the 2018 Cannabis Opportunity Conference in Philadelphia to demystify the profession and culture of the cannabis industry in minority communities of the US and globally in the African diaspora, while recreating a narrative of opportunities and restorative justice for the growth of the community in light of the massive shifts and associated stigma of the cannabis industry.

ONeal Latimore - Consultant for Eastern Hemp
Website: http://www.thevaultedgroup.com/

As a seasoned farmer, Oneal focuses his efforts in Eastern Hemp on helping farmers and business owners improve operations, connect with processors and manufacturers, and design solutions rooted in your mission. A natural visionary, he can help you recognizing growth opportunities and develop new products offerings.

Music: 

Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/

Equinox Concert Part 2 – Music: http://www.philajazzproject.org/index.php?post=the-equinox-concert-mixtapes#.XhTmuRdKhp9

Interested in being interviewed for a podcast or submitting your comments? Contact [email protected]!