Utah's Fireside Chats

DISCLAIMER: This episode briefly mentions some topics of violence, especially towards women.  In this episode, Dawood Saleh, a Yazidi native and refugee, comes on to discuss the truth of what the Yazidi community entails. Through the topic of religion, history, genocides, as well as what Dawood does to highlight his community, we are able to learn just how unique this marginalized community is. 

If you are interested in helping, some of the organizations mentioned in this episode are linked here:
https://freeyezidi.org/
https://thelotusflower.org/blog1/2021/7/30/why-the-world-must-remember-the-forgotten-yazidis
 

In this episode, Jessica Chappell, a structural engineer and member of the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, comes on to discuss how and why the infrastructural damage took place after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria earlier this year. The discussion also compares and contrasts the damage done in Utah after the earthquake in 2020, and how to best prevent this damage from occurring here in Utah and Turkey/ Syria again. 

In this episode, Jessica Hercules, a community engagement organizer at English Skills Learning Center, joins us to discuss the experience of being a refugee in Utah, the struggles they may face, and what they contribute to our society. This episode contributes to the conversation that will take place at UCCD's World Affairs Symposium on February 16th,  which will discuss the future of refugees in Utah. If you are interested in participating in this symposium that is free to the public, click the link below to register.
https://utahdiplomacy.org/events/full-calendar/world-affairs-symposium-series/the-future-of-refugees-in-utah

In this episode, Dr. Alicia Cunningham-Bryant joins us to discuss what artifact repatriation is, why we should be concerned with returning material goods back to their rightful homes, and how this is an issue that affects Utah. 

In this episode, Zachary Frankel, the Executive Director of Utah Rivers Council, chats with us about the ongoing water crisis in Utah and with our Great Salt Lake, what preventative measures can be made, and how this relates to climate change and the overall health of Utahns. 

Apa Sherpa, a Nepalese-born mountaineer, held the record until 2011 for the most summits to Mount Everest, a total of 21 times. He is also the founder of the Apa Sherpa Foundation that focuses on bringing educational opportunities and increasing the quality of life to the new generation of Nepal. In this episode, we get insight into Apa's life and upbringing and his adventures with Mt. Everest, how the Apa Sherpa Foundation came to be, and how he settled in Utah.  If you are able to, please consider making a donation to Apa's foundation at https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/. 

In this episode, Daniel Romero (he/they), a local activist and community health worker, joins us to have a conversation on the many ways that activism can and should look like, the role that intersectionality plays in activism,  as well as their lived experiences and what brought them to become involved in Utah's marginalized communities. 

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is an immigrant policy that has been heavily debated and discussed in the United States. Brianna and Fanny from Comunidades Unidas, an  organization focused on immigration aid and public health, discuss what is DACA, how the recent changes under the Biden administration may affect the Dreamer population, and how dreamers contribute to this country and state. 

Nazanin Nour and Sogol Daniels are two Iranian American women’s rights activists who have done incredible work to support the freedom movement of women and girls in Iran and other regions and are serving Utah communities in different capacities for good.