Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community

Reymundo Juan Armendariz is a longtime activist and organizer in the Chicano/Mexicano/Latinx community and co-founder of Community Agency for Resources Advocacy and Services (CARAS), a culturally based organization serving the South Santa Clara County. Reymundo has worked in the nonprofit world for 27 years providing youth justice advocacy, mentorship and services as well as housing and immigration rights and cultural awareness programs. Reymundo was a “movement baby” born to a 1960’s Chicana feminist activist and a formerly imprisoned “state raised” father incarcerated during the prison gang wars of the 1960’s. He is currently the Executive Director of the community organization he founded, CARAS, now in its 14th year of operation. 

Kristina Robertson is a confessional spoken word performer, writer, and producer in Santa Clara, California. She has competed in 2 national poetry slam competitions. Her work has appeared in Overachiever Magazine, a digital platform giving a voice to all AANHPI Women and was published in Chopsticks Alley Art’s “Asian American Healing: A Nature Walk Guide.” Her first full length book of confessional poems titled “Getting Out of My Head … with Poems from My Heart” will be available this October. Through her work with Chopsticks Alley Art, she helps to promote Southeast Asian art and provide platforms for artists to showcase their talent all while sharing her love for art and poetry with her community.

Alexander Sing is a Chinese cisgender little man in Oakland, California, with chronic health conditions and multiple disabilities. He enjoys communicating with friends and family. He works at the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with disabilities and older adults in achieving independence. He also has a Bachelor's and Master of Arts degree in Multimedia Communications and an Associate's degree in American Sign Language. Follow him to learn more at https://linktr.ee/asing87

Sam Castle is a certified Trauma-Informed Coach and the founder of Be You Do You Coaching, where his mantra is: “You don’t need permission to be who you are.” He lives in sunny California with his wife, Vanessa, and their fur babies, Hershey and Snicker.

A transgender man, Sam is passionate about authenticity, kindness, and personal growth. After years of self-reflection, he began his gender transition at 36 and has since dedicated his life to helping others heal from trauma and embrace their true selves. With 13+ years of experience in mental health, Sam’s trauma-informed coaching centers on Freedom, Faith, and Empowerment.

Sam was recently accepted to the University of the Pacific and will be pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work to deepen his impact. He is committed to uplifting his community and inspiring others to live fearlessly and authentically.

As the founder of Rocki Reed LLC, Janae has dedicated her career to creating children's books that celebrate diversity, teach STEM concepts, and empower young readers to see themselves in the pages they turn. Her work bridges education and imagination, ensuring that children of all backgrounds feel seen, heard, and valued.

With 20 years of experience in higher education, community engagement, and the U.S. federal government, Kathleen established a consulting practice in 2004, now called Rooted Change Consulting. She has fully embraced this challenging and fulfilling journey. As a facilitator, coach, educator and consultant, she guides and supports individuals and groups building a world that makes room for and works for all.  Raised in the Midwest of the US, she has lived in California, currently Oakland, for almost 30 years.  She finds joy in her relationships with family and friends, dancing and yoga. She particularly loves the long walks she takes with her partner, eating along the way, throughout the US and beyond.

Layel Camargo (they/them) is a trans and gender non-conforming Yaqui and Mayo cultural strategist, born in the unceded ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay, and indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. For over 15 years, Layel has advanced climate justice at the intersection of storytelling, cultural strategy, art-making, and non profit leadership. They are the co-founder of Shelterwood Collective, an 878-acre forest restoration and land stewardship project, and the founder of Climate Woke, a narrative platform dedicated to climate justice with The Center For Cultural Power. Layel served as an Impact Producer for the acclaimed web series The North Pole, working alongside Executive Producers Rosario Dawson and Movement Generation. They also produced and hosted the podcast Did We Go Too Far?, which explores climate, culture, and collective liberation. They were part of the inaugural fellows for Climate Story Lab with Doc Society and Exposure Labs. In recognition of their work, Layel was named a 2020 Grist Fixer and was co-awarded a Humanitarian Award by the International Association of Sufism. They have done public speaking at institutions such as the University of Montreal, UC Santa Cruz, and the University of Pennsylvania. Layel holds a degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Elizabeth Tril is the founder of Oakland Soul Media and a storyteller at heart. With her camera always close by, she’s passionate about capturing the real, raw, and beautiful moments that make up community life. From protests in the streets, weddings, commercials, documentaries and more. Elizabeth sees her work as a way to lift up voices that deserve to be heard and to share stories that spark connection, joy, and action.

She doesn’t think of herself as the one in the spotlight, but rather the person behind the scenes making sure the spotlight finds others. Through Oakland Soul Media, Elizabeth blends her love for photography, film, and people into work that’s rooted in justice, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.

Tacosha Bolanos is proof that community is built one conversation, one act of service, and sometimes one Little League game at a time. A proud mother of three and a dedicated volunteer for Little League, Tacosha pours her energy into creating spaces where kids—and neighbors—thrive. Whether she’s organizing games, cheering from the sidelines, or caring for her 87-year-old neighbor, her life reflects a deep belief in showing up for others.

Beyond the ball field, Tacosha’s passion for charity work and nonprofits shines through. She’s a social butterfly who connects effortlessly with everyone she meets, grounded in a confidence that comes from being truly comfortable in her own skin. Hard-working, fun-loving, and community-minded, Tacosha embodies what it means to lead with heart and action.

Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community is where justice meets action and community voices rise. In each episode, we spotlight changemakers, disruptors, and everyday heroes working at the frontlines of equity and liberation. Through powerful storytelling and candid conversations, we explore what it means to build a more just world—together. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a call to listen deeply, learn boldly, and move in solidarity.