WHAT WE GON DO?

Guests:

Dr. Akilah Cadet - Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, a DEI consulting and coaching firm.

Erica Lovett - Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Condé Nast.

During the recent racial reckoning that has overtaken the US since the murders of George Floyd it has become very common to see brands hoping to become part of the conversation. From black squares to messages of supporting Black Lives Matter, the corporate reflex to provide public-facing solidarity is often undermined by the very real, and very documented, internal struggles within the organization. The struggle of being Black in corporate America is not new, but the willingness to come forward with accounts of racist behavior and the receipts to back it up is, and many companies are dealing with unprecedented upheaval and deeply tarnished brands. How do you create space in these organizations to hear and support BIPOC employees while also being held accountable for racist policies and leadership that has genuinely harmed people? How do you show solidarity as a company with a racial justice movement when it seems like any misstep could result in "cancellation"?

We invited two amazing women whose job it is to help organizations navigate this terrain. Erica Lovett does it from within as the always excellent but suddenly in-demand head of Diversity and Inclusion at Condé Nast. Her work in this amazingly visible company whose struggles in this period have been well publicized, is crucial to the rebuilding of its brand. Dr. Akilah Cadet has been running her own consulting and coaching firm for years to help leaders and organizations build anti-racist organizations with leadership and employees, and has seen interest in her company skyrocket since late May. Her valuable perspective as an outsider asked to show up for companies who may or may not be willing to do the hard work is a perfect complement, and the conversation we had was very real and very insightful for companies and employees who want a better, more equitable, anti-racist place to work.

Guests:

Brandy Bones - Urban Planner and Disaster Preparedness Expert

Sarah Ullman - Filmmaker and Founder of One Vote at a Time (www.onevoteatatime.us)

For many of us, the thought of a Biden presidency is not very inspiring, and the fact that he is the one facing off against Trump is cause for more dismay than it is comfort. For progressive young voters and many others who supported Bernie, Warren or any of the other younger, more diverse or inspiring primary candidates, it has been difficult to muster much enthusiasm for Biden's candidacy besides the fact that another four years of a Trump presidency seems like throwing our country and souls into an abyss. It is worrisome to think that apathy could contribute to this unthinkable future, and so it is time for difficult conversations about how we can get past our misgivings and find ways to generate some momentum for Biden's candidacy.

With less than one hundred days until the election we invited dedicated advocates for change, Brandy Bones and Sarah Ullman to converse about finding the promise in this campaign, and the future it will make possible for an America in turmoil and in danger of irrevocable damage. This episode gets existential but also practical and even hopeful about what change we might see and how we might not be forsaken after all. This is an episode for anyone feeling bleak about November, and we hope it helps energize citizens to vote in this incredibly consequential Presidential election. It also underscores the importance of supporting other candidates so that we never find ourselves with such a frustrating set of options again.

Guests:

Aaron Lambert - Talent Agent and Musical Theater Actor, Hamilton on the West End

Nana Mensah, Stage and Screen Actor and Writer based in New York City.

With the recent release of Hamilton on streaming services and the current global theater shutdown many are discussing what it means to have more diverse representation on stage and how to reimagine what creative voices theater should elevate. Whether trying to break into the cutthroat world of Broadway in Manhattan or the centuries-old elite theater world of the West End in London it is an uphill battle to make it for anyone let alone BIPOC performers, writers and theater professionals. Despite such obstacles this moment genuinely feels ripe for the hard work and conversations that could lead to real change especially with the emergence of the "We See You White American Theater" movement which demands tangible and radical and lasting change to the industry.

To have this discussion, host Tre Borden spoke with Aaron Lee Lambert, performer in Hamilton on the West End and a co-owner of a boutique talent agency in London, and Nana Mensah a writer and performer for screen and television as well as an actor in New York theater.

Guest: Britta Guerrero, CEO Sacramento Native American Health Center

As the nation grapples with its history of racism, genocide and exploitation the term BIPOC has emerged which stands for Black Indigenous and People of Color. It is important to recognize why we need to link and center the experiences of Black and Indigenous people as we confront the myths and lies that have held up America and its "heroes" for so long. As we topple statues of rapist murderers (whether it's Robert E. Lee, John Sutter or Christopher Columbus) and reconsider brands like Aunt Jemima and the Washington Redskins, who just today announced a decision to change its name, it is critical for us to to tackle these changes together and to understand the commonality of the respective struggles of these communities. To have this discussion we invited Britta Guerrero, CEO of the Sacramento Native American Health Center and an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache tribe to discuss America's past and the importance for collaboration and unity between the Black and Indigenous Liberation/Justice movements.

Guest: Dr. Flojuane Cofer - Epidemiologist, Public Health Advocate and Chair of Measure U Committee in Sacramento

As calls to Defund the Police and invest more heavily in vital city services gets louder, the battleground is shifting from the streets into City Hall where many municipalities are attempting to pass budgets in an environment deeply skeptical of maintaining current priorities. Like many other cities Sacramento has a budget that is heavily skewed toward Public Safety. Unlike other cities Sacramento voters just passed a referendum called Measure U, which raised a permanent tax which politicians promised to put towards vital investments in economic development, underserved communities and mental health resources among other languishing priorities. However that is not how it has turned out and we invited the chairwoman of the citizen committee meant to recommend spending priorities, Dr. Flojuane Cofer to discuss what is happening and how this battle relates to the demand for cities to reconfigure how they spend taxpayer money to community members demanding change.

Guests: Delilah Clay - Lobbyist and Advisor, Manatt

Leah Barros - Lobbyist and VP, Strategies 360

Andrea Perry - Lobbyist, Mercury Public Affairs

The current momentum around racial justice and the tearing down of white supremacist systems in America has energized people on the ground and in capitol buildings around the country where policies are debated and signed into law. Criminal Justice is just one of the many industries that needs strong reform and dismantling. As important as protesting and pressure from constituents can be in convincing lawmakers; lobbyists and legislative advisors are often closest to the action and can be very powerful forces in how and when laws are pushed. To get more insight into this often murky process we invited three of the most effective lobbyists in Sacramento, the capital of California, who have each carved out a niche leveraging their access to advocate for racial justice and in some cases taking on legislative projects that advance issues for Black people. This was one of the best episodes yet as we talk about what can be done to capitalize on this moment and create lasting change for Black people in this country.

One of the most striking things about the protests against police brutality this time around is how they are being covered by the media. Mostly gone are the investigations and digging into wrongdoing of victims and the suspicious eye toward protesters and activists. In its place is coverage that has mostly focused on the righteous aims of the protestors and the overwhelming systemic oppression of black people in this country. Media coverage is hugely influential in how these events are discussed and absorbed by the public, and this comes at a time when media and journalism as an industry is highly scrutinized and is being disrupted by the messy intervention of social media and more independent outlets. Newsrooms are also in flux as WHO is covering the protests has changed substantially if not nearly enough.

We brought in Erika Smith, the newest columnist at the LA Times who is black and queer, as well as our own producer Allison Joy to discuss the many competing forces surrounding media and its response to and coverage of this world-shifting movement.

Many interactions between the public and the police occur in moments of crisis. This often leads to inaccurate perceptions of how the community feels toward law enforcement both within a police force and within cities and neighborhoods. Whether it is a protest, a stop, a stop-and-frisk or a community meeting, these are not great ways to assess how the community members feel or give candid and accurate feedback about a community's sentiment. ELUCD is a company that uses modern data collection possibilities and ads to assess community feedback. They then partner with cities and organization's around the US to present better and more timely data on how the community feels about various issues. Some of their biggest clients are police departments. Tre speaks with ELUCD COO Sujeet Rao about how their data has begun to give a better picture of how communities feel. Sujeet gives his insight into police departments and the obstacles that exist to helpful dialogue that can lead to change.

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Guest: Alina Cervantes, Professor of Early Childhood Education and Department Chair at American River College

The killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and the protests that have convulsed the country have been impossible to ignore and are leading to some very long overdue discussions about the need for police reform, racism and white supremacy. These conversations are complex and fraught for adults to have, so one can imagine the difficulty some non-BIPOC parents might have discussing these issues with their young children. It is imperative for parents to have the tools to broach these topics head on as children will form an opinion on what they see no matter what.

To find out useful tools and strategies we talked with Early Childhood Education Professor and Department Chair Alina Cervantes. She walked us through her own conversation with her young daughter, the checklist of strategies she recommends to all parents and the importance of this conversation becoming as commonplace as other difficult conversations parents undertake with their children all the time. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND USEFUL TOPIC PARENTS PLEASE TUNE IN!

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Guests:

Callie Chamberlain, Twin Cities New Leaders Council

Ron Harris, Twin Cities New Leaders Council

For many of us George Floyd's murder at the hands of police was our first introduction to Minneapolis. With some of the most progressive leadership in the nation when it comes to Local, Regional and National leadership, including the Chief of Police, it represented a community that was "getting it right". So what went wrong? What led to the death of George Floyd and what will come from it? How has the community responded and what is the way forward? Minneapolis organizers and local leaders Callie Chamberlain and Ron Harris spoke to Tre Borden to give us an overview of a community in crisis, the overwhelming response from community members and organizations to rebuild, and what if any hopes they have for the future.

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Connect via instagram at www.instagram.com/treborden and www.instagram.com/trebordenco

Find Tre Borden at www.treborden.com