Relando Thompkins-Jones
I'm a macro social worker, social justice educator, and consultant who uses media and education to advance equity and social justice within people, organizations, and communities. I started Social Justice Origin Stories because I believe in the power of storytelling and making our experiences accessible to others, because I believe in the liberatory effects of social justice education, to support justice-seekers in finding community and feeling less alone given the relentlessness of oppressive systems, and hopefully to be a resource of support and reflection for those who are thinking through how they could best contribute to the work. We need all who can, to do what they can.
From her early experiences watching the women in her family to discovering the writings of James Baldwin through his book ‘Another Country’ and the awakening that followed, and the emotional impact of hearing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Mountaintop speech, Leticia Peguero shares significant moments and influences that shaped her journey into social justice work.
Her storytelling of how she “fell into coaching” connects her personal experiences, her career in philanthropy, and her passion for and transformative work with coaching women of color. She talks about the work of depersonalizing internalized oppression by asking important questions like: “How much of this is personal, and how much is systemic? What is mine to hold? and What belongs to the system?”
November 12, 2024
Dr. Monique Alicia Gamble, a Southerner, a Queer Black woman, a digital storyteller, and an assistant professor of political science at a public HBCU in Washington, D.C., shares the significance of storytelling in her academic and creative work, focusing on elevating the stories of people who exist on the margins, particularly those of Queer Black women.
October 30, 2024
DEI Practitioner, Health Equity advocate, Educator, and lover of STEM Courtney Holland shares how her experiences spending Saturdays at a union hall for auto workers with her father in Detroit and her academic and cultural awakening after taking an Introduction to African American Studies as an undergraduate student laid the foundation for her current understanding of equity issues and her commitment to social justice.
She speaks on the essential role of culturally relevant education, the power of sharing our collective narratives, the complexities of doing DEI work within a capitalistic framework, and the journey of sitting with anger in social justice work.
October 17, 2024
I’m starting Social Justice Origin Stories because I believe in the liberating effects of social justice education. I also want to support justice-seekers in finding community and feeling less alone in the face of relentless oppressive systems. I hope this project can be a source of support, reflection, and inspiration for those who are thinking through how they can best contribute to the work. We need all who can, to do what they can. But I also want to acknowledge something important: not everyone is able to share their story right now. For various reasons, some of us may be unable to share or speak at the moment..
October 5, 2024
In this episode, Relando is joined by longtime friend, Dr. O’Juan Edwards, who, in describing his journey to complete his Ph.D, shares a heartfelt memory of how a chance meeting with Coretta Scott King profoundly influenced his social justice journey. In his storytelling, Dr. Edwards weaves connections to how her life and the legacy of the King family continue to inspire and inform his approach to equity leadership, including the creation of his new business, The Outstanding One Solutions, LLC. He also discusses how that chance encounter influenced his decision to complete his dissertation research, which focused on the experiences of Black Chief Diversity Officers at predominantly white institutions during the anti-Critical Race Theory movement.
October 3, 2024
Barre Jones did not always have an understanding of systemic injustice. In this episode, Barre shares how his moments of activation were sparked during his time in the military, where he felt like he was on the wrong side of the ropes after being sent into Baltimore during the uprising after the murder of Freddie Gray. From his upbringing in Baltimore, Maryland, to his military service and experiences with racial discrimination, Barre’s story emphasizes that while contributions to equity work can vary, they are all valuable.
October 1, 2024
Dr. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington, talks about the origins of her non-linear path to Social Work and her dedication to social justice, shaped by her personal experiences as a transracial and transnational adoptee from Korea.
October 1, 2024
In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando talks with kyle lim, a passionate racial justice advocate and community organizer. Originally from Singapore, kyle shares some of his experiences navigating complex racial identities and confronting systemic inequities in the U.S., particularly in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his storytelling about the education justice work at the Urban Core Collective, kyle speaks to the necessity of building community power, addressing systemic flaws, and prioritizing material redistribution for genuine social transformation. His storytelling also honors the critical role of youth in driving meaningful change.
October 1, 2024
Tony Nelson, explores his development from his rural Michigan upbringing to becoming an active participant in progressive movements and education. Tony revisits the significance of his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, recalling how attending a campus presentation by Jane Elliott served as a starting point for his emerging consciousness and involvement as a student on campus.
October 1, 2024
Jouapag Lee, a passionate advocate for social justice, healing, and liberation, shares her personal journey and motivations. She reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped her activism, including a deeply personal incident of racial and gender-based harassment in college that drastically shifted her worldview and led her into organizing.
October 1, 2024
