Personal Journeys

Personal Journeys

Humanizing Our Neurodivergence: Lessons of Love From The People’s Platypus with Sheldon Gay

Personal Journeys

Reimagining Leadership and Finding Our Role in The Movement with Beca Velázquez-Publes

2024

Personal Journeys

Working in Cooperation and Opposition for the Greater Good with Courtney Holland

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
Personal Journeys

Rooted in Baltimore: Navigating Social Injustice with Barre Jones

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
Personal Journeys

Weaving Past, Present, and Future: Healing Timelines with Jouapag Lee

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
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Personal Journeys

Making Race Heard with Surabhi Pandit

Relando sits down with Surabhi Pandit, Macro Social Worker, equity advocate, and personal friend, to discuss the powerful role leveraging her networks in student government to organize dialogues on race and equity at The University of Michigan School of Social Work had on her journey.

October 1, 2024
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Personal Journeys

Education as a Practice of Freedom with Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of ‘Social Justice Origin Stories,’ we sit down with Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury to explore the personal experiences and pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to equity and social justice. As a former Detroit public school teacher and now a professor at Grand Valley State University, Dr. Bailey-Fakhoury delves into the lessons learned from her grandmother, the challenges faced during her early years, and the powerful influence of Black educators in her life.

October 1, 2024