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In this two-part episode we explore the problematic and controversial role of philanthropy inside social movements. In this first part we feature Vini Bhansali, Executive Director of the Solidaire Network, a community of donor organizers mobilizing critical resources to the frontlines of intersectional movements for racial, gender and climate justice. This episode offers a critical view into how non- profits are funded, and explores ways to transcend from philanthropy to the redistribution of wealth. We question the insufficient response of philanthropy to “fund social movements so we can win”, a As Ash-Lee Woodward Henderson proclaims in Part 2.. Woodard Henderson is co-director of the legendary Highlander Research and Education Center. Come back in two weeks for part 2 of this episode.

In Episode #10 ‘Indigenous Mutual Aid + COVID-19 Response w/ Klee Jones Benally of IndigenousMutualAid.org’ Dey and Greg speak with Indigenous anarchist Klee Benally. Klee brings his perspective working with Diné Navajo Nation explaining how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted his and other Native communities. Looking for ways to support our Indigenous communities? Check-out this episode to learn more about the work Klee is doing on the ground and what Indigenous Mutual Aid is working on. 

WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN!: THE PODCAST SEASON 2, Episode o2: #EstadoDeEmergencia: Organizing to End Gender-based Violence in PR In our second episode, we interview Black feminist lawyer and activist, Zoán Tanís Dávila Roldán of La Colectiva Feminista en Construcción about the #EstadoDeEmergencia campaign. As multi-pronged attacks and femicides have risen alarmingly after Hurricane María and most recently, during the Covid19 pandemic towards women, Transgender women, and girls of color - especially from low-income, Black, immigrant, LGBTQ and Indigenous communities- Puerto Rican feminists have urged the government to declare Puerto Rico in a “state of emergency”. In this patriarchal and heteronormative society, the majority of the cases of crimes driven by gender-based violence remain in impunity. Globally, numbers continue to rise exponentially and feminist social movements such as #MeToo, #NotOneMore, #Nos QueremosVivas have proven the urgency of this matter.

In our final webcast Episode #11, “'Let's Get Free Ya'll' Formations at the Intersections with #MaryHooks of Southerners On New Ground (SONG) and The Movement for Black Lives” we sat-down with the Mary Hooks. Mary hooks is a long-time activist and Atalnta organizer, her presence in the movement doesn’t go unnoticed. What does #BlackLivesMatter mean in the wake of COVID-19? Mary explains the work that both SONG and the Movement for Black Lives are taking the lead on in the fight for our liberation.

We delve deep into the most recent elections in Puerto Rico, in which progressive candidates gained historical support, and in which a referendum about the islands annexation to the US was held. Oscar López Rivera, shows us how the electoral system in Puerto Rico is built on a colonial system designed by and for the dominant elite and Washington. It is the U.S. Congress and a federally appointed Fiscal Control Board who have authority over Puerto Rican affairs. So, do elected politicians really have power?For decades the U.S. Government has gained notoriety for intervening in foreign elections -- in the Americas and around the globe. So, what does that mean for Puerto Rico? A colony where the U.S. holds absolute power. Can elections have any credibility in Puerto Rico? Oscar López Rivera has been fighting for Puerto Rico’s independence for his whole life. He was released in 2017 alongside whistleblower Chelsea Manning, after serving a sentence of 36 years as a political prisoner.

Today, 98% of farmland in the entire United States is white-owned. That is the lowest it has been in history. What does this mean for communities of color now?  We talk to Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm, which heals ancestral wounds and works to end racism and injustice in the food system. Much of the formerly owned Black and brown land was stolen, and is still owned by the descendants of white families. Soul Fire teaches BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) folks how to farm and reconnect with the earth and their ancestors.  Leah provides powerful insights on how we can decolonize the land and our minds. From land reparations to acknowledging social disparities to access to culturally appropriate food, she takes us on a journey of healing.  Please listen to this critical episode and check out how to get involved. Learn more about their Reparations Map for Black-Indigenous Farmers here. And check out Leah’s book, Farming While Black, a love song for the earth and her peoples.

According to Jitu Brown, the organizer’s job is to create a space where people can begin to actually envision what they want to see, then create the experiences where people begin to win. The continued closures of our public schools and high-stakes testing illustrate the institutionalized racism that is embedded in our educational system. Jitu reflects on his work as National Director of Journey for Justice Alliance (J4J), which defends public education against school closings, turnarounds, phase-outs, and charter expansion. To combat institutionalized racism present in public schools, J4J has begun organizing campaigns at the local and federal level for sustainable community schools, calling for 25,000 by 2025.

We reflect on the role of art and cultural strategy in movement building, and how imagining creative processes outside the dominant narratives supports intersectional and vibrant social justice movements, which allow us to be free! The absence of headlines in mainstream media about violence against trans people, as well as their lived experiences, has challenged both Micah and Kemi to follow in the footsteps of their trailblazing elders, who remind us of our transcendent power and brilliance as Black, Indigenous, Queer, trans + gender non-conforming people. They have learned how to integrate a model of collaborative and solidarity practice, which honors the lives of our trans and Queer family. We will also learn about the Trans Day of Resilience, hosted by Forward Together, and how you can support the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation with two incredible artists working with folks on the ground. Artwork by José Hernández Díaz of AgitArte. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and by Rev. Sekou.

Let the music transform you. Featuring Albino Mbie, award-winning singer/songwriter whose music is a unique blend of Afro/Mozambique-pop and jazz; and Taina Asili (w/Gaetano), NYC-based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker and activist, who performs an energetic fusion of Afro-Latin, reggae and rock. Also with DJ Cano Cangrejo.

We are all grieving in some way right now, and the usual way we mourn - gathering - is not possible. We talk to death doula and healer Luana Morales of Hands of Gaia Reiki, who tells us some of the ways in which her work has shifted, and shares tips on how to grieve during this time. Music by Cano Cangrejo.

With millions out of work due to the pandemic, more people than ever are vulnerable to housing instability, as well as losing the biggest asset they've ever owned. How have housing rights shifted during this time? Hear from Paige Kümm of Right To The City Alliance on you can join the fight to #CancelRent, #CancelMortgages and guarantee homes for all.

Need a moment to heal your soul? Our first episode of live music is just what you need. Hear the incredible and soothing sounds of Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, Banjineh “Optimus” Brown and Agustín Muñoz Ríos and let the music transform you.

Do you know who can't practice social distancing and disinfect everything they touch? Incarcerated people. Now imagine the helplessness you'd feel if that was your loved one. We are joined by Ayana Aubourg and Vanessa Ly of Families for Justice as Healing and  Sisters Unchained, a prison abolition organization that works with young women dealing with parental incarceration. They tell us about how this trauma is made worse by COVID-19, and how you can keep this movement alive during the pandemic.

Domestic workers are always vulnerable to workplace exploitation, and COVID-19 has made it worse. We talk to Monique Tú Nguyen of Matahari Women Workers' Center, which organizes women of color, immigrant women and families to build collective power and eradicate oppression of all kinds. Learn about their struggles, wins, and ways to help. Music by Cano Cangrejo.

When the government can't fulfill basic needs, ordinary people throughout history have self-organized mutual aid groups. Jorge Díaz and Sugeily Rodríguez Lebron of AgitArte share lessons learned setting up a mutual aid network in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria. Music by Agustín Muñoz Ríos.

How can we stand together to ensure the educational future of the next generation? Listen to the voices of AgitArte, the Federation of Teachers of Puerto Rico, Journey for Justice Alliance, and the Alliance for Quality Education as they worked together to convene The Transnational Encounter to Defend Public Education. This forum was held to explore how solidarity between two nations is imperative in working towards creating a strong public education system. Art by AgitArte. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and by Rev. Sekou.

Are Jews white? Why would the Jewish community choose to stand up for immigrant communities? Stosh Cotler of Bend the Arc shares with us the lessons that she’s learned as a leader in the modern Jewish resistance movement. Art by AgitArte. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and by Rev. Sekou.

How was the largest student immigrant movement in the US built? What are the deep-rooted issues and adversity that immigrants face in the USA today? We interview Cristina Jiménez, an Ecuadoran immigrant activist who co-founded United We Dream. Jorge Díaz explores the word 'Undocumented'. Music: "Ultima-Thule" and "Slate-Tracker" by Blue Dot Sessions and "Resist" by Rev. Sekou

How do you speak the truth with grace? Radical musician, theologian, and activist Rev. Sekou speaks about how he learned to fight white supremacy and institutional racism, and how his music helps transcend boundaries his organizing work can't do alone. 

Introducing a new podcast from the authors of the book, When We Fight, We Win! Twenty-First Social Movements and the Activists that are Transforming our World. Hosts Dey Hernandez and Greg Jobin-Leeds interview the people at the heart of today's leading social movements. Their stories celebrate the fights and the wins, and inspire listeners to stand up, be fierce, and let the work transform them.  "Throughput" by Blue Dot Sessions. "Resist" by Rev. Sekou.