In this episode, Ashley and guest host Dr. Christie Bahlai (Kent State University, Co-Director ESDRI) talk with Dr. Dorceta Taylor (Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Professor of Environmental Justice, Yale University) about the intersection of ecology, race, and environmental justice - as well the history and present of the American Conservation Movement. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://environment.yale.edu/profile/taylor Co-Host Links: https://bahlailab.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-you-know/id1571195823

In this episode, Casey and Shemariah talk with Elaine Tso (Chief Executive Officer, Asian Services In Action) about her path to serving as ASIA's CEO, and how ASIA's programs and mission serve to empower, support, and advocate for the AAPI community throughout Northeast Ohio. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.asiaohio.org/

In this episode, Casey and Ashley talk with Fahiem Shabazz (President, New Era Cleveland) and Michelle B. Jackson (Campaign Organizer, PB CLE) about the mission and work of Participatory Budgeting Cleveland. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.pbcle.com/ Links to PB results from 3 Cities: https://www.pbdurham.org/cycle_1_winners https://www.myvallejo.com/participatory-budgeting-2-01 https://www.cambridgema.gov/news/2021/12/pbvoteresults Link to short video about PB process: https://vimeo.com/162743651 Links to recent articles: https://thelandcle.org/stories/city-council-approves-two-major-projects-on-southeast-side/ https://thelandcle.org/stories/the-saga-of-shaker-square/ https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2021/11/a-new-cleveland-mayor-a-new-opportunity-for-food-justice-michelle-b-jackson-and-gwendolyn-garth.html

In this episode, Casey and Shemariah talk with Greg Deegan (Executive Director, Teaching Cleveland) about his mission to teach the history of Cleveland in the K-12 classroom. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.teachcle.org/about-teaching-cleveland

In this episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Josiah Quarles, Director of Organizing and Advocacy for the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the homeless. This discussion of the "Two Shakers" is part 2 of 2. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.neoch.org/our-team

In this episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Tiara Sargeant (DEI Coordinator, Shaker Heights Schools) and Dr. Donna Whyte (professor at Cleveland State University) about their experience living in and attending school in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, OH. This discussion of the "Two Shakers" is part 1 of 2. This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.shaker.org/EquityUnscripted.aspx https://shaker.life/people/witness-history/

We're back, listeners! In this podcast relaunch, the three co-hosts - Ashley Nickels, Shemariah Arki, and Casey Boyd-Swan - talk about the relaunch and preview the next few episodes! Look forward to the following discussions in the coming weeks: Two Shakers: parts 1 and 2 Cleveland in the Classroom PB CLE: Participatory Budgeting in Cleveland This podcast is made possible with funding from the School of Peace & Conflict and the Center for Pan African Culture at Kent State University - with additional support from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program.

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In this ninth episode, Ashley and Casey talk with returning guest Jerry Peña (founder & senior member Gradient A Human Equity Think Tank). Jerry shares his experience as both a community organizer and a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultant for organizations - the conversation also focuses on community organizer responses to current events. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://gradientthinktank.com/team

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In this eighth episode, Ashley and Shemariah talk with Midtown Cleveland staff Aisia Jones (Director of Community Empowerment) and Samira Malone (Neighborhood Planning Manager). The conversation emphasizes the importance of Black women in local activism, municipal politics, and neighborhood planning. The guests share their experiences with intersectional solidarity in organizing and activism. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://midtowncleveland.org/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In our seventh episode, Casey and Anuj talk with Madhu Sharma, Executive Director and Director of Immigration Legal Services at International Institute of Akron in Akron OH. The conversation explores the intersections of race, religion, and resettlement in Akron, OH with a particular focus on current events. Madhu shares her personal experiences of facing discrimination and the multitude of challenges that racially & religiously minoritized populations face when resettling in Ohio. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.iiakron.org/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In our sixth episode, Casey and Anuj talk with Katie Beck, Co-Artistic Director of the Gum-Dip Theatre in Akron OH. The conversation explores the changing face of Akron, OH - and Katie reflects on how community identity can be reinvented and reimagined with tools of storytelling and theatre. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: http://www.gumdiptheatre.com/katie-beck

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. In our fifth episode, Casey and Shemariah talk with Dr. Khyati Y. Joshi (Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, author: White Christian Privilege). The conversation explores topics of religious privilege and the intersections of race, religion, and democracy. Dr. Joshi provides personal anecdotes and expertise on how the US institutionally prioritizes White Christianity. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://nyupress.org/9781479840236/white-christian-privilege/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. Our fourth episode features two youth of color who are active in the NEO organizing space. Ashley and Casey talk with Akii Butler (Ohio Organizing Collaborative) and Erik Gomez (Director of Governmental Affairs for Undergraduate Student Government at Kent State). The conversation focuses on recent work opposing Ohio HB327 (Bill Title: Prohibit teaching, advocating, or promoting divisive concepts) and what it is like to be a student/youth of color doing organizing work in predominantly white spaces. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://www.honestyforohioeducation.info/ https://ohiostudentassociation.org/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. Our third episode begins by exploring how individuals identify themselves, and why self-identification is a fundamental part of autonomy. Ashley and Shemariah talk with Tessa Xuan (Statewide Co-Director, OPAWL) and Dr. Suparna Bhaskaran (non-resident Fellow at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School, OSU). The conversation focuses on defining and understanding social construction of identity and intersectional solidarity, and how "othering" is used as a tool to divide. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: Immigration Justice Storytelling Campaign - http://opawl.org/advocacy/love-has-no-borders/

This week the podcast continues the series, the Power of Political and Civic Engagement. In this episode, Ashley and Casey welcome Phil Kidd, Special Projects Manager for Northwest Neighborhoods CDC in Cleveland. The three discuss differences in community development and organizing across suburban and urban spaces - as well as how running can serve to connect people to their communities. Links: Cleveland street running project: www.EveryStreetCleveland.com Book suggestion: "Legacy Cities: Continuity and Change Amid Declince and Renewal": https://upittpress.org/books/9780822945635/

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. Our second episode begins by exploring the 3R's: race, racism, and racialized systems of oppression. Casey and Shemariah talk with Professors Nishani Frazier (Associate Professor of American Studies and History at University of Kansas) and Ayesha Bell Hardaway (Associate Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law). The conversation focuses on defining and understanding racial justice, as well as how racialized systems of oppression make racial justice increasingly challenging. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://harambeecity.lib.miamioh.edu/

This week the podcast continues with the series Demystifying Policy-Relevant Research in collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Scholars Strategy Network. Ashley and Casey speak with Dr. Jay Chen, Associate Professor at Cleveland State University. The three talk about causes behind current supply chain disruptions and the ways in which his work can impact public policy. Links: Scholars Strategy Network - NE Ohio bit/ly/3xXZrL0 CSU: http://facultyprofile.csuohio.edu/csufacultyprofile/detail.cfm?FacultyID=J_CHEN27

This week the podcast continues with the series Demystifying Policy-Relevant Research in collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Scholars Strategy Network. Ashley and Casey speak with returning guest Dr. Meghan Novisky, Assistant Professor at Cleveland State University. The conversation centers around the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated individuals, the failure of policy responses to protect these individuals, and how research can center the voices of those it studies. Links: Scholars Strategy Network - NE Ohio bit/ly/3xXZrL0 CSU: http://facultyprofile.csuohio.edu/csufacultyprofile/detail.cfm?FacultyID=m_novisky

This episode is part of Series 6, Race and Democracy in Northeast Ohio. Our first episode begins by exploring the Power of Storytelling. Ashley and Anuj talk with Elaine Hsiao, faculty at Kent State's School of Peace and Conflict Studies. The conversation focuses on storytelling as a research tool, as a bridge for creating human connections, and the role it plays in building community and growing democracy. This series is made possible with funding from Mark Lewine and the John Gray Paynther Program. Links: https://healourcommunities.org/resources/

This week the podcast continues with the new series - demystifying policy-relevant research-in collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Scholars Strategy Network. Ashley and Casey speak with Michael Palmieri, Research Associate at Kent State University's Ohio Employee Ownership Center. The conversation centers around on the ways employee-ownership can be used as an economic development strategy to create individual and community wealth while creating space for greater political and civic engagement. Links: Scholars Strategy Network - NE Ohio bit/ly/3xXZrL0 OEOC: https://www.oeockent.org