Everything's Political

What does school desegregation mean to Gen Z? Join Junius and Francesca in episode three as they sit down with two high school juniors to discuss the complexities of school desegregation. Through lived experiences, historical context and thoughtful analysis, our young guests challenge conventional notions of desegregation, advocating beyond physical integration but for equal opportunities and resources for all students. Tune in as we discuss informed decision-making, community activism and policy to address systemic disparities and build toward a more inclusive educational future for all.

This week, Junius and Francesca sit down with two extraordinary young women to talk about the U.S. immigration system, DACA, and the impact a single piece of paper can have on our rights, our opportunities, and our very sense of self. Join us as we explore the complex — and very personal — nature of the immigrant experience from the perspective of Gen Z. Stream the full episode on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

In episode one, Junius and Francesca sit down with students from one of Newark's highest ranked high schools to talk about standing on business — including how Gen Z balances parent expectations with exploring big authentic dreams. They answer the question: do college and success really go hand-in-hand? Together, we’re exploring the relevance of college to your path, the power of networking, and defining success for yourself with two inspiring Gen Z voices. Because, really, the future is now. Tune in to Season 4, episode 1 now streaming on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Are you an avid listener of Everything's Political? In this special episode, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the past and answering your burning questions. Francesca and Junius will be going over all the best questions, such as: * How do you know when it's time to drop everything and fight? * Is there anything that students can do right now to change our lives? * Why'd you decide to do a podcast? * What do you do as a Newark historian? Be sure to tune in to get all the answers you've been asking and to take a trip down memory lane with us. It's an exciting episode you won't want to miss!

The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), was one of the most effective protest and community-building organizations in the Civil Rights Movement and a vanguard of Black Power. They committed themselves to full-time organizing from the bottom up, and this approach empowered existing efforts and facilitated the emergence of powerful new grassroots voices. In this episode, we chat with two SNCC veterans, Karen Spellman and Freddie Biddle, on one of the crucial realities of movement building- raising money to fund organizing efforts.

What does a future look like where families no longer need to worry about having enough money to make ends meet? In Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka is leading the way with his pilot program that provides guaranteed income to residents in Newark. Guaranteed income has been a subject of debate for some time now, but it is becoming increasingly clear that it can save lives. By providing a basic income to individuals regardless of their employment status, it ensures that everyone can have access to the necessities of life like food and shelter. This reduces poverty and enables people to stay healthy and live longer, more productive lives. In this episode we also speak with Shamonique Jones, a recipient of the program, about how guaranteed income completely altered her mental health and allowed for her to pursue her dreams.

When we think of Puerto Rico, we think of beautiful beaches and vacation getaways but people live there and often with extremely unreliable, expensive energy infrastructure. In Episode 4, we're chatting about one community organization's response to Puerto Rico's fossil fuel dependency by deploying solar power. Listen in as our guest speaker walks us through how communities can leverage communal power, knowledge and self-governance to decolonize energy on the island.

Cryptocurrency: Is it play money or is it the real thing? And what are the politics that surround it? In Episode 3: The New Money, Junius and Francesca are sitting down with guests Lisa V. Arrington (Ecovert Wallet) and Anthony Avent (Make Me a Prodigy) to discuss the rise of cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and the recent collapse of FTX.

What can we do with a little money to make a big difference in the community — particularly with regards to food? In Episode 2, "Food for Thought," Junius and Francesca sit down with Tobias Fox, Founder & Managing Director of Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc., and Pamela Gonzalez, a Puerto Rico-based attorney, board-certified massage therapist and community activist to discuss food sovereignty and empowering communities in a period of scarcity. What can Black, Brown and vulnerable communities do to adjust to a growing period of food scarcity? How can these communities get the money to pay for the development and maintenance of self-developed farms and gardens in inner cities and rural areas?

Now that marijauna is legal in New Jersey, who gets to profit from weed – which was responsible for placing thousands of people of color in jail or prison. In the Season 3 premire, "Marijuana: Who Makes Money, Who's in Jail?," Junius and Francesca sit down with Joe Grumbine, CEO of Willow Creek Springs, Inc., Dwight Jenkins, Director of Newly Destined, Inc., and former Mayor of Irvington Wayne Smith to discuss the organization, economics and fairness behind the legalization of marijuana in the state. What has the new legalization done so far to effect decriminalization, social equity, and racial justice associated with the drug. What are considerations behind this new legislation that newcomers should be aware of. And at the end of the day, who truly profits from the state's legalization of marijuana.

In the last episode of Everything's Political season two, we're once again challenging our listeners to weigh in on The Power of the Vote! Through 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Black people and their supporters defied death, prison, beatings and bombings for the right to elect their choices for political office. But nowadays, is it still worth the effort to once again fight the racists in certain states who are once again seeking to disenfranchise black and brown people to maintain white supremacy? This past March, host Junius Williams talked with co-host Francesca Larson about his sudden decision to attend the 57th anniversary of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee. This annual event in Selma, Alabama, commemorates "Bloody Sunday," which occurred on March 7, 1965 when a group of roughly 525 African-American demonstrators gathered at the Brown Chapel A.M.E. and proceeded to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, headed towards Montgomery for the right to vote. Junius sits down with W. Mondale Robinson, principal of the Black Male Voter Project (https://blackmalevoterproject.org/mission-and-vision/), to discuss the current state of voting and to give his take on the relevance of The Vote. We also continue our recap of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, sharing more clips with Civil Rights leaders and foot soldiers on the ground, and aspiring young votings dealing with the current state of voter disenfranchisement in 2022.

It's the last two episodes of Everything's Political for the season, and in Episodes 7 & 8, we're challenging our listeners to weigh in on The Power of the Vote! Through 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Black people and their supporters defied death, prison, beatings and bombings for the right to elect their choices for political office. But nowadays, is it still worth the effort to once again fight the racists in certain states who are once again seeking to disenfranchise black and brown people to maintain white supremacy? This past March, host Junius Williams talked with co-host Francesca Larson about his sudden decision to attend the 57th anniversary of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee. This annual event in Selma, Alabama, commemorates "Bloody Sunday," which occurred on March 7, 1965 when a group of roughly 525 African-American demonstrators gathered at the Brown Chapel A.M.E. and proceeded to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, headed towards Montgomery for the right to vote. Tune in as Junius shares clips of interviews with some of the "foot soldiers" who made that journey, plus Civil Rights and Black Power leaders who were on hand for the celebration and young people from all over the country who made the trip to Selma for the first time. Junius also recounts his own memories as a SNCC volunteer in Montgomery in 1965, once again bringing the lessons of Selma to light in order to answer the question about the relevance of The Vote.

Why is healing important? Through helping each other, do we create the essential platform that promotes a climate for change through healing? In Episode 6, “Healing,” host Junius Williams shows communities undergoing the healing process in Newark and Detroit — and why people can’t just heal alone. Engaging the community through organization is an important step in protecting and energizing organizers, normalizing mental health support and promoting nonviolence…but how do we do it? What does healing mean? Is there one true blueprint for healing? How do we encourage our younger generation to process their trauma? Most importantly, how can we ensure safety & security so that those who've suffered trauma can heal in a healthy way and learn to develop better communities?

The Civil Rights movement took many shapes and forms, often rooted in the hearts of many men, women and children of color. But of those individuals who stood at the front lines, how many were men? How many women? Who organized meetings or worked behind the scenes? And who got the glory of the movement's top leadership roles? Junius and Francesca sit down with Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Asst. Professor of Religion at the University of Florida and Megan Douglass, Digital Director of For Our Future Michigan, to discuss the present state of community organizing for women — how the experiences of yesterday can help women navigate male chauvinism in grassroots organizations.

"Black": The concept used to conjure up fear in some people. How scary is it today? How useful is racial identity in the youth movement today, compared with 50-60 years ago in the era of "Black Power"? How much organizing was done around being Black in the 60s, and how much now? How important is racial identity in the minds of young people today? Junius and Francesca are joined by Sam Anderson, Darnell L. Moore, and Che Williams to explore the evolution of blackness in organizing today and how intersectionality plays a role in identity politics.

We know when our story hits home because the opposition fights so hard. A dying mule always kicks the hardest. In Episode 3, Junius and Francesca are joined by North Carolina organizers from the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Beloved Community Center and Raise UP for $15 to explore the power of story in organizing.   *Guests: * Joyce Johnson, Rev. Nelson Johnson, Abigail Mosely, Bridget Rasberry, Laurel Ashton, Lewis Brandon, Rev. Wesley Morris, and Keith Bullard. *Hosted By: * Junius Williams and Francesca Larson

How have different circumstances prescribed different definitions of organization and what is the recipe for justice today? In Episode 2, Junius and Francesca are joined by Detroit Will Breathe organizer Praveen Loganathan to talk about the tactics used by organizers today to keep people engaged and governments accountable. Detroit Will Breathe is an integrated, youth-led, militant organization fighting against police brutality and systemic racism in Detroit that formed during the nationwide protests of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, and Ahmaud Aubrey. Praveen is also a representative with the Coalition of Policy Transparency and Accountability (CPTA) who formed after the killing of Hakim Littleton in July 2020 by the Detroit Police Department. The mission of CPTA is to expose police misconduct in all forms and demand police transparency and accountability.

For the second round of Everything's Political, Junius Williams will dive into the basics of Movement Building, with guests from his era of political change (the 1960s-70s), and organizers on the front lines of the fight for justice today. Junius will be joined by his podcast producer, advocate and millennial friend, Francesca Larson, as they engage guests in multi-generational conversations about organizing. There are lessons to be learned from those who politically came of age in the 1960s and 70s, but also from an emerging generation of organizers who have found effective ways to tackle social justice issues today.