The Pledge Podcast

The Moment is Now takes us to the grassroots campaign centered on reproductive justice - meaning the right to decide if, when, and how to have children. Katrina Rogers's story shows us the potentially devastating impact of Amendment One on lower-income people and people of color. We also hear from Kim O’Brien, a white, economically secure professional, who shares her story of being forced to go out of state to terminate a pregnancy after she learned that the child she and her husband eagerly expected would have severe neurological defects. Her story gives perspective on the burden that restrictive abortion laws impose on parents that may already be suffering, but it also shows that when the state takes away abortion rights, it’s really just taking away the right to choose from the people with fewer resources. 

Guests:

• Katrina Rogers - Campaign Manager, Louisiana for Personal Freedoms
• Kimberly O'Brien - Reproductive Rights Advocate

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-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

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Laura Misumi, a fourth generation Japanese American, will give you hope! With her innovative strategy for organizing and mobilizing Asian Americans in Michigan, she is building community and fostering lasting political engagement. She will also open your eyes to the ways in which Japanese Americans have been fighting for justice for decades. Laura’s organization, Rising Voices for Asian American Families, is targeting 183,000 Asian American voters in carefully selected counties in this very important swing state. It’s an effort and a constituency that absolutely have the capacity to change the outcome of the State and Federal elections.

Guests:

• Laura Misumi (Managing Director, Detroit Action and Executive Director, Rising Voices of Asian American Families)
• Munni Rahman (Canvasser)
• Branden Snyder (Executive Director, Detroit Action)

Find Us Online:

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

As a sixteen year old growing up outside Detroit, Vanessa Velazquez was shocked by her family’s outrageous water bill. After helping her mom pay the bill, she questioned the bigger political context of social justice issues in her city. In Let’s Get Out There, we learn how that experience motivated her to study political science at Michigan State, and end up as an organizer in the Detroit area fighting to do something about it.

Now, as the Field Director for Detroit Action, Vanessa is managing a team of organizers working nonstop to reach 150,000 potential voters in their critical swing state. Their goal goes far beyond getting the residents to vote--they’re building power and a voting culture that can transform the political context and guarantee people’s basic rights--rights like secure housing and government accountability. Of course, voting in November is a crucial first step!

Guest: Vanessa Velazquez--Field Director for Detroit Action

Find Us Online:

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

In this episode we move to Michigan, where a group of novice activists got fed up with gerrymandered districts with politicians who were unaccountable to the people, and decided to do something about it. 

Nancy Wang is the Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, the nonprofit organization that led the 2018 campaign to defeat gerrymandering in Michigan, but that was never her plan. Responding to a Facebook post from a stranger, Nancy became one of the thousands of volunteers throughout the state to get involved. As an attorney, she ended up leading the policy committee that drafted the new amendment. Eventually she left her job teaching law at the University of Michigan to head up the organization full-time.

Listen and feel hopeful. People-power is real!

Guests

• Nancy Wang is the Executive Director and a founding member of Voters Not Politicians. As a volunteer, Nancy led the policy committee that wrote the constitutional amendment language with input from the public, and served as Board President during the Proposal 2 campaign. @NancyWangVotes 
• Katie Fahey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director at The People. She started the grassroots campaign that ultimately became Voters Not Politicians. @KTeaFahey
• Art Reyes III is the founding Executive Director of We The People Michigan. He was born and raised in Flint, MI and hails from three generations of proud UAW members. @ArtReyesIII

Find Us Online

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

This episode tells Ellen Freidin’s story of leading a successful gerrymandering reform campaign in Florida, and then fighting to make sure the new electoral maps were drawn fairly. Ellen’s story took place over several years, starting with her discovery of how damaging gerrymandered districts were to Florida’s democracy, and through the painstaking process of crafting a redistricting process that could honor a truly diverse group of stakeholders. Ellen asked many questions, she listened, and she persevered. Listen and remind yourself what’s possible!

Find Us Online

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

In the second episode featuring Sheena Meade and the fight to restore voting rights to returning citizens in Florida, we see how persevering in the face of expected and unexpected obstacles is a crucial part of making our democracy work. The amazing victory of Florida’s Amendment Four in 2018 was just the beginning of a long and ongoing battle to give people back their voice.

As Hedrick Smith says, “Democracy is a participant sport. It’s not a spectator sport.” For Desmond and Sheena, democracy is also about a focus on people and their needs. This took on new meaning as COVID-19 began to impact their community.

Find Us Online

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

Season 3 begins with the story of Sheena Meade, who was instrumental in the passage of Florida’s 2018 Amendment 4 and restoring the right to vote to 1.4 million returning citizens who had formerly been incarcerated. But for that vote to happen, it took the hard work and strategic talent to organize, organize, and organize some more. That’s where Sheena Meade came in. 

In Part One of this two-part story, you’ll learn how Sheena has defied the odds over and over again, eventually becoming a powerful force behind the groundwork that led to this victory. You’ll also learn how Sheena supports and inspires the people around her, helping them grow in confidence as they build their movement together and face continuing challenges.

Find Us Online

-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/

-Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct

-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast

In the past four years, we have seen both critical progress and set-backs with voting and voter empowerment across the country. 

Starting August 6th, we are bringing stories of women from 3 different states determined to secure voting rights for every citizen. The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed so many of us, making these stories of action are more important than ever. This season we are also excited to collaborate with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Hedrick Smith to provide broader context for each episode.

In this final episode of Season 2, we meet a dedicated group of chef-activists who have created a new recipe for change in Virginia, without ever leaving their home in state of Vermont. Their solution is instructive, inspiring, and delicious!

Three women—Kathryn Laughon, Althea Laughon-Worrell, and Miss Katrina Turner—had their worlds shifted by the events surrounding the hate rallies in Charlottesville, VA in August 2017. Hear their stories of how they were affected, and how it has motivated them to fight for justice in their communities.

Warning: Includes sounds of violence that may be triggering and strong language.

Learn about Valerie Slater’s tireless efforts to transform the juvenile justice system in Virginia with her organization, RISE for Youth, and meet Douglas Johnson, one of the teenagers she has helped. Valerie’s remarkable journey from high-school drop-out through law school, together with her strong faith, helps her see the value and potential in every young person. She is on a mission to confront and repair the pervasive racism and distorted law enforcement priorities that rob black and brown people like Douglas of their futures. She is unstoppable at protecting the rights of youth and creating alternative solutions that support them so they have a chance to grow and thrive.

As a leader in the student group Transparent GMU, Janine worked with faculty and other students to expose the strings attached to private donations to George Mason University. Janine grew into a leadership role following a chance encounter with group co-founder Samantha at a political rally. She learned valuable and empowering lessons about her own abilities to make change in the face of imposing, well-funded opposition. Samantha and Janine's work brought them all the way to the Virginia Supreme Court with a case that could have impact on the whole state, and implications for transparency for university donations everywhere.

In this first of two episodes highlighting activists working to expose the risk big-money donors to universities pose to our democracy, we learn why Bethany has devoted herself to fighting for the rights of marginalized people - and how she refused to ignore the growing but hidden influence of dark money at George Mason University in Virginia.

Warning: Contains description of sexual assault.

Learn how Kim experienced the growing threats of climate change amidst the increasingly powerful hurricanes on the coast of Virginia and became an organizer for Mothers Out Front. Her activism helped Kim transform her life, and led her to start helping and inspiring others. Also meet Cindy Burbank to learn about her efforts to bring more conservatives into the fight against climate change.

Lisa Sales drew energy from her past trauma to become a tireless advocate for women’s rights. Now she is fighting to help Virginia tip the scales for the Equal Rights Amendment by becoming the 38th and last state required for ratification. We also hear from the Executive Director of Generation Ratify, adding the voices and energy of young people who want to see equal rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution..

Warning: contains description of a sexual assault.

Thanks to #Podstrike for supplying this feed for podcasts supporting the Climate Strike on Friday September 20th. Listen, get inspired, and make your voice heard. I'll be joining the protest in Boston. Where will you be?

Season 2 of The Pledge Podcast will focus on the promise of people working together across ages, race, and even party to use their collective power on specific issues in Virginia.

In this episode, Allison shares her own story of political activism in the 2018 midterm elections. Using audio diary entries along with interviews with friends who shared the journey, Allison explores the highs, lows, and ultimate rewards of organizing support for candidates in the southeastern US. Ultimately, Allison became the Southeast Regional Coordinator for Swing Left and focussed her energy on the long-shot congressional campaign of Tabitha Isner in Alabama.

The Pledge asks people on the street about their pledges to work for our democracy. We also bring you an update on plans for Season Two!

For this second episode of the mini-bonus season of the Pledge, we’re going to hear an interview with Dr. Joyce Ladner, from the podcast Democracy Works. As someone who is relatively new to activism, I’m inspired and humbled by those who’ve come before me - who have blazed trails by dedicating their lives to ending injustice. In 1963, at just 19, civil rights activist Joyce Ladner helped organize the March on Washington. A member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1950s and 60s, Dr. Ladner was mentored by Medgar Evers, but was expelled from Jackson State University in Mississippi for participating in a sit-in. And even though she was an excellent student and knew her civics, she failed Mississippi’s voter literacy test three times. Everyone who was black failed.

Our thanks to Democracy Works for sharing this fascinating interview with our community of listener activists. Democracy Works, created by The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State University, aims to rise above partisan politics and the daily news grind to take a broader look at issues impacting democracy. I hope you find this interview with Joyce Ladner as inspiring as I did!