Race to Social Justice

Imam Idris Abdul-Zahir, building on a family legacy as a young leader of a Muslim community in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, explains how racial justice is integral to his ministry, interfaith collaboration and multimedia public persona.

University DEI director, undergrad nursing student, and graduate social work student discuss barriers faced by BIPOC, gay, and non-binary college students. They share personal journeys, navigating DEI work during the pandemic, importance of continuous efforts to combat racism, and barriers to collective action for social justice.

Meet Apryll Adams and Mike DeCandido, two different looking middle-aged people (one a Black female professional, the other her former white senior executive).  Hear their unique story rooted in their discovery of similar values and beliefs leading to the co- founding of a nonprofit organization which promotes sustained individual and group communication channels which foster open dialogue and discussion of difficult questions in a safe environment.

Lori Bezahler, President of Edward W. Hazen Foundation, and Marquetta Atkins-Woods, a community activist and Foundation grantee, describe how they have collaborated in creative ways to empower under-resourced youth in Wichita, Kansas realize better futures.

Guest: Dustin Timmerman is a transgender man who discusses his own transition, the challenges of growing up queer in a strict evangelical community, the power of joy in the transgender community, the social injustices faced by trans individuals and the youth activism that drives change, the challenges of using public bathrooms as a transgender person, the impact of transgender athletes on sports, and the influential figures in the queer transgender experience.

Jean Pfaelzer, PhD, a public historian, commentator and University of Delaware professor, describes how “progressive” California has, unbeknownst to many, hosted practices which have enslaved indigenous people, Alaska natives, plantation Blacks, Chinese and the incarcerated throughout its history.

Kenny Holdsman and Ameen Akbar (executive and mission leaders of Philadelphia Youth Basketball, respectively) tell us how their organization uses passionate mission-driven, entrepreneurial work and evidence-based practices which leverage the iconic game of basketball to help urban youth overcome the most urgent and systemic issues facing under-resourced communities.

David Mura (a Japanese-American and accomplished poet, writer, critic, and playwright) recounts his transformation from assimilation as a youth to embracing his own color as an adult and shares historical, literary and ethical narratives from his new book that unmask how white stories about race erase the brutality of the past and underpin systemic racism in the present.

BL Shirelle (a Black queer woman from Philly) and Fury Young (a white Jew from NYC), the powerhouse team behind Die Jim Crow Records, talk frankly about their quest to dismantle stereotypes around race and prison by amplifying the voices of talented incarcerated musicians. This episode features a clip of the song "Conspiracy" off of BL Shirelle's album Assata Troi, released in 2020 on Die Jim Crow Records.

Jessica Craft, herself a drummer, keeps a strong beat during this episode, through her tough adolescent years, band gigs and current billing as a dynamic leader of a non-profit organization that helps Philadelphia youth discover their own music selves and positive life directions.