What does a "pro-immigrant" organization look like?

Episode 9 is all about immigration.  Lydia Yousief is the leader and founder of the Elmahaba Center in Nashville, TN.  The centeris a  Coptic-led organization that is inclusive, inter-sectional, and  inter-generational, serving all Arabic-speaking immigrants, refugees, and  their children and anyone who asks for help in Nashville.  Many organizations claim to be pro-immigration but what does that mean?  What does true inclusiveness look like with regards to immigration, asylum seekers and refugees?  Lydia describes the experience an immigrant might have, the obstacles they face and what the Elmahaba Center is dong to support them. 

With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade I wanted to learn more about the impact this decision will have.  On this episode I interview Jessica McDuffie-Massey.  Jessica is the Director of Philanthropy at Planned Parenthood of Tennessee & North Mississippi.  Jessica is also a lawyer, advocate, feminist but possibly her most important role is being the mother of two.  With two young daughters her bigger purpose is making sure this world is a better place for them.  Jessica tells us her Why, discusses abortion issues and what role Planned Parenthood will play moving forward. 

What narratives have you heard about the homeless?  That they are "lazy and don't want to work or on drugs or drunk"? In this podcast I interview Nicole Minyard.  Nicole is the founder of the non-profit Daybreak Arts which provides support to the homeless through art.  Nicole has been building relationships with the homeless for over 10 years.  In this podcast Nicole explains that most homeless people are more like the average person than we realize.  Many families in America live paycheck to paycheck and with affordable housing becoming harder to find, this problem is sure to get worse. Nicole comes armed with a plethora of stats to explain the nuances and even suggestions on how to help solve this problem facing so millions Americans.  

Innocent people are sent to prison.  Sometimes for lifetimes.  Sometimes they are executed. Why? How does this happen? And why should you care?  On this episode I interview Jason Gichner.  Jason is the senior legal council for the Tennessee Innocence Project.  Jason has spent his professional career defending people from an unjust system.  He tells us how people are wrongfully convicted, what they go through regarding the appeals courts, problems with the current legal system and many more issues surrounding this heartbreaking and inspiring topic. 

How many transgender people do you know? Have you ever sat down and had a conversation with them? This conversation with Addison Darrow, a transgender woman, is that opportunity.  We make a lot of assumptions in life.  Not just about others but even our own lives. This episode is eye-opening and self-reflective. We dig deep into the trans experience, mental health, puberty blockers, anti-trans laws, pronouns, transgender sports bans and much more.  If you are looking to learn more about the trans experience then Addison is just the person to tell you about it!

Are you curious about racism in our country?  Then this podcast is for you. In this podcast, Kate Briefs, explains the many nuances and terms that make up this difficult topic.  We learn the difference between a stereo-type, to prejudice and to discrimination.  We discuss systemic racism and the dreaded topic of white privilege. If you are interested in racism and would like a better understanding of the basics, this podcast is for you!

This episode I listen to Rahim Buford tell us about his time being incarcerated for a crime he committed as a teen.  Rahim's story is one of redemption that strays from the norm of lives lost in the prison system.  He explains in detail how the criminal justice system works and its faults. Mass incarceration is a major issue in America, and this interview is a great 101.  

On this episode I talk with Fred about his upbringing and his experience living as a black man in America.  We cover some sensitive topics but this interview is light hearted and informative.  I get Fred's opinion about a lot including the phrase All Lives Matter, whether Black people can be racist, is America racist and discuss how many times he has been pulled over by police.  This episode was recorded in 2021. 

This episode I speak with Charlie Friedman, founder and Head of School of Nashville Classical Charter School.  Charlie tells us how his experience with schools as a child and as a young teacher drove him to come up with a better way.  That better way is his highly successful charter school in East Nashville, TN.  What's even more impressive is which demographic across the country is benefitting the most from charter schools success. But it gets complicated.  Housing heavily impacts not only where a child may go to school but also have a direct impact on performance.  And as housing prices increase in some areas the unintended result can be segregation.  Are charter schools a social justice issue or a conservative ideology? We discuss this question, school segregation, housing and get into the details of what makes up a charter school. 

What is this podcast all about and why am I doing it?  These are two questions I've thought a lot about.  In this short trailer, I try to answer these questions.