Closing the Gap

Fatimata Chan is a poet, author, climate activist, speaker, and an award-winning scholar. She has founded multiple initiatives, published a poetry book, and takes different approaches to her activism such as through academia, policy, and art. Fatimata’s interconnected approach to human rights allows her to address multiple injustices at once, including gender inequality, racial discrimination, the disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis, and more.Fatimata grew up in the Bronx, New York City. Her upbringing in one of the most underresourced communities in the city, along with her immigrant background, inspired her to begin her activism at a young age by advocating for policy change. Her activism expanded over the years to include mutual aid efforts, community building, creating accessible spaces in academia, and spreading joy through art.We at Closing the Gap podcast acknowledge that the Bronx lies on unceded Munsee Lenape land.ResourcesFatimata’s WebsiteFatimata's LinkedInFatimata’s LinktreePoem published by the Malala Fund: What do criminals look like? Perfectly Imperfect Poetry Book on Thrift BooksPeople MentionedTrayvon MartinTamir RiceSandra BlandOrganizations to SupportThe People's ForumBRIC Arts Media  DefinitionsBoycotting: to refuse to buy or handle goods, or to refuse to participate in an event, as a form of protest.Coalition: formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal.Colonialism: the practice of extending and maintaining political, social, economic, and cultural domination over a territory and its people, by another group of people who claim superiority.Doomscrolling: the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading or watching large quantities of negative news on the web and social media.Gender equality: equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making, and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations, and needs equally.Lobbying: a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials.Mutual aid: an organizational model where voluntary, collaborative exchanges of resources and services for common benefit take place amongst community members to overcome social, economic, and political barriers to meeting common needs.If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Listen to this episode for ways to save money while supporting your values! Co-hosts Tania and Adriana share what companies they boycott and why, and which alternative companies have ethical practices they support. Many of the companies on our boycott lists have documented labor rights violations or support governments rooted in white supremacy and oppressive systems. Boycotting large corporations has opened new ways for us to reconnect with our local communities such as through mutual aid. It’s also a great excuse to find new small family-owned businesses to support. Boycotting is a great technique that has worked for many movements in the past, and it’s a great way to hold companies accountable for their practices.Remember: the companies you choose to support should hold your values for community care and equal rights.Resources:Boycott List by BDS MovementBoycott List by Ethical ConsumerAnti-DEI Boycott ListWhy to boycott Chiquita and DoleWhy to boycott NestleAlternative Brands by Ethical Consumer15 Ethical & Sustainable Brands by Sustainably ChicBuyNothingListen to our previous episode “Activism, But Make It Fashionable” for clothing brands we don’t and do supportVictory! List of Starbucks stores closing this year.DefinitionsWhite supremacy: the belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate society.DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are organizational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have are historically underrepresented or subject to discrimination based on identity or disability.Tipping point: the point at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a larger, more important change.BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction): a Palestinian campaign against Israeli apartheid.Mutual aid: voluntary, collaborative exchanges of resources and services for common benefit that take place amongst community members to overcome social, economic, and political barriers to meeting common needs.Upcycle: also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality.Greenwashing: a form of advertising that deceptively persuades the public that an organization's products, goals, or policies are environmentally friendly.Rainbow-washing: also known as pinkwashing, a form of advertising that deceptively persuades the public that a brand is sympathetic towards the LGBTQ community and supports LGBTQ+ rights.If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Welcome, Angelina Alanis! Angelina is the Communications & Partnerships Coordinator at Festival Beach Food Forest. She talks about the importance of food forests and urban green spaces in general. The Festival Beach Food Forest, based in Austin, Texas, was founded on Indigenous land stewardship practices. It’s filled with edible plants, rest spaces, and a communal gathering area under the tree canopy where different events are held, including weekly yoga sessions and monthly plant ID walks. This abundant space was intentionally designed to build community and foster a connection to the Earth. It sits next to a large highway, I-35, and is situated in a historically redlined neighborhood. The Festival Beach Food Forest illustrates the power of healing through community and urban green spaces, and is a great example for cities everywhere. We acknowledge that Austin, Texas lies on unceded Sana, Comanche, Coahuiltecan, and Jumanos land. ResourcesFestival Beach Food Forest WebsiteAddress: 25-1/2 Waller Street, Austin, Texas 78702Donate to Festival Beach Food ForestInstagramFacebookDefinitionsFood forest: a type of garden where you grow many different fruits, nuts, herbs, and vegetables. It is designed to mimic a natural forest and has many different layers, from trees to shrubs, ground cover plants, vines, and more.Redlining: typically refers to the practice of creating and enforcing discriminatory policies or laws, particularly in relation to housing, lending, and access to resources. The term originates from the practice of drawing red lines on maps to outline areas that were deemed too risky for investment, often based on the racial or ethnic composition of the neighborhood.Permaculture: a type of agriculture intended to be self-sufficient, based on traditional practices that use natural resources and minimize waste.Topography: features of land surfaces or landformsSwales: a sunken or marshy place with gently sloping sides designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration. Bioswales are swales that involve the inclusion of plants or vegetation.Natives or native plants: a plant is native if it has occurred naturally for thousands of years in a region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.Biodiverse: Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. The more biodiverse an area, the more species variety there is. If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Co-hosts Adriana Maria and Tania explore diverse forms of protest, from marches and vigils to calling legislators and creating art builds. They also delve into more extreme actions like hunger strikes, showcasing the range of ways dedicated activists push for change. But protest isn’t just for full-time activists; after listening, you’ll be invited to consider which types of actions resonate with your own skills, talents, and passions. Social justice movements thrive and succeed when we all play our part, so what’s your role?ResourcesKnow Your Rights | Protesters’ Rights | ACLUHow to Protest Safely198 Methods of Nonviolent Action Timeline of the nationwide protest movement that began at Columbia University Los Angeles Public Safety Committee Ordinance- Council File: 24-0910 Types of ProtestsMarchesVigilsCalling/emailing legislatorsBoycottsSit insDefinitions Land Back: a campaign or movement to by and for Indigenous peoples who seek to reestablish Indigenous sovereignty, with political and economic control of their ancestral lands. Self-immolation: the act of setting oneself on fire. It is mostly done for political or religious reasons, often as a form of protest. It is considered one of the most extreme methods of protest.Collective liberation: a concept that recognizes the interconnected nature of oppression and the need for collaborative efforts to create meaningful change.If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Carol Viana (she/her) is a passionate advocate for climate justice in Brazil and beyond. Her expertise in environmental engineering and sustainable farming practices led her to work with international organizations including the Rainforest Alliance and the United Nations. Her work with these influential global entities highlights her dedication to meaningful climate solutions. In this discussion, Carol openly shares her journey, revealing the inspirations that drive her commitment to climate optimism and hope.ResourcesSign up for Carol’s newsletterThe Chloride Free FoundationYOUNGO: Youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeRainforest AllianceUN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)DefinitionsCarbon markets: a trading scheme  designed for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In a carbon market, carbon credits are sold as permits that allow the purchaser to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasAgroforestry: land use management system that combines trees with farming, or agriculture and forestry Climate justice: a type of environmental justice that focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change on marginalized communitiesGlobal South / Global North: The Global North refers to the wealthier, more industrialized countries mostly, but not all, situated in the Northern Hemisphere that wield the majority of global political power. The Global South refers to countries less industrialized, with limited access to resources, that experience more extreme poverty and that wield less political power globally, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. This drastic divide stems from centuries of colonialism, imperialism, and exploitation.Climate migration: a type of forced migration driven by sudden or gradual climate-exacerbated disasters, such as extreme weather, environmental degradation, or sea-level rise.Hurricane Milton: an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone which became the second-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded over the Gulf of MexicoLand grabbing: the act of seizing land in an unlawful mannerIf you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Aura Vasquez (she/her) is an Afro-Latina Colombian immigrant, community leader, organizer, and justice-oriented policy expert. She has worked extensively with the Los Angeles City Council, impacting legislation across Los Angeles county and the broader state of California. Aura’s efforts towards a more equitable and environmentally mindful society have led to successful campaigns, including the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. She has partnered with dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals, demonstrating solidarity for causes that she sees as ‘interconnected,’ including affordable housing, renewable energy, immigration reform, amongst many more. Recently, she began consulting companies to advance environmental regulations in the business sector. No matter what sector, campaign, or cause Aura is advocating for, she does so in a way that’s accessible to the public so everyone’s voice is heard. We at Closing the Gap podcast acknowledge that Los Angeles lies on unceded Tongva land.Connect with AuraAura's StoryThe Impact Hour: Real Talk with Aura VasquezAura’s Instagram Learn More About Aura’s WorkAura Vasquez, A Commissioner Shaking Up The SystemLife & Work with Aura Vasquez of Council District 10 - Voyage LA MagazineAura for the People of L.A City Council District 10 in 2020ResourcesSierra Club PICO Network DefinitionsFeminism: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes .Environmental Justice: a social movement that addresses environmental harms that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, such as through a neighborhood’s proximity to landfills, hazardous waste, or and other land uses from which they do not benefit.Biodiversity: the variety of life on Earth.Community organizing: the strategic collaboration carried out by local residents to promote the interests of the community.If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Brandon Rothrock (he/him) is a queer geographer supporting fellow LGBTQ+ environmentalists as they navigate their careers. Through his research and advocacy, he advances environmental justice for marginalized communities. Brandon’s experience in higher education, sustainability issues, and energy policy demonstrates his commitment to a better world for everyone, especially those historically discriminated against. He uses his connections and knowledge to help advance social change while embracing his identity and communities. Brandon is also a Board Member for OUT for Sustainability (OUT4S), a U.S.-based non-profit that “co-creates a platform for environmental justice and climate resilience by and for the LGBTQIA+ community.”Connect with Brandon RothrockWebsiteResources Support Out 4 SustainabilityWebsiteInstagramBrandon’s AffiliationsEnvironmental Defense FundAgents of Change in Environmental Justice FellowshipResourcesJust Solutions’ Post on the LGBTQ’s vulnerability to climate changeBlack Faces, White Spaces by Carolyn FinneyFire & Flood DocuSeriesCan’t Stop Change: Queer Climate Stories from the Florida FrontlinesDefinitionsLGBTQIA+: stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and the + symbol stands for other individuals who identify outside of sexual and gender norms Environmental Justice: a movement to address environmental injustices, including air pollution and land use, that disproportionately harm historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQIIA+If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We appreciate your feedback.💛Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

When we understand what brought us to where we are today, we can decide where to go from here. In this episode, co-hosts Tania Roa + Adriana Maria Medina discuss social justice events in 2023 that led to collective action. As we reflect, we can learn from them and determine our priorities for 2024. It’s a new year, but our struggles are the same.*Please note: some of the events we discuss include violence, police brutality, and Palestine.Resources for events mentioned in this episode, and organizations supporting the causes mentioned, are below. Also, as always, scroll to find definitions. U.S. NewsFormer Officers Charged in Tyre Nichols' DeathEast Palestine, Ohio Train DerailmentTortuguita Shot Protecting Atlanta ForestWillow Project for Alaska CampaignU.S. Organizations to SupportColor of ChangeStop Cop CityAlaska Conservation FoundationInternational NewsPlastic Crisis and Great Pacific Garbage PatchPanama's High Court Stops Canadian Mining Attempt Ecuador Stops Oil Drilling in AmazonLatest on Palestine and South Africa Sues IsraelCrisis in SudanDemocratic Republic of Congo Calls for PeaceInternational Organizations to Support4OceanAmazon WatchPalestine Children’s Relief FundInternational Rescue CommitteeDefinitionsBiodiversity: short for biological diversity; it is the variety of life on Earth and includes the variety of genetic, species, and ecosystem levelsOccupation: when one group or country takes control over another territory through force, and the invading group establishes its own law in the now occupied regionZionism: a nationalist movement that emerged in the 19th century with a goal of establishing a homeland, protected by law, for Jewish people in Palestine - a region roughly corresponding to the Land of Israel in Jewish traditionAnti Semitism: hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against JewsGenocide: the intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, or racial group in whole or in partFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Chi Bailey, lover of God and high quality clothing, expresses his spirituality and fashion taste through his brand Chi qc™. All pieces are upcycled, hand crafted, and sweatshop free, speaking out against the harmful impacts of fast fashion on people and the planet. Low quality clothes produced in mass volumes degrade the environment, mistreat garment workers, and encourage consumers to buy more clothes than they need. Chi shows us another way of living that respects God’s creation. Chi is of African and Korean descent, and his cultural upbringing also plays a role in his creativity. Chi qc™ inspires us to be more childlike through its Born Again Garments that incorporates colorful, playful designs with deep storytelling.Closing the Gap recognizes that Charlotte, North Carolina is unceded land of the Cheraw Indigenous people. Support Chi qc™WebsiteInstagramYouTubeDefinitionsFast fashion - mass-producing trending clothes at a low cost to incentivize consumers to buy quickly, often characterized with cheap quality, environmental pollution, and severely low wagesUpcycling- the process of transforming unwanted or used materials into new productsSlow fashion - an aspect of sustainable fashion and a concept describing the opposite to fast fashion, advocating for clothing manufacturing and consumption that respects people, environment and animalsFast Fashion ArticlesSlow Fashion: For Your Wallet and the Planet (page 4)Fast Fashion and Its Environmental ImpactThe Best Small Businesses in Los AngelesWork Labor Conditions and Rights Articles Garment IndustryCoal MiningChocolate IndustrySlow fashion brands mentionedReformationIndustry of All NationsFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Closing the Gap co-hosts Tania Roa and Adriana Medina welcome you back to the podcast with a new season: Season 2. To start off the season, Tania discusses her summer living in Colombia and Adriana shares her first impressions of her new home in New York City, unceded land of the Lenape or Lenapehoking people.Some themes arose from these major moves including authenticity, leaning into change, and being an active participant in one's community.ResourcesPalenque's Famous Band: ⁠Kombilesa Mí⁠⁠Dr. Shamell Bell of Black Lives Matter⁠New York City EventsRest in Power O'Shae SibleyEric Adams on NYC Migrants Eric Adams Investment on NYPD Robot DogsNYC Flooding Shutting Down SubwaysDefinitionsGenerational trauma - psychological and emotional wounds that have accumulated over time and transferred to future generationsGentrification - the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businessesVoguing - a type of dance that imitates the characteristic poses struck by a model on a runway (history of voguing)Liberation - freedom from oppression, or freedom from limits on thought or behaviorFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.com.Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

It's our last episode of Season 1! Tania & Adriana take time to reflect on the past season and celebrate the beautiful, progress-oriented community we've all built - that includes you! We then discuss something very close to our hearts: what it's like to live in the United States when you lack certain powers or privileges, and when you possess others. The mixed emotions including frustration, despair, and the urge to take action are ones many people experience. By sharing our perspectives, we hope to inspire you to share your story. It's time for us minorities, or marginalized/underrepresented people, to take up space and show up for our communities.Definitions: Reparations - making amends through financial compensation or other means to try to right wrongsOrganizations to support: Regional-Based Organizations ⁠Little Miss Flint Trans Defense Fund Los AngelesNational-Based Organizations United We DreamIndigenous Peoples MovementMovement for Black LivesDear Asian YouthFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Meet our first international guest: Heizal Patricia Nagginda of Uganda. Heizal founded Climate Operation to create a place where all people can learn about the climate crisis, how it impacts them, and what they can do to address it. Climate Operation began as a regional hub and is now an international space that has reached thousands of people. To promote creativity and accessibility, Climate Operation uses different mediums to get the message across, including tool kits and comic books. In all of her work, Heizal highlights the connections between climate and social justice, such as the effects weather extremes have on people who contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, yet are feeling the worst impacts of climate change.Climate Operation:WebsiteClimate Education Directory11th Hour Climate Education Comic BookFollow Climate Operation on InstagramOther Resources:Tania’s article on climate migrationTania & Heizal’s chat on Indigenous voices in conservationHow to take climate action venn diagramFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Gentrification impacts communities around the world. It can lead to increased cost of living, displacement of long-term residents, and discriminatory behavior. We analyze gentrification trends in México City, Puerto Vallarta, and California and use them as examples of a larger issue. To allocate resources fairly, policies and practices should be created and implemented by local communities rather than foreign investors, who tend to prioritize profit over people's well-being. As travelers and as immigrants, we acknowledge that by us moving to new areas we influence the local culture, and we can do so in a way without uprooting the lives of those who were there before us. ("Gente" means "people" in Spanish)At Closing the Gap we acknowledge that the above-mentioned places lie on Indigenous land.Speak up for Iran:Mohsen ShekariMiddle East Matters Action ItemsPersian with Purpose Action Items Resources:Community Land & Investment Trusts ExplainedRent control groups: @housingjustice4all, @streetwatchla, @latenats, @oaklandtenatsunionDefinitions:Gentrification - the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businessesDigital Nomad - people who travel while working remotely using technology and the internetFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Students Ahsha Jones and Chloe Serrano founded Melanated Youth, a BIPOC youth-led coalition that uplifts members of the community who need it most. The coalition provides resources and organizes demonstrations to end inequality on all fronts through mutual aids, protests, and discourse. Ahsha and Chloe are based in Orange County, California, but they plan to expand the coalition's impact across the nation. This action-led group relies on the support of fellow community members who volunteer, donate, or participate in Melanated Youth's events. Their anti-oppression efforts are "by the people, for the people."Melanated Youth and Closing the Gap acknowledge that Orange County lies on unceded Tongva land.Melanated Youth ResourcesWebsiteSocial Media - Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedInSupport Iranian ProtestsMiddle East Matters Action ItemsDefinitionsDecolonize - to free from the dominating influence of a colonizing powerAAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander)Femicide - an extreme form of gender-based violence where women are killed because they are femaleXenophobic - prejudice against people from other countriesFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Sergio Maldonado is a Counseling Psychology Ph.D. student at Purdue University from Pomona, California. His research examines therapeutic experiences of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community to find culturally-relevant practices that provide support during life after incarceration. As a therapist in training, Sergio has worked with people from a variety of backgrounds, including rural communities, refugees, and factory workers. Sergio advocates for more accessibility to therapy, especially for low-income and other underserved communities, and speaks out against practices in the psychological field that perpetuate biases and prevent therapists from fully serving their clients.Sergio’s WorkLinkedInInterview by HOMIE HEART Check Partner organizationsMcNair Scholars ProgramPrison Education ProjectFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

People of Latin American descent can identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, or Chicano/a/x. Others prefer to identify as Indigenous as a way to reclaim their roots. Others identify according to their nationality(ies), such as Colombian-American or Mexican-American, to speak out against terms that group multiple countries and cultures together. Identifying under multiple hierarchical systems, and according to two or more different cultures, can be confusing, but also powering. Many of these terms aren't perfect, but they all express the desire for members of the Latin diaspora to organize, mobilize, and advocate for their rights. When we learn about the history of each term, we grow appreciation and understanding for the struggle to find community and belonging.Resources:Raíces Verdes (featuring host Samara)Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Meet Veronica Castillo and Miguel Venegas of Our Paper Trails. Four years ago, this power couple decided to transform their lifestyle and live in a van to reach their traveling and financial goals (they just paid off their student loans - woot woot!). Joining the vanlife and nomadic communities changed how Vero & Miguel approach life choices, from what they purchase to how they become better allies. Even in the outdoors, representation, inclusivity, and diversity is important to ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome. Vero & Miguel are transparent about their struggles with vanlife, how the nomadic community only recently began embracing more diversity, and their undeterred dedication to get out on the road. Although it hasn't always been easy, Our Paper Trails proves we can all fulfill our dreams with the right amount of risk, effort, and support. ResourcesDiversify Vanlife WebsiteDiversify Vanlife on InstagramDefinitionsNomadic - a community without fixed habitation made up of people who regularly move to another areaMinimalism - a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s importantFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Pride month is every month! Sabine Maxine Lopez, founder of A Tribe Called Queer, discusses how her Instagram page grew to a brand and now a nonprofit organization. This platform creates and shares resources for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and LGBTQIA+ (see definition below) communities including mental health services, book clubs, clothing swaps, legal advice, wellness events, and much more. As a small team, Sabine and Melba are limited in their reach and resource offerings. To grow its team and impact, A Tribe Called Queer needs funding, like so many other nonprofits, and that's where the power of community comes in. Support this incredible organization and their life-changing work today by giving them a follow, donating to their fundraiser, and getting involved (links below!). A Tribe Called Queer LinksWebsiteInstagramTwitterFundraiserPartner LinksPeace Over ViolenceOasis Legal Services ProjectQDefinitionsLGBTQIA2S+Rainbow washingFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

American scholar and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" in 1989 as a way to describe what Black women are subjected to. Recently, this theory has received mainstream attention as people from other marginalized communities, from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and people who identify as LGBTQ+, are using it to describe what they experience. In this episode, we discuss why we appreciate this term and often use it to discuss social justice issues, how it has helped us see the world differently, and its contribution to our own lives. ResourcesKimberlé Crenshaw: The urgency of intersectionalityFollow Kimberlé on InstagramOrganizations to supportStop Asian HateBlack Lives MatterThe Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ mental health)Voto LatinoFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)

Meet Warren "Dzign" Dickson, hip hop artist from Watts, California who combines his love for music, community, and the environment through education and advocacy. Warren highlights the connections between different social causes, specifically, racial justice, wildlife conservation, and environmental protection, to emphasize the need for all of us to join together to create change. As someone who has witnessed local wildlife struggle to adapt to urban areas, and communities of color lack the resources they need to survive and thrive, Warren knows firsthand the urgency of addressing environmental and social causes simultaneously. Through his music, Warren uses hip hop culture as a way to relate to others while spreading awareness for all of the above.Warren's Work3rd Rock Hip Hop3rd Rock Hip Hop's InstagramIf I Was Wild (Music Video)Community PartnersSisters of WattsStill Waters NetworkEnvironmental PartnersSierra ClubNational Wildlife FederationWallis Annenberg Wildlife CrossingFollow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.comCover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)