Broken Office Chair

In part 2 of their conversation, Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara is joined by Sufyan Sohel, Chair of Cook County Commission on Human Rights - Consultant Social Impact, board member of ACLU, whose career centers on combating hate and advancing justice for marginalized communities, and he is the Founder of Globalize Good, where he advises leaders and supports nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises in navigating internal conflict, building strategic capacity, and scaling equity-centered solutions. He also leads CAIR-Chicago’s Travelers Assistance Project, providing critical guidance and support to individuals and families facing challenges at airports and borders. In part 1 of this conversation, Bessie and Sufyan talk about privilege, values, politics and cancel culture.Sufyan currently chairs the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, serves as Equity Officer for the ACLU of Illinois, co-chairs the DePaul Law Diversity Council, is Board Chair of the South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy (SACRED), and facilitates anti-hate and bystander intervention trainings with Right To Be. A trained facilitator, storyteller, and poet, he uses public narrative, media, and movement-building to uplift impacted communities and inspire collective action rooted in justice, dignity, and belonging.You can follow Sufyan here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufyansohelhttps://www.instagram.com/sufyansohel/https://www.threads.com/@sufyansohel----------------------------------------------------------CAIR-Chicago provides information and legal services free of charge.For EMERGENCIES AT THE AIRPORT ONLY, please text (630) 930-2987 with the traveler’s full name, passport number, nationality, flight departure/arrival/airline details, visa details, and emergency contact person’s details.

Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara is joined by Sufyan Sohel, Chair of Cook County Commission on Human Rights - Consultant Social Impact, board member of ACLU, whose career centers on combating hate and advancing justice for marginalized communities, and he is the Founder of Globalize Good, where he advises leaders and supports nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises in navigating internal conflict, building strategic capacity, and scaling equity-centered solutions. He also leads CAIR-Chicago’s Travelers Assistance Project, providing critical guidance and support to individuals and families facing challenges at airports and borders. In part 1 of this conversation, Bessie and Sufyan talk about privilege, values, politics and cancel culture.Sufyan currently chairs the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, serves as Equity Officer for the ACLU of Illinois, co-chairs the DePaul Law Diversity Council, is Board Chair of the South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy (SACRED), and facilitates anti-hate and bystander intervention trainings with Right To Be. A trained facilitator, storyteller, and poet, he uses public narrative, media, and movement-building to uplift impacted communities and inspire collective action rooted in justice, dignity, and belonging.You can follow Sufyan here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufyansohelhttps://www.instagram.com/sufyansohel/https://www.threads.com/@sufyansohel----------------------------------------------------------CAIR-Chicago provides information and legal services free of charge.For EMERGENCIES AT THE AIRPORT ONLY, please text (630) 930-2987 with the traveler’s full name, passport number, nationality, flight departure/arrival/airline details, visa details, and emergency contact person’s details.

Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara is joined by Mercedes Brown Racial Equity Assessment Director from the Building Movement Project (BMP) and Frances Kunreuther former Co-Executive Director from BMP. BMP supports and pushes the nonprofit sector to tackle the most significant social issues of our times by developing research, creating tools and training materials, providing guidance, and facilitating networks for social change. In this episode, Bessie, Frances, and Mercedes talk about the Race to Lead surveys, the difference between DEI and Racial Equity, and other surprising (and not so surprising) results from the Race to Lead survey.Frances Kunreuther (she/her)Former Co-Executive DirectorBuilding Movement ProjectFrances Kunreuther is the Former Co-Executive Director of the Building Movement Project, dedicated to strengthening U.S. nonprofits as sites for civic engagement and social change. She co-authored From the Ground Up (Cornell, 2006) and Working Across Generations (Jossey Bass, 2009). Frances was a senior fellow at Harvard’s Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations for five years and previously led the Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQ youth. She has been recognized with an Annie E. Casey Foundation Fellowship for her work with homeless youth and families, undocumented immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. She writes and presents frequently on nonprofits, leadership, and social change issues.Mercedes Brown (she/her)Race Equity Assessment DirectorBuilding Movement ProjectMercedes Brown is the Director of Race Equity Assessment at the Building Movement Project, where she leads the organization’s race equity assessment process, Building Blocks for Change, to strengthen racial equity in the nonprofit sector. With nearly 17 years of experience in public policy and social services, Mercedes has a background in advancing social and racial justice through cross-system transformation. She previously served as Michigan Director at the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Mercedes holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a JD from Western Michigan University. She also teaches policy and community organizing as a part-time lecturer.

Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara is joined by Dr. Cristina Pacione Zayas as they talk about parenthood, Pacione Zayas's trajectory from nonprofit to the State Senate, the importance of Latina representation in leadership and more.Pacione-Zayas, a distinguished leader born and raised in Chicago, with an extensive background in public service, policy development, and advocacy is Chicago's first Latina chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.Dr. Pacione-Zayas experience includes her service in the Illinois State Senate, where she served on several key committees including Early Childhood, Education, Education Appropriations, Health, Higher Education, Human Rights, and Revenue. Her contributions as secretary to the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Early Learning Council, the Legislative Audit Commission, the BUILD Initiative, the Illinois Crime Reduction Task Force, State Designated Cultural Districts Advisory Committee, and the Title V Needs Assessment Advisory Committee have been instrumental in shaping policies to support a spectrum of public programs and services across the state. Prior to her legislative work, Dr. Pacione-Zayas was the Associate Vice President of Policy at Erikson Institute, where she led efforts to support young children, families, and communities through policy development, leading to greater racial equity and access to critical services and intervention in the early years. She is credited with establishing the Early Childhood Leadership Academy and the Community Data Lab, initiatives that have had a statewide impact on child development policies. Her commitment to education policy, restorative justice, and community engagement was further demonstrated through her impactful work with Chicago Public Schools, Enlace Chicago, Latino Policy Forum, and Palenque LSNA, where she leveraged community partnerships to build systems, craft policy, and design programs that supported young people, parents, and educators.

Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara is joined by lauren Ornelas as they talk about environmental/climate/food justice, animal rights, community organizing, and more. lauren Ornelas (she, her, hers) is Food Empowerment Project's founder and general programs team member. lauren has been active in the animal rights movement for more than 37 years. She is the former executive director of Viva!USA, a national nonprofit vegan advocacy organization that Viva!UK asked her to start in 1999. While lauren was the director of Viva!USA, she investigated factory farms and ran consumer campaigns. In cooperation with activists across the country, she persuaded Trader Joe’s to stop selling all duck meat and achieved corporate changes within Whole Foods Market, Pier 1 Imports, and others, and she helped halt the construction of an industrial dairy operation in California. lauren was also the spark that got the founder of Whole Foods Market to become a vegan. In addition, she served as campaign director with the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition for six years. Watch lauren’s TEDx talk, The Power of Our Food Choices.

Bessie is joined by Prisca Rodriguez, founder of Latina Rebels. as they talk about being raised as Latina women in dual culture environments, leadership as women of color, and how to share access to elitist spaces.Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez is a leading Latine activist, writer, and speaker. She is the founder of Latina Rebels, a platform with over 350,000 followers, and the author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts. She has been featured on NPR, New York Magazine’s The Cut, Teen Vogue, and Cosmopolitan.  She earned her master’s from Vanderbilt and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bessie is joined by Tinisha Dorsey, Senior Principal, Central Zone Leader at Mercer as they talk about professional development, leadership as women of color, and how to show up for your community while in leadership positions. Tinisha Dorsey is a Principal Central Market leader of Mercer’s Life, Absence and Disability (LAD) practice. As a highly valued leader of the LAD consulting team, she manages a team of consultants, provides practice oversight of the client engagement & selling work streams and leads in developing overall client strategy.Tinisha’s career spans more than 20 years of director-level consulting experience in the national and global market, including premier carrier account management, operations & supply chain management and regional leadership within the insurance and consulting industry. Tinisha currently lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband of 25 years and three adult/collegiate children, where she volunteers for a number of organizations, most notably serving on the Board of Directors as the Business Manager for The Spirited Pearls Foundation and as a featured mentor/sponsor for Greenhouse Scholars.

Tune in to hear Vu Le and Broken Office Chair host, Bessie Alcantara answer questions submitted to the Broken Office Chair Advice Column.Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration among diverse communities.

Bessie is joined by Tawa Mitchell, Senior Program Officer of MacArthur Foundation's Chicago Commitment as they talk about growing up in Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, mental health, public health, critical race theory, and philanthropy in Chicago. Please note, this episode was recorded prior to the 2024 Presidential Election, though the issues remain as pressing as always.

Join host Bessie Alcantara in this powerful episode featuring Andrea Ortez, Program Officer at Woods Fund Chicago. Together, Bessie and Andrea dive into the profound impact of the conflict in El Salvador, exploring how their shared heritage and experiences have shaped their identities and leadership styles. Tune in for a candid conversation about asylum seekers, the implications of being a Sanctuary City, and the responsibility of philanthropy in funding advocacy work.

Join host Bessie Alcantara in this powerful episode featuring Andrea Ortez, Program Officer at Woods Fund Chicago. Together, Bessie and Andrea dive into the profound impact of the conflict in El Salvador, exploring how their shared heritage and experiences have shaped their identities and leadership styles.Tune in for a candid conversation about asylum seekers, the implications of being a Sanctuary City, and the responsibility of philanthropy in funding advocacy work.

Join us for an inspiring episode as Bessie sits down with two powerhouse leaders, Candice Jones and Thena Robinson Mock. Together, they dive into their journeys in advocacy, justice, and community building. Candice, President and CEO of Public Welfare Foundation in DC, shares her insights on philanthropy and Black leadership, while Thena, VP of Programs at Public Welfare Foundation, and a racial justice lawyer with over a decade of experience advancing community-led efforts for education and youth justice, discusses her vision for the future of social justice and equity.In this candid conversation, they explore the challenges they've faced, the successes they've achieved, and their passion for empowering others. Tune in for practical advice, thought-provoking discussions, and a glimpse into how these incredible women are shaping their fields and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

In this episode, Bessie steps into a new role—interviewee. For the first time, she shares her personal & professional journey, offering listeners a rare glimpse behind the mic. Bessie's guest, Maha McDiarmid turnst the tables and interviews Bessie, diving deep into the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the passion that drives her, and her vision for the future. It's an inspiring and raw episode that reveals the human story behind the voice of Broken Office Chair.

This week, our Host, Bessie Alcantara sits with Restorative Works! Podcast host, Claire de Mézerville López, M.Ed., M.S., to speak about the ways in which restorative practices are making a difference in their communities and places of work. Bessie and Claire explore the complexities of self-regulation, having challenging conversations, and holding space for multiple truths to exist simultaneously. Listen as Claire and Bessie relay stories that reveal the power of using our words in times of deep polarization and violence.Restorative Works! Hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, M.Ed., M.S., is centered around restorative practices – the study of building relationships and community. With guests from across the globe, you can listen and be inspired by transformational stories from passionate restorative practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and more. Learn practical solutions to addressing harm/traumas and proactively increasing a sense of belonging in your community, schools, and at home. Explore methods to facilitating meaningful conversations that create understanding and positively impact the people around you.Tune in to hear more from Claire and Bessie on their perspectives on storytelling for the good of our youth and global community.

In this episode, Alternatives' Executive Director, Bessie Alcantara is joined by Nazek, USPCN-Chicago Co-Chair and Nick, USPCN member to talk about what has happened since October 7, 2023. They discuss mobilizing efforts, the power of public narrative shifts, cross-cultural relationships, and what it means to live with Palestinian identities in the United States.

In this powerful episode of The Broken Chair Podcast, we sit down with Illinois State Senator Robert Peters to discuss the key elements of political change—collaboration, organization, and the importance of open dialogue. Senator Peters shares his insights on how building coalitions and staying flexible in your approach can lead to meaningful change, even in the most challenging political landscapes. We explore how movements are built through collective action, why no one should say "no" to themselves before trying, and how keeping the door open for conversation can break down barriers. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you thinking about the power of teamwork and the critical role of communication in creating a better future.

In this episode, Bessie sits down with Dr. Rebekah Levin to discuss her experience as an American Jew advocating for Palestinian Liberation. Rebekah shares stories from her experiences in Palestine and her own path of deconstructing her beliefs and identity.

In this episode, Bessie is joined by Stephanie Skora and Raeghn Draper to talk about the upcoming local elections in Chicago. They cover topics ranging from our right to vote or not vote as we see fit, voting based on personal values, single-issue voting, the importance of local elections, and so much more!Stephanie Skora is a writer, educator, speaker, organizer, and non-profiteer based in Chicago, Illinois. She lives as a Stone Top hard femme trans Lesbian and working-class anti-Zionist Ashkenazi Jew, and mobilizes her identities to work in solidarity with Palestinians, to queer Jewish spaces, and to fight for justice and liberation for all trans people. Stephanie is the Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of Brave Space Alliance, serves as Board Treasurer for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, and is the author and editor of the "Girl, I Guess" Progressive Voter Guide. When not working or organizing, Stephanie can be found enjoying the pleasures of life for a Virgo: food, love, and being right.Raeghn Draper is a Chicago storyteller, digital strategist, and organizer. They craft compelling copy that brings brands to life through powerful language. They are passionate about advocating for hospitality workers and challenging toxic cultures in the industry. With 12+ years of experience, they draw inspiration from diverse perspectives and utilize the world around them to bring dreams to life through words.To check out the Girl I Guess voter guide, visit: www.stephanieskora.com/voter-guide**Please Note: As a 501c3 organization, we do not endorse or support any political candidates or parties. The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Alternatives. We aim to provide a platform for diverse perspectives and encourage critical thinking and informed discourse.

This special episode of Broken Office Chair was recorded in front of a live audience at Alternatives' Cocktails and Complicity event.In this episode, host Besie Alcantara is joined by Leslé Honoré and Ayoka Samuels to discuss everything from racist standards of professionalism to unfair expectations placed upon women of color in leadership.

In this episode of Broken Office Chair, Bessie sits down with Vu Le, writer of the blog NonprofitAF.com to talk about funding ethics, progressive vs conservative funders, zodic signs in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and much more.Vu Le (“voo lay”) writes the blog NonprofitAF.com. He is the former executive director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by supporting leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. Vu is a founding board member of Community-Centric Fundraising, a movement that aims to ground fundraising practices in racial equity and social justice. Vu was born in Vietnam. He and his family came to the US when Vu was eight. He spent several years in Seattle, attending elementary and middle school, before moving to Memphis, Tennessee for high school and St. Louis for college and graduate school. He has a BA in Psychology and a Master in Social work. He is a vegan, a father of two kids (ages eight and five), and a staunch defender of the Oxford Comma.Please note guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bessie or Alternatives