Beyond Voting

Aya Chebbi discusses Pan-Africanism and Youth Organizing with us. Aya Chebbi is a diplomat, peacebuilder and activist. Aya is also a multi-award winning Pan-African feminist. Aya has transformed the youth participation space across Africa, specifically with building the Afrika Youth Movement which is one of Africa's largest youth-led movements.

Alice Bagley shares about timebanking, urban farming and community-building through and through. Unity in Our Community Timebank is an organization in Southwest Detroit focused on sharing services and building community one hour at a time. Alice Beagley is currently organizing learning circles with Michigan Alliance Timebanking and farming at Fields of Plenty.

Mazi Mutafa discusses the sacredness of the cypher, and the expansiveness of Hip Hop as a music and culture. Mazi Mutafa is the Executive Director of Words Beats & Life inc, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. that teaches, convenes and presents Hip-Hop around the world. Mazi Mutafa began this organization as an after school program dedicated to creating transformative learning experiences in non-traditional classrooms, teaching the elements of Hip-Hop.

Cat March discusses the murders in Atlanta through a historical, gender and racial lens. Cat March (they/them) is a Gender Studies and English scholar. They have a personal passion for Asian American histories, especially Japanese internment camps in the United States. They are currently the student advisor at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College and finishing up their graduate program in higher education.

Mika Hernandez discusses their feelings after the murders in Atlanta, and post-Atlanta organizing rooted in the Ohlone Land (Bay Area). Mika Hernandez (they + she) is a queer and non binary community organizer whose work is rooted in trans and queer liberation, abolition, transformative justice, and community care. They put this work into practice within their political and movement homes: Asians4BlackLives, APIENC, and the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective. Mika is currently enrolled in an herbal medicine program at Ancestral Apothecary.

Dr. Baba Buntu speaks on building stronger relations within family structures and returning to ancient African. Dr. Buntu is an Activist Scholar and Founding Director of eBukhosini Solutions; a community-based company in Johannesburg, specializing in Afrikan-Centered Education. Dr. Buntu has founded a number of community interventions based on practical approaches to Black Consciousness and decolonial methods.

Jaime Grant discusses community-based surveys, intersectional feminism, and the expansiveness of gender and sexuality. Jamie Grant is a lesbian writer and activist, and author of Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey and Great Sex: Mapping your Desire. She is currently working on a LGBTQ+ Women’s community survey that centers anyone who identifies as a woman and those who used to identify as a woman and would like to speak about their experience.  Co-hosted by Rhiki Swinton and Paige Chung: audio edited by Gilbert Daniel Bwette.

CW: mentions of suicidality. Abeni Jones discusses with us her articles for Autostraddle and workshops regarding community care and avoiding performative allyship. Abeni Jones is currently Managing Editor at PushBlack, a non-profit media organization for Black Americans, using the power of narrative to educate and activate readers. She is also a writer for Autostraddle.

Shea Howell discusses everything Detroit. Shea has organized, as one of the founders of the Grace Lee Boggs Center, developing intergenerational relations, within the Council of Elders, and so much more. She is currently working in the water struggle in Detroit and celebrating the most recent win to pause the water bill during the covid-19 pandemic.

En este episodio de Futuros Radicales Ahora entramos en conversación con Luz Marina Becerra, lideresa de AFRODES y la COMADRE de AFRODES, sobre experiencias de lxs Afrocolombianxs, la opresión por parte del Estado, y su resistencia. Este episodio está presentado por Marcos Ferguson Morales, y editado por Marcos Ferguson Morales y Paige Chung // In this episode of Radical Futures Now we discuss with Luz Marina Becerra, leader of AFRODES and la COMADRE de AFRODES, about the Afrocolombian experience, State oppression, and their resistance. This episode is cohosted by Marcos Ferguson Morales, and edited by Marcos Ferguson Morales and Paige Chung.

Sammie Ablaza Wills and Yuan Wang discuss trans-centered organizing, community based participatory research, and solidarity. APIENC is a grassroots organization building transgender, non-binary and queer API power in the Bay Area. APIENC recently conducted a community based participatory research called Up to Us that was conducted by and centered transgender API community members.

Hip-Hop is more than just a genre of music; it is a form of resistance and storytelling. Hip-Hop also plays an integral role in Black Movements. We speak with Msia Kibona Clark, Associate Professor of African cultural & feminist studies in the Department of African Studies at Howard University. Her work examines hip-hop in Africa’s importance as social commentary, especially around Pan Africanism and African feminist thought. Msia describes the parallels and differences of Hip-Hop culture in the states and on the continent. Co-hosted by Rhiki Swinton and Trevor Loduem-Jackson: audio edited by Gilbert Daniel Bwette.

Welcome to Season 2 of Radical Futures Now. Get the inside scoop about our rebrand and the reasoning behind it. Listen and get to know the members of the Racial Futures Now team. Learn about our roles, passions, and why we love to do this work. Hear about what guests and topics we have in store for you.

Is the Supreme Court for us or against us?On the fifth episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deep with Dr. Nicole Nguyen, associate professor of criminology, law, & justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She’s also a feminist geographer whose research contributes to, and draws on, grassroots struggles challenging racialized policing, war and empire, particularly in collaboration with community organizations.We spoke with Nicole about how the Supreme Court is meant to function versus how it actually does, why it’s facing a legitimacy crisis, how some of their recent rulings are already eroding our established rights, and how we as activists can hold the highest court in the land accountable. So tell us, have you considered running for office in a local election? How can you advocate locally for the policies you’d like to see? Tell us on IG @arcus.center or drop it in your 5 star review of the show.  And please visit us at …. https://arcuscenter.kzoo.eduFollow Dr Nicole Nyugen :Twitter: @GeogNicoleFaculty webpage:  uic.edu. Check out Dr. Nicole  book, Terrorism on Trial: Political Violence and Abolitionist FuturesHost/Writer: Emily Williams Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny FacesMarketing: Faybeo’n MickensSpecial thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Crimson, Tamara, Kerria, and Winter. Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Fascism: Modern threat or facade?On the fourth episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deep with Alberto Toscano, critical theorist, professor in the School of Communications at Simon Fraser University, and also co-director of the Centre for Philosophy and Critical Theory at Goldsmiths, University of London. We spoke with Alberto about what modern fascist movements look like, where we see real examples of anti-fascist resistance, and what we can learn - particularly from Black radical traditions- about how to fight back against the spread of new fascisms in the United States and beyond.So tell us, have you fully confronted or accepted fascism as a reality? How do you plan to turn your ideas and principles into action? Tell us on IG @arcus.center or drop it in your 5 star review of the show.  And please visit us at arcuscenter.kzoo.eduCheck out Alberto Toscano’s latest book, Late Fascism: Race, Capitalism, and the Politics of CrisisCheck out these authors and topics Alberto mentioned in the conversation: - The Politics of The Multi-Racial Right - Daniel Martinez Hosang & Joseph Lowndes- When W.E.B DuBois Made a Laughing Stock of a White Supremacist - The New Yorker - Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right - Lisa McGirr- Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition - Cedric Robinson- W.E.B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction: An Essay Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy,1860-1880- Abolition: Politics, Practices, Promises, Vol. 1 - Angela Davis- Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George JacksonHost/Writer: Emily Williams Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny FacesMarketing: Faybeo’n MickensSpecial thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, Kerria, and Marti. Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Have you ever considered a third party as an option?On the third episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deeper with Rosa Clemente, a black Puerto Rican scholar, activist, journalist, organizer, and former vice presidential candidate alongside Cynthia McKinney on the Green Party ballot in 2008. We spoke with Rosa after she had just interviewed third party presidential candidate with the Justice For All Party, Dr. Cornel West. So third-party campaigns were front and center in her mind.We spoke with her about her introduction to the Green party, how third party campaigns help influence policy, money and political viability, and her perspective on those who are weighing a historic vote for Kamala Harris against concerns about her policies.So tell us, how are you going to take Rosa’s advice and engage in your local community to make a real impact. Are you going to organize in your community? Are you going to join a local activist group, to drive change from the ground up?  Tell us on IG @arcus.center or drop it in your 5 star review of the show.  And please visit us at …. arcuscenter.kzoo.eduFollow Rosa Clemente :https://rosaclemente.net/https://www.instagram.com/blackpuertoricanphd/?hl=enHost/Writer: Emily Williams Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny FacesMarketing: Faybeo’n MickensSpecial thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, and Kerria.Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Do you stay in the process or do you check out?On the second episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deep with Esam Boraey, Egyptian-American political activist and academic, into what it looks like working within the confines of electoral politics, what it can do for us, and what its limitations are – through the lens of the Uncommitted Movement. We spoke with Esam only a few days after the Democratic National Convention wrapped up its week-long festivities in Chicago. He shared his thoughts on his experience with the Uncommitted movement, tells us about their treatment by other DNC attendees during and after the protest, the impact Pro-Palestinian voices could have on the rest of the Harris-Walz campaign, and why he says he’s not ready to give up hope – and neither should you. Tell us, how are the candidates' positions on Gaza influencing your vote? What are your thoughts on working within our current political binary to affect meaningful change? Leave us a comment on IG @arcuscenter or drop it in your 5 star review of the show. Please visit us at …. arcuscenter.kzoo.eduFollow Esam  Boreay: esamboraey@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/esamboraey/https://www.facebook.com/esamboraey/Host/Writer: Emily Williams Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny FacesMarketing: Faybeo’n MickensSpecial thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, and Kerria.Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Are you voting between a rock and a hard place?On this first episode of Beyond Voting, we get real about voting our values with Dr. Michelle Taylor, also known as Feminista Jones-  the award-winning author of Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World from the Tweets to the Streets.We spoke with her after the 2024 Democratic National Convention and took a critical look at where we find ourselves with Vice President Harris, our new Democratic nominee. She shared her thoughts on voting as harm reduction, the importance of developing a political consciousness, and the realities of holding elected officials accountable. Let us know how you feel about voting in this year’s presidential election? What are your top concerns and how do you plan to make your voice heard? Tell us on IG @arcuscenter or drop it in your 5 star review of the show. And please visit us at arcuscenter.kzoo.eduCheck out some of the books recommended by Feminista Jones: Reclaiming Our Space - Feminista Jones A Pocket Guide to the U.S. Constitution (We picked this one to get you started.*)Revolutionary Suicide - Dr. Huey P. Newton Liberating Abortion - Renee Bracey Sherman & Regina MahoneTorn Apart - Dorothy RobertsExcept For Palestine - Marc Lamont Hill & Mitchell PlitnickBooks by Dr. Molefi AsanteBooks by Angela DavisFollow Feminista Jones: https://www.feministajones.com/https://www.youtube.com/feministajoneshttps://www.instagram.com/FeministaJones/Credits Host/Writer: Emily Williams Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny FacesMarketing: Faybeo’n MickensSpecial thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Crimson, Tamara, Kerria, Winter and Marti. Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

 Are you ready to move beyond the ballot box and become a more engaged citizen? Beyond Voting is rooted in our conviction that democracy requires more participation than just voting. It’s up to all of us to take action if we want to see real change.  Hosted by Emily Williams, Executive  Director of The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College. We’ll feature conversations with leaders, activists, and educators discussing the state of our country’s institutions, ongoing systems of oppression, and most importantly how we the people can take critical actions in pursuit of true equity and justice.  Subscribe to the Beyond Voting podcast today and join us as we explore the many ways we can make a difference in our communities. Join us every Tuesday starting September 24th on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you get your podcasts. Beyond Voting is produced by The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership & Philo’s Future Media. Trailer by Manny Faces Media.

Listen to the newest show from the Arcus Center!On September 24th we’ll be dropping our new podcast, Beyond Voting,  right here on this feed. And since you're already here-  you don’t have to do anything but stay locked in! If you’ve enjoyed our previous podcast, Radical Futures Now, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy our new show Beyond Voting.  It’s a show about raising our consciousness, inspiring new leaders, and redesigning the democracy we deserve. So, if you want to be part of that- listen to Beyond Voting – a limited series, starting September 24th/  right here and wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Arcus Center on Instagram: @arcuscenter