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‘Building Justice’ originates from Sacramento State’s Center on Race, Immigration and Social Justice. (CRISJ).
The podcast explores critical issues affecting our communities with the hope of creating a healthier and more just world. The ongoing conversations between the Sacramento State community and regional partners aim to spark understandings, empathies, and motivation to join the struggle for a better future for all.
For more information about CRISJ, go to www.csus.edu/crisj/buildingjustice.
Thanks Underdog Music for creating our podcast music.
79 Episodes
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In this episode of Building Justice, hosts Dr. Susanna Curry and Dr. Arturo Baiocchi from Sacramento State’s School of Social Work are joined by Dr. Ethan Evans to explore the concept and impact of Guaranteed Income programs. The conversation highlights the differences between guaranteed and universal basic income, the effects of providing unconditional cash payments to individuals and families, and local initiatives led by United Way in Sacramento. Dr. Evans discusses research findings from an evaluation of the local initiative and reflects on the potential of these programs to reshape social services and economic equity.
Join Dr. Elvia Ramirez and Dr. Maria Vargas, faculty members at Sacramento State, for a compelling conversation on the past, present, and future of Chicanx/Latinx Studies at the university. In this episode, Dr. Ramirez traces the roots of Ethnic Studies at Sac State, spotlighting the powerful activism of Mexican American/Chicanx students who helped establish the discipline on campus. The discussion then shifts to a dynamic exchange between colleagues as they reflect on their teaching and research practices. Together, Dr. Vargas and Dr. Ramirez underscore the significance of Chicanx/Latinx Studies in shaping critical understandings of identity, power, and social justice. Whether you're new to the field or a longtime advocate, this episode offers valuable insight into why these stories—and this scholarship—are essential.
Dr. Marie L. Mallare-Jimenez hosts Professor Emeritus Daniel Phil Gonzales for a riveting breakdown of the DT 2.0 administration’s radical “Project 2025.” In this third, and last, episode of State of Affairs: Reality or Fiction, the pair critically analyzes how this sweeping policy agenda threatens civil liberties, targeting birthright citizenship, deploying mass deportation strategies, and weaponizing billionaire power through Elon Musk’s creation of DOGE. As DEI programs are dismantled and educational voices for Gaza are punished, the episode exposes the authoritarian overreach gripping the nation. Divided into three in-depth segments, this conversation invites listeners to reflect, resist, and rise.
What happens when democracy begins to unravel under the guise of nationalism and power? Join Dr. Marie L. Mallare-Jimenez and guest Professor Emeritus Daniel Phil Gonzales of SF State University as they delve deep into “Project 2025,” a political playbook by the DT 2.0 administration that threatens to upend constitutional rights. In this special edition of State of Affairs: Reality or Fiction, Part II, they unpack the systematic dismantling of birthright citizenship, the chilling mobilization of mass deportation forces, and the erasure of DEI principles across America’s institutions. With Elon Musk’s DOGE looming large as a political and economic tool, and academic freedom under siege for those who voice support for Palestine, this conversation is as urgent as it is essential. Tune in for a powerful three-part episode, presented by the CRISJ Building Justice podcast team.
In this special episode of State of Affairs: Reality or Fiction, host Dr. Marie L. Mallare-Jimenez welcomes Professor Emeritus Daniel Phil Gonzales for a gripping conversation on the far-reaching implications of the DT 2.0 administration's "Project 2025." From plans to revoke birthright citizenship and enforce mass deportations, to the controversial creation of DOGE under Elon Musk's influence—this episode dissects the dismantling of democratic institutions. Together, they explore how billionaires like Musk are reshaping education and labor by eliminating DEI initiatives and silencing dissent around Gaza and Palestinian advocacy. This is not just analysis—it’s a call to awareness. Stay tuned through all three segments, brought to you by the CRISJ Building Justice podcast team.
Listen in as Dr. Araceli Feliz, Dr. Elvia Ramirez, and Dr. Heidy Sarabia, professors at Sacramento State, analyze the influence of Latino voters in the 2024 election. The significance of Latino voters has become a highly debated yet frequently misunderstood topic in the context of the 2024 presidential elections. This discussion provides insights into Latino demographics, voting patterns observed during the 2024 election, and the key issues that resonate with Latino voters.
Listen in as Victor Rodriguez Tafoya shares a conversation with Joshua “Gunner” Johnson, Director of the Underground Scholars Program at UC Davis and a key founder of Project Rebound at Sacramento State. Project Rebound provides critical educational resources and support for formerly incarcerated individuals, offering counseling, mentoring, academic services, and career development to help them transform their lives. Gunner shares his personal journey, including his 18 years of incarceration and how that led him to his work helping formerly incarcerated students succeed in higher education. Join us as we learn about the growth of these vital programs and the profound impact they have on students navigating the challenges of reentering society.
In this episode, Victor Rodriguez Tafoya interviews Coach Paul Casey, the owner of Better You Fitness in Hayward, California, who has transformed his own life after spending time in prison. Coach Paul is dedicated to helping others—particularly moms—develop strong mindsets, boost metabolism, and build healthier bodies so they can create better environments for their families. Join us as we explore Coach Paul’s mission and the impactful work he is doing to transform lives, one client at a time.
Listen in as Anthony Jones, Ari Uzzle, and Victor Rodriguez Tafoya discuss the critical topics of social justice, activism, and criminal justice. Communities of color experience unique challenges within the criminal justice system. For instance, Black communities in California face incarceration rates 9.5 times higher than those of white individuals. This podcast follows the journey of an individual who transitioned from adolescence to adulthood while incarcerated and shares his experiences adapting to society.
The Serna Center and Dreamer Resource Center at Sacramento State are home to various resources for Latine students. In this episode, we speak with Juana Zaragoza and Kimberly Gomez, program directors of the Serna Center and Dreamer Resource Center, respectively.
Listen in as Associate Professor of Political Science Danielle Joesten Martin talks with Rana McReynolds, Sac State alum and Assistant Professor of African American Studies at San Jose State, about her research on how mass media stereotypes of Black women shape evaluations of Black women candidates in the United States. They discuss Rana’s academic journey, her intersectional research, and the implications of her research for the 2024 presidential election in which one of the major party candidates is a Black, Asian American woman.
Listen in as Sacramento State Professor Elvia Ramirez interviews Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola about her book, The Bricks Before Brown: The Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican Americans’ Struggle for Educational Equality. In her book, Dr. Martinez-Cola examines the many legal cases that preceded the well-known 1954 school desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. Tune in to hear Dr. Martinez-Cola talk about the ways that Chinese Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans bravely fought against school segregation and helped pave the road to Brown.
In this episode, Communication Studies student Victor Tafoya and Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Lina Rincon interview the Associate Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), Stephanie Cruz. Stephanie discusses her work to build awareness on how to prevent sexual assault. She offers insights on the global history of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She also shares details on how to get educated and join the movement to prevent sexual assault.
Sacramento State’s 2023 Model United Nations cohort joins the Building Justice podcast in a special episode to discuss their recent participation in both domestic and international National Model United Nations (NMUN) conferences, experiences in the MUN program, and the impact of international relations in their undergraduate studies.
In this episode Political Science graduate student Veronica Mozqueda and Environmental Studies Department Chair Dr. Wayne Linklater talk about air pollution research in Sacramento's environmental justice zones.
Sacramento State Political Science undergraduate Mai Lam talks with ASI President Natalie Dominguez and Vice President Veronica Boulos about the role of student government on Sac State’s campus. They focus on key agenda points such as Title IX, changes in FASFA, and basic needs provision.
Sacramento State Professor Tristan Josephson interviews legislative and policy advocate Evan Minton, a trailblazer for the trans community, to talk about Evan's campaign, trans political representation, healthcare access, and anti-trans legislation, as well as how trans social justice visions can make connections across a range of progressive social and political issues
Sacramento State Political Science faculty and IMESC director Sahar Razavi talks with Associate Professor of Sociology Sahar Sadeghi about her research on the experiences of Iranian immigrants in the United States and Germany. Sadeghi’s recently-published book discusses the intersection of race, immigration, and power in the wider context of immigrants’ perception of social belonging. Transcript S3E16
As the importance of a college degree has increased so has its cost. Within this context, a growing share of students in college struggle to make ends meet and some experience food and housing insecurity. However, there is wide variability in the response to student homelessness and housing insecurity across institutions of higher education in the United States. In this episode, Sac State professors Susanna Curry and Arturo Baiocchi sit down with two experts on this issue, Dr. Rashida Crutchfield and Professor Jessica Wolin, to talk about how colleges and communities across the nation are approaching the issue.
Sacramento State students in Photo 175 headed out into the fields of California's Central Valley to learn about relationships to land, stewardship, and environmental justice. They recorded interviews with various people living in and around the Central Valley for audiences to hear. Students co-produced this episode with Professor Eliza Gregory.
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