Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Latest Episodes:

(Bonus) 5 Things You Need to Know About Fair Housing Month Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

On this bonus episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Ryan Curren, Director of Housing, Land, and Development work at Race Forward talks to us about 5 Things You Need to Know About Fair Housing Month in 2024 and the work Race Forward is doing to ensure everyone has safe, affordable, stable housing. The episode includes remarks from Ms. Karen Harvey, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Rent Control Coalition, and Randall Taylor, a housing justice organizer with Pittsburgh United.

Make sure to follow Race Forward on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/ X, and to support our work, make your $24 donation for 2024 by texting RFPOD to 44-321, that’s R F P O D to 44-321.

Resources

Housing and Land Justice at Race Forward

https://bit.ly/4bjqxjJ

Statement from President Joe Biden on the 55th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act (2023)

https://bit.ly/4aXcWPr

The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness (Via The New York Times’ The Daily Podcast)

https://bit.ly/4aXxcjU

Race Forward’s Housing Justice Narrative Convening

https://bit.ly/4diNoxI

Facing Race

https://facingrace.raceforward.org/

Episode 09: Art and Culture As The Ultimate Form of Resistance, with Ralph Remington Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

To support our work, make your $24 donation for 2024 by texting RFPOD to 44-321, that’s R F P O D to 44-321.

This month as we celebrate the worldwide contributions of Black Americans and those of African descent, Race Forward and Americans For The Arts launched a national annual “Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy”, scheduled to take place in September of this year. This initiative aims to broaden awareness of and engagement in democracy and racial equity through cultural experiences across the entire country.

Arts and Culture have played a significant role in how we, as Americans, view the world and see ourselves within it. Black artists and culture bearers have produced some of the most profound bodies of work in this area, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and Black Liberation movements during the 1970s and 1980s.

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs at the San Francisco Arts Commission, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and champion for racial equity in the arts, who presented the keynote address for the City of San Francisco’s Black History Month celebration on being African Americans and the Arts, speaks to Rachel DeCruz, project director for the Cultural Week Of Action about his decades long leadership in the arts and culture sector, pushing the envelope on culture and stories to continue moving the work of racial justice forward to build and sustain a multiracial democracy.

Resources:

Race Forward – Cultural Week Of Action On Race And Democracy
https://bit.ly/3Ih9sKY

SFAC Appoints New Director of Cultural Affairs

https://bit.ly/3P1p7Sz

Meet Ralph Remington, Tempe's New Arts and Culture Deputy Director (via Phoenix New Times

https://bit.ly/3uRywFj

NEA Theater/Musical Theater Director Ralph Remington Departs to Join Actors Equity Association (2013)

https://bit.ly/42XsNdC

SAG-AFTRA Approves Deal to End Historic Strike (via Variety)

https://bit.ly/49QQ9nB

San Francisco Celebrates Black History Month - Ralph Remington Keynote

https://bit.ly/430CuIb

Ralph Remington

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/remingtonralph

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-remington-055b1a11/

San Francisco Arts Commission

https://www.sfartscommission.org

About Race Forward:

Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Associate Producer & Editor: Freddie Beckley

Episode 08: Defending The Pathways For Black Economic Advancement with Ayana Parsons, Co-Founder Fearless Fund Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Historically, from slavery to present day, efforts to create black economic advancement have been stunted continuously either through violence, such as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, or through systemic barriers and policies responsible for creating and maintaining the racial wealth gap.

In August of last year, Edward Blum, the president of The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), and the man behind the efforts to overturn affirmative action, filed a lawsuit against The Fearless Fund, claiming its Strivers Grant program violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866, by discriminating against non-black women. In response, Race Forward’s Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations Kerry Mitchell Brown authored an op-ed titled “The Fight Against The Fearless Fund Is A Fight Against Black Economic Advancement,” which reflected on the lawsuit brought against The Fearless Fund, whose mission is to invest in women of color-led businesses seeking financing by bridging the gap in venture capital funding for women of color business founders.

With the conservative majority of Trump-appointed Federal Judges and a Supreme Court that ruled against affirmative action in higher education, is this lawsuit the beginning of the latest frontier in halting black economic advancement, and more specifically, black female economic advancement?

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Kerry Mitchell Brown speaks with Ayana Parsons, co-founder of the Fearless Fund about her trailblazing work, and the next steps in the fight for black economic advancement.

Resources:

The Fight Against Fearless Fund is a Fight Against Black Economic Advancement (via The Atlanta Voice)

https://bit.ly/498ufvD

Is DEI, DOA? (via Today Explained) [Podcast]

https://bit.ly/4beimGf

The True Cost of the Tulsa Race Riot, 100 Years Later (via The Brookings Institution)

https://bit.ly/3u481Mx

The Racial Wealth Gap: A History of Inequity (via Reuters)

https://bit.ly/3SgI7x9

The Four Most Common Challenges Facing Black Women Entrepreneurs (via Stearns Bank)

https://bit.ly/3u6ka3s

Business Prowess: Black Women are Powering the US Economy (via Black Enterprise)

https://bit.ly/498NN36

About Race Forward:

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Associate Producer & Editor: Freddie Beckley

(Bonus) Leveraging Networks, adrienne maree brown x The Government Alliance on Race and Equity Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

On this bonus episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, adrienne maree brown, author of the critically acclaimed book Emergent Strategy spoke with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s Director of Innovative Practice Cecelia Olusola Tribbl as a part of the network’s 2023 membership meeting.

In this conversation, adrienne and Olusola talk about the importance of building dynamic partnerships and networks to foster “collaborative ideation,” and building adaptable institutions to address and advance racial equity. adrienne invokes the work of Octavia Butler, noted science fiction author, recipient of multiple Hugo and Nebula awards, and the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, to talk about the “fecundity” and resilience needed in these uncertain times, her own methodology for speculative fiction, and the humanity that can be found in networked relationships

*Remarks were edited for time and content

To support Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, make your end of year contribution by texting RFPOD to 44-32.

Resources (by order of mention)

adrienne maree brown (Official Website)

https://adriennemareebrown.net/

Government Alliance on Race and Equity

https://www.racialequityalliance.org/

Cecelia Tribbl

https://www.racialequityalliance.org/team/cecilia-olusola-tribble/

Emergent Strategy

https://adriennemareebrown.net/book/emergent-strategy/

Octavia Butler (Official Site)

https://www.octaviabutler.com/

About Race Forward:

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Music From Podcastle

Pillar- Instrumental (Primary)

Good Times - Background Vocals + Music [Primary]

Episode 07: “Becoming The Global Majority” – with BIPOC Podcast Creators Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

This episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, recognizes Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month and International Podcast Day. Hendel Leiva, Manager of Podcasts and Audio Initiatives interviews the co-founders of BIPOC Podcast Creators Tangia Al-awaji Estrada and Maribel Quezada-Smith. In this conversation, Tangia and Maribel share their stories of how they became podcasters, the challenges they experienced as women of color in podcasting, and how a Facebook group was the catalyst for founding and launching the BIPOC Podcast Creators in 2021.

Maribel and Tangia talk about the exponential growth of the BIPOC Podcast Creators community, and the wins in representation, access, and partnerships generated across the industry for its members. They discuss the opportunities (speaking and presenting at Podcast Movement, international work in Mexico and Saudi Arabia), and the challenges/ lessons being learned in the greater industry (layoffs due to overcorrection from the big companies, overinvesting in celebrity based podcasts) – and the overall message that forecasts BIPOC podcasting/podcasters are set to be the global majority in the future.

To listen to more of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast check us out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and remember that you can support our racial justice work by texting “RFPOD" to 44-32.

Resources (by order of mention):

BIPOC Podcast Creators
https://www.bipocpodcastcreators.com/about

Maribel Quezada Smith

https://www.maribelqs.com/

Tangia Renee

https://www.tangiarenee.com/

Michelle Talbert (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/herpowermoves

That’s What She Did Podcast (Tangia Renee)

https://apple.co/3LGIMp3

Differente Podcast (Maribel)

https://apple.co/3EVOcsy

The Pulso Podcast

https://projectpulso.org/podcast/

Podcast Movement Conference

https://podcastmovement.com/

Audio Flavor Social (Oct, 23’ Phoenix)

https://bit.ly/48yOSS4

About Race Forward:

Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities,

organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.

Follow Race Forward on social media:

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Associate Producer/ Editor: Sewa Olivares

Episode 06: The #Case4Reparations: “Decolonizing Wealth” with Edgar Villanueva Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Faron McLurkin interviews CEO of Liberated Capital Edgar Villanueva, author of the best selling book “Decolonizing Wealth.” They discuss the ongoing activism for reparations at the intersection of the racial justice movement and the philanthropic sector.

Edgar explains how his background as a part of the Lumbee Tribe and his career experiences influenced his perspective in money being “medicine” for historically oppressed communities –– leading to the work of Decolonizing Wealth. He takes us through the story of the organization’s founding, building the infrastructure for this trailblazing effort, to the Alight Align Arise: Advancing The Movement For Repair Conference presented by Decolonizing Weath.

Faron and Edgar also discuss the evolving role of philanthropy following the massive investments into racial justice work after the George Floyd uprisings, and the importance of efforts to cultivate long-term financial commitments, placing the conversation of reparations at the forefront. They also talk about the expanding “sweeping” energy of the movement nationally for “redress and reparations”, and how this has begun an emerging international awareness, sparking a global movement.

To listen to more of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast check us out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and remember that you can support our racial justice work by texting “RFPOD" to 44-32.

Resources (by order of mention):

Sherman’s Field Order No. 15 via New Georgia Encyclopedia

https://bit.ly/3DCc7wo

Pigford v. Glickman

https://bit.ly/44ZnfPI

Asheville North Carolina Community Reparations Commission

https://bit.ly/44Zn8ng

California Reparations Task Force Releases Interim Report Detailing Harms of Slavery and Systemic Discrimination on African Americans

https://bit.ly/3rYKx9W

Georgetown University Reparations Project (via The New York Times)

https://nyti.ms/47adVdH

Liberated Capital (Decolonizing Wealth Fund)

https://bit.ly/3YcVr8n

Decolonizing Wealth Project commits $20 million to advance reparations (via Philanthropy News Digest)

https://bit.ly/47eay5C

Edgar Villanueva

https://www.edgarvillanueva.net/media

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

http://bit.ly/3YgEdH9

Alight Align Arise Conference

https://bit.ly/3rLGhdT

Where Is My Land

https://bit.ly/47a19fc

About Race Forward:

Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities,

Follow Race Forward on social media:

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Assistant Editor

Sewa Olivares

Song: "Electro-Light - Symbolism (Mi77er Remix)" is under a Creative Commons (CC-BY) license.

Music promoted by BreakingCopyright:

https://youtu.be/HLXm2IV1pdk

Episode 05: Advancing Just, Multiracial Democracy with john a. powell Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Julie Nelson, Senior Vice President of Programs at Race Forward and john a. powell, Director, Othering and Belonging Institute, come together in a conversation inspired by the recent essay they co-authored, “Advancing Just, Multiracial Democracy.”

Throughout the conversation, they explore the role local municipalities can play in not only defending against “democratic backsliding,” but also in expanding the very nature of democracy, which is critical with the global rise of authoritarianism and nationalism.

Julie and john’s work rests on the idea that local governments are uniquely situated to turn grim situations built on “othering” into a global movement grounded in racial justice and belonging. They examine the four principles they wrote about, which includes: 1. expanding democratic practice; 2. being explicit about who is currently included or excluded; 3. systems and structures; and 4. operationalizing and organizing for multiracial democracy.

To listen to more of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast check us out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and remember that you can support our work by texting “RFPOD" to 44-32. Every donation supports Race Forward’s work.

Resources (by order of mention)

Advancing Just, Multiracial Democracy (via The German Marshall Fund)

https://bit.ly/447aX7t

john a powell

https://belonging.berkeley.edu/john-powell

Democracy and Belonging Forum

https://bit.ly/3Xot32I

Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)

https://www.racialequityalliance.org/

Racing to Justice: Transforming our Concepts of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society

https://belonging.berkeley.edu/racing-justice

The German Marshall Fund

https://www.gmfus.org/

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

https://globalaffairs.org/

About Race Forward:

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Episode 04: Pushing Back Against The Rise of Christian Nationalism Through Faith with Obery Hendricks, Ph.D May 08, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Obery Hendricks, Ph.D., one of the most influential Black biblical scholars writing today, and Race Forward’s Chief of Staff Charlene Sinclair, Ph.D., who herself fashions strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality for racial and economic justice, discuss the immediacy of pushing back against the spread of Christian Nationalism and the urgency of creating narratives based on the gospel’s “true teachings” to reflect the ongoing political moment and fight for progressive policies that stay true to the bible’s "liberationist ideals".

Throughout the conversation Obery and Charlene share insights on the importance (and opportunity) for the progressive left to engage in spirituality and religion and why faith in movement spaces is not always well received; the weaponization of Christianity and the gospel by the right to justify implementing extremist policies; how Afro-Christianity has historically reflected teachings of freedom and liberation; and how religious leaders are being looked to to provide guidance as capitalism and white supremacy have led to the rise of authoritarianism and the destabilization of democracy around the world.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, you can now support Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast and Race Forward’s audio work by texting “RFPod” to 44-321 to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Resources:

Obery Hendricks

https://bit.ly/3O6SN11

Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (via Good Reads)

https://bit.ly/44H0m40

The Politics of Jesus (via Penguin Random House)

https://bit.ly/3B1WwVM

Charlene Sinclair

https://bit.ly/3LBczyE

Colorlines

https://colorlines.com/

About Race Forward:

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Momentum at the White House: Historic Racial Justice Work At The Federal Level With Chiraag Bains Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast –– recorded at The White House!

On this landmark episode of Momentum Chiraag Bains, (now former) Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Racial Justice and Equity joins Race Forward’s Cathy Albisa and Carlton Eley to talk about the historic racial justice work actively happening across the federal government.

In this in-depth interview Chiraag talks about the Biden Administration’s deep commitment to racial equity and the significance of President Biden signing Executive Order 13985 “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government” on his first day in office. He talks about the processes agencies underwent as part of the EO’s mandate to deliver Federal Equity Action Plans (EAP’s) and the results and lessons learned throughout the first two years of the work. This leads to conversation about the second historic executive order on racial justice issued in February of this year, Executive Order 14091 “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government”, and how this executive order further strengthens the administration’s commitment through financial investment and working with community partnerships on racial equity work.

Throughout the conversation, Chriraag talks about the multigenerational commitment that racial justice work requires, touching on themes such as police reform, criminal justice reform, support for the LGBTQI+ community, and economic development, and the fortitude needed to do the work in the face of backlash to progress. Chiraag credits the team at the Domestic Policy Council for their commitment to racial equity, as well as the partnerships cultivated with advocates and organizations that together are moving the work forward, and how despite the threats to democracy that arise, racial justice and equity work makes sure the government is working for all Americans.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, you can now support Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast and Race Forward’s audio work by texting “RFPod” to 44-321 to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Resources:

Executive Order 13985 “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government (via The White House)

https://bit.ly/3WFDjSa

Executive Order 14091 “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government (via The White House)

http://bit.ly/40H8VJg

Race Forward/ PolicyLink – Assessment of Federal Equity Action Plans

http://bit.ly/40vwDbA

Report: Delivering on Equity Access, and Opportunity for the American People (via the White House)

bit.ly/40pNA7B

What is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and is it likely to pass? (via The Guardian)

http://bit.ly/3ZA3LOF

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Continues to Promote Access to Voting (via The White House)

http://bit.ly/3nrBBHT

About Race Forward:

Follow Race Forward on social media

www.facebook.com/raceforward

www.twitter.com/raceforward

www.instagram.com/raceforward

Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings

www.raceforward.org/trainings

Subscribe to our newsletter:

www.raceforward.org/subscribe

Executive Producers:

Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato Blakemore

Episode 02: “Us” Standing Up For Honest Education: A Conversation From Florida Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Marsha Guthrie, Deputy Director of Race Forward’s Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s Network Strategies, and Dr. Maria Cole, co-founder of Common Purpose, come together to share their experiences organizing in Florida for free and honest public education.

We begin with a powerful testimony from a student that has been directly impacted by the targeting of AP African American studies in the Florida school system, and then Marsha and Dr. Cole talk about the “summer of action” that launched a local effort to fight the weaponization of curriculum and education –– the consequences of which are being felt across the nation every single day.

In the backdrop of Florida Governor Desantis’ latest efforts in targeting statewide curriculum in public schools and higher education, Marsha and Dr. Cole talk about the importance of organizing deliberately, the implementation of strategies that create a visibility of the groups being affected, and building power through local elections and partnerships with elected officials.

*This episode is being released just weeks after President Biden issued his second executive order mandating racial equity across the federal government. This second EO calls for sustained, long-term plans and efforts to ensure equitable outcomes for all.

Resources (by order of mention)

Race Forward Commends Biden Administration On Release of Second Historic Racial Equity Executive Order

http://bit.ly/3y5I3GP

Ron DeSantis’s war on “woke” in Florida schools, explained (via Vox)

http://bit.ly/3kJAOBh

What Florida's Stop Woke Act Means for Schools, Businesses, (via Time Magazine)

http://bit.ly/3J4o7ui

The controversy over AP African American studies, explained (via Vox)

http://bit.ly/3J7Fz0S

Organizers are Fighting Ron DeSantis's Educational Bans with Free Books (via Teen Vogue)

http://bit.ly/3KMvrvR

Jacksonville [faith] leaders join rally in Capitol after Black history class revised amid Gov. DeSantis criticism (via News4Jax)