What happens when you go to work and no one else in the room looks like you? Being the “only one” often means more scrutiny, less support, having to work harder, or to justify why you’re even there. In this episode, Zayana Ross-Torrence shares her experience as a Black woman studying STEM and then working in emergency services, an industry dominated by white men.
This episode is a tribute to the life and legacy of Henry Walton — a lifelong union and community activist. Henry had a special relationship with Re:Work Radio, given that it originated from his KPFK show, ‘Labor Review,’ which ran from 1991-2011. He had a unique way of connecting deeply with people and sharing the stories of communities in Los Angeles. Henry hosted hundreds of guests over the years, including labor leaders, elected officials, global union visitors, organizers, and union activists. He was a consistent source of labor news for thousands of listeners, and telling stories of the movement was Henry’s passion. Before we took over the show, we sat down with Henry for an interview in the conference room at the UCLA Labor Center. The conversation became a series of stories about his life, influences, and journey to becoming a pioneer of radio broadcasting.
What makes someone get involved in their community? How do community members become engaged? Not just during election season, but everyday, how do communities come together to solve problems? This episode takes a deep dive into the stories of two South Los Angeles residents, Sirenia and Patricia, who have been building community power one block at a time. As community and civic engagement organizers at SCOPE, they have engaged communities throughout Los Angeles in politics and encouraged increased electoral participation. The episode was produced in partnership with SCOPE-LA, an organization that builds grassroots power to create social and economic justice for low-income, female, immigrant, black, and brown communities in Los Angeles.
What is the future of this country’s dream for black and brown communities? This week’s episode, Dream On, is a fascinating conversation between two fierce women – Lola Smallwood Cuevas from the Black Worker Center and Sofia Campos, a national leader of the immigrant youth movement- as they expand, re-define, and defend this country’s dream.