Good Things from Lemonada

In Illinois, like in other places affected by the War on Drugs, many people are feeling the impacts of incarceration and its negative, prohibitive effects on their futures. In this episode, Richard Wallace, founder of the organization Equity and Transformation (EAT), shares how guaranteed income has proven to be a transformative tool for this kind of systemic disruption. EAT is built on a reparations framework, providing direct cash support for recipients and leading directly to new employment, decreased recidivism, and a whole new form of community — all while setting a precedent for other municipalities to do the same. This episode is presented by the Marguerite Casey Foundation. MCF supports leaders who work to shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy. Learn more at caseygrants.org or visit on social media @caseygrants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when we give someone a second chance? For Glenn Dahl, it led to Dave's Killer Bread, a family business success story that not only revolutionized bread, but also changed how companies think about second chance hiring. Glenn, the former CEO, opens up about taking a chance on his brother Dave after his release from prison, and continuing to take a groundbreaking approach to hiring people with criminal records. To learn more about second chance hiring, you can check out The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice at rbij.org, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website for resources on the benefits ​​of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals and an employer guide to tax credits and programs. Follow When it Clicked wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The juvenile court system in Pierce County, Washington recognizes that most youth who get in trouble with the law can get back on track without incarceration. And they're more likely to thrive in their own communities than in detention. Kevin Williams, Manager of Probation Services for Pierce County Juvenile Court, and Steve Bishop, Associate Director for Probation and System Transformation at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, talk with host Maya Rupert about what probation transformation looks like in action. And how accountability through relationships with community members is what builds and promotes long-term community safety. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the criminal justice system invests in education instead of punishment? Larry Miller is the Chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board and played a pivotal role in the brand’s growth. Yet behind his success was a secret – at age 16, he was convicted of second degree murder, which he shares in his book, “Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom.” For Larry, it was education in prison that changed his life's trajectory, giving him the chance to earn a college degree, build a successful career, and challenge assumptions about what formerly incarcerated people can achieve. To learn more about Larry's story, check out his book, Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom Follow When it Clicked wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Bishop used to be a youth probation officer. He wanted to help young people navigate out of a juvenile justice system he knew was flawed. Now, as the Associate Director for Probation and System Transformation at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Steve works to transform youth probation systems around the country – from one that punishes making mistakes in ways that leave young people worse off and neighborhoods less safe to one that holds kids accountable for their actions by steering them toward the guidance and support that can help them grow into responsible adults. In this eye-opening conversation with host Maya Rupert, Steve talks about how we can create a more just and restorative system that’s steeped in relationships, trust, and community. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can art transform a life? For Clarence Maclin, the answer unfolded during his incarceration at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Through a program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts, he used theater as a way to process trauma onstage and off. Now starring in the A24 film "Sing Sing", Clarence tells us what it was like acting out his own story on the big screen. Plus, how a more compassionate justice system doesn’t just transform the lives of incarcerated people – it strengthens society when they return as productive, creative and empowered community members. To learn more about Rehabilitation Through the Arts, visit rta-arts.org. Also be sure to check out the film, “Sing Sing,” wherever you can. Follow When it Clicked wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of us did some questionable things as teenagers, like drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and shoplifting. We’re likely not proud of these moments, but they happened, and we moved on. For some of us though, this normal adolescent boundary-testing can land us in the juvenile justice system, which is ripe with racism and other injustices. Nate Balis, Director of the Juvenile Justice Strategy Group at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, talks with host Maya Rupert about reframing how we think about youth crime and the need for effective solutions that actually promote community safety. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like to spend years in a state penitentiary and then make it big in Hollywood? What makes a death row warden become a leading voice in prison reform? How does a conservative Christian in the deep South decide we can’t incarcerate our way out of a drug crisis? For all of these people, they had a moment when their thinking about justice and safety changed. In this series, host Ana Zamora – founder of The Just Trust – sits down with business leaders, advocates, actors, artists, and unexpected changemakers to learn about when it all clicked for them, and what they’re doing about it. You’re about to hear the first episode from When It Clicked, focusing on the transformation of a tough-on-crime conservative Christian from Mississippi into a powerful advocate for drug policy reform. For Christina Dent, it was her experience as a foster mom. That launched her on a path to found End It For Good, an organization fighting to revolutionize America's approach to drugs. From sharing her personal story to working with lawmakers, Christina challenges us to question our assumptions about drugs and addiction and imagine a different path forward. To learn more about Christina’s story and how to get involved, check out her book, Curious: A Foster Mom's Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction, and visit enditforgood.com Follow When it Clicked wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final episode of our CAPS series about community violence intervention work we talk about how improving the criminal justice system is a huge piece of the puzzle. Travon checks in on Indianapolis, Indiana and sees how people there are pushing for less incarceration and breaking cycles of recidivism. Executive Director at the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform David Muhammad and RecycleForce Director and councilwoman Crista Carlino share the ways in which they are reducing crime while investing in formerly incarcerated men and women. Thank you to the Coalition to Advance Public Safety, and in particular the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform and RecycleForce for making today’s conversation possible. To learn more about CVI, and the individual organizations at work in this coalition, visit capsinitiative.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the third episode of our series about The Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS) and its partner organizations making a difference in communities across the U.S., we take a closer look at Baton Rouge. Antohony Smith is the Executive Director of Cities United which works closely with the local community street team to reduce crime and boost violence prevention efforts. He tells Travon why this work starts with shifting people's perception of public safety, nurturing relationships with city leaders, and saving seats for everyone at the table. Thank you to the Coalition to Advance Public Safety, and in particular Cities United for making today’s conversation possible. To learn more about CVI, and the individual organizations at work in this coalition, visit capsinitiative.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the next episode of our series about The Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS) and its partner organizations spearheading community violence intervention efforts throughout the U.S., we hear from changemakers in Newark, New Jersey. Travon chats with co-founder of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective, Aqeela Sherrills, and CEO of New Direction, Shadee Dukes. We learn how they are leveraging relationships to curb crime inside their neighborhoods and serving as prime examples of why those who are most impacted by violence are best equipped to bring solutions to their own problems. Thank you to the Coalition to Advance Public Safety, and in particular the Community-Based Public Safety Collective and New Direction for making today’s conversation possible. To learn more about CVI, and the individual organizations at work in this coalition, visit capsinitiative.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special 4 part series, we’ll be highlighting The Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS), a coalition of organizations working to intercept and prevent violence in communities across the U.S. The coalition’s work builds on years of knowledge of public health, gun violence prevention and the particular needs of different locales, as well as the lived experience of community members on the ground. With these tools, CAPS creates and maintains community violence intervention (CVI) ecosystems around the country. In our first episode, Travon Free sits down with Joe Kim from CAPS’ Health Alliance for Violence Intervention and Freedom Jones from LifeBridge. They chat about what it means to implement a health-centered approach to combating violence in Baltimore and what lessons can be applied to other cities in the U.S. Thank you to the Coalition to Advance Public Safety, and in particular Health Alliance for Violence Intervention and LifeBridge for making today’s conversation possible. To learn more about CVI, and the individual organizations at work in this coalition, visit capsinitiative.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode three of Making of an Activist we discover that after stints in Baltimore and Harlem Children’s Zone, DeRay Mckesson heads to Minneapolis to lead the human capital department for Minneapolis Public Schools. In the safety and security of a career-defining role, DeRay watches the immediate aftermath of Mike Brown’s brutal murder at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson and simply cannot sit still. There is no going back for DeRay, we discover what sparked his drive down to Ferguson, and how life changed forever. Expert and historical context provided by Harvard Professor Brandon Terry, and others. We learn more about what came before the death of Mike Brown and the systemic issues of policing in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aldine Independent School District in Texas began the journey of drastically changing how reading is taught in 2020 – not knowing that a global pandemic was on the horizon. When COVID hit, the district didn’t abandon the plan; they persevered. In part three of our series on literacy, host Gloria Riviera talks with Aldine Superintendent LaTonya Goffney and Executive Director of Literacy and Social Studies Jacqueline Beas about what it was like to make the seismic shift. This episode is created in partnership with the Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Thank you to Aldine Independent School District for making this conversation possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the upcoming Trump presidency mean for the care economy and the over 105 million family caregivers in our country? In this post-election bonus episode, caregiving expert and policy advocate Ai-jen Poo returns to tell us what challenges lay ahead for families and care workers, and how we can keep fighting for a better system that allows us to truly show up for care. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation making grants to promote an equitable, high-performing health care system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode two of Making of an Activist we dive into DeRay Mckesson’s college years where he was the first and only class and student body president at Bowdoin, DeRay was the centre of civic life on campus. We explore the formative experiences on and off campus, what drew him to the classroom, and revisit what key people in his life at that time remember about DeRay the student, leader, and teacher. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At age 14, Luz Hernandez left her home country of Honduras to cross borders into the U.S. She was fleeing poverty, sexual abuse, and medical malpractice. The journey was harrowing and so was making a new start in the U.S. Eventually, Luz became a social worker and now offers youth and families the support she had needed when she arrived. In the second episode of our two-part series created with Voice of Witness, host Maya Rupert talks to Luz about grit and determination, hope and belonging, and why hearing directly from immigrants is crucial to understanding the topic of immigration. This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit voiceofwitness.org. You can read Luz’s full story in the Voice of Witness book “Solito, Solita,” along with the powerful oral histories of fourteen other youth refugees from Central America. For more info about this storytelling project and others, including education resources and ways to take action, visit voiceofwitness.org and subscribe to the newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hope you have been enjoying the incredible guests and stories from this season of Good Things. Now, we want to hear from you. We’re conducting a survey with three simple questions: Did you learn something, has your opinion changed, and do you feel empowered to put these new ideas into action? You can complete this simple, three question survey at bit.ly/goodthingssurvey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do stories help us challenge, shape, and navigate our democracy? In this two-part series created with Voice of Witness, we’ll explore oral histories as powerful tools of resistance and belonging. In this first episode, host Maya Rupert sits down with Ashley Hemmers, a member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, whose path winds from growing up on her reservation to attending Yale to returning home again. Now a tribal administrator, Ashley shares how storytelling is both a bridge to the past and a pathway to her tribe’s future. This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit voiceofwitness.org. You can read Ashley’s full story in the Voice of Witness book How We Go Home, along with the powerful oral histories of eleven other Indigenous narrators fighting for justice: https://voiceofwitness.org/books/how-we-go-home-voices-from-indigenous-north-america/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nurturing relationships with safe and dependable adults, like early childhood educators, can make a profound difference for kids who’ve experienced early adversity. Early childhood expert Kai-leé Berke knows this firsthand and she’s spent her career working to improve resources for early childhood educators. Through training and awareness, these educators can help prevent the damaging impacts of trauma, and instill skills like how to love, how to trust, and how to learn. This episode is made possible with support from Lillio, whose mission is to elevate early childhood programs with innovative design, quality content, and professional growth opportunities, delivering joyful learning experiences for all children. To learn more, visit lillio.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.