Abuelas en Acción: A Multicultural Podcast for Our Common Good

Kevin Santiago-Jimenez, Diya Mankotia, Jermaine Puryear, Jr and Adequoyah Mathews, board members of Seen and Heard, discuss their advocacy work. These talented and inspiring youth leaders shared how they transformed personal experiences into community advocacy and how they have built community spaces for dialogue. They also shared how they have learned to leverage their youth perspectives to create change, with particular focus on the importance of peer-to-peer support and intergenerational collaboration.Support the show

In this inspiring conversation, Metro Councilor and new father Juan Carlos González joins the Abuelas to share his journey from working-class roots in Cornelius, Oregon to regional leadership. They explore what it means to fight for affordable housing, transportation equity, and immigrant rights while staying grounded in family, cultural pride, and community. Juan Carlos offers a bold vision for a region where everyone belongs and thrives.Support the show

The Climate Comadres speak with Ilina Ewen, a writer, advocate, and purpose-driven leader who believes in the power of using your voice, especially when it’s used to stand up for children, equity, and justice. Ilina discusses the lack of connection many young people feel and their worries about the future. She and her colleagues have formed a new national organization, Seen and Heard, which will be led by young people and will provide leadership development and advocacy for youth across the country.Support the show

Dr. Laura Pulido, Professor of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies and Geography at the University of Oregon’s Center for Environmental Futures, is our guest. Dr. Pulido discusses cultural memory, the current efforts at the federal level and across the country to erase it, and why we cannot achieve racial justice without honestly confronting a past rooted in racial violence. She also describes the Trump administration’s elimination of environmental justice programs and explains what these changes mean for all of us.Support the show

Yvonne Garcia, Associate Director of the ACLU of Oregon, joins us to discuss the organization’s ongoing work in partnership with community members and allied organizations to protect democracy and defend civil liberties for all Oregonians. With passion and clarity, she reflects on the challenges facing our country today and underscores the strength, power, and importance of standing together to protect our most vulnerable communities.Support the show

Our guest this session is Indi Namkoong, Transportation Equity Coordinator for Verde in Portland, Oregon. Be inspired by Indi’s powerful vision for transportation justice — one that ensures the benefits and burdens of our transportation systems are shared equitably across all neighborhoods.Indi also provides an update on the recent stopgap transportation bill passed during Oregon’s special legislative session, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that remain for the future of transportation in our state.Don’t miss this insightful conversation about building a more just, sustainable, and connected Oregon!Support the show

Join the Climate Comadres in this inaugural episode of our new partnership with Verde Action in Portland Oregon. Cheyenne Holiday, Director of Policy and Advocacy talks about policy priorities of Verde Action. She speaks about the challenges to climate justice in this moment including loss of federal funding and other challenges. Cheyenne also reminds us of the many opportunities for collaboration and the development of new ideas and strategies for climate justice during this time of uncertainty. Support the show

Join Co-host Itzia Mejia in welcoming back Celeste Estrada to our virtual table. As we start off 2025 and a new presidential term we are reminded of the importance of coming together. Our conversation led us to explore themes of resilience, losing and finding community, self-advocacy, and healing tools.Support the show

Join the Comadres in this post election where we share our grief, sadness and fears but also our strength, determination and fuerza. We draw our strength from our hearts, Familias, ancestors and supportive communities. We will move forward! Failure is not an option!!!!Support the show

Join our host Itzia Mejia Barragan and future educator, Yesli Peña-Rodriguez in a virtual conversation on the importance of this upcoming election. We will discuss our thoughts and feelings while expressing the importance to vote. Listen to our stories, experiences and call to action. Your voice matters!!We had the honor of having such an inspiring woman join us. A little more on Yesli…She was born and raised in Wenatchee, WA. Her parents are from Mexico, and socioeconomically, she would describe her family as working class. As the oldest of three siblings, she recognized from a young age that attending college was essential for creating a better life for herself. She graduated in Spring 2024 from Washington State University (WSU) with a Bachelor's in English, a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate, and a Spanish minor. Currently, she is pursuing a master's in teaching at WSU as well.Throughout her undergraduate studies, she was actively involved as a mentor on the CUB 4th floor and participated in various Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) such as MECHA, APASC, KSA, BSU, and Crimson Group. At the moment, she works as a graduate student intern at the Office of New Student Enrollment and student teaches at Clarkston High School. In terms of extracurricular activities, she serves as the graduate advisor for Crimson Group, a support and advocacy group for the undocumented community. She chooses to stay involved with this RSO because it resonates deeply with her values and the mission it represents. Support the show

Join us in this frank conversation between the Comadres about what is at state in this election. Sitting this election out is not an option. We are all responsible for the sacred democracy of our country. The Comadres share their perspectives including their hopes and their fears for our country.Support the show

Join us in our conversations with community members about the November 5 election. Community leader, Olga Gerberg-Fern, talks about her experiences as a Latina living in rural Tennessee. She shares her challenges in dealing with her neighbors stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants. Support the show

Co-hosts Marie Dahlstrom and Itzia Mejia talk about the upcoming November 5 election. Itzia shares her Gen Z perspective and why this election is so important as an Undocumented American who will soon complete her Master's Degree in Education. Marie shares her perspective as a Baby Boomer who lives in a red state and the impact on women's right to an abortion and reproductive rights. Support the show

Join us in our conversations about the Nov 5 election and why it is so important for us all to vote, if we are able. We have so much at stake and yet our country is so divided. We talk about hope and ways for us to heal our differences. Must have conversations for our common good!Support the show

Join us in this heartfelt, con todo corazón, interview with one of Oregon's great leaders, David Martinez. David shares his personal journey and what it meant for him to be honored as a Portland pride hero in Portland’s first LGBTQ+ mural titled “Never Look Away” that showcases the beauty and struggle of Oregon’s LGBTQ+, Central to his personal and career journey has been his familia especially his mother. Support the show

Please join us in hearing the inspiring and heartfelt story of Elena Rodriguez, and her familia's journey to become owners and operators of Alumbra Cellars in Dayton, Oregon. Alumbra Cellars is a vineyard and winery operated and owned by Mexican Americans, first-generation children of immigrants. Elena chose Alumbra "to shine a light on the work being done in the vineyard and my Mexican roots,” Listening to Elena's story about her family and Alumbra Cellars will inspire us all to visit this amazing winery. Alumbra Winery, @alumbra.oregon and alumbracellars.comSupport the show

Please join us in this special conversation with José Eduardo González y Salazar, Executive Artistic Director of Milagro Theater (as known as Miracle Theatre Group). José speaks about his personal and professional journey to founding Milagro in 1985 with his wife, Dañel Malán-González. He speaks about the importance of art that serves as a mirror, showing us who we are and what and who is around us. He talks about the artist in all of us and the healing power of art.Support the show

It was a pleasure meeting with Margarita Gutierrez Lemus, the new Executive Director of Familias en Accion. Our conversation with Margarita is rich with topics including Latino health and economic justice and the importance/timeliness of the upcoming Latino Health Equity Conference: Nuestra Salud, Nuestro Poder; Cultivating Reproductive Justice. More information about the conference can be found at www.latinohealthequity.orgSupport the show

Jose Madrid talks to us about the intersectionalities of his identity as queer and BIPOC and how they led him to his career in health. He speaks about his lense as a DACA recipient and his commitment to addressing barriers to equitable health including reproductive justice. Jose speaks about the importance of reproductive justice and the upcoming Familias en Accion 15th Annual Latino Health Equity Conference, www.latinohealthequity.orgSupport the show

Join us as we continue our conversation with Dr. Patricia Glazebrook, professor at Washington State University. Our rich dialog with her includes the impact of climate change on women and children in Ghana and other developing countries. The impact of capitalism and profits on climate change. The importance of educating ourselves about issues such as climate change and the importance of spreading our knowledge. Support the show