Abuelas en Acción: A Multicultural Podcast for Our Common Good

Jason Skipton, Executive Director of Growing Gardens, talks about their work to increase access to gardening for low income community members and how growing food is a transformative practice connecting us back to the land, our health and community. An important component of Growing Gardens is community organizing to build leadership and community engagement for low income families and incarcerated youth and adults.Support the show

Isabel Nunez Perez and Metzin Rodriguez, the first Latinx President and Vice President of Oregon State University Student Government talk about the anger, pain, and grief felt by students following the killing of George Floyd. They talk about biases and racism within Latino families and communities. They also share their ideas for racial healing and opportunities to confront structural racism.Support the show

Today we talk with Professor Daniel Lopez-Cevallos, from Oregon State University, about the COVID infection disparities experienced by Latinos. ICE raids and anti-immigrant policies have led to fear and mistrust for many Latinos. Trust building and partnerships with Latino community organizations are important to reduce infection rates and to reduce Latino health disparities.Support the show

Familias en AcciónCommunity Health Workers, Jocelin Garcia and Zoraya Uder talk about Oregon's essential workers who are experiencing disproportionately higher COVID infection rates. Many Latino families in Oregon are experiencing hunger and desperation due to job losses or reduced hours. Many have no health insurance, are not eligible for federal coronavirus assistance or unemployment. Many work as essential workers risking COVID exposure for themselves and family members. These workers allow Oregonians to shelter in place.Support the show

Nunpah, executive director of Ant Farm in Sandy, Oregon, talks about hope and connecting youth to the earth. He talks about the richness of culturally inclusive sustainable farming. Ant Farm is making a difference in the lives of so many!Support the show

Christina Dahlstrom talks about the opportunity to rethink our eating habits for our health and the well being of our planet. She shares the personal journey she and her husband, Rusty, are making to eat a whole food plant based diet with tips for how we can all begin to eat more fruits and vegetables.Support the show

Chloe Eberhardt speaks about her work with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon to partner with communities and community based organizations to reduce barriers for Oregonians to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Promotoras de Salud and community organizing are important to food justice and addressing the root causes of hunger which are poverty and economic insecurity. Support the show

Dr. William Vega speaks about his extensive research and that of his colleagues in public health. His 2017 article entitled, “Growing Economic Inequality Sustains Health Disparities,” was a call to action. COVID is a painful lesson that our country can only remain safe when all Americans thrive. Support the show

Dr. Carlos Crespo, international public health expert, speaks about how COVID-19 has exposed long term health, social and economic disparities for Latinos. He shares his thoughts on why we have not made more progress in eliminating these disparities and how COVID-19 provides the opportunity to come together as a country and global community for health and economic equity!Support the show

Janet Hamilton talks about what Project Access NOW, Portland, Oregon, is doing to respond to the health and economic needs of Latinos and other community members during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares her hopes for systemic changes that are needed in Oregon for health equity.Support the show

Today Reverend Linda Jaramillo speaks about what America needs and how this pandemic can lead to a new beginning for social, economic and health equity. Linda speaks about the importance of truth telling and the need to confront systemic racism as communities, including public, non-profit and private leaders respond to COVID-19 and economic recovery for all Americans!Support the show

Ms. Mirna Loreli Cibrian, program officer for the Latino Partnership Program at the Oregon Community Foundation talks about the impact of COVID-19 on Latino families. She shares that many families lack access to COVID-19 information and lack supplies, like thermometers, to monitor their family members health. COVID-19 requires action to address their immediate health issues and the opportunity to build upon these lessons learned to strengthen the safetynet for Oregon's vulnerable communities.Support the show

Our very special guest is, Ms. Margie Celaya, mother of Dr. Rosemary. Margie is the mother of seven children, 25 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She shares how faith and hope have carried her through many life crises and what she and her family are doing to assist vulnerable community members. Support the show

Reverend Andrea Cano speaks about hope and renewal during this season of Easter and Passover. Hope, empathy and compassion can guide us through the pain and suffering of this pandemic to ensure economic, health and social equity for all Americans and especially for those who are suffering the most.Support the show

Sam Williams, Director of Academic Technology Services & Innovation at the University of Portland, talks about the important role of technology during COVID-19. Sam speaks about the digital divide that exists for many rural and communities of color and opportunities for new partnerships, post COVID-19, to ensure Internet for All.Support the show

Rebeca Marquez, Familias en Accion Project Manager. for Abuela, Mama y Yo will speak about the impact of COVID 19 on Latino families in Oregon. Many Latinos work in service industry jobs, lacking paid sick leave and health insurance. Many have lost their jobs as businesses are closed. For these families this crisis has heightened the health and economic inequities that they struggle with daily. Support the show

Izzy Meda is the Executive Director of Familias en Accion, a health promotion organization in Portland, Oregon. Izzy expresses what so many Americans are feeling during this uncertain time; loss and uncertainty about the future. He also shares hope and the importance of family and communities united together during this challenging time. Support the show

Olga Gerberg speaks about the needs of elders during this uncertain time. She also speaks about hope and the gifts that we as abuelas can give to our children and grandchildren.Support the show

Bishop Gerald Kicanas speaks about faith and hope during the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic. This health and economic crisis is such a vivid reminder that we live in a global community. We are in this crisis together and need to come together as Americans to ensure that everyone, including those that are the most vulnerable, receive the assistance they need to stay safe and healthy.Support the show

Abuelas en Accion talk with Rudy Vela from JOLT Action, about voter supression and important issues for Latinx. JOLT is a progressive organization in Texas that works to build the political power and influence of young Latinos. Support the show

Armando Cruz, who is a first generation Latinx junior, at the University of Texas San Antonio, shares his perspectives on young Latino voters. Forty percent of eligible Latino voters are between the ages of 18 and 35, according to census data. Armando shares his concerns for immigration and climate change and opportunities for Latino elders and young voters to become advocates for these important issues.Support the show

This is the first episode of Abuelas en Acción! In this episode our hosts Marie Dahlstrom and Dr. Rosemary Celaya-Alston talk about their expectations for this podcast. Support the show