Racism on the Levels

Guest: Cynthia Simons, Innovative Justice and Program Analysis Reentry Planning Manager for Travis County and Transformative Practices Consulting. Aired on May 16, 2025, on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas. 

Aired on 01/16/24 on KOOP Community Radio, 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Aired on 12/19/24 on KOOP Community Radio, 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Aired on 11/21/24 on KOOP Community Radio, 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Aired on 10/17/24 on KOOP Community Radio, 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Aired on 9/19/24 on KOOP Community Radio, 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

This episode revolves around the intersections of poetry, creative expression, identity, and racial justice. 2024 Texas State Poet Laureate and Founder and Executive Director of Torch Literary Arts Amanda Johnston highlights the importance of supporting Black women writers and amplifying their voices. The discussion also covers the significance of poetry in reaching and awakening individuals, particularly in the context of social justice and racial inequality. Amanda emphasizes the importance of language, rhythm, and traditional poetic devices in creating powerful connections between the reader and the poem.Listener Invitations:• Attend Torch Literary Arts retreat attendees’ public reading on July 25th at The Carver Museum.• Support Torch Literary Arts and Amanda Johnston's work by donating, attending events, sharing their information on social media.• Torch Literary Arts is searching for a permanent home/office space in Austin.https://www.amandajohnston.com/https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/

In this conversation, Stacie Freasier and Fatima Mann discuss topics of healing, liberation, and the intersection of activism and wellness. They explore the importance of self-care and taking care of one's own well-being in order to effectively engage in social justice work. They also touch on the power of ancestral knowledge and the need to create policies and systems that prioritize love, healing, and collective well-being. The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to and centering the voices and needs of marginalized communities. In this conversation, they touch on the connection between the Black liberation and Palestinian liberation movements, emphasize the importance of self-care and not burning out in the fight for liberation, and highlight the significance of consent, mindfulness, and breathwork in creating a more compassionate and connected world.

This episode explores the topics of racism, grief, loss, and social justice. Guest Tyra Clark discusses her deep roots in Austin and her experiences with racism and displacement. She also discusses the importance of addressing racial trauma and the impact of racism on mental and behavioral health. Tyra introduces the Change Grief Project, a community-based initiative aimed at changing the way we talk about and approach grief. Change Grief aims to create healing conversations and support groups for individuals experiencing grief. The project includes a portrait spotlight series, a docu-series, and community activations. Change Grief is supported by the City of Austin Economic Development Elevate Program and the African American Cultural Heritage Facility.

Stacie Freasier and Maggie Luna, Executive Director of the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, discuss the systemic failures and challenges faced by individuals affected by addiction, incarceration, and the criminal justice system. Maggie shares her personal experiences of being failed by various systems, including the education system, law enforcement, housing, and healthcare. She highlights the disparities and injustices she encountered, particularly as a person of color. The conversation emphasizes the importance of giving voice to marginalized communities and working towards justice and equity. The conversation touched on the importance of keeping families together and supporting them to create safer communities; the co-opting of movements by white people and the need for cross-racial solidarity and awareness of privilege; and various organizations and initiatives working towards housing advocacy, harm reduction, and supporting system-impacted families.

Guest: Amber Watts, Austin Justice Coalition Topic: Education Justice Original Air Date: 08.16.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Stacie Shea Williams Original Air Date: 07.19.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guests: Meme Styles, President and Founder and Julianne Hanckel, Board President of ⁠Measure⁠; Brandie Meister, Mindfulness and Wellness Coach and Co-Founder of ⁠Real Queens Fix Each Other's Crowns⁠Topics: Equitable Evaluation / Mental Health and Anti-racist Work PoliciesOriginal Air Date: 06.21.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guests: Meme Styles, President and Founder of Measure and Julianne Hanckel, President of the Board of Directors of MeasureTopic: Equitable EvaluationOriginal Air Date: 05.22.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas 

Guest: Dave Cortez, Executive Director, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter DirectorTopic: Environmental JusticeOriginal Air Date: 04.24.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Carmen Llanes, Executive Director, Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA)Topic: Community Organizing and Health JusticeOriginal air date 03.27.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Dr. Peniel E. Joseph, Professor of History and Distinguished Service Professor and Founder of the University of Texas at Austin Center for the Study of Race and DemocracyTopics: Gentrification and Austin's Black CommunityOriginal Air Date: 02.27.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas 

Guest: Antony Jackson, Sr., Founder and CEO of We Can Now AustinTopic: Justice for Austin's Unhoused Community Original Air Date 01.23.2023 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Grassroots Spiritual Practitioner Soyinka Rahim of BIBOLOVETopic: Racial Justice through Breathwork and ArtOriginal Air Date: 12.26.2022 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Joao Paolo Connolly, Organizing Director of Austin Justice CoalitionTopic: Housing JusticeOriginal Air Date: 11.27.2022 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas

Guest: Shellie Hayes-McMahon of Black Austin Democrats and Planned Parenthood Texas VotesTopic: Voter Suppression in AustinOriginal Air Date: 10.24.2022 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas --- 

Guest: Qi Dada of Qi Dada Life Coaching and Riders Against the StormTopic: Truth Telling of WhitenessOriginal Air Date: 08.29.2022 on KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas