Hey All!

The last couple of weeks have been exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. As the US works to get through this election, we all try to keep our heads, be patient, and continue to look to the future with positivity, love, and hope.

Last week in our conversation with Joanne Bland, we learned quite a bit about the importance of being involved in your community and giving back when you can. We always want to move forward and build upon the steady progression of our ancestors and those who have come before. 

Joanne walked us through her life in Selma, Alabama, speaking to the many lessons she learned as a young girl. Her consistent and unrelenting work as a social activist has laid the foundation for generations to come. But of course, it did not come without it’s struggles. She was arrested for the first time at 8 (!!) years old for “loitering”, only wishing to attain the same rights and opportunities as the white boys and girls enjoying their lives. 

She also spoke about how challenging it was to desegregate the schools in Selma. She says that it was the right move, but it was essential that they start teaching black history as well, not just the heavily edited versions of American History. But alas, Joanne preaches that it is imperative to move forward towards the brighter future we all envision despite our hardships.

The more we lead toward a just world where everyone has equal opportunities and rights, the better our outlook will be in the long run. Joanne impressed upon us our duty to add our “piece of the puzzle” to society. The puzzle is not complete until we all have played our part.

“...telling my story has been like a cleansing. The more I tell it, the better I feel. It’s like a weight lifting from my shoulders. Do not hesitate to tell your story. To share your stories. Because it helps the world. And that may be your piece in the puzzle for social change. Making sure nobody else has to go through that. And by telling your story it helps...”

Next week we’re excited to introduce Arin DeGroff! Hailing from Texas, Arin brings a strong perspective on how young people operate in an activist setting. As the Vice President of social justice and activism group We The Movement LA, Arin uses her voice and her art to create social awareness about the disenfranchised and oppressed people of the US. 

Arin also speaks on her mixed race and how it impacted her growing up as well as how it influenced her identity. We talk a lot about identity, of course, because we believe it’s one of the keys to being your truest self and expressing that in impactful and meaningful ways. Arin is the embodiment of being true to yourself and we could not be more excited for you to listen!

Stay tuned!

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