Generation Transformation
a series about transformative youth organizing
We are experiencing social movements of remarkable scale. Occupy, #BlackLivesMatter, Standing Rock, gun violence prevention, and the immigrant rights movements are all largely led by young people - especially youth of color, young women, immigrant & queer youth. Their lived experiences are marked by inequality & injustice, and within the current cultural and political climate, young organizers are increasingly targets of physical and online attacks.
Amidst this climate, youth-led organizations are integrating approaches that focus on resilience, healing and the transformative power of building community by organizing for justice. In this series, we share their stories, reflections, and practices. Subscribe to Irresistible Podcast on RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher to tune in.
podcast episodes
generation transformation: youth organizing & resilience with next gen fund & united we dream
Our first episode dives into the patterns and learnings we are seeing across youth-led movements incorporating transformative practice in their power-building work, and how funders are adapting in response to youth leadership.
We’re joined by series host Taj James of Movement Strategy Center, Supriya Lopez Pillai of Hidden Leaf Foundation, Claribel Vidal of the Ford Foundation, and Eli Cuna of NM Dream Team and United We Dream’s UndocuHealth project.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
Intergenerational Organizing with Chinese Progressive Association
Lai Wa Wu, Emily Wong, Angela Zhou, and interpreter Adrian Leong of Chinese Progressive Association & Youth MOJO (Movement of Justice and Organizing) join series host Taj James to talk about the challenges and victories of intergenerational organizing, the complexity of cross-cultural work across generations, and the importance of incorporating mental health supports in youth organizing.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
Practice: Cultural Humility with Chinese Progressive Association
Carolyn Nguyen and Emily Wong of Chinese Progressive Association’s Youth MOJO (Movement of Justice and Organizing) work offer us a practice they use with young folks to cultivate cultural humility. They dispel the myth of cultural competency, inviting us instead into deep listening and reflection on what it takes to build deep cross-cultural and cross-generational trust and understanding.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
generative organizations with freedom, inc.
Freedom, Inc. staff Kabzuag Vaj, Bianca Gomez, & Zon Moua share the complexities of building a multigenerational, multiracial organization working to end violence and advance gender & racial justice in Madison, WI. Their real talk about building leadership long-term, and enacting accountability while welcoming members to grow, embodies disciplined, graceful, transformative base-building.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
practice: investing in leadership with freedom, inc.
How do we invest in leadership and political development in our communities, believe in our people’s potential to grow, while simultaneously protecting the most vulnerable as others are in their learning process? Kabzuag Vaj shares some learnings and key questions from Freedom, Inc’s experience in building an organization that includes communities bridging gender, age, and race.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
Follow the ones who know the way: a love poem for young leaders by taj james
As the Generation Transformation Series draws to a close, our series host Taj James offers an original poem as a love letter to young leadership. May our young leaders continue to inspire and bring forth a world rooted in justice.
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Read the full show notes, guest info, resources, and transcript
Our series sponsor: Next Gen Fund
Next Gen Fund is a response to a growing call from frontline organizers to learn from restorative & transformative practices in order to support a rising generation of social justice leaders and nurture sustainable approaches to organizing and community building. The Fund is anchored by the Ford Foundation and developed in partnership with the Movement Strategy Center’s Innovation Center. Get in touch via NextGen@movementstrategy.org