Episodes

We’ve all said it at one time or another- “there ought to be a law!” But how do the laws that we believe we need get created? L. Joy brings New York State Senator Kevin Parker back to the front of the class for a discussion that gives us the tools we need to write that law that ought to be around the issues we care about and are civically engaging in.

Since the beginning, L. Joy has said she believes in the power of storytelling. Sharing our history through storytelling is important to preserving the past and understanding the present. But in the hands of a journalist, stories get the accuracy and analysis we expect from the profession. Journalist Michael Harriot joins L. Joy at the front of the class to discuss truth, storytelling, and history.

Judges. L. Joy has discussed their importance before in our “Who We Elect” series. Whether they are appointed or elected, local, state, or federal, judges are making decisions that affect our lives. But who gets to be considered for a judgeship? What role should citizens play in building a quality, diverse judicial bench? L. Joy has Holli Holliday back at the front of the class and she brought President of the National Bar Association Lonita K. Baker with her to answer those questions and much m...

Dispelling myths that range from misconceptions to outright fallacies, has been an ongoing theme at the front of the #SundayCivics class. This time, fiercely held myths around capitalism, free market fundamentalism, and regulations are challenged by L. Joy’s guest author and historian of science Naomi Oreskes.

Crime, crime, crime! We all want to be safe, but are our politicians using crime to fearmonger, influencing our choices? What is the truth about bail reform in the states that have enacted it? How do you engage with someone who has been scared by all the fear mongering? To answer those questions and more, L. Joy is bringing Insha Rahman, Vice President, Advocacy & Partnerships at Vera Institute, to the front of the class.

L. Joy’s mission to ensure that we have the history, context, and tools to be civically engaged continues with this lesson with the dynamic Professor Carol Anderson at the front of the class. They take us on a walk through history, discussing Professor Anderson’s books which detail Black freedom, Black citizenship, white rage and much more.

Has L. Joy discussed Black maternal health and reproductive justice before? Yes, multiple times. And as long as there is such deep confusion, much of it manufactured, around the issue, L. Joy will continue to talk about it because the full range of reproductive healthcare links together. For this lesson, she’s bringing a knowledgeable triumvirate to the front of the class to break down the fight on the State level.

Exactly what should we be doing in between Presidential elections? We should be engaging and base building to ensure our communities are knowledgeable and ready to cast their vote as well as advance the issues of concern. Now we know-but the HOW do we engage respectfully is the next question. L. Joy brings Adrianne Shropshire to the front of the class to break down how Black PAC engages, gathers information, and gives tips we can all use to be better at base building.

Work. We all do it because we have bills to pay. But what happens when an unexpected emergency occurs and you need time away from work-hopefully paid time? To discuss work, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), paid leave, and the possibilities of disconnecting work from benefits, L. Joy brings Executive Director of Family Values @ Work, Josephine Kalepini to the front of the class.

The United Nations is an international organization, but can it be used as a tool on the path to human and civil rights here for Black people in America? To explain if this is possible, L. Joy brings UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent member, Professor Justin Hansford to the front of the class. As a bonus, they discuss Critical Race Theory, answering questions many of us have.

The Constitution, it is said, is a living, breathing document. L. Joy brings Sherrilyn Ifill to the front of the class to give us a framework to understand the power and obligations of the Constitution, the importance of the Civil War Amendments, and what it means to do the work of citizenship.

L. Joy shares with us tools we can use to follow budget money and elections in our local areas. And she brings Lauren Bealore of Prosperity Now to the front of the class to discuss The Zoning In report on inclusionary zoning and how policy may help with the housing crisis which is leaving many people unable to find decent and safe housing they can afford.

Most people do not want to fall victim to or share misinformation. With so much information out there, how do we make sure what we are engaging with is not just confirming what we already believe but is based on facts and good data? L. Joy brings historians Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer to the front of the class to break down how we can tell fact from fiction, discuss their new book, and explain exactly what the role of a historian is.

There are a lot of things happening during the times that an election is not happening. Why should we care? Because these are the things we should know and engage around before we get to election time. Two court cases- Moore v. Harper which has implications for elections and Justin v. Tingling, around who sits on a jury- are important issues L. Joy is discussing with Ari Savitzky and Perry Grossman.

L. Joy continues to help us build out our agendas and strategies for after the election by discussing how policies and legislation can transform and make concrete changes in people’s lives. For this conversation, she brings Majority Whip James E. Clyburn to the front of the class to break it all down along with discussing the importance of intergenerational relationships for advancing ideas.

What do we do when the sun sets on an election cycle? Organize! It’s time to meet who represents you, whether you voted for them or not. And you should be going with your agenda of what issues are important to you. One of the issues on L. Joy’s organizing agenda is work, and she is bringing Dr. Alex Camardelle to the front of the class to discuss what good paying jobs look like, right to work & unions, and what the ask for a redirection of resources to communities looks like

Since the beginning, L. Joy has stressed the importance of voting, getting together a vote plan, and urging your family, friends, and community to get out and vote. For this lesson Holli Holliday is at the front of the class sharing tips you can use to encourage those you care about to vote as well strategies as how we keep up the momentum beyond election day.

We have discussed the need to get the federal minimum wage of a meager $7.25 per hour raised to lift many Americans out of poverty. Did you know that tipped workers in 43 states earn a subminimum wage that is extremely low at around $2.13 per hour and when you leave a tip, that counts against the person’s wages? L. Joy is bringing Saru Jayaraman to the front of the class to break down the history of subminimum wages, how they are legal, and how we can get civically engaged around one fair wage f...

Every time we are near an election, it feels like the outreach to Black voters is particularly lackluster, then after the election, we play the voter blame game. To discuss organizing on the ground 365 days a year and share strategies on inspiration, L. Joy brings a plaintiff in the redistricting case before the Supreme Court Merrill v. Milligan, Evan Milligan to the front of the class.

L. Joy created #SundayCivics with the goal to teach civic education through the lens of our current political climate, and aims to give listeners the necessary history and context on political issues and inspire them to get engaged at all levels of government. Guests include issue advocates, elected officials, academics, and everyday citizens. For this milestone of 200th episode, the unparalleled Dr. Greg Carr is joining her at the front of the class for a master class in #Civics.

Everyday we use data to change or alter our behaviors. But can we use data to correct the wrongs of the past policies that have created the Black wealth gap of today? Where do we find that data? L. Joy brings Garnesha Ezedario, lead of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initative, and Gary Cunningham, CEO & President of Prosperity Now, to the front of the class to discuss their collaboration which uses data to help accelerate the rate of Black wealth accumulation.

What do you get when two noted political strategists get together for a conversation? You get what you need to motivate you to get engaged around issues that matter to you-from knowing your political values, to voting, to even running for office. L. Joy brings A’shanti Gholar to the front of the class to discuss politics, family, and the Power Rising conference.

When you show up at your polling place, ready to cast your very important vote, it is important to read all the way down the ballot (even flip it over to make sure you do not miss anything). There may be ballot measures/initiatives that will affect your life either positively or negatively that you need to vote on. L. Joy brings Sister District’s Lala Wu to the front of the class to discuss the power of State Legislatures and importance of voting on ballot measures/initiatives.

It’s a new season! It’s a new day and L. Joy is reminding us that we must pay attention to more than the happenings on the Federal level, there are actions happening locally. This September, time to get our strategies together, get set to visit with our elected officials, and go to work. To help with strategy and tips for lobbying for our communities, L. Joy revisits her interview with New York State lobbyist Jacqui Williams.