It's Your Voice

Davis California's own world class winery, Great Bear Vineyards, is a local gem. Marcus and Jenny Meadows-Smith produce award winning wines while also practicing sustainable farming. Marcus shares fascinating stories about his walk across Africa, his climate saving work with nitrogen fixing microbes, and his passion for farming, good wine, and good food -- and listening to his daughter's pivotal,...

Emma’s Revolution’s award-winning duo, Pat Humphries & Sandy O, known for their fearless, truth-telling lyrics & harmonies, share their astute analyses of current tyrannical forces, sing songs of resistance & inspire pro-active engagement to keep democracy alive. Their songs have been sung to the Dalai Lama; they’ve sung with Peet Seeger, Holly Near, Joan Baez, the Indigo Girls, Jane F...

Lee Walthall owns Delta of Venus, a happening cafe, music, arts & culture venue in Davis, California, where folks socialize, organize, work, play, eat, love, & celebrate together. Raised in Davis, he served in the US Army in Hawaii as an intelligence specialist & survival school instructor, returning in 1993. He then made a living as a bass player in popular funk, jazz, hip hop, &...

Pattie Fong, former YOLO County District Attorney, tells stories of her barrier-breaking aunt, March Fong Eu, whose biography was recently published. “Eu had the reputation for fighting the status quo and injustices…” Born in the back of her parents’ laundry business, she graduated from high school & was told “to go back to China and help her people,’’ that most careers were above her & to...

Doug Kobold, civil engineer & ED of the California Product Stewardship Council for 7 yrs, & his staff take concrete actions to decrease climate changes in measurable ways, tackling approaches to Old Textiles on reuse, repair, recycle options, 7 Single-Use Vaping Devices in CA. He spent 18 years w/ Sacramento County managing contracts, procurement, new recycling programs, HHW, & pending...

Stephanie, born in Woodland, California on Wintun/Patwin land & raised in a solar community in West Davis w/her twin brother, older brother, mom, dad, & dogs, has always been a creative. Since childhood she’s been drawing, playing instruments, singing, dancing, acting, writing books, poetry & raps. She now works w/children w/special needs & runs a summer art camp for kids. She’s a...

Dr Kwabena Asante is an engineering scientist w/extensive experience conducting water & climate resilience studies, planning & building data services applications & a serious games educational tool. He’s conducted research at federal & academic research ctrs, helps state/local agencies multi-year plan, project grants & presents at industry events. He co-authors articles & s...

Deema Tamini is a nonprofit & startup founder, community organizer, & advocate for social justice, communal food systems, mutual aid & the arts. With a tech career behind her, she brings marketing/product development skills, creativity, empathy, & leadership to her local advocacy & organizing in Davis, California. She serves on the Davis Human Relations Commission. Here she tal...

Maayan, Naomi, & Leah talk about the history of Israeli Folk Dance, its significance to the story of the Jewish struggle for dignity & liberty, its role in Jewish Cultural Practice, & goals of the Mayim Dance Troupe begun in 2024. They share experiences as Jews in Davis, where Maayan and Naomi grew up & are active members of the Israeli & Jewish communities. Leah is a professor...

Palestinian & Israeli peace activists share their personal stories about realities on the ground & a path toward collective safety and liberation. We invite you to hear their perspectives, vision, & experiences about humanity in times of dehumanization & war, about their hope & their courage to share this hope publicly. They share their personal stories of transformation, lesso...

Sasha Abramsky, British-born freelance journalist/author has written 100s of social justice articles in The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Telegraph, The Nation, The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, & 9 books including Chaos Comes Calling: The Battle Against the Far-Right; The American Way of Poverty: How the Other Half Still Lives; The House of Twenty Thousand Books; Jumping at Shadows:...

Siblings Kenneth & Chynna Arnold are children of Deaf Adults CODAs, born into the ASL interpreting lifestyle with both parents being Deaf & their mother being Deaf & Blind. He’s a freelance ASL Aide/Interpreter, founder of the Davis ASL club & works in an Adaptive Recreation program. She’s fluent in both ASL & Tactile ASL & has been interpreting for the Deaf & Deaf Blin...

Pattie Fong, retired Yolo County Deputy District Attorney & editor of Currents, an AAPI community newspaper, urges voting for Freedom & basic Rights that are in danger this election. Ready to turn the page on the negative,insulting, authoritarian, extreme candidate who threatens to terminate the US constitution? Then vote for VP Harris’s practical, inclusive, ethical, economic plan, a tax...

Dr. Michelle Famula is the President of the Davis, CA Chapter of League of Women Voters. WLV encourages & educates voters on our rights & impacts on legislative issues. Also a retired physician & former Medical Clinic Director with 35 years of experience in primary care of young adults on a college campus, and expert medical knowledge, Dr. Famula conveys the depth of the tragic cruelty...

Madeline Do is a recent UC Davis graduate & Taiko player from Sacramento. She describes her musical & cultural taiko experience, youth community/arts organizing, & youth voters particiiption in activism. Hear how taiko music can be a powerful form of protest. The significance of voting felt by many Gen Zers in the 2024 election, multiple concerns college students face, & her many e...

Davis Hootenanny lifts the voices of people with disabilities through music. Pamela Cohen is the founder, former ED & current Board Chair of Purple Tree Cafe, a nonprofit that provides community based employment for people with disabilities at our Sacramento cafe and community events in Davis, & brings together people with and without disabilities through music, art, and food. Kelsey Fortu...

Deema Tamimi is an entrepreneur, community-builder, and advocate for communal food systems, social justice, and the arts. With experience at Xbox, YouTube, and Unity, she brings creativity, empathy, and leadership to both tech and her local Davis community. She serves on the Davis Human Relations Commission and is also deeply committed to social justice and collective liberation. Deema believes ar...

Dr Kwabena Asante, an engineering scientist with extensive experience conducting water & climate resilience studies, planning & building data services applications, & serious games as an educational tool, shares a personal story of climate injustice. He’s conducted research at federal & academic research ctrs; supports state & local agencies in multi-year planning, project deve...

Gregory Wada, instructor for Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko at the Northern California Koyasan Buddhist Temple, teaches youth & adult classes & directs the Kongo Gumi ensemble. He founded & directs Davis Cherry Blossom Festival, works as Conference Manager for the Taiko Community Alliance, & coordinates the North American Taiko Conference. At UC Davis he studied Enviro-Science/Ar...

Sandy Holman describes the role that Arts, Communication and Unity play in healing and building healthier communities. She provides a view of Creative Corps conversations from her systems change experience over the years. Sandy founded the Culture C.O.- O.P. which promotes systemic change, inclusion, equity, cultural competency, diversity, literacy & quality education for all. She is also a co...

Camica Edwards Avorgbedor, a career public school educator with over 20 years of experience, & Kate Snow, Climate Coordinator, share their Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion perspectives from their district-wide roles in Davis Joint Unified School District. Hear how they persist to bring down barriers, e.g. resistance to change; white confusion, timidity, shame & create protected s...

Diana Almendariz, cultural practitioner, educator, and gatherer kindly shares critically needed traditional knowledge. Here she speaks to the meaning of Land Acknowledgments. Uniquely qualified, her expertise on indigenous plants, practices and ecological systems sheds light on actions that spring from land acknowledgement. She teaches traditions, practices, & life skills in her Native Maidu h...

Lucas & Oona Hatton are the co-artistic directors of Davis Repertory Theatre (DRT.) Together they direct, write, produce, and work as dramaturgs. DRT is part of the Davis Creative Corps, a group of artists, organizers & leaders who address social justice matters to help build belonging and greater inclusion through multiple talents. DRT’s innovative approaches invite audiences to engage on...

Richard Kane & Melody Lewis Kane of Kane-Lewis Productions release a film on one of the toughest challenges with a deep dive into what leads to people becoming unhoused & the seemingly insurmountable barriers to overcome this status. Hear from people of all walks of life in Maine, reflecting universal concerns. Jane Field, ED of Maine Council of Churches says, “BUILDING HOPE brings a compe...

Kenneth Halaby Sr & Linda Halaby share the origin story of their brand of Attitude is Everything, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024. While raising 3 children, they accomplished outstanding successes in business, civic engagement & volunteerism. Occasionally an "alter ego" showed up at a business meeting, completely baffling participants! Listen to tales of resourceful creativity &am...