Think Hopeful, Act Local

For 11 years, West Oakland Punks with Lunch has been showing up: with food, hygiene supplies, harm reduction, and a friendly face that doesn’t judge. In this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local, Blue Heart’s Eva Orbuch sits down with co-director Ale del Pinal to hear how a scrappy volunteer project born in Ale’s living room became one of West Oakland’s most trusted community lifelines, and why kee...

What happens when a West Oakland barber of 25+ years decides to turn his shop into something more? In this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local, Blue Heart's Eva Orbuch sits down with Demorea "Truckie" Evans — the visionary behind Mama Jean's Create Hub — to hear how a pandemic grocery run grew into a full community hub offering youth programs, creative trades, financial literacy,...

How can local giving circles transform the way grassroots movements are funded? In this episode of the Say Your Peace Podcast , republished as a special episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local , host Sofia Trifone interviews Blue Heart Director Eva Orbuch. Blue Heart recently joined the Peace Development Fund (PDF) umbrella as a programmatic partner. Eva shares her journey through anti-war activism, c...

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch sits down with Christopher Renfro, creator and director of The Two Eighty Project, in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Based in San Francisco, The Two Eighty Project is opening up the wine industry by creating pathways into viticulture, enology, and agricultural careers for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ , women, and others who have been historically excluded. Christop...

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch sits down with Davida of North Bay Jobs with Justice in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Based in Sonoma County, Davida is supporting the development of SEMU — Semillas y Manos Unidas — an emerging immigrant worker cooperative creating a just transition for farm workers and day laborers as the wine industry declines. SEMU's mission is to put land c...

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch sits down with Flavio Martinez, Diego Rodriguez Zamora, and Mercedes de la Torre of In-Advance and the Oakland Freedom Project in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Based in Oakland's flatland communities historically shaped by redlining and disinvestment, In-Advance runs the Oakland Freedom Project, a community-led initiative that turns political education...

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch interviews Isaiah Powell of Dragonspunk GRO in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Isaiah is President of the organic urban farm, which is located on a former dumping ground in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point. The organization’s mission is to bridge the food-access gap in an area designated as a food desert by providing affordable organic produc...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Auntie Frances Moore, the founder and visionary behind Self Help Hunger Program. SHHP is a grassroots organization based in North Oakland and South Berkeley that uses food as a tool to organize community, provide essential support services, and act as a steward of local land. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Tiny from POOR Magazine. Tiny is an organizer and Poverty Skola, and POOR Magazine is a poor people led/indigenous people led, grassroots non-profit, arts organization dedicated to providing revolutionary media access, art, education and advocacy to silenced youth, adults and elders in poverty across Mama Earth. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by...

The Regional Tenant Organizing Network (RTO) brings together local organizing efforts from over sixteen jurisdictions across six counties that fight for tenant rights. Blue Heart Director Eva Orbuch interviews James Huynh, Director of Regional Tenant Organizing Network in this inspiring episode of the Think Hopeful, Act Local Podcast. In it, Eva and James discuss tenant organizing on many levels,...

Bay Resistance is a powerful network of community organizations, unions and neighborhood groups organizing to defend our communities and defeat fascism in the Bay Area. Blue Heart Director Eva Orbuch interviewed Bay Rising Director Kimi Lee in this episode of the Think Hopeful, Act Local Podcast, where they discuss rapid response action, organizing against fascism at various levels, and the variou...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Egypt Ina Marie Derensberg-King of The Healing Place, based out of Castro Valley. The Healing Place offers a range of holistic healing services including a mobile petting zoo, stress management clinics, and various ways of coming into body awareness, and connecting with animals and to the land. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue He...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Indy, Dee and Dr. Charlie of Cultivating Self , an educational institution providing integrative healing to support clinicians, patient advocates, community healers, and healthcare administrators. You can connect with them and donate on their website.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠ blueheartaction.org/signup...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and ⁠Pep Talk⁠ AKA PRE-ENTRY PLATFORM (P.E.P.), which offers resources to incarcerated individuals planning re-entry. You can connect with them and learn about upcoming events on their website.  NOTE: the audio quality is not up to our usual standard, due to a real-time lockdown of the institution at the time of recording; there are multiple breaks where the...

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Consuelo Tupper, Executive Director and Christina Azahar, Development Director of ⁠ La Peña ⁠ , a non-profit organization that promotes social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts. ⁠You can follow La Peña on ⁠Instagram ⁠⁠ and donate to them on their website.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at...

Tune into this in-depth conversation with Because Justice Matters , a non-profit organization that builds pathways to brighter futures with women, girls, and families in urban communities. Their work focuses on the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Gabby Alzate. You can follow BJM on ⁠Instagram⁠ and donate to them on their website.  Join th...

In this episode, we discuss Cambodia's 1.5 Generation, US immigration enforcement and ways to support those affected, mutual aid and supportive programming for Southeast Asian immigrants and their families as a part of a transnational movement, and getting back to cultural roots with New Light Wellness . Founder and Director Elijah Chhum is interviewed by Eva Orbuch and Anna Biddle.  ⁠You can...

Tune into this in-depth conversation with Urban Compassion Project.  In this episode, we speak with Co-Founder and Executive Director Vincent Williams and Co-Founder Supriya Golas.  You can follow UCP on ⁠Instagram⁠ and donate to them on their website.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠www.blueheartaction.org/member⁠. This interview was conducted by Blue H...

In this episode we interview Ashia Ajani of ⁠Youth Vs Apocalypse⁠ . She tells us about her background and how Youth Vs Apocalypse invests in youth leadership to understand and effect direct action on the environmental and climate Justice justice issues they face.  ⁠ ⁠⁠You can follow YVA on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ and donate to them on their website.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Bl...

Tune into this in-depth conversation with Saba Grocers Initiative .  In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Lina Ghanem about the incredible work that Saba Grocers Initiative does to create an economic solution to food and health disparities.  You can follow Saba on ⁠Instagram⁠ and donate to them on their website.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member a...

Tune into this in-depth conversation with All Things Bayview for Equitable Communities.  In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Kamillah Ealom about the incredible work that All Things Bayview does to address the community's unique environmental justice challenges.  You can follow ATB on ⁠Instagram⁠.  Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠www.blu...

Tune into this in-depth conversation Today’s Youth Matter.  In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Marshelle Wilburn about the incredible work that TYM does to change the life trajectory of at-risk youth, particularly focusing on Richmond, California. Through year-round programming, an incredible summer camp, and mentoring relationships, they guide students through a Transformational Jo...

Tune into this inspiring conversation with Nikkita Oliver, co- Executive Director of Creative Justice. In this episode, we speak about the groundbreaking work that Creative Justice does to uplift youth with creative, restorative practices. We talk about the importance of offering economic foundations for transformative change, the incredible vision the youth hold for our future, and creating genui...

Tune into this informative conversation with Care 4 Community Oakland .  In this episode, we speak with Organizing Director Nicole Deane about the incredible work that C4C does to dramatically increase the participation of Oakland residents in local government in order to create the communities they want to see.  You can follow C4C on ⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠ .  Join the movement of Grassroots Gi...

Tune into this inspiring conversation with Somos Familia Bay. In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez about the incredible work that Somos Familia Bay does to build leadership in Latinx families and communities to create a culture where people of diverse genders and sexual orientations can thrive. You can follow Somos Familia Bay on ⁠Facebook⁠ , ⁠Instagram⁠ , or hi...