#SundayCivics

L. Joy brings Virginia House Delegate Adele McClure to the front of the class. Delegate McClure represents Virginia’s 2nd district and is recognized as Emily’s List 2025 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star. She speaks about why actively engaging in state and local politics is absolutely crucial. The laws and budgets passed at the state level influence a wide range of issues, from access to affordable c...

In this episode of Sunday Civics, L. Joy begins class with a passionate and deeply reflective narrative challenging the traditional expectations of leadership. She urges us to stop looking “up” — to Congress, celebrities, civil rights icons, or trending figures — for salvation or answers during uncertain times. She then brings someone who exemplifies the idea of bridging policy and protest, former...

L. Joy explores how, historically and currently, the legal system has been both a powerful tool for civil rights progress and a site of devastating setbacks. emphasizing that while the courts are often turned to as a last resort, they are not a guaranteed path to justice—particularly today, as many are staffed by ideologically motivated judges selected to halt progress. She cautions against romant...

Welcome to Sunday Civics, where L. Joys go beyond the headlines, the doom and despair, to discuss civic engagement and taking action. Yes, there is a growing frustration with elected officials and the lack of visible leadership. But, she’s challenging us to reflect on our roles—are we waiting for leadership, or are we actively engaging, organizing, and holding officials accountable? If the public...

In this episode, L. Joy opens by emphasizing the urgency of civic engagement in today's political and economic landscape. She shares the grassroots organizing efforts of her assistant and one of her thoroughest girls, June, who is advocating for truly affordable housing in Harlem. Through tenant organizing, attending community meetings, and holding landlords and elected officials accountable, L. J...

L. Joy taps into her “inner church girl” to deliver a powerful civic lesson in this show opening. She draws from First Samuel 8, where the people of Israel, despite having freedom, security, and self-governance, demanded a king to rule over them—ultimately trading their autonomy for oppression. L. Joy makes a compelling parallel between this biblical story and our modern political reality, asking:...

In this episode of Sunday Civics, L. Joy takes listeners on a metaphorical "field trip" to a workshop where we have all the tools at our disposal to build a more equitable future. Using the Reconstruction Era as inspiration, she emphasizes the importance of both protecting democracy and actively constructing the future we want, even amidst political and social chaos.

On this episode,  L. Joy explores the concept of power—not the kind from the federal government but the kind built at the local and state levels. Focusing on empowering listeners to engage locally, L. Joy emphasizes the importance of shaping policies, influencing local budgets, and participating in municipal and state elections. She brings New York City Council Member Chi Ossé and St. Louis Mayor...

In this episode of Sunday Civics, before she delves into the lesson, L. Joy reflects on her recent trip to South Carolina to participate in Furman University’s MLK Breakfast. She spoke to the group about the importance of reclaiming the power of civic engagement. During her speech, she highlighted the historical and contemporary significance of Black activism, and emphasized that civic engagement...

As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” Now it is time to get active, get engaged, and participate in shaping your community and our collective future. For our first #SundayCivics class of 2025, L. Joy shares her civic engagement roadmap for 2025. Four points she’s highlighting are personal advocacy, community engagement, legislative advocacy, and electoral engagemen...

This episode, L. Joy is focusing on us charting a path forward for our communities. To discuss strategies for organizing using effective communications to enhance civic engagement and empowering communities to embrace their full agency, she brings Leslie Mac, digital organizer and strategist and Chelsea Fuller, managing partner and senior strategist with Black Alder LLC to the front of the class.

In this episode, L. Joy emphasizes the importance of understanding who holds power at all levels of government, particularly as key caucuses, coalitions, and federal appointments shape policies. For the Do Now, she reminds us that despair is not a strategy and calls for focused, strategic advocacy tailored to critical issues like housing, equity, and justice. The episode transitions to a conversat...

In this episode L. Joy highlights the value of local engagement by explaining the concept of "state engagement tables," where coalitions work together on various issues at the state level, supporting each other’s priorities year round. To break down this concept and share their experiences, she brings Tamieka Atkins, Executive Director of ProGeorgia, Brad Christian-Sallis, Director of Power Buildi...

The outcome of the 2024 election has left so many of us feeling a mix of emotions, from disappointment to determination, but as L. Joy always says, “civics doesn’t begin and end of Election Day”. In this week’s episode L. Joy offers a simple reassurance: these feelings are natural, but they need not define us. One election does not determine our commitment to a more equitable society. This is an o...

We are hours away from the culmination of the 2024 election season and L. Joy invites the Sunday Civics community to the front of the class to share closing thoughts before Election Day. She begins with a heartfelt open letter of appreciation to poll workers and election administrators. These unsung heroes are vital to the democratic process, working tirelessly to ensure our elections run smoothly...

In the latest episode L. Joy dives into the intense political conflicts occurring on college campuses across the country. Joined at the front of the class by Kirk Karaza and John Marcus, hosts of NPR's 'College Uncovered' podcast, they discuss protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, battles over diversity and inclusion programs, and issues surrounding free speech. The conversation explores the his...

With election day fast approaching, L. Joy opens up a challenging conversation—what to do when none of the candidates for an elected office inspires you or align perfectly with your views. Last week’s episode addressed voter apathy and how to respond to disengaged voters. This week, L. Joy shifts focus to a dilemma that many voters face: how to engage in an election when none of the candidates see...

This episode of Sunday Civics, L. Joy tackles voter apathy. It’s an issue that arises every election season but is relevant year-round. She addresses common myths that fuel political disengagement and explains why participation in elections at all levels is crucial. Emphasizing that while voter turnout is higher during presidential elections, it significantly drops during midterms and local electi...

The “Get Vote Ready: A Journal for the Empowered Voter” is here! The journal is designed as a comprehensive guide to help voters stay informed, organized, and empowered not just for the current election, but for future elections as well. It covers everything from confirming voter registration and learning about candidates to creating personalized voting plans and reflecting on the election experie...

With early voting starting soon in several states, she encourages listeners to develop a voting plan tailored to their needs—whether voting by mail, early in-person, or on election day. L. Joy emphasizes the importance of researching state-specific voting rules to avoid last-minute issues and voter suppression challenges. She’s also discussing the historic School Board elections in Chicago and bri...

As we look ahead to the upcoming election cycle, it’s clear that now, more than ever, civic engagement is crucial. In this episode L. Joy focuses on key issues impacting families during the election cycle. Guests at the front of the class include Monifa Bandele, COO and Senior Vice President of Maternal Justice Campaigns at MomsRising Together, and Ailen Arreaza, Executive Director of Parents Toge...

This episode of #SundayCivics is a powerful reminder of the importance of civic participation in the ongoing fight for justice and equality. L. Joy’s lesson is all about recognizing the power we hold at every level of government and how vital issues like reproductive freedom are motivating people to get out and vote. For this conversation, she brings Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO of Reproducti...

L. Joy shares positive news, celebrating a legal victory by the Brooklyn NAACP, which successfully challenged New York's line-warming ban on constitutional grounds. She emphasizes the importance of staying engaged despite negative polls or disillusionment, highlighting her commitment to boosting voter turnout in New York, battleground state Pennsylvania, and beyond. L. Joy also calls out the hypoc...

L. Joy begins class by discussing the consistent voter turnout of women in elections, emphasizing their significant role in the electorate. She introduces the topic of the episode—women in politics and for this discussion, L. Joy brings researchers Kelly Dittmar and Kira Sanbonmatsu from the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University to the front of the class to delve deeper into...

L. Joy brings Leah Goodridge, an award-winning tenant's rights attorney and a New York City Planning Commissioner, to the front of the class to talk about the complexities of housing justice and the narratives that shape our understanding of renters, landlords, owners, and the broader housing crisis. But first L. Joy tackled a pressing issue that's been on the minds of many: the recent comments by...