Abuelas en Acción: A Multicultural Podcast for Our Common Good

Kevin Santiago-Jimenez, Diya Mankotia, Jermaine Puryear, Jr and Adequoyah Mathews, board members of Seen and Heard, discuss their advocacy work.  These talented and inspiring youth leaders shared how they transformed personal experiences into community advocacy and how they  have built community spaces for dialogue.  They also shared how they have learned to leverage their youth perspectives to cr...

In this inspiring conversation, Metro Councilor and new father Juan Carlos González joins the Abuelas to share his journey from working-class roots in Cornelius, Oregon to regional leadership. They explore what it means to fight for affordable housing, transportation equity, and immigrant rights while staying grounded in family, cultural pride, and community. Juan Carlos offers a bold vision for a...

The Climate Comadres speak with Ilina Ewen, a writer, advocate, and purpose-driven leader who believes in the power of using your voice, especially when it’s used to stand up for children, equity, and justice. Ilina discusses the lack of connection many young people feel and their worries about the future. She and her colleagues have formed a new national organization, Seen and Heard, which will b...

Dr. Laura Pulido, Professor of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies and Geography at the University of Oregon’s Center for Environmental Futures, is our guest. Dr. Pulido discusses cultural memory, the current efforts at the federal level and across the country to erase it, and why we cannot achieve racial justice without honestly confronting a past rooted in racial violence. She also describes th...

Yvonne Garcia, Associate Director of the ACLU of Oregon, joins us to discuss the organization’s ongoing work in partnership with community members and allied organizations to protect democracy and defend civil liberties for all Oregonians. With passion and clarity, she reflects on the challenges facing our country today and underscores the strength, power, and importance of standing together to pr...

Our guest this session is Indi Namkoong, Transportation Equity Coordinator for Verde in Portland, Oregon. Be inspired by Indi’s powerful vision for transportation justice — one that ensures the benefits and burdens of our transportation systems are shared equitably across all neighborhoods. Indi also provides an update on the recent stopgap transportation bill passed during Oregon’s special legisl...

Join the Climate Comadres in this inaugural episode of our new partnership with Verde Action in Portland Oregon.  Cheyenne Holiday, Director of Policy and Advocacy talks about policy priorities of Verde Action.  She speaks about the challenges to climate justice in this moment including loss of federal funding and other challenges.  Cheyenne also reminds us of the many opportunities for collaborat...

Join Co-host Itzia Mejia in welcoming back Celeste Estrada to our virtual table. As we start off 2025 and a new presidential term we are reminded of the importance of coming together. Our conversation led us to explore themes of resilience, losing and finding community, self-advocacy, and healing tools. Support the show

Join the Comadres in this post election where we share our grief, sadness and fears but also our strength, determination and fuerza.  We draw our strength from our hearts, Familias, ancestors and supportive communities.  We will move forward!  Failure is not an option!!!! Support the show

Join our host Itzia Mejia Barragan and future educator, Yesli Peña-Rodriguez in a virtual conversation on the importance of this upcoming election. We will discuss our thoughts and feelings while expressing the importance to vote. Listen to our stories, experiences and call to action. Your voice matters!! We had the honor of having such an inspiring woman join us. A little more on Yesli… She was b...

Join us in this frank conversation between the Comadres about what is at state in this election.  Sitting this election out is not an option.  We are all responsible for the sacred democracy of our country.  The Comadres share their perspectives including their hopes and their fears for our country. Support the show

Co-hosts Marie Dahlstrom and Itzia Mejia talk about the upcoming November 5 election.  Itzia shares her Gen Z perspective and why this election is so important as an Undocumented American who will soon complete her Master's Degree in Education.  Marie shares her perspective as a Baby Boomer who lives in a red state and the impact on women's right to an abortion and reproductive rights. ...

Join us in our conversations with community members about the November 5 election.  Community leader, Olga Gerberg-Fern, talks about her experiences as a Latina living in rural Tennessee.  She shares her challenges in dealing with her neighbors stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants.  Support the show

Join us in our conversations about the Nov 5 election and why it is so important for us all to vote, if we are able.  We have so much at stake and yet our country is so divided.  We talk about hope and ways for us to heal our differences.  Must have conversations for our common good! Support the show

Join us in this heartfelt, con todo corazón, interview with one of Oregon's great leaders, David Martinez.  David shares his personal journey and what it meant for him to be honored as a Portland pride hero in Portland’s first LGBTQ+ mural titled “Never Look Away” that  showcases the beauty and struggle of Oregon’s LGBTQ+,  Central to his personal and career journey has been his familia espec...

Please join us in hearing the inspiring and heartfelt story of Elena Rodriguez, and her familia's  journey to become owners and operators of Alumbra Cellars in Dayton, Oregon. Alumbra Cellars is a vineyard and winery operated and owned by Mexican Americans, first-generation children of immigrants.  Elena chose Alumbra "to shine a light on the work being done in the vineyard and my Mexica...

Please join us in this special conversation with José Eduardo González y Salazar, Executive Artistic Director of Milagro Theater (as known as Miracle Theatre Group).  José speaks about his personal and professional journey to founding Milagro in 1985 with his wife, Dañel Malán-González.  He speaks about the importance of art that serves as a mirror, showing us who we are and what and who is around...

It was a pleasure meeting with Margarita Gutierrez Lemus, the new Executive Director of Familias en Accion.  Our conversation with Margarita is rich with topics including Latino health and economic justice and the importance/timeliness of  the upcoming Latino Health Equity Conference:  Nuestra Salud, Nuestro Poder; Cultivating Reproductive Justice.  More information about the conference can be fou...

Jose Madrid talks to us about the intersectionalities of his identity as queer and BIPOC and how they led him to his career in health.  He speaks about his lense as a DACA recipient and his commitment to addressing barriers to equitable health including reproductive justice.  Jose speaks about the importance of reproductive justice and the upcoming Familias en Accion 15th Annual Latino Health Equi...

Join us as we continue our conversation with Dr. Patricia Glazebrook, professor at Washington State University.  Our rich dialog with her includes the impact of climate change on women and children in Ghana and other developing countries.  The impact of capitalism and profits on climate change.  The importance of educating ourselves about issues such as climate change and the importance of spreadi...

Celeste Estrada, educator and community advocate, speaks about her personal and professional journey.  She speaks about the pain of losing her father and how her grief transformed into action through the creation of the Washington State University Las Mariposas Poderosas Undocumented Initiatives program.  Celeste speaks about the impact of trauma and grief and the healing power of art.   "We...

Join us in this inspiring dialog with beloved community leader and social justice advocate, Cynthia Gomez, Director of Community Impact, Portland State University.  Cynthia talks about her defining moments and mentors who have meant so much to her in personal and professional journey.  She talks about our individual and collective power in guiding us to a thriving future for all.  Our interview wi...

Mariana Quezada, a junior at Chapman University, joins us for this very intimate interview about the many successes and challenges she has faced in her journey to attend college.  Multi-talented Mariana is also a guitarist in the highly successful Mariachi Panteras. She describes how she confronted each barrier in her life and what gives her strength to succeed!  Mariana"s favorite book is &q...

Join the comadres of Abuelas en Accion in a healing and affirming conversation with author Emilly Prado, author of Funeral for Flaca.  Emilly talks about the power of writing in whatever way we choose; journaling, memoir fiction, poetry.  Writing is our voice and our story. She encourages us to write using our own unique rhythm.  As Emilly reads from her powerful chapter, "it's my brown...

Join us in this inspiring interview with Dr. Veronica Sandoval, also known as Lady Mariposa. Her passion for literature, activism, justice and the Chicanx/Latinx community has fueled her work and publications in both creative and academic writing. Veronica shares her journey to higher education and highlights the importance of representation. As a Chola Scholar, she empowers and uplifts the Chola...