Abuelas en Acción: A Multicultural Podcast for Our Common Good

Abuelas, Marie and Dr. Rosemary, speak about our new series, Pláticas de la Vida.  Pláticas de la Vida places compassion as the centerpiece for  talks about joy and strength as well as our generational histories of pain and sorrow.  The mass murder of innocent children and their teachers in Uvalde, Texas urgently reminds us of the need to sit down, with our loved ones, at our kithen tables to spea...

Emilly Prado speaks with the Comadres about her new book, Funeral for Flaca.  Emilly writes so powerfully about identity, culture and familia as a Latinx growing up in a white Northern California community .  Ms Magazine calls Funeral for Flaca, "Utterly vulnerable, bold, and unique.”  Support the show

Rachael Banks, Oregon's first Black Public Health Director, has made incredible strides in building strong partnerships between the State of Oregon Health Authority and communities of color! She talks about Oregon's priorities and plans for climate equity. Support the show

Andrea Hamburg is an environmental public health professional who talks about climate and health and the disproportionate impact on BIPOC and low income community members.  She also talks about the importance of using an environmental justice framework to ensure climate and health equity for all! Support the show

Latinx comic writer and novelist, Aaron Duran, talks about his new comic series Season of the Bruja,   He also talks about his querida abuela and the important role she has played in the person and writer that he is today!  Aaron says, " If you want to see a badass Latina fight demons with magic, this is your book”.  We wholeheartedly agree! Support the show

Our guest is Dr. Vivek Shandas, Professor of Climate Adaptation and Director of the Sustaining Urban Places Research Lab at Portland State University.  For the past 10 years, Dr. Shandas has been studying racist housing policies across the United States and the impact of these injustices on communities of color.  He is passionate about climate justice and offers concrete steps that municipalities...

Today we are talking with Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio who made history as the first Latinx City Commissioner and oversees the historical climate justice ballot initiative.  The Portland Clean Energy Fund was  passed by voters 2 to 1; made possible by Black, Indigenous and people of color.  Carmen talks about her journey to her elected position and about the importance of having people...

Angel Medina challenges us to educate ourselves about the history of the food we eat.  He talks about the indigenous origins of Mexican foods and how his Portland restaurant, Republica, celebrates food through Latinx history and culture. Support the show

Osmani Alcaraz-Ochoa, Executive Director of VOZ Workers Rights and Education Project, talks about environmental and climate justice for day laborers.  Day laborers are the "Canaries in the Mine."  Climate change is impacting these vulnerable workers and will impact us all without equitable climate action policies. Support the show

Elizabeth Lopez-Hernandez, Climate & Health Equity Program Coordinator and Community Health Worker talks about climate equity.  She talks about the impact of climate change on Latinx and the importance of equitable climate action policies to protect all community members. Support the show

Priscilla Solis Ybarra talks about Latinx Environmentalism and how it differs from white mainstream environmentalism.  Dr. Ybarra is the author of Writing the Goodlife:  Mexican Literature and the Environment .  “Goodlife writing embraces the values of simplicity, sustenance, dignity and respect.  The values in goodlife writing implicitly integrate the natural environment as part of the community,...

Dr. Nicole Guidotti-Hernandez speaks about identity and language.  She explains why the term Latinx is a better reflection of Latino diversity:    “Latinx recognizes a gender spectrum and also a racial spectrum, and a sexual spectrum to confront internalized anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, and homophobia." Support the show

Dr. Michael Mendez, Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning and Policy at the University of California, Irvine,talks about the inequities that took place during the 2017 Thomas Fire in Ventura County, California, where recovery resources were primarily directed toward wealthier residents ignoring the needs of undocumented and indigenous workers.  He discusses "slow violence," the o...

Erandi Trevino, Mom's Clean Air Force/Ecomadres talks about the impact of air pollution on the health of Latino families and community organizing that is making our voices heard for clean air policies.  Latinos are more likely to be exposed to air pollution.  New research shows that exposure to elevated levels of air pollution is linked to worse health outcomes from COVID-19. Support the show

Dr. Rosemary and Marie talk about the opportunities and challenges ahead as we strive for climate equity.  Excessive heat in Arizona and the West severely impacts the most vulnerable.   We know that climate justice intersects with immigration, health and racial inequities.  The COVID pandemic provides us with the opportunity to develop equitable policies for climate change that include the most vu...

Heriberto Bolanos talks about climate justice and the urgency of taking action now on behalf of the wellbeing of our communities and future generations.    Heriberto shares his thoughts on the intersection of climate change, immigration, racial and social justice.  Heriberto's life journey is an inspiration for all! Support the show

Dr. Ruth Zambrana, renowned Latina researcher talks about structural and racial inequities for Latinos.  Her groundbreaking book, “Understanding Latino families : Scholarship, Policy and Practice, published in 1995 provided social and demographic profiles of Latinos.  She talks about what has changed since 1995 and what has not. Support the show

Dr. Ruth Zambrana, renowned Latina researcher talks about structural and racial inequities for Latinos.  Her groundbreaking book, “Understanding Latino families : Scholarship, Policy and Practice, published in 1995 provided social and demographic profiles of Latinos.  She talks about what has changed since 1995 and what has not. Support the show

Dr. Rosemary and Marie talk about the challenges of the pandemic and the importance of naming our experiences and feelings.  The pandemic has changed our lives.  Mindfulness helps us acknowledge how hard things are in the moment.  Self-compassion will transform our lives and those of our loved ones. Support the show

Ayla Rosen, HIV/STI Sexual Health Manager  talks about the stigma associated with sexual health within Latinx communities.  Ayla and the  Familias en Accion, team are working to bring this important issue to communities in Oregon.  She also talks about the upcoming  12th annual Latino Health Equity Conference which will be held virtually. Support the show

Over the past year, women have borne the brunt of the employment fallout sparked by the pandemic with the impact even more severe among women of color.  Lisette Orellana Engel from National Crittendon talks about the challenges facing Latinx mothers during the pandemic. Women of color are more likely to work as essential workers and are overrepresented in sectors that are hardest hit by the pandem...

Zoraya Uder, Promotora de Salud, from Familias en Accion talks about the impact of the pandemic on Latino families.  The COVID pandemic has continued for over one year hitting Latino communities harder, as they are more likely to contract, be hospitalized and die from COVID-19.  Families are suffering the economic and health consequences of COVID-19. Support the show

Anthony Veliz, Founder of the Oregon Latinx Leadership Network (OLLN) talks about the work of OLLN in working for Latinx equity during COVID and post pandemic.  “The first-come, first-serve processes have created greater inequality for Oregon’s Latinx communities. This crisis demands that we move away from inequitable policies and practices.” Support the show

Candace Avalos a first generation American, Blacktina, millennial, Portland State University educator, and civic leader talks about her defining moment that changed her life's direction.  She is guided by the words of, Andrea Skorepa, CEO of Casa Familiar, who said, "You (young people) are always told you are the future.  You are the present.  If you waited for the future the time will b...

Tierra Stewart from Ignite National speaks about why women are such amazing leaders.  She speaks about systemic racism and how women have the strength and skills to address these systemic barriers to ensure that all families thrive rather than survive.  Tierra inspires us all to act for racial and social justice! Support the show