Art of Citizenry

Around the world, far-right and ultra-conservative movements are gaining power—mainstreaming ideologies once confined to the political fringes. From the recent elections in Germany to the United States, we’re witnessing a rise in extremist rhetoric, the rollback of human rights protections, and a troubling erosion of democratic norms. As these forces grow bolder, many leaders – from businesses to...

April 24th marks the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh—a tragedy that killed over 1,100 garment workers and injured thousands more. It exposed the human cost of unsustainable fashion cycles and sparked global conversations about corporate accountability, worker safety, and supply chain transparency. Over a decade later, workers across global supply chains still continue...

Globalization has set the stage for complex supply chains that allow multinational corporations to geographically and legally distance themselves from the exploitative labor conditions they often incentivize and perpetuate, shielding themselves from accountability while profiting from systemic human rights abuses. Companies such as REI have long cultivated an image of sustainability and progressiv...

The fate of America’s public lands is at a crossroads. With sweeping federal budget cuts, mass job losses at key agencies like the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture, and a growing push for resource extraction under the banner of economic security, the future of national parks and trails has never felt more uncertain. At the heart of this shift sits a potential deepeni...

In episode 22 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, we’re opting outside by centering REI’s labor fight. Manpreet is joined by Emma Harris, a bike and ski shop technician at REI’s SoHo store in New York City. As a member of REI Union SoHo, she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store’s Contract Action Team. REI SoHo was the first REI store to unionize. Since 20...

In episode 21 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra unpacks Cultural Humility—a lifelong practice of unlearning, deep listening, and rethinking how we engage with difference. Cultural Humility challenges the colonial mindset that knowledge alone is enough to understand another’s lived experience. Instead, it asks us to center the voices of those most impacted, acknowledge power structur...

In Episode 20 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra is joined by immigrant community organizer Maru Mora-Villalpando, Founder of La Resistencia, and international human rights lawyer Alejandra Gonza, Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy. Together, they expose the brutal realities of immigration detention—from systemic neglect and punishment to the resilience of those organizing...

In episode 19 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet is joined by Anthony Enriquez, the VP of U.S. Advocacy and Litigation at RFK Human Rights. Together, they discuss the complexities of immigration detention in the U.S., focusing on the financial motivations behind privatized detention centers, the historical shifts in immigration policy, and the role of race in shaping these policies. Anthony hig...

This week marks the beginning of our reckoning with America’s truths, with the realization that Trumpism is the very product of our own societal tendencies. On Monday, January 20th, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Episode Time Stamps Intro: 00.43 Reflecting on the First Term: 4.15 The Tech Industrial Complex & Crony Capitalism: 07.23 Global Political Context:...

Welcome to Art of Citizenry. With a sharp focus on culture, economics, and politics, Art of Citizenry explores how historic oppression persists and evolves, confronting the colonial legacies that shape our systems today. Tune in weekly for thoughtful conversations about decolonization and storytelling as Host, Social Impact Advisor, and Human Rights Scholar, Manpreet Kaur Kalra examines the power...

During episode 16 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra is joined by Dr. Allison Berry, a family physician, mother, and trained abortion provider. Together, they discuss the nuances of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, explore the inequities that come from banning safe abortions, and unpack how religion + politics have dictated the physician-patient relationship...

Human trafficking is a complex issue with layers of deep seated power structures influencing the way we both understand and think about trafficking. All too often, the narratives we read and share fail to capture the nuance that makes this industry so complex. The images we see are compelling -- those of young women, mostly women of color in the Global South, looking weak and disempowered. Their s...

White feminism is built on centering Euro-American so-called progressive views as the pinnacle of women’s liberation. It rejects intersectionality and complexity, instead manifesting in the form of white saviorism, fueled by the very system it claims to challenge: misogyny.  Over the past week, much of the conversation around Afghanistan has been focused on the “liberation of Afghan women.” These...

// Trigger Warning // During this episode, we discuss loss, exploitation, systemic racism, and the devastating results of healthcare inequities. If you need to at any point, pause, step away or just stop listening, I understand. Unpacking moments of profound communal trauma can be incredibly difficult. For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/ep...

A History of Anti-Asian Racism Anti-Asian racism is systemic. From terrorizing the very Chinese immigrants who built America’s infrastructure in the 1800s to Japanese American incarceration during WWII, anti-Asian racism is baked into America’s history. It continues to manifest through harmful imperialist narratives that further the dehumanization of Asian communities - perpetuating exploitative p...

The unfortunate reality is that human rights violations are part of the fabric of India’s history. From police brutality to unlawful arrests and disappearances, genocide has become normalized. Which is why, if you are a minority, your rights are constantly under threat. As has been the case throughout history, protestors are being painted as terrorists by state-owned news outlets and are being met...

Nationalism in Trump’s America and Modi’s India Over the past week, I took some time to reflect on last Wednesday’s white supremacy insurrection. From Modi’s India to Trump’s America, there is no arguing that nationalism thrives on the polarization of the other.  Two of the world’s largest democracies are currently grappling with the realities of autocratic leaders who have managed to create deep...

Deconstructing India’s Agricultural Industry At this moment, the largest protest in human history is happening. 250 million farmers and workers across India, many from the states of Punjab and Haryana, have taken to the streets in protest of three new agricultural bills that threaten to obliterate their livelihood. On the surface, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has claimed that these bills...

Deconstructing America's History of Genocide This special podcast episode features a panel conversation hosted on November 20th by Reclaim Collaborative in collaboration with ESJ and Art of Citizenry as part of Reclaim Black Friday, a campaign calling on brands to redistribute a percentage of their sales to Indigenous and Black land-based organizations instead of running sales during Black Friday...

How Visual Storytelling Transcends the Impact of Colonization on Language In Episode 08 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kalra is joined by Eunice Pais in a conversation exploring the ways in which colonial legacies led to the dominance of the English language, creating barriers rooted in power. They discuss the ways in which photography conveys stories and builds connections at a raw, humani...

Exploring Intersectional Identities One of the things I have found to be most impactful in my work is unpacking the complexity and layers to how we identify. No single person has a single identity. We are multidimensional, with each layer of our identity shaping how we see ourselves and hope to be seen. It is not controversial to say that our identities are about more than just our race. And yet,...

In Episode 06 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kalra is joined by Neha Sharma, Lindsay Woodruff, and Austin Miller in a conversation deconstructing the complexities of doing good in an unequal world. They explore ways in which voluntourism, may it be faith based or not, is a manifestation of colonization, reinforced by power structures rooted in imperialism. Together, they break down what sus...

From saviorism to poverty porn, for decades, storytelling has become part and parcel of marketing and fundraising efforts. For social enterprises, stories about the lives of the artisans who design and create products are shared often in the name of transparency. With storytelling a core part of many brands' marketing strategy, the conversation around consent is often overlooked. “Mission-driven p...

“Craft has a lot to tell about a person’s country and identity.” It is often said that you can learn a lot about the history of a community or culture through their textiles. However, that is only possible if those textiles have survived the human experience of war and conflict. In many countries, cultures have been erased by colonial homogenization or appropriated by selective extraction. During...

Ever ordered a chai tea latte or purchased a jacket marketed as a kimono? When it comes to mobilizing for an anti-racist economy, it is important to first address the ways in which we reinforce systems of oppression in our every day life. During this episode, we explore at what point cultural appreciation becomes appropriation. I had the opportunity to host this conversation earlier this month in...