Chasing Justice

What does it really take to build unity across difference, across history, across pain? In this episode of We Got Us, we take you to Chicago's neighborhoods of North Lawndale and South Lawndale (Little Village). These neighborhoods have long been separated not just by a train track, but by decades of disinvestment, segregation, and misunderstanding. In 2020, in the midst of national unrest followi...

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, infection rates soared and thousands of people suddenly struggled to put food on the table. But young people from the neighborhood began showing up. What started as a small church pantry quickly grew into a massive community effort to feed families across the southwest side of
Chicago.  In this episode, Ken Alvarado of New Life...

In this episode, Jessica shares the story of her stepfather's decision to self-deport and how that choice reshaped her family's understanding of home, safety, and belonging. What began as fear and uncertainty became a deeper reckoning with how immigration policies impacts generational families and communities. Welcome to our season titled, We Got Us: Stories of Faith, Justice and Collective Hope....

As a medical student, Flo believed policy was the path to fixing the deep inequities she saw in the healthcare system. But God called her into serving like Jesus, through proximity and relationships.  In this episode, Dr. Flo shares her journey in medical service and advocacy tracing how her understanding of care transformed as she served the people most affected by the system's failures. This is...

In the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, violence isn't just a headline, it can be a daily risk. But at the Firehouse Community Arts Center, Pastor Phil Jackson and his team are interrupting violence through creativity, youth-mentorship, and a loving and active presence on the block.  In this episode we dive into Pastor Phil's decades-long mission to reach youth and young adults labeled as "...

When Jamal was 13, he was shot on his way to school. Four years later, he was in prison. This is the story of how violence, survival, and faith intertwined to shape a new kind of transformative hope. In this episode, Roslyn Hernández and Jamal take us inside his journey from incarceration to transformation. We hear how Jamal found hope inside prison, how neighbors and advocates fought for his rele...

Mikayla Nembhard and Sandra explore how communal self-care and rest sustain long-term justice work. Sandra shares insights on overcoming burnout, processing emotions and offers practical ways to cultivate resilience. Join us to learn how rest can become an act of resistance and why community support is key to staying engaged in the work of justice.   Sandra Van Opstal is the Executive Director of...

Our podcast producer, Roslyn Hernández sits down with Justin Guaman to explore how Gen Z can engage in social justice and civic advocacy. Justin shares his journey from a justice-impacted youth to an advocate for marginalized communities, offering insights on finding courage through community, starting small, and collaborating for change. Tune in to discover how you can make a difference on campus...

Chealsia and Katie unpack what mutual aid means and what it can look like in action. Katie shares how mutual aid goes beyond charity by centering relationships, listening, and empowering communities to create their own solutions. Join this conversation and discover how mutual aid can transform how we care for one another! Katie Nguyen Palomares is Program Manager at Kingdom Capital Network , Sound...

Chealsia sits down with Tamir Bell to explore what it means to make a difference beyond the voting booth. Tamir shares his journey, from middle school to bridging gaps in his community, confronting ageism, and staying grounded in faith while advocating for justice. Tune in to hear practical ways to get involved, overcome barriers, and identify your passions to take action for change.   Tamir Bell'...

Propaganda encourages Gen Z to stay sharp, fact-check, and not get caught up in emotional reactions. Let's dive into the importance of local elections, the traps of single-issue voting, and how to avoid disinformation.  Mentioned in this episode: ballotpedia.org   Propaganda is an artist, author whose music and prose explore themes of divergence and connection. His worldview was shaped by his fath...

Let's dive into the power of voting and why it's about more than just picking the next president! Our guest, Kayla Griffin, a passionate advocate for voting rights, shares how decisions made at the local level—from school boards to public funding—affect our daily lives just as much as national elections. Mentioned in this Episode: www.vote411.org   | www.vote.org | www.whenweallvote.org Kayla Grif...

Let's be real—disagreements are everywhere in the work of justice, especially during an election year. But how do we handle them without losing focus on the bigger mission? In this episode of Chasing Justice, we're breaking down how to keep it respectful and productive. Tune in for some helpful tips!  Mentioned in this episode: The episode was in partnership with  @iamccda We hope to see folks at...

This season of the Chasing Justice podcast, Sandra will be handing the mic to the Chasing Justice team of Gen Z and young Millennial leaders who are making a difference in their communities as we explore what it means to be engaged socially and civically together.    This season, we're going to be hearing from a range of young leaders on topics surrounding civic engagement beyond voting, how to ch...

Peacemakers desire harmony and unity, but they also seek justice. Marlena Graves shares how her empathy and discernment cultivate a willingness to find common ground and potential wisdom in opposing viewpoints. She also talks about the tensions Peacemakers feel between truth-telling and the fear of potential relational loss.   Marlena Graves is the Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation at Nor...

Our Enthusiast guest is Danielle Coke Balfour! In this conversation, Dani shares the lows, highs, and challenges of her activism journey. She also talks about the ways in which she brings hope and practical optimism to her justice work. Listen in to hear Dani's stories and advice about how to manages anxiety in activism.    Danielle Coke is a graphic designer turned artist, advocate, speaker, and...

Challengers are the people we tend to think about when we think about activists. In this episode, Terence Lester shares his activism story, insights about how to channel anger, and the benefits of boundaries. Whether you're a Challenger yourself or intrigued by the dynamic ways individuals of this archetype engage in social justice, listen to this episode for valuable wisdom and meaningful reflect...

Many of us have to be careful with burnout, but investigators preemptively manage it. Join this conversation to hear how one of the most withdrawn types of the enneagram engages in justice. Roslyn Hernández shares about how she's starting her social justice journey and the self knowledge that helps her engage justice with self-care, compassion and strategic thinking.    Roslyn M. Hernández is podc...

Loyalists provide courageous support for marginalized groups, rooted in their own need for security and stability. Barnabas Lin shares how intersectionality, tensions between commitment and critique, and integrity are part of his activism journey as a loyalist.   Barnabas serves as Theologian in Residence at Bethel Community Church as he works on a PhD in Theological Ethics. He has over a decade d...

Dorcas Cheng-Tozun is an award-winning writer, editor, speaker, communications consultant, and former Inc.com columnist. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, Image Journal, and dozens of other publications in the US, Asia, and Africa. She serves as the editorial director of PAX, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and equipping the next generation of BIPOC...

How do social justice, ministry, and grief intersect? Creative activist, J.S. Park, tells us about his calling to meet people at different stages of grief, with love, creativity, individuality, and care. Tune in to hear his stories and reflections about how to care deeply, actively, and healthily.    J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain whose work has been featured on CNN. He's a Korean-American, sixt...

From Reggaeton to helping the Mestizo church create cultural change. As an achiever, Emanuel Padilla shares how community has been a part of his social justice journey from the stage to churches, cities, and the academy.    Emanuel is pursuing doctoral studies in theology and ethics working to recapture the history of colonization, reshape conceptions of identity, and inform the pursuit of justice...

As the Chasing Justice team, we have been lamenting the violence in Gaza and Israel. We condemn all acts of violence against civilians. We invite us to be people of solidarity and peace. Would you join us? Here are some action steps you can take to be an ally and advocate for peace.    Email your representatives using this link by our siblings at Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) .  Call your...

Jane Hong-Guzmán de León shares her social justice journey as a helper. Jane tells us about her start in government institutions and her transition to ministry. She also shares advice about what to avoid to be a healthy helper in the activism journey.    Jane Hong-Guzmán de León is a licensed pastor with over a decade of ministry experience pastoring youth and adults. She previously worked as a ju...

Tyler Burns shares insights about how a Reformer personality engages in social change, advocacy, and solidarity. Tune in to hear about the lessons he's learned in his activism journey.    Tyler Burns is a pastor, speaker, writer, and podcaster. He currently serves as the President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective , an organization founded to educate, encourage, and empower Black Christ...