Social Justice Origin Stories

Dr. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington, talks about the origins of her non-linear path to Social Work and her dedication to social justice, shaped by her personal experiences as a transracial and transnational adoptee from Korea. She describes how becoming a parent herself, meeting other Korean adoptees, traveling to Korea, and start...

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando talks with kyle lim, a passionate racial justice advocate and community organizer. Originally from Singapore, kyle shares some of his experiences navigating complex racial identities and confronting systemic inequities in the U.S., particularly in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his storytelling about the education justice work at the Urban Core...

Jouapag Lee, a passionate advocate for social justice, healing, and liberation, shares her personal journey and motivations. She reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped her activism, including a deeply personal incident of racial and gender-based harassment in college that drastically shifted her worldview and led her into activism and organizing for better campus conditions for marginalized s...

In this episode of Social Justice Origin Stories, Relando is joined by Tony Nelson, who explores his development from his rural Michigan upbringing to becoming an active participant in progressive movements and education. Tony revisits the significance of his time as an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, recalling how attending a campus presentation by Jane Elliott served as a...

Relando sits down with Surabhi Pandit, Macro Social Worker, equity advocate, and personal friend, to discuss the powerful role leveraging her networks in student government to organize dialogues on race and equity at The University of Michigan School of Social Work had on her journey. They reflect on their shared experiences in grad school, including the catalytic moments that led to the creation...

This episode of Social Justice Origin Stories features Kyahdric Moses. Moses, a design activist who identifies as a citizen designer, shares his personal journey toward understanding his intersecting identities and his commitment to social good through design. Kyahdric discusses the power of storytelling, intersecting identities, and the significance of design in addressing social inequities. He s...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of 'Social Justice Origin Stories,' Dr. Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury explores the personal experiences and pivotal moments that shaped her commitment to equity and social justice. As a former Detroit public school teacher and now a professor at Grand Valley State University, Dr. Bailey-Fakhoury remembers the lessons learned from her grandmother, the challenges fa...

Dr. Amber Banks shares her personal journey into activism and social justice work. She speaks on the complexities of trust, how personal and cultural experiences shape trust, and the intersection of trust with race and power. Dr. Banks discusses the importance of creating spaces where individuals can feel seen and heard and stresses the critical nature of repair in the trust-building process. Her...

Learn more about Relando's founding beliefs, assumptions, and aspirations that inform his work with Social Justice Origin Stories. Relando also explains the project structure in more detail including the storytelling perspectives of personal journeys, organizational histories, educational segments, and community voices. Consider this an orientation to get acclimated, as well as an invitation to co...

Social Justice Origin Stories is a storytelling project that highlights personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice. Through truth-telling: the honest sharing of their experiences, storytellers teach us about themselves, enabling us to learn about ourselves and our world through their stories. By reconnecting with pi...