The Equity Matters Podcast

Although there is no commonly agreed upon definition for community engagement, at its heart community engagement means mutual decision making through collaboration. People, organizations, and government working collaboratively to create, realize and sustain visions for their community’s future. Today, we join Jodi Cunningham, PhD, Director of Health and Housing at the Community Builders, Inc. to d...

For far too long, communities of color and low-income communities have borne the brunt and burden of pollution to the air, water, and soil they rely on to live and raise their families. Research further goes to tell us that in low-income communities, homes averaged 25 to 60 percent more energy use per square foot. But why? Today we join Jamal J. Lewis, MPH, Director of Energy, Health, and Climate...

The environmental movement of the 1950s and 1960s raised awareness of the dangers posed by pollution and environmental degradation. Fast forward sixty years, we understand these environmental problems impact certain locations and people more than others - racial and ethnic minorities and the poor. Today, we join Juanita Hernández-Caudron, LCSW , Environmentalist and Social Justice advocate to disc...

On July 29, 2020 we released “Long Time Coming” - the first episode of the Equity Matters. Fast forward 365 days, and we have completed 38 episodes, with countless guests and remarkable conversations. On today’s special Instagram live episode,  Dr. James Bell III, host of the Equity Matters Podcast reflects on the good, the bad, and the ugly of podcasting, and what to expect in the coming year fro...

The Community of Practice: A Story to Tell w/ Shimon Cohen MSW, Dr. Marquitta Dorsey, and Dr. Jonathan Singer   There is a clear reason that storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. Stories create an unparalleled sense of connection between storyteller and listener. Fast forward to today, podcasting has emerged as a new vehicle to promote inclusion by valuing and unearthing real,...

Decolonizing education goes beyond changing the content of curricula and it's not just about adding different voices. It begs us to question the production of knowledge and relearning the way we understand these perspectives. Who is the narrator? Who is being painted as the savior? Who is being othered? All of these questions should be considered as we empower students to embrace other knowledge s...

With more incidents of police brutality against Black and brown Americans, and more colleges contending with their racist legacies by renaming campus buildings and removing statues that memorialize white supremacists, it's clear that colleges and universities must take a bold stance on the importance of becoming anti-racist institutions. But do students feel comfortable reporting racism? And how e...

A wide range of disciplines address the historic and ongoing manifestations of racial inequality and injustice in the curriculum. Many educators are working to equip students to analyze, understand, and intervene systems of oppression in order to advance #equity. Despite the commitment of many to bring a critical analysis of racial injustice many still encounter challenges in teaching this content...

The United States health care delivery system has historically engaged in the systematic segregation and discrimination of patients based on race and ethnicity, the effects of which persist to this day. This issue has resulted in inequities in access to and quality of health care and are major contributors to racial and ethnic health disparities. Today we join Dr. Magdala Chery, Dr. Sabrina Gard,...

Even with the best healthcare in top-notch clinical facilities, accidents, infections and other unwanted outcomes sometimes happen. According to the World Health Organization, globally as many as 4 out of 10 patients experience safety issues in primary and ambulatory care settings. Today we join Dr. Bryan O. Buckley, Program Director at the MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety, to discuss disp...

Every day, gun violence takes lives from communities all across the country in the form of suicides, unintentional shootings and interpersonal conflicts that become fatal due to easy access to guns. It is an urgent, complex, and multifaceted problem that requires evidence-based, multifaceted solutions. Today we join Dr. UniQue C. Starks, Jarrell Daniels, and Shakira Bolden, JD, to discuss the myth...

About 100,000 American have sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited disorder marked by sickle-shaped blood cells that can lump together, causing blockages of blood vessels, strokes, anemia, and early death. As a group, people with sickle cell disease experience worse health outcomes compared to other diseases and have access to fewer health resources. Today, we join André Marcel Harris, sickle cel...

Regardless of what type of social work you practice, we all have opinions and all have an opportunity to contribute to the public discourse. This doesn’t always have to be public speaking, and in many cases an opinion editorial is more than enough. Today, we join Algeria Wilson, the Director of Public Policy at the National Association of Social Workers Michigan Chapter to discuss how she has adop...

Continuing education is an opportunity for lifelong learning that expands your thinking, strengthens your practice, and helps to shape social work and related professions to meet the needs of the 21st century. Today we join Gina Tremonti Gembel, Director of Continuing Education at Michigan State University to discuss her role in continuing education that includes advancing social justice, engaging...

Many men have not been told/taught how to process and talk about their emotional experiences, furthering a sense of isolation, anger, and resentment. In this episode, we bring together three Black therapists to share their thoughts and experiences with regard to mental health. This episode represents their voices - uncensored and unscripted. What they have to say is honest, heartfelt, and at times...

For social workers, field learning plays a leading role in social work education and social work educators and field instructors need to know how their students learn and develop during the field experience. This process of learning is critical for students to help them acquire, practice, and improve the values, skills and knowledge needed for the profession. Today, we join Malikah Marrus, DSW-C t...

Therapists tend to think in patterns not people. This has been a tremendous asset in understanding how systems interact, and how conditions are created that would render individuals suicidal. But we know that suicide is totally preventable. Today, we join Janel Cubbage, MS, LCPC to discuss her work as the Chair for the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention in Maryland. Janel offers us insigh...

A fundamental goal for all of us in service professions is to integrate research and practice in ways that improve the outcomes of those being served. Evidence-based practices have long been a tool to bridge clinical expertise and the science. Unfortunately, these tools do not consistently support equitable implementation and outcomes. Today we join Dr. Juliette McClendon, Brandon J. Johnson, MHS,...

All college students are encouraged to engage in self-exploration in order to develop a clear sense of self, commitment, and direction. Playing a sport can either complement or impede this process and much depends on the supports in place for student athletes. Today, we join Marques R. Dexter, MS to discuss healthy development of the student athlete identity while balancing athletic and academic e...

Basic needs security among students enrolled in postsecondary education is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation, and students’ wellbeing. Today, we join Bezil Taylor, MSW to discuss how academic institutions can commit to addressing student basic needs in a holistic manner to ensure that all students have the opportunities to be successful.  LinkedIn: Bezil...

When students leave their homes and go off to college, there are enough distractions without having to worry about financial troubles. Today we join Dr. Michael Couch II, Chief Financial Officer of Martin University to discuss how the history of higher educational institutions have led to many of the financial inequities we see presently, the importance of financial literacy in receiving aid and h...

Coming up on the end of year and approaching a year of coexisting with COVID-19, I found it only appropriate to reflect on the opportunities we have with the new normal.  On this week's episode I dive into what it takes to reimagine our current existence and begin planning for equity and social justice. Be sure to listen to the end for some very important updates for the Equity Matters Podcast! Li...

Public spaces have the opportunity to reflect and shape the communities they serve. Unfortunately many underserved communities have been systematically excluded from the prosperity and vibrancy that their cities generate for the wealthy. We connect with Mónica Gutiérrez to discuss her experience engaging communities in South Phoenix, her research on #Placemaking and how to be an academic hustler w...

Vision and mission have a fundamental role in shaping an organization or a company. It reminds employees, stakeholders, and potential partners what it is exactly that you focus on. We connected with Dr. Ryan Warner as he shares his experience working with organizations to curate mission and vision while adopting an equity lens.  Keep up with Dr. Warner here: Twitter: @DrRyanCWarner LinkedIn: Ryan...

DEI Consulting is big business. Companies are more and more aware of their role in perpetuating the -isms and re looking to resolve power imbalances. This is great news for individuals who can help define and address these challenges. This is great news for individuals who have expertise in these areas. This week we connected with Maaso Kalema, Founder of the AYA Consulting Firm who shares her exp...