H
ow does racism shape the realities of public education in the United States? PAYCE Fellow Ala’ Hamamreh (Al-Quds American Studies) talks to Des Moines Public School Board member Dionna Langford about her efforts to address race and class inequalities in her district. They talk frankly about the problem of white progressives needing to examine their own racism for the District to serve all children.
Author Archives: Darcie
Episode #106: PB & J (Phoebe and Justice)
Sitting down with Phoebe Clark, PAYCE Fellow Meredith Howe (University of New Hampshire) spoke to her about activism in her life. Clark, a senior at Drake University, spoke about the time she and friends disrupted a Republican event, her views on “diversity of tactics,” labels, and how she began to look positively at activism after disillusionment.
Songs credits:
Greg Atkinson “Crick’s Unnecessary Children,” Parvus Decree “Into Oblivion (Partially
Recomposed),” Broke for Free “Night Owl,” Transpanda “Thunder Panda,” Lonely Punk “Easter
Island” – all music from FreeMusicArchive.org
Episode #105: Your Vote is Not a Chocolate
Project Vote Smart is a Des Moines, Iowa based organization that uses volunteer power to create a database of transparent information about candidates and politicians all across the United States. Peter McLaughlin, Vote Smart’s Director of Elections and Candidates Research, explains why nonpartisan research is his passion and vital to American democracy. His story is told by PAYCE Fellow Rana Rishmawi (Al-Quds American Studies) who warns that voting, unlike shopping, requires research in order to avoid a bitter outcome.
Episode #104: Farms, Feminism and Organizing
Ash Bruxvoort is a young adult active in the local Democratic Socialists of America and Women, Food, and Agriculture Network. PAYCE Fellow Majd Aburrub (Al Quds-Bard) considers what we can learn for ourselves by following Ash’s example of solidarity and helping others. Ash’s superpower is her concern for the question: “How can I help bring out what makes that person special and draw their attention to it?”
Episode #103: Phenomenal Woman
In a world full of opportunities, women are told how to present and carry themselves. PAYCE Fellow Alexis Jones’ podcast delves into Dionna Langford’s personal stories of what motivated her to run for School Board. The youngest African-American woman to serve in Des Moines, Dionna offers an enthralling narrative of real-life obstacles she has faced when deciding to run, and how they have helped to shape her perception of what changes need to occur to repair and rebuild Des Moines. Jones is a recent MA recipient from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. She writes that Langford’s story gives her hope.
Episode #102: Demand Your Rights
Joi
n PAYCE Fellow Jeffrey Simmons (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) as he profiles Abshir Omar Mahamed, a 26-year-old Somali refugee and Muslim, who made the bold decision to run for the Des Moines City Council. Although Abshir did not win the council seat, the change that he was able to make in the Des Moines is far from over. Abshir’s story is one that relates to us all. We all have diverse backgrounds, and we all face hardship, but that does not mean that we can’t make a difference in our communities.
Episode #101: Dear Future Generations
PAYCE Fellow Afnan Abbasi (Al-Quds Bard) profiles Des Moines children’s rights advocate Jill Appelgate. Jill is motivated to fight for children who are vulnerable because they lack a voice in the political process. Afnan reflects on Jill’s story with a commentary on children’s human rights and the ways that we fall short in our obligation to future generations.
Start Here
Hello! The PAYCE program proudly offers season one of PAYCE Stories. You can hear real stories of young adults who stepped up to lead their city in civic and political engagement. How do they inspire? What does it mean to be a success? Why do they do this important work?
The storytellers are PAYCE Fellows in residence at Drake University in January 2018. Each pair of students (one Palestinian, one U.S.) completed an interview. Each fellow created a story. The series episodes reveal how young adults create positive change through the eyes of both individual profiled and the storyteller Fellow. Enjoy!
Season One:
Episode #101: Dear future generations by Afnan Abbasi
Episode #102: Demand your rights by Jeffrey Simmons
Episode #103: Phenomenal Woman by Alexis Jones
Episode #104: Farms, feminism, and organizing by Majd Aburrub
Episode #105: Your vote is not a chocolate by Rana Rishmawi
Episode #106: PB&J (Phoebe and Justice) by Meredith Howe
Episode #107: Our city needs important conversations by Ala’ Hamamreh
Episode #108: Organizing for empowerment by Taylor Zitkus
Episode #109: I could add value by Kelanie Crosswait
Episode #110: The kids are all right, right? by Juli Dajci
Episode #111: Changing the conversation by Hala Jaffal
Episode #112: Making local change by Genesis Buckhalton
Episode #113: Finding your way in politics by Justen Norcott
Episode #114: Who was the first woman president? by Reeda Alji