In episode one of Making of an Activist we explore DeRay Mckesson’s early years in Baltimore, growing up with two parents struggling with addiction. However, with the assistance of a broader support system, DeRay manages not just to survive, but to thrive. At a young age, he was already campaigning and organizing. We explore the nature and nurture circumstances of DeRay’s activism. Expert commentary and historical context provided by Harvard Professor, Brandon Terry, and other experts.

In episode one of Making of an Activist we explore DeRay Mckesson’s early years in Baltimore, growing up with two parents struggling with addiction. However, with the assistance of a broader support system, DeRay manages not just to survive, but to thrive. At a young age, he was already campaigning and organizing. We explore the nature and nurture circumstances of DeRay’s activism. Expert commentary and historical context provided by Harvard Professor, Brandon Terry, and other experts.

Good Things from Lemonada Media is a podcast about the good people in the world who are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to make things better. Each week, we'll be talking about this country's most complex and confounding issues in an effort to affect systemic change, with a rotating cast of incredible guests and Lemonada hosts. From the dire condition of the American foster care system to the decline of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, protecting democracy, and more, we’re focusing on solutions – with the people putting them into action.

Good Things from Lemonada Media is a podcast about the good people in the world who are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to make things better. Each week, we'll be talking about this country's most complex and confounding issues in an effort to affect systemic change, with a rotating cast of incredible guests and Lemonada hosts. From the dire condition of the American foster care system to the decline of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, protecting democracy, and more, we’re focusing on solutions – with the people putting them into action.

Good Things from Lemonada

Good Things Presents: Making of an Activist (Part 1 of 3)

At age 14, Luz Hernandez left her home country of Honduras to cross borders into the U.S. She was fleeing poverty, sexual abuse, and medical malpractice. The journey was harrowing and so was making a new start in the U.S. Eventually, Luz became a social worker and now offers youth and families the support she had needed when she arrived. In the second episode of our two-part series created with Voice of Witness, host Maya Rupert talks to Luz about grit and determination, hope and belonging, and why hearing directly from immigrants is crucial to understanding the topic of immigration.

This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit voiceofwitness.org.

You can read Luz’s full story in the Voice of Witness book “Solito, Solita,” along with the powerful oral histories of fourteen other youth refugees from Central America.

For more info about this storytelling project and others, including education resources and ways to take action, visit voiceofwitness.org and subscribe to the newsletter.

At age 14, Luz Hernandez left her home country of Honduras to cross borders into the U.S. She was fleeing poverty, sexual abuse, and medical malpractice. The journey was harrowing and so was making a new start in the U.S. Eventually, Luz became a social worker and now offers youth and families the support she had needed when she arrived. In the second episode of our two-part series created with Voice of Witness, host Maya Rupert talks to Luz about grit and determination, hope and belonging, and why hearing directly from immigrants is crucial to understanding the topic of immigration.
This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit <a href="http://voiceofwitness.org">voiceofwitness.org</a>.
You can read Luz’s full story in the <a href="https://voiceofwitness.org/books/solito-solita/">Voice of Witness book “Solito, Solita,”</a> along with the powerful oral histories of fourteen other youth refugees from Central America.
For more info about this storytelling project and others, including education resources and ways to take action, visit <a href="http://voiceofwitness.org">voiceofwitness.org</a> and subscribe to the newsletter.

Immigrant Justice: Taking Back the Narrative

We hope you have been enjoying the incredible guests and stories from this season of Good Things. Now, we want to hear from you. We’re conducting a survey with three simple questions: Did you learn something, has your opinion changed, and do you feel empowered to put these new ideas into action? You can complete this simple, three question survey at bit.ly/goodthingssurvey.  

We hope you have been enjoying the incredible guests and stories from this season of Good Things. Now, we want to hear from you. We’re conducting a survey with three simple questions: Did you learn something, has your opinion changed, and do you feel empowered to put these new ideas into action? You can complete this simple, three question survey at <a href="http://bit.ly/goodthingssurvey">bit.ly/goodthingssurvey</a>.

Tell Us About YOUR Good Things

How do stories help us challenge, shape, and navigate our democracy? In this two-part series created with Voice of Witness, we’ll explore oral histories as powerful tools of resistance and belonging. In this first episode, host Maya Rupert sits down with Ashley Hemmers, a member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, whose path winds from growing up on her reservation to attending Yale to returning home again. Now a tribal administrator, Ashley shares how storytelling is both a bridge to the past and a pathway to her tribe’s future. 

This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit voiceofwitness.org.

You can read Ashley’s full story in the Voice of Witness book How We Go Home, along with the powerful oral histories of eleven other Indigenous narrators fighting for justice: https://voiceofwitness.org/books/how-we-go-home-voices-from-indigenous-north-america/

How do stories help us challenge, shape, and navigate our democracy? In this two-part series created with Voice of Witness, we’ll explore oral histories as powerful tools of resistance and belonging. In this first episode, host Maya Rupert sits down with Ashley Hemmers, a member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, whose path winds from growing up on her reservation to attending Yale to returning home again. Now a tribal administrator, Ashley shares how storytelling is both a bridge to the past and a pathway to her tribe’s future. 
This episode is created in partnership with Voice of Witness, an oral history nonprofit that advances human rights by amplifying the stories of people impacted by—and fighting against—injustice. To learn more, visit <a href="http://voiceofwitness.org/">voiceofwitness.org</a>.
You can read Ashley’s full story in the Voice of Witness book How We Go Home, along with the powerful oral histories of eleven other Indigenous narrators fighting for justice: <a href="https://voiceofwitness.org/books/how-we-go-home-voices-from-indigenous-north-america/">https://voiceofwitness.org/books/how-we-go-home-voices-from-indigenous-north-america/</a>

Good Things Presents: Making of an Activist (Part 1 of 3)

Good Things from Lemonada

In 1 playlist(s)

Good Things from Lemonada

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips