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Episode 257 - Unelectable Vol. 2: Feminism Live @AMC2020!

AirGo hosts the second volume of Unelectable, our live podcast series with Black Youth Project exploring electoral politics and radical imagination, as part of Allied Media Conference 2020! The live virtual event's focus is Feminism, and features Unelectable cohost Asha Ransby-Sporn, environmental justice organizer Siwatu-Salama Ra, and Detroit movement legend Tawana Petty.

Check out the illustration of the event by Emily Simons on our IG, and learn more about Emily's work here: www.pittsburghposterproject.org/emily-simons

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SHOW NOTES:

Freesiwatu.org

www.honeycombthepoet.org

Check out video of many of the conference's amazing sessions and learn more about this remarkable gathering: amc.alliedmedia.org/

Episode 256 - The Abolition Suite Vol. 5: Fourteen Principles of Abolition Movement Work

We bookend this set of episodes in the Abolition suite by giving some updates on upcoming opportunities to be involved, detailing some Chicago-based wins that emerged over the last couple days to help us all balance the weight of this moment, and sharing the 14 principles that Chicago-based abolition movement workers have developed to guide the work, as recorded at a #DefundCPD training on 51st St. in Chicago.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO PLUG IN!

7/24 - Freedom Square Anniversary Rally to #DefundCPDbit.ly/DemandDefundCPD

7/26 - Unelectable Live @ AMC2020!
amc2020.sched.com/event/239801344c…0be5749cab48fb6b

7/28 - #DefundCPD Virtual Training: bit.ly/virtualdefundcpd

Share the whole Abolition Suite with a friend!: soundcloud.com/airgoradio/sets/the-abolition-suite

Rate, comment, and review AirGo on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091

Donate to AirGo: airgoradio.com/donate

Episode 255 - The Abolition Suite Vol. 4: Robin D.G. Kelley

The Abolition Suite is a series of AirGo episodes exploring the concepts and practices of policing and prison abolition with the thought leaders who have been pushing an abolitionist future forward for decades. The Abolitionist Suite is presented in support of the #DefundCPD campaign and the Black Abolitionist Network.

This episode's guest is scholar, author, and historian Robin D.G. Kelley. A true digger and chronicler of Black liberation history, he explores the roots and routes of abolition, defines the concept of racial capitalism, and even takes off his historian hat briefly to imagine a liberatory future.

NOTE: Don't forget to rate, comment, and review AirGo on Apple Podcasts!

SHOW NOTES:
Angela Davis Lectures on Liberation: archive.org/details/AngelaDavis…ecturesOnLiberation

Slavery and Social Death by Orlando Patterson: www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674986909

Black Marxism by Cedric Robinson: uncpress.org/book/9780807848296/black-marxism/

Black Reconstruction by Du Bois: www.zinnedproject.org/materials/blac…ction-america/

Organization for Black Struggle in STL: www.obs-stl.org/

Jamala Rogers: jamalarogers.com/about/

Black Radical Congress Agenda: www.obs-stl.org/wp-content/upload…REEDOM-AGENDA.pdf

M4BL Policy Statement: m4bl.org/policy-platforms/

Critical Resistance: criticalresistance.org/

CLR James: www.marxists.org/archive/james-clr/biograph.htm

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney: www.versobooks.com/books/2785-how-…eveloped-africa

How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America by Manning Marable: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/736-how…black-america

Groundings with my Brothers by Walter Rodney: www.versobooks.com/books/2787-the-…ith-my-brothers

Jah Kingdom by Monique A. Bedasse: uncpress.org/book/9781469633596/jah-kingdom/

Gina Dent: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Dent

Combahee River Collective: combaheerivercollective.weebly.com/the-com…nt.html

Climate Changemakers Vol. 5 with Lissette Castañeda

Climate Changemakers is a 5-part podcast series, showcasing and celebrating leaders in equity work and climate action across Illinois, presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of nonprofit organization Elevate Energy.

On this final episode of Climate Changemakers, Damon and Daniel are joined by Lissette Castañeda. A lifelong Logan Square resident, Lissette is the Interim Executive Director of LUCHA, an organization working to advance housing as a human right by empowering communities– particularly the Latino and Spanish-speaking populations–through advocacy, affordable housing development, and community building. She talks about the ways in which her work is connected to the Puerto Rican diaspora, how COVID is impacting the fight for housing as a human right, and much more.

Learn about LUCHA's Passive House: lucha.org/build-passive-house-institute-us/

Learn about Elevate Energy and their 20th anniversary: www.elevateenergy.org/

Episode 254 - The Abolition Suite Vol. 3: Andrea Ritchie

The Abolition Suite is a series of AirGo episodes exploring the concepts and practices of policing and prison abolition with the thought leaders who have been pushing an abolitionist future forward for decades. The Abolitionist Suite is presented in support of the #DefundCPD campaign and the Black Abolitionist Network.

Volume 3 features writer, organizer, and movement worker Andrea Ritchie. Andrea is the author of Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color, and has devoted the last 25 years naming and advocating for women of color, especially LGBTQ women of color, who have been victims of police violence. Ritchie co-authored the report SayHerName: Police Violence against Black Women and Women of Color with Kimberle Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum. She and the guys talk about the portals opening in this moment, the ways that gender-based violence is an intrinsic tactic of policing, and much more.

SHOW NOTES:
Sign on to the #DefundCPD campaign: actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-on-to…olice-department

July 17 Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally: www.facebook.com/events/s/black-i…580611602644351/

Arrested Justice by Beth Ritchie: nyupress.org/9780814776223/arrested-justice/

INCITE!, a network of radical feminists of color organizing to end state violence and violence in our homes and communities. incite-national.org/

Blackness, Animality, and the Unsovereign by Che Gossett: www.versobooks.com/blogs/2228-che-…the-unsovereign

Dancing the Carceral Creep by Mimi Kim: escholarship.org/uc/item/804227k6

Ruthie Wilson Gilmore: www.nytimes.com/2019/04/17/magazi…lson-gilmore.html

Breonna Taylor and Gentrification: www.salon.com/2020/07/06/breonna…ntrification-plan/

Octavia Butler: octaviabutler.org/

Nalo Hopkinson: nalohopkinson.com/index.html

Interrupting Criminalization: www.interruptingcriminalization.com/

Vision 4 Black Lives 2020: m4bl.org/policy-platforms/

In Our Names Network: www.inournamesnetwork.com/

Invisible No More: invisiblenomorebook.com/

Episode 253 - The Abolition Suite Vol. 2: Mariame Kaba

The Abolition Suite is a series of AirGo episodes exploring the concepts and practices of policing and prison abolition with the thought leaders who have been pushing an abolitionist future forward for decades. The Abolitionist Suite is presented in support of the #DefundCPD campaign and the Black Abolitionist Network.

Volume 2 of the series is with abolitionist organizer, community builder, and mentor Mariame Kaba. A 3-time AirGo Alum, Mariame talks through what we all need to remember in this time of uprising, how we can unweave the police from our hearts and minds, and much more.

SHOW NOTES:

Read Mariame's recent NY Times Op-Ed "Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police": www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/opinio…efund-police.html

Explore her workbook Fumbling Towards Repair: www.akpress.org/fumbling-towards-repair.html

Other abolitionist projects mentioned by Mariame:
Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective: batjc.wordpress.com/
Anti Police-Terror Police Project: www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/
CAT 911: cat-911.org/
The Northwest Network: www.nwnetwork.org/

Paola Rojas: sfonline.barnard.edu/navigating-neo…ds-and-hearts/

Prison by Any Other Name: thenewpress.com/books/prison-by-any-other-name

Liat Ben-Moshe: www.liatbenmoshe.com/

Eddie Ellis: www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/451/th…n-on-sentence

DefundCPD Campaign: actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-on-to…olice-department

Episode 252 - The Abolition Suite Vol. 1: #DefundCPD with Asha Ransby-Sporn

AirGo introduces The Abolition Suite, a month of episodes focusing on police and prison abolition, with this episode featuring AirGo fave Asha Ransby-Sporn. Asha and the guys talk about the upcoming Defund CPD Mass Resistance Trainings over Fourth of July weekend, and go through the 11 demands of the Black Abolitionist Network and the DefundCPD campaign.

NOTE: The 7/4 and 7/5 trainings are for Black people only. White and non-Black POC folks can sign up for the 7/3 training.

Sign up HERE: actionnetwork.org/events/defund-cp…stance-trainings

Can't make the training? Sign on to demand the defunding of CPD HERE: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-on-to-demand-defunding-of-the-chicago-police-department

This series of trainings is hosted by the Black Abolitionist Network as apart of the campaign to Defund CPD. Feel free to contact BAN at blackabolitionistnetwork@gmail.com with any accessibility needs or other concerns.

Episode 251 - #BYPSpotlight with Danez Smith

Black Youth Project has joined forces with AirGo for a year-long #BYPSpotlight series, featuring our favorite Black academics and activists. This special Juneteenth #BYPSpotlight episode is with poet Danez Smith. Danez is a Minneapolis native who has been intimately involved in the uprising that began in response to the murder of George Floyd by MPD officer Derek Chauvin. They are also the author of three award-winning collections of poetry, and the cohost of VS, a Poetry Foundation podcast produced by AirGo cohost Kiss. They talk about their experience over the last three weeks in the streets, how they contributed to demanding change from the Poetry Foundation, and much more.

DONATE to The Hallie Q Brown Community Center: www.hallieqbrown.org/site/

Support on-the-ground organizing by donating to Danez's venmo @danez-smith

Climate Changemakers Vol 4. with Patricia Abrams

Climate Changemakers is a 5-part podcast series, showcasing and celebrating leaders in equity work and climate action across Illinois, presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of nonprofit organization Elevate Energy. This month's Climate Changemaker is Patricia Abrams. Pat is the Executive Director of the Renaissance Collaborative, a social impact organization that has provided affordable housing, workforce development, employment, and educational services and solutions to over 1,000 individuals annually in Bronzeville and its adjacent communities for the past 27 years. She talks about how environmental sustainability became an important piece of her work, the transformation of the historic Wabash YMCA that houses the organization's office and housing, and how we can move forward in a more human direction.

Learn more about the organization: www.trcwabash.org/about-us.html

Learn about Elevate Energy and their 20th anniversary: www.elevateenergy.org/

Episode 250 - Revolution & Evolution with Jennifer Pagán

What a time for a 250th episode! Dame and Kiss are joined by organizer and educator Jennifer Pagán, who was attacked and arrested alongside Damon last week, to break down this moment, the beautiful transformation we're witnessing, how we got here, and what the fight looks like moving forward.

Redistribute your wealth to the orgs and causes on the the Chicago Liberation Resource List: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y…/edit?usp=sharing

Donate to the #LetUsBreathe Collective on Cashapp: $letusbreathe or paypal: letusbreathe2015@gmail.com

photo by Evonee Castillo: www.instagram.com/evcvstillo/

BONUS - Making Meaning of this Moment w/ Angela Davis, Jamila Woods, M4BL, & more

On this bonus episode of AirGo, we're excited to partner with the Rising Majority and the Movement for Black Lives to share the audio from Making Meaning of This Moment, an online conversation that took place this past Saturday 6/6/20. Let their wisdom direct your righteous anger to move the fight forward!

Participants
Angela Davis: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis
Jamila Woods: twitter.com/jamilawoods
Timmy Châu of Dissenters: wearedissenters.org/
Ntanya Lee of Leftroots: leftroots.net/
Kayla Reed of Action STL: actionstl.org/
Karissa Lewis from the M4BL: m4bl.org/
Greisa Martinez of United We Dream: unitedwedream.org/
The Rising Majority: therisingmajority.com/

Episode 249 - Christopher Thoughtpoet Brown shares what happened to him on 5/31/20

On 5/31/20, a series of Black organizers and protestors were assaulted and arrested by the Chicago Police Department at a protest on 53rd street in Hyde Park. As community members mobilized to get them out, we didn't know that our comrade Chris Thoughtpoet Brown was one of the people arrested, and didn't lift up his name in the calls to release our people. A day later, Chris went live on his IG, explained what happened, and shared his perspective on the moment. He's given us permission to use that audio for an episode of AirGo.

Donate to Chris on Cashapp: $thoughtpoet
Follow him on IG: www.instagram.com/thoughtpoet77/

Redistribute your generational wealth to one of these resources in Chicago: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y…/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 248 - Reflection after Police Abuse: Call for Abolition and Communal Accountability

A Note from Damon:

On 5/31/20, I was assaulted by the Chicago Police Department. I was slammed on my head on 53rd street, my face pressed to the pavement and officers pressed their knee on my neck similarly to what killed George Floyd. I’m banged and bruised up, but Jennifer and I are home and okay. I love my people and am grateful for all the support.

Follow AirGo for more resources and opportunities to contribute to the fight: instagram.com/airgoradio

Redistribute your generational wealth to one of these resources in Chicago: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YwWvuScaYjqrKLdl_4AkvSKhQE0OCWHvJ-dRyZbQ_wE/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 247 - On the Line with Tempestt Hazel

From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.

This episode's guest is Tempestt Hazel. Tempestt is the Arts Portfolio Program Officer at the Field Foundation, and the founder of art curatorial platform 60 Inches from Center. She talks about the shifts that COVID is demanding from philanthropy, how the sector is responding, how she's slowing down to take care of her people, and much more. Plus, she makes Daniel cry at the end, so stick around for that.

NOTE: Tempestt mentions a few great orgs here in Chicago that you might want to learn more about through their past AirGo episodes. Check them out:

LaSaia Wade of the Brave Space Alliance - airgoradio.com/airgo/2017/5/18/e…de-90-lasaia-wade

Page May of Assata's Daughters - airgoradio.com/airgo/2016/9/14/e…-page-may-returns

Hoda Katebi of Blue Tin Production - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2019/2/7/episode-174-hoda-katebi

Sadia Nawab of IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network) - airgoradio.com/airgo/2017/7/20/e…de-99-sadia-nawab

Anton Seals Jr. of Grow Greater Englewood - airgoradio.com/airgo/2020/5/21/episode-245

Episode 246 - On the Line with Zohran Kwame Mamdani

From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.

This episode heads to the East Coast to chop it up with Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Zohran is currently running for a NY State Assembly seat representing Astoria, Queens. He's been endorsed by DSA, and a wide swath of other progressive and to the root coalitions. He's also one of Kiss' oldest friends. Zohran talks about how he's shifted his campaign into a mutual aid project, the lessons he learned as a foreclosure prevention counselor, the shortcomings of representative politics, and his high school vice presidential campaign.

Support Zohran's campaign!: www.zohranforassembly.com/

Episode 245 - Climate Changemakers with Anton Seals, Jr.

Climate Changemakers is a 5-part podcast series, showcasing and celebrating leaders in equity work and climate action across Illinois, presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of nonprofit organization Elevate Energy. This month's Climate Changemaker is Anton Seals, Jr. Anton is the Lead Steward of Grow Greater Englewood, a social enterprise focusing on building a equitable and resilient local food system that fosters protections of vacant land in divested communities and focuses on connecting those residents with community wealth building opportunities. In this wide-ranging conversation, Anton talks about the connections and unique challenges of reshaping Black Chicagoans' relationship to food, as well as how the structures and pathologies of power limit this transformative work.

Learn more about Grow Greater Englewood: growgreater.org

Episode 243 - On the Line with Zama of DCH1 Amazonians United

From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.

This episode's guest is Zama, one of the founders and lead organizers of DCH1 Amazonians United. He and his comrades have been bringing together workers and fighting for better conditions in the Amazon Fulfillment Center on 28th and Western here in Chicago. He talks about how the work evolved, connecting with other Amazon worker groups around the world, and how they've been forced to push the fight forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow DCH1 Amazonians United: www.facebook.com/DCH1United/

Episode 242 - On the Line with Asiaha Butler of RAGE Englewood

From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Over the next few weeks, we'll be hopping on the line with workers in the health care, educational, governmental, organizing, and prison abolition spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home. This episode's guest is Asiaha Butler, the cofounder of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, aka RAGE. Asiaha talks about the pandemic-related shift in the communal development of the mind RAGE does, how she's built a food distribution system for the seniors in Englewood, and how she creates communal development while fighting against displacement.

Big thanks to AirGo Alum Tonika Lewis Johnson for the connection!

Support the work of RAGE Englewood: ragenglewood.org/

Episode 241 - On the Line with Pura of the Little Village Solidarity Network

From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Over the next few weeks, we'll be hopping on the line with workers in the health care, educational, governmental, organizing, and prison abolition spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home. This episode's guest is Pura of the Little Village Solidarity Network/Red de Solidaridad de La Villita. Pura and her comrades have led the fight to raise awareness and demand the shutdown of a series of immigrant youth detention facilities run by influential Chicago nonprofit Heartland Alliance, in which COVID-19 has been running rampant. Pura details the information they've gathered about the carceral conditions inside, how the dozens of documented COVID-19 cases have changed life inside these baby jails, the direct action tactics and strategies that LVSN takes, and how we can contribute to this urgent fight.

Learn more and support LVSN: https://www.facebook.com/LaVillitaSolidaridad/

Episode 240 - We Need to Talk About the Whites

As the pandemic's stay-at-home orders have come under fire from conservatives and industrialists, a whole buncha whites have been descending on state capitol buildings, weapons in hand, to demand that these necessary communal rules be lifted. While waiting for a late guest, Dame and Kiss dove into a deep, loose, and pretty damn thorough exploration of what the hell is going on with white people, why, and what might help address this centuries-long crisis of consciousness.