On The Ground: Recent Episodes
Journey For Justice Alliance
In 2019, a Black person can walk in Walgreens and they cannot refuse you service because of the color of your skin. We can run schools, organizations and corporations. Delta Airlines cannot say, "we don't serve Black people." We can attend any college or university that we like and they cannot openly deny us access because of our race. Why? The answer is simple. As Black people in the United States, every right that we have is a direct result of community organizing. Community organizing is the people directly impacted by a problem, strategizing and building power to win policy change, or resources to improve their quality of life. For our entire history in this country there is a long and committed record of people speaking power to power in order to change their living conditions. Today, we see a resurgence of black led grassroots community organizing. Community organizing is not activism. Join the On the Ground family to learn the difference. This podcast hosted by Jitu Brown, National Director of the Journey for Justice Alliance, is dedicated to "spreading the gospel" of community organizing to the public. We are not in an ivory tower, intellectualizing about what Black people need to do. We are in these streets, waging our struggle for liberation. We are ON THE GROUND.
Join our host as we talk with 2 leaders from Oakland and New Orleans about school privatization and the gentrification of America's urban spaces.
Jitu Brown chops it up with New Jersey community organizers Rosie Grant, Johnnie Lattner and Faheem Lee. The right to elect school boards was snatched away from Black NJ Cities. Determined coalition building & organizing won it back. Don’t slip! Listen in!
Jitu Brown chats with Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, national field organizer at the Dignity in Schools Campaign & Jonathan Stith, national director at the Alliance for Education Justice, about work to dismantle the school to prison pipeline!
A silent epidemic happening across the US is the purge of black teachers from public school classrooms. Jitu Brown talks with 2 leaders who are fighting back: Tara Stamps from the Chicago Teachers Union and Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price from PULSE in Newark NJ.
Brother Jitu Brown talks to Shawni Robinson and Anna Simonton about the"Atlanta Cheating Scandal" and incarcerated black teachers! As Public Enemy said years ago; Don't believe the hype!
Jitu Brown spends time with Warriors from Grassroots Arkansas, who are waging a campaign to not only win back their right to vote but to finally force Arkansas to realize equity in public education. Racism knows no Shame.
What is the alternative to school closings & the charter school industry? Sustainable community schools! Jitu Brown talks with Kyle Serrette of the NEA & John Projansky, resource coordinator at Drake Elementary, a sustainable community school in Chicago!
Jitu Brown talks with Sharon Smith & Johnnie Latner, co-founders of PULSE (Parents Unified for Local School Education), to discuss the monumental impact this grassroots organization has made on the education justice movement in Newark & across New Jersey.
Join Brother Jitu as he builds with education justice warriors Mike Hutchinson and Megan Bumpus. They discuss the Oakland teacher’s strike and the power of authentic coalition building between community and union to win equity in public education.
Jitu Brown is joined by NJ organizers Genese Dean, Byheijja Sabree & Ronsha Dickerson. They discuss the sabotage of public education in Camden where a manufactured budget deficit of 27 million dollars is being used as an excuse to shut down public schools.
Jitu Brown is joined by Mother Helen Moore of Keep the Vote No Takeover, Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel & Stephen Farrar of the Detroit Life Coalition. Learn how they’re using litigation, legislation & agitation to win equity in Public Education.
Jitu Brown digs deep with historian Dr. Yohuru Williams, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of St Thomas. They discuss the importance of organizers understanding the Civil rights & Black Power movements as we carry out our work today.
Jitu Brown talks with organizers Sharon Smith of Newark NJ & Jalida Bennett of Chicago IL. Listen & learn as they share the nuts and bolts of parent organizing and building a committed base of people to win campaigns against powerful corporate interests.
Jitu Brown speaks with Zakiyah Ansari of the Alliance for Quality Education and Natasha Capers of the NY Coalition for Education Justice about how Black parents successfully organized and pushed public education to the forefront of the NY mayoral race.
Jitu Brown chops it up with Pittsburgh Organizers Angel Gober, Paulette Foster & Susie South. From kicking out a transient teacher factory to winning a K-2nd grade suspension ban, these kick-butt women prove organized people can beat organized money!
Jitu Brown chops it up with Michigan organizers Marletta Seats, Kamau Kheperu, & Dr. Tom Pedroni. Benton Harbor schools are in danger of a state takeover. Takeover equals privatization. Privatization equals sabotage for the education of our black children.
Jitu Brown chops it up with Jalida Bennett of Kenwood Oakland Community Org. in Chicago and Maria Harmon of Step Up Louisiana. Be inspired by the lived experiences and victories of powerful warriors who make racial justice the center of their organizing.
Jitu Brown chops it up with Jawanza Malone of Kenwood Oakland Community Org. & Francisco Duenas of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. It’s a fight against gentrification as these organizers battle for rent control in Chicago and L.A.
Jitu Brown is joined by Mercedes Martinez and Lourdes Antebella, two leaders who have been central in the inspiring resistance against the Puerto Rican government's efforts to privatize education after Hurricane Maria! FIGHT THE POWER!
Jitu Brown meets with four teenage leaders and their adult supervisor who demonstrate "Black Girl Magic" through their courage & steadfast commitment in demanding accountability for the disappearance of Black women in Chicago.
Join Brother Jitu in an important conversation with Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. as he discusses the assassination of his father Chairman Fred Hampton, his work in the struggle & efforts to save The Hampton House, his father's childhood home. Don’t miss it!
Jitu Brown speaks to Hasira "Soul" Achemu, executive director of Breaking our Chains and Rachel Sandoval, union rep with the Denver Classroom Teacher’s Assoc. about the teachers’ strike in Denver. Tune in and get “that real lit” from people ON THE GROUND.