Think Hopeful, Act Local

Think Hopeful, Act Local Episode 26: Semillas y Manos Unidas (SEMU)

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch sits down with Davida of North Bay Jobs with Justice in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Based in Sonoma County, Davida is supporting the development of SEMU — Semillas y Manos Unidas — an emerging immigrant worker cooperative creating a just transition for farm workers and day laborers as the wine industry declines. SEMU's mission is to put land care work into the hands of the people doing it: training workers in fire mitigation, prescribed burns, and vegetation management, building democratic self-governance structures, and growing a worker-owned model rooted in both climate resilience and economic dignity.

Think Hopeful, Act Local Episode 25: Oakland Freedom Project

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch sits down with Flavio Martinez, Diego Rodriguez Zamora, and Mercedes de la Torre of In-Advance and the Oakland Freedom Project in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Based in Oakland's flatland communities historically shaped by redlining and disinvestment, In-Advance runs the Oakland Freedom Project, a community-led initiative that turns political education into action. The organization's mission is to build power from the ground up by training everyday residents in community organizing, creating spaces of belonging through art, theater, and shared meals, and running campaigns driven by the people most affected.

Think Hopeful, Act Local Episode 24: Dragonspunk GRO

Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch interviews Isaiah Powell of Dragonspunk GRO in this episode of Think Hopeful, Act Local. Isaiah is President of the organic urban farm, which is located on a former dumping ground in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point. The organization’s mission is to bridge the food-access gap in an area designated as a food desert by providing affordable organic produce directly to neighborhood residents while also serving as a community resource and educational space. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blueheartaction.org/signup⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.blueheartaction.org/signup] with a monthly donation⁠.

Think Hopeful, Act Local Episode 23: Self Help Hunger Program

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Auntie Frances Moore, the founder and visionary behind Self Help Hunger Program. SHHP is a grassroots organization based in North Oakland and South Berkeley that uses food as a tool to organize community, provide essential support services, and act as a steward of local land. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠blueheartaction.org/signup⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.blueheartaction.org/signup] with a monthly donation⁠. This interview was conducted by Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch.

Think Hopeful, Act Local Episode 22: POOR Magazine

This conversation is between Blue Heart and Tiny from POOR Magazine. Tiny is an organizer and Poverty Skola, and POOR Magazine is a poor people led/indigenous people led, grassroots non-profit, arts organization dedicated to providing revolutionary media access, art, education and advocacy to silenced youth, adults and elders in poverty across Mama Earth. Join the movement of Grassroots Giving by becoming a Blue Heart member at ⁠⁠⁠blueheartaction.org/signup⁠⁠ [https://www.blueheartaction.org/signup] with a monthly donation⁠. This interview was conducted by Blue Heart's Director Eva Orbuch.