Community Conversations with Rep. Esther Agbaje

7. Black Maternal Health: What Experts Say about Black Women Birthing

Dr. Jaime Slaughter-Acey is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. She is a maternal & child health (MCH) and social epidemiologist whose work focuses on socio-environmental and psychosocial determinants of women’s and family health across the lifecourse, with emphasis on health equity. Her research emphasizes the use of socioecological and life-course approaches with Intersectionality Theory to study and address the ways that systemic racism, both structural and cultural, intersects with other aspects of social identity to create inequalities in MCH and other health outcomes. https://www.jaimeslaughter-acey.com Sameerah Bilal-Roby is the Director of African American Babies Project and Coalition. She works in partnership with the Wilder Community Center, MCCC and an variety of other agencies; funding is through City of Minneapolis, DHS and St. Paul Foundation to address awareness of ACES, knowledge of trauma and best cultural practices for the rearing of African American children. https://www.wilder.org/community-impact/african-american-babies-coalition-and-projects

6. Housing Justice: Evictions, Tenant Rights, and the Law

Get an inside look into the job of being a housing lawyer and advocate with today's episode. Lawyers Muria Kruger and Mary Kaczorek join us to discuss the issues that arise when it comes to property rental and what tenants can do when faced with difficult situations. Muria Kruger works at Volunteer Lawyers Network [https://www.vlnmn.org]. Volunteer Lawyers Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to connecting Minnesotans experiencing poverty with some of the top private lawyers in the state at no cost. These volunteers protect the rights and property of thousands of clients every year by advising them at legal clinics, drafting legal documents, representing them in court or otherwise supporting them in their pursuit of justice. Volunteer Lawyers Network coordinates these relationships, provides insurance to volunteer attorneys, educates and recruits new volunteers from the legal community, trains law students and lawyers on effectively working with people experiencing poverty and advocates for policies that make our justice system equally accessible to all. We work with partners in immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, faith and LGBTQ+ communities, and programs that serve previous offenders, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, people experiencing homelessness, youth and many more to ensure our services are available to the people who need them most. Mary Kaczorek works at Central Minnesota Legal Services [//www.centralegalmn.org]. The mission of Central Minnesota Legal Services is to increase access to justice by providing high quality legal services to individuals experiencing poverty, challenging inequities, and empowering community members to participate in our civil legal system. "We believe in a legal system that delivers justice to all. Our vision is for a society free from bias and systemic unfairness in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect and justice is readily available regardless of ability to pay." CMLS helps eligible clients through direct representation, brief advice, and through participating in community legal education programs.

5. Climate and Transportation Justice: Free Fares, Electric Vehicles, and Clean Air

Join us as we discuss climate and transportation justice with two area experts! Sam Rockwell, a longtime advocate for climate and social justice, is the Executive Director of Move Minnesota. Move Minnesota leads the movement for an equitable and sustainable transportation system that puts people first. They are passionate about connecting communities, ending the climate crisis, expanding access to jobs and resources, and improving daily life for Minnesotans of all ages, races, incomes, and abilities. Find out more: https://www.movemn.org Adrianna Jereb just wrapped up her time as a transportation justice organizer with MN350. MN350 unites Minnesotans as part of a global movement to end the pollution damaging our climate, speed the transition to clean energy, and create a just and healthy future for all. Find out more: https://mn350.org

4. Generational Impact: Supporting Representation in Our Schools, One Teacher at a Time w/Rep. Cedrick Frazier and Markus Flynn

With over 2/3 of Minneapolis students being students of color, representation in school staff, teachers, and leaders is as important as ever. In this episode, State House Representative Cedrick Frazier shares about the Increase Teachers of Color Act here in Minnesota. Also, Markus Flynn, the Executive Director of Black Men Teach, shares about the strategic efforts to drastically raise the rate of Black male elementary teachers from only .5%. Black Men Teach- www.blackmenteachtc.com linktr.ee/blackmenteach Cedrick on Twitter- @CedrickFrazier

3. Teaching Public Service in our Schools w/Alexis Love

We are in a time where Minneapolis is facing substantial officer shortages and struggles to hire the minimum amount of officers needed. Alexis offers a unique look into what it is like to work with teens who are interested in pursuing a career in public service. Please note that Alexis is chatting with us in a personal capacity. Her views and experiences are that of her own and do not reflect or represent Minneapolis Public Schools.