LEADing Justice

Southern Center for Human Rights: Fighting to end mass incarceration, the death penalty, and the criminalization of poverty

The LEADing Justice podcast is honored to welcome Terrica Redfield Ganzy, Executive Director, Southern Center for Human Rights. The Southern Center fights for a world free from mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice. A passionate, indefatigable leader with many years of dedicated service, she states: “What brought me to the work was anger. What keeps me in the work is love.”   The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) was founded in 1976 by ministers and activists concerned about criminal justice issues in response to the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of the death penalty that year and to the horrendous conditions in Southern prisons and jails. After the 1970s, the criminal justice system exploded in size and reach, now with over two million people imprisoned. The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the world.  Originally named the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee, the organization’s attorneys and investigators worked alongside civil rights organizations, families, and faith-based organizations to protect the civil and human rights of people of color, poor people, and other disadvantaged people.  In addition to representing people facing the death penalty, including cases argued before the United States Supreme Court, SCHR employs, class action lawsuits and individual representation to challenge unconstitutional and unconscionable practices within the criminal justice system. Dr. Janet Dewart Bell • Executive Producer / Host | Chris Neuner • Producer / Editor | Theme Music • First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

Andrew Goodman Foundation: Making young voices and votes a powerful force for democracy

The LEADing Justice podcast is honored to welcome Charles Imohiosen, the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Andrew Goodman Foundation, established to carry on the work of Andrew Goodman. Andy was a college student when he was murdered in Mississippi by the Ku Klux Klan, along with two other young men, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner.   Their tragic deaths in 1964 contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Andrew Goodman Foundation works to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy with their Vote Everywhere campaign and training youth activists and leaders. The Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere program now operates in 26 states and Washington, D.C. and includes a network of nearly 100 campuses that enroll 1M+ students.  Dr. Janet Dewart Bell • Executive Producer / Host | Chris Neuner • Producer / Editor | Theme Music • First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

A life of making change, reflections from Ambassador Andrew Young

The LEADing Justice podcast presents one of the great men of our time, Andrew Young, The close confidant and partner of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Ambassador Young  has a singularly impactful career in causes of advancing justice and freedom.  He reflects on his remarkable life, while giving guidance to navigate these turbulent times and to secure a future of peace and freedom.    Andrew Young was active in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and present at key points in American history, negotiating the Birmingham and Selma, Alabama desegregation agreements, helping to lead the Poor People's Campaign and serving as the the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He was the mayor of Atlanta from 1982 to 1990 and also co-chaired the committee for the Olympic Games in 1996. Dr. Janet Dewart Bell • Executive Producer / Host | Chris Neuner • Producer / Editor | Theme Music • First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

Gloria Steinem "Life on the Road"

Gloria Steinem is more than the sum of her parts -- a writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist, whose intersectional work continues to have extraordinary impacts on America and the world. Among her landmark achievements, she co-founded  Ms. magazine and the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Women's Media Center, the Women's Action Alliance,  the National Women's Political Caucus, and Choice USA. Her numerous honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom,  awarded by President Barack Obama.  At 88, her lifetime of service personifies living history; however, she remains focused on the future - the elimination of sexism, racism, and discrimination of all kinds.    She joins the LEADing Justice podcast to discuss her remarkable “life on the road.” Dr. Janet Dewart Bell • Executive Producer / Host | Chris Neuner • Producer / Editor | Theme Music • First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

Is Justice for All a Reality?

Rashad Robinson joins the LEADing Justice podcast to discuss the groundbreaking work of Color of Change, a racial justice organization of over 7 million members, utilizing strategic action to address immediate issues and the structural problems of racism and economic inequality. We discuss his groundbreaking work and how to take active steps in making justice for all a reality.  Dr. Janet Dewart Bell • Executive Producer / Host | Chris Neuner • Producer / Editor | Theme Music • First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn