The Velasco Podcast

Real Talk on Evanston: Racism, COVID, and Black Lives Matter | Corey Winchester

On this episode I welcome Corey Winchester, who is a History and Sociology teacher at Evanston Township High School. We have a conversation around the history of racism and policing in the United States, the systemic racism that is present in Evanston, and we also talk about what it means to have schools reopen in the fall in the midst of COVID.  We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love. https://bookshop.org/books/we-want-to-do-more-than-survive-abolitionist-teaching-and-the-pursuit-of-educational-freedom/9780807069158

Social Justice in Small-Town America | Paul Saban

In this episode, I welcome my guest Paul Saban who is a fellow social work student at the University of Illinois. We have a conversation about what it is like to be part of a social justice movement in a community which is predominately white, why people say All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. Paul shares how it has been talking to his kids about what is happening in the country and makes a call to social workers to do the uncomfortable work.

Education During A Pandemic | Carol Wilson-Smith, LCSW

In this episode, I welcome my guest Carol Wilson-Smith, who is a clinical faculty member at the University of Illinois School of Social Work. We have a conversation about the importance of having School Social Workers, the impact that COVID and the Black Lives Matter movement has had on students and families, and what we should be doing to keep the conversations going.

Mental Health in 2020 | Heather Johnson, LCSW

In this episode, I welcome my guest Heather Johnson who is a school social worker and a licensed clinical social worker. We talk about what it means to have depression and anxiety during a health crisis, the stigma behind mental health, and what it means to have social workers come in, in place of police officers. How to contact Heather Johnson, LCSW: heatherjcounseling@gmail.com. Link to other resources: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/homsnfdzfymkncf/AAD4v85CUXxdjbvgl8GIyGLfa?dl=0

Preaching Unity | Ra’Von Bonner

In this episode, I welcome my first guest, Ra’Von Bonner. He is a Social Work student at the University of Illinois and part of the Illinois football team. Ra’Von talks about what it was like growing up in Ohio, his path towards Social Work, how faith has played a role in his life, and his frustration towards people who are deciding not to speak up. Register to vote: https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/