Social Justice Origin Stories

Wherever You Are In The Hard Things, These Stories Are For You, Too | Design Decisions

Realizing social justice is not a simple or linear process, and the weight of the work can wear us down. Whether you are actively engaged on the front lines of your work, taking time to rest, or simply trying to survive the everyday realities of living within oppressive systems, we need you. Social Justice Origin Stories is here to remind you that wherever you are in the struggle, these stories are for you. 00:00 These Stories Are For You 02:05 Why Social Justice Origin Stories Exists 02:43 For When You Cannot Speak 04:24 Healthy Community Spaces 04:59 Honoring Rest And Limits 06:18 When I Get Tired Too 07:27 Storytelling Reconnects Us 08:44 You Matter. Take Breaks When You Can 09:34 Final Reminder And Gratitude Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories] Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com [https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com] Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf [https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ [https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social] Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653] LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ [https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ] ---------------------------------------- Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

The Justice We Imagine Vol. 4 | Social Justice Origin Stories

This is Volume 4 of The Justice We Imagine, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. This series focuses on storytellers' responses to three essential questions:   When is true social justice possible? What shapes our approach to the work? And why does understanding and sharing our social justice origin stories matter? As you listen to their responses, reflect on what your answers might be. 00:00 Series Introduction 00:28 When True Social Justice Is Possible 02:39 Mutual Accountability 03:40 Inclusion And Wholeness 05:01 Power And Decision Making 05:39 Love And Humanity 06:52 Ancestors And History 10:43 Pain Into Purpose 11:47 Why Sharing Our Social Justice Origin Stories Matter 13:52 Preserving Oral Histories 17:07 Stories Build Community 19:58 Closing And Call To Action Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories] Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com [https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com] Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf [https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ [https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social] Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653] LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ [https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ] ---------------------------------------- Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

The Power of Relationships and Lived Experiences with Sharman Spieser

After witnessing the racism her Black students experienced up close on a bus trip to Kentucky, Sharman Spieser’s awareness shifted from understanding how racism operates on an intellectual level to a deeper understanding gained from lived-experience. She reflects on how segregation, isolation, and scarcity thinking operate within a white supremacist capitalist system to keep us apart, and emphasizes the power of building authentic, trusting relationships that create the conditions for honest dialogue to happen as a way of unlearning white supremacy and advancing antiracist social change. 00:00 From Knowing to Understanding 00:45 Systems Keep Us Apart 01:50 White Liberal Doubt of Black People's Lived Experiences 04:00 Book Bans and Backlash 06:07 Show Intro and Mission 07:16 Meet Sharman Spieser 08:24 Early Activations at Work 09:25 Family Modeling Justice 11:30 Kentucky Trip Wake Up 14:02 Listening Not Saving 16:51 Detroit Rebellion Revisited 28:22 Why Truth Triggers White Rage 31:37 Trauma and Openness 32:17 How A Death In The Family Changed Things 33:01 Taking Custody Suddenly 33:49 Mentor Encouragement 35:33 Rebuilding Family Life 37:11 Workplace Lessons On Power 40:19 Retirement Disillusionment 42:42 Scarcity Mindset Exposed 45:26 History Erasure And Violence 47:38 White Privilege Conference 50:14 Whats Up With White Women 52:07 Talking With White Folks 58:03 Finish The Statement 58:32 Influences And Frameworks 01:02:46 Hope Is A Practice 01:04:07 Closing And Credits Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories] Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com [https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com] Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf [https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ [https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social] Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653] LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ [https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ] ---------------------------------------- Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Introducing Design Decisions | Social Justice Origin Stories

This is Design Decisions: a space where I share news and updates about Social Justice Origin Stories as it continues to grow and evolve. More than updates and announcements, though, it’s a space for meaning-making, where I expand on the ideas, values, and design decisions that shape this work. It’s a space to think out loud, and a place where I talk through what it's like to build social justice origin stories in this time we’re living in, and the things I learn and experience along the way. 00:00 Why Stories Matter 00:13 Admiration Without Pedestals 00:45 Demystifying Courage 01:00 Inviting People In 01:44 Storytelling Connects Dots 02:09 Podcast Growth and Impact 02:30 Three Series Overview 03:16 Introducing Design Decisions 03:55 Updates and Meaning Making 04:27 Closing Thanks Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories] Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com [https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com] Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf [https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ [https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social] Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653] LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ [https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ] ---------------------------------------- Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Thinking Beyond Direct Practice And The Clinical Office: Macro Pathways with Patrick Taylor

Patrick Taylor, LCSW, US Air Force veteran and doctoral student in Social Work at USC, tells the story of how learning about the Grand Challenges for Social Work in his program and being surprised by how few Social Workers knew about them led him to recognize the experience as a systemic issue. Taylor's research led him to coin the phrase the Micro Pipeline in Social Work (MPISW), the systemic funneling of social workers into clinical roles at the expense of macro exposure, development, and support. Taylor describes how social work’s identity became tied to a medical model and overly associated with mental health. He shares his own pathway from his early beginnings as a sociology student through his experiences with the clinical licensure process, and explains why he created Macro Pathways as an early-intervention, social worker-informed prototype to help students and professionals reimagine macro work, build community, and move the profession toward balance, prevention, and broader influence. Connect with Macro Pathways on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/macropathways/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/macropathways/] 00:00 Do You Know About The Grand Challenges Of Social Work? 00:58 Micro Pipeline Explained 03:02 Why Macro Matters Now 05:13 Show Intro And Guest Welcome 08:11 Taylor Origins And Mission 11:00 Macro Pathways Early Intervention 14:07 Rebalancing The Profession 18:50 Building The Prototype 24:43 Reimagining What Macro Social Work Is 27:40 Design Labs And Community Feedback 31:02 Big Vision And Next Steps 35:08 Why Macro Pathways Matters 35:56 MSW Training Skews Clinical 37:31 Licensure Hurdles and Feeling Trapped 39:16 Macro Pathways as Movement 41:37 Why Sociology First 44:33 Mentors Who Changed Everything 50:43 Thank You to Supporters 52:19 Creativity as Systems Change 56:39 Rejecting Status Quo Thinking 58:09 Advice for Students and Newcomers 01:00:40 True Social Justice Needs Balance 01:01:55 Tell Your Origin Story 01:02:42 Message to Future Generations 01:04:55 Thinking Beyond Direct Practice 01:05:49 Closing and Where to Listen Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories] Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com [https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com] Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories [https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991] Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf [https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ [https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/] Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social] Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653] LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginSto... [https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ]