#SUNDAYCIVICS

Most Americans have an unfavorable view of the lobbying profession but the act of lobbying or persuading an elected or public official to support an issue, isn't inherently bad. The team discusses issues and legislation happening in the states, speaks with registered lobbyist Jacqui Williams about the lobbying profession and gives tips on how to "lobby" or advocate on behalf of your community to elected officials. #CIVICDOCKET - 05:21 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Poorer, more diverse schools receive far less funding across the country - link * New Report Details How Americans Who Have Debt Held by Collection Agencies Can Get Thrown in Jail - link * How Chicago Ticket Debt Sends Black Motorists Into Bankruptcy - link GUEST INTERVIEW - 21:27 Jacqui Williams is a registered lobbyist and the founder of 99 Solutions, LLC, a full service government relations and consulting firm. In this interview, Jacqui shares more about the lobbying profession, the role lobbyists play in government, the unique role lobbyists of color play and . role of a hired lobbyist isaddition to fighting for her clients' goals, she embraces the diversity of New York by creating economic opportunities for businesses and communities that are under-utilized, while managing to balance those interests with those of her clients. LOBBYING TIPS - 41:46 Most Americans have an unfavorable view of lobbyists. given that most of the money spent on lobbying is on behalf of large corporations and big business. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

Our hosts get local and discuss the need for reform in the states on occupational licensing and we continue our conversation about youth and civic engagement with a quick history lesson on movements led by young people. #CIVICDOCKET - 08:19 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * It's Harder to Become a Hair-Braider Than an EMT. Who's to Blame? - link * To Help Ex-Offenders Get Jobs, Some States Reconsider Licenses - link * Reducing the Burden from Occupational Licensing Regulations Will Help Consumers - link * Unlicensed & Untapped: Removing Barriers to State Occupational Licenses For People With Records - link FEATURE TOPIC - 21:42 Young people have led on a number of social justice movements. In 1963 it was children who took the lead during a pivotal moment during the Civil Rights Movement. Click here to watch the powerful testimonies of those who participated in the Birmingham Children's Crusade. Youth activism was at the center of the Civil Rights Movement but also the anti-apartheid movements, anti-war movements, the passage of the 26th Amendment and today young people lead on anti-violence and police accountability. GUEST INTERVIEW - 33:02 Generation Citizen works to ensure that every student in the united states receives an effective action civics education, which provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in our democracy as active citizens. DeNora Getachew is the Executive Director of Generation Citizen NYC, the flagship local site of a 7 year old national nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation to be civically engaged. DeNora is an alumna of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Fordham University School of Law. DeNora was democracy nerd before it was it was in vogue. She cut her teeth working on local democracy and government reform for former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.  DeNora has shaped state and local policy on a diverse portfolio of issues, including structural and participatory reforms to our democracy, as well as education and policing reform. DeNora has also worked at state good government organization Citizens Union, as Policy Director for then-Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and most recently as Campaign Manager & Legislative Counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. April Snape currently studies Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies and Public Policy at Hunter College. Originating from Brooklyn, NY, she currently serves as a Chapter Director within Generation Citizen, where she facilitates the Hunter Chapter.  April has currently been with Generation Citizen for a year. She previously interned at the CUNY School of Law where she was able to assist and mentor youth in underserved communities.

The exceptional Nell Merlino, creator of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, organizer, advocate and author joins us for our civics lesson on engaging young people in the political process. #CIVICDOCKET - 05:33 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Hot pink for hunters: Young sisters push for new law in Maryland - link * 6 teenagers are running for Governor in Kansas and lawmakers aren’t into it - link Democracy is Learned Behavior - 15:11 L. Joy reads highlights from her essay "Democracy is Learned Behavior" written for the Parents League of New York's annual 2018 Review publication, an annual journal on education and parenting. Click here to read the essay. GUEST INTERVIEW - 24:12 Nell Merlino (@nellmerlino) is the founding Chairwoman of the PBB (Personal BlackBox)Trust. As the Trust Chair, Nell is leading a movement to champion personal data independence and set new standards of control, value and privacy for emerging human data rights. She has also mobilized more than 20 million people to champion women's empowerment. Nell created Take Our Daughters to Work Day, founded Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence and launched Make Mine a Million $ Business. She is the author of Stepping Out of Line: Lessons for Women Who Want it Their Way in Life, in Love, and at Work, a book for women to speak up in their work and life to get ahead. For more information visit http://nellmerlino.com READ & DISCUSS - 48:41 [the_ad_group id="221"] L. Joy is getting ready for an upcoming interview and discussion with Richard Rothstein about his latest book "The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America". Join in and get a copy of the book for yourself on Amazon or use your free 30-day trial of Audible and listen to the audiobook.       BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook:

Churches are political. Religious institutions have led or been at the center of numerous political movements in this country. While most believe there is a separation of church and state, churches have not only served as the meeting space for communities to learn and strategize but they have also historically been the leaders of various struggles for social justice.  We began the conversation discussing the phrase “separation of church and state”. Contrary to popular belief, that phrase is not explicitly stated in the constitution but has its origins from letters between President Thomas Jefferson and the Danbury Baptist Association.The conversation continues with discussions on the growing erosion of American institutions and what should those of us in the pews expect from our religious leaders and institutions. Panel Guests Prof. Anthea Butler is Graduate Chair and Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. A historian of American and African American religion, Professor Butler’s research and writing spans religion and politics, religion and gender, African American religion, sexuality, media, religion, and popular culture. She is the author of and Women in the Church of God in Christ: Making A Sanctified World on The University of North Carolina Press. Prof. Nyasha Junior is an Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible in the Department of Religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. She holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her research and teaching focus on the intersections of race, gender, and religion. She is the author of An Introduction to Womanist Biblical Interpretation (Westminster John Knox Press, 2015). Pastor Leslie Dawn Callahan is Senior Pastor of the historic 120-year-old St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA. She is the church’s first woman and fifth pastor. A native of Gary, West Virginia, Leslie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Harvard/Radcliffe, the Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Religion from Princeton University. She has served as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at University of Pennsylvania and Assistant Professor of Modern Church History and African American Studies at New York Theological Seminary. She is a member of the advisory board of The African American Lectionary, an online resource. She also serves on the board of trustees of The Living Pulpit. Her published writings include a chapter in The Audacity of Faith: Christian Leaders Reflect on the Election of Barack Obama, edited by Marvin A. McMickle. Episode Book Shelf amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "sundaycivics-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Episode Book Shelf"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "b1cc66b3dd24203481614b36d5062940"; amzn_assoc_asins = "0807858080,0664259871,081701554X,0385516657";

It seems like the state of the union address was ages ago but on this episode we discuss a few takeaways from the President's address and then discuss the REAL state of our union features failing infrastructure, income inequality, threats to our education system and more. STATE OF THE UNION - 11:42 L.Joy, Lurie and June have a FEW thoughts on the Trump's first State of the Union Address. #CIVICDOCKET - 30:00 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Yes, this nation needs a real infrastructure plan - link * Tucked Into the Tax Bill, a Plan to Help Distressed America - link * Struggling US families turn to crowdfunding to cover childcare costs - link * Education Dept to test putting federal aid on debit cards - link * Robert De Niro, Privatization Hero - link MUSIC Gregory Porter - 1960 What? Ledisi - Shot Down --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

Alexa can help keep you get civically engaged, labeling the formerly incarcerated and why Black folks should care and participate in the immigration debate. #CIVICDOCKET  A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Formerly Incarcerated vs. Felon L. Joy shares why she has been fixing headlines and talks about the stigma and labeling of the formerly incarcerated. * The Black Incarceration Rate Is Declining, But For How Long? By the numbers: According to the Pew Research Center, Black incarceration rate decreased by 17 percent between 2009 and 2016, Federal and state prisons held 584,800 Black inmates in 2009 and fell to 486,900 at the end of 2016. Bonus: the stubborn gap between Black and White prisoners also decreased. This Administration and their view on Criminal Justice Reform is putting all of that at risk. * What Happens When Suburban Police Departments Don't Have Enough Money? This article examines several suburbs outside of Chicago where the police departments strapped for cash are paying police officers fast-food wages, they are working part-time patrolling high crime areas and then using their badge to get better paying security jobs.  The lack of resources is a recipe for a lack of accountability. * Here's Just How Little Confidence Americans Have In Political Institutions The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, Americans have limited confidence in its public schools, courts, organized labor and banks, and even less confidence in big business, the presidency, the political parties and the media. Buuut Americans have overwhelming faith in is the military — 87 percent say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the military. * Half of Americans can’t name a news source they consider objective New study by the Knight Foundation puts public perception of biased news media in a historical perspective: in 1989, only 25 percent of US adults said there was a “great deal” of political bias in news coverage. Now, that number is at an all-time high of 45 percent, and Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to see the news as politically skewed. * Motel 6 Sued For Identifying Latino Guests For Immigration Agents in a lawsuit, filed on behalf of the guests in federal court in Arizona by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund or MALDEF, the claim that this past summer Motel 6 employees gave Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents personal information about hotel guests in violation of federal and state laws barring discrimination based on national origin, and protecting against unreasonable searches. And Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is also suing that company claiming employees of the national budget chain divulged the names, birthdates, driver's license numbers, license-plate numbers and room numbers of more than 9,000 guests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The agents did not have warrants. *

Making the case for automatic voter registration and other ways we can make voting easier. Guest interviews with Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York and Stacey Abrams, a candidate for Governor in Georgia. FROM L. JOY'S DESK - 0:24 L. Joy reflects on a year of "the resistance" and features a clip of a panel discussion on the Brian Lehrer Show for their LIVE “A Year of Resistance” special. L. Joy talked about her mission to focus on civic education and how she inspires and empowers others to #TakeCivicAction. You can watch the full special here. GUEST INTERVIEW - 09:06 Susan Lerner is the executive director of Common Cause New York. Prior to her recent return to New York, Susan was the executive director of the California Clean Money Campaign. GUEST INTERVIEW - 25:11 Stacey Abrams is the former Georgia House Minority leader – the first African American to lead in the House of Representatives. She is currently running for Governor in the state of Georgia. If elected, she would be the first African American female Governor in the United States. Read more about Stacey. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

L. Joy, June and Lurie give you the preview on 2018 elections including the latest threats and civic action opportunities in voting rights, education and the upcoming census. How Will you #TakeCivicAction in 2018? - 13:25 We share stories from listeners who plan to #TakeCivicAction in 2018 and our hosts share their own plans to get civically engaged this year. #CIVICDOCKET - 19:14 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. VOTING - The latest in voting rights includes the Supreme Court hearing cases on voting purges in Ohio, Florida's proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to those who have paid their debt to society and hot Floridians can help get the proposal on the November ballot. * The Supreme Court takes up voter purges next week  - Link * Florida’s 1.5 Million Missing Voters - Link EDUCATION - The U.s. Commission on Civil Rights is accepting testimony until January 16th on students of color with disabilities and how unfair discipline practices impede these students’ academic achievement. You can submit testimony here. * NAACP Legal Defense Fund Testimony - Link CENSUS - There are reports that the Justice Department is advocating for a citizenship question on the 2020 census which would have devastating effects to the process. * Critics Say Questions About Citizenship Could Wreck Chances for an Accurate Census - Link --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

The growing political power of Black women, China ain't taking our...trash and L. Joy gives a civics lesson on how to grade your legislators. #CIVICDOCKET - 9:39 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * NY Governor taking guns away from those convicted of domestic violence * China no longer taking our trash * Test your knowledge on #BillOfRightsDay and take this quick quiz #BlackWomenLead & #BlackWomenVote - 37:55 Black women in Alabama showed up at the polls and showed out. We discuss the growing political power of Black women and what political parties need to do to invest and support in our leadership. Related Links: * Democrats Draw Vivid Lesson From Alabama: Mobilize Black Voters * Black Women By the Numbers * Higher Heights for America How to Grade Your Legislators - 52:19 How often do you communicate with the people who represent you? L. Joy urges you to #TakeCivicAction before the New Year and send your elected representatives a report card. Drop them a letter, postcard or email and let them know if you think they are properly representing you. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

June and Lurie join L. Joy on her living room couch to talk about everything from net neutrality, the GOP tax bill, federal judicial nominees and more. TOPICS: 2:18 - Net Neutrality 9:57 - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 18:15 - Federal Judges (Elected and Appointed) 24:37 - Tax Bill 32:55 - Getting to know June, Lurie and L. Joy 49:50 - "If you don't see yourself, create it!" --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

For this post Thanksgiving episode, L. Joy highlights those advocating for economic equity. Unless you are among the wealthy, you are probably feeling economically strained. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider and millions of us are struggling to make ends meet.   You may be employed but living paycheck to paycheck and one emergency away from despair. Millions of others are experiencing homelessness, poverty and have trouble feeding themselves and their children on a daily basis.   Jennifer Jones Austin of the Federation for Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) chats with L. Joy about what economic equity looks like and how we can all play an advocacy role. She also speaks with activists from Witness to Hunger on how they advocate for those experiencing poverty and the future they want for their children. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

The 2020 seems far away but in this episode we discuss the many changes and issues complicating our preparedness for the upcoming census. Prof. John Flateau, PhD of the DuBois Bunche Center For Public Policy at Medgar Evers College, CUNY joins us to discuss the importance and long term political and economic effects of the census count. #CIVICDOCKET - 8:06 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Could a Tax Fix the Gig Economy? http://theatln.tc/2yBjfKi FEATURE TOPIC - 21:48 Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau attempts to count all the people living in the United States. This a mandate so important that the founders put it in the Constitution (Article I, Section 2). To complete the count, a short form asking for basic demographic information is sent to every household in the country. 1 in 6 households receive a long form with extra questions such as how you get to work, what type of work you do and how much your annual water bill is. As you can imagine there is a lot of work to do leading up to this monumental task. Recent news about the planning stages has not given us faith that the U.S. Census Bureau will be ready. We discuss some of the issues with the planning process, funding and more. GUEST INTERVIEW - 38:45 Prof. John Flateau, PhD. is a Professor of Public Administration and Political Science at Medgar Evers College located here in Brooklyn. Prof. Flateau currently directs the US Census Information Center, the DuBois Bunche Center For Public Policy and the New York Clearinghouse on the 2020 Census, Voting Rights and Redistricting. Dr. Flateau served as senior policy advisor to the State Senate Democratic Majority; Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations; and Member of NYS Legislative Advisory Task Force On Demographic Research And Reapportionment. Other public service includes: Chief Of Staff and campaign coordinator for Mayor David N. Dinkins, New York’s first and only Black Mayor; NYS Empire State Development Corporation, Senior Vice President and chief diversity officer; Executive Director, NYS Black, Hispanic, Asian Legislative Caucus; and Principal Research Analyst, NYS Commission on Health Education & Illness Prevention. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.

L. Joy, June and Lurie discuss the Hotep in their closet, an excerpt of Donna Brazile's upcoming book on the 2016 election, how a repeal of the Johnson Amendment would impact the separation of church and state and Esmeralda Simmons on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. #CIVICDOCKET - 09:23 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * GOP Tax Bill Would Allow Politics from the Pulpit * Open Enrollment - The 2018 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017. This is a shorter enrollment period than previous years, so it's important to act quickly. Go to Healthcare.gov to find out more. BOOK REPORT - 27:13 An excerpt of Donna Brazile's upcoming book on the 2016 election was shared this week and hot takes once again ruled the day. We chat a bit about joint fundraising agreements and how L. Joy shares her annoyance about a "rigged" primary. Pre-Order Donna's book using the link below and let's read all the tea together. Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House GUEST INTERVIEW - 45:08 Esmeralda Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, CUNY in Brooklyn, New York. The Center is a small but very effective community-based legal advocacy and research institution that is a unit of Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. An activist and a leader, she has been involved in the community empowerment movement in Central Brooklyn and in progressive political causes for over thirty-five years. As an attorney, she specializes in racial justice issues, such as quality public education for students of color, voting rights, and cultural rights. She chooses to work locally with community organizations using advocacy, community education, coalition-building, and organizing methods, as well as civil rights and human rights legal tools. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams

Police reform conversations are stuck on methods to improve community and police relations but are missing the point of accountability and transparency. On this episode, L. Joy, June and Lurie discuss advocacy efforts towards police reform and a citizen’s role in policing the police. Guests include Dr. Phill Goff, Co-Founder and President of the Center for Policing Equity and lifelong activist Lumumba Bandele. #CIVICDOCKET - 10:59 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * How Black Americans See Discrimination * Majority Of White Americans Say They Believe Whites Face Discrimination Girl...Is That Legal? - 36:41 Do police have a constitutional duty to protect someone? In Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales the Supreme Court ruled, 7–2, that a town and its police department could not be sued for failing to enforce a restraining order, which had led to the murder of a woman's three children by her estranged husband. FEATURE TOPIC - 00:00 Where does law enforcement get its power? L. Joy describes where law enforcement agencies get their power and our role in police reform. GUESTS Dr. Philip Atiba Goff is the co-founder and president of the Center for Policing Equity, and an expert in contemporary forms of racial bias and discrimination, as well as the intersections of race and gender. Dr. Goff serves as one of four Principal Investigators for the CPE’s National Justice Database, the first national database on racial disparities in police stops and use of force. Lumuma Bandele is the Senior Community Organizer at the NAACP Legal Defense and educational Fund and a member and organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams

L. Joy, June and Lurie discuss the consequences of free speech, why it's so easy to exploit racial animus in the United States and the daily assault of American politics. OPENING Audio excerpt of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reading from his text "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".  #CIVICDOCKET - 11:09 A few of the civic related stories we discussed on the show that you may have missed in mainstream media. Follow the hashtag #CivicDocket on Twitter or view more here. * Black Lawmakers Hold a Particular Grievance With Facebook: Racial Exploitation http://nyti.ms/2yryTGU * The long history of the U.S. interfering with elections elsewhere http://wapo.st/2h0hbkx GIRL IS THAT LEGAL? - 32:16 Can private companies limit employee speech? FEATURE DISCUSSION * Why America is coming apart at the seams http://bit.ly/2kSAZuq * How American Politics Became So Exhausting http://theatln.tc/2yB2YEv EPISODE BOOK LIST --- BECOME A CIVIC PATRON Help us continue to grow and spread civic education and engagement by becoming a Civic Patron. Your financial support will help fund day-to-day costs and ensure the show will continue to be free and available for all to learn and share. You can contribute as little as $3 a month via Patreon or make a one-time donation of any amount via PayPal REVIEW THE SHOW If you love the show please write a review on iTunes or Stitcher and help spread the word about civic education and engagement. Make it a 5 star review and L. Joy Will read it on a feedback episode of the show. FOLLOW #SUNDAYCIVICS Subscribe on YouTube: sundaycivics.org/youtube Follow on Twitter: sundaycivics.org/twitter Like on Facebook: sundaycivics.org/facebook FOLLOW L. JOY Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/ljoywilliams Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/ljoywilliams Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ljoywilliams