When discussions turn to the people of Rural America, oftentimes descriptors of Mid-Western, white, and conservative are used. Guess what? That is totally wrong! L. Joy brings Cynthia Wallace and Paolo Cremidis to the front of the class to give us what we need to know, and clear up misconceptions about the people living in Rural America.

Every year the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) releases a report on crime statistics it gathers through the Unified Crime Reporting Program (UCR.) But what do those statistics mean to communities doing the work around criminal justice reform? How important is the language when discussing criminal justice reform? L. Joy welcomes DeAnna Hoskins to lead this important lesson.

It is L. Joy’s birthday! What other way to celebrate than to discuss #Civics, specifically THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS! As L. Joy has taught us, campaign season basically never ends so, she is bringing Clay Cane to the front of the class because he “ain’t never really gone,” to break down upcoming elections, how President Biden needs to “bussit wide open” for the people, and what you need to know about and get us prepared for midterms. And, her thoroughest girls, Lurie Daniel Favors and June Moses are here!

In a previous lesson, L. Joy told us What To Do After Your Lose. Now, L. Joy is bringing Julián Castro to the front of the class to share with us how he is staying #CivicallyEngaged and what he has been up to after being a presidential candidate-and it is a LOT!

Sunday October 10, 2021 is #WorldHomelessDay2021. The first World Homeless Day in October 2010, came about as a result of online discussions from people doing work on the issue around the world. In the United States, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in January 2020 there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness. To give us some perspective on living without a home, L. Joy brings Chase Archer Evans to the front of the class, and then she brings Jacquelyn Simone to the front of the class to break down the cold facts on homelessness.

This episode is Part II in our series Public Safety Requires Community. L. Joy continues this discussion thinking through public safety and how we grapple with gun violence. What responsibility does the office of District Attorney have regarding public safety and curbing gun violence before crime happens? L. Joy brings back Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez to the front of the class to have this conversation.