L. Joy has discussed criminal justice reform and how as a society we can think through and get engaged around making change, and we are going to keep the conversation going. On this episode, L. Joy brings State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County Maryland, Aisha Braveboy to the front of the class to break down exactly what the school to prison pipeline is, how her office is approaching juvenile justice, and how she uses her office to protect the rights of everyone.

L. Joy gives us important actions to take today, and throughout the year on Voting Rights. She reviews our lesson “No Constitutional Right To Vote” with guest Barbara Arnwine at the front of the class, giving us the historical context, and recent history, as to why we continue to fight to secure voting rights. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated in 1957, "So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind — it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact — I can only submit to the edict of others," and until voting rights are secured, we must continue to take action.

Elected prosecutors are part of the community. They hold the power to determine who gets prosecuted and their sentences. What tools do prosecutors have that can ensure fairness and equity, as well as criminal justice reform? To continue the conversation L. Joy began with Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez on conviction and sentencing review units; she brought State’s Attorney for Baltimore, Maryland, Marilyn Mosby, to the front of the class to break down the barriers to, advantages of, and need for these important units in prosecutors’ offices.

“Create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all” is part of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) mission statement and is the goal for most people. The premise seems simple enough but we still have yet to get there. L. Joy brings Eugene Jones, Jr. to the front of the class to give us the primer we need on one of the most important things in society, housing humans.

Iimani David said “art is what separates us from the animals.” With arts and culture being such a big part of our lives from the economy, to mental health, to community, why aren’t more of our tax dollars used to support them? To explain how the government funds the arts and what COVID recovery looks like for that sector, L. Joy brings Taneshia Nash Laird, Liz Janneman and Rachel S. Moore, to the front of the class to give us the lesson we need to #GetCivicallyEngaged, #StandForTheArts, and be an #ArtsHero.

L. Joy wanted to talk about creating a democracy agenda, advocacy in the C-Suite and Silicon Valley, coalition building, and how to win with Black Women. She brings Jotaka Eaddy comes to the front of the class for this conversation that gives great strategic points to help you #GetCivicallyEngaged.