Has L. Joy discussed Black maternal health and reproductive justice before? Yes, multiple times. And as long as there is such deep confusion, much of it manufactured, around the issue, L. Joy will continue to talk about it because the full range of reproductive healthcare links together. For this lesson, she’s bringing a knowledgeable triumvirate to the front of the class to break down the fight on the State level.

Exactly what should we be doing in between Presidential elections? We should be engaging and base building to ensure our communities are knowledgeable and ready to cast their vote as well as advance the issues of concern. Now we know, but the HOW do we engage respectfully is the next question. L. Joy brings Adrianne Shropshire to the front of the class to break down how Black PAC engages, gathers information, and gives tips we can all use to be better at base building

Work. We all do it because we have bills to pay. But what happens when an unexpected emergency occurs and you need time away from work-hopefully paid time? To discuss work, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), paid leave, and the possibilities of disconnecting work from benefits, L. Joy brings Executive Director of Family Values @ Work, Josephine Kalepini to the front of the class.

The United Nations is an international organization, but can it be used as a tool on the path to human and civil rights here for Black people in America? To explain if this is possible, L. Joy brings UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent member, Professor Justin Hansford to the front of the class. As a bonus, they discuss Critical Race Theory, answering questions many of us have.

The Constitution, it is said, is a living, breathing document. L. Joy brings Sherrilyn Ifill to the front of the class to give us a framework to understand the power and obligations of the Constitution, the importance of the Civil War Amendments, and what it means to do the work of citizenship.

L. Joy shares with us tools we can use to follow budget money and elections in our local areas. And she brings Lauren Bealore of Prosperity Now to the front of the class to discuss The Zoning In report on inclusionary zoning and how policy may help with the housing crisis which is leaving many people unable to find decent and safe housing they can afford.