An overview & welcome to Our Dream Deferred. Find out how we will explore the American story, as inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, Dream Deferred: “What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?”

These past few years, as our country has become more fragmented, and longstanding biases have come into plain sight, we’ve searched for ways to understand what we’re experiencing more deeply and to benefit from perspectives that can help us envision a path forward. This week’s episode of Our Dream Deferred: Fulfilling the Nation’s Promise, we’ll cover the importance of narrative change and how to do it in a positive way, what we can do as leaders and organizations to contribute to meaningful change, and what behavioral science can teach us about how to reach the people and communities we serve.

This episode’s guest is Anthony Barrows, a Managing Director at idas42.

Be part of Our Dream Deferred. Use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at cbecker@aphsa.org. 

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Links:

http://ideas42.org/learn 

https://anthonybarrows.com/home.html 

https://www.mobilitypartnership.org/paper-categories/narrative 

Book Recommendations:

The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael J. Sandel

The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations by Robert Livingston

Scarcity: The New Science of Having Less and How It Defines Our Lives by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir 

In this week’s episode of Our Dream Deferred: Fulfilling the Nation’s Promise, we’re in conversation with Derrik Anderson, Executive Director at Race Matters for Juvenile Justice. Derrik helps us reflect on the American Dream in the context of taking a frank look at the lived experiences of people of color in the United States. Derrik uses a historical lens to explore policies, their impacts on systems and institutions, and the biases they can lead to, and encourages us to continually do the work to counter racism, white supremacy culture, and other injustices. Key will be to create a shared language across institutions and groups to address these problems – an activity you’re participating in just listening to this podcast! 

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at cbecker@aphsa.org. 

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Link:

https://rmjj.org/

Today we hear from Phil Howard, who is a professor of sociology, information and international affairs, and the author of Lie Machines: How to Save Democracy from Troll Armies, Deceitful Robots, Junk News Operations, and Political Operatives. Studying information infrastructure and social systems at the same time, he provides a unique and integrated perspective on the impacts of social media on modern life, and why it matters. By illustrating how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media have been used to bring out the worst in us, Professor Howard helps us see a better path forward. His ideas for public agencies include mapping out how to better meet constituents on social media,. Tune in for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation.  

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org.   

Links: 

Phil Howard’s commentary and articles: https://philhoward.org/ 

The Navigator tool: https://navigator.oii.ox.ac.uk/ 

Oxford Internet Institute: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/ 

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell. 

Today we hear from Tim Snyder, the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. Tim has written numerous books, including two that appeared on the New York Times best-seller list simultaneously, On Tyranny and The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America. Both volumes examine the rise of authoritarianism in the United States. As an historian specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe and the Holocaust, he draws parallels to our modern political climate and advises on how to defend our republic and individual freedoms. His advice: “Don’t obey in advance,” reminds each of us of our place in history, the responsibility we bear, and that everything we do has some kind of moral context, including looking away. If we become complacent, we then become vulnerable to the things we have chosen to forget.

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org. 

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Links:

-          On Tyranny, a book by Tim Snyder

-          The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, a book by Tim Snyder

-          The War on History Is a War on Democracy, Tim Snyder New York Times article

This week we hear from philosopher, writer, and professor C. Thi Nguyen. Thi is perhaps best known for his recent essay in Aeon magazine, Escape the Echo Chamber, that went viral at a time when many Americans are struggling to understand the interplay between social media and the rise of conspiracy theories. Our conversation with him is wide ranging, spanning from the gamification of social media to the difference between filter bubbles and echo chambers, and why conspiracy theories are so appealing to many. Thi is the author of  Games: Agency As Art, and helps us understand the power that games can have in our lives – both good and bad.

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org. 

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Links:

Thi’s website with links and additional information

Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life, Theodore M. Porter

The Seductions of Quantification Measuring Human Rights, Gender Violence, and Sex Trafficking, Sally Engle Merry

Today’s episode features Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor of Global Health at The George Washington University and Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience. Wendy is well known as a pioneer in our understanding of trauma and resilience – in our conversation she uses her expertise in health policy, her background as a journalist, and draws on her own lived experience to pull back the lens to help us see the systemic root causes of family and community trauma. A gifted communicator of complex concepts and of stories, Wendy shares the ways in which equitable access to community supports, like good schools, libraries, parks, and safe policing can enable families and communities themselves to not just bounce back from trauma and adversity but make it possible to bounce forward and thrive. Her Center’s work with communities across the country is catalyzing systems change that offers palpable hope for overcoming deep inequities and building communities where everyone can thrive.

Content Warning: Please note that this episode includes descriptions of violence and a brief mention of suicide.

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org.  

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Links:

• Resources on the Building Community Resilience approach, including the Pair of ACEs Tree and the Resilience Tree: https://ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/tools-resources/the-BCR-approach

• Fostering Equity resources: https://ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/fosteringequity

• Center for Community Resilience 2021 Federal Legislative Agenda: https://ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/files/pdf/CCR%20Agenda%20Final.pdf

As we kick off season 2 of Our Dream Deferred, co-hosts Tracy Wareing Evans and Karen Heller Key take a moment to reflect on their journey together and what brought them to their individual roles as advocates for positive social change. Episode 1 stories include family histories of taking on injustice along with recent changes in the world that have brought stark relief to issues of racial inequality and historic marginalization, together with a better understanding of the role human services can play in remedying these challenges.

We also explore the importance of sharing perspectives, thinking critically, and taking action to both unlock and highlight human potential. Join us as we reflect on these insights and discuss plans for the rest of season 2.
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Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes. Use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred. Write to us at jgaron@aphsa.org.

Our Dream Deferred is produced by the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). Editing and sound design for this episode was done by Bea Mitchell.