Diversity Isn't Enough
Tune in to hear Mekaelia Davis, Program Director of the Inclusive Economics Program at the Surdna Foundation, talk about the importance of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and about how charity is not a replacement for justice.
0:00 Episode starts
2:36 Jes talks about enjoying fall and the season change
2:49 Rob asks for self-care tips from listeners
3:17 Rob welcomes on guest Mekaelia Davis
5:11 Rob introduces Mekaelia, Program Director of the Inclusive Economics program at the Surdna Foundation
6:08 Rob asks Mekaelia to share about her story, what led her to this work, and the work she is doing now
7:58 Mekaelia talks about how her career is shaped by asking herself how we give people agency and choice that dictates who has access to economic opportunity
10:00 Jes introduces Mekaelia’s article “Risks for the Future We Want”
11:15 Jes asks Mekaelia to help unpack the article to understand what we are talking about
13:44 Mekaelia talks about how racism is perpetuated by the surrounding the notion of hierarchy of who gets to have power with black people at the bottom
19:14 Rob asks Mekaelia why she started with the point of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and why it is so important
20:08 Mekaelia talks about change being uncomfortable because we are human and we like routine and the familiar
23:29 Mekaelia encourages listeners to try to think about anything in their lives that has changed without discomfort
24:50 Jes asks Mekaelia to unpack some statistics about funding and how to disrupt the change
25:53 Mekaelia talks about the difference between project-based grant vs a general fund
29:23 Mekaelia makes the point that how we choose what is credible needs to change first
29:37 Interlude
33:11 Mekaelia makes the point that how we decide who we trust is based on these values that are rooted in racism
40:27 Rob makes the point that charity is not a replacement for justice
41:36 Rob asks Makealia her why and what gives her hope to keep going
43:07 Mekalia talks about being inspired by all of the things we have accomplished as humans and the sacrifice she is willing to make for future generations
45:43 Jes asks Mekaelia to share a show-up moment for listeners
47:05 Mekalia shares that ideas matter because what we think about, translates into what we do
50:40 Mekalia signs off of the conversation
51:27 Rob asks Jes to pick one thing that stood out the most in the conversation
51:39 Jes answers by saying that the conversation around trust became emotional for her
54:17 Jes asks Rob about his takeaways
55:24 Rob talks about taking away that change in our life without discomfort isn’t actually possible
57:45 Conversation ends
57:47 Outro
Thank you to DJ Pdogg and Producer Lo Key for our awesome music throughout the show!
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Our hosts:
Jes Averhart, cofounder of Black Wallstreet Homecoming
Rob Shields, executive director of the Recity Network.
Our Producer:
Ben Azevedo, owner of Bear Cave Audio
Our Editor
Chris Pappalardo