30s Ad: $11 - $12
60s Ad: $13 - $15
CPM Category: Default
Different podcast categories command different CPM (cost per mille) rates based on advertiser demand and audience value.
Socials metrics & links
Socials metrics & links
No data
No data
Podcast LinksLinks to the podcast's website, socials, and more
With a sharp focus on culture, economics, and politics, Art of Citizenry explores how historic oppression persists and evolves, confronting the colonial legacies that shape our systems today. With an emphasis on intersectional justice, this podcast challenges listeners to unlearn and consider more restorative, community-centered approaches. Join us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives with nuanced perspectives.
Support our work: https://www.artofcitizenry.com/support
With a sharp focus on culture, economics, and politics, Art of Citizenry explores how historic oppression persists and evolves, confronting the colonial legacies that shape our systems today. With an emphasis on intersectional justice, this podcast challenges listeners to unlearn and consider more restorative, community-centered approaches. Join us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives with nuanced perspectives.
Support our work: https://www.artofcitizenry.com/support
Producers, Hosts, and Production Team
Sign up for full access to producers, hosts, and production team information.
Emails, Phones, and Addresses
We have
1 email,
0 phone numbers, and
0 addresses.
Sign up to access full contact information for Art of Citizenry.
Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics
Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on Art of Citizenry.
Hosts
Manpreet Kalra
Manpreet Kaur Kalra
Manpreet
Previous Guests
Clare Hammonds
Clare Hammonds is a researcher and advocate affiliated with the UMass Amherst Labor Center. She focuses on labor rights and social justice, contributing to reports that investigate human rights violations in global supply chains.
Clare Hammonds is a researcher and advocate affiliated with the UMass Amherst Labor Center. She focuses on labor rights and social justice, contributing to reports that investigate human rights violations in global supply chains.
Katie Nguyen
Katie Nguyen is a student activist and co-author at Students for International Labor Solidarity. She is involved in research and advocacy efforts aimed at addressing labor rights issues and promoting accountability in corporate supply chains.
Katie Nguyen is a student activist and co-author at Students for International Labor Solidarity. She is involved in research and advocacy efforts aimed at addressing labor rights issues and promoting accountability in corporate supply chains.
Courtney Lyons-Garcia
Courtney Lyons-Garcia is the Executive Director of the Partnership for the National Trails System, an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the national trails of the United States. With a background in environmental policy and advocacy, Courtney has worked extensively on issues related to public lands, conservation, and community engagement. She is known for her efforts to bridge the gap between policy and grassroots movements, ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard in the stewardship of national landscapes.
Courtney Lyons-Garcia is the Executive Director of the Partnership for the National Trails System, an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the national trails of the United States. With a background in environmental policy and advocacy, Courtney has worked extensively on issues related to public lands, conservation, and community engagement. She is known for her efforts to bridge the gap between policy and grassroots movements, ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard in the stewardship of national landscapes.
Emma Harris
Emma Harris is a bike and ski shop technician at the REI Flagship store in SoHo, New York City. She is a member of REI Union SoHo, where she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store's Contract Action Team. The REI Union consists of workers who have unionized at 11 REI retail stores across the country with either the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) or the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Emma is actively involved in labor activism and advocates for workers' rights, emphasizing the importance of collective action and the power of workers in their labor.
Emma Harris is a bike and ski shop technician at the REI Flagship store in SoHo, New York City. She is a member of REI Union SoHo, where she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store's Contract Action Team. The REI Union consists of workers who have unionized at 11 REI retail stores across the country with either the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) or the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Emma is actively involved in labor activism and advocates for workers' rights, emphasizing the importance of collective action and the power of workers in their labor.
Manpreet Kaur Kalra
Manpreet Kaur Kalra is a social entrepreneur and advocate with extensive experience in social impact and sustainable development. She has dedicated her career to promoting cultural humility, a framework that emphasizes the importance of unlearning and deep listening in cross-cultural engagement. Manpreet has been involved in various initiatives that challenge colonial mindsets and power structures, aiming to center the voices of marginalized communities. Her work includes delivering keynotes and workshops that incorporate cultural humility principles, encouraging individuals and organizations to reflect on their biases and the dynamics of privilege. With a passion for fostering understanding and collaboration across cultures, Manpreet continues to influence the discourse on intersectional justice and community-centered approaches.
Manpreet Kaur Kalra is a social entrepreneur and advocate with extensive experience in social impact and sustainable development. She has dedicated her career to promoting cultural humility, a framework that emphasizes the importance of unlearning and deep listening in cross-cultural engagement. Manpreet has been involved in various initiatives that challenge colonial mindsets and power structures, aiming to center the voices of marginalized communities. Her work includes delivering keynotes and workshops that incorporate cultural humility principles, encouraging individuals and organizations to reflect on their biases and the dynamics of privilege. With a passion for fostering understanding and collaboration across cultures, Manpreet continues to influence the discourse on intersectional justice and community-centered approaches.
Maru Mora-Villalpando
Maru Mora-Villalpando is a longtime immigrant and community organizer, dedicated to the fight for immigrant justice. She is the Founder and Advisor of La Resistencia, an immigrant-led grassroots organization working to shut down the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, and end all detentions and deportations in the state. Maru's work embodies the power of grassroots organizing, direct action, and collective resistance. La Resistencia plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the immigration enforcement system, remaining the only organization in Washington State led by individuals targeted by detention and deportation.
Maru Mora-Villalpando is a longtime immigrant and community organizer, dedicated to the fight for immigrant justice. She is the Founder and Advisor of La Resistencia, an immigrant-led grassroots organization working to shut down the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, and end all detentions and deportations in the state. Maru's work embodies the power of grassroots organizing, direct action, and collective resistance. La Resistencia plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the immigration enforcement system, remaining the only organization in Washington State led by individuals targeted by detention and deportation.
Alejandra Gonza
Alejandra Gonza is an Argentinian human rights lawyer and the Founder and Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy, a Seattle-based non-profit providing pro-bono representation at international bodies. She focuses on defending the right to freedom of undocumented immigrants at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, as well as environmental defenders, political prisoners, and those wrongfully convicted abroad. Alejandra believes in the power of storytelling to empower individuals to build their own reparation framework. Global Rights Advocacy is on a mission to provide victims access to international human rights mechanisms through high quality legal defense and advocacy strategies.
Alejandra Gonza is an Argentinian human rights lawyer and the Founder and Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy, a Seattle-based non-profit providing pro-bono representation at international bodies. She focuses on defending the right to freedom of undocumented immigrants at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, as well as environmental defenders, political prisoners, and those wrongfully convicted abroad. Alejandra believes in the power of storytelling to empower individuals to build their own reparation framework. Global Rights Advocacy is on a mission to provide victims access to international human rights mechanisms through high quality legal defense and advocacy strategies.
Topics Discussed
global supply chains
human rights abuses
sustainability
labor conditions
corporate accountability
REI
union-busting
debt bondage
environmental destruction
worker-driven social responsibility
public lands
federal budget cuts
resource extraction
economic security
national parks
conservation
Indigenous stewardship
policy
economics
workers' rights
labor organizing
collective action
union density
corporate resistance
fair wages
safe working conditions
Cultural Humility
social impact
advocacy
sustainable development
cross-cultural engagement
power structures
colonial mindset
lived experience
self-reflection
historical systems of oppression
immigration
grassroots organizing
storytelling
detention
deportation
human rights
community-led movements
Episodes
Here's the recent few episodes on Art of Citizenry.
0:0050:33
"Beneath REIs Green Sheen": The Human Cost of Global Supply Chains
Hosts
Hosts of this podcast episode
Manpreet Kalra
Guests
Guests of this podcast episode
Clare HammondsKatie Nguyen
Keywords
Keywords of this podcast episode
global supply chainshuman rights abusessustainabilitylabor conditionscorporate accountabilityREIunion-bustingdebt bondageenvironmental destructionworker-driven social responsibility
Globalization has set the stage for complex supply chains that allow multinational corporations to geographically and legally distance themselves from the exploitative labor conditions they often incentivize and perpetuate, shielding themselves from accountability while profiting from systemic human rights abuses. Companies such as REI have long cultivated an image of sustainability and progressive values, but how do those commitments hold up when you follow the supply chain?
In this episode, Manpreet Kalra is joined by Clare Hammonds of the UMass Amherst Labor Center and Katie Nguyen of Students for International Labor Solidarity, co-authors of Beneath REIs Green Sheen, a report that investigates human rights violations in REIs global production network. From union-busting and debt bondage to sourcing partnerships with corporations known for environmental destruction, their research reveals a pattern of practices that put supply chain workers at high risk of exposure to egregious labor rights abuses with no reliable avenue for recourse or remedy.
We unpack the systemic issues that enable these violations, the limits of corporate impact reports, and the role of worker-driven social responsibility initiatives and student movements in supply chain accountability.
What happens when a brands values become a marketing tool rather than a moral compass? And how can we collectively hold companies accountable when harm is buried deep in the supply chain? Tune in for a conversation that unpacks the realities of complex supply chainsand uplifts the people building power to confront it.
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honor, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
Globalization has set the stage for complex supply chains that allow multinational corporations to geographically and legally distance themselves from the exploitative labor conditions they often incentivize and perpetuate, shielding themselves from accountability while profiting from systemic human rights abuses. Companies such as REI have long cultivated an image of sustainability and progressive values, but how do those commitments hold up when you follow the supply chain?
In this episode, Manpreet Kalra is joined by Clare Hammonds of the UMass Amherst Labor Center and Katie Nguyen of Students for International Labor Solidarity, co-authors of Beneath REIs Green Sheen, a report that investigates human rights violations in REIs global production network. From union-busting and debt bondage to sourcing partnerships with corporations known for environmental destruction, their research reveals a pattern of practices that put supply chain workers at high risk of exposure to egregious labor rights abuses with no reliable avenue for recourse or remedy.
We unpack the systemic issues that enable these violations, the limits of corporate impact reports, and the role of worker-driven social responsibility initiatives and student movements in supply chain accountability.
What happens when a brands values become a marketing tool rather than a moral compass? And how can we collectively hold companies accountable when harm is buried deep in the supply chain? Tune in for a conversation that unpacks the realities of complex supply chainsand uplifts the people building power to confront it.
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honor, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
0:0041:21
The Fight for National Trails
Hosts
Hosts of this podcast episode
Manpreet Kaur Kalra
Guests
Guests of this podcast episode
Courtney Lyons-Garcia
Keywords
Keywords of this podcast episode
public landsfederal budget cutsresource extractioneconomic securitynational parksconservationIndigenous stewardshippolicyeconomics
The fate of America’s public lands is at a crossroads. With sweeping federal budget cuts, mass job losses at key agencies like the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture, and a growing push for resource extraction under the banner of economic security, the future of national parks and trails has never felt more uncertain. At the heart of this shift sits a potential deepening of extractive policies that prioritize industry over conservation.
In this episode, Manpreet Kaur Kalra sits down with Courtney Lyons-Garcia, Executive Director of Partnership for the National Trails System, to unpack what these changes mean for the protection and stewardship of America’s most treasured landscapes. We’ll explore how federal funding freezes are impacting nonprofit partners working on the ground, and what this means for how we experience the outdoors. But beyond these threats, we also discuss paths forward—how Indigenous stewardship efforts are reshaping conservation, what policies we should be keeping a close watch on, and how everyday people can take action to safeguard public lands.
Are we witnessing the systematic dismantling of public lands as we know them? And if so, what will it take to fight back? Tune in for a critical conversation about the intersection of policy, economics, conservation, and the power struggles defining America’s national trails.
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
The fate of America’s public lands is at a crossroads. With sweeping federal budget cuts, mass job losses at key agencies like the Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture, and a growing push for resource extraction under the banner of economic security, the future of national parks and trails has never felt more uncertain. At the heart of this shift sits a potential deepening of extractive policies that prioritize industry over conservation.
In this episode, Manpreet Kaur Kalra sits down with Courtney Lyons-Garcia, Executive Director of Partnership for the National Trails System, to unpack what these changes mean for the protection and stewardship of America’s most treasured landscapes. We’ll explore how federal funding freezes are impacting nonprofit partners working on the ground, and what this means for how we experience the outdoors. But beyond these threats, we also discuss paths forward—how Indigenous stewardship efforts are reshaping conservation, what policies we should be keeping a close watch on, and how everyday people can take action to safeguard public lands.
Are we witnessing the systematic dismantling of public lands as we know them? And if so, what will it take to fight back? Tune in for a critical conversation about the intersection of policy, economics, conservation, and the power struggles defining America’s national trails.
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
0:0057:29
The Co-op Illusion: REI, Union-Busting, and the Fight for Workers' Rights
Hosts
Hosts of this podcast episode
Manpreet
Guests
Guests of this podcast episode
Emma Harris
Keywords
Keywords of this podcast episode
REIunion-bustingworkers' rightslabor organizingcollective actionunion densitycorporate resistancefair wagessafe working conditions
In episode 22 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, we’re opting outside by centering REI’s labor fight. Manpreet is joined by Emma Harris, a bike and ski shop technician at REI’s SoHo store in New York City. As a member of REI Union SoHo, she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store’s Contract Action Team. REI SoHo was the first REI store to unionize. Since 2022, REI employees across the country have been organizing, demanding that the company live up to the values it so proudly markets. Together, we pull back the progressive corporate veil and unpack the ways in which REI has been undermining its mission and worker power through union busting tactics. We also discuss the role of unions and the challenges workers face when they come together to organize. This episode looks at the history of unions in the United States and the important function they serve in ensuring worker rights.
Behind REI’s glossy green sheen and feel-good messaging, workers are fighting a different battle—one for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize without retaliation.
Meet Our Guest
Emma Harris (she/her) is a bike and ski shop technician at the REI Flagship store in SoHo, New York City unionized with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). As a member of REI Union SoHo, she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store’s Contract Action Team. The REI Union currently consists of workers who have unionized at 11 REI retail stores across the country with either RWDSU or the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Labor Organizing
Labor activism in the United States has experienced a significant resurgence over the past three years and it is being led by young people. Workers have launched successful organizing efforts across industries from Amazon to Ben & Jerry’s to REI. Public support for unions has also reached historic levels, with Gallup polls indicating that 70% of Americans—and nearly 90% of young workers—approve of unions, a level not seen since the 1960s. Despite this increase in momentum and the proven success of worker-led movement efforts, increased labor activism has not translated into greater union density because of two primary reasons according to an article published by the Economic Policy Institute: (1) deeply flawed labor laws and (2) relentless corporate resistance to worker organizing.
Corporations are always going to be looking out for their bottom line, even if they like to brand themselves as “progressive” or “a different kind of company.” I want workers to realize the power that they have in their labor and the connections they form with their coworkers. There is incredible strength in collective action and the only way to make real, structural change in the face of Big Business is to band together and rise up! - Emma Harris
REI’s Union Busting Law Firm
Despite none of its unionized stores securing a collective bargaining agreement, REI maintains that it is negotiating in good faith. From June 2022 until switching law firms, REI SoHo was bargaining with REI through a different law firm, and had made some tentative agreements. However, since bringing on the new law firm, progress has slowed significantly.
REI’s new law firm of choice, Morgan Lewis, known for its hardline, union-busting tactics, has a long history of involvement in high-profile anti-union efforts. Their dedicated labor practice dates back to the 1950s. By the 1970s, it had become the most powerful management-side labor practice in the country, frequently appearing in the largest federation of US unions AFL-CIO’s "Report on Union Busting." Their extensive experience in "union avoidance" has made them a prominent choice for corporations aiming to maintain non-unionized workforces.
In January 2024, SpaceX, represented by none other than Morgan Lewis, filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), introducing a new anti-union playbook.
Over the past year, companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, alongside SpaceX have intensified efforts to weaken labor rights. Beyond their usual union-busting tactics, these corporations are now actively seeking to have the entire National Labor Relations Board declared unconstitutional. Alongside REI, Morgan Lewis represents Trader Joe’s, Amazon, and SpaceX.
Under the new administration, the NLRB is in upheaval. During his first few weeks in office, Donald Trump fired the NLRB general counselor and removed a board member. While the NLRB’s day-to-day work can continue, the board cannot order parties to pay remedies or recognize a union because it needs three members to make a ruling. With the current situation quite volatile, it is likely that we will begin to see a reversal of many of the pro-labor decisions that have been issued by the board previously.
The Co-op Illusion
When REI calls itself a cooperative, it means that it operates under a member-owned business model rather than being a traditional publicly traded corporation. In theory, this means that the company is governed by its members—customers who pay a one-time fee to join—rather than by shareholders. REI uses this structure to differentiate itself from conventional retailers, positioning itself as a community-driven organization that reinvests profits back into the business and its members. To reaffirm this sentiment, REI describes a Co-op as “the people it brings together. The we.”
REI markets its cooperative status as a sign of social responsibility, emphasizing community engagement and sustainability initiatives. However, while this cooperative model suggests a more democratic and values-driven approach, in practice, REI functions like a traditional corporation, with a top-down governance structure and executive leadership making key decisions—not its members or workers.
A Call to Action for REI Members
If you are a member, REI’s board of directors vote is officially open. REI has chosen to offer only their handpicked nominees. I encourage you to select “WITHHOLD” to vote against each of REI’s corporate nominees to block them from joining the board. Get involved in the “Vote No” campaign here.
If you are not a member, please remember your voice has power too. Help us amplify the organizing efforts of REI Union members and workers.
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
Thank You for Listening – please subscribe and leave a five star review!
Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow along and share your thoughts on Substack - artofcitizenry.substack.com
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
In episode 22 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, we’re opting outside by centering REI’s labor fight. Manpreet is joined by Emma Harris, a bike and ski shop technician at REI’s SoHo store in New York City. As a member of REI Union SoHo, she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store’s Contract Action Team. REI SoHo was the first REI store to unionize. Since 2022, REI employees across the country have been organizing, demanding that the company live up to the values it so proudly markets. Together, we pull back the progressive corporate veil and unpack the ways in which REI has been undermining its mission and worker power through union busting tactics. We also discuss the role of unions and the challenges workers face when they come together to organize. This episode looks at the history of unions in the United States and the important function they serve in ensuring worker rights.
Behind REI’s glossy green sheen and feel-good messaging, workers are fighting a different battle—one for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize without retaliation.
Meet Our Guest
Emma Harris (she/her) is a bike and ski shop technician at the REI Flagship store in SoHo, New York City unionized with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). As a member of REI Union SoHo, she serves as an elected member of the union bargaining committee and is part of the store’s Contract Action Team. The REI Union currently consists of workers who have unionized at 11 REI retail stores across the country with either RWDSU or the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Labor Organizing
Labor activism in the United States has experienced a significant resurgence over the past three years and it is being led by young people. Workers have launched successful organizing efforts across industries from Amazon to Ben & Jerry’s to REI. Public support for unions has also reached historic levels, with Gallup polls indicating that 70% of Americans—and nearly 90% of young workers—approve of unions, a level not seen since the 1960s. Despite this increase in momentum and the proven success of worker-led movement efforts, increased labor activism has not translated into greater union density because of two primary reasons according to an article published by the Economic Policy Institute: (1) deeply flawed labor laws and (2) relentless corporate resistance to worker organizing.
Corporations are always going to be looking out for their bottom line, even if they like to brand themselves as “progressive” or “a different kind of company.” I want workers to realize the power that they have in their labor and the connections they form with their coworkers. There is incredible strength in collective action and the only way to make real, structural change in the face of Big Business is to band together and rise up! - Emma Harris
REI’s Union Busting Law Firm
Despite none of its unionized stores securing a collective bargaining agreement, REI maintains that it is negotiating in good faith. From June 2022 until switching law firms, REI SoHo was bargaining with REI through a different law firm, and had made some tentative agreements. However, since bringing on the new law firm, progress has slowed significantly.
REI’s new law firm of choice, Morgan Lewis, known for its hardline, union-busting tactics, has a long history of involvement in high-profile anti-union efforts. Their dedicated labor practice dates back to the 1950s. By the 1970s, it had become the most powerful management-side labor practice in the country, frequently appearing in the largest federation of US unions AFL-CIO’s "Report on Union Busting." Their extensive experience in "union avoidance" has made them a prominent choice for corporations aiming to maintain non-unionized workforces.
In January 2024, SpaceX, represented by none other than Morgan Lewis, filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), introducing a new anti-union playbook.
Over the past year, companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, alongside SpaceX have intensified efforts to weaken labor rights. Beyond their usual union-busting tactics, these corporations are now actively seeking to have the entire National Labor Relations Board declared unconstitutional. Alongside REI, Morgan Lewis represents Trader Joe’s, Amazon, and SpaceX.
Under the new administration, the NLRB is in upheaval. During his first few weeks in office, Donald Trump fired the NLRB general counselor and removed a board member. While the NLRB’s day-to-day work can continue, the board cannot order parties to pay remedies or recognize a union because it needs three members to make a ruling. With the current situation quite volatile, it is likely that we will begin to see a reversal of many of the pro-labor decisions that have been issued by the board previously.
The Co-op Illusion
When REI calls itself a cooperative, it means that it operates under a member-owned business model rather than being a traditional publicly traded corporation. In theory, this means that the company is governed by its members—customers who pay a one-time fee to join—rather than by shareholders. REI uses this structure to differentiate itself from conventional retailers, positioning itself as a community-driven organization that reinvests profits back into the business and its members. To reaffirm this sentiment, REI describes a Co-op as “the people it brings together. The we.”
REI markets its cooperative status as a sign of social responsibility, emphasizing community engagement and sustainability initiatives. However, while this cooperative model suggests a more democratic and values-driven approach, in practice, REI functions like a traditional corporation, with a top-down governance structure and executive leadership making key decisions—not its members or workers.
A Call to Action for REI Members
If you are a member, REI’s board of directors vote is officially open. REI has chosen to offer only their handpicked nominees. I encourage you to select “WITHHOLD” to vote against each of REI’s corporate nominees to block them from joining the board. Get involved in the “Vote No” campaign here.
If you are not a member, please remember your voice has power too. Help us amplify the organizing efforts of REI Union members and workers.
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
Thank You for Listening – please subscribe and leave a five star review!
Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow along and share your thoughts on Substack - artofcitizenry.substack.com
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
0:0024:19
The Case for Cultural Humility
Hosts
Hosts of this podcast episode
Manpreet Kaur Kalra
Guests
Guests of this podcast episode
Manpreet Kaur Kalra
Keywords
Keywords of this podcast episode
Cultural Humilitysocial impactadvocacysustainable developmentcross-cultural engagementpower structurescolonial mindsetlived experienceself-reflectionhistorical systems of oppression
In episode 21 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra unpacks Cultural Humility—a lifelong practice of unlearning, deep listening, and rethinking how we engage with difference. Cultural Humility challenges the colonial mindset that knowledge alone is enough to understand another’s lived experience. Instead, it asks us to center the voices of those most impacted, acknowledge power structures, and embrace the discomfort of not knowing. Having grounded Manpreet’s work in social impact, advocacy, and sustainable development for years now, this episode provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of cultural humility and how it can be applied to various areas of cross-cultural engagement and work. Sharing her own personal experiences with social entrepreneurship, this episode challenges us to rethink our approaches. This episode asks us to listen before acting, acknowledge our own biases, and recognize that power and privilege shape the way we navigate the world.
A Note From Manpreet
I really appreciate you being here, and joining me in this conversation. This episode holds a special place in my heart, it is an episode I have been wanting to do since I started the podcast almost five years ago. If you have listened to some of the early episodes of this podcast or attended any of my keynotes or workshops, you know that cultural humility as a framework has grounded my work for years now. I incorporate it into almost every one of my talks because it offers a perspective that challenges the worldview that knowledge transcends (or does not require) lived experience – in other words, it challenges the false notion that you can simply learn enough about another culture to truly understand it.
What do you mean when you talk about “cultural humility”?
Cultural humility pushes us to challenge our assumptions and prejudices. It encourages us to put aside our judgments about a community or culture, instead approaching others from a place of vulnerability, wanting to learn instead of lead.
The issue I often see is placing an oversimplified understanding of someone’s unique experiences upon them out of an over-eagerness to find common ground. This results in the single story of how others are defined. Cultural humility is not just about individual experiences, it is also a process of active self-reflection and unpacking of the power dynamics we each encounter. It challenges us to understand how historical systems of oppression (e.g. colonialism) continue to marginalize communities today.
“Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices," is a 30-minute documentary by San Francisco State professor Vivian Chávez, that mixes poetry with music, interviews, archival footage, and images of community, nature and dance to explain what Cultural Humility is and why we need it. The film describes a set of principles that guide the thinking, behavior and actions of individuals and institutions influencing interpersonal relationships as well as systems change. These principles are:
Lifelong learning and critical self-reflection
Recognize and change power imbalances
Institutional accountability
Become a Patron
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
Thank You for Listening – please subscribe and leave a five star review!
Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow along and share your thoughts on Substack - artofcitizenry.substack.com
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
In episode 21 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra unpacks Cultural Humility—a lifelong practice of unlearning, deep listening, and rethinking how we engage with difference. Cultural Humility challenges the colonial mindset that knowledge alone is enough to understand another’s lived experience. Instead, it asks us to center the voices of those most impacted, acknowledge power structures, and embrace the discomfort of not knowing. Having grounded Manpreet’s work in social impact, advocacy, and sustainable development for years now, this episode provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of cultural humility and how it can be applied to various areas of cross-cultural engagement and work. Sharing her own personal experiences with social entrepreneurship, this episode challenges us to rethink our approaches. This episode asks us to listen before acting, acknowledge our own biases, and recognize that power and privilege shape the way we navigate the world.
A Note From Manpreet
I really appreciate you being here, and joining me in this conversation. This episode holds a special place in my heart, it is an episode I have been wanting to do since I started the podcast almost five years ago. If you have listened to some of the early episodes of this podcast or attended any of my keynotes or workshops, you know that cultural humility as a framework has grounded my work for years now. I incorporate it into almost every one of my talks because it offers a perspective that challenges the worldview that knowledge transcends (or does not require) lived experience – in other words, it challenges the false notion that you can simply learn enough about another culture to truly understand it.
What do you mean when you talk about “cultural humility”?
Cultural humility pushes us to challenge our assumptions and prejudices. It encourages us to put aside our judgments about a community or culture, instead approaching others from a place of vulnerability, wanting to learn instead of lead.
The issue I often see is placing an oversimplified understanding of someone’s unique experiences upon them out of an over-eagerness to find common ground. This results in the single story of how others are defined. Cultural humility is not just about individual experiences, it is also a process of active self-reflection and unpacking of the power dynamics we each encounter. It challenges us to understand how historical systems of oppression (e.g. colonialism) continue to marginalize communities today.
“Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices," is a 30-minute documentary by San Francisco State professor Vivian Chávez, that mixes poetry with music, interviews, archival footage, and images of community, nature and dance to explain what Cultural Humility is and why we need it. The film describes a set of principles that guide the thinking, behavior and actions of individuals and institutions influencing interpersonal relationships as well as systems change. These principles are:
Lifelong learning and critical self-reflection
Recognize and change power imbalances
Institutional accountability
Become a Patron
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
In Episode 20 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra is joined by immigrant community organizer Maru Mora-Villalpando, Founder of La Resistencia, and international human rights lawyer Alejandra Gonza, Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy. Together, they expose the brutal realities of immigration detention—from systemic neglect and punishment to the resilience of those organizing from within its walls. Maru shares how La Resistencia mobilizes communities to challenge deportations and support detainee-led organizing at Northwest Detention Center. Working in direct collaboration, Alejandra sheds light on the intersection of international human rights law and grassroots advocacy, emphasizing the role of storytelling in holding systems accountable. Through the Melting Ice Project, they document the lived experiences of detained migrants, ensuring their stories shape the fight for justice. This episode is a call to action: migrants in detention are not passive victims—they are organizing, resisting, and demanding change. Join us as we explore the power of community-led movements, storytelling as an advocacy tool, and the role of international human rights mechanisms.
Meet Our Guests
Maru Mora-Villalpando is a longtime immigrant and community organizer, dedicated to the fight for immigrant justice. She is the Founder and Advisor of La Resistencia, an immigrant-led grassroots organization working to shut down the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, and end all detentions and deportations in the state. Maru’s work embodies the power of grassroots organizing, direct action, and collective resistance.
La Resistencia plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the immigration enforcement system. It remains the only organization in Washington State led by individuals targeted by detention and deportation, ensuring that advocacy efforts are driven by the people most affected.
Alejandra Gonza is an Argentinian human rights lawyer. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy, a Seattle-based non-profit providing pro-bono representation at international bodies. She focuses on defending the right to freedom of undocumented immigrants at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, as well as environmental defenders, political prisoners, and those wrongfully convicted abroad. She believes in the power of storytelling to empower individuals to build their own reparation framework.
Global Rights Advocacy is on a mission to provide victims access to international human rights mechanisms through high quality legal defense and advocacy strategies. GRA has also been doing incredible work in documenting the testimonies of detainees at Northwest Detention Center for the past ten years.
Melting ICE Exhibit
Melting ICE is a visual storytelling project done in collaboration between La Resistencia, Global Rights Advocacy and UW Tacoma that artfully humanizes a problem that often dehumanizes individual narratives – allowing the people most impacted to guide the storytelling process.The exhibition serves as both an artistic and political intervention, engaging the practice of storytelling as an act of living resistance to the oppressive conditions of immigrant detention.
Take Action
The work of grassroots organizations is crucial. They amplify the voices of those inside, mobilize advocates, and challenge the policies that uphold these violent institutions. But they cannot do it alone. True solidarity means more than just awareness—it requires action. Support grassroots groups doing this work in your neighborhood and donate to mutual aid funds. If you decide to get involved in the fight for immigrant justice, follow the lead of those already doing the work, and use your skills and resources to support their demand for an end to detention as a tool of oppression.
Grassroots Organizations & Partners Fighting for Immigrant Justice
La Resistencia is a grassroots organization led by undocumented immigrants and people of color who have been oppressed by the immigration enforcement system in Washington State.
Tsuru for Solidarity is a nonviolent, direct action project of Japanese American social justice advocates working to end detention sites and support front-line immigrant and refugee communities.
Global Rights Advocacy offers access to international human rights mechanisms through representation, reporting and education.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
Detention Watch Network brings together advocates to unify strategy, build partnerships and strengthen the movement to end immigration detention.
National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.
Download & Print a Red Card - Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s Red Cards help immigrants exercise those rights and protect themselves in many situations, such as when immigration agents visit our homes. Available in 16 different languages.
ACLU Know Your Rights - Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.
The National Immigration Project - a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members that litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those who are impacted by America’s immigration and criminal legal systems are supported.
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
Thank You for Listening – please subscribe and leave a five star review!
Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow along and share your thoughts on Substack - artofcitizenry.substack.com
For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes
Thank you to our producer, Aly Honoré, and editor, Noah Kowalski.
The music featured in the podcast was created by Katrina Zemrak
In Episode 20 of Art of Citizenry Podcast, Manpreet Kaur Kalra is joined by immigrant community organizer Maru Mora-Villalpando, Founder of La Resistencia, and international human rights lawyer Alejandra Gonza, Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy. Together, they expose the brutal realities of immigration detention—from systemic neglect and punishment to the resilience of those organizing from within its walls. Maru shares how La Resistencia mobilizes communities to challenge deportations and support detainee-led organizing at Northwest Detention Center. Working in direct collaboration, Alejandra sheds light on the intersection of international human rights law and grassroots advocacy, emphasizing the role of storytelling in holding systems accountable. Through the Melting Ice Project, they document the lived experiences of detained migrants, ensuring their stories shape the fight for justice. This episode is a call to action: migrants in detention are not passive victims—they are organizing, resisting, and demanding change. Join us as we explore the power of community-led movements, storytelling as an advocacy tool, and the role of international human rights mechanisms.
Meet Our Guests
Maru Mora-Villalpando is a longtime immigrant and community organizer, dedicated to the fight for immigrant justice. She is the Founder and Advisor of La Resistencia, an immigrant-led grassroots organization working to shut down the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, and end all detentions and deportations in the state. Maru’s work embodies the power of grassroots organizing, direct action, and collective resistance.
La Resistencia plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the immigration enforcement system. It remains the only organization in Washington State led by individuals targeted by detention and deportation, ensuring that advocacy efforts are driven by the people most affected.
Alejandra Gonza is an Argentinian human rights lawyer. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Rights Advocacy, a Seattle-based non-profit providing pro-bono representation at international bodies. She focuses on defending the right to freedom of undocumented immigrants at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, as well as environmental defenders, political prisoners, and those wrongfully convicted abroad. She believes in the power of storytelling to empower individuals to build their own reparation framework.
Global Rights Advocacy is on a mission to provide victims access to international human rights mechanisms through high quality legal defense and advocacy strategies. GRA has also been doing incredible work in documenting the testimonies of detainees at Northwest Detention Center for the past ten years.
Melting ICE Exhibit
Melting ICE is a visual storytelling project done in collaboration between La Resistencia, Global Rights Advocacy and UW Tacoma that artfully humanizes a problem that often dehumanizes individual narratives – allowing the people most impacted to guide the storytelling process.The exhibition serves as both an artistic and political intervention, engaging the practice of storytelling as an act of living resistance to the oppressive conditions of immigrant detention.
Take Action
The work of grassroots organizations is crucial. They amplify the voices of those inside, mobilize advocates, and challenge the policies that uphold these violent institutions. But they cannot do it alone. True solidarity means more than just awareness—it requires action. Support grassroots groups doing this work in your neighborhood and donate to mutual aid funds. If you decide to get involved in the fight for immigrant justice, follow the lead of those already doing the work, and use your skills and resources to support their demand for an end to detention as a tool of oppression.
Grassroots Organizations & Partners Fighting for Immigrant Justice
La Resistencia is a grassroots organization led by undocumented immigrants and people of color who have been oppressed by the immigration enforcement system in Washington State.
Tsuru for Solidarity is a nonviolent, direct action project of Japanese American social justice advocates working to end detention sites and support front-line immigrant and refugee communities.
Global Rights Advocacy offers access to international human rights mechanisms through representation, reporting and education.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
Detention Watch Network brings together advocates to unify strategy, build partnerships and strengthen the movement to end immigration detention.
National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.
Download & Print a Red Card - Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s Red Cards help immigrants exercise those rights and protect themselves in many situations, such as when immigration agents visit our homes. Available in 16 different languages.
ACLU Know Your Rights - Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.
The National Immigration Project - a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members that litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those who are impacted by America’s immigration and criminal legal systems are supported.
Art of Citizenry is proudly independent. Support us as we critically explore, challenge, and unravel mainstream narratives by empowering listeners with accessible, nuanced perspectives. Your support directly sustains our podcast, helping cover the wages of our dedicated three-person team.
