My Work

Katika sehemu hii, Emma Yaaka, mkimbizi kutoka Uganda na mtetezi wa jamii, anaeleza jinsi habari za uongo zinavyoenea kupitia mitandao ya wakimbizi na wahamiaji na madhara halisi yanayoweza kutokea. Kuanzia makundi ya WhatsApp hadi TikTok na YouTube,…

Editor’s note: This episode was recorded before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on birthright citizenship. On June 30, 2026, in Trump v. Barbara, the Court struck down the executive order 6–3, affirming that children born in the United States to parents…

Wakati Wote: Kazi ya Makazi (Always On: The Work of Resettlement)Baada ya kukimbia Uganda ili kuepuka kifungo cha maisha kwa sababu ya utambulisho wake, Adam aliwasili Chicago akiwa hana kitu isipokuwa uzoefu wake wa kazi ya kijamii. Leo hii,…

The Illinois Accountability Commission begins patching up Operation Midway Blitz wounds, though preventative mechanisms remain deficientOperation Midway Blitz exposed deep flaws in federal oversight — and made Illinois the first state to investigate…

English (Creole to come)There is a fear many parents hold on to but rarely say out loud: the possibility of being separated from their child. For one Haitian mother facing deportation, that fear is now a reality."M" fled gang violence in…

In April of 2003, rural McHenry County began a politically and financially volatile relationship with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by contracting to house immigration detainees at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, Illinois. The…

There is a fear many parents hold on to but rarely say out loud: the possibility of being separated from their child. For one Haitian mother facing deportation, that fear is now a reality."M" fled gang violence in Port-au-Prince while eight months…

After fleeing Uganda to escape a life sentence for his identity, Adam arrived in Chicago with nothing but his background in social work. Today, he serves as a vital bridge for LGBTQ+ migrants navigating the same trauma, bureaucracy, and fear he once…

When buses of immigrants from Texas and Florida arrived in Chicago in the summer of 2022, the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti (a local organization led by members of the Haitian diaspora) stepped in to help. The group has supported nearly 350…

In this episode, Emma Yaaka, a Ugandan refugee and community advocate, shares how misinformation spreads through refugee and migrant networks and the real consequences it can have. From WhatsApp groups to TikTok and YouTube, fear can travel fast,…

This episode follows Emma Yaaka, a Ugandan refugee who arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and built a life centered on advocacy and community care. He shares his journey fleeing violence as a queer man, surviving displacement in Kenya, and starting over in…

After over a decade behind bars, Maria Garza returned to a world with little support and even less stability. Facing housing insecurity and emotional strain, she saw firsthand the failures of a system that promised rehabilitation but delivered…

When a rash decision changed the course of his life, Harry Peña spent decades behind bars. But prison didn't break him — it revealed his purpose. Determined to turn his painful past into a force for good, Harry founded the Life Impacters Foundation,…

Sentenced to life in prison at just 19 years old, Wendell Robinson drew his own map to freedom. Now, through his work at Restore Justice, Robinson uses his experience and knowledge to help other formerly incarcerated people navigate the reentry…

“Struggle to Serve: Larry Sapp and the push for political inclusion”Larry Sapp has dedicated the past 30 years to serving his community. In 2021, he was elected to the Sauk Village Board of Trustees, promising to get the community thriving again…

“Shimere Love-Shanklin: From Struggle to Strength”Finding employment and opening doors that seem permanently closed is a barrier that people with felony records continually face. Shamere Love-Shanklin knows this reality all too well. In this episode,…

“Rhymes & Resistance: King Moosa uses creativity to advance voting rights”Did you know that individuals with felony convictions in Illinois still retain the right to vote? Rockford-born hip-hop ARTivist Brian Harrington, aka King Moosa, is trying to…

When Matthew Cage’s father died, Matthew knew it fell on him to financially support his mom. But there was a problem. Matthew had just been released from prison — and many don’t want to rent or employ someone with a criminal record. Experts say a…

When Mercedes Pickett set out to buy her first home, she wanted to do it in the same way her mom had — by living in a two-flat, renting out the bottom apartment, and making the building into an investment property. For over a century, owning and…