"Born and Raised in Seattle and the son of two well-educated professionals, Raymond Williams is biracial and identifies as African American. These identities have allowed him the privilege of moving in the world of the educated (AB Harvard ’79) and given him the calling to serve his community. A community that continues to have disparities in both educational and health outcomes. A community that continues to show its brilliance through five-hundred years of enslavement, Jim Crow, redlining and police brutality.

Ray spent the summers of his youth running through the northwest’s forests and exploring tide pools or visiting a family friend's farm. His family had a garden in Seattle, and he planted one at most of the places he lived. For almost 30 years he shared his fascination and love of nature as a science teacher. Majoring in biology and studying education at University of Washington (M.Ed. ’91), he taught in Seattle, Atlanta, and International School of Curacao.

His position at The Art Institute of Seattle, teaching both biology and nutrition, formed a vision of how he might serve. Not on a committee making recommendations, but working on the ground, building community. Most of our health problems are related to diet and stress, this is especially true for the Black community.

For fifteen (15) years he worked in and built community gardens and shared with youth and adults how to grow food. When the opportunity to farm the freeway right of way in central Seattle presented itself, the Black Farmers Collective and Yes Farm was born. As Co-Founder and Special Projects Director, Ray is passing the work of community healing on to a growing staff of farm managers and emerging farmers."

To support Black Farmers Collective, learn about upcoming spring opportunities by subscribing to their newsletter - https://www.blackfarmerscollective.com/volunteerwithbfc.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7XQfVGIjN5vZP-aUZqmLd_wB8WRHYPtS-dIc3GUD-w/edit?usp=sharing

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in January!

All episode music by Podington Bear, Chad Crouch. Nature sounds from ZapSplat. Podcast intro, outro, and interstitial music by Benjamin Marx.

Philip “Sharp Skills” Jacobs has been called a modern-day renaissance man. He is an entrepreneur, award-winning hip-hop artist, speaker, author, senior consultant, and

inventor.

Philip created Reveal the Elephant, a racial equity and anti-racism board game. In

addition to Gladiator, he is the author of four additional books, including Accuracy,

Elephant in the Room, Quincy’s Life: Daddy’s Gone, and You Are the Solution.

Philip was the first Executive Director of Washington Employers for Racial Equity

(WERE), a coalition of 80+ companies in Washington State committed to making the

region equitable for Black Washingtonians and all people of color. Before WERE, he

was lead for a DEI solution called Racially Savvy Leadership, in which he equipped

executives and leaders of Fortune 500 companies to have difficult conversations about

race (before the topic went mainstream in corporate culture).

Philip is also a distinguished alum of Seattle Pacific University, where he obtained a

bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was awarded the institution’s

prestigious Medallion Award in 2019. He holds the PMP credential in project

management, is the author of several books and numerous music albums.

His proudest accomplishment is being the father of Philip Jr. and Jonathan. Philip is

from Inglewood, California, and now calls Washington home.

Follow his endeavors on social media @thesharpskills @rebelfirm @fadesandfinance. Visit his website rebelfirm.com, for upcoming book signings and to learn about Tacoma’s first Hip Hop Residency (“The Rebel Residency”).

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GPExcPAAEiSCcsaTyHzCl2WbmxHT51hl0Zy69-XDfLA/edit?usp=sharing

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in December!

All episode music by Philip “Sharp Skills” Jacob. Podcast intro, outro, and interstitial music by Benjamin Marx.

Elizabeth Ralston is a consultant with lived disability experience, who guides organizations in the strategic development of an accessibility roadmap, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. She has a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a certificate of Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington. Her expertise is in accessibility planning and audits, program development, strategic communications, and event implementation. Elizabeth is also the Founder of the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium (SCAC), a grassroots effort to help arts and cultural organizations improve accessibility for their audiences.

Sign up for their newsletter to keep up with SCAC’s work, and to learn more about their recent Deep Dive Day, a conference that provided arts and culture organizations with tools to incorporate accessible offerings into their programs - https://www.seattlecac.org/getinvolved

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/14qysqN4iMgfOjQrJ3M_3seSxsUnOgVDkmgBTShsQ3BA/edit?usp=sharing

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in November!

All music by Benjamin Marx and Lee Rosevere.

Makinie Fortino (she/her/hers) is the Founder and President of DMHS: Deconstructing the Mental Health System, Inc. She identifies as Black and Afro-Caribbean American and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who has been working in mental health for 10+ years. Makinie has worn many hats ranging from in-home counselor to case manager, vocational counselor, academic advisor/behavioral health counselor and in social services. Community-centered work is a passion of hers. She has also published two manuals to help build cultural competence and awareness in the mental health community.

Support DMHS by sharing the directory far and wide -

https://dmhsus.org/

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I7-w2bMcevWpv4A8C-TMRrHS5qoPmuEDfEhYo45Shh0/edit?usp=sharing

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in October!

Music Credits:

• Epiphany, Podington Bear, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
• Mont Blanc, Podington Bear, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
• Dust in Sunlight, Podington Bear, Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC
• Remembering You’re Late, Benjamin Marx, https://www.bnmrx.com/music-other
• 1. 
     

Logic Amen is a sun, Father, recording artist, journalist, writer, educator and former Family Preservation Therapist. Amen is an award winning performing artist activist, recognized by The Songs of Black in 2025 for his excellence in performing arts and community service. Amen has a degree in English Literature, a master's in teaching, and a master's in educational leadership. Amen is one of the founding members of CORE which stands for Coalition of Restorative Education.

Amen considers himself to be a visionary learner and created the Griot Party Experience to support healing in marginalized communities via story telling. Amen seeks to help the people he serves feel safe and important. His life mission places a high premium on healing via education. Amen prides himself on his definition of Love: Seeing yourself in other people and serving the you in them. Amen is currently serving as an assistant principal at Lincoln High school in Tacoma Washington. He lives in Seattle Washington.

Support the Griot Party Experience - https://www.thegriotparty.com.

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xr44WkKq90GmWpV31BILDfYAKbDJXoY4GShZ5Y1-nn8/edit?usp=sharing

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in July!

About the Music: All music by Benjamin Marx - https://www.bnmrx.com/

Nawiishtunmi Nightgun is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. She is a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation. Nawiishtunmi currently runs the traditional wellness department as the Chief Traditional Officer. Her role leads a team of traditional mental wellness staff, staff wellness, and gender-based violence team that will work individually and in group settings utilizing trauma informed mental health, cultural tools and practices to support the healing and wellness modalities that are centered in ancestral knowledge. Nawiishtunmi is a mother of three who gathers and harvests traditional foods/medicines with her family and participates in ceremony.

Nawiishtunmi previously has served as Co-Chair of the CEA Public Policy Committee, and as an Indian Policy Advisory Committee Delegate for Washington State as a tribal leader. A vocal advocate for ending homelessness and racial equity, she has presented on decolonizing colonialism, decolonizing data, and addressing the needs of our community during the pandemic in collaboration with the regional public health agency.

Your next steps:

1. Learn more about how Chief Seattle Club works at the intersection of Native Justice and homelessness - https://www.chiefseattleclub.org/

2. Learn more about Washington’s Native history and people - https://www.washingtontribes.org/the-tribes-of-washington/

A machine-readable transcript of the episode is available here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/16cFmADayGVfmMvf4seIsDAOljW2ZL-OjdDBpw7180Gk/edit?usp=sharing

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in July!

About the Music: All music by Benjamin Marx - https://www.bnmrx.com/

Malou Chávez is the first immigrant woman of color to serve as executive director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP). NWIRP, a nationally recognized legal services organization in Washington State, is dedicated to advancing and defending the rights of immigrants with low or no income through direct legal services, community education, and systemic advocacy.

In her 17 years at NWIRP, Malou has seen how statewide and national policy towards immigrants and refugees has ebbed and flowed. The current United States administration is rapidly expanding anti-immigrant policies, and in this episode, Malou shares her story, avenues of support that immigrant communities need in this challenging national landscape, and her sources of hope and motivation while leading this deeply emotional work.

Level up your advocacy for immigrant rights:

1. Follow along with NWIRP’s work on their socials and website. The “Resources” section offers a wealth of information to share.

2. Research organizations in your neighborhood that work for immigrant and refugee committees. Washington state’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is a good place to start looking for resources and organizations. - https://www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs/programs-and-services

3. Advocate by reaching out to your district representative - http://leg.wa.gov/legislators You can find your other state and local representatives at https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/

4. Information sharing - whatever you learn, share with your networks. Webinars and community meetings happen often across the region – spread the word so people can access the most up-to-date, relevant information.

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in June!

About the Music: All music by Benjamin Marx - https://www.bnmrx.com/

In today’s episode, we’re hearing from Rick DuPree about his upcoming documentary that centers the story of the Black Panther Party’s Seattle chapter. Who were the Black Panthers and what lessons did they leave for Black change-makers, activists, and artists in Seattle today? Listen in as Rick speaks about his journey from envisioning to filming this documentary, alongside his son Marques.

About Rick DuPree - Rick, a native Seattleite and first-time filmmaker, combines experience as an educator, performer, and playwright to shape his first production, Seattle Black Panthers Fight for Justice & Freedom, scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025. A storyteller at heart, he’s written a stage play about his mother’s battle with pancreatic cancer and appeared on numerous community stages over the last 15 years as a performer. He was a lead character in Eddie Smith's short film “Behind Closed Doors”.

Support the documentary:

• Watch the 30-minute sampler - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s9UhA8PyVxtgjxFSqQgAurZmp7EBr5xf/view

• Donate - https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=KYXCU6MZBCMP6

• Follow on Instagram (@seattle_black_panthers_doc) and Facebook (@Seattle Black Panthers Documentary Film)

If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Mirror Stage via our website at mirrorstage.org/donate and follow us on social media.

Learn more about us on socials:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mirrorstage

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirrorstagewa

Episodes release on the fourth Wednesday of the month. See you in May!

About the Music: All music by Benjamin Marx - https://www.bnmrx.com/