Connecting the separate worlds of activists, academics, donors, and legislators with organizer Robert Dawkins
04/29/24 • 66 min
In this episode, Co-host Diane Little and Dr. Rita interview Robert Dawkins political director and organizer and Robert Dawkins of Action NC. Robert sheds tremendous insight on why the solutions we find to social issues seem to always miss the mark: there is the disconnect between people in communities, academics, donors, and legislators that results in ineffective solutions birthed from bad research. In a refreshing conversation about real lives, data, and laws, Robert puts in lay terms the importance of trauma-informed research (stop asking us to tell the same traumatizing stories), the importance of lived experience (no parachuting researchers and donors), and mixed-method approaches (we need experiences and stories). He also offers up the disconnect that many Black men feel with the Democratic party: its fixation on incarceration alienates everyday Black men who would like to focus on something else.
Our political moment: Robert also shares some of the good things about Preemption and Dillon law--State standards that are generally wielded by conservatives to constrain progressive cities but that have some perks for progressives as well.
Robert Dawkins is the founder & State Organizer for SAFE Coalition NC which is a project of Action NC and made up of over 15 community-based advocacy groups working to end discriminatory profiling and promote civil liberty protections for all North Carolina residents. Before starting SAFE Coalition NC, Robert worked for 7 year with Democracy North Carolina as the Western NC Field Organizer where his work centered on organizing communities of color on the issues of voter rights, voter access and ending voter disenfranchisement. Robert was the Head Organizer for the Charlotte chapter of ACORN for 3 years where he worked in low to moderate income neighborhoods building neighborhood capacity, neighborhood power and on leadership development. Robert has a B.A in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Robert was a selected as a Charlottean of the Year in 2019 by Charlotte Magazine.
Resources
Dillon law and preemption Robert Dawkins and Defund the police podcast Podcast with Rep Autry
Robert's organization Action NC
Support the show
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
Originally recorded on April 23, 2024.
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
In this episode, Co-host Diane Little and Dr. Rita interview Robert Dawkins political director and organizer and Robert Dawkins of Action NC. Robert sheds tremendous insight on why the solutions we find to social issues seem to always miss the mark: there is the disconnect between people in communities, academics, donors, and legislators that results in ineffective solutions birthed from bad research. In a refreshing conversation about real lives, data, and laws, Robert puts in lay terms the importance of trauma-informed research (stop asking us to tell the same traumatizing stories), the importance of lived experience (no parachuting researchers and donors), and mixed-method approaches (we need experiences and stories). He also offers up the disconnect that many Black men feel with the Democratic party: its fixation on incarceration alienates everyday Black men who would like to focus on something else.
Our political moment: Robert also shares some of the good things about Preemption and Dillon law--State standards that are generally wielded by conservatives to constrain progressive cities but that have some perks for progressives as well.
Robert Dawkins is the founder & State Organizer for SAFE Coalition NC which is a project of Action NC and made up of over 15 community-based advocacy groups working to end discriminatory profiling and promote civil liberty protections for all North Carolina residents. Before starting SAFE Coalition NC, Robert worked for 7 year with Democracy North Carolina as the Western NC Field Organizer where his work centered on organizing communities of color on the issues of voter rights, voter access and ending voter disenfranchisement. Robert was the Head Organizer for the Charlotte chapter of ACORN for 3 years where he worked in low to moderate income neighborhoods building neighborhood capacity, neighborhood power and on leadership development. Robert has a B.A in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Robert was a selected as a Charlottean of the Year in 2019 by Charlotte Magazine.
Resources
Dillon law and preemption Robert Dawkins and Defund the police podcast Podcast with Rep Autry
Robert's organization Action NC
Support the show
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
Originally recorded on April 23, 2024.
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
Previous Episode
In public service draw strength from the ancestors and tend to the land. A conversation with PA House Rep. Chris Rabb
In this episode, my co-Host Diane Little and I interview PA State House Representative Chris Rabb (called Rep Rabb). This episode is a provides profound insight into the ethic of public service--for Rep Rabb insists on not being called a politician--because it's service, not a profession. His service spans, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Commerce, Finance, Veterans affairs, and the Judiciary. Join us as we take a walk in his world of advocacy through, agrivoltaics, sustainability, electoral reform, innovation, and some political successes. Through it all Rep Rabb tells us he draws strength from his ancestors for his successes: renaming landmarks, prohibition from police officers assaulting people in custody, and a state interdepartmental interstate database that makes it harder for suspended police in one district to serve in another (among others).
PA House Representative Christopher Rabb (known as Rep Rabb) is the most senior progressive state legislator in Pennsylvania, State Rep. Chris Rabb, the four-term incumbent for northwest Philadelphia’s 200th legislative district, has dedicated his tenure to public service.
His legislative priorities include taxing the excessively wealthy, repealing the death penalty, full and fair funding of public education, climate action, safer communities and raising the minimum wage to a true living wage.
He has authored over 100 bills and resolutions, centering the most-impacted populations in his legislative work. Some of his boldest bills include his Fair Share Tax Plan, and a bill to transition Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
RepRabb is a co-founder of the Progressive Legislators Working Group, the antecedent to the PA Progressive Caucus on whose founding board he serves.
Resources
Rep Rabb's website
Rep Rabb's track record accomplishments
Rep Rabb's instagram
Rep Rabb's twitter
More on Agrivoltaics
Support the show
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
Next Episode
One person can make a difference with Attorney Jason Groenewold
My co-host Diane Little and I interview our guest who speaks about how his large-scale activism started from small acts of kindness: first as a seed investor for a expungement firm and then as a resident of a changing neighborhood in North Carolina. As a white resident of a predominantly Black neighborhood he used his professional and investment skills to counter the gentrification process across two communities.
Jason Groenewold joined the Board of Directors of ARISE (All Redeeming Incarcerated Souls of Esteem) because he is committed to a world that is harmonious and just, where all delight in the wonder and miracle of life.
For returning citizens, the transition home is often filled with challenges and adversity. Jason was inspired by the mission of ARISE to support men in successfully reintegrating to society and restoring relationships with their family and community.
Jason currently lives in Charlotte, NC and is a commercial real estate developer and entrepreneur. He previously led solar development for one of the largest Investor Owned Utilities in the United States. During his time in renewable energy development, he was directly responsible for over $1B of capital being invested in wind and solar projects.
Earlier in his career, Jason co-founded the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah and served as its Executive Director for eight years. Among other accomplishments, HEAL Utah prevented the nation's nuclear waste from being disposed of on a small, impoverished Native American reservation outside of Salt Lake City. Afterward, Jason enrolled at the University of Utah where he obtained his law degree and M.B.A.
Resources:
Jason's Email: [email protected]
Countries who remove right to vote list.
States who remove right to vote list.
Article about nuclear testing:
Rasa's website
ARISE All Redeeming Incarcerated Souls of Esteem websiteSupport the show
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
Originally recorded on May 20, 2024.
To recomend a guest contact us at: [email protected]
To support Collective Power join our Patreon
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