Under The Arch

St. Louis’s political landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. The city is home to a vibrant, radical organizing network that is hard to find anywhere else in the country. Jails have closed, reparations commissions have been established, and progressive leaders have been elected. Much of this change traces back to the pivotal event of Mike Brown's killing. In this season finale episode, hosts Blake and Kayla reflect on the 10-year anniversary of Mike Brown’s killing and the Ferguson Uprising, how the region has honored his legacy, and the need for further structural change. We also hear reflections from friends and former guests of the podcast—Congresswoman Cori Bush, Damon Davis, Jae Shepherd, Mike Milton, Fran Griffin, Brittany Ferrell Young, and Cathy (Mama Cat) Daniels—on what Mike Brown means to them and their hopes for the future of the movement. Mike Brown forever!

In this episode of "Under the Arch," we speak with law professor and activist Justin Hansford about the challenges college students face in today's political climate. Hansford unpacks the evolving role of universities in fostering activism and social change among students. Reflecting on his own experiences as an educator and activist, he highlights the importance of empowering young voices in the fight for racial equity and systemic reform. Drawing parallels to the legacy of Michael Brown and the transformative impact of his tragic death, Hansford explores how today's youth engage with issues of racial justice, activism, and community empowerment. From pop culture to affirmative action, join us as we examine the pressure and expectations that young folks face.  This week’s music minute is "Buy You the World" by Doug (@dougmorestl) 

How does our creativity ignite the soul of social movements and turn our visions into reality? This week, come along for a dive into the intersection of social change and creative expression with two St. Louis natives using art to fight for access and equity in our community. Damon Davis is an Emmy-award winning Post-Disciplinary Artist, Founder of @wearefarfetched, & Co-Director of @whosestreets. His work extends across many different mediums and his storytelling explores how identity is shaped by power and mythology. Tracy Stanton is an internationally acclaimed poet, Director of Movement Building & StoryTelling at Freedom Community Center, & Founder of @some.thingsmustbeheard. In addition to being a motivational speaker and wellbeing coach, she inspires growth across many change-based organizations.  Through a uniquely artistic lense, this episode goes outside of the box and back to the roots of what inspires us. Listen as Damon and Tracy break free from conventional legal & social framewor

After emptying the notoriously hellish Workhouse jail in June of 2022, the City of St. Louis promised the community would decide what happens to the site and the land around it. It established a committee of people impacted by the jail to survey the community and put forward a proposal to re-envision the site, which has since been released. But this spring, the Jones administration ignored the community’s recommendations and announced plans to continue St. Louis’ history of disappearing vulnerable people onto the Workhouse site. “Building tiny homes at the Workhouse is unconscionable. I am disgusted at the idea of it, and everyone involved in putting this plan together ought to be ashamed,” says Inez Bordeaux, Deputy Director of Community Collaborations at ArchCity Defenders and a lead organizer with the Close the Workhouse campaign. “It is incredibly clear that while we were engaging in this process that the mayor had no intentions of following the recommendations put forward.” This week, we talk to Inez abo

Picket lines are in the headlines. Recently, there’s been a surge of energy and attention on the labor movement, particularly union strikes. But at the same time, worker unionization is at an all-time low. This week, we ask: what’s the current state of the labor movement and what role does labor play in achieving equity for all?  To answer our questions, we're joined this episode by Jeremy Al-Haj, founder and Executive Director of the Missouri Workers Center, who speaks about how to unionize and go on strike, the intersection of race and labor, Missouri’s current labor landscape, and valuable lessons from the historic Fight for $15 Movement. This week's Music Minute features the song "Meant to Be" by Tech Supreme. Follow him @TechSupreme on social media and listen to his music on your favorite platform. 

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, Nick Speed, Founder & Executive Director of Ujima, joins us to talk about food apartheid, community engagement with environmental and food justice issues, and how local Black residents are reclaiming food and land. Ujima combats the racialized history of food access in a couple of ways, one of them is urban farming. In recent years, their local community gardeners have grown an increasing amount of fruit and vegetable produce, herbs, and flowers at various sites. Through this, Ujima sparks a connection between people and the food we eat, a connection that racism and scarcity has jeopardized. “Our communities look like this for certain reasons,” Nick says. Hear more about what Nick, Ujima

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, our hosts speak with Invest STL CEO Dara Eskridge about the good, the bad, and the ugly of community development in St. Louis. Some efforts prioritize residents’ histories, resources, and vision while others bulldoze memorable places because someone in power said to. Hear how Invest STL is working with residents to reflect the changes and improvements they want to see on their block and in their neighborhood. As an urban planner, architect, and philanthropic leader, Dara Eskridge works to advance opportunities to build wealth and power in Black and other racially and economically marginalized neighborhoods through equitable development and investment practices.Since 2019, Dara has been proud

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis return with Season 5 of the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch,” where your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them.To kick off our fifth season, we talk about an issue permeating our political landscape and personal lives: abortion. Blake and Kayla talk to Mallory Schwarz, Executive Director of Abortion Action Missouri, about the current state of abortion access, the lasting impacts of the fall of Roe, and Abortion Access Missouri’s campaign to end the total abortion ban in the Show Me state.This week's Music Minute features the song "Make Love in the Middle of War" by Katarra Parson & Ryan Marquez. Follow them @katarramusic and @consciouskeys, and stream their music on your favorite platform.

For the final episode of Under the Arch season four, we wanted to end with a bang by bringing back one of our favorite guests: Congresswoman Cori Bush.  Our hosts speak with Congresswoman Bush about her latest efforts to fight white supremacy on the federal level, including two bills introduced this summer: the Reparations Now Resolution and the End Solitary Confinement Act. We hear from Congresswoman Bush firsthand what each of these bills seeks to accomplish, why they’re imperative now, and how her work in Congress is strengthened by local fights for racial justice in St. Louis and around the country.  Learn more about the Reparations Now Resolution here. Learn more about the End Solitary Confinement Act here. Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "Beach Journey" by the Kaleb Kirby Quintet. You can find more of their music on your favorite streaming platform. 

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, “Under The Arch.” Hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Executive Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, our hosts speak with Kristian Blackmon, coalition coordinator for Homes for All St. Louis, about the movement’s efforts to achieve housing justice and her personal experience with organizing efforts, including teachers’ unions, Occupy Wall Street, and most recently, Right to Counsel. Join the conversation around this week’s episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week’s Music Minute features the song "Shoveling Rocks" by the band Furthest. Stream more of their music on Bandcamp. Know a local artist who'd like to feature their song in our Music Minute segment? Email us with the subject “Music Minute.” 

“Happy” 4th of July to America, where 36 states have adopted laws that restrict teaching about race and racism. Instead of promoting the unquestioning jingoism that often characterizes this holiday, we want to share this conversation on the role of Black Studies as a critically important lens in the academy and broader society.Our hosts speak with Dr. Christopher Tinson, Associate Professor of African American Studies and History at Saint Louis University, about the obsessive demonization of Critical Race Theory over the past few years and the fear associated with discussing real history.Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "Posture" by Shinra Knives. You can find more of their music on your favorite streaming platform.

One of the most salient political issues of this moment is the sustained attack on queer and trans rights. Across the nation, conservative legislatures have coordinated and implemented dangerous policies such as bans on gender-affirming healthcare, youth sports participation, and more. Our hosts speak with Shira Berkowitz, PROMO’s Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. Shira leads statewide strategy for LGBTQ+ public policy, organizing, and advocacy, and is a founder of Camp Indigo Point — the first local residential summer camp for trans, gender expansive, and LGBTQ+ youth. Shira speaks to the cultural shifts that allowed trans-hate to become popularized, how anti-trans legislation became a priority for conservative politicians, and the devastating impact on trans youth and their families. As always, our guest leaves us with steps we can take to support the fight for trans rights and dignity.Learn more about PROMO: www.promoonline.orgLearn more about Camp Indigo Point: www.campindigopoint.orgJoin the

2023 has been full of political backlash, social and economic challenges, and attempts to reverse progress. In moments like these, it’s important to remember the vanguard role that Black-led movement has held in our historic development. As such, today’s episode returns to evergreen lessons from Season 3 Episode 10: St. Louis is Resistance.  This episode features a live recording from the national conference "Lawyering for Liberation: Defending Black Lives, Building Black Power" held in St. Louis in July 2022. Our hosts speak with Michael Jones, senior policy advisor and member of the Missouri State Board of Education, Jamala Rodgers, co-founder of the Organization for Black Struggle, and Tef Poe, St. Louis rapper and Build Director for Black Men Build. They discuss St. Louis's role in Black resistance history, insights from their careers in movement politics, and the lessons they would share with today's youth.  Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and

For four seasons and counting, you’ve listened to us talk about the major issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, we take a refreshing detour to talk about what it actually takes to perform this work, and one transformative tool that can help us navigate it all: negotiation.   Our hosts speak with Conflict Workers and Harvard Educators Whitney Benns and Sam Straus, who bring their expertise to shed light on fugitive negotiation and generative conflict, and the transformative power they hold for movements, organizations, and everyday life. They shatter stereotypical notions of negotiation, uncover the untapped potential of honest communication, and demonstrate how effectively navigating conflict can help us pave the way for a brighter future. Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "No Tears" by Kijani Eshe. You can fi

After years of uprisings and demands to improve St. Louis City’s jail conditions, Mayor Jones created the Detention Facilities Oversight Board (DFOB) to investigate misconduct, ensure safe and sanitary conditions, and advise shifts in jail policies and procedures. In practice, however, board members say the work “is going poorly” due to obstruction from jail staff and the very administration that authorized their existence.Our hosts speak with Janis Mensah, Chair of the DFOB, about the experiences that led them to the work, the challenges the board faces, and what the DFOB can achieve if allowed to do its job. Their words are a reminder to stay vigilant, as the work is ongoing.Here are a few ways you can stay engaged around the issue of jail conditions in St. Louis:Keep an eye out and amplify news related to the jail.Attend DFOB meetings at 5pm on the 4th Monday of the month.Be ready to hit the streets and protest.Learn more about the Detention Facilities Oversight Board:https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/

In this episode, Dr. William Ross joins our co-hosts in a timely conversation about reparations in St. Louis. In March 2023, the City of St. Louis announced the formation of a nine-member Reparations Commission, naming Dr. Ross as Vice Chair and Kayla Reed as Chair. This announcement stemmed from 50 local organizations unified grassroots advocacy that began in December 2021.  Dr. Ross, the Associate Dean for Diversity of Washington University School of Medicine, and a social justice trailblazer in the field of public health, views the group’s charge through a lens of history, justice, and action. Kayla Reed emphasizes the role of truth-telling and the role of repairing the violence, harm, and neglect against Black St. Louisans. This week's Music Minute features the song "Matter of Time" by @Mvstermind. You can find more of his music on your favorite streaming platform.Learn more about the things mentioned in this episode by visiting:St. Louis City Reparations Commission Heather McGhee’s book Th

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them.  In this episode, our hosts speak with Political Director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, Richard von Glahn, and Deputy Director Ashli Bolden. We talk about the initiative petition process, direct democracy, electoral justice, and the Missouri Legislature’s attempts to take all of these things away.  Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "Midwest Cosa Nostra" by Imani B. Stream more of his music on your favorite streaming platform. 

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, our hosts speak with professor and attorney at Saint Louis University School of Law, Brendan Roediger, about state takeover of SLMPD. We break down the debate around local control, what it is and how we got here, St. Louis’ complicated relationship with #MoLeg, and what history can teach us about white supremacist retaliation and the power of electoral organizing. Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "No Fans" by Tef Poe. Stream more of his music on your favorite streaming platform. 

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them. In this episode, our hosts speak with the President of the St. Louis Board of Alderman, Megan Green about what her position is responsible for, how she became interested in politics, the values that guide her work, and her priorities for the future of St. Louis.Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "Right Fist" by Prince the Prophet. Stream more of his music on your favorite streaming platform. 

ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis present the premiere collaborative podcast, "Under The Arch." Your hosts Blake Strode, Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, and Kayla Reed, Director of Action St. Louis, explore the issues facing our community and the people working to transform them.The 2022 midterms are quickly approaching and the stakes have never been higher. Join us for a special “election edition” of Under The Arch, where we discuss the ballot in Missouri. We are joined by actress and activist Kerry Washington to discuss the stakes of this upcoming election and why she is working to ensure that we all vote.Join the conversation around this week's episode using #UnderTheArch and send us your feedback at underthearchpod@gmail.com. This week's Music Minute features the song "Good For Us" by The Knuckles. Know a local artist who'd like to feature their song in our Music Minute segment? Email us with the subject "Music Minute”.