activists in utah

Episode 190 Defending the Sacred

Standard

We had the honor and privilege to sit down for episode 190 and chat with activist, and a founder of PANDOS and SLC Air Protectors, Carl Moore.

PANDOS started by necessity from the events that happened at Standing Rock. After seeing what was happening in South Dakota, Carl and his board began putting together marches and events in Utah. Over the past couple years there have been Pow-Wow’s, films and auctions, photo shoots, and so on. The purpose of all of this, to defend the sacred.

You might see Carl up on capitol hill listening to legislative sessions, in his regalia on the front lawn taking photos with the people for his other organization, SLC Air Protectors, or at weekly meetings for different issues. We asked how he keeps a balance between his activism and life and of course he, and his girlfriend, laughed.

Image may contain: 1 person, standing, cloud, sky, outdoor and nature

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and outdoor

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, sky and outdoor

One of the most beautiful things, in the plethora of topics we covered, that Carl said in his time with us was, “everyone’s sacred needs to be respected.” Something else we talked about with Carl is how to have a dialogue with someone. The topic of internet trolls came up. We live in a world where people’s words are full of hate as they sit behind a computer screen and don’t take time to listen or learn. Carl’s solution, have actual dialogue. It’s about education. “Everyone has something to give.”

SLC Air Protectors is not just about protest. They have incredible events such as their neighborhood sovereignty program, the earth stewardship corps, and the Environmental Protectors Network which is a grassroot alternative to the EPA. Co-founder of SLC Air Protectors, Michael Cundick, and an incredible board of people stand with each other in finding solutions for our state air issues. The work they, Carl, and both of his organizations are doing, are necessary and integral parts of the Utah community. Carl is also involved in getting the word out about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women problem that is devastatingly a nation wide problem. Starting here in Utah is where we are at and where we can start our focus. If you are interested in either of the organizations, and upcoming events you can find them on their websites and on social media.

PANDOS. Facebook. Instagram. SLC AIR PROTECTORS. Facebook. Instagram.

We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, or Itunes, IHeartRadio, Google Play, and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast, Instagram @Tnupodcast, or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast

Music By: Folk Hogan. Bootleggers Dance.

Episode 157 Being a Walking Stereotype

Standard

Sometimes you meet people in life and you just know they are going to do things to change the world. Episode 157 we were joined by 18 year-old activist and poet, Saida Dahir, and she is going to be doing just that!

Saida has been public speaking since she was 12 and has found her niche in her circle of friends and in the activist community. As a founding member of the Utah chapter of March for our Lives, she went viral after reading one of her poems on the steps of the capitol. After she found out about the shooting in Parkland, Florida she knew she needed to be involved. Saida has also been involved with organizations such as Black Lives Matter and with DACA. Hearing her talk about being a Walking Stereotype, that is what her friends call her, shows that she knows what she has to fight for in addition to many other important causes.

A little short bio of Saida (Say-ee-dah) she was born in Africa in Kenya while her family was in a refugee camp. Her family, from Somalia, was in a refugee camp in Kenya because of the civil war and after a few years they finally granted refuge. At the age of 3 her family immigrated to Utah. Yes, we did ask her why Utah and she answered that for us, but you’ll just have to listen below! Saida has been writing poetry since she was 7 and it is giving her a unique and powerful platform. As a black, Muslim, immigrant woman, you can see why her friends call her the walking stereotype.

Photo: Saida Dahir Facebook

Is it hard being a teenager/young adult and fighting for something? You bet it is! You have to find friends that will stand by you and you have to hold your composure and hope you are heard when you are standing among adults. We wanted to know how Saida picks the causes which she stands for. She kindly reminded us that injustices vary from person to person. Saida told us that social media is the reason that people are standing up for the things they are standing up for, and how it gives everyone an equal playing field. Saida told us that speaking to people and trying to get them to hear her is broken down into three categories:

  1. The people that are on her side. These are the ones sticking up for the same cause. The ones that are always listening and agreeing.
  2. The iffy bunch. This is the most important group. This is the group that might be undecided but has the most chance of being educated and the ones she really wants to give her time to.
  3. The would never’s. This is the group that no one should waste their energy on. Stick with the iffy’s.

Now that this strong, well spoken lady has graduated high school this year, her journey is going to take her to “the mecca” aka UC Berkley where she will study political science and law. We look forward to following her journey. You can follow her on her website she is building, Walking Stereotype. You can also follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and on Twitter. Her album of poetry will be released through Little Village Foundation.

We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, or Itunes, and Google Play and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast, Instagram @Tnupodcast, or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast

Music By: Folk Hogan. Bootleggers Dance.

Episode 79 Driving your feel goods with the Dude.

Standard

Episode 79 was filled with SO much information it is hard to pick where to begin.

This week we had activist/volunteer/former Mayoral candidate/veteran and just a dude, Josh Cameron, sit down and have an in-depth discussion with us. We trampled on politics, the political climate, his service in the military, why he leans the way he does politically, his activism throughout Utah, and of course his Jay and Silent Bob drinking game! What more could one ask for in a visit?

**DISCLAIMER: If puke stories gross you out, you might want to skip this one. Between Josh and Chris’s hot car drinking stories, well, maybe just don’t eat before listening?

Josh’s passion for politics haven’t been jaded by his drinking games. He is doing what many protestors out there are not doing and that is acting. He ran a campaign for West Valley Mayor, he is involved in the WOLF-PAC (and we don’t mean like the kind in the movie, The Hangover), he is a precinct chair for the Democratic Party in his district, and he is strategically thinking about his next role in our community. He does have a day job too, doing research with USTAR. Josh is currently volunteering with a new app called, Our Voice Initiative, which is a space where candidates anywhere in the country can get their policies, ideas, and issues uploaded. Voters can then take a quiz based on policies and then they can make a more educated vote, versus just voting for a candidate. You can find Josh on Twitter, his YouTube channel, and on Facebook

We look forward to having Josh back as the mid-term elections roll around. Our reminder, it is super important to vote for local candidates over our POTUS. Start small.

Looking for amazing Christmas lights? Utah has plenty, from top to bottom! The Desert News listed 30 Christmas Light events around the state, click HERE.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2517/4150381423_14bbeee9c9.jpg

We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Stitcher, or Itunes, and Google Play and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast

LISTEN HERE: The New Utah Podcast

Music: Bootleggers Dance by local Utah Band Folk Hogan