Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

Race Forward
  • 4.8 (106)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice. Hear the Race Forward team give their unique takes on race and pop culture, and uplift narratives of hope, struggle, and joy, as we continue to build the momentum needed to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Deepen your racial justice lens and get inspired to drive action. Subscribe today!

  1. 1D AGO · BONUS

    Bonus: A Message of Resolve From Race Forward To Close 2025

    In this special bonus segment, Race Forward closes out 2025 with a powerful message of urgency narrated by Leslie Grant-Spann, Senior Director of Conferences and Convenings. Drawing on decades of movement-building work, this message reflects on how racial inequities are embedded in our institutions—and why transformational change requires action now. From partnering with communities of color to reshaping local government from the inside, Race Forward’s work is grounded in building lasting systems, relationships, and accountability. As we look ahead, this message affirms a clear truth: when communities most impacted have real power in decision-making, racial justice becomes not just possible, but inevitable.

    1 min
  2. Episode 08: CNN Podcast’s Tortured Justice with CNN Anchor & Correspondent Omar Jimenez

    DEC 8

    Episode 08: CNN Podcast’s Tortured Justice with CNN Anchor & Correspondent Omar Jimenez

    This episode of Momentum, hosted by Race Forward’s Chief of Staff Karla Bruce, examines the enduring policy failures and systemic harms of over-policing—connecting the legacy of former Chicago police commander Jon Burge’s “Midnight Crew” to the current federal deployment of National Guard forces across U.S. cities. Guest Omar Jimenez, Emmy Award–winning CNN anchor and news correspondent, discusses findings from his investigative podcast Tortured Justice which exposes decades of police violence and coerced confessions in Chicago. Through stories like that of James Gibson—wrongfully imprisoned for decades—Omar and Karla explore how unchecked police authority, prosecutorial discretion, and political protection enabled abuse, and what structural reforms are needed to prevent it from recurring. Tortured Justice (CNN Presents)  https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/cnn-presents ‘Tortured Justice’: Uncovering a story of decades-old police violence (CNN) https://bit.ly/4oLdU7J Chicago Innocence Project https://www.chicagoinnocenceproject.org/ Executive Producers: Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Blakemore, Freddie Beckley

    41 min
  3. Episode 07: From Minneapolis to LA - History, Flashpoints, and the Fight for Community Safety

    OCT 24

    Episode 07: From Minneapolis to LA - History, Flashpoints, and the Fight for Community Safety

    Resources: MILPA Collective: A movement organization rooted in Salinas, California, led by formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals.  Learn more about MILPA Collective at:  https://www.milpacollective.org/ Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity: Nov 13-15 St. Louis, MO REGISTER NOW at  https://www.raceforward.org/training-and-events/just-narratives  Executive Producers: Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Blakemore, Priscilla Sam

    42 min
  4. (Bonus) The Solidarity is This Podcast - Solidarity as Strategy: Building Power Across Movements

    OCT 7 · BONUS

    (Bonus) The Solidarity is This Podcast - Solidarity as Strategy: Building Power Across Movements

    Resources: Solidarity is This, an Initiative of the Building Movement Project: https://www.solidarityis.org/   Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity: November 13-15, 2025 St. Louis, MO REGISTER NOW at https://www.raceforward.org/training-and-events/just-narratives

    1h 1m
  5. Episode 06: More Than a Moment: Minneapolis, Our Movement, and the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom with Minister JaNaé Bates, Co-Executive Director of ISAIAH

    JUN 10

    Episode 06: More Than a Moment: Minneapolis, Our Movement, and the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom with Minister JaNaé Bates, Co-Executive Director of ISAIAH

    In this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Minister JaNaé Bates Co- Executive Director of ISAIAH, a multi-racial, state-wide, nonpartisan coalition of faith communities fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota joins host jaboa lake, Race Forward Senior Director of Impact Evaluation, Learning, and Research for a compelling conversation on the legacy of resistance that shaped—and continues to shape—the movement sparked by the murder of George Floyd. As we mark five years since the 2020 uprising in Minneapolis, this episode explores the long arc of organizing, solidarity, and struggle that has challenged state violence and demanded racial justice across generations. Together, jaboa and Minister Bates unpack how Minneapolis became both a flashpoint and a beacon—revealing the deep roots of structural oppression and the enduring strength of community-led action. Listen in for this timely dialogue that will: Illuminate the historical throughlines connecting George Floyd to past uprisings and present-day resistance  Uplift lessons from grassroots organizing, faith-based strategy, and narrative power  Explore the difference between symbolic allyship and real, sustained solidarity  Five years since the spark that ignited a global movement, this episode offers grounded perspective and bold possibility for all who continue to fight for racial justice, from the local to the national level. Through movement memory and strategic vision, jaboa and Minister Bates remind us that resistance is not reaction—it’s a practiced, purposeful path toward liberation.   Resources   Statement: Race Forward Remembers George Floyd and Continues to Call for a Transformed Public Safety System https://bit.ly/4kuJjtD ISAIAH https://isaiahmn.org/   Executive Producers: Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Blakemore, Priscilla Sam

    1h 4m
  6. (Bonus) Dismantling Public Schools: A Racial Justice and Democracy Crisis

    MAR 26 · BONUS

    (Bonus) Dismantling Public Schools: A Racial Justice and Democracy Crisis

    In this bonus episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, H.E.A.L Together Director of Strategic Communications at Race Forward Anastasia Ordoñez unpacks the sweeping implications of President Trump’s latest executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—a move that could fundamentally reshape public education and deepen racial inequities across the country. As communities of color have historically relied on public schools as pathways to opportunity, this decision threatens to widen existing disparities, placing millions of students at risk. We examine the stakes of this unprecedented shift, featuring a statement from Race Forward condemning the administration’s actions and calling for urgent resistance. This episode spotlights HEAL (Honest Education Action & Leadership) and Public School Strong—two national campaigns fighting to ensure that every student, regardless of race or background, has access to a high-quality, well-funded public school. Anastasia helps us contextualize what’s at stake when public education is under full attack—and why defending it isn’t just about schools, but about safeguarding democracy itself, ensuring future generations have the knowledge, power, and agency to create a more just and equitable society. Resources: Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling Education Department, raising questions for students and parents (via CNN) https://bit.ly/4iU0cNL Race Forward Denounces Trump Administration’s Firing of Department of Education Staff and Irresponsible Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education https://bit.ly/4c2HQr2 HEAL Together  https://www.healtogether.org/ Public School Strong Campaign  https://www.healtogether.org/publicschoolstrong/   Executive Producer(s): Hendel Leiva & Priscilla Sam

    7 min
  7. Episode 05: Democracy Under Pressure: Analysis of the First Seven Days Under Trump

    JAN 29

    Episode 05: Democracy Under Pressure: Analysis of the First Seven Days Under Trump

    In this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Glenn Harris and Eric Ward deliver a powerful analysis of the new administration's first seven days and their implications for racial justice in America. As executive orders reshape federal policy and threaten hard-won progress, Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward, and Eric Ward, Executive Vice President, offer both stark warnings and hope-filled strategies for defending a multiracial democracy. Join us for an urgent conversation that will: Break down the immediate impacts of new policies on vulnerable communitiesShare battle-tested strategies for protecting racial justice gainsProvide concrete tools for building collective power and resilienceWhether you're a seasoned activist or new to racial justice work, this timely discussion offers crucial insights for understanding and responding to today's unprecedented challenges. Glenn and Eric draw from decades of experience in organizing and coalition building to guide us through these turbulent times with purpose and determination. Resources:  Race Forward’s Strategic Plan  https://bit.ly/42xa3U8 From Project 2025 to Project 2029: How We Resist an Authoritarian Takeover and Turn Public Administration into a Force for Equity and Justice https://bit.ly/4gkNHZt HEAL (Honest Education Action & Leadership) https://bit.ly/4aFqrnr Executive Producers: Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Blakemore, Priscilla Sam

    31 min
  8. (Bonus) Facing Race: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape

    12/27/2024 · BONUS

    (Bonus) Facing Race: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape

    In this special bonus episode of Momentum, we are sharing one of Facing Race: A National Conference standout plenaries: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape: Insights and Strategies for a Just Democracy. With the 2024 presidential election behind us, the question on everyone’s mind was: what’s next? This inspiring discussion featured leading voices in political organizing and movement building. Together, they explored opportunities for progress arising from the election results, strategies to tackle the challenges ahead, and ways to foster resilience, safety, and hope as we continue the movement to build a multiracial democracy over the next four years. This conversation was moderated by: Judith Brown Dianis, Executive Director of the Advancement ProjectAnd included the following panelists: Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families PartyKim Desmond, Chief Equity Officer at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA)Kim Anderson, Executive Director of the National Education Association (NEA)Tsione Wolde-Michael, Executive Director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH)

    21 min
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4.8
out of 5
106 Ratings

About

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice. Hear the Race Forward team give their unique takes on race and pop culture, and uplift narratives of hope, struggle, and joy, as we continue to build the momentum needed to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Deepen your racial justice lens and get inspired to drive action. Subscribe today!

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