How well do America's ideals match up to reality?
A More Perfect Union, a podcast from the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, poses this question to different communities in Washington State. Focusing on groups sidelined and sometimes silenced in the American story, you'll hear from Latine Americans in Wenatchee, LGBTQ+ activists from across eastern Washington, and Black Americans from around the Salish Sea.
Is American democracy and its aspirations a fantasy or a reality? Come with us to discover that the answer is much more complicated and interesting than the question.
Langston Hughes once wrote, in response to Walt Whitman, "I Too, Sing America." A More Perfect Union gives voice to Washingtonians who also sing America.
The podcasts are presented by the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, Humanities Washington, and ArtsWA/The Washington State Arts Commission.
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Stella Winter is a queer nonbinary activist and independent journalist who hosts a YouTube/podcast channel called Course Correction. They have lived in Washington State their entire life, half in Western Washington and half in Eastern Washington. They were inspired to create their channel to combat the rise in misinformation and help their local community understand politics in a more grounded and humane way. Stella is the Vice President of the Wenatchee Pride board and works to create inclusive and equitable spaces within the local school district for the next queer generation.
Jac Archer (they/their) is an activist, organizer, and educator in Spokane. As a Black bisexual, trans-masculine person, Jac has worked hard to elevate the voices and issues that are essential to their communities. In 2021, they were named Activist in Residence at Eastern Washington University. Here, Jac discuss the various vulnerabilities in social services for trans people, how laws are causing harm, and reflects on hope for the future. "I've learned to see backlash as hopeful. What it means is that progress has been made. And usually, a vocal minority is trying to roll that progress back through whatever means they have available, because they have lost some sort of legislative or systems battle."
LGBTQ+ Americans. Episode 7: Faith Gamberty and Katherine Barry (00:19:14)
Faith Gamberty and Katherine Barry are both trans women living in Kennewick who run a hair salon for the LGBTQ+ community in the Tri-Cities. They both feel it is essential to have places where trans youth feel safe and accepted. Their willingness to talk to people about their identities as trans women is at the heart of their activism, taking on the responsibility of community education. Katherine says, on the importance of visibility and education, "There's so many misconceptions out there about transgender people. You know, you could put a long list together. Some of them are just so horrible... it's hard to get people's minds change from some of that."
Esteban Herevia is the President and CEO of Spokane Pride. He was recently recognized in the Spokane Coeur D'Alene Living "Top 20 under 40" list for 2021. In this episode Esteban discusses the intersection of LGBTQ identity with communities of faith, and how he finds constant motivation through love. His advice for young queer activists is simple and uplifting: "We need you. You have the desire within yourself for a reason. You're seeing something that I can't see, and you're seeing something that they can't see. And so what are the ways that we can utilize your voice, your experience, your time. Don't discount your experiences. We ain't got time for that. Learn. Change. Shift. But remember, we need your voice. We need you."
LGBTQ+ Americans. Episode 5: Cia Cortinas (00:31:06)
Cia Cortinas has called Walla Walla her home since childhood. In this episode, she reflects on the challenges of growing up in this area and how her experiences as a bi-sexual Latinx woman has influenced her as an educator. This influence has led her to an inclusive spirit that seeks to uplift people of color, youth, and sober individuals within the queer community. This focus on inclusion led Cia to lead the largest Pride event in Walla Walla's history. "I think that activism is bigger than a march. It's bigger than a rally or a gathering. I think true activism is being able to live your most authentic life. And it's a little bit of a shame that we don't get to move freely like that through our lived human experience. However, I think that that discomfort is just us breaking the mold."
LGBTQ+ Americans. Episode 4: Cedar Green (00:31:04)
Cedar Green explores the various ways LGBTQ activism works in Walla Walla, including safe spaces, public school curriculum, and queer histories. "There's just so much grief in being a queer person," Cedar says, "but there's also so much joy. I would really hope that queer youth would look to the past. Absolutely remember our queer elders, listen to them, ask them for their stories, watch documentaries about what started our movements, our activism. I really want them to remember moments of joy, I want them to remember times of celebration."
Carly Coburn works at the intersection of queer rights and disability rights. In this episode, she discusses the ways activism can look different depending on the goals and the barriers. She learned the complexities of these issues while running against a gay Republican for a legislative position. She also found friction among Ddemocrats who didn't accept other parts of Carly's identity. "I know that the Democratic Party is called 'big umbrella' a lot of times, but sometimes they forget that near the edge of the umbrella people are getting wet still, and that the ones on the edges are the ones who probably need more help and more support."
Brooke Bouchey of Walla Walla discusses trying to exist and raise children in a largely non-accepting environment. While acknowledging Walla Walla isn't the easiest place for her to live, she says, "I think if I've learned anything in this lifetime it's to love the diversity of the people that surround me. If I just said, 'The easier thing is for me to just be around the people that are like me,' I think that's a cop out. I feel like that's not what I'm here to do. I'm not here to do the easy thing. I'm here to make change."
In the opening episode of the season featuring LGBTQ+ Americans we meet Ashley Peterson, from Cashmere—a town that calls itself the "heart of Washington." Ashley started her activism in high school, as a member of the first Gay-Straight Alliance in Leavenworth. Throughout the years, Ashley has made it a goal to provide a safe space for the community to ask questions and have hard conversations without a fear of being judged. Ashley discusses the need for queer accepting spaces, visibility, political action, and how to normalize queerness in conservative communities.
Latine Americans Episode 3: Art and Science as Activism (00:27:04)
In this episode, two community leaders describe how they have advocated for equity, social justice, and healing. Martha Flores is a poet and artist who is moved by creative endeavors, and Karina Vega-Villa is a scientist and educator who finds strength in numbers.
Latine Americans Episode 4: Citizenship and Belonging (00:40:24)
"I can talk to anyone with pride and no fear." In this episode, hear from the director of a nonprofit that helps eligible residents become US citizens, and a mother who learned English instead of relying on interpreters because, she says, "I'm not gonna let anyone talk for me." You'll also hear from an attorney who discusses the challenges faced by those who are who are given freedom from incarceration only to find that their freedom is an illusion.
Latine Americans Episode 2: C.A.F.É. (00:32:52)
To Alma Chacón, liberty would mean that "everyone had access and a fair opportunity to access what's available for everyone." She, along with her husband, founded the Community for Advancement for Family Education (C.A.F.É.), a Wenatchee-based nonprofit that has been striving towards this goal since 2004. Hear from the founders and staff of this institution that has improved health outcomes for many people in the Wenatchee Valley.
Latine Americans Episode 1: Introducing Wenatchee (00:08:06)
The Latine community in Wenatchee has played a large role in the story of making the city the Apple Capital of the World. But while over a third of Wenatchee's residents are Latine, stories from this community are not often heard. In this episode of A More Perfect Union, host Violeta Martin provides an introduction and poet Martha Flores presents poetry about the North Central Washington Valley.
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