Guest Beth Brownfield speaks about the process of her remarkable life over 80 years and how she was shaped as a young person to become the grandmother and civic activist that she is today.

Host Joy Gilfilen has been learning from Beth about the Doctrine of Discoveries, the Reservation Schools and how this ties back to her ancestral heritage. Wisdom comes with the lived experience of learning the stories about how three of her Grandmothers were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials; the early military and slavery influences of her family impacted how she engaged in civics, education, business and more.

Beth has been significant locally in supporting the Lummi Nation,🛶Canoe Journeys, the Totem Journeys, the recognition that the indigenous peoples are the 1st peoples of this continent and the early heritage wisdom of what we now call the United States of America - a corporation.

On October 25th, President Biden made a significant step towards healing our communities by formally apologizing for the U.S. government's role in the Indian boarding school era. In light of this historic moment, Joy realized that her interview with Patricia Anne Davis earlier this year was perfect to replay. Patricia, an honored Choctaw-Navajo elder, talks about The Betrayal and Origin Story.

This powerful matriarch shares her life's work in understanding the prison industrial complex and her insights on justice, violence, and the lasting impact of colonization. She talks about the root causes of systemic failures, and her Five Steps for moving towards a more just future.

Listen now on Spotify and other podcast platforms.

#155 iChange Justice Podcast

Host: Joy Gilfilen

Guest: Loree Boyd, Author and Documentary Filmmaker

Join us for a powerful conversation with Loree Boyd as she shares the inspiring story of her mother, Silversong, an American Indian elder. Learn how Silversong's journey intertwines with the legacy of Irene Morgan, the founder of the Restorative CommUnity Coalition.

We'll delve into the historical context, exploring the genocide of Native children in Canadian Reservation Schools and how it connects to the Doctrine of Discovery and the formation of the US Constitution.

Our Key Topics:

The importance of defining terms and understanding ancient and recent history

The interconnectedness of events throughout time

The significance of the Doctrine of Discovery in shaping our legal framework

The value of reading complete books and listening to understand the "law of the land" discussions

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode as we explore the profound impact of historical injustices and the ongoing quest for justice and reconciliation.

A Life Experience group conversation on "How to Intercept the Games of Manipulation" that often leave us victimized inside our own self-destructive belief systems, habits and behaviors. .

In her groundbreaking work, Joy Gilfilen, former President of the Restorative Community Coalition, sheds light on unwitting, insidious ways in which habits of manipulation and denialism can be seen infiltrating our institutions, commercial and civic systems. It happens across the social, economic and civic spectrum - infecting fear into our media, courts, business, political, and public safety and emergency management systems.

Drawing from recordings from 2016, this deep dive into our systems offers a chilling account of how individuals, 1st responders, and families are unknowingly trapped in a cycle of harmful habits and presumptions. Gilfilen introduces the concept of "Story-Traps," these harmful narratives that can lead to a vicious cycle of perpetual loss, recidivism and injustice.

One of hidden problems is that often profits are made when our biases, or hidden blind spots are exploited unconsciously. Our beliefs erect blinders that occludes vision, which prevents us from seeing it. Even when our 6th sense, or our intuition is feeling uneasy, or we have a gut feeling that something's not right, we often dismiss these alarms, trusting instead the authority figure.

Join us for a powerful conversation with Liz Darrow, Participatory Democracy Program Coordinator for the non-profit Community to Community Liz Darrow and Host Joy Gilfilen. Liz brings a unique perspective to the discussion as a mother, non-profit leader and with lived experience as a candidate for public office. She has become a passionate advocate for taking care of our earth, for farmworkers , families and community empowerment.

Learn about Liz's background and her work with Community to Community.

Discover the challenges faced by farmworkers and the importance of advocating for their rights.

Explore Liz's vision for a more equitable food system and the role of community involvement.

Gain insights into the power of community organizing and the importance of creating inclusive spaces for decision-making.

In this episode, Joy Gilfilen interviews Darryl Riley, the co-founder of The Up From Slavery Initiative (UFSI). Riley shares his insights on the importance of healing marginalized communities and the work UFSI is doing to achieve this goal.

UFSI is dedicated to providing support and resources to Black communities through inspiring enterprising actions.

💬UFSI has 3 core strategies: 1)Racial justice initiatives, 2)Financial literacy programs and 3) Wellness services. By addressing these critical areas, UFSI aims to empower individuals and create a more equitable society. Listen to the podcast to learn more about Darryl Riley's leadership work, and his example of resilience and success. He's moved from Inmate to Entrepreneur and is now a Kitsap County Business Owner, and co-founder of The Up From Slavery Initiative. By overcoming challenges and adversity with deep enterprising action Darryl now owns three businesses and holds the distinction of being the only Black franchise owner in Kitsap County.

In this episode, host Joy Gilfilen sits down with Mel Hoover and Rose Edington, two lifelong activists who have been at the forefront of social change for decades. Raised during a time of profound unrest following World Wars, they experienced firsthand the struggles of segregation, women's suffrage, the ERA, the Civil Rights Era, and religious upheavals.

Join us as Mel and Rose share their unique perspectives on activism and their unwavering commitment to building "beloved communities." Discover how their experiences have shaped their understanding of social justice and inspired them to challenge the status quo.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these remarkable individuals and gain valuable insights into the ongoing fight for equality and justice.

In this episode, host Joy Gilfilen sits down with Chris Hoke, the founder of Underground Ministries in Skagit County, Washington. Chris shares his inspiring story of working with gang members leaving prison and his passion for building meaningful relationships. He discusses the importance of reversing the cycle of incarceration and how his organization is providing practical support and resources to help individuals rebuild their lives, families, and communities. Tune in to learn more about Chris's work with Homeboy Industries, One Parish One Prisoner (OPOP), a program that pairs churches with incarcerated people to build relationships and support them as they re-enter their communities, and his groundbreaking approach to helping people stay out of prison.