Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community

Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community is where justice meets action and community voices rise. In each episode, we spotlight changemakers, disruptors, and everyday heroes working at the frontlines of equity and liberation. Through powerful storytelling and candid conversations, we explore what it means to build a more just world—together. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a call to listen deeply, learn boldly, and move in solidarity.The music for this podcast was provided by Steven Cong and the artwork was provided by Kimberly Li.

Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community is a society podcast hosted by Danise Sugita, with 102 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Danise Sugita hosts Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community, a society show with 102 episodes published.

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  Episode #103

  Niketa Kumar: The Power of Storytelling to Build Stronger Communities

  Aug 20, 202647 minS1

  Niketa Kumar is a communications, narrative, and campaign strategist with 15 years of experience working alongside immigrant communities, unions and working people, scientists, researchers, and organizers. Her work helps organizations and coalitions sharpen what they want to win, find new avenues to grow their power, and nourish more durable, creative partnerships. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

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  Episode #102

  Rola Halawanji: Growing California Climate Action Corps and the Next Generation of Climate Leaders

  Aug 18, 202638 minS1

  Rola Halawanji is an innovative leader with a deep commitment to workforce development, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. As the Program Director of California Climate Action Corps (CCAC), she has led the program's remarkable growth from a cohort of 50 fellows to more than 400 fellows statewide in just four years. She has guided the program from a start-up initiative to a nationally recognized climate service corps by building scalable systems, strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing the fellow experience, and driving operational excellence. Under her leadership, the program continues to expand its impact while preparing the next generation of climate leaders to serve communities across California. Rola's leadership is rooted in inclusion, belonging, empathy, resilience, and efficiency. She believes that investing in people, fostering collaboration, and building systems that enable others to thrive are the foundation for creating lasting, meaningful impact. Originally from Tunisia, Rola came to California more than 20 years ago as the first person in her family to pursue higher education. Her professional journey has been driven by a passion for education, workforce development, and sustainability. She has held leadership roles at Long Beach City College, the Los Angeles Community College District, and The Energy Coalition, where she developed and led initiatives that expanded career and technical education, connected K–12 students to higher education, and created pathways into green careers. Beyond her professional achievements, Rola is an active parent and community member. She is involved in her children's school as a room parent and PTA volunteer, helping foster an inclusive environment through arts and cultural activities. Whether at work or at home, she is passionate about empowering others, building community, and creating opportunities for future generations. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

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  Episode #101

  Maya Rupert on Storytelling, Authenticity, and Reimagining Politics

  Aug 13, 202625 minS1

  Maya Rupert is a political strategist and the third Black woman in history to run a presidential campaign. She is the Executive Vice President at Blue State and hosts the podcast When We Win, an NAACP Image Award nominee. A nationally respected voice on progressive politics and the Democratic party, she has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and NPR; and in The New York Times and The Atlantic. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her cats. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

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  Episode #100

  Dave Albrechta: Rethinking Justice Through Healing and Human Connection

  Aug 6, 202657 minS1

  Dave’s journey into law began with a desire to fight injustice. But after a decade practicing in federal court, he began to notice uncomfortable patterns in the system itself — incentives to escalate conflict, a fixation on money as the primary measure of justice, and a profession that rarely teaches lawyers anything about the psychology of conflict or how people actually heal after the legal battles are over. His decision to step away from traditional litigation opened the door to a deeper exploration of how professionals navigate conflict, burnout, and identity shifts in their careers. Today Dave explores a provocative question: What if lawyers were trained not just as advocates, but as healers of human conflict? Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

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  Episode #99

  Karen Kendra Holmes: Living Authentically After 40 Years of Searching

  Aug 4, 202644 minS1

  Karen Kendra Holmes is a transgender advocate, author, TEDx speaker, and dedicated public servant whose life story is a testament to the power of authenticity, courage, and self-belief. From the age of 13 to 53, Karen lived an internal battle- navigating four decades of identity struggle before finally stepping into who she was always meant to be. Her memoir, 40 Years and Wandering No More: Loving My Life Being Transgender, chronicles this deeply personal journey from self-suppression to radical self-acceptance, offering readers a rare and honest window into the transgender experience. Today, Karen channels her story into action. She retired from the Federal Government after serving for 24 years and a half as a Trust and Safety Officer, and served with the with the Maryland Defense Force and the U.S for 5 years and now serving with US Veteran Reserve Corps, and volunteers with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She speaks across the country - to the military, law enforcement, the medical community, federal agencies, and students at schools, colleges, and universities - bridging the gap between the transgender and cisgender communities. Karen has been named one of LGBTQ Nation's Top 50 Successful Transgender Americans, received the AARP Maryland Andrus Award for Community Service. As a sought-after speaker, Karen travels across the country addressing audiences in the military, law enforcement, healthcare, federal agencies, and educational institutions - from schools to universities. Her mission is twofold: to empower transgender individuals to live as their authentic selves, and to build genuine understanding within the cisgender community. Karen's philosophy is simple but profound: “If you believe in something, you may achieve it. But if you believe in yourself, you will.” She is a living example of that truth. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

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