Annnnd we’ve begun! CB’s @_elliemejia introduces the amazing hosts for the #PublicNewsroom and why we’re talking about how to talk about politics this week https://twitter.com/city_bureau/status/1321888902047797248

Rani Gordon of @DesiYouthRising says their group has been building Black & brown solidarity, explaining Black Lives Matter to desi elders. Karla Dejesus of @PilsenAlliance Youth Committee says they work on housing & gun violence issues. The groups collaborated on #copsoutCPS

Ariana Guzman of @PilsenAlliance says she organizes because she loves building solidarity and spaces of healing. Ashwini Deshpande of @DesiYouthRising says youth organizers are not always taken seriously—but youth have unique strengths that people underestimate

Sabrina Wilson ( @DesiYouthRising) discusses how the group supported #BlackLivesMatter this summer. To combat polarization and misinformation, they hosted a teach-in to improve intergenerational communication & talk about race issues

“As a non-Black community of color, we needed to step up and share the knowledge” - Rani Gordon

Ashwini: “After [summer uprisings] people felt a sense of powerlessness, they wanted to know how to support. We could give them action items.”

Sabrina: “Black and brown solidarity is nothing new.” She looked into the history and could draw the lines b/t previous work and her own #PublicNewsroom

Ariana: “The hardest part of going to actions is coming back home and there’s no support. It’s important to talk to loved ones and elders especially, about our passions and the work we do.” #PublicNewsroom

Karla explains that organizing is core to her community’s welfare, which is why she feels the urgency of the work. “Who’s going to do it if we don’t do it? Some people don’t have to talk about these things, but we do.” #PublicNewsroom

Great tips from Ashwini: “Remaining grounded in data and facts goes a long way. It’s easy to be swayed by emotions when you’re talking to friends and family. Even if you dont agree on everything, try to find common ground. Find ways to connect and build on those.” #PublicNewsroom

“Would that happen if we had access to mental resources? Would this person pick up a gun if we had access to resources that people on the North Side do? … This isn’t right and it doesn't have to be this way” -Karla explaining how she talks about crime w/ family #PublicNewsroom

Ariana: Establish the conversation and keep talking about it even if there’s no common ground. You can keep coming back to it. But also set your limits and boundaries if people aren’t respecting you. #PublicNewsroom

Q from audience: When is it time to cut ties, if someone won’t listen or respect your views?

Panelists agree: It’s such a personal decision bc each person has their own threshold. But it also takes time so try to be patient, respectful & firm and understand it’s a process.

If the convo is getting heated or out of hand, you can tell someone that you want to table the conversation — not bc of what they are saying, but bc of the way they are saying it. - Sabrina of @DesiYouthRising

And that’s a wrap! Thanks to everyone who attended and please follow the amazing folks at @PilsenAlliance and @DesiYouthRising who are doing this important work — We’ll see you at our next #PublicNewsroom