Broken Office Chair – Details, episodes & analysis

In this powerful episode of The Broken Chair Podcast, we sit down with Illinois State Senator Robert Peters to discuss the key elements of political change—collaboration, organization, and the importance of open dialogue. Senator Peters shares his insights on how building coalitions and staying flexible in your approach can lead to meaningful change, even in the most challenging political landscapes. We explore how movements are built through collective action, why no one should say "no" to themselves before trying, and how keeping the door open for conversation can break down barriers. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you thinking about the power of teamwork and the critical role of communication in creating a better future.

In this episode, Bessie sits down with Dr. Rebekah Levin to discuss her experience as an American Jew advocating for Palestinian Liberation. Rebekah shares stories from her experiences in Palestine and her own path of deconstructing her beliefs and identity.

In this episode, Bessie sits down with ángela munguía, Executive Director at AMPT, to discuss everything from privilege and power in leadership to the importance of capacity building, managing organizational growth, and more. ángela has a passion for social justice, racial equity and community development – specifically, for Black and Brown communities. She was chief dream director for The Future Project, where she handled organizational and fundraising strategies, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and staff development. Currently, munguía is a board member of the Chicago Freedom School where she sustains systems and structures to strengthen organizational capacity. Her prior experience includes tenures with City Year Chicago and Mikva Challenge, and assignments that include policy development focused on educational equity for historically marginalized identities within the Chicago Public Schools, cultural competency training, policies and program design, and youth and adult training programs.

Please note guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bessie or Alternatives.

In this episode, Bessie chats with Sufyan Sohel, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at Resilience Force and Host of the show Change Agents. They discuss international politics, racism, immigration, and how their personal experiences shape their views on the topics. Sufyan is a civil rights lawyer, mediator, and facilitator who has dedicated his career to strengthen community organizations and to be an advocate for our most vulnerable. Sufyan currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and general Counsel at Resilience Force, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of the workforce that rebuilds our communities after climate disasters. Sufyan is also Chair of the Cook County Human Rights Commissioner, the co-chair of the DePaul Law Diversity Council, and on the board of directors for the Chicago Access Network Television (CAN-TV), and the ACLU of Illinois, where he serves as the organization’s Affiliate Equity Officer. Sufyan also hosts a weekly cable talk show, Change Agents, where he spotlights critical issues impacting Chicagoans, and amplifies the voices and efforts of leaders and organizations working to create positive change in Chicago’s communities.

Please note guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bessie or Alternatives.

In this episode, Bessie sits down with Jamyle Cannon, Executive Director and Founder of The Bloc, to discuss walking in your values with conviction, the philanthropic landscape from a POC perspective, and what nonprofit heartbreak looks like for them.

Jamyle is the 2009 National Collegiate Boxing Champion and a Teach for America Alumni member. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Education from Arizona State University. In 2016, after building a popular boxing program in his classroom, Cannon combined his love for youth development, boxing, and education to form The Bloc. He has been recognized as a CNN Hero, a 4-Star Chicagoan by Windy City Live, an Economic Game Changer by the New Covenant Community Development Corporation, profiled as one of the Hardest Working Voices in Sports by Chicago Sun-Times, awarded the Rich O’Leary Community Sports Award at Notre Dame University, and is generally considered by the fighters in The Bloc to be the baddest man alive. He has sincere plans to change the after-school landscape of Chicago’s West Side and provide community-building resources to his neighbors.

Please note guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bessie or Alternatives.

In this episode, our guest Ozzie Godinez and host, Bessie Alcantara, discuss performative activism in marketing, what genuine DEI looks like, how social change shifts marketing strategies, and much more.

In this episode of Broken Office Chair, Bessie Alcantara and Diana Castaneda share their experiences with anti-Blackness in the Latinx community. They cover everything from why they choose to say Latinx instead of Hispanic to their understanding and solutions to anti-Blackness in the latinx community.

In this episode of Broken Office Chair, Bessie Alcantara and Lesle Honore chat about the cost of being poor, how their lived experiences influence their careers, and how society dehumanizes people facing poverty.

*Disclaimer: In this episode, Bessie and Leslé chat about their experiences facing poverty and how those experiences shaped their perceptions of what it’s like to fall below the poverty line. Since the recording of the podcast, we have learned that the use of the word “poor” further marginalizes and places blame on individuals. At Alternatives, we recognize poverty as a systemic issue and not the fault of any individual and want this opportunity to reflect our learning and how we are consistently working to be better.

In this episode, Hilesh Patel sits down with host Bessie Alcantara to discuss the Philanthropy sector, the nonprofit industrial complex, organizational DEI work, and creating a more equitable work culture.

In Episode 2 of Broken Office Chair, our host, Bessie Alcantara, sits down with Ayoka Knoell Mota Samuels to continue their conversation about being women of color in nonprofit leadership. They discuss what it looks like to do work through an equitable lens and what it’s like to be role models for other women of color working in the nonprofit sector.

*Listener Note: This episode contains explicit language that may not be appropriate for all listeners. Viewer discretion is advised.

Resources:

https://www.thecrownact.com/

https://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/hair-and-the-culture-of-the-ancient-maya

https://tulanehullabaloo.com/51652/intersections/business-professionalism-is-racist/