Explore every episode of the podcast SLO Equity Podcast

This episode is part of The Ethics Edit: Applied Ethics in DEI in the San Luis Obispo Community, a special subseries of the SLO Equity Podcast created and developed by Mikayla Mariano as part of her senior project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), with support from the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.

This episode of the SLO Equity Podcast features a conversation between host Mikayla Mariano and Father Ian Delinger, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in San Luis Obispo and host of Playing with Food on KCBX.

As part of The Ethics Edit, this discussion explores how ethical principles such as justice, dignity, inclusion, and responsibility take shape within community life. Drawing from his experiences in ministry, public engagement, and relationship-building across diverse groups, Father Ian reflects on what communities owe one another and how belonging can be cultivated in meaningful ways.

Together, Mikayla and Father Ian examine the ethical dimensions of inclusion in San Luis Obispo County, discussing the role of faith communities, the importance of recognizing human dignity, and the responsibilities individuals and institutions have in creating welcoming spaces. The conversation also considers how ethical values can help bridge differences and foster stronger, more connected communities.

Guest: Father Ian Delinger — Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, San Luis Obispo; Host of Playing with Food on KCBX

Host: Mikayla Mariano — Host, SLO Equity Podcast; Creator of The Ethics Edit: Applied Ethics in DEI in the San Luis Obispo Community

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The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organizations.

To learn more about the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County, support our work, or get involved, visit diversityslo.org.

This episode was edited and produced by Mikayla Mariano, Velanche Stewart, and Rita Casaverde.

This episode of the SLO Equity Podcast — Making space for every story centers a conversation with men of color living in San Luis Obispo County on California’s Central Coast.

Recorded as an in-person roundtable, this discussion brings together four local voices to reflect on a simple but layered question: What is it like to be a man of color in San Luis Obispo County?

From navigating visibility and isolation to questioning how community is experienced across different spaces, the conversation surfaces both the progress in diversity and inclusion and the realities that continue to shape everyday life in SLO County.

Roundtable speakers:

• Ben Arona — Restaurant owner (Benny’s Pizza) and History Professor at Cuesta College
• Cornel Morton — Community leader and Board Chair, Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County
• Ernesto Reyes — Senior Coordinator for Equity & Inclusion, Cal Poly
• Velanche Stewart — Community member, creative, and Diversity Coalition's Community Outreach Committee member

The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organizations.

Continue learning:

• Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County — https://www.diversityslo.org Learn more about local programs, trainings, and community efforts.

The SLO Equity Podcast is back! In this relaunch episode, we talk about housing in San Luis Obispo County, not just as policy, but as something we’ve experienced and had to navigate ourselves.

We break down redlining in a friendly conversation, and connect it to what people are still dealing with today. We also interview RACE Matters' Executive Director, Courtney Haile, about their documentary short "Restrictions Apply". Courtney was also featured in a past podcast episode, Why San Luis Obispo Lacks Diversity, where we discussed the then-upcoming documentary release. Now, we return to it, capturing new reactions, reflecting on the film, and the work that still needs to be done.

This episode also includes reflections from an anonymous resident sharing their own experience navigating housing in SLO County. Real conversations, local context, and a deeper look at what’s shaping our community.

In this episode, we:

• Share lived experiences with housing in SLO County
• React to Restrictions Apply by RACE Matters SLO
• Reflect on how these systems continue to shape everyday life

SHOW NOTES

• Get involved with Diversity Coalition and the SLO Equity Podcast: https://www.diversityslo.org
• RACE Matters SLO – Restrictions Apply short documentary (18 mins): https://www.racemattersslo.org/restrictions-apply
• Previous episode: Why San Luis Obispo Lacks Diversity: https://www.diversityslo.org/sloequity

Understanding Housing Inequity

• A Gender Equity Perspective on California’s Housing Crisis 👉 Read the report
• European Institute for Gender Equality – Gender Mainstreaming 👉 Learn more
• California Tenants Guide - A guide to residential tenants’ and landlords’ rights and responsibilities 👉 Learn more

This episode is coming to you thanks to:

• Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County
• Diversity Coalition's Community Outreach Committee
• Special thanks to: Velanche Stewart, Chenda Lor, KT Bertrand, Yolande Sukal, Courtney Haile,

In this second part episode, M’Lynn Martin shares about how her voice was systematically shut down in San Luis Obispo County for standing up for what she believed in. This is what racism looks like today.

This episode was first published on 09/24/21

In this special 2 part episode M’Lynn Martin, a youth pastor shares how she was raised in San Luis Obispo county and what it was like to be on of the only black girls in north county. In the second episode you’ll hear how her voice was systematically silenced by the church she worked for in 2020 for speaking out against racism.

This episode was first published on 09/24/21

Garrett Olson, CEO of the Food Bank and Dr. Nooristani Founder of the Noor Foundation and Noor Clinic share their missions for serving the underserved and why people of color are often a large percentage of that population.

This episode was first published on 9/30/21

CEO of RRM Design Group, Erik Justesen shares his personal journey learning about DEI and then taking the leap to make Diversity a strategic priority at his company. Regina Wallace Jones, Senior Vice President of Product and Engineering at MINDBODY shares her perspective as a woman of color and former Mayor of East Palo Alto on the opportunities San Luis Obispo businesses have to learn and grow by making diversity, equity and inclusion intentional and mentoring people of color to become leaders in our community.

This episode was first published on 09/30/21

Homeowner Jaime Lewis and Courtney Haile of Race Matters record the process of finding and removing racial covenants on Jaime’s San Luis Obispo home title, and informing neighbors that many neighborhoods in San Luis Obispo, and throughout the U.S. were systematically designed to keep people of color out. They share the process of making their film "Restrictions Apply".

This episode was first published on 09/30/21

Cheryl Vines of the San Luis Obispo County NAACP, Michael Boyer Founder of Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Mid Central Coast, and recent Cal Poly Engineering Graduate and the City of San Luis Obispo’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force Chairman Amman Asfaw share what motivates their activism and advocacy.

This episode was first published on 9/30/21.