Civic Encounter

Join us at JCI Worldwide to celebrate Earth Month and explore our latest Civic Encounter content!

On this episode, Nurit Katz, UCLA's Chief Sustainability Officer, shares insights into sustainability advocacy and the butterfly effect, emphasizing the power of collective action. She discusses pivotal moments in her career journey and reflects on UCLA and LA DWP's sustainability initiatives, including transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2035. Katz highlights the role of small actions in addressing global challenges and offers advice on choosing a career in sustainability. The conversation delves into personal growth, pandemic experiences, and the intersection of sustainability and environmental impact. Katz advocates for intelligent optimism and recommends "Dig Where You Are" by Nan Neale. Katz passionately discusses biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and UCLA's commitment to reciprocity with nature and indigenous communities. 

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Welcome back to Civic Encounter, a podcast by JCI Worldwide where we engage in insightful conversations with trailblazers in politics, advocacy, and communications. We hope you all had an amazing Black History Month. Although it may not be February anymore, we remain committed to promoting Black History year-round. Our newest associate Georgia had the honor of sitting down with Willie Pelote, a prominent figure in California's labor landscape, for this two-part episode.

Today we explore the legislation and impactful changes Willie Pelote has spearheaded, notably within trade union AFSCME. Pelote's journey, shaped by his upbringing in a nurturing educational environment despite historical barriers, underscores the importance of Black History being celebrated every day, not just for a month. As Pelote wisely said, "If you do not know how to use power, you don't deserve it." This episode delves into Pelote's advocacy for utilizing individual and collective power to effect meaningful change, not only within the Black community but also within society at large.

Welcome back to Civic Encounter, a podcast by JCI Worldwide where we engage in insightful conversations with trailblazers in politics, advocacy, and communications. We hope you all had an amazing Black History Month. Although it may not be February anymore, we remain committed to promoting Black History year-round. Our newest associate Georgia had the honor of sitting down with Willie Pelote, a prominent figure in California's labor landscape, for this two-part episode.

Part one delves into Pelote's personal journey as a Black man in America and his belief in the importance of year-round recognition for Black History. With nearly 40 years of experience, Pelote has served as the California Political and Legislative Director for the 1.4 million members of AFSCME from 1995 to 2015. A veteran of Vietnam, he also served as Sergeant-At-Arms for the California Legislature from 1980 to 1987. From 1987 to 1995, Pelote worked for Willie Brown, then Speaker of the California State Assembly. Additionally, in 1999, he was appointed by former Governor Gray Davis to the State Task Force on Diversity.

Currently, Pelote is the founding principal of Pelote Strategic Advisors, a full-service public affairs firm specializing in community relations, public affairs, and government relations. Join us as we learn from Pelote's wealth of experience and gain insights into public service, community engagement, and advocacy strategies.

Thank you to Willie Pelote for sharing his journey with us. Enjoy the conversation!

Join us in a riveting discussion as we honor the remarkable journey of Manjusha Kulkarni, a beacon of leadership and advocacy at the intersection of gender, race, and social justice. We discuss the intersection of gender equity, activism, and community empowerment, highlighting the essential role of support networks and collective action. Manju is the Executive Director of the AAPI Equity Alliance and her impactful contributions have garnered recognition from esteemed publications such as the New York Times, NPR, and CNN, along with numerous local and ethnic media outlets. As a passionate advocate for AAPI communities, she has shared her expertise with various institutions, including the Aspen Institute, the World Bank, and the United Nations. Manju holds positions on the Board of Directors of LA Voice and serves on the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and the California Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law, Manju has been honored as a TIME100 Most Influential People and Bloomberg 50 awardee. Additionally, she received the 2021 Webby Social Movement of the Year award and was named to the prestigious 2022 Forbes 50 Over 50 list for her leadership in advancing the Stop AAPI Hate movement. Her impactful work continues to shape conversations and drive positive change on a global scale.

Listen now for an enriching conversation that celebrates resilience, perseverance, and the enduring legacy of women's leadership. Together, let's continue to advocate for progress and build a more equitable society for all.

In this episode of Civic Encounter, a podcast by JCI Worldwide, we delve into the intricacies of the Electoral College system with Elizabeth Cavanagh, Chair and CEO of the Making Every Vote Count Foundation (MEVC). Join us as we explore the historical shortcomings of the Electoral College and examine potential reforms highlighted in MEVC's recent report. Elizabeth, who also serves as Director of the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) Program at American University Washington College of Law, brings her extensive legal expertise to the discussion. From her experience as an appellate and trial court litigator to her clerkships with prominent judges, Elizabeth offers invaluable insights into the complexities of electoral reform. Tune in as we collaborate with MEVC to shed light on this critical issue and empower listeners to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of our electoral process.

Welcome back to Civic Encounter, where we explore compelling narratives of individuals contributing to politics, advocacy, and communications. In this episode, join hosts Bella Mendoza and Mahomed Khan as they engage in a dialogue on the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Drawing from their close working partnership and Mahomed’s profound background in the Middle East, this thoughtful dialogue offers unique insights and perspectives on a pressing global issue.

Welcome back, and Happy New Year! In this episode, we interviewed Wanda Love, who is a Council Member in the city of Gardena and the head of the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce. JCI has worked with Wanda on the Power Saver Rewards grant program, where she led outreach in southern Los Angeles to help residents learn how to save money on their electricity bills during Flex Alerts. We admire her grassroots connection to her community in Gardena, and are inspired by her philosophy as an elected official. Enjoy!

Welcome back to Civic Encounter. In this episode, we interview Phlunté Riddle, who is running for the CA State Assembly seat in District 41, which covers northeast LA and parts of San Bernardino county. She was also the first Black woman to be sergeant, lieutenant, then adjutant to the Chief of Police in the Pasadena PD.

Phlunté is an inspiring leader who has a clear vision for improving the wellbeing of her constituents through affordable housing, public safety, and resources from both the government and community-based-organizations. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, we interviewed Tom Soto, an entrepreneur and the one of the first Latino environmentally-focused impact investors. Throughout his career, he has taken part in and encouraged green business development, particularly by diverse investors.

Tom has been a thought leader in the fight against climate change for decades, and has owned four private equity funds. He was influential in crafting the precursor to the UN's Sustainable development goals, and served as Team Lead for The Executive Office of the President’s Transition Team for the White House Council on Environmental Quality for President Obama. These are just a few of the impactful projects he has worked on. Listen to the episode to hear more!

Welcome back! In this episode, we interview Jeff Werner and Frank Connelly, producers of the documentary Those Who Serve. Jeff is an Emmy-winning documentary producer, director, and editor, and Frank is a former risk management and public interest lawyer who has pivoted to social impact film production.

Jeff and Frank worked together on Those Who Serve, a film that tells the intimate story of 3 psychologically wounded veterans who return home only to wind up committing crimes against the very same communities they risked their lives to protect.

The film asks to what extent should their psychological disorders, stemming from their service to our country, be considered mitigating circumstances in a court of law. What should justice look like when the offender is, himself/herself, a victim?

Listen to Civic Encounter's new episode to hear Public Affairs professional Ken Chawkins’ take on how candidates promote themselves for the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Election. Learn about the differences between governing and campaigning, how social media has impacted elections, and the position our country is in as we prepare to cast our votes.

In this episode of Civic Encounter, we interview Martha Davis, who is a leader in environmental policy in California. She was the Executive Director of the Mono Lake Committee from 1983 to 1996, Executive Director for Californians and the Land from 1998-2000, and Executive Manager for Policy Development at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) from 2000-2017. Currently, she provides consulting services to the Water Foundation. Martha has immense knowledge of environmental policy and the communications practices that go along with it. We hope you enjoy hearing her story!

JCI is back with an interview from another Executive Director, this time working in Corporate Communications for the Aerospace Corporation! Sabrina Steele tells us about her tactics for disseminating complex aerospace messages to a wide audience, recruiting women and people of color into the STEM and aerospace fields, and building a vast network where she can learn from others and pay it forward by helping those who are starting out.

We're back after a brief hiatus with an exciting conversation with Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network! This episode highlights Rhonda's incredible work increasing health equity for Black Californians, and we're grateful that she took time to speak with us about it. We discuss Rhonda's expansive career, advocacy advice, top goals for Black health equity, and more!

It's our second episode and we're not just angry, we are angry AND disappointed (we recorded this the day after the Supreme Court decision leak of its decision on Roe v. Wade). But we are thrilled that we got to interview West Hollywood City Councilmember, John Erickson. We discuss local politics, reproductive choice, and more! 

It's our very first episode and we kind of know what we're doing! Join us for your personal close encounter of the civic kind with Lindsey Horvath. Lindsey Horvath is the former mayor of West Hollywood, current city councilmember, and County Supervisor candidate for District 3. Kayla and Jill will fill you in on what a county supervisor does for their constituents, what's at stake in the upcoming election, and Lindsey's vision for District 3.