A Roadmap to Activism w/ Tai Simpson, Nisha Jae Newton, Gabrielle Davis, Bukky Ogunrinola

This week we've handed the hosting reins over to Tai Simpson who brought on three other remarkable activists from the Treefort/Storfort/Boise community and beyond. They talk Black Lives Matter, Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ issues, their own activist origin stories, and what matters most in our world right now and moving forward in these complex times.

Smart, fun, poignant, essential. Enjoy.

You can learn more about Treefort Music Fest, see the full schedule, buy tickets and download the app at www.treefortmusicfest.com

Storyfort Presents: Voices of Treefort Music Fest is a part of the EaseDrop Podcast Network

Theme music provided by Up is the Down is the

Bios of our guests -

Tai Simpson is “The Storyteller” in the indigenous language of the Nimiipuu nation (Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho). Her insight into politics and social justice work are heard regularly within public and private organizations. She is a direct descendant of Chief Redheart of the Nez Perce tribe and a tireless advocate for social justice. Tai’s academic background is in Sociology and Political Philosophy & Public Law at Boise State University. In the community, she serves as an organizer for the Indigenous Idaho Alliance and works as Social Change Advocate with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence. Tai believes indigenous “old ways” need to come back in style. The old ways are principles on which many indigenous communities build their social and political narratives. As an antiracism activist and community leader, she uses contemporary and traditional Indigenous storytelling to depict the lens of “old ways” and how it is used to protect the sacred, build strength in the community, and keep nature in balance.

Gabrielle Davis (she/her) is a respiratory therapist and counselor in Idaho. Outside of the health/ mental health care field, Gabby is an adjunct professor at a local university and is the facilitator for Youth Alliance for Diversity, a LGBTQIA+ youth group in Boise where she gets to be constantly reminded why kids are better than adults. In her free time, Gabby enjoys reminding people that Black, Queer and Trans Lives are included when saying 'Black Lives Matter', dispelling myths about the definition of allyship, encouraging folks to say I don't know instead of pretending to know and bringing awareness to the fact that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances. Gabrielle lives in Boise with her wife and enjoys being a professional troublemaker whenever her time allows.

Nisha Jae Newton is a community organizer and graduate student in Social Justice & Human Rights. Amongst their lived experience as a Black femme and a queer/trans person in rural communities, they leverage their identities as a historian and sociologist to co-create an emergent world. Nisha has centered their activism and liberation work around youth—particularly within pedagogy and education.

Nisha has started policy reform at Boise State University to integrate integrity and inclusion into the campus structure. Nisha has also worked to expand youth programming with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and to fight for their trans siblings with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho in the 2020 legislative session.

Nisha's pronouns are they/them/their.

Oluwabukola (Bukky) Ogunrinola derives all her strength from her family and community. Coming to the United States as a first-generation Nigerian immigrant, Bukky has seen first-hand the effects of policy that is made intentionally to disrupt the livelihoods of families who have no safety net. Her identities and experiences inspired her journey into scholarship, as well as rooting the activism she takes part in through research, education, and community. Since 2014, Bukky has been a Youth Organizer at the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. This past year, she worked for Advocates for Youth, based in Washington, D.C. as a member of their International Youth Council which focuses on access to comprehensive and inclusive sexual education both domestically and internationally. She is entering her third year at Howard University, studying Economics and Mathematics with the hope of entering law school.

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