The Common Good Podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging. Today’s conversation between Pauline Hassan Burkey, Mayra Martinez and three people from the Common Good Team - Courtney Napier, Greg Jarrell and, our producer, Joey Taylor. We talk to Pauline and Mayra about Belong Circles and the concept of Belong Theology.
Pauline Hassan Burkey Experienced is the Belong Lab Manager at PICO California. She is a strategist, social architect and leader. Pauline is a natural fixer and approaches new projects with creativity and a desire to develop functioning teams and programs. She is a woman, an immigrant, and a trailblazer for her family and in her community. She has lived at the intersections of identities her whole life and as a social change agent, she believes impact is made when our organizations adopt an intersectional lens that cultivates inclusion and belonging.
Mayra Martinez works in Boyle Heights at a parish called Dolores Mission Church (DMC). She has the Youth Ministry Coordinator at DMC for four years, where she coordinates the faith formation of young people. Because DMC focuses on supporting the whole person she often finds herself supporting in a variety of ways. Mayra was born and raised in East LA.
Courtney Napier is a writer, journalist, gatherer, and liberation coach from Raleigh, North Carolina. She has written for national outlets like NewsOne and The Appeal, as well as regional and local publications such as Scalawag Magazine, WALTER Magazine, The Carolinian, and INDY Week. She is also the founder of Black Oak Society, a collective of Black creatives in the greater Raleigh area. Their flagship publication, BOS Magazine, is a literary magazine focused on giving Black Raleigh her flowers now. Finally, Courtney has coached individuals and organizations as they seek to lead and live in a way that undermines white supremacy and honors the humanity of all people. She loves to love her spouse, David, of ten years, and her two little humans who are endless hilarious meme reels.
Greg Jarrell is a founder of QC Family Tree, a community of hospitality in Charlotte, NC. He uses words and music to work for a just pursuit of the common good. Greg is the author of A Riff of Love: Notes on Community and Belonging, and is currently at work on Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Making (and Taking) of Neighborhoods. He is also an in-demand saxophonist in North and South Carolina, and has performed with legendary musicians including Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Natalie Cole.
You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation. This episode was produced by Joey Taylor with music from Jeff Gorman.