Interviews with progressive activists in and around Dallas. We delve into the life stories of these activists and how they got to where they are today.
Lei Lei Lashawn: Creating Art to Heal Trauma and Fight Injustice
Lei Lei Lashawn is a Dallas-based artist. She shares how childhood trauma and the loss of her brother shaped her journey, turning pain into purpose through art, activism, and community care. From mental health and grief to environmental racism and protest, this conversation shows how creativity can become both a lifeline and a force for social change.
Check out her website: https://www.leileilashawn.com/ (https://www.leileilashawn.com/)
22 Jun 2026
Sophia Graham: How West Dallas Built a Cop With Purpose
Sophia Graham is a Deputy Constable and West Dallas native. Growing up in the projects, losing her parents early to epilepsy, and facing systemic neglect, Sophia’s journey is a masterclass in grit, authenticity, and refusing to be defined by circumstances. Now a deputy constable and fierce advocate, she embodies the kind of leadership that Dallas needs -- one rooted in understanding, respect, and relentless community investment.
25 May 2026
Yafeuh Balogun: Intergenerational Activism and Community-Building in Dallas
Yafeuh Balogun is the coordinator for the Community Movement Builders of DFW, a black member-based collective of community residents and activists serving black working-class and poor black communities. He reveals how strategic community organizing, successful renaming of city streets, and building coalitions are creating lasting change. If you're tired of endless protests that lead nowhere and want real solutions that empower communities, this episode is your blueprint.
Also, follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/p/Street-Reportin-W-Yafeuh-Balogun-100088523857987/) and buy his memoir (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-are-balogun-yafeuh-balogun/1149168540).
27 Apr 2026
Mathis Perkins: Wisdom from a Veteran About Community, Purpose, and Resilience
Most political conversations focus on policies or party lines, but what if the real secret to meaningful change lies in understanding human nature and community roots? Mathis Perkins, a Marine veteran and longtime Oak Cliff resident, shares his perspective on the deep ties that shape our communities and how true progress begins from within.
From growing up on the hills of Oak Cliff to navigating a military career where precision and discipline shaped his outlook, he reveals how early lessons in service and involvement influenced a life dedicated to helping others. His insights challenge many common narratives, emphasizing that societal change isn’t about shortcuts or clickbait solutions. Rather, it’s about building resilience through education, community action, and persistent effort.
23 Mar 2026
Donna Wilson: From Personal Trauma to Voting and HIV Advocacy
Most people overlook the power of local activism, but Donna Wilson’s story proves that it’s the soul of change. At 67, Donna's journey from childhood trauma to fierce advocate reveals how a single diagnosis -- HIV -- can transform passion into action. Her unwavering commitment to voting rights, community outreach, and reproductive justice is a testament to how personal struggles fuel systemic impact.
In this episode, you'll discover how she turned adversity into advocacy -- sharing her experiences with rejection, childhood trauma, and her HIV diagnosis -- and how those hardships ignited her fight for social justice. Donna breaks down crucial issues around HIV criminalization, voter suppression, and the importance of early education in protecting vulnerable communities. Donna's insights show that grassroots activism, paired with strategic policy work, can truly shift societal norms.
23 Feb 2026
Olinka Green: Living With Dallas Racism and the Legacy of the Black Panthers
Most of us never realize how personal history and deep-rooted activism shape the fight for justice. Olinka Green’s story reveals the raw truth of a life driven by childhood trauma, relentless resilience, and a unwavering commitment to community liberation. From witnessing violence at a young age to leading environmental justice tours and growing her own food, her journey serves as a powerful testament to how individual pain fuels collective change.
31 Jan 2026
Connie Cook: A Veteran Nurse’s Journey Through American Healthcare Struggles
Connie Cook has been a longtime Democratic activist in multiple states. Before she got into Democratic politics, however, she was an ordinary nurse who transformed communities, fought corruption, and built political change in her hometown of Baltimore. Connie’s extraordinary journey reveals the secrets behind effective organizing, union battles, and the relentless passion required to stand up for others, even in the face of adversity and systemic obstacles.
22 Dec 2025
Julio Chaparro & Aggi Alvarado: An Immigrant Family's Fight Against a Billion-Dollar Polluter
Julio Chaparro immigrated from Mexico to Dallas in the 1980s and is now the co-chair of Justice for Joppa, located in the historic Freedman’s community of Joppa in Southern Dallas. Alongside his daughter, Aggi Alvarado, they share their experiences of local activism, the challenges of gentrification, and the power of community resilience. Join us to explore how Julio's immigrant story fuels his determination to create a healthier future for the historic Joppa community of Dallas and their fight against industrial pollution caused by TAMKO, the billion-dollar asphalt shingle company.
00:00 Intro
08:40 Julio's experience growing up in Mexico and moving to the U.S.
16:44 America then and now for immigrants
29:23 Establishing a life in the U.S.
43:53 Moving from Uptown to Joppa
49:49 Background of Joppa
54:47 Starting Justice for Joppa
01:17:47 Final thoughts
24 Nov 2025
Michele Saranovich: How One Woman from the Pacific Northwest Helped Build the Department of Energy
Michele Saranovich is a Democratic activist and precinct chair in Far North Dallas. She shares her journey from reporting on the nascent nuclear energy movement in the state of Washington to her pivotal role in environmental policy and nuclear waste management in Washington, D.C. Discover her insights on the evolution of energy policies, the challenges of being a woman in STEM in the 1970s, and her transition to local politics in her new home of Dallas.
00:00 Intro
10:08 How her father and upbringing helped shape her environmental activism
23:26 Being a young woman in STEM
28:11 Working as an energy reporter in the Pacific Northwest
40:24 Building out an office in the Department of Energy
52:59 Leaving government and starting her technology consulting career
01:01:41 Transitioning to retirement and moving to Dallas
01:04:24 Final thoughts
27 Oct 2025
Esme Zuniga: Generations of Family Members Serving the People
Esme Zuniga is an environmental justice activist in Dallas, TX. We explore her journey from community organizing in the Rio Grande Valley to her impactful work with Downwinders at Risk. Esme shares her family's deep-rooted history in Texas, her early influences in activism, and the challenges and triumphs she faced as the Communications Director for the Hidalgo County Democrats. We also discuss the importance of local political engagement, the evolving landscape of activism in Dallas, and the need for a united Democratic front.
To learn more about Downwinders at Risk, visit their website (https://www.downwindersatrisk.org/).
00:00 Intro
02:41 Early environmental justice work
04:45 Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley
05:25 Family history
07:53 How she started in civic engagement
11:50 Working at the Hidalgo County Democratic Party
16:12 Republicans then and now
20:26 Why RGV Hispanics don't vote for Democrats
25:08 Democrats need to fight harder
33:50 Life after Hidalgo
35:26 Everyone needs to understand data
40:15 Primary difference between the Democratic and Republican parties
46:50 Balance between calling people out and civil discourse
58:58 Role of local parties
01:03:16 Final thoughts
22 Sept 2025
Dave Henley: From Navy Meteorologist to Environmental Activist
Dave Henley is an environmental activist in Dallas, TX. We discuss his journey into environmental activism, his military background in meteorology, and the impact of the documentary An Inconvenient Truth on his advocacy. The conversation explores the importance of community engagement, the challenges of convincing politicians about climate change, and the future of environmentalism in Dallas. Dave emphasizes the need for local activism and the preservation of green spaces, encouraging listeners to take action in their communities.
To learn more about the organization Dave volunteers for, the Citizens' Climate Lobby, visit their website (https://citizensclimatelobby.org/).
To read the Substack article that this conversation inspired, read it here (https://www.chroniclesofadallascountydemocrat.com/p/what-is-the-role-of-your-local-democratic).
00:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ) Intro
00:54 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=54s) Volunteering in the 2024 presidential campaign
03:59 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=239s) His first political volunteering
05:29 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=329s) Joining the Navy
14:04 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=844s) Life after the Navy
16:52 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=1012s) An Inconvenient Truth
29:05 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=1745s) Frog in the boiling water
37:45 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=2265s) Talking to people about climate change
40:55 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=2455s) Talking to politicians
45:40 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=2740s) Breaking down climate change
51:02 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=3062s) Lobbying local politicians
58:41 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAJgKSaPfQ&t=3521s) Where he sees Dallas
25 Aug 2025
Subrina Brenham: A Lifetime of Community Service
Subrina Brenham is a community activist and former Dallas city council candidate. We discuss her journey into activism, her experiences running for office, and the challenges faced in local politics.
The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, voter education, and the impact of elected officials on civic participation. Subrina shares her insights on issues affecting District 8 in Dallas, including public safety, environmental concerns, and the need for better resources.
We conclude with reflections on the future of Dallas and the role of leadership in fostering a more engaged electorate.
Connect with Subrina on her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/subrina.brenham (https://www.facebook.com/subrina.brenham)
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