Change Agents The Podcast

Reparations Media•changeagentsthepodcast.buzzsprout.com

Reparations Media & Juneteenth Productions

Are YOU a “Change Agent”? Organizer. Activist. Educator. Policy maker. Block club leader. Nonprofit founder. Religious leader. Business owner. Voter. Neighbor.

Change Agents is a documentary series revealing the power of community-driven activism told by those in the fight. These are the stories you aren’t hearing — told by and for communities of color and other marginalized communities that have long been overlooked, misrepresented and maligned.

Headquartered in Chicago and produced across the Midwest, we highlight authentic, actionable, grassroots solutions to society’s most pressing problems — including reentry after incarceration, homeownership disparities, anti-Blackness, the mental health crisis, and more.

Produced by a team made up of BIPOC, female, queer and disabled journalists, for Reparations Media, with support from Juneteenth Productions.

Executive Producers: Judith McCray and Maurice Bisaillon. Senior Producer: Mary Hall. Operations & Digital Manager: Nicole Nir. Head of Development: Alina Panek. Sound Design: Erisa Apantaku & Will Jarvis.

Follow us wherever you get podcasts, or at changeagentsthepodcast.com. Subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/change_agents_newsletter.

Last refreshed: August 16th, 2025 at 6:51 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

A New Hospitality Labor Movement

When marginalized restaurant workers are abandoned by an industry ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, a local organization helped them pick up the pieces. Now, as the U.S paces itself towards recovery and the restaurants gear up for a safe reopening, they suddenly encounter a nationwide labor shortage. After surviving through a deadly pandemic, some workers are asking if it’s worth it after all, to go back to the industry that abandoned them.

Jun 16, 2021•20 min

People V. Environmental Racism.

Chicago’s southeast side community has strong views on environmental health due to a history of being the City of Chicago’s dumping ground. The newest injustice: Reserve Management Group is slated to bring the highly controversial 100-year-old General Iron shredding facility from Lincoln Park to the south east side community in 2021. Deep in the fight to stop this are community activists and organizations like the Alliance of the South East, struggling to be heard and have a seat at the decision...

Mar 13, 2021•21 min

One Code, One Austin

Known for its high number of shootings and open illegal drug market, the Austin community on Chicago’s far west side struggles between its bad rap, high levels of poverty and lack of jobs and resources. Providing a life line to its residents are organizations like the Institute For Non-Violence Chicago, Westside Health Authority, and Amplify, doing their part to rebuild the community and it’s name. This episode follows Artimmeo, a re-entry specialist at the Institute for Non-Violence Chicago, an...

Jan 20, 2021•25 min

Learning On The Line

In September 2020, the Chicago Public Schools went into its second term of remote learning. At issue were the approximately 115,000 students, predominantly African American and LatinX who were without the technology required to “do” school. In Belmont-Cragin, a predominantly LatinX community on Chicago’s northwest side that held the city’s second highest number of COVID19 cases in November, parents struggle to get on line, get computers and keep their children from falling behind. This episode e...

Jan 20, 2021•23 min

Taken Away

Alex spent 18 months incarcerated in a county jail in Wisconsin as a detainee of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE ambushed Beto after a routine check in and incarcerated him for 9 months before he was deported to Mexico. Both men fought deportation with the help of the Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD), a Chicago organization supporting undocumented people. This episode explores the harrowing, often untold conditions of immigration detention and the damage done...

Jan 20, 2021•27 min

When We Organize, We Win

Davetta Brooks and Pastor Eartha Sutton live in the Congressman George Collins Apartments, a section 8 building for seniors on Chicago’s southside. Davetta moved in about 8 years ago, and immediately was confronted with deplorable living conditions such as pests and filth. Over the years she tried to address the conditions with management and was met with intimidation and threats. It wasn’t until about a year ago that she became connected through the new alderman of the 25th ward, Byron Sigcho L...

Jan 20, 2021•28 min

Englewood Reframing the Narrative

Englewood, on Chicago’s south side, is cast as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. But activists and residents are challenging the stereotypes and changing the narrative with community initiatives, services and beautification projects. Community activists like Asiaha Butler and Tonika Johnson have been working to show the world a different side of Englewood, while also providing free services, community engagement, and public art in order to lift up those most in need. This epi...

Jan 20, 2021•24 min

Trailer: Change Agents Podcast

A-gen-cy noun: action or intervention, especially such as to produce a particular effect. Too often the actions of real people of color making real change in their neighborhoods and lives are ignored in the media. Even worse are portrayals that people of color lack the agency to address the wrongs and find solutions that empowers residents and improves conditions. Too often these stories are told from outside, not inside, the community. Change Agent is a podcasts series by Chicagoans trained to ...

Jan 11, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1

← Prev

Hosted on Buzzsprout

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android