“I want people to know that they can be the spark to make change happen…” says Olushola Bolonduro, “...wherever they’re at.” Co-Founder of Pink Umbrella Society and active participant in many other local organizations, Shola chats with Trae about what it’s like to be a fresh protester and activist on the streets in a county that does not host a diverse population.

As someone with a few intersecting identities themself, Shola was born of two Nigerian immigrant parents who eventually made their way to Washington state. Now living in Everett as a queer 20-something, Shola was activated by the summer protests of 2020 and quickly saw a gap in social activism in Snohomish County. Starting with their own community, Shola took it upon themself to make change.

You can follow Shola on their Instagram and reach out to them at SnoPoCANN’s website to get engaged in their work. Give Pink Umbrella a follow and engage with their work on Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks to Shola’s friend, Nicoli Dominn, for the comprehensive and stunning Chime-In to our final episode of Equity Rising Season 2.

From YMCA to United Way, from his own life to the lives of today's youth in Spokane, WA, Charles Williams builds and maintains youth programs and youth community with the intent of creating access to opportunities, access to success, and access to full, rich lives. His current role as a Youth Gang Intervention Project Coordinator is with NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101.

In this very intimate and raw conversation, Charles shares with Trae his own road and his own vulnerability as a Black man in this space, and we learn how true it is that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.

You can reach out to Charles at his email cwilliams@esd101.net or through his program's website.

Charles's longtime friend Janice Medlock—from his local church community—gives us an intro for this episode, touching on how he shows up musically, as a mentor, and more.

After losing both his parents to the crack cocaine epidemic, Tacoma-native Faraji Blakeney grew up inside a foster care system that did not care for him. After three incarcerations, he was fortunate to find yoga and mindfulness inside the prison system, and it changed his life.

Faraji and Trae talk about the equity work he's doing with Black Prisoners Caucus and also with Yoga is for Everyone, an organization working to bring the benefits of yoga and mindfulness to elementary aged kids in Pierce County.

You can find Faraji on Instagram at @aumthegod; you may also reach out to him at truthlife_love@yahoo.com.

Yoga Behind Bars instructor Christine List—an early influence on Faraji's yoga and mindfulness path—gives us this week's Chime In introduction, highlighting Faraji's dedication to yoga, and to himself.

We urge everyone to learn more about Yoga Behind Bars and support their truly transformative work.