This episode explores how employers and community members can support individuals who are or have been justice-involved in finding meaningful employment. We discuss the challenges they face, the resilience and skills they bring, and the pathways that help them rebuild their lives while strengthening our communities.

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Elena Stephenson, field specialist in community development, and Rachelle Gardner-Roe, a fiber artist and poet, following up on our previous episode on the Dorothy Day Cabin almost two years ago! Rachelle Gardner-Roe describes what her experience was like as the inaugural artist in the Dorothy Day Cabin residency program, along with the stories of how that time sparked future creative inspiration for her. Elena Stephenson explains the work she did as one of the program’s organizers to create a space for local artists to create in a way they hadn't before, and how the program connects with the larger community through artistic action.

MU Extension podcasts: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/podcasts

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Ashley Beard-Fosnow, Executive Director of the Missouri Humanities in Kansas City, and Matt Pezold, field specialist in labor and workforce development. Ashley Beard-Fosnow describes her current experience with humanities work and how she still uses the lessons from the Labor Studies program in her position, along with the hands-on perspectives she gained that have benefited her. Matt Pezold explains how he works as one of the program’s instructors to shape these courses to provide knowledge leaders can take into their communities, and how he sees these experiences change for every one of his students.

MU Extension podcasts: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/podcasts

Labor Studies Certificate Program: https://www.umsl.edu/political-science/labor-studies/index.html

Labor and Workforce Development: https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region/labor-and-workforce-development