Charles Gibson is the Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer at Randolph College. He visits the Inclusion Catalyst to talk about fostering a culture of belongingness and home for Randolph Students. Key Takeaways

• Engagement and belonging work aims to make everyone feel at home on campus, focusing on authentic self-expression and learning from differences
• Private colleges have more latitude in DEI efforts compared to public institutions facing political pressures
• Religious/spiritual life on campus requires careful policy development to balance inclusivity with religious freedom
• Assessment, active listening, and adaptability are crucial for effective DEI and interfaith initiatives.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

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Nadia Mian is the Senior Program Director at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement at Rutgers University. She visits the Inclusion Catalyst to discuss a very innovative faith-based housing initiative. Key Takeaways

• Dr. Mian is leading research on faith-based affordable housing, including a database of congregational housing projects across the U.S.
• California's SB4 legislation allows houses of worship to bypass local zoning laws for affordable housing development, setting a potential model for other states.
• Faith-based organizations are repurposing underutilized assets like parking lots for affordable housing and community services.
• Internal congregational discussions and community engagement are crucial first steps before pursuing development projects.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/

Theresa Lau, Senior Policy Counsel, Eradicating Poverty at the Southern Poverty Law Center, visits with Mickey again to discuss the proposed federal budget cuts and their potential impacts on social programs and states.

• The budget bill passed by the House contains massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, while making deep cuts to social safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP that help low-income families.
• The SNAP (food stamps) program would see $300 billion in cuts over 10 years, leading to 4.6 million people losing benefits. States would be forced to pay 5-25% of SNAP costs, leading to harder decisions about who to cover.
• Medicaid would see nearly $1 trillion in cuts over 10 years, resulting in 13.7 million people losing health coverage. Work reporting requirements and frequent renewals would also make it harder for eligible people to access Medicaid.
• The bill also makes it harder for federal judges to hold government officials in contempt for ignoring court rulings, reducing accountability.
• There is still time to influence the Senate version of the bill and push for fewer harmful cuts. Theresa recommends calling/emailing Congress, sharing personal stories, and supporting advocacy organizations like SPLC to fight these provisions.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/