Dr. Amber Banks shares her personal journey into activism and social justice work. She speaks on the complexities of trust, how personal and cultural experiences shape trust, and the intersection of trust with race and power. Dr. Banks discusses the importance of creating spaces where individuals can feel seen and heard and stresses the critical nature of repair in the trust-building process. Her storytelling also touches on the necessity of rest and self-care in sustaining activism and promoting resilience against systemic oppression. Dr. Amber Banks is the inagural Vice President, Programs at Decolonizing Wealth Project. She is honored to lead DWP’s programs and support the direction of Liberated Capital’s funds. Dr. Banks is also the Founder & CEO of the Center for Trust and Transformation (CTT). CTT offers coaching, training, facilitation, and advising to social sector organizations focused on trust, healing, repair, and racial justice. Dr. Banks started her career as a Special Education teacher and is a seasoned social sector leader with over two decades of experience as an educator, researcher, coach, facilitator, advisor, grant maker, entrepreneur, and organizer. What you'll learn in this episode: 01:13 Dr. Amber Banks' Journey into Activism 06:06 The Complexities of Trust 08:39 Trust in Professional and Educational Contexts 12:11 Cultural Nuances in Trust 21:04 Developing Trust in Oppressive Systems 29:04 Creating Spaces for Trust and Connection 34:44 Building Trust Between Police and Communities 36:32 The Importance of Rest in Social Justice Work 37:27 Healing and Boundaries 40:43 The Role of Community in Personal Wellbeing 45:59 Navigating Conflict in Beloved Communities 48:36 Sustaining Hope and Interconnectedness 56:49 A Message to Future Generations 59:31 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories Other Important Links: Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Threads https://www.threads.net/@socialjusticeoriginstories?xmt=AQGzmxmHgZ8XactVuJeywKRFcE4r86Ya_swu5BROzwjaZFM Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.
