Everyone’s story matters. In today’s episode we listen in on documentary film Director and Producer Larissa Lam and Producer Baldwin Chiu in conversation with Mt. SAC students about the making of their film, Far East Deep South - Discover The Past You Never Knew.

This film began as a search for one family’s roots but became an exploration of a broader story about hidden histories of intersectional communities forged in the segregated south. They share their filmmaking process and challenges they faced in their work to preserve these lost histories. Be sure to listen for Larissa Lam’s Mt. SAC connection and why sharing a fuller American history motivated her to make the film.

Perhaps this episode will inspire you to explore your own family history.

Resources:

Watch the Film

The Mt. SAC Library can provide access to the film Far East Deep South for Mt. SAC students and employees (sign-in required). The filmmakers (and Mt. SAC Librarians) encourage faculty to utilize the film in their classes. For those not at Mt. SAC you may be able to access the film through your local library’s Kanopy.

Learn more about the Film

Far East Deep South website

Resources mentioned:

At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943 by Erica Lee is available as an ebook for those with current Mt. SAC portal logins.

Lee, Erika. At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943. New edition 1. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2004.

Mt. SAC Library provides access to the 2018 PBS documentary, The Chinese Exclusion Act, through Films on Demand. (Requires Mt. SAC portal login).

“The Chinese Exclusion Act.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018.

Jane Hong’s book Opening the Gates to Asia : A Transpacific History of How America Repealed Asian Exclusion is available as an ebook with Mt. SAC portal login.

Hong, Jane H. Opening the Gates to Asia: A Transpacific History of How America Repealed Asian Exclusion. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2019.

Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu’s podcast Love, Discovery & Dim Sum is available where you find podcasts

The screening of Far East Deep South was brought to campus by Arise, the Center for Black Culture and Student Success, the Equity Center, Mt. SAC History Department, and Mt. SAC Library.

Run time: 33:27 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

All of us at the Mt. SAC Podcast - we wish you a very Happy Holidays! We're going to be taking a little break until January, but we have over 200 episodes for you to browse and catch up on over the break, including six great episodes from this past semester.

Catch up on Season 9:

If you teach online, this episode is for you. You may have heard of RSI or Regular and Substantive Interaction and in today's episode, Mt. SAC Podcast cohost Ivan Sanchez will be talking with the two faculty who are serving as Mt. SAC's RSI coordinators, Sheila Wright from English Literature and Creative Writing and Jenny Gernhardt from Biology. They will discuss what regular and substantive interaction in the online learning environment is and how it connects to Mt. SAC's ACC JC accreditation and most importantly, why it matters to you.

Mt. SAC faculty are committed to delivering quality instruction in all modalities, so listen in and learn more about the opportunities to connect with your students through RSI. Faculty teaching in the spring of 2025 will learn how and why to take advantage of the opportunity right now and through winter to work with an RSI mentor in a supportive process to enrich your online class with interaction enhancing online teaching and learning. Thank you for joining us and enjoy today's episode!

Resources:

Email Contact: Jenny Gernhart (RSI Coordinator) jgernhart@mtsac.edu

Email Contact: Sheila Wright (RSI Coordinator) slwright@mtsac.edu

Smartsheet Sign Up:

Sign up for RSI Review! Get helpful feedback to ensure you are on track and ready for our Spring 2025 accreditation visit. Smartsheet Link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d34109ea221d42d7b7ea6a36de73260c

RSI Hub on Canvas:

A canvas shell filled with helpful tips and advice on meeting RSI.

Link: https://mtsac.instructure.com/courses/134094

Mt SAC Accreditation Page:

https://www.mtsac.edu/accreditation/

Run time: 30:20 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

What does it really mean to acknowledge the land? In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Primavera Reza-Nakonechny, director of Mt. SAC’s First Peoples’ Native Center and a descendant of the Tarahumara or Raramuri people. They are joined by Alisa Chiula, a Mt SAC student of Pueblo descent. Our conversation is led by our host Chisa Uyeki, guiding us through a conversation on the importance of language, the practices and meaning behind land acknowledgments, how Mt. SAC is working to craft a Land Acknowledgement with tribal input, and how we can go beyond statements into meaningful actions.

In addition, our guests share the importance of our spiritual connection to the land, honoring ancestors, plants, and animal kin alike. They also touch on how our daily lives, policies, songs, and prayers can honor the earth we live on. Join us as we explore what it means to move from acknowledgment to meaningful action. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

First Peoples Native Center https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/

Native American & Indigenous Heritage Month

https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/naihm/naihm.html

https://native-land.ca/
Native Land Digital honors the sovereignty of all Indigenous nations, their lands, and their waters. We recognize that these boundaries and territories are representations of the sacred. This is an honouring of Indigenous resilience past, present and future.

Tips for Creating an Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Statement https://nativegov.org/news/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/

Native American Student Support and Success Program (NASSSP) Grant

California Community College Chancellor’s Office:
On Land Acknowledgement for Community Colleges
American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success
Community College Land Acknowledgement Toolkit

My research

https://laist.com/news/politics/what-to-know-about-land-acknowledgment

National Museum of the American Indian https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/land-acknowledgment

Run time: 28:07 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Have you explored Mt. SAC’s First People’s Native Center yet? Today, we are excited to bring you an in-depth conversation with two special guests: Primavera Reza-Nakonechny, the director of Mt. SAC’s First People’s Native Center and whose family is from the Tarahumara or Raramuri in the unceded lands of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Alisa Ciulla, a passionate second-year student at Mt. SAC who is a descendant of the Pueblo Tribe.

They share the story of how the First People's Native Center was founded and its key role in empowering Native students. We also explore the Center’s vital role in fostering identity development, and a sense of belonging.

Join us as we explore the impact of the First People’s Native Center in student’s lives. Enjoy!

Resources:

First Peoples Native Center https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/

Native American & Indigenous Heritage Month

https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/naihm/naihm.html
Native American Student Support and Success Program (NASSSP) Grant

California Community College Chancellor’s Office: American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success

Mt. SAC Newsroom Nov. 15, 2022: First Peoples Native Center Opens

Center’s Opening Date in 2022 and additional details about the opening https://www.mtsac.edu/newsroom/news/posts/native_center_opens.html

Run time: 34 min 49 sec

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Each September 17th the Geography and Political Science Department hosts a campus-wide event to highlight Constitution Day.

This year, a student and alumna of the Mt. SAC Forensic program debated on forced choice voting, and a panel of faculty presented on election-related topics including the current issues motivating the political party bases, political communication, the psychology of polarization, how state election laws vary, and the California proposition process, as well as how to become a more informed voter.

In this episode we hear from students who attended the Constitution Day event and you’ll join me for a sit down with Kelly Rivera, Constitution Day organizer, Chair of the Geography and Political Science Department, and a friend of the POD, (that is, a friend of the Mt. SAC Podcast), to discuss Constitution Day. Kelly will share with us how the Constitution (and Constitution Day) connects to voting and elections in our democracy, and will suggest ways to encourage political engagement and voting.

Resources:

Celebrating Constitution Day from the National Archives https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/constitution-day

Not sure if you are registered? Check your status and register online https://registertovote.ca.gov/

California Same Day Voter Registration https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg

VOTE.org (nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote platform).

https://www.vote.org/

CAL Matters (nonprofit and nonpartisan) 2024 Voter Guide https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/

Run time: 20:25 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Have you read a banned book this month? The Mt Sac Library and Mt Sac Equity center partnered to host Banned Book Month to explore why access to books is a matter of equity and inclusion. In this episode, you’ll hear from Career Education Librarian Monica Chavez speak about the reasons behind the numbers when it comes to book challenges and book bans. You’ll also hear from Collection Development Librarian Chisa Uyeki about the role of libraries in supporting access and what you can do to help ensure a diverse range of voices are represented in our libraries. Enjoy.

Resources:

American Library Association on Banned & Challenged Books https://www.ala.org/bbooks

Book Ban Data https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data

Library Bill of Rights https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

Get Involved- how you can fight censorship-

VOTE:

To register to vote in California: https://covr.sos.ca.gov/ ​(Deadlines: 10/21 online, 11/5 in person​, or same day )

To check your voter registration status: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

TAKE ACTION:
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-read-day/ https://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/activity

LEARN ABOUT BANNED BOOKS:

Book Résumés https://bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org/

Book Résumés help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

Run time: 29:56 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE