What happens when families of detainees with mental illness are left to navigate a broken system on their own? In this episode, Ms. Jama Hinson shares her personal story as a mother fighting for her son’s rights within the legal system, shedding light on the urgent need for improved communication and emergency treatment for Incompetent to Proceed (ITP) detainees. ACLU of NC Attorney Michele Delgado also joins the conversation to expose the harmful effects of prolonged detention on the mental health and safety of these pretrial detainees and expounds on the potential legal ramifications of these effects. Listen to this powerful conversation to find out more about the importance of timely evaluations and restorative services, how the mistreatment of ITP detainees impacts the community, how the ACLU of NC is working to combat systemic neglect, and the need to advocate for systemic reform and increased investment in mental health care to ensure fair treatment for all detainees.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Ashia Skye (she/her), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

How does the criminalization of unhoused people infringe upon the rights of everyone? Join host Ashia Skye for a conversation with Muneeba Talukder, a dedicated staff attorney at the ACLU of North Carolina, Sarah Norris, an advocate and organizer with a background in education justice and mutual aid, and Pip Flickinger, a passionate community advocate with personal experience of housing insecurity, as they all share their experiences and stories of their commitment to combating the criminalization of unhoused people during a protest demonstration in Asheville, NC. Learn more about the unjust nature of laws that criminalize basic survival activities, which further marginalize unhoused individuals and deter activism by imposing punitive measures. Learn how these laws contribute to the dehumanization and second-class citizenship of unhoused people, and why it's important to advocate for community solidarity and robust networks to challenge harmful policies. Tune in for insights into the policy-driven nature of criminalizing unhoused people, advice on advocating for empathy-driven narrative changes, and how you can support those most affected.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Ashia Skye (she/her), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

Welcome back. Last time, we explored reproductive justice and challenges in accessing abortion care, especially in North Carolina. Today, we're zooming in on the recent storm caused by Senate Bill 20, the 'monster abortion ban,' exacerbating existing struggles for abortion access.

Joining us is Dr. Beverly Gray, an OBGYN and advocate deeply entrenched in the fight for reproductive rights in North Carolina. Dr. Gray will provide insights into the hurdles faced by providers and patients amidst these restrictive measures.

Now, North Carolina wasn't exactly a walk in the park for abortion access before SB20, but this bill took things up a notch, especially for folks in rural areas. Legal battles ensued, and while we scored some wins, the official abortion rates still took a hit. And it's not just North Carolina feeling the heat. Similar restrictive vibes are popping up all over the South post-Dobbs v. Jackson.

Let's get into this discussion as Dr. Gray sheds light on the realities faced by those navigating the complex landscape of abortion access in North Carolina.

About our Guests:
Dr. Beverly Gray is a practicing OBGYN and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke and has been both an abortion provider and fierce advocate for reproductive freedom in NC.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Olivia Neal (she/her), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

How can we ensure reproductive rights for all? Join host Olivia Neal (she/her) and guests Maya Hart (all pronouns) from Sister Song and Camille Adair (all pronouns) from Carolina Abortion Fund on today's episode of "This Is How ACLU-NC" as they explore the history of reproductive justice and its impact on marginalized communities, particularly women of color.

Discover the challenges individuals encounter while seeking abortions in North Carolina and the significance of community support and resource accessibility. Learn about initiatives like the Carolina Abortion Fund, aiding those unable to afford abortion services.

In next week's episode (Part 2), Dr. Beverly Gray, an OBGYN and associate professor at Duke University, will share her insights into the challenges posed by restrictive abortion laws for medical professionals in North Carolina. Don't miss out on vital discussions and solutions to support reproductive rights. Stay tuned!

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Olivia Neal (She/Her), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

Welcome back to This is How We Protect Black Students and Students with Disabilities from Disproportionate School Discipline in which host Kalvin Benfield discusses School Resource Officers (SRO) and the ACLU NC Disorderly Conduct Report with Carlton Powell and Michele Delgado.

In Part 1, we examined an incident between Amerie, the school administration, and an aggressive SRO. We outlined what occurred, why it was inappropriate, and how often these kinds of situations happen throughout the state of North Carolina.

Today, in Part 2, we will be considering the short-term and long-term impacts that these inappropriate interactions with SROs have on students, as well as the negative effects on children when they enter into the criminal legal system. As we wrap up the conversation, Carlton and Michele will touch on some alternative solutions to SROs that could help keep kids protected, in school, and on the right track to achieve their goals.

This is How the ACLU of NC fights to keep students of color and students with disabilities safe.

About our Guests:
Michele Delgado is an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and NCCU School of Law. With a criminal defense background and unwavering commitment to the fight for social justice, Michele works to address emerging and ongoing civil rights issues through complex litigation, community education, and integrated advocacy.

Carlton Powell serves as the Supervising Attorney for The Right to Education Project at Legal Aid of North Carolina. With a strong commitment to justice and education, Powell advocates tirelessly to ensure every individual's right to quality education is protected. Armed with extensive legal expertise and a passion for social equality, he works to dismantle barriers that hinder access to education for marginalized communities.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Kalvin Benfield (he/him), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

Picture this: Amerie, a young Black middle-school girl gets in trouble and is held against her will in the principal's office, with a School Resource Officer, denied access to calling her mom. Today, we share her story.

Sadly, this isn't uncommon, as North Carolina's "disorderly conduct in schools" law grants broad discretion to school resource officers - ultimately contributing to biased punishments.

So This is How the ACLU-NC protects Black students and students with disabilities from disproportionate school discipline.

Join us as we explore solutions with Carlton Powell and Michele Delgado, learning how legal advocacy can empower these students and pave the way for inclusive education. Let's uncover the path to justice and equity in our schools.

About our Guests:
Michele Delgado is an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and NCCU School of Law. With a criminal defense background and unwavering commitment to the fight for social justice, Michele works to address emerging and ongoing civil rights issues through complex litigation, community education, and integrated advocacy.

Carlton Powell serves as the Supervising Attorney for The Right to Education Project at Legal Aid of North Carolina. With a strong commitment to justice and education, Powell advocates tirelessly to ensure every individual's right to quality education is protected. Armed with extensive legal expertise and a passion for social equality, he works to dismantle barriers that hinder access to education for marginalized communities.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Kalvin Benfield (he/him), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

In this episode, King Sage (he/him) and Kalvin Benfield (he/him) discuss the question, How can listeners continue to learn and advocate for the rights of Black transgender and nonbinary people?

Tune in to learn how to get involved, research candidates, attend local meetings, and advocate for trans rights. The fight for trans rights continues—be part of the change!

About our Guests:
King Sage, a multifaceted individual, serves as a storyteller, artist, and teacher. King Sage works with Comfrey Films, a Film Training Program and Production House dedicated to empowering Black trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex storytellers in the realm of independent filmmaking. Explore his impactful work at Comfrey Films, where narratives at the intersection of Black identity and TGNCI* experiences come to life.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Kalvin Benfield (he/him), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and produced by Earfluence.

Today, ACLU attorney Liz Barber (she/her) and Trans Advocate Johnny McLean (he/him) join host Kalvin Benfield (he/him) to discuss the challenges faced by the transgender community in North Carolina.

In this episode, we'll go over:
1. How do discriminatory laws affect healthcare, education, and sports for trans individuals?
2. Why do lawmakers push transphobic legislation while claiming to have nothing against trans people?
3. What can individuals do to support the transgender community and fight against discriminatory legislation?
4. How important are community support and local activism in advocating for trans rights?

And the biggest question of all is, Do you want to make a difference?

Tune in to learn how to get involved, research candidates, attend local meetings, and advocate for trans rights. The fight for trans rights continues—be part of the change!

About our Guests:
Liz Barber (she/her) joined the ACLU of North Carolina in 2019 as the Reproductive Freedom Fellow, focusing on enhancing abortion access for minors. Now, as the Director of Policy and Advocacy, she shapes the organization's overarching policy strategy to advance its mission.

Johnny McLean (he/him) is a Queer and Trans-Masculine Advocate and Youth Mentor.

Today's episode of This is How is hosted by Kalvin Benfield (he/him), presented by ACLU of North Carolina, and is produced by Earfluence.