<![CDATA[We Can Do Better]]>Fran Quigley is a law professor who goes with his students every week to eviction court, representing people facing forcible removal from their homes. They are among the tens of millions of people in the U.S. who are behind on their rent or already homeless, who are forced to skip filling prescriptions, and who often go hungry—despite living in the richest nation in the world.

We can do better.


Other nations already do far better, and the U.S. has often done better in the past. This podcast lifts up the many people and organizations working to make housing, healthcare, and a decent life enforceable human rights.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:49:24 GMTThu, 07 May 2026 20:07:57 GMT60Fran Quigley<p>Fran Quigley is a law professor who goes with his students every week to eviction court, representing people facing forcible removal from their homes. They are among the tens of millions of people in the U.S. who are behind on their rent or already homeless, who are forced to skip filling prescriptions, and who often go hungry—despite living in the richest nation in the world.<br /><br />We can do better.</p><p><br />Other nations already do far better, and the U.S. has often done better in the past. This podcast lifts up the many people and organizations working to make housing, healthcare, and a decent life enforceable human rights.</p>episodicFran Quigleyfwquigley@gmail.comno<![CDATA[Giving Up Billionaires for Lent]]>Sister Emily TeKolste is an organizer for NETWORK Advocates and Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, https://www.networkadvocates.org/ and https://networklobby.org/. Sr. Emily tells us about her journey through activism and service to become a Sister of Providence and organizer for economic justice. Sr. Emily tells us how “giving up billionaires for Lent” is part of the program linking multi-faith values to direct advocacy to lawmakers, an agenda that was a key part of the abolition movement, the civil rights movement, and creating and defending the Affordable Care Act. We learn how progressive organizing can take a lesson from conservative movements–which have nurtured activism by emphasizing relationships and community first. Which leads Sr. Emily and colleagues to be nurturing “squad goals” in the push for higher wages, paid family leave, and healthcare for all.

#economicjustice #healthcareforall #workersrights #livingwage #communityorganizing #socialjustice #publicpolicy #faithinaction #wecandobetter

]]>499260ba-c700-424d-a7c4-7001eaa5662bWed, 10 Jun 2026 10:30:00 GMT<p>Sister Emily TeKolste is an organizer for NETWORK Advocates and Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.networkadvocates.org/" target="_blank">https://www.networkadvocates.org/</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://networklobby.org/" target="_blank">https://networklobby.org/</a>. Sr. Emily tells us about her journey through activism and service to become a Sister of Providence and organizer for economic justice. Sr. Emily tells us how “giving up billionaires for Lent” is part of the program linking multi-faith values to direct advocacy to lawmakers, an agenda that was a key part of the abolition movement, the civil rights movement, and creating and defending the Affordable Care Act. We learn how progressive organizing can take a lesson from conservative movements–which have nurtured activism by emphasizing relationships and community first. Which leads Sr. Emily and colleagues to be nurturing “squad goals” in the push for higher wages, paid family leave, and healthcare for all.<br /><br />#economicjustice #healthcareforall #workersrights #livingwage #communityorganizing #socialjustice #publicpolicy #faithinaction #wecandobetter</p>no00:43:52Giving Up Billionaires for Lentfull<![CDATA[Ending Poverty in California and Beyond]]>Devon Gray is the president of End Poverty in California, EPIC, https://endpovertyinca.org/ In this episode, we talk with Devon about EPIC’s work to change the narrative about poverty, focusing on amplifying the voices of workers through its #Listen2Workers campaign. Check EPIC’s website and social media, @EndPovertyCA,  for direct conversations with fast food workers, child care providers, gig drivers, etc.

Devon tells us about his journey from Stanford Law to working with Stockton, CA mayor and EPIC founder Michael Tubbs, who created successful guaranteed income and student scholarship programs.  We discuss EPIC’s Blueprint to End Poverty, and the lessons EPIC has learned that apply to all states, including the red ones. The Blueprint  is available to read on its site, under the same Issues tab that includes some of the legislation they push, including a $21 minimum wage for healthcare workers, corporate transparency, and limitations on renter security deposits.

]]>d4eaf894-e201-4a89-9241-288238d58f7bWed, 03 Jun 2026 15:37:04 GMT<p><b>Devon Gray </b>is the president of End Poverty in California, EPIC, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://endpovertyinca.org/" target="_blank">https://endpovertyinca.org/</a> In this episode, we talk with Devon about EPIC’s work to change the narrative about poverty, focusing on amplifying the voices of workers through its #Listen2Workers campaign. Check EPIC’s website and social media, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/EndPovertyCA" target="_blank">@EndPovertyCA</a>,  for direct conversations with fast food workers, child care providers, gig drivers, etc. </p><p></p><p>Devon tells us about his journey from Stanford Law to working with Stockton, CA mayor and EPIC founder Michael Tubbs, who created successful guaranteed income and student scholarship programs.  We discuss EPIC’s Blueprint to End Poverty, and the lessons EPIC has learned that apply to all states, including the red ones. The Blueprint  is available to read on its site, under the same Issues tab that includes some of the legislation they push, including a $21 minimum wage for healthcare workers, corporate transparency, and limitations on renter security deposits.</p>no00:38:09Ending Poverty in California and Beyondfull