Aisha Jenkins - Passing the Torch to Yariwo and Erica

Join us in this special episode of The NorthStar Gaze where we celebrate the vibrant and innovative voices from the African diaspora, season 2 will debut our new hosts Yairwo from Kenya and Erica from the US.

Listen to their intimate stories and aspirations for the future of geospatial equity and justice. They'll share exciting insights from the NorthStar of GIS 2024 Homecoming event as we delve deeper into conversations about Afrofuturism, mapping, and legacy building.

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Transcript

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Be Black, Be Bold, Be Innovative, Show the World Equitable Geo. We're coming together as a collective to celebrate people of African descent, the diaspora, and talking about geospatial equity and justice. You're listening to The North Star Gaze, a podcast with intimate stories from geoluminaries. I can't tell you how excited I am to finally get the two of you in the room together. This has been a 12 month vision for getting ready to hand off the podcast to the new hosts. And this was something that I had always envisioned doing. One of our hosts is a podcaster and so you understand what it takes to pull off a podcast and it's a lot of work. And so I knew that there was a certain vision and wanted to get it right, but then also wanted to build it to the point where I can hand it off seamlessly season after season. And so to be here in this moment, I'm excited. So let me do some introductions. First, we have Yairu who is joining us from Kenya. Thank you for accepting the call. I think it was last fall when I came across your podcast, Geo Habari, and I was intentional about trying to identify people who can take over hosting duties for next year. So I was all in the podcast space and I think it might've been Vero. From AfriTech who pointed me to your podcast and a couple of others. And when I sat down and I listened to from the very first episode, I think it was earth observation for agriculture. And so it was something about food security. So from that very first. podcast episode, I was hooked. And I was just like, wow. So I knew that if I had an opportunity to talk to you and offer you a hosting to ask you to think about it with fingers crossed and bated breath that I was like, I hope she'll agree to do it. And this was also around the time that Northstar was getting. involved with NASA. Earth observation and all of that stuff just aligns. I had fingers crossed that if I made the ask, you would say yes. And you did. So thank you. And then the other co host, because it was a massive undertaking. And I knew that in order to, to do it the right way, We needed to have two hosts. So we have Erica. Erica is my friend from my days at a previous employer. Erica has the velvet voice that is the intro and outro to the North star gaze. And so I knew that if I had the opportunity, if I asked Erica to do it, Erica might. Do it. And so I've seen you do interviews before over the years with our other homecoming events, I saw you with our Black History Month event, and I was just fingers crossed that Erica would agree to do it and you did. So I'm excited to have this underway. Handing this body of work off, I want to ask each of you to introduce yourselves and then share a little bit about why did you say yes? We'll start with wo and then go to Erica. Oh, wow. You referencing Veronique and you reaching out to her? Um, I think a couple of years back I'd actually bookmarked the LinkedIn page for North Star and so when I bookmarked it, my thoughts were just, this looks cool, these people look cool, they look like they're great, doing cool things.'cause I'd not seen that before. A community of black people celebrating our blackness, our boldness and innovation. And so I just bookmarked and moved on. And so when Ver Verron told me about it, I think I sent her a voice note immediately. I sent her a voice, not screaming. I was like, Oh my God, I know those people. Like, I don't know them, know them, but I know who they are. Like I've bookmarked them before. And so for me, I think it was, it was two feelings. One was, I was really excited, but there was a component of anxiety and being scared, but I've also done a podcast before. So I think when I'd done my podcast initially, it was just, it can't get any worse than this. Like the people have already had who I am. They've already rated me on Spotify. I didn't think I'd get a five star rating. And so, yeah, I think that's really, yes. And then these episodes that I really connected to after Veronique told me about the podcast, was one around mapping, not being linked to commodifying, but it being honorable. And so I think when I listened to some of those episodes, I think that was Skye Jones. And I was listening to each and just talking about mapping being an art. It can be an art of war or an art of resistance. And I remember just thinking, Oh my, like, I've not had. Geography and mapping being talked to from an art perspective, but also dance and a liberation perspective. And so I think those things really connected with me and I was like, Oh my God, like tell her, I'd love to meet her and talk about the next season and what that looks like. And yeah, that's literally why I said, yes, I think I connected to the themes and the cross cutting themes with where I am and where Kenya is and the things we are going through in terms of liberation, resistance, and just looking at mapping from that angle as well. So those are the things that. Really, it was a no brainer for me after that. It was just like, okay, I'll, I want to talk to her. Thank you. I appreciate you. And same, I think as podcasters, I tend to run introvert and to have to reach out and make the ask. It's just like, I'm still sweating and I'm fangirling myself because I'm just like, oh my gosh. And so, so thank you for accepting the challenge. Erica, what made you say yes? Well, first of all, first of all, thank you so much for asking me. I am so proud of the work that you've done. I've been a fan of your work for quite a while now. And Habarigani to my co host Yariwo. I'm so excited about having the opportunity to work with her as well. I have been on the board of North Star GIS since it started, but I've been working around geography. For decades now, and particularly have an interest in the ways in which geography is related to justice, right? Whether it's justice for our public health systems, justice in the way that we vote, which is an issue for me right now, coming off of the election here in the United States justice in the way that we are impacted by our environment. And especially having lived outside of the U. S. as I did, and you all will hear more about that at another point over the course of the Gaze series. I have an interest in leveraging this technology to make it more available and accessible to people who have been left out of the conversation, who have not always had a seat at the table. So the work that Northstar GIS does, and particularly the work that you've done in getting the gaze up and going is so important. And I'm, I'm just honored that you asked them. These are big shoes to fill and I hope to do you proud because you've done so much work to make this happen. And we would not be here without the sacrifice that you've made. So thank you. Well, thank you both. I've always found warmth and comfort around people of the diaspora. And so that was one of the things that was key to coming up with the homecoming event in general. We found ourselves at a point globally where there was unrest. Justice was needed. We were not always welcome to stages. Sometimes barred from stages, the homecoming offered us an opportunity to create a stage. And the podcast is just another variation of a stage, but we're also still really we're in this post election fog of what does a future look like it is on time to have this event around Afrofuturism because I honestly think that if you start with the margins and you pull in, it's almost like a hug. You end up pulling in everyone that is in between the center and the margins, right? Going all the way out to the margins and then pulling it in. We end up being inclusive of most of the people who need to be included. And for those who are not, we're open and flexible enough to make those adjustments as early in the process as possible. And so it's going to take all of us. So Let's go ahead and start planning this season of the podcast. We have two hosts, so it's going to be slightly different. And so why don't we go ahead and get to it? We've got about 20 panelists. What are you thinking? What are some things that we want to capture? I think for a start, the one thing that I'm really curious about, in layman's terms, how the different people would define the theme and what the theme means to them, sort of bringing it home. So the art of refuturism and geography, I think I'm really curious about that. I really want to get all the people who are interviewing and their perspective and them narrowing it down to their themes and what it means. What does art mean to the people we talk to? What does geography mean to them? And more importantly, what does afrofuturism mean to them? Because I think I also have my own definition of what that means. And it would be really interesting to sort of look at comparisons and look at the themes we have in common or what we envision as Afrofuturism. I'm excited for that. What are you excited about, Erica ? Okay. I am excited to speak to people who represent a wide range of approaches to geography, right? There is, it can be a sort of incestuous group of people who leverage GIS or who are GIS. Professionals, but I'm really interested in opening up this conversation to other people who might not yet be as advanced and use of, but who have a vision for where can take them and their communities. in the future. Um, and also just having exposure to people who may not work in the GIS companies right now, but are leveraging this technology. So that is what excites me most. Broadening the, making the table bigger. If you will, for people who can sit and have a seat here, I want it to be a big table or a big tent. However, you describe that, where we can welcome and people who may not use the same language we use. When I say the same language, I'm not just talking about English versus another language. I'm talking about how people who are involved in technology can be sometimes insular, right? But I want to break down some of that insulation and open things up for people who have not had that same access. Or maybe don't have the same education, but again, they've got a vision. They've got an energy and I want to hear from them and I want to listen and hear what they are interested in doing and seeing from us as Northstar. I agree. I'm excited to see how it all comes together because again, it's the same. The podcast has existed, but it's also different because now we have two hosts. And then we have a global perspective. And so behind the scenes, technologically and logistically, we're going to have to figure out how to make it work. I have full confidence that we will. It's interesting. One of the things I'm looking forward to is having a cross generational conversation about what a future looks like. Coming off the election, I was just like, okay, well. Here's our new reality, right? I had some friends and I have a diverse pool of friends who are also parents that were like, what do we do? What does it look like to fix the system? And I was like, thank goodness. I don't have to come up with that answer on my own. Right. I don't have to do that. I have a 10 year old and a five year old who's just like, so how do we make the earth better? How come there's so much pollution in the air? Why can't we just tell businesses to stop making pollution? And I said, because we're in a capitalist society, we're making more money. Is more important than having sustainability of the earth. And I can't get pessimistic because I have two small people who are watching me. And while I am disillusioned and disappointed right now, the theme of this year's homecoming is so fitting because we get to envision what a future looks like. At a time where we're healthy and able and we have the use of technology to do that. And a government can't really say, this is how you use your brain to innovate. We just do. And as black people . We have always been the epitome of innovation, right? We're always going to own our truths. That doesn't change with an administration. That doesn't change to wherever you move us globally. It's not going to change. So I'm holding on to optimism. I'm holding on to the young minds that are going to be at this homecoming event to have this conversation. I have resources. I have some energy still left, Those young people, I believe that in the lifetime of my children, there will be monumental change, but we have to stay the course and we have to look at these foundations and we need to either dismantle or radically mend the broken pieces. So I'm excited. Yeah, and I think I really connect with what you said. I think that's really powerful. The fact that you said when it comes to our innovation and what's possible with us, it's actually within us. So regardless of how you move it or how you structure the system, the innovation stays with us. And I think that's where the power is the power of the people. And I'm going to reference one of my favorite movies because I think when you talk about that, I've just been thinking of Wakanda. Um, and I think there was a panel conversation. One of the speakers was asked, this was a Zimbabwean speaker. He's a huge investor in young people in Africa. I think he was asked, from where you sit in your perspective, or referencing Wakanda, what do you think is the vibranium? was like the mineral that was rich in Wakanda, right? And it was really powerful. His answer was, I don't think Africa's strength lies even in the resources. It's in the people. And so regardless of how you manipulate and. Exploit and use these resources. It's the people who know best and it's the talent that exists within the people. And so I think what you've said really resonates with me from that angle. And so I'm really excited. That's why I'm really passionate about Afro culturism and what it means for us, for young people, and especially from an African perspective, from this continent. I mean, I think projections show 40 percent of the population will be African in the next couple of years. And so I really, really resonate with what you just said. Erica, you've got to look like a force from within. Yes, I, yeah, I am thinking about what tomorrow looks like, but not just for me. And this is it's so front of mind for me about how. While I have needs and wants and desires in my personal life, my little life is not the most important thing that I need to be concerned about, right? So I'm thinking about how I can, how can I be a part of making this world better for somebody else, right? How do I create legacy? How do I contribute? And thinking about your children, who I've met and I think are just these Brilliant little bodies of life. They're so inquisitive and talented and smart and funny. And I am on the end of my life experience, but I still want to leave something behind for them. So that little Noelle will know that somebody was thinking about her, right? When she's 35 years old and I am gone, I want her to know that. Somebody cared about what we are leaving for her. What are we leaving on the planet? What are we preparing for her? Are we knocking down some obstacles for her to make her way easier? Her load lighter. So yeah, the pensiveness is it's for your children. It's for my nieces. It's for young people, young men and young women, boys and girls, , what is the legacy that we're creating? And I'm emotional about this today with the election in the U S just having. been called. I have an obligation to do something for somebody else. I think about my parents who are no longer here, right? The things that they sacrificed for me and I have to sacrifice for somebody else. What a day. What a day we've chosen to do this Aisha. Oh my goodness. And you know, the thing about podcasting is that all you have is your voice. So on that note, let's get to work. Let's do it. Thanks for listening to the North Star Gaze, intimate stories from geoluminaries. If you're inspired to advance racial justice in geofields, please share this podcast with other listeners in your community. The intro and outro are produced by Organized Sound Productions with original music created by Kid Bodega. The North Star Gaze is produced in large part by donations and sponsorship. To learn more about North Star GIS, Check us out at north star of gis.org and on Facebook or Instagram at GIS North Star. If you'd like to support this podcast and North Star of gis, consider donating at North star of gis.org/donate or to sponsor this podcast, email podcast at north star of gis.org. You've been listening to the North Star Gaze.