Paraphrasing a notable American’s thoughts on education “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people” and on this episode, L. Joy explains that we always have to recommit ourselves to the fight to provide and maintain quality public education while revisiting her interview with Dr. Lester Young. Then she revisits the impactful interview she had with Professor William Spriggs on the Farm Bill in the wake of his passing.

Not only time for class, it is also time to reset and recommit to the civic engagement we need to do- for our lives! L. Joy is at the front and center to remind us of the powerful #SundayCivics lessons, from the beginning, as well as lay out the landscape ahead.

We’ve all said it at one time or another- “there ought to be a law!” But how do the laws that we believe we need get created? L. Joy brings New York State Senator Kevin Parker back to the front of the class for a discussion that gives us the tools we need to write that law that ought to be around the issues we care about and are civically engaging in.

Since the beginning, L. Joy has said she believes in the power of storytelling. Sharing our history through storytelling is important to preserving the past and understanding the present. But in the hands of a journalist, stories get the accuracy and analysis we expect from the profession. Journalist Michael Harriot joins L. Joy at the front of the class to discuss truth, storytelling, and history.

Judges. L. Joy has discussed their importance before in our “Who We Elect” series. Whether they are appointed or elected, local, state, or federal, judges are making decisions that affect our lives. But who gets to be considered for a judgeship? What role is it as citizens should we play in building a quality, diverse judicial bench? L. Joy has Holli Holliday back at the front of the class and she brought President of the National Bar Association Lonita K. Baker with her to answer those questions and much more, along with giving us the tools we need to build.

Dispelling myths that range from misconceptions to outright fallacies, has been an ongoing theme at the front of the #SundayCivics class. This time, fiercely held myths around capitalism, free market fundamentalism, and regulations are challenged by L. Joy’s guest author and historian of science Naomi Oreskes.