More than ever, it takes a village to lead. A proverb that conveys the idea of collective support from the community.

In this episode, Consul General Anjanette Anjel joins hosts Marcina Langrine and Matthew John to discuss her role as a CG serving the Midwest and the opportunities that led her to choose this career path. CG highlights her time studying abroad and how it exposed her to different cultures, values, way of life, broadening her perspective and fostering a greater understanding of the world. CG emphasizes the importance of pursuing higher education and how it can contribute to our country’s economic growth and development. CG Anjanette is a natural-born leader whose mission is to support, empower, and lead with collective action.

About Our Guest

Anjanette Anjel, Consul General of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in Arkansas, has a 10-year career in the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ foreign service. She holds a Global Politics and Economics degree from Tamkang University in Taiwan. She is skilled in international relations, diplomacy, protocol, negotiations, policy development, and administration. Anjanette serves as the Consul General or CG for Arkansas and the Midwest.

MORE INFO.

Northwest Arkansas RMI Consulate Contacts

Consul General's Office Address

Phone: +1 479-419-9332

Email: rmiconsulatearkansas@gmail.com

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The theme music for “MEI, the Podcast” was composed by Matthew John. All rights reserved.

Season 1, Episode 4 was recorded at MEI on May 13, 2025. Marcina Langrine and Matthew John co-hosted, and Marino Morris co-produced and edited this episode. Jessica Schwartz did post-production. The audio-synced transcript is available here.

© MEI 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it considered taboo to discuss sexual violence within the Pacific Islander community? What exactly is sexual health? How can we break down the stigma and cultural barriers surrounding conversations about our bodies?

In this episode, Nina Jusuf from NAPIESV joins hosts Marcina Langrine and Matthew John to discuss sexual violence in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for healing, accountability, and building trust within the Pacific Island community. Nina also highlights the significance of understanding intersectionality concerning culture and upbringing. Cultural norms and family practices vary greatly and are shaped by individuals' unique combinations of social identities. Nina reminds us that “healing is possible.”

About Our Guest

Nina Jusuf has been working on domestic violence and sexual assault issues since 1992, starting as a hotline volunteer before becoming a shelter-based domestic violence advocate and later as the Executive Director of the San Francisco Women Against Rape for five years. She is one of the founders of NAPIESV and has led numerous trainings and technical assistance on sexual assault and domestic violence issues in general and API-specific trauma-informed services. Nina believes in collective wellness beyond self-care and has led/facilitated training on organizational sustainability, multicultural wellness, sustaining activists and activism, and genuine security for survivors, activists, and women human rights defenders in Asia, the Balkans, and the United States. In addition, Nina has experience leading an experiential learning-based youth organization and overseeing the Home Based Childcare Center and Federal Nutrition Program.

MORE INFO.

• National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV)
• Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity
• San Francisco Women Against Rape
• ​​National Sexual Assault Hotline: Confidential 24/7 Support | RAINN
• National Domestic Violence Hotline

This episode was developed and produced with a UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW)|Streisand Center Faculty Research Grant. We appreciate the generous support.

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The theme music for “MEI, the Podcast” was composed by Matthew John. All rights reserved.

Season 1, Episode 3 was recorded at MEI on April 30, 2025. Marcina Langrine and Matthew John co-hosted, and Marino Morris co-produced and edited this episode. Jessica Schwartz did post-production. The audio-synced transcript is available here.

© MEI 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nuclear and climate activist Benetick Kabua Maddison, Executive Director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative, joins the podcast to discuss MEI's programs and services, sharing his journey of amplifying the voices of the Marshallese people. Engaged in education, research, and advocacy, Benetick emphasizes the connection between nuclear power and climate change, as well as the broader social and environmental injustices linked to both issues.

In this episode, hosts Marcina Langrine and Matthew John ask Benetick about his life in the Marshall Islands, his experiences as executive director of a nonprofit, the importance of community engagement and collaboration, and the need to amplify the voices of communities affected by nuclear issues. Leading with heart and vision, Benetick navigates the ever-changing landscape of organizational leadership and his life as a COFA migrant, embracing change and growth.

About Our Guest:

Benetick Kabua Maddison serves as the Executive Director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Springdale, Arkansas, where the largest concentration of Marshallese resides. Maddison migrated to the United States from Majuro, Marshall Islands, at the age of six, partly due to the threat of rising sea levels. Maddison first worked at MEI in 2014, collecting and translating Marshallese oral histories in Arkansas and leading educational efforts to improve educational attainment levels among his peers. He rejoined MEI in 2019, where he led efforts to raise awareness of nuclear and climate issues. Maddison was named Executive Director at the nonprofit in 2022, where he leads efforts to raise awareness about the multifaceted consequences of nuclear testing that have left an indelible mark on his homeland.

Stay tuned with us on our social platforms: @meinonprofit on Instagram and the Marshallese Educational Initiative on Facebook.

Special thanks and credit to our media team, Marino Morris, Jessica Schwartz, Marcina Langrine, and Matthew John, for putting this episode together.

MORE INFO:

Email: Info@mei.ngo

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MEInonproft

The theme music for “MEI, the Podcast” was composed by Matthew John. All rights reserved.

Season 1, Episode 2 was recorded on April 8, 2025, at MEI. Marcina Langrine and Matthew John co-hosted, and Marino Morris co-produced and edited this episode. Jessica Schwartz did post-production work. The transcript is available here.

All rights reserved MEI 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.