All About Dockside Stories
From longshore workers to rice farmers, each episode captures the grit and everyday experiences of those whose hard work fuels both the docks and the regional economy.
A Word from our Team
Throughout the many movements for human and civil rights there has been a recognition that progress is not made all at once, but rather piece by piece, collectively, as links added to a chain that extends throughout human history. Those who forge a new link on the chain may not benefit directly from their contributions but are content that their efforts have contributed to all of humanities' social progress and liberation.
We would like our efforts towards this podcast series to be seen as adding our own links to the chain, by harvesting and contributing knowledge, experience, expertise, and wisdom that lead towards a greater understanding of our place in the world. Our podcast series may focus on seemingly disparate and unconnected topics, but we hope you see that they all share a common link towards a new and better world.
Our first initiatives focus on three areas: people helping unhoused and hungry people through mutual aid projects; how dockworkers are resisting the real estate industry who want to gentrify an important port area; and how the fight to ban forced prison labor is linked to the fight for decent wages everywhere. While these are our preliminary areas of interest, we anticipate our investigations can and will expand into many different areas of social life.
We hope to use the voices and sounds from these stories to amplify and solidify the ongoing struggle for the justice, equality and human dignity we all need to thrive. We take inspiration from the song by Phil Ochs, who sings: “it’s only fair to ask you, which side are you on, as you’re building all your links on the chain, on the chain, as you’re building all your links on the chain.”
From longshore workers to rice farmers, each episode captures the grit and everyday experiences of those whose hard work fuels both the docks and the regional economy.
Dockside Stories highlights the narratives unfolding at the Port of West Sacramento, as it plays an integral role in the development of the regional economy. Conversations with port workers and rice farmers reveal how the docks are a cornerstone of productivity, culture and community.
We aim to raise awareness about dock work in Sacramento.
We shine a light on mutual aid efforts by highlighting real stories from people involved. We’re building solidarity by raising awareness and inspiring action for change.
As economic disparity grows to astronomic proportions in the United States, vast numbers of people find themselves unhoused, poorly fed, and without healthcare. Mutual Aid has emerged as a vital means for communities to help one another withstand challenges and crises.
We aim to raise awareness about mutual aid in our society.
We look at the often overlooked world of prison labor by sharing real stories from those impacted by the system. Through their voices, we aim to spark critical conversations about what it means to work while incarcerated.
We were inspired to create a podcast after Prop 6 was blocked by voters. (Proposition 6, titled Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment, was a California ballot proposition.) By interviewing formerly incarcerated individuals about their work, we aim to shed light on the overlooked realities of prison labor and spark deeper conversations about justice, equity, and reform.
We aim to raise awareness about work done in the carceral system.