In this first episode of 2024 (and in advance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday), Josh Shurley talks with advocate and organizer Marcel Woodruff. Marcel is the director of the Community Justice Network and a program strategist for Advance Peace in Fresno. Their discussion focuses on alternatives to traditional carceral models of "criminal justice," the importance of "decolonizing" the approaches currently favored by the status quo, as well as how we bring about narratives that increase mutual trust and build community.

Stir It Up - Jan 10, 2024

This week, Josh Shurley talks with Zeiad Abbas Shamrouch, in advance of his May 11 appearance in Fresno. Zeiad is the executive director of the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA), a nonprofit organization that works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. They discuss the work of MECA in the region and in Gaza in particular, and the myriad challenges faced by Palestinian children during the ongoing genocide since Oct 7, 2023.

Stir It Up - May 8, 2024

This week, host Josh Shurley talks with Jesse Nevel of the Uhuru Three, and the current Chair of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement, which is an anti-colonial organization working under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party that seeks reparations, African liberation, self-determination and national liberation. They discuss the ongoing persecution and prosecution of a trio of movement leaders known as the “Uhuru Three” by the federal government on a set of bogus charges, as well as the larger implications of this case on free speech and mass movement organizing in US society.

Stir It Up - June 12, 2024

In this final episode of the Center for Nonviolence's radio program for 2024, Josh Shurley sits down with Zeina Rose, a Jordanian-Palestinian American who is a Director of Special Education for local preschools in the valley and a writer. They discuss the ongoing genocide in Occupied Palestine and the parallels to what occurs here in the Central Valley to marginalized communities, as well as the outlook for the coming year considering the incoming Trump administration amidst a wave of support for Palestinian justice worldwide and locally. 


Stir It Up - Dec 11, 2024

In this first episode of 2025, Josh Shurley talks with activists and Fresno City College students Arion Grajeda, Melody Martinez, and David Mendez about the work of their organization, MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán; "Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán"). These students represent the new face of MEChA, and discus the ways in which their advocacy for social, racial, and economic justice intersects with other causes--most notably the mass student movement in support of Palestinian liberation in the face of imperialism and genocide. 

Stir It Up - Jan 8, 2025

250115 Jodie Evans

250319 Medea Benjamin

In this week’s segment we have an update on the civil war in Sudan, which may be nearing a conclusion. But first we discuss how to analyze the actions of the Trump administration and understand that it may not be as much of an aberration as we’ve been led to believe.

Black Agenda Radio March 28, 2025

In this episode, Josh speaks with Mike Ferner of Veterans For Peace about the 40-day Fast for Gaza - a somber yet defiant campaign to confront the starvation and bombing of Palestinians carried out with U.S. support. They discuss the heartbreak and outrage fueling the fast, the growing crackdown on dissent at home, and the hope sparked by Fresno-area activists joining the call for justice. Listeners are urged to bear witness and to take action.

Stir It Up - June 11, 2025

In this edition of Stir It Up, Josh is joined by Ruben E, the Public Pressure and Direct Action Subcommittee lead with the Fresno Budget Advocacy Coalition. The coalition seeks to push for the City of Fresno to reallocate and reinvest in community care—specifically to reduce inflationary and excessive police spending and fund the resources the community needs to thrive and prosper. Together, they discuss what it means to shift priorities from punishment to prevention, and why reimagining public safety is essential to building a truly just and healthy society.

Stir It Up - July 9, 2025

It is so frustrating, there are so many issues, which one should I focus on:  war, immigration, genocide, climate, racial justice, worker's rights, or something else?  Mike Ferner who is just recovered from the VFP FAST joins us to discuss a movement that just might relieve your frustration and address all the issues at once.  All of the issues we face today have one thing in common and that is corporate backing.  From immigration to genocide, from proxy war against Russia to war against workers, from climate to health care, we can track it all back to corporations and capitalism.  Mike shows how corporations have been in charge of our country for the most part of over 100 years and with the help of the supreme court (purposely not capitalized) their power is greater than ever.  That is why Mike and over 300,000 members of MovetoAmend are working hard to educate the public in order to take away corporate power.

8.21.25 Vets for Peace Mike Ferner explains the difference between fire fighting and fire prevention

Welcome to Stir It Up, a weekly program brought to you by a collective of local activist organizations in Fresno. Join us each Wednesday at 3:00 pm Pacific on 88.1FM or streaming at kfcf.org as we educate, agitate, and pontificate! 

The second Wednesday edition of Stir It Up is brought to you by the Fresno Center for Nonviolence. Stir It Up is hosted by Dr. Joshua Shurley, political science professor, activist, and organizer with Veterans For Peace, as well as a proud board member of the Fresno Center for Nonviolence. On behalf of the Center, thank you for listening. ☮ 

Stir It Up - June 11, 2025

Fresno Center for Nonviolence

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