Podcast Summary: "The System Is Broken — And Nobody’s Teaching Us How to Fix It"

Podcast: Not All Hood (NAH) with Malcolm-Jamal Warner & Candace Kelley
Guest: Kimberly Latrice Jones (Activist, Author)
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the critical gaps in civic education and engagement in Black communities and the broader implications for power, policy, and local change. Activist and author Kimberly Latrice Jones shares hard-won lessons about understanding and leveraging civic systems, the risks of remaining uninformed, and the profound impact ordinary people can have at the local level. Through stories, practical advice, and pointed critique, Jones challenges listeners to recognize and reclaim their collective power – not just at the ballot box, but at every local government meeting, board, and committee.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Power & Lack of Civics Education

• Intentional Ignorance: Jones argues that the broad lack of civics education—especially in underrepresented communities—is by design.

  "It is intentional to not teach civics because if you understand civics and your place in the world…especially when it comes to local…then you are powerful." (03:23 – Kimberly)

• Misplaced Focus: Most people don’t know where real, immediate power resides—often obsessing over presidential politics while neglecting city councils, school boards, and commissioners.

  “When you think about lobbying dollars…lobbying at the local level is just a matter of showing up.” (04:38 – Kimberly)

2. Tapping Into Local Power

• Community Influence: Jones emphasizes how showing up, even as a single citizen, dramatically impacts outcomes. Consistency and local credibility matter:

  "If I tell the world, not even the world, if I tell the community what’s going on, people are paying attention…people sit up a little bit when I show up at a city council meeting." (05:13 – Kimberly)

• Everyone Can Engage: It's not just celebrities or activists who can sway local decisions. Knowledge is the differentiator; anyone can learn and take action.

3. Personal Story: The Dangerous Corner

• From Complaint to Action: Jones recounts a personal story—dangerous traffic on her block—and how, in retrospect, she realized action (not just complaint) is possible if you know the system:

  “My answer was to concede my power…when we don’t learn civics, it’s a concession to power.” (08:03 – Kimberly)

• The Gentrification Lesson: Developers improved the neighborhood once it became profitable. But it only changed because “someone asked, someone said something.”
  • The difference: ordinary people can trigger change, not just outsiders.

4. The Power of Local Organizing

• Nightclub Coalition Protest: When a city tried to pass a noise ordinance threatening Atlanta’s bars and clubs, nightlife workers organized en masse, drawing media, public comment, and the involvement of artists like Killer Mike and 2 Chainz. The result?

  “That bill got filed...which means it died. Well, it died because you got 200 people in the entertainment industry…showing up so deep.” (15:11 – Kimberly)

• Lesson: Most local government policymaking happens "in the dark" unless the community shines a light.

5. The Ahmaud Arbery Case: Blueprint for Local Power

• Stepwise Organizing: Jones describes the multi-pronged strategy that led to the reopening and eventual justice in the Ahmaud Arbery case:
  1. Bringing national attention through marches.
  2. Registering people to vote to affect jury pools.
  3. Supporting a DA who aligned with community needs.
  4. Keeping the case in the media and public consciousness.

  “Many of these cases would close without the marches...” (16:32 – Kimberly)

• Key Civics Insight: Jury pools come from voter rolls. If you’re not registered, you can't serve—a crucial point for changing trial outcomes.

6. Accountability and Transparency

• Attend and Observe: Merely sitting in on local meetings informs the citizen and creates accountability:

  “I go down there sometimes…I just want to see what’s going on…how people are voting…how many people are actually paying attention and holding you accountable?” (23:00 – Kimberly)

• Voting Without Understanding: Many adults don’t distinguish between state and federal offices—voting blindly along party lines.

7. Systemic Barriers & Mindset Change

• Local Elected Positions Are Accessible: Winning a seat on local boards or commissions is often a matter of minimal funds and effort, especially since so few people participate.

  “You can win an election for…I joke when I say this, $8.67…people don’t come out for local.” (41:00 – Kimberly)

• Distributed Effort: Change doesn’t require everyone to do everything—just coordinated small efforts from many.

  “Find 15 other moms just like you…each take a small task…” (43:18 – Kimberly)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Conceding Power:

  “Government just does whatever it wants…We are not at their mercy. Government works for us. Our taxes pay their salary. The vote is the ticket to the party. The party is civic engagement.” (09:50 – Kimberly)

• On Local Organizing:

  “Things die in the dark. They live in the light. And that’s true of politics.” (55:19 – Kimberly)

• On the Importance of Mindset:

  “I don’t expect a single mom…[to] be down and do all this. Find 15 other moms…each take a small task. You didn’t come here by yourself. You don’t leave here by yourself and you don’t survive here by yourself.” (43:10 – Kimberly)

Timestamps for Key Topics

| Timestamp | Topic/Quote | |-----------|-----------------------------------------| | 03:23 | Civics education is intentionally lacking | | 05:13 | Power of showing up at local meetings | | 08:03 | Personal story—losing power by not acting| | 15:11 | Nightclub coalition protest—power of organizing | | 16:32 | “Many of these cases would close without the marches…” | | 23:00 | Attending local meetings to ensure accountability | | 41:00 | Accessibility of local positions (“$8.67” to win) | | 43:10 | Practical steps for overwhelmed community members | | 55:19 | “Things die in the dark. They live in the light.” |

Practical, Step-by-Step Blueprint (from Kimberly):

1. Show Up: Presence at local board/council meetings creates visibility and impact.
2. Learn the Process: Understand which level of government controls your issue (city, county, state).
3. Find Allies: Build small coalitions—even a group of neighbors or parents.
4. Gather Data & Stories: Petition, record meetings, and document the issue.
5. Contact Decision-Makers: Hold them to the promises on their campaign sites.
6. Use Media Wisely: Bring public issues into the light to force transparency.
7. Know the Power of Small Actions: “Ten steps” (sometimes quite literally) can be the difference between drastic outcomes.

Inspirational Takeaways

• “If you plan to fail, you’ll fail.” (39:17 – Podcast Host/quoting Kimberly)
• Local government operates in the dark because people don’t show up. Shine a light by participating, even in small ways.
• Systems can change—but only if people understand their true power.

Community Resources from Kimberly

• Fork the System Brunches: Quarterly community brunches designed to teach real-life civics in a relaxed setting—open to all, not just women.
• Chemistry Initiative: Focused on Black health/wellness, vocational training, and civic education.
• Vocation Ventures: Helping underemployed community members get into lucrative trades, where generational wealth-building is possible.

Closing Reflection

Kimberly Latrice Jones leaves listeners with a challenge: Stop conceding power through ignorance and disengagement. The machinery of local government is often more accessible—and more consequential—than most realize. With mindset shifts, practical effort, and a willingness to show up for each other, real change begins "from the ground up."

For more resources, including upcoming Fork the System brunches and the Chemistry project, follow Kimberly Latrice Jones on social & check city websites for local committee seats and opportunities for involvement.