The Youth, Art, and Activism: Michelle "Mush" Lee on Cultural Strategy for an Enduring Democracy

No Matter What Happens: A Race Forward Podcast Series

On this episode of No Matter What Happens: A Race Forward Podcast, Hendel Leiva, Manager Of Podcasts and Audio at Race Forward interviews Michelle “Mush” Lee, Executive Director of Youth Speaks, during the 2024 Othering and Belonging Conference. The conversation explores Mush’s takes on cultural strategy, storytelling, and the evolving landscape of activism. She emphasizes the vital role of culture and artists in addressing global challenges and bridging societal divisions.

Reflecting on the political climate conjured from the tensions around the 2016 election, Mush shares her experience about the resilience that many felt they had no choice but to feel during the years of the Trump administration. She talks about being a mother, artist, and cultural strategist; her unexpected role as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the City of Oakland in 2020, and how using her storytelling expertise in various sectors, shaped both her current work and worldview.

Mush also addresses the sentiments of young people regarding upcoming elections, highlighting a generational shift in engagement with democracy and activism. She underscores the importance of cultural workers in fostering a resilient democracy and discusses how young creatives are innovating cross-sector collaborations. In a poignant moment, she shares her experience performing spoken word in a traditional Korean hanbok, showcasing the significance of merging cultural heritage with contemporary expression, and performs one of her revered works for the podcast.