In this powerful episode of Healing in Progress, Jazmine sits down with community organizer, youth leader, and founder of More Than a Hashtag, Desiree Smith. Desiree opens up about the raw, honest truths of doing abolitionist work in Las Vegas—from organizing during the George Floyd uprisings at just 19 years old to navigating burnout, grief, and the complexities of community care.

Together, they explore what it means to create alternatives to harmful systems, the emotional toll of leading with heart, and how healing and justice must go hand in hand. Desiree shares her evolving relationship with boundaries, rest, and what it looks like to show up for herself while holding space for others. She also reflects on the deep personal losses that have shaped her work and her unwavering hope for a better world led by the next generation.

This episode is a reminder that healing is not a destination—it’s a practice. And those leading the charge deserve to be held, supported, and seen, too.

Episode ID: 1000715511920

GUID: 3c8139d6-d2b9-4c6f-96c7-484c2d362679

Release Date: 02/07/2025, 18:00:00