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Convergence

Cayden Mak

Cayden Mak

Publisher, Host of Block & Build 13 articles and 101 podcasts

Cayden Mak is the publisher at Convergence Magazine and the host of Block & Build: Roadmaps for the Left.

Prior to Convergence, Cayden spent nearly a decade in various roles at 18 Million Rising, including five years as Executive Director and two as Chief Technology Officer, developing the organization inside and out into the digital-first anchor of national progressive Asian American organizing. His other movement work has included organizing for community-designed affordable housing with the Save E. 12th Coalition, co-founding Youngist, a youth media collective, organizing graduate research assistants for a labor union, and helping coordinate tracks and network gatherings at the Allied Media Conference. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Kairos Fellowship.

Contributions from Cayden Mak

One Year of Anguish and Grief

Hosted by
This week has been a difficult one for many of us. Looking back on the past year, it’s hard not to feel deep frustration, grief, and anguish over the way that the US has enabled Israel’s genocide in Gaza and further intensification of violence and expansion beyond Gaza to include the West Bank and Lebanon. It’s also impossible to ignore the ways that both Israel’s campaign and movement organizing has shifted the political landscape in indelible ways. More people in the US have been galvanized to act in solidarity with Palestinians and started asking pointed questions about our government’s blank-check support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s authoritarian government. Foreign policy, war, and peace have become important to this year’s Presidential election in a way that it simply hasn’t been in recent memory.

The Minnesota Model, w/ Doran Schrantz

Hosted by
In this episode we take a deep dive into what some folks call the “Minnesota Model,” the organizing power behind the policies that made Tim Walz’s reputation as a progressive governor. While Walz tacked to the right in his debate with JD Vance earlier this week, there’s no denying his progressive record as governor of Minnesota. He signed legislation expanding free school meals, requiring a transition to clean energy for all Minnesota power plants by 2040, and codifying the right to abortion in the state.

The Power to Win, w/ Miski Noor

Hosted by
Cayden is joined first by Publisher for The Forge, Miski Noor and Senior Director of Strategy and co-founder of The Action Lab, Andrew Friedman. We’ll be discussing their recently co-published report on organizing toward progressive power titled The Power to Win Report. Then I’ll be joined by interim Executive Director of the Kairos Fellowship, Jacky Brooks to talk about the ways big tech works to disrupt progressive and left organizing and the User Error series of resources provided by Kairos to teach organizers what to watch out for and how we fight back.

Block & Build Strategy at CUNY, w/ Alethia Jones

Hosted by
On the show today, Cayden is joined by the Director of Civic Engagement and Leadership Development at the Murphy Institute at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, Dr. Alethia Jones. Next week, Dr. Jones and her colleagues are hosting a free, one-day conference focused on the task of block & build in the current period. Convergence Magazine Board Chair, Max Elbaum is a featured guest at the event. Dr. Jones provides a preview of the upcoming gathering, as well the story of her life and work as a scholar, teacher, and writer in the labor movement.

Reports From the DNC, w/ Sarah Lazare & Eman Abdelhadi

Hosted by
As expected, this week's Democratic National Convention saw a variety of protests on the streets outside, mostly from groups demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. Inside the convention, delegates in the Uncommitted Movement pressed their demand that a Palestinian be allowed to deliver a vetted speech from the main stage. The Democrats turned them down--so they sat in overnight on the sidewalk in front of the convention hall. They may not have been on the program, but the movement's voice was heard, and will continue to be. The show this week features two journalists who were on the ground in Chicago all week, The Nation contributor Sarah Lazare (@sarahlazare) and In These Times contributor Eman Abdelhadi (@emanabdelhadi).

Harris Fumbles Uncommitted Voters, w/ Layla Elabed & Elianne Farhat

Hosted by
This week, Kamala Harris surprised many by choosing the most progressive pick on her "veep-stakes" short list, Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz. Excitement and momentum on the left didn't last long as many are critiquing Harris' response to protestors in the crowd at a Michigan rally in which she equated their protests to stop the genocide in Gaza as a vote for Donald Trump. Joining the show to discuss the Uncommitted National Movement, which organized earlier this year to earn 30 uncommitted delegates at the Democratic National Convention later this month demanding cease fire in Gaza, are Layla Elabed and Elianne Farhat.