Facing Oneself Is the Pathway to Community Liberation with Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur

The Be Well Beautiful People Podcast

The Alchemizing Trauma for Community Impact series highlights 9 inspiring stories of Detroit leaders who have transformed individual and community trauma into transformative work in Detroit and beyond.

In this episode of the Be Well Beautiful People podcast, host Demarra West sits down with Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur, an author, educator, founder, and neighborhood organizer, whose extraordinary journey from incarceration to scholar exemplifies the power of healing and liberation. His acclaimed documentary, Redemption Road: The Story of Dr. YBS, has received national recognition, including the Jury Winner award for Social Impact at the Orlando Urban Film Festival and the Breakthrough Film Award at the Detroit Black Film Festival.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

3:15 - How accountability and embracing vulnerability reshaped Dr. Shakur’s life

17:33 - The journey of forgiving his father and how this courageous act became pivotal in his healing process

35:02 - Breaking generational cycles of trauma

44:17 - The power of books to fuel personal transformation and five key works that profoundly influenced Dr. Shakur

52:59 - Balancing the demands of community work with self-care

Connect with Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur:

Website: yusefshakur.org or drybs.info

Facebook: Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur

Instagram: @yusefbunchyshakur

X: @yusefbshakur

To get Demarra’s book, click the link here to get a 25% discount on her book or to learn more and get a free chapter click here.

For more resources, visit www.bewellbeautifulpeople.org or to schedule a free consultation, reach us through here. You can also subscribe to our mailing list here to receive weekly inspirational content, exclusive offerings, and updates to be the first to know.

To support us and the work that we do, please follow us on social media at @bewellbeautifulpeople on all platforms or through here. You can also donate through here to support our healing & liberation programming at Be Well Beautiful People.

This Podcast Series is Sponsored By The Love Building, HNB Building Services and The Lip Bar.