Education, Civil Rights & Civic Power—Building the Future We Deserve w/ReZsaun Lewis & E3 Foundation

Power to the People 2026 Ep. 02 | 'Education, Civil Rights & Civic Power: Building the Future We Deserve' hosted by ReZsaun Lewis, powered by E3 Foundation™ Educate, Empower, Elevate | featuring guest impact experts Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, S.C. Rep. Courtney Waters, Dennis Muhammad, and LaTisha Vaughn . . . . . What happens when choosing the “right” school for your child means deciding which things you're willing to compromise on? Academic opportunity. Safety. Culture. Representation. Belonging. Resources. High expectations. For many Black parents, choosing a school can involve weighing all of these things—and that raises a bigger question: Why does that choice have to exist in the first place? In this episode of Power to the People, host ReZsaun Lewis sits down with Dennis Muhammad, Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, S.C. Rep. Courtney Waters, and LaTisha Vaughn of the E3 Foundation for a candid conversation about education, opportunity, civil rights, and civic power in South Carolina. We talk early literacy, educational disparities, preparing young people for life after graduation, and what families and communities need to help children thrive. But we also go deeper. How did history and public policy help create some of the educational disparities families experience today? What would a real framework for improvement look like? And who actually has the power to change things? We break down why the South Carolina Superintendent of Education and your local school board matter, where responsibility and accountability actually belong, and why understanding who makes decisions is an important part of advocating for our children. This isn't just a conversation about what's wrong with education. It's a conversation about how we got here, what we can do better, and the power everyday people have to help shape what comes next. Watch the full conversation. Then share it with a parent, educator, community leader, or voter who needs to be part of it. . . . . . 'Power to the People 2026' is a weekly livestream podcast hosted by community leader and civic storyteller ReZsaun Lewis, presented by E3 Foundation™. Grounded in the E3 mission to educate, empower, and elevate communities most impacted by structural inequities, Power to the People 2026 counters confusion with a pathway to clarity. Over the course of eight weeks, the nonpartisan conversation series breaks down the issues, impacts, and elected offices with a rotation of culturally-grounded, experience-informed guest experts who know the stakes and understand what Black communities face. Each episode explores a critical issue, bringing civic, service, and impact experts together to bridge the gap between public policy and everyday life—helping listeners gain knowledge and confidence to proactively participate in the electoral process and inspire others to do the same. Power to the People cuts through the chaos with refreshing honesty, presenting actionable insights, historical context, and practical perspectives that help listeners make informed decisions about the candidates, policies, and systems that directly affect their lives. • • • • • Power to the People 2026 is a nonpartisan civic education and empowerment initiative from E3 Foundation™ Educate, Empower, Elevate. E3 and initiative partners provide equitable opportunities for 2026 candidates to present their platforms and positions through the podcast platform, regardless of party or affiliation.