Empowering Communities: J'Kwan Fulmore's Mission for Fayetteville City Council -   Donate to the campaign http://secure.actblue.com/donate/jkwan-fulmore?refcode=directory   In this episode of the Foolish Optimist Podcast, hosted by Amy McDonald, we meet J'Kwan Fulmore, a progressive candidate running for City Council in Fayetteville, North Carolina. J'Kwan, a traveling chef, educator, and founder of the nonprofit 'Everybody Eats,' shares his journey from growing up in Fayetteville to creating solutions for food insecurity and advocating for equitable resource allocation in the city. He discusses the systemic gaps that persist in Fayetteville, his vision for sustainable community development, and the importance of local government in effecting meaningful change. As J'Kwan gears up for the 2025 election, he dives deep into his plans for creating a pipeline for livable wage jobs, addressing utility price gouging, and engaging the community through innovative youth programs. Learn how J'Kwan plans to make a lasting impact and why he believes in the power of community-driven change. 00:00 Welcome to the Foolish Optimist Podcast 00:26 Meet J'Kwan Fulmore: Candidate for City Council 00:45 Addressing the Gaps in the System 02:37 Challenges in Accessing Resources 06:08 The Livable Wage Crisis 08:07 Utility and Environmental Issues in Fayetteville 09:46 Incentivizing Local Employment 14:25 Controversial Rezoning and Community Impact 20:14 Political Drama and Transparency Issues 22:33 The Importance of Community Engagement 38:33 The Importance of Voter Turnout 38:59 Engaging the Younger Demographic 40:28 Challenges in Voter Suppression 42:10 Simplifying Complex Topics for Social Media 45:03 Addressing Misinformation and Civic Education 46:07 Innovative Approaches to Youth Engagement 52:52 The Struggles of Implementing School Gardens 58:56 The Power of Community Collaboration 01:03:33 Get to Know the Candidate