Dr. Michelle Téllez is an Assistant Professor of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona. For 20 years, Dr. Téllez has been committed to exploring shared human experiences and advancing social justice. An interdisciplinary scholar trained in sociology, Chicana/o studies, community studies and education, her work seeks to uncover stories of identity, transnational community formation, gendered migration, resistance, and Chicana mothering. We discussed the changing face of Arizona politics, community-based social justice movements, and how to find joy in times of distress.