A Moment of Truth

Interview with Dr. Candice RowserShe is the author of Broad Scope: The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Training for Pedagogy in which she shares her experiences as a higher education faculty member in history and political science. With a look into her classroom,  Dr. Rowser wants to share insight with other educators to assist them with ideas for their social studies content. Broad Scope is an exhibition of what an educator with an interdisciplinary education can do featuring fifteen lectures from six college courses. In early 2018 Dr. Rowser shifted her love for learning and teaching to another forum - the podcast. In the Facts Before Fiction Record, she includes lectures from her courses also. With this podcast, she can respond to the emerging gaps in learning and share with a wider audience. She provides her listeners with commentary on contemporary issues that they have found equally enlightening as the lectures.  With this platform, she has built on her interest in politics and women's roles in the government with a focus on African-American women. 

Professor Seals explores politics vs. personhood. #ProtectBlackWomen even when we don't agree with them. #kamalaharris #blackwomen #africanwomen #misogyny #blackmen

Professor Seals offers a candid message to white America.

Professor Seals addresses the plight of Black women.

Professor Seals explores the dynamics of the Black experience and othering.

Debunking Black inferiority and rationalizations of violence and crimes against Black people.

Professor Seals explores important text to discuss historical and modern, social political issues that impact the quality of life of people of African ancestry. The discourse unpacks the complexities of the issues and highlights methods to support healing and achieve wellness.

A candid discussion with Tyson AmirBorn and bred in the Bay Area is the creative, Tyson Amir. He is a rapper blessed with a poignant message, electrifying cadence, enlightening lyrics and it all combines to form a music with enough heart and soul to move a generation. Tyson is also a poet, emcee, educator, author, activist but if you ask him he'll say he's “a freedom fighter”. His fight is born out of love for humanity, justice and peace for all. Each one of these layers are intricately woven into his praxis and practice.https://tysonamir.com/

An intimate conversation with Sizwe Andrews-Abakah and Mizan Alkebulan-AbakahMizan has worked for over 20 years as a community organizer and youth development professional. Her commitment to social justice has fueled her work as a crisis intervention specialist, health educator, curriculum writer, multi-modal workshop facilitator, community researcher, staff wellness coach, and School-Based Health Center Supervisor. Mizan is a certified Radical Healing Trainer and has a Masters Degree in Public Health.Sizwe is an Educator, Radical Healer and Mentor and has worked throughout the Bay Area. He has supported African American Wellness through the National Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Oakland Freedom School, Flourish Agenda's Camp Akili, Oakland Unified School District's Manhood Development Program, and Determination Black Men's Group at United Roots to name a few. He approaches the work with passion and insight. Sizwe believes that contentedness is our currency and building authentic intimacy is key in our relationships. The practice of being vulnerable with each other can helps us get to a place of transformation and liberation.The EXPERIENCE SANKOFA PROJECT (ESP)Living Museum is an innovativeinstallation exhibit that combines history,live performance art, and sacred altarsinto an interactive timeline of African andAmerican history.https://www.spearitwurx.com/

An interview with Abdul Sabur Muhammad (Keith Muhammad) A man of wisdom, courage, commitment and strength, Brother Abdul Sabur Muhammad is the Minister of Muhammad Mosque No. 26 and the Oakland,California representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. 

Discussion with Elisha Greenwell Elisha Greenwell is a northern California native and 12-year advertising vet. Throughout her career she has developed award-winning brand strategy for companies such as Intel, Nike, Target and Starbucks. She currently helps lead consumer brand strategy at Facebook. She is also the founder of Black Joy Parade which welcomed 14k people for its inaugural event on February 25, 2018 in Oakland, Ca.  https://youtu.be/IC2_N3uscug

A candid discussion with Prentice PowellWith humility uncommon to those of like talent, Prentice Powell approaches every stage from Amsterdam to London and South Africa, knowing that he has a gift, yet allowing his performance to speak for itself.Formerly host of the prestigious open mic Mouth Off Wednesdays in Oakland, CA. for six years, Powell is an educator, a family man, a writer, and an accomplished spoken word artist. He has been recognized as a National Slam Finalist, 2006 Oakland and San Francisco Grand Slam Champion, 2007 Spoken Word Artist of the Year by the Black Music Awards, 2011 East Bay Express Best Poet, and 2013 NAACP Image Award Nominee.Powell has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Dr. Cornell West, Marsha Ambrosious, and along with his fellow Fiveology members, opened for Jill Scott during her 2013 Summer Tour.He is the only poet to have appeared on all sive seasons of Lexus Verses & Flow with eleven episodes to his credit and recently became the first spoken word artist to land a reoccurring spot on the Arsenio Hall Show, appearing a record three times.Prentice Powell's spoken and written talent is notable, considering that both adequately communicate the depth of his consciousness in rhyme. As a distinguished member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he embodies the mentality of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the desire to uplift humanity, all in the midst of continuing to define himself.https://youtu.be/A-mJUcWpg1Uhttps://youtu.be/SI7srtcY3a4https://youtu.be/TvlsiM5E17shttps://youtu.be/jwB3ZH4COMIhttps://youtu.be/mkru-G8jOkw

Discussion with Emani Dawson-BeyEmani is a wife, parent, educator, activist and entrepreneur. 

A thoughtful discussion with Selena A. Wilson on Love as a Revolutionary ActA native of Oakland, California, Selena Wilson obtained her Bachelor's in Human Services from Holy Names University. She went on to spend several years leading elementary school enrichment programming with the City of Piedmont before transitioning to Northwestern University, where she earned a Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change. After completing her graduate studies, Selena served as a management consultant for the Organization Transformation and Talent division of Deloitte Consulting where she worked with private and government sector clients, including Fortune 200 companies and state-wide government agencies, to deliver large-scale change initiatives.Selena currently serves as the Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) where she attended programming as a youth. In this role, Selena has leveraged her multifaceted skill set to streamline operations across the organization and enhance program effectiveness through evidenced-based practices, with a focus on trauma-informed, healing-centered care for Black and Brown youth.In addition to her work with EOYDC, Selena serves as the Learning & Transformation Specialist at Decolonize Design, a global community development consulting firm that partners with individuals and organizations to think and act in ways that drive transformative change. In her spare time, she also creates written and video content through her multi-channel platform, Selena's Musings.http://eoydc.org/

A thoughtful discussion about parenting with Baba Ron Shaw and Baba Howard Pinderhughes.Ron Shaw is a member of the Brotherhood of Elders Network. He is long standing community advocate for children and families.Howard Pinderhughes is a member of the Brotherhood of Elders Network Leadership Council. Howard Pinderhughes, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco. http://brotherhoodofelders.net/

Discussion with Dr. Damon FrancisAs interim director and medical director of Health Care for the Homeless, Dr. Francis led the adoption and expansion of clinical models addressing the whole person including medical, behavioral, and social needs. Much of his work leveraged new funding opportunities under the Affordable Care Act. His roles in the program ranged from clinician to manager to payer, allowing him to experience both the bewildering complexity of health care payment models, and the awesome diversity of human resilience.Previously, Dr. Francis served as the medical director of the Urban Male Health Initiative, where he worked to reduce health disparities affecting men of color, providing policy analysis and representing the public health department in cross-governmental initiatives and public-private partnerships related to housing, criminal justice, and clinical quality improvement. His efforts supported several successful initiatives including a substantial shift of criminal justice spending from incarceration to evidence-based community interventions, and a county-wide initiative to coordinate, expand, and prioritize permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable residents.Dr. Francis has also worked at the East Bay AIDS Center in Oakland, California. where he spearheaded the development of the CRUSH project, a clinic providing sexual health services to young men of color who have sex with men. He helped drive innovations such as marketing through social networks, providing strong peer supports, and involving patients in clinic design, each of which has led to improvements in care for a group that has historically been served very poorly by the healthcare system.Dr. Francis is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, where he completed medical school and residency in primary care internal medicine and served as chief resident for the internal medicine service at San Francisco General Hospital. His clinical experience since residency includes inpatient and outpatient practice in public, private, and academic settings, and he continues to provide urgent care at a community clinic in Oakland.

Discussion with Falilah Aisha BilalFalilah experienced professional specializing in the areas of non-profit management, youth development, violence prevention and healing, arts integration and education, counseling psychology, organizational re-development and community engagement.https://www.linkedin.com/in/falilah-aisha-bilal-ba627316/

Interview with Dr. Bedford PalmerDr. Bedford Palmer is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY #28058). Dr. Palmer received his B.A. in Anthropology, with a minor in African American Studies from the University of California at Irvine. He received his M.A. in Psychology, with an emphasis in Research at California State University Long Beach and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Dr. Palmer completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of California, Berkeley, Counseling & Psychological Services. After completing his internship, Dr. Palmer was hired as senior staff member at the University of California, Davis, Student Health and Counseling Services, where he completed his post-doctoral hours and where he worked as the Coordinator of Services to Students of African Descent and of the Multicultural Immersion Program. Dr. Palmer has done work as a student leader and activist as Chair of the Afrikan Student Union at UC Irvine and as Vice President of the Black Psychology Student Association at Cal State Long Beach. Beyond this Dr. Palmer has worked as a teacher in the inner city; an outreach officer and adviser for first generation, low income, minority and disabled students; as head residential adviser for the Cal State Long Beach Upward Bound Program; and has served on the board of directors for the Association of Black Psychologists. Currently Dr. Palmer is an assistant professor in the counseling department at Saint Mary's College of California. https://www.drbfpalmer.com/

Interview with Candice ValenzuelaCandice Rose Valenzuela is a mother, educator, lecturer, writer, coach and community wellness advocate. Candice has worked at the intersection of urban education and holistic health for 12 years, serving in a variety of roles from teen health educator, to Special Education teacher and instructional coach, before finding her calling in teacher support and wellness. She got her Masters degree in East-West Psychology from the California Institute for Integral Studies, and studied cultural healing practices with healers in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Oaxaca. Her passion is to transform school communities into authentic spaces of healing and liberation by strengthening their greatest asset: their community of teachers.Candice has facilitated healing circles, provided professional development, lectured and coached teachers and administrators at public schools, universities, retreats and conferences in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Her expertise is integrating critical pedagogy, culturally responsive teaching, and youth empowerment with holistic, mindful frameworks for healing. She brings empathy, humor, practicality and love to her current work as a consultant and professional coach.https://www.candicerosevalenzuela.com/

Interview with Dr. Jennifer LyleFor over twenty-five years, Jennifer has actively worked towards the well-being of youth and their families. Her education and work have taken place in the streets, across continents, with community organizations, government, schools, and, academia. Much of Jennifer's work over the past fifteen years has focused on the development of youth through viable programs for diverse populations: she recently held the role of Deputy Director at Alternatives in Action (AIA), an organization that serves middle and high school youth in extended day and after-school programming, supports families with their early childhood daycare needs, and runs a charter high school; held a variety of leadership positions at Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative (BBK) including the role of Executive Director, working with partners to elevate and address the well-being of African American and Latino families and youth living in Central and South Richmond; and launched her career in youth development at the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) where she held various positions, the last being the Vice President of Education and Research.As an African American woman, an educator, and an activist, Jennifer crosses many borders to create a platform that supports youth, expands their range of challenging experiences, and increases their opportunities for supportive relationships. It has always been her goal to support youth to become active in their lives by providing leadership and development opportunities and by helping to reveal their rights, their capacity, and their value. Jennifer received her Master of Social Work, Master of Sociology and PhD in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.https://misssey.org/National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Interview with Simone Westerfield Simone is a Youth Market Director at the American Heart Association who loves connecting passionate volunteers who are inspired to make a happier, healthier Bay Area community free of cardiovascular disease. Her passion for student health and wellness inspires her to engage all Bay Area schools to work together as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. She has a personal passion for social justice and racial equality and works to advocate for youth and minority communities in any way possible. Simone believes that through organizing our community in shared knowledge , we can improve the systematically created issues that limit opportunities for success and quality of life for minorities and people of color.

Interview with Fellana Randell, LMFTFellana Randell is a licensed marriage and family therapists in Oakland, Ca. She focuses on the challenges that single WOC face when approaching dating and singlehood. Fellana's goal is to help individuals overcome insecurities, improve their sense of self-worth, and develop attraction through confidence and visibility. In her work with couples, she uses her understanding of past experiences that may impact the relationship and interactional patterns that cause pain. Her goal is for individuals to develop an understanding and compassion for their experience as well as others. This newly incorporated consideration for others establishes a framework in which strategies can be developed, learned, and practiced to improve communication and resolve conflict.https://www.drvernitamarsh.com/fellana

Candid discussion with Tiara Phalon Tiara Phalon is a womanist writer/educator who finds provocative conversations to be tools for growth and inspiration. The topic of womanhood, femininity and how Black girl folk position themselves in the world is where she feels most valuable. For her, writing is therapy and an art form and education is a path to autonomy, self reflection and new worlds.She holds a Bachelor's degree in Africana Studies from San Francisco State University and spends most summers training educators with The Children's Defense Fund. Last spring she launched her webinar/podcast called  Death to F Boys which dissects toxic relationships, rape culture and tools for self love. She is currently working on a book by the same name. Join her in conversation on FB/IG @darlingtiara.

Interview with Dr. James Taylor Professor James Lance Taylor is from Glen Cove, Long Island. He is author of the book Black Nationalism in the United States: From Malcolm X to Barack Obama, which earned 2012 "Outstanding Academic Title" - Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries. (Ranked top 2 percent of 25,000 books submitted and top 8 percent of 7,300 actually accepted for review by the American Library Association). Rated “Best of the Best.” The hardback version sold out in the U.S. and the paperback version was published in 2014.He is a former President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), an important organization of African American, African, and Afro Caribbean political scientists in the United States, 2009-2011. Taylor also served as Chair of the Department of Politics at the University of San Francisco from 2012-2015, and Faculty Coordinator of the African American Studies Program for 2015-2017. He served as the Chair for the “Committee on the Status of Blacks” in Political Science for the American Political Science Association (APSA), 2016-2017.Professor Taylor is currently writing and researching a book with the working title, Peoples Temple, Jim Jones, and California Black Politics. He expects the book to be completed with a 2018-2019 publication range. The book is a study of the Peoples Temple movement and African American political history in the state of California.He co-edited and published in Something's in the Air: Race and the Legalization of Marijuana, with Katherine Tate (UC Irvine) and Mark Sawyer (UCLA), focusing on controversies concerning race, social justice, and marijuana legalization in the state of California.Prof. Taylor has published articles on subjects such as Father Divine's International Peace Mission Movement, Dr. Betty Shabazz (wife of Malcolm X), Dr. Benjamin Chavis (then, Muhammad), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Black Nationalism,” The post-9/11 relationship of Muslims in Northern California and the United States to Black Social and Political History, San Francisco Sun Reporter publisher Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett, and on the Peoples Temple Movement in Northern and Southern California.https://www.usfca.edu/faculty/james-lance-taylorhttps://www.amazon.com/Black-Nationalism-United-States-Malcolm/dp/1626371857/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=James+Taylor+black+nationalism&qid=1565048626&s=books&sr=1-1

Interview with Nehanda ImaraNehanda Imara is an East Oakland resident, dedicated activist, organizer, educator and adjunct teacher for African American and Environmental Studies at Merritt College. Nehanda created the first Environmental Racism/Justice course at the Peralta Community College District.  Read more about Nehanda's accomplishments in the Examiner.com article:  “Nehanda Imara, Oakland's mother of environmental justice.”Nehanda was part of the leadership team at the inception of East Oakland Building Healthy Communities since 2010. Nehanda served on the interim steering committee and worked to shepherd in the implementation phase of the initiative.Currently Nehanda chairs the Land Use/Built Environment Working Group and serves on the Leadership Council. Nehanda is an organizer with Communities for a Better Environment and in this capacity engages residents and youth in fighting for a “Just Transition” away from dirty pollution systems and for clean more sustainable environmental policies and programs.As an organizer for CBE, her outreach and recruitment work has built a strong core membership and broad support base of youth, students, residents and community partners in the Oakland area. She organized the first CBE ‘Love Yo Mama Earth Day' in 2009 in collaboration with community partners in deep East Oakland, a community suffering deeply from the present global ecological crisis, bringing information and resources to youth and residents that typically lack access.Nehanda also serves as Co-coordinator of Merritt's “Black Consciousness Raising Tours to Ghana, West Africa. Nehanda has traveled to over 10 African countries as well as the Caribbean and Central America.http://www.merritt.edu/wp/afram/nehan...http://www.cbecal.org/wp-content/uplo...

Interview with Dr. Camilla Hawthorne Dr. Camilla Hawthorne is a critical human geographer and interdisciplinary social scientist broadly interested in the racial politics of migration and citizenship, inequality, social movements, and Black geographies. Camilla's work sits at the intersection of critical public policy studies, diaspora theory, Black European studies, and postcolonial/feminist science and technology studies. Dr. Camilla Hawthorne received her PhD from the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley in 2018. She currently serve as Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at UC Santa Cruz. Camilla is a principal faculty member in UCSC's Critical Race and Ethnic Studies program, and an affiliate of the Science & Justice Research Center and the Legal Studies Program. Her teaching is focused on race, immigration and citizenship, political economy, space and inequality, and social theory. Dr. Hawthorne current research explores the politics of Blackness and citizenship in Italy. In this project, she examines the ways in which the Italian-born children of African immigrants have mobilized for a reform of Italian citizenship law in the context of the Eurozone economic crisis and the southern European refugee emergency. Camilla is currently preparing a book manuscript based on this research, which represents the first ever in-depth study of Black youth political mobilizations in Italy. She is also co-editing two edited volumes, one on Black geographic thought, and another on the Black Mediterranean.https://www.camillahawthorne.com/

Discussion with Dr. Ifetayo FlanneryIfetayo M. Flannery is an assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University. As a Temple graduate she was the 2016 recipient of the Molefi Kete Asante Founders Award. In 2018, Dr. Flannery was awarded the DuBois Research Fellowship from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her publications can be found in a variety of journals and texts including the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law and Policy, Journal of Supportive Cancer Care, and Qualitative Methods in Africana Studies. She most recently published a book titled, An Introduction to Black Psychology.Dr. Flannery's research locates and examines cultural patterns in the collective consciousness of African Diasporic groups with particular focus on their political orientation, social behavior, and spiritual beliefs. She serves as the Vice President of the Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Black Psychology.http://africana.sfsu.edu/people/facul...

Interview with Baba Greg Hodge Gregory Hodge is a social change activist and organizational development consultant with Khepera Consulting.  Working as a strategist, meeting designer, facilitator and coach, Gregory works with a range of groups from small nonprofits and foundations to public agencies, particularly school districts. As a leader in his community, Gregory served two four-year terms as a member of the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education beginning in January 2000, including a year as president of the board. He served nine years on Workforce Investment Board, City of Oakland.Hodge has also worked as an attorney in private practice handling a variety of civil litigation matters. His involvements include work with African American youth as a teacher and mentor; minister at the Wo'se Community; drummer with Bantaba Dance Ensemble.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.  He is a proud father, active gardener and lives in Oakland.Brotherhood of Elders Networkhttp://brotherhoodofelders.net/

Interview with Dr. Khalid White Dr. Khalid White, is an award-winning educator and Professor of Ethnic Studies/African American Studies. Dr. White holds a B.A. in Sociology from Morehouse College, an M.A. in Education from Harvard University's School of Education and a Doctorate in Education from UC Davis and Sonoma State University. Additionally, Dr. White is an entrepreneur who mentors youth and young adults.Documentary Trailer https://youtu.be/n_GDXpHJ_fsBookhttps://www.amazon.com/Black-Fatherhood-Tribulations-Testimony-Triumph/dp/0692712062