Glocal Citizens host Florence Adu is CEO and co-founder of LEAP Transmedia, which seeds and sows a vision for improving education and economic outcomes for Ghanaians and Africans across the diaspora. Do you dream about “doing something” abroad? Then consider Glocal Citizens required listening in the…
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week Hélène Himmer, a French national with roots in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, now based in Portugal joins me in conversation about her current work at African Futures Lab (AfaLab) leading a project on climate reparations. I met Hélène last November at FORGE: Harnessing Creative Arts for Reparatory Justice, a convening of artists, media, cultural workers, civil society, and government leaders across Africa, Europe and the U.S. to further the movement for reparations. The event took place in Accra, Ghana and featured Glocal Citizens Esther Armah (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/esther-armah), Makmid Kamara (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/makmid-kamara), and Nyamal Tutdeal (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nyamal-tutdeal) as facilitators. In addition to meeting so many dynamic diasporans I was introduced to organizations like AfaLab, an international non-profit organization supporting racial justice movements in Europe and Africa through conducting research and developing policy and legal strategies to empower civil society actors and public and private institutions in their fight for justice and reparations. Currently the Policy and Advocacy Officer at AfaLab, Hélène is a committed activist and professional with a diverse background in human rights law, corporate social responsibility and international development. Her activism began in her early teens with a youth organization focused on education, youth rights and inclusion. She then spent several years working for racial justice in France. Moving to the corporate sector, Hélène worked in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in start-ups and technology companies. However, her passion for social impact led her to international organizations where she specialized in advocacy, project management and partnerships. Her work has focused on climate justice, peacebuilding, anti-corruption, women's empowerment, youth cooperation and inclusive societies across Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region. Where to find Hélène? AfaLab Policy Paper "Unlocking Climate Reparations: Key Obstacles in the Emergence of a Climate Reparations Framework" (https://www.afalab.org/news/2024-09-18-unlocking-climate-reparations-key-obstacles-in-the-emergence-of-a-climate-reparations-framework/) Listen in on AfaLab's Season 3 Podcast Future Perfect | futur antérieur on Climate Reparations (https://www.afalab.org/podcast-future-perfect-futur-anterieur/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hélène-himmer-886037157/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/african_futures_lab/) What's Hélène reading? REDD-Monitor (https://redd-monitor.org/) Other topics of interest: Brittany, France (linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany) A bit about Guadeloupe (https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2013/11/guadeloupe-african-descendants-in.html) Who is Dr. Farhana Sultana (https://farhanasultana.com/)? About the Loss and Damage Fund (https://www.undp.org/belarus/stories/loss-and-damage-fund-developing-countries) Center for International Environmental Law (https://www.ciel.org/) Special Guest: Hélène Himmer.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's guest is a dynamic activist that I had the pleasure of working with while distributing a documentary (see other topics of interest) featuring the work that has become his origin story in the world of Pan-African development. Hamzat “Hamzy!” Lawal is a global citizen, community organizer, an award-winning advocate and humanitarian who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries. He specializes in practical issues associated with climate change, open data, advocacy and development policies affecting rural and deprived communities. He is the Founder of Follow The Money (http://followthemoneyng.org), a home-grown, Pan-African grassroots, data-driven initiative currently in 10 African countries. As the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE) (http://connecteddevelopment.org/), an organization he also founded, CODE won the ONE Africa 2016 Award recognizing, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of African organizations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When he is not social entrpreneuring, Hamzy sits on the Executive Board of the largest Youth Movement in Africa: African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) (http://ayicc.net/), and has joined his voice on different platforms and policy influencing coalitions across Africa such as the Not Too Young To Run (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Too_Young_To_Run) movement which drives youth political inclusion. And also serves as an Education Champion with the Malala Fund, organization working for a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear. This is definitely a listening and learning opportunity with wonderful insights into the work of empowering the youth that are poised to lead the Continent. Where to find Hamzy? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzat-lawal-85409129/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/hamzatblawal/?_rdc=1&_rdr#) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hamzycode/) What's Hamzy reading? Love Does not Win Elections (https://www.narrativelandscape.com/product/love-does-not-win-elections/) by Glocal Citizen Ayisha Osori (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/ayisha-osori) Other topics of interest: The documentary that started it all Perspective (https://vimeo.com/272930033) About Kogi State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogi_State), Nigeria and the Ebira (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebira_people) people About #SaveBagega (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagega) Another side of Bauchi State (https://youtu.be/a7KJxxKTVkA?si=VS0FSk157OAF3dSy) Special Guest: Hamzat Lawal.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week returning guest, Yasmina Fagbemi (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/yasmina-f-edwards), is flashing forward with us with an update on her latest projects and evolving glocal citizenship. Having emigrated to the United States in the 1990s, she began her career in marketing with major international corporations. Building on this experience, she developed her network to fuel her passion for cinema. She produced her first documentary, "Bigger Than Africa," a film highlighting Yoruba culture that was featured on Netflix. She went on to develop multiple projects and met Gabriel Souleyka, with whom she founded Tioleja Films to bring original projects to life that contribute to Africa's growing prominence in global cinema. The film "My Soul is a Witness" has been announced in pre-production across global media outlets. Her new feature film, "The Soul of Africa," directed by Gabriel Souleyka, will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this May. As an editor and publisher, she is committed to publishing stories that others don't tell. Be sure to check out her socials for updates on where you can view or read more about African stories that are worth getting to know more about! Where to find Yasmina? https://tiolejafilms.com On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmina-fagbemi-edwards-4200ba5/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yasminafagbemi/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/people/Yasmina-FEdwards/100063690843487/?_rdc=1&_rdr#) On TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@yasminafagbemi) What's Yasmina reading? Tioleja Titles (https://tiolejaeditions.com) What's Yasmina watching? Sinners (https://youtu.be/bKGxHflevuk?si=HoVJe6bfF6FQ14FM) Other topics of interest: Le Festival des Divinités Noires (https://festivaldesdivinitesnoires.org/) About Lomé, Togo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lom%C3%A9) About Aného, Togo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An%C3%A9ho) About Abrahamic Religions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions) Pavillon Afrique @ Cannes (https://www.pavillonafriques.com) More about the persecution of Blacks in the Nazi camp system (https://wienerholocaustlibrary.org/2020/10/26/461/) More about Joy-Ann Reid (https://www.joyannreid.com) Special Guest: Yasmina Fagbemi.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast, after the inspiring conversation in our last episode with Wesley Watkins about The Jazz & Democracy Project and more, I couldn't resist giong back into the GC archives for an encore presentation of my conversation with Maestro Wynton Marsalis. We recorded this conversation when the podcast was just a toddler, back in the days when we were just “doing something” and not yet “manifesting a new world.” It was also on the eve of the 2020 election, however, like so many of our conversations the topics and insights remain evergreen. How far we've come and continue to carry on! Check out the original show notes for more on his bio and topics of interest (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/47). Where to find Wynton? www.wyntonmarsalis.org The Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra (https://www.jazz.org/JLCO/) On YouTube (http://youtube.com/wyntonmarsalis) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wyntonmarsalis) On Instagram (http://instagram.com/wyntonmarsalis) On Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/375zxMmh2cSgUzFFnva0O7) What's Wynton reading? American Founders: How People of African Descent Established Freedom in the New World (http://americanfoundersbook.com) by Christina Proenza-Coles Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" (https://rep.club/products/barracoon-zora-neale-hurston?srsltid=AfmBOoq6wJeLLvsYg8gQerKMU29bzPgtQIduPOvjE6_4TugqUEgT5ARn) by Zora Neale Hurston Special Guest: Wynton Marsalis.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's conversation comes in two parts. Like it's geographical spread, northern hemisphere to southern hemisphere, think of this two part discussion as a way of engaging both hemispheres of your brain--the creative and the analytic. My guest is fellow Stanford alum and founder of The Jazz & Democracy Project® (J&D) (https://www.jazzdemocracy.com), Wesley “Dr. Wes” J. Watkins. After several years working in the education sector, Dr. Wes launched the program in November 2009 at Rosa Parks Elementary School, located in San Francisco's historic Fillmore District. J&D is a music integrated curriculum that utilizes jazz as a metaphor to bring democracy to life, enrich the study and teaching of history, government, civics and culture, and inspire youth to become active, positive contributors to their communities. He first proposed the curriculum as part of his undergraduate honors program at Stanford's School of Education and later conducted research for his undergraduate honors thesis at Oxford University where he engaged and learned from music educators at both local elementary schools and world renowned secondary institutions. Now based in Sydney, Australia, J&D has traveled to countries all over the world and, in these times of global social transition, Dr. Wes anticipates continued opportunities to feature and further innovate using tools that will leave lasting impact on the ways that youth and educators approach building and living in their communities and beyond. Where to find Wesley? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleywatkins/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JazzDemocracy) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jazzdemocracy/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@JazzDemocracy) Who's Wesley listening to? Joseph Solomon (https://www.youtube.com/@whatisjoedoing) Other topics of interest: Activist Oakland, CA (https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oaklands-history-of-resistance-to-racism) Northern Beaches, Sydney Lifestyle (https://content.knightfrank.com/research/2789/documents/en/northern-beaches-lifestyle-guide-2024-10795.pdf) United States Studies Center (https://www.ussc.edu.au/about/mission-and-history) Crikey! or Kriky! (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crikey#google_vignette) Flat White vs Latte (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_white) Geechi Taylor (https://www.geechitaylor.com/#!/HOME) Find Rachelle Farrell, Meshell N'Degeocello, on J&D (https://www.jazzdemocracy.com/interviews.html) Ledisi (https://www.ledisi.com) Christian McBride (https://www.christianmcbride.com) Betty Carter + Ray Charles (https://youtu.be/1IM3weosOTY?si=PXNlcx1a5UetHPAN) Episode 47 featuring Wynton Marsalis (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/wynton-marsalis) Jazz for Young People @ Lincoln Center (https://jazz.org/education/school-programs/jazz-for-young-people/) Check out the Chris Botti SF Show (https://youtu.be/j9cNsLPXWnA?si=rmoX7ljb9EO4a1y5) About Robert (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McFerrin), Bobby (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_McFerrin) and Madison (https://www.madisonmcferrin.com) McFerrin Special Guest: Wesley J. Watkins.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's conversation comes in two parts. Like it's geographical spread, northern hemisphere to southern hemisphere, think of this two part discussion as a way of engaging both hemispheres of your brain--the creative and the analytic. My guest is fellow Stanford alum and founder of The Jazz & Democracy Project® (J&D) (https://www.jazzdemocracy.com), Wesley “Dr. Wes” J. Watkins. After several years working in the education sector, Dr. Wes launched the program in November 2009 at Rosa Parks Elementary School, located in San Francisco's historic Fillmore District. J&D is a music integrated curriculum that utilizes jazz as a metaphor to bring democracy to life, enrich the study and teaching of history, government, civics and culture, and inspire youth to become active, positive contributors to their communities. He first proposed the curriculum as part of his undergraduate honors program at Stanford's School of Education and later conducted research for his undergraduate honors thesis at Oxford University where he engaged and learned from music educators at both local elementary schools and world renowned secondary institutions. Now based in Sydney, Australia, J&D has traveled to countries all over the world and, in these times of global social transition, Dr. Wes anticipates continued opportunities to feature and further innovate using tools that will leave lasting impact on the ways that youth and educators approach building and living in their communities and beyond. Where to find Wesley? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleywatkins/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JazzDemocracy) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jazzdemocracy/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@JazzDemocracy) Who's Wesley listening to? Joseph Solomon (https://www.youtube.com/@whatisjoedoing) Other topics of interest: Activist Oakland, CA (https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oaklands-history-of-resistance-to-racism) Northern Beaches, Sydney Lifestyle (https://content.knightfrank.com/research/2789/documents/en/northern-beaches-lifestyle-guide-2024-10795.pdf) United States Studies Center (https://www.ussc.edu.au/about/mission-and-history) Crikey! or Kriky! (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crikey#google_vignette) Flat White vs Latte (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_white) Geechi Taylor (https://www.geechitaylor.com/#!/HOME) Find Rachelle Farrell, Meshell N'Degeocello, on J&D (https://www.jazzdemocracy.com/interviews.html) Ledisi (https://www.ledisi.com) Christian McBride (https://www.christianmcbride.com) Betty Carter + Ray Charles (https://youtu.be/1IM3weosOTY?si=PXNlcx1a5UetHPAN) Episode 47 featuring Wynton Marsalis (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/wynton-marsalis) Jazz for Young People @ Lincoln Center (https://jazz.org/education/school-programs/jazz-for-young-people/) Check out the Chris Botti SF Show (https://youtu.be/j9cNsLPXWnA?si=rmoX7ljb9EO4a1y5) About Robert (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McFerrin), Bobby (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_McFerrin) and Madison (https://www.madisonmcferrin.com) McFerrin Special Guest: Wesley J. Watkins.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! On this first day of April, we are trying to fool you, but just slightly. Though herstories month has just ended, we have the treat of catching up with one of featured voices from last week's compilation episode. Returning with an update on Fourth Phase which was in the launch phase when last we caught up in 2020, is co-founder Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo. Nana is a dedicated social entrepreneur and humanitarian with a strong commitment to advocating for accessible healthcare for under-resourced women, children, and families. As the co-founder of Fourth Phase (https://www.fourthphasebox.com), she focuses on operations and our giving back program. She also founded non-profit, African Health Now (AHN), which is dedicated to providing vital health information and services across Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior moving into entrepreneurship, Nana had a successful background in media, having worked with prominent titles such as Honey, Suede, and Essence. And also held positions at the Clinton Global Initiative Foundation and New York Mission Society. Her philanthropic efforts have been recognized globally. In 2017, she received the prestigious title of Humanitarian of the Year from the National Council of Ghanaian Associations, recognizing her impactful contributions. She was acknowledged with a New York State Senate Proclamation acknowledging her commitment to health advocacy. She has also received the Andrew Heiskell Humanitarian Award by Time Inc. Catching up with Nana is an absolute delight, between learning all about the business of Fourth Phase to mompreneurship, I think you'll feel welcomed into a world of innovation in a serious health area with a touch of light-heartedness. In case you missed our previous conversations, links are below. Where to find Nana? On Glocal Citizens (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nana-eyeson-akiwowo) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/neyeson/) Fourth Phase on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fourthphasebox) Healing After Birth Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/7omQUhHgJPC6o56eApAt1m?si=2d8aeab756fd4a9c) What's Nana watching? The Golden Girls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Girls) The Cosby Show (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cosby_Show) Chicago Fire | PD | Med | Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(franchise)) What's Nana listening to? Beres Hammond (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcs0zn7OCj-wj0YNSl_Ai0Q) Other topics of interest: Fourth Trimester in Websters Dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fourth%20trimester) Dr. Edward Brown in practice (https://www.brownprosthodontics.com/drbrown) About Dr. Andrew Alexis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-alexis-8641362/) and his new program Skin of Color Savvy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmtHdxCfF0) Where to find Dr. Ama Alexis (https://hudsonallergy.com/doctors/dr-ama-alexis/) About the TOMS model (https://www.toms.com/en-us/impact) Special Guest: Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Every March since launching the podcast, we dedicate the month to women - it's our Women's Herstory Month series. Closing out this year's series are excerpts from conversations over the years with Glocal Citizens working to empower, develop, support and uplift women in Africa and beyond. We'll hear social development scholar, author and facilitator, Yaliwe Clarke discussing her craft and how feminism has always been native to her being. Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo shares how her NGO, African Health Now inspired the innovative fourthphase box solving for the unspoken and overlooked needs of women postpartum. Daisry Obal tells us how her work in policy informed and inspired her to build the Oyayone Foundation dedicated to transforming Namibia one mother at a time. With a passion for building solutions that matter, Tiambi Simms, co-founder of social enterprise, SheFarms shares what her guiding question, “How are we going to feed 9.7 billion people by 2050?” means in practice. And Aissata Sidibé N'dia, president and founding member of Yelenba-Women in Action shares how their concrete actions approach has been impactful in supporting African women and girls to help themselves to improve their daily lives. In case you missed the full episodes, check out the links below. In these monumental times we are traversing, I leave you with these thoughts as you “listenandlearn: "You are the author of your own story. Write it boldly, rewrite it fearlessly, and inspire others with every chapter." Where to find Yaliwe? Episode 214 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/yaliwe-clarke) Where to find Nana? Episodes 42 and 43 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nana-eyeson-akiwowo) Where to find Daisry? Episode 134 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/daisry-obal) Where to find Tiambi? Episode 142 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/tiambi-simms) Where to find Aissata? Episode 59 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/aissata-sidibe-ndia) Special Guests: Aissata Sidibe N'Dia, Daisry Obal, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, Tiambi Simms, and Yaliwe Clarke.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week, Women's Herstories Month takes me back to my recent journey to Nairobi, Kenya where the Glocal Citizens community came through in full effect. While in Nairobi I hosted the final session in the Glocal Citizens Future of Work Solutionscape and Stretch Salon Series--stay tuned for the full podcast series coming in May, and caught up with past guests, including meeting a few for the first time. This week's connection comes courtesy of Episode 146 guest, Michelle Donald (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/michelle-donald). Both Michelle and this week's guest, Vuyanzi Rodman are truly living a #borderlessmindset lifestyle. And like these women, I too now hold Kenya near to my heart. Coach Vuyanzi has called Nairobi home since 2023 where she is a sought-after resource in the corporate space and at an individual level. Her client base spans medical doctors, educational leaders performance artists, business owners, ministers, politicians, C-suite executives and corporate VPs across four continents. With a focus on women leaders, Coach Vuyanzi helps her clients become more impactful leaders by conducting one-on-one coaching to clarify their goals and overcome blocks that are holding them back, such as self-limiting beliefs and fear. She empowers women leaders through her YouTube channel, Find Your Voice with Coach Vuyanzi and uses the platform to interview women from around the world and to share her own empowering stories. As a seasoned TV presenter and radio host, she led a successful season of Rise and Shine, the popular morning show on one of Kenya's leading Christian channels, Family Media and Family TV. Where to find Coach Vuyanzi? http://vuyanzi.live/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vuyanzi/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/coach_vuyanzi/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vuyanzirodman/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@find_your_voice) What's Vuyanzi reading? I'll Take Some Self Love with That by Cece Ojany- Bekhor (https://www.themainprotagonist.com/thebook) What' so Amazing About Grace? (https://philipyancey.com/books/whats-so-amazing-about-grace-2023/) by Philip Yancey What's Vuyanzi watching? Paradise featuring Sterling K. Brown (https://press.hulu.com/shows/paradise/) BritBox (https://www.britbox.com/us/) Other topics of interest: Village of Piermont, New York (https://www.hudsonriver.com/hhrt/river-towns/rockland-county/piermont-ny/) About Teaneck, New Jersey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaneck,_New_Jersey) About the United African American Community Center-UAACC (https://www.uaacc.net/about_us#:~:text=From%20the%20beginning%20it%20was,the%20family%20coffers%20by%20hunting.) in Tanzania Insights on African-American migration to East Africa, 1970s (https://blackvoicenews.com/2007/01/18/tanzania-today-an-african-american-perspective/) Special Guest: Vuyanzi Rodman.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Over the week/weekend just passed, the world recognized International Women's Day (https://www.internationalwomensday.com) as well as Ghana's 68th Independence Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFioERq8Xfc). Both happenings inspire thoughts, reflections, and movement in my heart and mind especially as I, we sit in constant review of the world we are making, remaking and re-imagining for our now. My conversation this week, in our continued March Herstories Month series is with British-Ghanaian, Elvina Quaison (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/elvina-quaison), is with a diaspora working intently with and within communities engaged in this re-imagining. Now based back in the London after relocating to Brussels since our last conversation, where she supported diaspora and government representatives as Diaspora Engagement Specialist for the EU Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), a pilot project funded by the European Commission and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Elvina recently took on the role of CEO with Shabaka (https://shabaka.org), a values-driven consulting and research organization focused on diaspora and migrants' humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery. Elvina has worked in the international development field, with a focus on African diaspora, for over 20 years with experience spanning diaspora engagement in humanitarianism, development, private and public sector as well as within civil society. She specializes in diaspora and private sector investment with a focus on the utilization of diaspora investment to enhance economic growth in countries of heritage and residence. Our conversation is a wonderful flash forward offering a hopeful persective on how #dynamicdiasporans are engaging with the concept and a #borderlessmindset, and #manifestinganewworld. Where to find Elvina? On LinkedIn (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elvina-quaison) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sesa4life/) What's Elvina reading? Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (https://www.loa.org/books/643-kindred-fledgling-collected-stories/) Other topics of interest: Notes on serving on boards (https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/recruiting-for-board-diversity-with-respect) On Belgium's Human Zoo (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/16/belgium-comes-to-terms-with-human-zoos-of-its-colonial-past) Brussel's AfricaMuseum (https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/13/belgium-museum-wrestles-with-colonial-past-with-40000-objects-tainted-with-violence) On the brutality of Belgium's King Leopold (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53017188) On Onyekachi Wambu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyekachi_Wambu) A conversation with Sophia Stewart, creator of The Terminator and The Matrix (https://youtu.be/tjrpMZXPyKY?si=rIyrvNgrBDosz2yY) Shifters Play UK (https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/shifters-west-end/) About Supacell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supacell) Special Guest: Elivina Quaison.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! As is our tradition, this month is all about herstories. Kicking it off is fellow Stanford Cardinal and return guest, Stacy Kirk (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/154). Stacy has over 15 years of experience helping organizations and entrepreneurs achieve their visions through technology and process optimization. She specializes in strategies that drive sustainable growth and scalability, with a passion for supporting diverse, small businesses. Stacy excels at turning visionary ideas into practical solutions, enabling success for her clients. Her dedication to innovation and inclusion continues to make a lasting impact in the business world. As the founder of QualityWorks (https://qualityworkscg.com/) , she empowers visionary entrepreneurs to achieve their go-to-market goals through technology, AI, and an iterative release process. Continuing to expand on her tech activism Stacy is increasingly dedicating her craft to social impact and human progress for all. She recently teamed up with another fellow Stanford Alum, Dr. Anndretta Lyle (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anndretta) as co-founder of Thrive Culture Box (https://www.thriveculturebox.com) which is all about empowering families and educators to change the ways that we are building knowledge in Black communities. Where to find Stacy? (@posture)https://www.postured.io (@Quality Works Consulting Group)[https://qualityworkscg.com] On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacynkirk/) On (Instagra)[https://www.instagram.com/sweetstace21/] What's Stacy Reading? Life Is a Comeback : 299 Inspiring Success Stories of Redemption, Determination, Second Chances, Forgiveness, and the Amazing Force of the Human Spirit (https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Life-Comeback/Daron-Dr-Comeback-Fordham/9798218407988?id=9284812808941&gQT=0) byDaron “Dr. Comeback” Fordham (https://www.news-journal.com/daron-dr-comeback-fordham-award-winning-filmmaker-screenwriter-poet-and-former-tech-ceo-releases-life/article_39bc7621-3d58-5f0c-812e-80c306558a9a.html) Other topics of interest: Thrive Culture Box in Black Enterprise (https://www.blackenterprise.com/mompreneurs-collaborate-to-launch-thrive-culture-box-for-black-children/) Black Arts Camp (https://my.blackartscamp.com) The Bionic Woman Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bionic_Woman) Special Guest: Stacy Kirk.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode has been in the making since Episode 122 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/122) guest, Natasha Moore (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/natasha-d-moore). I'm joined by interdisciplinary artist, choreographer, scholar and educator, specializing in dance forms of the African Diaspora, Winston Benons, Jr. He has extensive training in Afro-Cuban, Haitian, Afro-Brazilian, and Bomba dance, complemented by studies in Horton and Dunham modern dance techniques. He has curated and led intensive programs in culture and dance techniques in both New York City and Cuba. He is the Founder and Director of tRúe Culture & Arts, an organization dedicated to facilitating cultural exchanges, workshops, and academic residencies. His works and studies have explored the intersections between Theater and Performance Studies, Curation and Visual Culture culminating in his graduate thesis entitled Marked: The Racialization Of African Phenotypes And Creation Of An Embodied Archive. Also an educator, he served as a lecturer at Pace University and an adjunct faculty member at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He has also held guest faculty positions at Ballet Hispánico, Peridance, Djoniba Dance & Drum, and Cumbe. He is currently the US/MS IB Dance educator at Brooklyn Friends School (https://brooklynfriends.org). Recent choreography and direction credits include Amahl and the NIght Visitors (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amahl_and_the_Night_Visitors) and What Lies Beneath (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Lies_Beneath) with On Site Opera (https://osopera.org/), where he also served as the cultural advocate. Most recently, he developed and performed part 1 of a series entitled Conversations with Rothko at the SMART Museum (https://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/) in Chicago. Where to find Winston? the-culturalist.com (https://www.the-culturalist.com/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/winston-benons-jr-b131074/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wbenonsjr/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tRueCultureArts/?view_public_for=142096181671) What's Winson watching? Barry Jenkins, Moonlight (https://a24films.com/films/moonlight) and other works Dianne Reeves (https://diannereeves.com) Other topics of interest: From British Guiana to Guyana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyanese_people) The Country of Five People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyanese_people) Madeira Islands (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira) What's The Highline (https://www.thehighline.org)? How Chemical Bank became Chase Bank (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_Bank#:~:text=In%201996%2C%20Chemical%20acquired%20Chase,be%20better%20known%2C%20particularly%20internationally.) ASWAD - Assocation for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (https://www.aswadiaspora.org/) Wideman Davis Dance (http://widemandavisdance.org/) Special Guest: Winston Benons, Jr..
Greetings Glocal Citizens! As I head back to the Continent, I can't help but to train my mind on what it takes to seed and sow solutions in Africa's best interest. This week's guest has also been invested in these types of solutions for his entire career. A serial social entrepreneur, innovation consultant, service designer, learning scientist and startup coach, Femi Longe is passionate about helping individuals and organizations be and do their best to enable a better world. Born in the UK, raised in his Nigera and now based in Ireland, Femi currently works on the Financial Freedom team at the Human Rights Foundation (https://hrf.org) as Global Bitcoin Lead, driving strategy and execution of the HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund, This is a fund dedicated to growing adoption of Bitcoin and adjacent freedom technologies especially in countries under repressive regimes. Previously, he was the CEO of QALA Africa (https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/09/05/jay-z-and-jack-dorsey-funded-btrust-acquires-african-bitcoin-talent-firm-qala/) — acquired by Btrust and transformed into Btrust Builders, which is an engineering training programme helping African software developers transition to careers in Bitcoin & Lightning development. Prior to joining the Bitcoin ecosystem, Femi co-founded and remains a non-executive Director at Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) (https://cchub.africa), Africa's leading social innovation centre and tech hub. Earlier in his career, he gained experience at the UK's foremost social innovation centre, The Young Foundation, where he established the UpRising Leadership Programme. As the transitions between the Stone Age to Bronze Age, and various different human technologies delivered us to the Industrial Age and presently the Information Age, all contributing the imprint that is humanity today, I am extsatic to be a storyteller with the ability to share perspectives like these. Stories that support and inspire a borderless mindset and are indeed manifesting a new world. Where to find Femi? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-longe/) On YouTube (https://youtu.be/05Pfg89FZkg?si=mJcdPT8VDdRrS3k4) What's Femi watching? Wicked (https://www.wickedmovie.com) Emilia Pérez (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilia_P%C3%A9rez) What's Femi reading? Start with Why (https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/) by Simon Sinek Other topics of interest: Ilesa, Nigeria (https://www.osunstate.gov.ng/about/major-towns/ilesa/) Ijesha tribe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijesha) About AIESEC (https://aiesec.org/) Silk Road (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road) Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin Vision (https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf) Meme Coin Spoils (https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/trumps-meme-coin-made-nearly-100-million-trading-fees-small-traders-lost-money-2025-02-03/) Sam Bankman-Fried (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Bankman-Fried) and the collapse of FTX What happened to Silcon Valley Bank (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_Silicon_Valley_Bank) About South Korean crypto currency entrepreneur Do Kwon (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7r8xr3v76o) Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziGD7vQOwl8) On Moring Pages (https://www.urbanwildstudio.com/blog/2024/2/21/benefits-of-morning-pages-artists-way-graphic-notes) Special Guest: Femi Longe.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's the eve of the Lunar New Year - the year of the Wood Snake, which in combination represent growth, flexibility, tolerance, wisdom, intuition, mystery, and cunningness with hints of furtiveness. These themes are a fitting context for this two-part conversation with Ghanaian-Brit, Akua Ofosuhene. Akua is an active and vocal plant medicine advocate and a psychedelic guide specializing in Psyliosibin (magic mushrooms) and Ayahuasca. Advising on intentions and integration she helps her clients get the most out of the psychedelic experience by teaching them other supporting healing modalities furthering healing and growth. She has spoken at the UK's largest psychedelic conference, Breaking Convention where she is also on the management board, Oxford University, UCL, Drug Science, Psychedelic Society UK, and at many other events and podcasts. As the founder of African Spiritual Practices Events and Retreats she will be facilitating her first Ayahuasca retreat in Ghana, with plants grown locally in Ghana, February 16-22, 2025. The podcast is no stranger to this sector, listen and learn more from mental health futurist, Sara Reed (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/sara-j-reed) and stay tuned for an upcoming conversation with writer and professor, Dr. Nicholas Powers about his newest work, Black Psychedelic Revolution (https://www.blackpsychedelicrevolution.com). Where to find Akua and register for the upcoming retreat? https://www.akuao.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/akuaofosuhene/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/akuaofosuhene/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/akua.ofosuhene.7/) On TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@akua.ofosuhene) On X (https://twitter.com/AkuaOfosuhene/status/1861006456579133447) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@akua1969/featured) What's Akue reading? Addiction Expert, Gabor Maté (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabor_Mat%C3%A9) and his book Hold on to Your Kids (https://drgabormate.com/book/hold-on-to-your-kids/) Diane Benscoter (https://dianebenscoter.com) and Shoes of A Servant (https://dianebenscoter.com/books/) What's Akua watching? The Real Housewives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Housewives) Other topics of interest: Who was Okomfa Anokye? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okomfo_Anokye) About Mampong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mampong#:~:text=History,-See%20also:%20Asante&text=Agona%2DAkrofoso%2C%20often%20regarded%20as,Botaase%2C%20later%20known%20as%20Mampong) Gyetiase Village (https://ashantidevelopment.org/2024/11/ashanti-developments-museum-in-gyetiase/) Yaa Asantewaa War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Golden_Stool) A brief history of Denim Styles in the 1970s (https://www.denue.ca/blog/history-class/a-brief-history-denim-in-the-1970s) About Camden Lock Market (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Market) About Carnaby Street (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnaby_Street) A Punk Perspective (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpcu.12698) Kirikou and the Sorceress (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirikou_and_the_Sorceress) Animated Film Social-economic Impacts of Ebola in West Africa (https://www.undp.org/africa/publications/socio-economic-impact-ebola-virus-disease-west-africa) EMDR - Rapid Eye Movement Therapy (https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/treatment/emdr-therapy) EFT Tapping (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eft-tapping) African Perspectives on Igoba (https://www.iceers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ENG_ICEERS_IBOGA_Phase-2.pdf) Creator of eutaptics® FasterEFT™, Robert Gene Smith (https://skillstochange.com/pages/meet-robert-g-smith?srsltid=AfmBOoqtgZt2x111Qsrm6jONzm3vrFbU9L8yQa54YEnZQU6MaLWd4GtP) Byron Katie and The Work (https://thework.com) Ayahuasca Plant Science (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqQmakP3ihA) The Ayahuasca Manifesto (https://doorofperception.com/wp-content/uploads/Ayahuasca-Manifesto_Anonymous_May-1st-2012.pdf) Special Guest: Akua Ofosuhene.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's the eve of the Lunar New Year - the year of the Wood Snake, which in combination represent growth, flexibility, tolerance, wisdom, intuition, mystery, and cunningness with hints of furtiveness. These themes are a fitting context for this two-part conversation with Ghanaian-Brit, Akua Ofosuhene. Akua is an active and vocal plant medicine advocate and a psychedelic guide specializing in Psyliosibin (magic mushrooms) and Ayahuasca. Advising on intentions and integration she helps her clients get the most out of the psychedelic experience by teaching them other supporting healing modalities furthering healing and growth. She has spoken at the UK's largest psychedelic conference, Breaking Convention where she is also on the management board, Oxford University, UCL, Drug Science, Psychedelic Society UK, and at many other events and podcasts. As the founder of African Spiritual Practices Events and Retreats she will be facilitating her first Ayahuasca retreat in Ghana, with plants grown locally in Ghana, February 16-22, 2025. The podcast is no stranger to this sector, listen and learn more from mental health futurist, Sara Reed (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/sara-j-reed) and stay tuned for an upcoming conversation with writer and professor, Dr. Nicholas Powers about his newest work, Black Psychedelic Revolution (https://www.blackpsychedelicrevolution.com). Where to find Akua and register for the upcoming retreat? https://www.akuao.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/akuaofosuhene/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/akuaofosuhene/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/akua.ofosuhene.7/) On TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@akua.ofosuhene) On X (https://twitter.com/AkuaOfosuhene/status/1861006456579133447) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@akua1969/featured) What's Akue reading? Addiction Expert, Gabor Maté (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabor_Mat%C3%A9) and his book Hold on to Your Kids (https://drgabormate.com/book/hold-on-to-your-kids/) Diane Benscoter (https://dianebenscoter.com) and Shoes of A Servant (https://dianebenscoter.com/books/) What's Akua watching? The Real Housewives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Housewives) Other topics of interest: Who was Okomfa Anokye? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okomfo_Anokye) About Mampong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mampong#:~:text=History,-See%20also:%20Asante&text=Agona%2DAkrofoso%2C%20often%20regarded%20as,Botaase%2C%20later%20known%20as%20Mampong) Gyetiase Village (https://ashantidevelopment.org/2024/11/ashanti-developments-museum-in-gyetiase/) Yaa Asantewaa War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Golden_Stool) A brief history of Denim Styles in the 1970s (https://www.denue.ca/blog/history-class/a-brief-history-denim-in-the-1970s) About Camden Lock Market (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Market) About Carnaby Street (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnaby_Street) A Punk Perspective (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpcu.12698) Kirikou and the Sorceress (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirikou_and_the_Sorceress) Animated Film Social-economic Impacts of Ebola in West Africa (https://www.undp.org/africa/publications/socio-economic-impact-ebola-virus-disease-west-africa) EMDR - Rapid Eye Movement Therapy (https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/treatment/emdr-therapy) EFT Tapping (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eft-tapping) African Perspectives on Igoba (https://www.iceers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ENG_ICEERS_IBOGA_Phase-2.pdf) Creator of eutaptics® FasterEFT™, Robert Gene Smith (https://skillstochange.com/pages/meet-robert-g-smith?srsltid=AfmBOoqtgZt2x111Qsrm6jONzm3vrFbU9L8yQa54YEnZQU6MaLWd4GtP) Byron Katie and The Work (https://thework.com) Ayahuasca Plant Science (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqQmakP3ihA) The Ayahuasca Manifesto (https://doorofperception.com/wp-content/uploads/Ayahuasca-Manifesto_Anonymous_May-1st-2012.pdf) Special Guest: Akua Ofosuhene.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I had the pleasure of hosting this conversation late last year and it's now right on time as my guest, Elizabeth Solaru and her team hosted their 2025 Diversity in Luxury Awards (https://diversityinluxury.com/awards/) last week in London. Born and raised between the UK And Nigeria, Elizabeth is an author, international keynote speaker and award-winning entrepreneur. Formerly a scientist and headhunter, she honed her expertise in understanding luxury clients having successfully founded the world-renowned and multi-award-winning atelier Elizabeth's Cake Emporium (https://elizabethscakeemporium.com) and the Luxury Business Emporium. Author of the best-selling book, OPULENCIA (https://elizabethscakeemporium.com/book/), Elizabeth is the co-host of the Luxury Business Podcast (https://luxurybusinessemporium.com/luxury-business-podcast/) and Luxury News Weekly Podcast (https://luxurybusinessemporium.com/luxury-news-weekly/), a humorous and informative news commentary podcast focusing on luxury news and the business of luxury. Creator of the first million-dollar cake NFT, she is considered to be a leading expert in the world of luxury selling. As an international speaker, she has spoken in 30 cities around the world and her latest book, The LUXpreneur: How to start and build a successful luxury brand (https://a.co/d/82fEQhe) extends that global reach changing the narrative on how to build a luxury business by providing an in-depth analysis of luxury entrepreneurship and client psychology. Where to find Elizabeth? www.luxurybusinessemporium.com (https://luxurybusinessemporium.com/about/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-solaru-1ba901/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethsCakeEmporium/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqOSZGvG5unX6e9EXO6VPSw) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/elizabethscakeemporium/) On TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@luxurybusinessguru) What's Elizabeth reading? Clarity (https://jamesclear.com/quotes/clarity-is-freedom-know-what-is-important-to-you-and-it-will-grant-you-the-freedom-to-ignore-everything-else) and books by James Clear Other topics of interest: About Pimlico, London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimlico) About Barnet, UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Barnet) Lady Elizabeth Anson (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/world/europe/lady-elizabeth-anson-dead.html) Bain's Luxury in Transition Report (https://www.bain.com/insights/luxury-in-transition-securing-future-growth/) NFT 101 (https://nftnow.com/guides/what-is-nft-meaning/) Chanakya School of Craft (https://chanakya.school) Tea at The Dorchester (https://www.dorchestercollection.com/london/the-dorchester/dining/afternoon-tea) Tea at the Ritz (https://www.theritzlondon.com/dine-with-us/afternoon-tea/) About Tea at sketch (https://www.laurashumbleabode.com/laurashumbleabode/blog/review-afternoon-tea-at-sketch-london) Tea at the Shard (https://www.the-shard.com/news-events/events/2022/skyline-afternoon-tea-at-ting/) Tea at the Taj (https://www.taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk/en/dine-central-london/kona-afternoon-tea/) Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley (https://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/restaurants-bars/cedric-grolet-at-the-berkeley/) Special Guest: Elizabeth Solaru.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! After spending the new year chasing Aurora Borealis aka the Northern Lights (linkhttps://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html) in the North of Ireland and communing with friends and family there and in the UK, I'm back in NYC grounding and self-caring for a bit. The not so great news is that I just missed seeing the Northern Lights live, but now I'm that much more prepared for the next time. The great news is that I was able to catch up with this week's guest, Ghanaian actor, producer and casting director, Agbeko “Bex” Mortty before he heads to the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (https://miscifi.com) representing Ghana with The B.A.T.U. Project: ADAM THE FIRST, Ghana's first feature length science fiction film. He has stared in films and series like the Tribeca Film Festival award winning film Children of the Mountain, Shampaign, Men Don't Cry, The Cursed Ones, and the world No. 1 Netflix Original Sci-Fi TV series AWAY, staring Hilary Swank and Josh Charles. His production titles include Children of the Mountain, Amerikafuo and The B.A.T.U Project: ADAM THE FIRST. As casting director his projects include FREETOWN, PARADISE and Children of the Mountain. In addition, he is also an IT consultant and an enstooled chief in Ghana's Volta Region, which Bex tells us all about in this in depth tour of his experiences as a returnee. Where to find Bex? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/agbeko-bex-mortty-a64638/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thebexstage/?hl=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thebexstage/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@bexthethespian9369) What's Bex reading? Producing Independent Feature Films That Make Money (https://a.co/d/6LllH3K) by Rick Jenkins Other topics of Interest? About Tamale (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIdiT-cory2qFeq4pjLV70iWEUiDyj7YN&si=LwI04yRgHKqfaS-O), the Dagomba People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagomba_people) and Dagbani language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagbani_language) The Yaa Centre in London (https://www.facebook.com/YAACentreW9/) About Gbledi (https://www.facebook.com/AfadjatoViaGbledi/?locale=da_DK), in Hohoe, Volta Region Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohoe) Ghana Inaugurates, John Dramani Mahama as President (https://www.youtube.com/live/qSbNx_ZAZwM?si=FmM60e4aD9xLEse9) Africa Cinema Summit (https://africacinemasummit.com) About Filmmaker M. Sayibu (https://www.atfmovie.com/cast-crew#:~:text=Writer%2FDirector-,M.,ultimately%20achieved%20under%20his%20helm.) About Silver Star Tower, Accra (https://www.silverstartowers.com) and their Corporate Run Ghana Initiative (https://thebftonline.com/2024/08/11/14th-global-media-alliance-japan-motors-corporate-run-and-walk-launched/#google_vignette) Where did my Aurora chasing take me in Ireland? (https://youtu.be/S8cFHfOzeEE?si=ODxBM2hix5bq-eFj) Special Guest: Agbeko “Bex” Mortty.
New Year Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we meet Aimée Wallin, co-director at the non-profit Ghana Food Movement. Born of Swedish and Malian heritage, since completing her studies in Ghana, she calls Ghana home and finds herself a political foodie advocating for local eating, sustainable production methods and preservation of black food cultures. Ghana Food Movement is a network for food actors in Ghana with the vision of a resilient local food system that provides jobs and nutritious food for all Ghanaians. At the end of December, they celebrated the opening of their food education hub in Accra, check out the festivities here (https://www.instagram.com/ghanafoodmovement/reel/DEFxbIGiS0T/). The kitchen is open! Where to find Aimée? Ghana Food Movement (https://www.ghanafoodmovement.com/ourevents) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimée-wallin-a74167153/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/aimee.wav/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/awallin1) What's Aimée reading? Butter Honey Pig Bread (https://a.co/d/hgTcgix) by Francesca Ekwuyasi (https://youtu.be/czTFnvrH2FI?si=hJMOjxnatdq9pHHq) Jollof and Other Revolutions (https://a.co/d/dHZOguL) by Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi (https://ogunyemi.net) Other topics of interest: About Mali (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali) Sweden through the Ages (linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden) Agricology (https://www.organicresearchcentre.com/our-research/research-project-library/agricology/) On Food Insecurity (https://www.fao.org/4/al936e/al936e00.pdf) Malian Cuisine (https://mintteatrails.com/malian-food/) Try Fonio Flakes (https://www.instagram.com/nourimeal/) The Blue Skies (https://blueskies.com/our-story/) Story Perspectives on Sankofa (https://sankofa.org/about) Food Sovereignty Ghana (https://www.facebook.com/FoodSovereigntyGhana/#) Special Guest: Aimée Wallin.
New Year's Eve Greetings Glocal Citizens! As we bid 2024 farewell, we have another Glocal Citizen to thank for our connection with this weeks guest. This fall in Accra, Rita Kusi (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/rita-kusi) and her team hosted their Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa 2024 (https://gchrafrica.com/) where this week's guest was a featured panelist sharing her expertise as a leading business leader in the technology space. Ghanaian born and raised, Deborah Asmah is a trailblazing expert in digital governance and fintech, whose contributions have significantly impacted Ghana's fintech landscape. Her innovative approaches have enabled seamless access to payment tools, promoted financial inclusion, and driven digital transformation in various sectors. She is co-founder of Npontu Technologies Ltd (https://npontu.com/), a tech company specialising in the use of AI for the provision of financial solutions and digital transformation. As a Certified Information Privacy Manager with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), she is also an ardent activist for Public Policy. With extensive research experience at the intersection of technology and financial inclusion she is passionate about leveraging digital tools and platforms to bridge social divides and promote financially inclusive, sustainable societies. Where to find Deborah? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-asmah-cipm-8524585a/?originalSubdomain=gh) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deborahasmah/) On X (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://twitter.com/mameasmah&ved=2ahUKEwjKtK_MlsmKAxWnPjQIHTM8IB4QFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3wI8aQ_5IYLeo9v9_lWKip) What's Deborah listening to? Jubilare Group (https://www.jubilaregrouplbg.com/) Other topics of interest: Winneba, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winneba) Ghana Skills and Knowledge Bank (https://gksb.gov.gh) Ghana's Ministry of Communications and Digitization (https://moc.gov.gh) On the Digital Financial Landscaape in Ghana (https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2022/09/digital-financial-inclusion-and-security-the-regulation-of-mobile-money-in-ghana?lang=en) About National Service in Ghana (https://www.nss.gov.gh) What are WAEC and BECE (https://waecgh.org/history/)? Stanford Seed (https://stnghana.org/about/) Special Guest: Deborah Asmah.
Season's Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast, our first guest, Cordie Aziz is back with fresh insights from her work and life changes since our first conversation. Cordie, now a mother of three is Founder and Executive Director of Enviornment360 an NGO turned social enterprise that has successfully executed sustainable waste management projects in urban and coastal communities in Greater Accra and Kumasi. Cordie's achievements include creating of the first successful community plastic collection program in Accra; developing the first waste picker-run sorting center in West Africa; and successfully partnering with local and national agencies as the recycling coordinator for the city of Accra, to name a few. We recorded this conversation during the ramp up to their 10th anniversary celebration at their new headquarters. In this conversation, we catch up on how Cordie is designing her work-life balance with purpose, allowing her to continue to evolve as an entreprenuer while staying rooted in her new role as a working mother. Where to find Cordie? Check out the show notes (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/252) from her first appearance. Other topics of interest: Jackson State University (https://www.jsums.edu) GhScientific (https://ghscientific.com) About Australian Aid (https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-aid-brochure.pdf) What is Verra (https://verra.org)? Special Guest: Cordie Aziz.
Anniversary Greetings Glocal Citizens! We've been coming together nearly every week for five years!! On this day in 2019, this two-part interview with my first guest launched the podcast. In celebration and commemoration, stay tuned for episodes throughout the year revisiting past guests and catching up “Where are they now?” style. This week it's a flashback to the very beginning with our first guest, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, Cordie Aziz. It's delighting that this conversation stands the test of time and is as relevant then as now. Check out the show notes for Cordie's other episodes to find out more about her then. And come back next week to catch up on Cordie's now. Where to find Cordie? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordie-aziz-917b9a7/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/environment360/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/intellectualgoddess) On X (https://x.com/goneiighana) What's Cordie reading? Discerning the Voice of God (https://www.cokesbury.com/9780802450128-Discerning-the-Voice-of-God?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_t4OyS1wxydHbmB2Eq85Vichy5_&gclid=CjwKCAiAmfq6BhAsEiwAX1jsZ1wS8QDq7tosbeE_VnxrRzxbNt3srDVs2nkUOSFipmwQFEaDq5co3BoCbhcQAvD_BwE) by Priscilla Shirer Topics of interest: On Dumsor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumsor) Kwasia! (https://quizlet.com/gb/414844637/twi-curses-flash-cards/) Take a trip to Dodowa Market (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp8TmtS1Nbw) What is waste picking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_picker)? About GIZ Ghana (https://accra.diplo.de/gh-en/mittler-giz-1097526) What is PET (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/polyethylene-terephthalate)? A bit about the recycilng lifecycle of a plastic bottle (https://www.rts.com/blog/plastic-bottle-recycling-facts/#:~:text=The%20recycling%20process%20has%20several,goods%2C%20including%20new%20water%20bottles!) Special Guest: Cordie Aziz.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week is the finale of our writing as activism series at the 2024 Pa Gya! Literary Festival (https://writersprojectghana.com/pagyafest/). It has been such a pleasure bringing the works and words of these writers to a wider audience. It has been a wonderful multi-generational compilation of wisdom across genres. Joining us this week is Ivana Akotowaa Ofori, a Ghanaian storyteller known also by the alias, “The Spider Kid.” She is a weaver of words in many forms, including fiction, non-fiction and spoken-word poetry. Akotowaa has been nominated for various awards for her prose writing. Her work is included in the Flash Fiction Ghana anthology, Kenkey for Ewes and Other Very Short Stories, and the Writivism anthology, And Morning Will Come. She is also included in the Africa Risen Anthology 2022 (http://Tor.com) with her short story, “Exiles of Witchery”. Akotowaa's debut novella, The Year of Return (2023) (https://www.android-press.com/product-page/the-year-of-return-paperback) has been published in the US with Android Press and in West Africa with Smartline Publishers. Writing aside, Akotowaa spends much of her time looking for excuses to make everything purple and this imaginative, playful spirit definitely shines through our conversation. Where to find Akotowaa? On Akotowaa's Blog (https://akotowaa.wordpress.com/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivana-akotowaa-ofori-60b54620a/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/akotowaa/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/_akotowaa?lang=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Akotowaavimusic/) What's Akotowaa watching? Dr. Who (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who) Sherlock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_(TV_series)) What's Akotowaa reading? The Color Purple by Alica Walker (https://alicewalkersgarden.com/books/book-the-color-purple/) How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair (https://safiyasinclair.com/home-how-to-say-babylon) Saltwater Slavery by Stephanie E. Smallwood (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674030688) Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (https://jennifermakumbi.net/portfolio-item/manchester-happened-lets-tell-this-story-properly/) Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (https://www.peacemedie.com) Other topics of interest: Black Girls Glow (https://blackgirlsglow.org) and the KOSHKA Sound Residency (https://youtu.be/NAG6rKJEoE4?si=NScETAJX-wS8lMDf) Burma Camp, Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana_Armed_Forces) About Roald Dahl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl) Ananasesem (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1762627273941978&id=142243112647077&set=a.1201015243436520#) About Kente Cloth (https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/teacher-resources/games-crafts/kente-cloth-project/#:~:text=The%20origin%20is%20explained%20in,use%20materials%20to%20weave%20kente.) Special Guest: Ivana Akotowaa Ofori.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! We are nearing the end of our Writing As Activism series @ the 2024 Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. This week, Ghanaian writer and editor winning acclaim as a children's author, poet, broadcaster and novelist, Nii Ayikwei Parkes joins the conversation. Winner of multiple international awards including the ACRAG (Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana) award, his novel Tail of the Blue Bird won France's two major prizes for translated fiction – Prix Baudelaire and Prix Laure Bataillon – in 2014. Nii Ayikwei is the founder of flipped eye publishing (https://flippedeye.net), a leading small press; serves on the boards of World Literature Today and the AKO Caine Prize; and was chair of judges for the 2020 Commonwealth Prize. Translated in multiple languages, he has also written for National Geographic, Financial Times, the Guardian and Lonely Planet. His most recent books are The Ga Picture Alphabet and Azúcar (https://www.peepaltreepress.com/books/azucar), a novel. Currently Producer of Literature and Talks at Brighton Festival, he is also author of two collections of poetry The Makings of You (2010) and The Geez (2020), both published by Peepal Tree Press. In this conversation, we journey with Nii Ayikwei through his works, his entreprenuership, his love for food and rum, and much more! See Nii in converation at Pa Gya! here (https://www.youtube.com/live/fEFByAZDgwo?si=Cp2R4hSp5XcNiOva). Where to find Nii Ayikwei? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/niiayikwei/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/niiayikweiparkes/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ayikweiparkes/) On X (https://x.com/BlueBirdTail) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/NiiParkes_A) On Tik Tok (https://www.tiktok.com/@niiayikweiparkes) On BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/niiayikwei.bsky.social/post/3kbj5pcnbso2l) What's Nii Ayikwei listening to? Gene Noble (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCRUMqB8CNGlFwJpwjALL-w) Blues Man Robert Cray (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cray) The Roots (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roots) Cody Chesnutt + The Roots (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKw_umLS56A) and Headphone Masterpiece (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Headphone_Masterpiece) Nii's Pan-African Activism essential reading list: Howard W. French, Born In Blackness (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/26/born-in-blackness-howard-w-french-review-africa-africans-and-the-making-of-the-modern-world) Mongo Beti's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongo_Beti), The Poor Christ of Bomba (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poor_Christ_of_Bomba) Ama Atta Aidoo's, No Sweetness Here (https://www.feministpress.org/books-n-z/no-sweetness) Franz Fanon, Black Skin, White Mask (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Skin,_White_Masks) You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town (https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=804875960113686), Zoë Wicomb Kofi Awoonor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Awoonor), This Earth My Brother Other topics of interest: Historic Jamestown, Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown/Usshertown,_Accra) Oto Blohum, Old Accra (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/geography/old_accra.php#google_vignette) North Kaneshie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaneshie#:~:text=Kaneshie%20is%20a%20suburb%20in,beginnings%20as%20a%20night%20market.) Thornton Heath, UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Heath) About Courttia Newland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courttia_Newland) Learn more about Nii's uncle Frank Kobina Parkes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Kobina_Parkes) Nkyinkyim (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/nkyinkyim/#:~:text=Nkyinkyim%20is%20an%20Akan%20word,symbol%20of%20dedication%20to%20service.) in the Adinkra (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org) On Ghana's Chop Bars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chop_bar) About Spanish-Caribbean Rum (https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/spirited-history-caribbean-rum/) About Rhum Agricole (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhum_agricole) Special Guest: Nii Ayikwei Parkes.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week writing as activism is taking us to a land with a long history of activist thought ans action - Ireland. Born and raised in Nigeria, Dagogo Hart migrated to Ireland at an early age to complete his studies and now calls it home along with his young family. He is a poet, playwright, and spoken word artist whose words have wowed audiences from bar basements to electric picnic stages. He started performing in Dublin in 2016 in open mics and poetry slams, which saw him win the Slam Sunday grand slam and become an All Ireland poetry slam finalist. Since then he has performed for festivals like Electric Picnic, St. Patricks, Dublin Fringe, Drogheda literary festival, Cuirt International Poetry Festival, and First fortnight. He is one-third of the collective WeAreGriot - a poetry collective that curates art events around poetry. His personal works include, The Home Project (a series of poetry films), RedBeard Paddy (a poetry short film), Mmanwu (a play in the 2023 Dublin Fringe Festival), See True (a spoken word variety show) and Boy Child (a spoken-word play), the last two co-written with FeliSpeaks, Talkatives; a hip-hop and poetry slam as part of WeAreGriot. As you'll learn in our conversation and glean from his works, his poetry is inspired by his hometown in Lagos, Nigeria, and his experience since moving to Ireland. See Dagogo on stage at Pa Gya! 2024 performing his words here (https://www.youtube.com/live/Oovils3mV7o?si=Dl9TE-EqGvvNV0vK) and in discussion about his works here (https://www.youtube.com/live/fEFByAZDgwo?si=s32fQt58aspsPkOQ). Where else to find Dagogo? WeAreGriot (https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poets/wearegriot) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dagogo-dagogo-hart-830774108/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dagogo_hart/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/dondagz?lang=en) What's Dagogo watching? Fences (film) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fences_(film)) Shōgun (series) (https://shogun.fandom.com/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun) What's Dagogo listenining to? Alice Smith sings “I Put a Spell on You” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz506sFHeJY) Other topics of interest: Surulere, Nigeria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surulere) Tralee, Ireland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tralee) Cork, Ireland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_(city)) Visit Dublin, Ireland (https://www.visitdublin.com/things-to-do/arts-culture) and the Clondalkin Tower (https://www.dublinsoutdoors.ie/round-tower-clondalkin-village/) The Abbey Theatre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Theatre) and The Gate Theatre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_Theatre) Port Harcourt Tourist Beach (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Harcourt_Tourist_Beach) More on Chucky Ar la (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiocfaidh_%C3%A1r_l%C3%A1) Inshallah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inshallah) Where are the Irish language speaking towns in Ireland? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaeltacht) Special Guest: Dagogo Hart.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week our Writing as Activism @ Pa Gya! 2024 continues in conversation with Liberian novelist, journalist, film critic, curator, speaker and lecturer of African Literature and Arts at Leiden University in the Netherlands, Vamba Sherif. Vamba has written several novels, including The Emperor's Son (2024), a novel about emperor Samori Touré, The Witness (2011), Bound to Secrecy (2007), The Kingdom of Sebah (2003), Land of My Fathers (1999), and the memoire Unprecedented Love (2021). He has curated several anthologies, including the bestselling Black: Afro-European literature in the Netherlands and Belgium. His work, which has been translated in many languages, deals with themes such as migration, belonging, love, the history of slavery, colonialism and the African resistance to it, and the mysteries of existence. These are all themes that Vamba brings to vivid life in our discussion. Click the and check out Vamba's Pa Gya! session (https://www.youtube.com/live/GIP5DqSjC_k?si=uV_GjrsM0mwn_wJK) centering his latest book The Emperor's Son. Where to find Vamba? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vamba-sherif-50767755/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vamba.omarsherif/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vamba.sherif) On X (https://x.com/vambasherif) Vamba's essential Pan-African activism reading list: [The Radience of the King)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheRadianceoftheKing) by Camara Laye (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camara_Laye) and excerpt to the introduction by Toni Morrison (https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2001/08/09/on-the-radiance-of-the-king/?srsltid=AfmBOoqxwN5ZH14QIhyQGo80szFC7bLl7aF7ogRxSVSw6N6M5oh1mwJc) Other topics of interest: Who was Samori Touré (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samori_Ture)? Kolahun, Liberia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolahun_District) Liberia's First Civil War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Liberian_Civil_War) About Edward Wilmot Blyden, father of Pan-Africanism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilmot_Blyden#:~:text=As%20a%20writer%2C%20Blyden%20has,of%20the%20%22African%20race%22.) About the Gulf War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War) Senegalese filmmaker, Ousmane Sembène (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ousmane_Semb%C3%A8ne) About Groningen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groningen) Why lekker (https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/why-dutch-always-lekker) is so sweet… The Comet (https://youtu.be/aQzgZTmwAPc?si=O9t7qHFyV2PeYLYa) by W.E.B Dubois
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Next up in our Writing as Activism series, this week's episode, recorded at the 2024 Pa Gya! festival (in case you are wondering, this is the session taking place during our interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urYu7IA0ENE), features Nigerian poet and children's book author, Aduke Gomez. Aduke embraced writing in the past decade after a career in law and finance. She now utilises her legal and advisory skills to assist in business and creative development. Commencing her career in legal practice with the law firm of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, she later worked for many years in various leadership roles within Ecobank Nigeria Ltd and Leadway Pensure PFA. She is regularly called to speak and moderate on topics related to her interest in history and culture and these have included sessions at Cornell University; The Institute of Africa and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos; the Lagos State Record and Archive Bureau; the annual conference of the Lagos Studies Association; the Ake Festival; and the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) amongst others. Her published collection of poems have featured as festival books for both the LABAF and the Ake Festival. And her children's books have also featured at previous editions of LABAF and Akada Children's Book Festival. She is currently the Chair of the Steering Committee of Art4Life (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRWjtk1Z9L6RlaKbZ88sy5w) - an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Health established to introduce art and the practice of art into the entire healthcare process. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Open House Lagos as well as the Advisory Board of Lagos Biennial. She volunteers on the Board of Child Life Line (https://www.childlifeline.org/mission) - an NGO established for the welfare of street children. In this conversation we not only get to know how Aduke pivoted into arts and public service, we also get to know more about her local in the context of her paternal ancestor's return from Brazil to Lagos. This speaks volume to the idea of activism as a way of being. Where to find Aduke? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aduke-gomez-503668/?originalSubdomain=ng) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/adukegomez/?hl=en) OnX (https://x.com/duksyg) Who is on Aduke's essential Pan-African reading list? Mariama Bâ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariama_B%C3%A2), in The Paris Review (https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/05/13/feminize-your-canon-mariama-ba/) and more (https://www.ascleiden.nl/content/library-weekly/mariama-ba) Ama Atta Aidoo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ama_Ata_Aidoo) Buchi Emecheta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchi_Emecheta) Florence “Flora” Nwapa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Nwapa) Other topic of interest: Return migration: Brazilians in Nigeria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilians_in_Nigeria) The Nigerian Brazillian Project (https://nigerianbrazilianproject.org/aduke-gomez/) About the Emanicapados of Brazil (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2512522) Who are Tabom peoples? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabom_people) Biola Alabi Media (https://biolaalabimedia.com/about-us/) Special Guest: Aduke Gomez.
New Month Greetings Glocal Citizens! The first Tuesday in November represents the official US election day. As polling evolves for higher participation and greater inclusion, most states offer early voting so millions have already cast thier votes. Throughout this year of elections across the globe, the build up to the two where I have a say, the United States and Ghana, has played a critical role in inspiring my most activist self to move the dial in different ways toward manifesting a new world. Coincidentally, this week on the podcast kicks off our Writing as Activism series in coordination with the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. Recorded live at the eighth installment of the festivaland in the days that followed, starting the panel, Writing as Activism: Ghanaian Voices and Pan-African Perspectives Across Genres, the conversation starts with a distinguished voices covering works of poetry, screenwriting, and nonfiction scholarship with: Nicole Amarteifio is an acclaimed Ghanaian-American TV/film writer, director, and producer. She successfully launched the hit web series 'An African City' - dubbed by CNN and the BBC as Africa's answer to ‘Sex and the City'. Returning Glocal Citizen, Nydia A. Swaby is a Black feminist artist, researcher and curator. Her practice engages archives, autoethnography, photography, the moving image, and the imagination to explore the gendered, diasporic and affective dimensions of Black being and becoming. In addition to curating artistic programmes, she creates visual narratives, research and performance texts. Nydia's first book, Amy Ashwood Garvey and the Future of Black Feminist Archives, was published by Lawrence Wishart in October 2024 as part of LW's Radical Black Women book series. She is also developing an artist film, Amy and Me in the Archive, which will be screened at the forthcoming Singapore International Photography Festival 2024. And Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Kwame Dawes, author of numerous books of poetry and other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. His most recent collection is Sturge Town (Peepal Tree Press, UK 2023). Dawes is Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University. He teaches in the Pacific MFA Program and is the Series Editor of the African Poetry Book Series, Director of the African Poetry Book Fund, and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. He is a Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Kwame Dawes is the winner of the prestigious Windham/Campbell Award for Poetry and was a finalist for the 2022 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. In 2022 Dawes was awarded the Order of Distinction Commander class by the Government of Jamaica. He is the Poet Laureate of Jamaica (2024-2027). Click through to find out more about the Pa Gya! Literary Festival and the Writer's Project Ghana (https://writersprojectghana.com/pagyafest/) and watch this and other festival panels at WPGTV (https://www.youtube.com/@wpgtv3685). Where to find Nicole? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleamarteifio/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amerleyproductions/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/nicolelovesghana/?_rdc=1&_rdr) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/AnAfricanCity) On X (https://x.com/allthingsafrica) Where to find Kwame? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwame-dawes-2a23943b/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kwame.dawes/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/kwamedawes?lang=en) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/KwameDawes/?_rdc=1&_rdr) Where to find Nydia? On Glocal Citizens (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nydia-swaby) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nydia-a-swaby-85a04132/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nydiaswaby/) On X (https://x.com/NydiaSwaby) Other topics of interest and the Essential Pan-African Activism reading list coming soon! *This audio recording has been edited for clarity from the original video recording. Special Guests: Kwame Dawes, Nicole Amarteifio, and Nydia Swaby.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week is the final installment in our collaboration with Bisi Bright's Livewell Initiative and the Women of Africa Post-Pandemic Empowerment and Advocacy Programme with support from Gilead Sciences USA. In a fitting conclusion, Aggrey Aluso, the Director, Africa Region and global policy lead for the Pandemic Action Network, driving strategic advocacy efforts in Africa and globally joins the conversation. Born, raised and currently based in Kenya, Aggrey also serves as the incoming Executive Director of Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA), PAN's networked advocacy partner, where he is mobilizing advocates to champion an Africa-centric, globally-facing resilience agenda. He brings over 15 years of experience in advancing intersectional justice, using citizen-led, rights-based approaches in Africa. Previously, he served as an Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa's (OSIEA) Health and Rights program senior manager. He also coordinated the Open Society Africa (Pan Africa) Vaccine Justice to advance Africa's vaccine-related research, development, and manufacturing. He served as the University of Manitoba's Global Institute for Public Health's East African Policy and Advocacy Manager. Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic, Aggrey offers excellent insights into the current M-pox crisis as well as a thoughtful discussion on the glocal policy landscape around elevating health as a human right for all. All are invited to join this week's PPAG program on Thursday, October 31st at 1PM WAT using this link (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85846014227?pwd=yy9uV1BDt0xefbDsQ4ZbXVmvrWxp9m.1) Where to find Aggrey? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aggrey-aluso-108a89130/) On Instragram (linnk https://www.instagram.com/aggreyaluso/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/aggrey.aluso/?_rdc=1&_rdr) On X (https://x.com/aggrealuso) What's Aggrey reading? As a Man Thinketh (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81959.As_a_Man_Thinketh) by James Allen 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and other books (https://www.ynharari.com/book/21-lessons-book/?_gl=1cbq9a_upMQ.._gaNDYxMDg1NjIyLjE3MzAwNzE0MTY._ga_3VXWK7L4ZR*MTczMDA3MTQxNS4xLjAuMTczMDA3MTQxNS4wLjAuMA..) by Yuval Noah Harari Whats Aggrey watching? The Lincoln Lawyer (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81303831) New Amsterdam (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/80241181) Other topics of interest: Nyanza, Kenya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyanza_Province) More on Mpox (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mpox) and zoonotic diseases (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/zoonotic-diseases) UN Summit of the Future (https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future) The Global Fund (https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/) Kenya Finance Bill Protests (https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/26/kenyas-finance-bill-this-is-what-led-to-the-protest//) About Wangari Maathai (https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai) About the Mpox Joint Action Plan ([https://www.afro.who.int/news/african-cdc-and-who-launch-joint-continental-plan-scale-mpox-outbreak-response#:~:text=Priority%20actions%20are%20outlined%20for,comprising%20members%20from%20key%20partners.&text=About%20Africa%20CDC-,The%20Africa%20Centres%20for%20Disease%20Control%20and%20Prevention%20(Africa%20CDC,prevention%20and%20control%20of%20diseases.](https://www.afro.who.int/news/african-cdc-and-who-launch-joint-continental-plan-scale-mpox-outbreak-response#:~:text=Priority%20actions%20are%20outlined%20for,comprising%20members%20from%20key%20partners.&text=About%20Africa%20CDC-,The%20Africa%20Centres%20for%20Disease%20Control%20and%20Prevention%20(Africa%20CDC,prevention%20and%20control%20of%20diseases.)) The Man Died (https://youtu.be/9nHTlAgL1SM?si=zUHR1lsPkyPIy4xe) Film Special Guest: Aggrey Aluso.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I met this week's guest in Accra at a Women Wellness Africa (https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenwellnessafrica/?originalSubdomain=gh) breakfast early this year and was happy to be able sync our travel schedules to reconnect in one of the places she calls home, London. Marielle Legair is a speaker, certified NLP and hypnotherapy Coach, LinkedIn Top Voice, and LinkedIn Learning Instructor. She's leading career empowerment through cutting-edge neurological research and behavioural science. Her expertise goes beyond coaching, focusing on arming audiences with the tools to break barriers, overcome limiting beliefs, and thrive in their careers. With a background in corporate storytelling, executive visibility, and entrepreneurship, Marielle offers unmatched guidance to individuals and companies seeking to excel and leave a lasting impact. Global giants like Amazon, BP, Diageo, EY, LinkedIn, Macquarie, Microsoft, and Yale University have sought her for inspiring talks and workshops that drive transformative change. Before founding her company, Marielle honed her skills on both sides of the Atlantic, spearheading impactful C-suite publicity campaigns in London and New York for corporate giants such as Deloitte Global, Grant Thornton, Experian, and Golin. Her strategic acumen in elevating CEOs and senior leaders has earned acclaim in top-tier media outlets like the BBC, CNBC, Forbes, Financial Times, and Glamour. As you'll hear, Marielle's roots are in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which was hard hit by Hurricane Beryl last summer. Follow the links below to connect with Marielle about continuing efforts to support those impacted. Where to fine Marielle? marielelegair.com (https://www.mariellelegair.com/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlegair/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mariellelegair/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@mariellelegair) What's Marielle reading? Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One (https://a.co/d/aKsPwYh) by Dr. Joe Dispenza Steal the Show: From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches, How to Guarantee a Standing Ovation for All the Performances in Your Life (https://a.co/d/5kUIkwi) by Micheal Port Other topics of interest: About Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines) About Nottingham, home of Robin Hood (https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk) Historic Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Hill,_Brooklyn) 30 Rock aka 30 Rockerfeller Plaza (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_Rockefeller_Plaza) Toastmasters (https://www.toastmasters.org) About Neuro-Linguistic Programming (https://www.nlp.com/what-is-nlp/) Creatures of Passage (https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/creatures-of-passage/) by Morowa Yejidé Special Guest: Marielle Legair.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Over the past few weeks, we've been learning more and more about the Women of Africa Post-Pandemic Empowerment and Advocacy Programme with guests from Egypt to Scotland to Nigeria with a range of business, health and well-being perspectives. This week we're back in Nigeria with the women that started it all, Glocal Citizen, Adebisi Bright (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/adebisi-bright). Dr. Bisi Bright is an international award-winning scientist, social entrepreneur, health systems researcher, adjunct lecturer, consultant clinical pharmacist, and public health manager. She is 1st Vice Chairman and CEO of LiveWell Initiative LWI, a self-sustaining nonprofit healthcare social enterprise, which has impacted over two million Nigerians and thousands of Ghanaians with health literacy, improved overall health, and wellness. She is the brain behind the Post-pandemic Womens' Empowerment Programme of Africa which is a Gilead-Sciences, Inc. USA-supported regional program empowering all women in Africa and visiting ten nations with a goal of empowering all the Women of Africa in the post-pandemic era and to equip them tools for mental health and resilience. When we last spoke with Bisi, it was during the pandemic and we got to know how LWI was doing it's part to equip communities with necessary health supports. In this conversation you'll learn about the impressive strides the Bisi and her colleagues have made in services and in innovation all while continuing to live well! Where to find Bisi and more information about the PPWA program? www.livewellng.org (https://www.livewellng.org) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bisi-bright-33a22b23/) What's Bisi cooking? Jollof rice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jollof_rice) Ogbono soup (https://allnigerianfoods.com/nigerian-ogbono-soup/) Other topics of interest: Global Public Health University (https://gphuniversity.org) Health Technology Assessment (https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-policy-and-standards/assistive-and-medical-technology/medical-devices/assessment) About Value-based Healthcare (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7185050/) International Alliance of Patient's Organizations (https://www.iapo.org.uk) More about Block Chain technology in healthcare (https://builtin.com/blockchain/blockchain-healthcare-applications-companies#:~:text=Blockchain%20has%20many%20uses%20in,for%20clinical%20research%20and%20development.) Special Guest: Adebisi Bright.
Greeting Glocal Citizens! Next up in our collaboration with LiveWell Initiative for the Women of Africa Post-Pandemic Empowerment and Advocacy Programme is a conversaton centering youth and partnerships with a leading management consultant in Africa, Dr. Adebowale Jeff Johnson. Born and raised in Nigeria, he is the first Youth Performance Consultant in the world. He has worked in six consulitng firms over the span of his nearly 25 years of working experience. Also working with several other organisations in capacities ranging from Human Resource Manager, GM Strategy and Innovation, Business Service Manager, Project Manager, Resource Consultant, Corporate Affairs Manager, and Training Consultant. He is a speaker on national reforms, a seasoned advisor and a human resources generalist. He is currently the Managing Director of Advisory Firm, Purple Prime Limited, with a focus on business advisory and public sector advisory practices. In this lively conversation we get to know about how his research across various sectors informs his work with youth and his public service endeavors. Visit the LiveWell Initiative (https://www.livewellng.org) for complete event details on upcoming and events and learn more about event supports like Gilead Sciences USA. Where to find Adebowale? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-adebowale-jeff-johnson-b70b9415/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oba_adebowale/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/debojeffjohnson/?_rdc=1&_rdr) On X (https://twitter.com/sendebojohnson) What's Adebole watching? Slingshot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingshot_(2024_film)) 300 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(film)) The Bourne Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourne_(franchise)) 24 TV series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_(TV_series)) The Bond Series (https://www.007.com/the-films/) Mission: Impossible (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible#:~:text=Mission%3A%20Impossible%20is%20an%20American,in%201988%20for%20two%20seasons.) Other topics of interest: About the Ìjẹ̀bú people of Lagos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijebu_people) About Ogun State, Nigeria (https://ogunstate.gov.ng) An interesting attraction in Kano, Nigeria (https://artsandculture.google.com/story/kano-durbar-festival-nigeria-s-most-spectacular-horseparade/tQLi5tQ-fjobJA) About Free Education and in Nigeria (https://www.globalacademicgroup.com/journals/nact/Onojete.pdf) and Chief Obafemi Awolowo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo) About Gbagada Estates, Lagos (https://blog.krent.space/area-guide/lagos/gbagada/) Psychometric Testing Tools (https://www.pipplet.com/best-software/best-psychometric-tests) On the Benin Empire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Benin) On the Oyo Empire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyo_Empire) House of Ga'a film about Bashorun Ga'a (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81681233) Yoruba Dialects (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language) WWE's nWO (https://www.wwe.com/superstars/nwo) Adebowale's last thoughts… “Wisdom is the correct application of understood knowlegde.” Special Guests: Adebisi Bright and Adebowale Jeff Johnson.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I'm back on the road with this conversation which finds my guest and I in opposite sides of the United Kingdom--me in London, UK and my guest, Dr. Motolani Oyerinde, in Scotland. Dr. Tolani, joins us in the next installment of our colloboration with Bisi Bright's (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/adebisi-bright) Livewell Initiative and the Women of Africa Post-Pandemic Empowerment and Advocacy Programme with support from Gilead Sciences USA. She is currently Managing Partner at Crystal Mental Healthcare and Health Education Services as well as Senior Family Health Officer at Livewell Initiative. Over the course of her carreer she has worked assiduously in the areas of training, peer leadership, and corporate health. She has co-facilitated as Faculty Trainer in Hepatitis, at a continental Africa regional rraining program in Hepatitis targeting delegates from 15 African countries. Under the LiveWell Initiative's Volunteer Membership scheme, she became an award-winning Young Doctor participating in several health outreaches, health fairs and corporate health mIssions. Since the advent of the pandemic, she has been particulalry focused on proviving mental health support via LWIs Telehealth services platform. Be sure to visit the LiveWell Initiative (https://www.livewellng.org) for up to date information about upcoming events. Where to find Tolani? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/motolani-oyerinde-469544164/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oluwalotolani/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009651049058) What's Tolani reading? Atomic Habits by James Clear (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits) Practical Optimism: The art, science, and practice of exceptional well-being (https://www.doctorsuevarma.com) by Dr. Sue Varma Why Am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith by Kobe Campbell (https://kobecampbell.com/book) What's Tolani watching? Africa Magic TV (https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca) Other topics of interest: About Ogun State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogun_State), Nigeria Scotland, UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scotland) The Egocentric and Sociocentric Self (https://prezi.com/d3ok-7qam4mu/the-egocentric-and-sociocentric-self/#:~:text=In%20the%20EGOcentric%20society%20a,of%20others%3B%20self%2Dcentered.) Suicide Prevention (https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/world-suicide-prevention-day/) Month (https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/suicide-prevention-month) Special Guests: Adebisi Bright and Motolani Oyerinde.
Autumn Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's a season of transformation from the vibrancy of summer sun to the rest, retreat and make ready energy of winter. Here on the podcast we're taking this time to explore new collaborations in conjunction with events happening in the coming months. First up is a collaboration with the Women of Africa Post-Pandemic Empowerment and Advocacy Programme which is an intitaitve of Glocal Citizen Adebisi Bright's (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/adebisi-bright) LiveWell Initiative based in Lagos Nigeria. This series of conversations with the practitioners partcipating in the progamme is a sneak preview of the upcoming dialogues. My guest this week, Egyptian pharmacist and entrpreneur, Dr. Wael Ali is a distinguished leader in pharmacy and public health with nearly 25 years of experience spanning clinical research, healthcare management, and international collaboration. As the President of the PharmaHelp Foundation Inc. and the Egyptian Organization of Pharmacy, he drives pharmacy practice transformation and workforce development. His roles as Vice President of FIP's EMROpharm Forum and Executive Committee Consultant at the University of Sharjah highlight his commitment to advancing pharmaceutical education and practice. He also has extensive pharmaceutical manufacturing experience as a CEO of American Pharmaceutical Industries based in Farifax, Virginia. His expertise spans community, hospital, military and emergency pharmacy practices as well as social and administrative pharmacy functions across Egypt, the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC, and the USA. If you ever wondered about what does on behind the counter in your local pharmacy, this conversation will help shine a light on the many roles and responsibilities your neighborhood pharmacist often takes on. As an added bonus, Wael give us the crash course in on the ins and outs of manufacturing and exporting made in the USA products. Where to find Wael? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wael-ali-7944b01a7/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/waelaliali1/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Dr.waelaliofficial/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@drwaelali6627) Other topics of interest: Historic Cairo, Egypt (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/89/) Gulf Cooperation Council (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Cooperation_Council) On Liposome Manufacturing ([https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169409X20300788#:~:text=Liposomes are manufactured either by,manipulated for size (Section 2.1.](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169409X20300788#:~:text=Liposomes are manufactured either by,manipulated for size (Section%202.1.)) About Medwatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program) CIF vs FOP Shipping (https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/020215/what-difference-between-cif-and-fob.asp) International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) (https://www.fip.org) WHO facts on Hepatitis (https://www.who.int/health-topics/hepatitis#tab=tab_1) Special Guest: Adebisi Bright.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week it's Part 2 of a two-part conversation with serial entrepreneur and diversity activist, Cherron Perry-Thomas. She is founder and president of Green Dandelion Marketing and Sales which grew out of a desire to introduce retailers to innovative plant based products. Since its founding, 20 years ago, Green Dandelion has helped their clients launch more than 2,000 products in grocery and health stores in the mid-Atlantic United States. Clients include manufactures of biodynamic, organic, non-gmo, vegan and fair trade products, helping to solidify their commitment to leaving a positive impact on the planet and all lives. which she further nurtures as co-owner of Plant and People (https://plantandpeople.com), a Black women's owned boutique offering house plants, supplies, plant wellness products, services, and gifts. A certified Social Impact Strategist, she applies these skills as the Director of Social Impact for The Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities (DACO), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about educational, wellness, and economic opportunities in the cannabis industry and particularly through the Black Cannabis Week (https://www.blackcannabisweek.com/) Initiative which takes place September 22-29, 2024. Whether you're a “planty” person or not, there's plenty of green gems to pick up in this conversation. Where to find Cherron? On LInkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherron-perry-thomas-mba-643a251a/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/munashe97/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/wearedaco/status/1055867698620653576) What's Charron running in? Hoka running shoes (https://www.hoka.com/en/us/) Other topics of interest: About Memphis, Tennessee (https://civilrightstrail.com/destination/memphis/) About Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (https://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/african-american-historic-sites-in-philadelphia/) West Philadelphia History (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Philadelphia) Ever heard of Purple Hull Peas (https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Purple_Hull_Peas_4399.php#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20Pinkeye%20Purple,slightly%20in%20appearance%20and%20flavor.)? Walter Wallace Jr. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Walter_Wallace) Who was Fred Hampton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hampton)? Black August (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_August_(commemoration)) About to the Roots Picnic (https://therootspicnic.com) The New Jim Crow (linkhttps://newjimcrow.com) by Michelle Alexander About the US Farm Bill (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-bill/index) UN Report on Drugs 2018 (https://www.unodc.org/wdr2018/) Cannabis legalization around the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis) Special Guest: Cherron Perry-Thomas.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week it's Part 1 of a two-part conversation with serial entrepreneur and diversity activist, Cherron Perry-Thomas. She is founder and president of Green Dandelion Marketing and Sales which grew out of a desire to introduce retailers to innovative plant based products. Since its founding, 20 years ago, Green Dandelion has helped their clients launch more than 2,000 products in grocery and health stores in the mid-Atlantic United States. Clients include manufactures of biodynamic, organic, non-gmo, vegan and fair trade products, helping to solidify their commitment to leaving a positive impact on the planet and all lives. which she further nurtures as co-owner of Plant and People (https://plantandpeople.com), a Black women's owned boutique offering house plants, supplies, plant wellness products, services, and gifts. A certified Social Impact Strategist, she applies these skills as the Director of Social Impact for The Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities (DACO), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about educational, wellness, and economic opportunities in the cannabis industry and particularly through the Black Cannabis Week (https://www.blackcannabisweek.com/) Initiative which takes place September 22-29, 2024. Whether you're a “planty” person or not, there's plenty of green gems to pick up in this conversation. Where to find Cherron? On LInkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherron-perry-thomas-mba-643a251a/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/munashe97/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/wearedaco/status/1055867698620653576) What's Charron running in? Hoka running shoes (https://www.hoka.com/en/us/) Other topics of interest: About Memphis, Tennessee (https://civilrightstrail.com/destination/memphis/) About Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (https://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/african-american-historic-sites-in-philadelphia/) West Philadelphia History (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Philadelphia) Ever heard of Purple Hull Peas (https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Purple_Hull_Peas_4399.php#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20Pinkeye%20Purple,slightly%20in%20appearance%20and%20flavor.)? Walter Wallace Jr. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Walter_Wallace) Who was Fred Hampton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hampton)? Black August (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_August_(commemoration)) About to the Roots Picnic (https://therootspicnic.com) The New Jim Crow (linkhttps://newjimcrow.com) by Michelle Alexander About the US Farm Bill (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-bill/index) UN Report on Drugs 2018 (https://www.unodc.org/wdr2018/) Cannabis legalization around the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis) Special Guest: Cherron Perry-Thomas.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week Haiti, the recent Democratic National Convention (DNC) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoHN7K5VdXg), living in the now and ideas that challenge mindset boundaries are hot topic with my guest, Haitian-American, Jodine Dorcé. Jodine has been discovering, branding and promoting arts, music and culture for over a decade. Behind the scenes, she had an impressive career as an award-winning event marketer in the arts, entertainment and consumer product industries. Her achievements include developing and promoting products for Disney Consumer Electronics; leading sponsorship integrations for CurlFest and ONE Musicfest; producing the 2015 ESSENCE Festival and being responsible for the branding of Red Bull as a staple in the Atlanta cultural scene. Currently she is the VP of Live Events at WaitWhat (https://waitwhat.com), a media invention company, recognized for the highest quality, most genre-defining content today. In front of an audience, Jodine has a fearless passion for hosting and being an on-air personality. From her former radio days at WBCX 89.1FM in Atlanta, GA, she was also the host of the world-renowned Apollo Theater's Music Cafe in Harlem that spotlights emerging music artists. She now serves as a host for Capital Jazz TV while producing and assist in the programming for the Capital Jazz Fest & Supercruise. You can also find her guest hosting various events throughout the country that showcase music, empower women and bring awareness to her beloved home country, Haiti. Join us in the vibe! Where to find Jodine? https://www.jodinedorce.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodinedorce/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jodinedorce/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jodinedorce) On X (https://twitter.com/jodinescorner) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/jodinescorner) What's Jodine listening to? Stout (https://www.instagram.com/theestout/?hl=en) Keyon Harrold (https://keyonharroldmusic.com) on NPR's Tiny Desk (https://youtu.be/ipFtGz0_dAg?si=lXzQDGjLUizpaZMb) Other topics of interest: Tabarre, Haiti (https://haiti.fandom.com/wiki/Tabarre) On Haiti's Revolution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution) Perspectives on Haiti in 2024 (https://youtu.be/wBYLkoED5i4?si=Z2vUf7wf_V8YBMl7) East Flatbush (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Flatbush,_Brooklyn) and Little Haiti (https://www.facebook.com/littlehaitibk/) in Brooklyn Some Bedford-Stuyvesant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford%E2%80%93Stuyvesant,_Brooklyn) History On Sapiens (lin https://www.ynharari.com/book/sapiens-2/) Masters of Scale Podcast (https://mastersofscale.com) Reid Hoffman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_Hoffman) About DNC (Democratic Nationional Convention) Producer, Ricky Kirshner (https://deadline.com/2024/08/dnc-producer-interview-harris-1236047924/) LFG! (https://awario.com/help/social-media-wiki/what-does-lfg-mean-in-social-media/) List of Elections in 2024 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elections_in_2024) Kat Cole (lin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat_Cole) and the Hot Shot Rule (https://katcole.substack.com/p/the-hotshot-rule) Jason Orr on FunkJazz Kafe (lin https://funkatopia.com/funk-news/interview-with-funkjazz-kafe-jason-orr/) Special Guest: Jodine Dorcé.
Late summer greetings, Glocal Citizens! It's that time of year in most of the northern hemisphere - Back to School! Students of all manner from first time learners to adult continuing educationers are migrating to a learning institution near you--Kindergartens, middle and high schools, trade colleges, university campuses and some are taking to phones, tablets or computers for online courses. 'Tis the season for getting the mind ready for a new round of training, building and expansion. So this week, in preparation for the start of classes its a review session with some glocal citizens firmly planted in the business of education. Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/taiye-ayoola-adedeji), author of the innovative, educational and interactive Yoruba-English bilingual book—The Yoruba Sound Book for Children, Ayobisi Osuntusa (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/ayobisi-osuntusa), Executive Director of Sesame Square Nigeria Foundation, a mirror image and partner organization of Sesame Workshop; Nisha Ligon (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nisha-ligon), Co-founder and Senior Advisor of Tanzania-based, UBONGO, Africa's leading kids' edutainment company and Videographer, Composer, and Musician, Farai Malianga (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/farai-malianga) a tenure track Professor at Florida State University with a focus on Music for dance and choreography all join us with insights on learning education, arts and people. Class is in session, let's LEAP right in! Special Guests: Ayobisi Osuntusa, Farai Malianga, Nisha Ligon, and Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's Leo season and birthday week for both my guest and me as well as fellow Glocal Citizen and birthday celebrant Muhammida El Muhajir (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/muhammida-el-muhajir), which is how I was introduced to my guest, Ghanaian-born, Rita Kusi. Rita is a highly respected, passionate, and result-oriented strategic human resource professional with 20 years of experience as a generalist in the field. Currently, she serves as the CEO and Senior Consultant at Keeping 'U' Simply Intact (KUSI) Consulting, a boutique Digital HR and Marketing consulting firm providing HR and Marketing services to clients across Africa and the United States. She is also the Team Lead of Execution and Strategy for the Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa (https://gchrafrica.com) (GCHRA), a gathering of visionary human resource, business, and technology leaders to empower Africa's workforce. Keep watching this space for collaborations around their upcoming conference happening October 24-25, 2024 in Accra, Ghana. She has distinguished herself as a mentor, coach, and fervent advocate for professional development. Rita is on a mission to revolutionize the role of HR within organizations. Her career highlights, including being the first black woman to hold a directorial position in a prominent U.S. condominium firm and recognition as one of the 50 most influential young Ghanaians in 2018, underscore her exceptional leadership. In 2023, she was voted and named “Ghana's Most Respected CEO in HR Management” at the 6th Ghana Industry CEO Awards by The Business Executive. Where to find Rita? Visit http://kusiconsulting.com for more on their services. On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritakusi/) On Instagram (https://instagram.com/ritakusi) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/ritakusi81) On X (https://twitter.com/miss_kusi) On TikTok (https://tiktok.com/@ms_kusi) On Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE3RVASINSAaOcd8CogxIoA/videos) What's Rita reading? Unbroken (https://a.co/d/jjiGtzG) by Trishia Bailey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisha_Bailey) Other topics of interest: Where is Bolgatanga “Bolga” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolgatanga), Ghana Kumasi, Capital of Ghana's Ashanti Region (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumasi) Akan Proverbs (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/pages/the-50-most-important-akan-proverbs/) Ghana's Labor Laws in Transition (https://www.ela.law/firms/fatima_freitas/Articles/2024-employment-law-year-in-review-ghana) About the US Diversiy Visa Lottery Program (https://www.unsunghistorypodcast.com/diversity-visa-lottery/) Impact Hub Accra (https://accra.impacthub.net) iSpace Accra (https://www.ispacefoundation.com) Who is Gary V? (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyvaynerchuk/) About Johnny C. Taylor (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyctaylorjr/) Special Guest: Rita Kusi.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! For this week's episode we're back in West Africa with Nigerian-American journalist and author, Abi Ishola-Ayodeji. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, Patience is a Subtle Thief, was named one of BuzzFeed's best books of May 2022 and received a coveted Kirkus-starred review. As a journalist, she has showcased her talent across a diverse range of platforms, including http://ELLE.com, PBS, http://Ebony.com, CUNY TV, and more. Her career has seen her cover extraordinary people, communities, and events from New York City to Paris and from Nigeria to Ghana. In 2017, Essence Magazine named her among its Woke 100 Women for launching Beyond Classically Beautiful (https://www.bellanaija.com/2015/01/beyondclassicallybeautiful-us-based-nigerian-journalist-abi-ishola-creates-photo-story-in-support-of-classic-black-beauty/), an acclaimed photo story and media platform celebrating women of color who defy traditional beauty standards which you'll learn much more about in our conversation. After years of struggling to write a complete novel, she adopted a winning plan that helped her finish her manuscript seamlessly. She landed a deal with HarperCollins upon her first submission to a publisher. As she continues to work on her second novel, she is also coaching aspiring authors on how to write and finish the novel of their dreams. Where to find Abi? www.aishola.com (https://www.aishola.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/abi-ishola/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/aishola/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/aisholaayodeji) On X (http://twitter.com/@aishola) On Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@AbiIshola) What's Abi watching? The Chi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chi) Sex Education (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Education_(TV_series)) Game of Thrones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones) Other topics of interest: Revisit EP 74 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nana-ekua-brew-hammond) Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond (http://nanabrewhammond.com) All about Miami Gardens, Florida (https://www.miamigardens-fl.gov) About Ibadan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibadan), Nigeria Why Ilesa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilesa)? A visti with fellow Glocal Citizen, Funsho Ogundipe (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/funsho-ogundipe) About Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshood_Abiola#:~:text=Chief%20Moshood%20Kashimawo%20Olawale%20Abiola,aristocrat%20of%20the%20Egba%20clan.) and the stolen election (https://www.thehistoryville.com/mko-abiola/) More about the Center for Black Literature @ Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn (https://centerforblackliterature.org) and the Wild Seeds Writers Retreat (https://centerforblackliterature.org/wild-seeds-retreat/) About #imageactivitst, Michaela Angela Davis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaela_Angela_Davis) About the film The Devil Wears Prada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Wears_Prada_(film)) James Baldwin, Toni Morrison and more about Abi's Glocal Speak (https://speakola.com/eulogy/for-james-baldwin-by-toni-morrison-1987) About Supacel and sickle cell anemia (https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/10/hit-netflix-show-is-raising-awareness-of-sickle-cell-anaemia) Special Guest: Abi Ishola-Ayodeji.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Increasingly, I am thinking thoughts about places of being that better reflect citizen-centered social, economic and built enviroments. In recent conversation with Paul Damalie (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/paul-kwesi-damalie) and following the works of another fellow GC, Chinedu Echeruo (https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/beloved-ecosystem-6923267349097680896/) (which happens to be how I came across this week's guest), those thoughts are beginning to rise into a mental framework for manifesting that new world. Born and raised in Nigeria, Victor Ndukwe is an Architect that has evolved over the years straddle tech and design. He is currently a founding team member of Itana (formerly Talent City) (https://www.itana.africa) and is positioned to change the environmental and economic landscape in Africa. Victor developed a keen mind for technical things in his formative years and honed his creativity in architecture school. He is a T-shaped individual (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shaped_skills) with strong skills in Architecture and environmental planning and secondary skills in programming - a hardcore java developer once upon a time. He has worked in architecture firms, software development firms, real estate development firms, and now city developers. He has his eyes set on developing the infrastructure in Africa by unlocking capital for development as well as solving the critical problem of energy in Africa. Victor's optimism and committment are clear as you'll come to understand in our conversation, and with this blueprint, his vision is looking like a present many on the Continent have been anticipating. Where to find Victor? Find out more about the Donacare Foundation (http://www.donacarefoundation.org) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorndukwe/) On X (https://twitter.com/vndukwe) What's Victor listening to? Johann Sebastian Bach (lin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGA1v6gZj1s) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/mozart/music/) George Frideric Handel (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/handel/) Other topics of interest: Umahia or Ama Ahia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umuahia) in Abia State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abia_State), Nigeria About Governor Alex Otti (https://www.alexotti.com) Discovery Channel (https://www.discovery.com) Charter Cities Institute (https://chartercitiesinstitute.org/intro/#whycc) Computer Village. Ikeja Lagos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Village) The Echelon Conspiracy Film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echelon_Conspiracy) NIIT Nigeria (https://www.niit.com/nigeria) Free Trade Zones in Nigeria (https://nepza.gov.ng/free-zones/) What is Industry 3.0? (https://tech-labs.com/blog/evolution-industry-10-40-and-beyond) Special Guest: Victor Ndukwe.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we're going full circle with Zimbabwean-American, Vimbo Watson. Born in Zimbabwe, Vimbo's family relocated to the US before she spoke her first words. Nonethless, her mother tongue has remained in her heart and has been a foundational part of fullfilling a life-long passion to uplift people and especially those ini need back home. After a career in education as a teacher and principal, she's now applying her administrative talents as the Director of Development for Kuda Vana Partnership (https://www.kudavana.org) an American-Zimbabwean non-profit operating a children's home and school in Zimbabwe. A passionate speaker and professional development provider she often translates her enthusiasm for learning and education into teaching others how to make time for wellness and self-care in their daily lives. Where to find Vimbo? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vimbo/) On Instragram (https://www.instagram.com/vimbowatson/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vimbowatson) On Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@VimboVivien/featured) What's Vimbo reading? Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends (https://a.co/d/3M4FuOe) by Marisa G. Franco PhD Atomic Habits (lin https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits) by James Clear Drowning (https://a.co/d/a9sRbeu) and other books by T.J. Newman (https://tjnewmanauthor.com) Books by Brené Brown](https://brenebrown.com) The Art of Gathering (https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering) by Priya Parker The Lazy Genius Way (https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com) by Kendra Adachi Other topics of interest: Mutare, Zimbabwe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutare) Clans and Totems in Zimbabwean Culture (https://beingafrican.com/clans-totems-in-shona-culture/#:~:text=Referred to as Mutupo in,believed to be your totem.) On Trauma-focused Therapy (https://www.verywellmind.com/trauma-therapy-definition-types-techniques-and-efficacy-5191413) Special Guest: Vimbo Watson.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! The beautiful thing about life is that with care and attention time refines and gives rise to the amazement that is our daily experience. I met this week's guest nearly a decade ago, in the country she currently calls home, as we were both starting our work in the African edutainment industry and as she was making her way back home to Tanzania to do what she prepared for when getting her MBA and BS in International Business and Economics from Overton School of Business in the US--making a difference for African children. Tanzanian born and raised, Doreen Kessy is a Co-founder at STEM Girls Education (SGE), a social enterprise with a mission to help more girls in Africa become innovators. An education and women's champion at heart, Doreen holds the belief that empowering women and girls to drive change is essential in fostering a more sustainable and kinder world for all. Previously Chief Business Officer at Ubongo Learning, she was instrumental in growing the organisation as she led its expansion to 41 countries in Africa reaching over 30 million kids. She was named “Entrepreneur of the Year in Education” by Women In Africa Initiative (WIA), Winner of Next Billion EdTech Prize 2019, is also an Acumen Fellow, Future Elect Fellow, Global Shaper, an initiative of the World Economic Forum and Tedx speaker. Not only is the future bright, our present is brighter with social entreperneurs like Doreen making their mark in markets across Africa! Where to find Doreen? On Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doreen_Kessy) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreen-kessy-1b887439/) On Twitter (https://twitter.com/doreenkessy?lang=en) What's Doreen listening to? Brook Castillo's The LIfe Coach School Podcast (https://thelifecoachschool.com/podcast/) How I Built This Podcast (https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/) Huberman Lab Podcast (https://www.hubermanlab.com/all-episodes) The Mel Robbins Podcast (https://www.melrobbins.com/podcast) This American Life Podcast (https://www.thisamericanlife.org) The Tim Ferriss Show (https://tim.blog/podcast/) The Dairy Of A CEO Podcast (https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/) Other topics of interest: About Njombe's Iringa Region, Tanzania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iringa_Region) Things to do in Rosebank, Gauteng (https://www.inyourpocket.com/johannesburg/things-to-do-in-rosebank-a-neighbourhood-guide-to_78589f) About Smile 4 Africa (https://www.smileforafrica.co.zw/index.html) Yo! (https://dsae.co.za/entry/yo/e07976) Haibo! (https://www.news24.com/you/news/local/how-well-do-you-know-your-local-lingo-ten-sa-words-you-need-to-know-this-heritage-day-20230922), Sawubona - Sikhona (https://youtu.be/azFzlDNxhHY?si=Iy9yoISlNaLWj6lm) and other South African Expressions The Life Coach School (https://thelifecoachschool.com/) What's Doreen riding? (https://suzukicycles.com/scooter) Microschools in action in Africa (https://michaelbhorn.substack.com/p/brave-learners-in-emerging-microschools)
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we're back in East Africa in conversation with Kenyan, Farhan Guled, coming to you in two parts. Farhan takes us with him from his native homeland to Europe and back to East Africa where he is currently Executive Director of Salaam Bank Limited in Kampala, Uganda; he has been instrumental is building the bank's start-up operation in the country. Born and raised in Kenya he began his entreprenuearship journey as founder of Maisha Fitness Center in Nairobi. Wearing many professional hats, Farhan is a "Multipotentialite Creative Thinker" offering an off the shelf business growth consultancy. As a visionary strategist, he helps businesses with the right intuitive and informative strategies that guarantee transformational growth. In his service endeavors, he is a board member of The Young Leaders of Finance (Le Club des Jeunes Dirigeants Financiers), which gathers young and mid-level professionals with various backgrounds who work with or within the financial sector taken in the broad sense. Some highlights of our conversation are Farhan's in depth tutorial on the links between Islamic finance and sustainable development goals as well as his delight with the sites and sounds of Uganda. Like me, I think you'll be ready to book your visit straight away! Where to find Farhan? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhan-guled-705b2ba9/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/franguled/) On X (https://twitter.com/farhan_guled?lang=en) What's Farhan Reading? Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential (https://a.co/d/09eDivm5) by Matt Higgins Other topics of interest: On Islamic Banking and Finance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking_and_finance) Salaam African Bank (https://www.banksalaam.com) Jinja, Uganda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinja,_Uganda) Fort Portal, Uganda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Portal) and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooro_Kingdom) Kabale, Uganda: City of Peace (https://www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org/cities-listing__trashed/kabale-uganda/) About Merck HQ Germany (https://www.emdgroup.com/en) Afrika Kommt (https://afrika-kommt.de) Special Guest: Farhan Guled.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we're back in East Africa in conversation with South Sudanese-Kenyan, Farhan Guled, coming to you in two parts. Farhan takes us with him from his native homelands to Europe and back to East Africa where he is currently Executive Director of Salaam Bank Limited in Kampala, Uganda; he has been instrumental is building the bank's start-up operation in the country. His family migrated from South Sudan to Kenya where he was raised, continues to call one of his homelands and began his entreprenuearship journey as founder of Maisha Fitness Center in Nairobi. Wearing many professional hats, Farhan is a "Multipotentialite Creative Thinker" offering an off the shelf business growth consultancy. As a visionary strategist, he helps businesses with the right intuitive and informative strategies that guarantee transformational growth. In his service endeavors, he is a board member of The Young Leaders of Finance (Le Club des Jeunes Dirigeants Financiers), which gathers young and mid-level professionals with various backgrounds who work with or within the financial sector taken in the broad sense. Some highlights of our conversation are Farhan's in depth tutorial on the links between Islamic finance and sustainable development goals as well as his delight with the sites and sounds of Uganda. Like me, I think you'll be ready to book your visit straight away! Where to find Farhan? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhan-guled-705b2ba9/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/franguled/) On X (https://twitter.com/farhan_guled?lang=en) What's Farhan Reading? Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential (https://a.co/d/09eDivm5) by Matt Higgins Other topics of interest: On Islamic Banking and Finance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking_and_finance) Salaam African Bank (https://www.banksalaam.com) Jinja, Uganda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinja,_Uganda) Fort Portal, Uganda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Portal) and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooro_Kingdom) Kabale, Uganda: City of Peace (https://www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org/cities-listing__trashed/kabale-uganda/) About Merck HQ Germany (https://www.emdgroup.com/en) Afrika Kommt (https://afrika-kommt.de) Special Guest: Farhan Guled.
Summer Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week, comes to us via fellow Glocal Citizen, Yana Fleming (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/yana-fleming). Like Yana, Emilly Okello-Juma is a seasoned communications and program management professional. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Emilly's work has taken her to points near and far across around the world. She has 13 years of experience working in communications roles including on-continent support across all regions in Africa on projects funded by international actors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Feed the Future and Prosper Africa. She has demonstrated experience in development communications, including report writing, branding, client and stakeholder relationships, visibility growth, policy engagement, and prodding action towards key outcomes for beneficiaries. Emilly has also served as board member in charge of Communications at SlumChild Foundation (http://slumchildfoundation.org). This week's conversation is a great compliment or prelude to upcoming episodes featuring conversations from our second The Future of Work Solutionscape and Stretch Salon that took place last weekend in London which centered on agriculture. Curious about what these sessions are about? Check out scenes from our May Day Salon in Brooklyn, New York (https://youtu.be/H8AZkJKJiKM) and stay tuned for opportunities to engage with the Glocal Citizens community worldwide. Where to find Emily? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilly-o-5847b620/) What's Emilly listening to? Ginny Clarke's (https://www.ginnyclarke.com/) Fifth Dimensional Leadership Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@5-DLeadership) The Moth Podcast (https://themoth.org/podcast) The LINK Cast (https://policylinkglobal.org/linkcast) What's Emilly reading? Women Who Run with the Wolves (https://a.co/d/0gTQKpyn) by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Other topics of interest: Economic vs. Commercial Diplomacy (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unveiling-distinction-economic-diplomacy-vs-commercial-sinisa-pepic/) Prosper Africa (https://www.prosperafrica.gov/resource/investment-and-partnership-opportunities-in-africas-creative-industries/) Vivo Fashion Group (https://vivofashiongroup.com) The Nation Media Group (linkhttps://www.nationmedia.com) The Malabo Declaration (https://www.resakss.org/sites/default/files/Malabo Declaration on Agriculture_2014_11 26-.pdf) African Union Agenda 2063 (https://au.int/en/treaties/1165) Rwanda's former Minister of Agriculture Gérardine Mukeshimana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9rardine_Mukeshimana) Special Guest: Emilly Okello-Juma.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I met Elike Kofi Nkansa, a multifaceted creative with a background in literature and art with a keen interest in fine detailng, one afternoon at a place called the Green Butterfly Market (https://greenbutterflyghana.com/greenbutterflymarket/) in Accra. He was seated in front of a beautiful portrait tapestry which I eventually purchased after visiting his flagship boutique and seeing a sampling of his portfolio. He trained as an architect and is the designer for his fashion brand, Elike Clothing which has become a household name, particularly in Ghana, and he has clothed many eminent personalites. He is currently costumier for three-time Grammy nominated artiste Rocky Dawuni (https://rockydawuni.com). Elike was selected amongst 14 other garment manufacturers in Ghana to spearhead an effort in mass production under AGOA (https://agoa.info/about-agoa.html)--African Growth and Opportunities Act, through which his enterprise gained the requisite training to engage in mass apparel and textile production. His brand is minimalist afrocentric and heavily inclined in technically and functionally artistic design. He mentors young artisans in the fashion industry helping to release fresh creativity into the fashion space. Through his art he hopes to forge closer bonds of peace and kinship between peoples wilst empowering women and youth. Where to find Elike? www.elikeclothing.com On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069978938042) What's Elike reading? War and Peace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Peace) by Leo Tolstoy Works by Robert Greene (https://powerseductionandwar.com) What's Elike watching? Guest Who's Coming to Dinner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guess_Who%27s_Coming_to_Dinner) Kramer vs. Kramer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kramer_vs._Kramer) Other topics of interest: Leklebi Dafor (https://mapcarta.com/N7234270840) Coffee and Togo (https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/12/coffee-production-in-togo/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CMore%20than%2040%2C000%20households%20in,farmers%20who%20also%20produce%20cocoa.) About the game Chaskele (https://www.theghanareport.com/games-that-entertained-children-in-the-90s/) RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects (https://www.architecture.com) Ghana Institute of Architects (https://gia.com.gh) About technical pens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_pen) About the Peugot 504 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_504#:~:text=The%20504%20was%20elected%20European,visibility%2C%20strong%20engine%20and%20refinement.) About Ricci Osei (https://humansofafrica.net/ricci-osei-a-cultural-and-artistic-icon/#google_vignette) and son, Reggie Rockstone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Rockstone) About UT Bank's Kofi Amoabeng (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Kofi_Amoabeng) William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chimney_Sweeper) About Ambassador D.K Osei (https://web.facebook.com/gbcghana/videos/3331626410408171) Special Guest: Elike Nkansa.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I met Elike Kofi Nkansa, a multifaceted creative with a background in literature and art with a keen interest in fine detailng, one afternoon at a place called the Green Butterfly Market (https://greenbutterflyghana.com/greenbutterflymarket/) in Accra. He was seated in front of a beautiful portrait tapestry which I eventually purchased after visiting his flagship boutique and seeing a sampling of his portfolio. He trained as an architect and is the designer for his fashion brand, Elike Clothing which has become a household name, particularly in Ghana, and he has clothed many eminent personalites. He is currently costumier for three-time Grammy nominated artiste Rocky Dawuni (https://rockydawuni.com). Elike was selected amongst 14 other garment manufacturers in Ghana to spearhead an effort in mass production under AGOA (https://agoa.info/about-agoa.html)--African Growth and Opportunities Act, through which his enterprise gained the requisite training to engage in mass apparel and textile production. His brand is minimalist afrocentric and heavily inclined in technically and functionally artistic design. He mentors young artisans in the fashion industry helping to release fresh creativity into the fashion space. Through his art he hopes to forge closer bonds of peace and kinship between peoples wilst empowering women and youth. Where to find Elike? www.elikeclothing.com On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069978938042) What's Elike reading? War and Peace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Peace) by Leo Tolstoy Works by Robert Greene (https://powerseductionandwar.com) What's Elike watching? Guest Who's Coming to Dinner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guess_Who%27s_Coming_to_Dinner) Kramer vs. Kramer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kramer_vs._Kramer) Other topics of interest: Leklebi Dafor (https://mapcarta.com/N7234270840) Coffee and Togo (https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/12/coffee-production-in-togo/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CMore%20than%2040%2C000%20households%20in,farmers%20who%20also%20produce%20cocoa.) About the game Chaskele (https://www.theghanareport.com/games-that-entertained-children-in-the-90s/) RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects (https://www.architecture.com) Ghana Institute of Architects (https://gia.com.gh) About technical pens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_pen) About the Peugot 504 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_504#:~:text=The%20504%20was%20elected%20European,visibility%2C%20strong%20engine%20and%20refinement.) About Ricci Osei (https://humansofafrica.net/ricci-osei-a-cultural-and-artistic-icon/#google_vignette) and son, Reggie Rockstone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Rockstone) About UT Bank's Kofi Amoabeng (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Kofi_Amoabeng) William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chimney_Sweeper) About Ambassador D.K Osei (https://web.facebook.com/gbcghana/videos/3331626410408171) Special Guest: Elike Nkansa.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we have a Glocal Citizens first so keep reading! I first met my guest, Robert “Bob” Bush, Jr., more than 15 years ago in a cute bistro in the Meat Packing District in New York City. At the time, he had been living in the Middle East for a couple of years as Managing Director and Senior Advisor for the Corporate Office of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoumis, Prime Minister of the UAE. As you'll hear in the conversation this was in many ways a culminating role, that started to take shape while backpacking around the world after university. He continues to “live” in the Middle East, but in true Glocal Citizens style, his work and life have taken him through Europe, back to the US, Africa and the far East. Bob is now President and CEO of Cajary Majlis, the exclusive distributor of Mutombo Coffee, co-founded by NBA Hall of Famer and Global Humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo. Cajary Majlis, an international trader of commodities and a distributor of food and feed products from around the world, uses its networks, talents, and resources to solve challenging problems related to building commodity businesses in emerging markets. Throughout his 30+ year professional career, he's established himself as a seasoned senior investment executive with experience across industries (advanced manufacturing, financial services, energy, ICT, e-health, life sciences, security, and retail), geographies (USA, Europe, China, Middle East and Africa), as well as asset classes (venture capital, private equity, Islamic finance). He also advises the European Commission on Public Private Partnerships and is an SME advisor for the EC's Horizon 2020 Initiative. In the spring of 2020, he became an advisor to Ahmed bin Sulayem, the executive chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre in the UAE. He speaks frequently to governments, universities, and corporates and is a contributing writer to Forbes Middle East online edition. So now the treat! For all of you coffee lovers and lovers of coffee lovers, Mutombo Coffee is offering an exclusive perk for GC listeners. Use GLOCAL10 discount code at checkout and receive a 10 percent discout on your order. Buy now here (https://www.mutombocoffee.com)! As an added perk, from now until June 15, 2024, Mutombo Coffee will donate 10 percent of sales for those using the Glocal10 code to the Glocal Citizens platform. This is great timing as our community is growing and we love any and all the support that helps to inspire action. Where to find Bob? MutomboCoffee.com (https://www.mutombocoffee.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcbushjr/) What's Bob reading? Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465026567?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_ES9N0123B15D77SCBVG2) by Douglas R. Hofstadter Other topics of interest: East St. Louis' Challening Past (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_St._Louis_massacre) Gateway Arch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Arch) See Dubai's Transformation (https://steemit.com/photography/@farman58/the-amazing-transformation-of-dubai-1990-to-2018) About Dikembe Mutombo (linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dikembe_Mutombo) and understanding his health challenge (https://youtu.be/iJK_m91unDs?si=lyJt2IW3Fmim6Ahx) Dikembe Mutombo's - We Are Family Foundation (https://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/dikembe-mutombo) Coffee Science (https://www.coffeescience.org/science-behind-perfect-morning-cup-coffee/) About Mohka Port in Yemen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokha) Africa and Coffee (https://www.africa.com/the-state-of-african-coffee-production-in-2023/) Regenerative Agriculture 101 (https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101) Special Guest: Robert Bush, Jr..
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Beach has been in heavy rotation in my mind lately so I decided to recreate the experience of being there through conversations with guests from a favorite beach destination - Jamaica. Our tour guides for this virtual experience are fellow Stanford alum and techpreneur, Stacy Kirk; logistics, supply chain and production systems expert, Andray McKenzie; ceramic sculptor and art therapist, Beverley Watson; intelligence advisor, author, and speaker, Suki Fuller; global lifestyle ambassador, Morris Sinclair; talent development visionary, Natasha Moore; and Black feminist researcher, writer, and curator, Nydia Swaby. I drew some inspriation from learning that last week, on May 23rd, Jamaica observed May Day or Labour Day while this week, the US observes Memorial Day. In the spirit of meaningful work and service and reflection you'll hear voices from Glocal Citizens throughout the years. Where to find our guests? Stacy Kirk (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/stacy-kirk) Andray McKenzie (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/andray-mckenzie) Beverley Watson (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/beverley-watson) Suki Fuller (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/suki-fuller) Morris Sinclair (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/morris-sinclair) Natasha D. Moore (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/natasha-d-moore) Nydia A. Swaby (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nydia-swaby) Other topics of interest: May Day in Jamaica (http://www.nlj.gov.jm/labourday/labourday.html#:~:text=Since%201890%20May%201%20has,May%2023rd%20of%20each%20year.) The Origins of Memorial Day (https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/memday.pdf) Special Guests: Andray McKenzie, Beverley Watson, Morris Sinclair, Natasha Moore, Nydia Swaby, Stacy Kirk, and Suki Fuller.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week and I go way back to the days of carefree Saturdays and Brooklyn Street festivals, before adulting was the order of our days. Fast forward and today, Dr. Shartriya Collier is an Associate Dean and Full Professor at the School of Education at Nevada State College (NSC), where she leads and supports a diverse and dynamic faculty and student body. She has over 21 years of experience in education spanning from PK-20 to adult education, with a focus on curriculum and instruction, teacher and faculty development, and student success. As the Founding Director of NSC Sankofa and now as founder of Maximal Development Education, LLC, she designs and implements programs utilizing culturally responsive and social justice practices to equip Black students for academic and socioemotional success; as well as developing transformative curriculum and resources designed to provide culturally responsive, equity-focused learning tools that lead to optimal self-actualization for every person, child, and family unit. A prolific author and speaker, with five books and numerous academic articles that highlight the stories and experiences of marginalized communities in education, her mission is to foster a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and excellence in education for all. As you'll hear in the conversation, I look forward to connecting with Shartriya on strategies for developing and implementing teaching and learning practices centering a Pan-African education system in the very near future! Check out some of Shartriya's works: EnCouraged Women Leaders: A 30-Day Journal to Reclaim Your Peace and Life Purpose (https://a.co/d/202rLhh) Let's Go With Aya and Taj: Costa Rica (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098B4Y1Z6?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_SDBXMKKV1ZT5QF7R3NCY) Where to find Shartriya? drtriya.com (About — Dr. Triya) DJ Lotuspetal on MixCloud (Live Free) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shartriya-collier-b6574a3/) On instagram (Instagram (@drtriya)) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drtriya/) What's Shartriya reading? Purpose: Find Your Truth and Embrace Your Calling (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JFQBJ37?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_AF5318MNQ8Q9KZEG65PS) by Jessica Huie Other topics of interest: Is it Nevada or Nevada? (Wait, Is It Nevada, or Nevada? (Published 2020)) NSC's Sankofa Program (https://nevadastate.edu/sankofa/) National Association for Bilingual Education (https://nabe.org/) On Transcultural Multilingual Education (https://www.multilingual-matters.com/page/detail/Transcultural-Pedagogies-for-Multilingual-Classrooms/?k=9781800414396) On nurturing emergent bilingual learners (https://www.lexialearning.com/blog/four-strategies-to-increase-emergent-bilingual-language-acquisition) Positive Intelligence (https://www.positiveintelligence.com/), take the test (https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/) Association of Black Women in Higher Education (https://www.abwhe.org/) On Claudine Gay's Resignation from Harvard University (https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/03/christopher-rufo-claudine-gay-harvard-resignation-00133618) What is an HSI? (https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/) What is a Microschool? (https://microschoolrevolution.com/founder-article/establishing-your-microschool/#:~:text=A%20microschool%20is%20an%20independent%20learning%20institution&text=Often%20described%20as%20%22outsourced%20homeschooling,student%20engagement%20is%20remarkably%20high.) What is a DBA? (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-a-dba/) About Dr. Cynthia B. Dillard (http://cynthiabdillard.com/) Special Guest: Shartriya Collier.
Greetings Glocal Citizens! The Glocal Citizens community has gifted us with another inspiring diasporan. Heneba Kwadwo Safo, a graduate of the University of Ghana in Civil Engineering is the founder and leader of the BuzStopBoys. The Buzstopboys is a volunteer group promoting a Clean, Green, Environment (CGEn) through patriotism. With brooms, dustpans and a strong sense of community spirit, the BuzstopBoys have become a driving force for positive change. Their initiative focuses on cleaning heavily trafficked areas, creating a cleaner and more welcoming environment for both residents and visitors. It is no surprise that fellow Glocal Citizen and environment advocate, Leslie Bentil of Gutta Soles/Gutta Soles Foundation (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/leslie-bentil) seeded the connection. Kwadwo is the grandson of Apostle, Dr. Engineer Kwadwo Safo Kantanka (https://kristoasafomission.com/about1/), the founder and the chairman of the Kantanka Group, Ghana's largest local technology conglomerate, with innovations in automobile manufacturing, engineering, food production and more. Like his grandfather, a renowned Ghanaian-born technologist, philanthropist and Pan-African who believes in Black Emancipation and transformational change, Kwadwo is well on his way making impact one clean street at a time. Where to find the Buzstopboys? On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/buzstopboys/) on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Buzstopboys/) On TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@buzstopboys) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@Buzstopboys) What's Kwadwo watching? Maame Grace (https://www.youtube.com/@MaameGrace) Other topics of interest: Dodowa, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodowa) Kwahu, Eastern Region, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwahu) Where is Mallam Junction, Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallam_Interchange)? McCarthy Hill, Accra (https://ghanapropertycentre.com/area-guides/greater-accra/ga-south-municipal/mccarthy-hill#google_vignette) Odorkor, Accra (https://ghanapropertycentre.com/area-guides/greater-accra/odorkor) Ga Dangbe People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ga-Adangbe_people) Shai Hills Reserve, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shai_Hills_Resource_Reserve) Bolgatanga, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolgatanga) On Mysticism (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mysticism/) Special Guest: Kwadwo Safo.