This...I...Do...For...Me: Over 50, Black and Fabulous!

I had the best time with Nakeisha Rodgers, M.D., a Geriatrician and Internist.  In this interview, Dr. Nakeisha shares what drew her to working with senior citizens, why she sees them as savvy seniors and how she approaches her training with medical professionals so that they begin to transform how they view and interact with this population.  Additionally, she shares the content of the progressive training she offers to her colleagues — other physicians, medical aides,  social workers/therapists, etc. Dr. Nakeisha is a dual board Internist and Geriatrician, best-selling author, and national speaker from the beautiful island of the Bahamas. She is the daughter of two retired educators whose love for the classroom shaped her own passion for teaching. She has over a decade of experience caring for hundreds of complex geriatric patients with multiple medical needs. Through her books, dynamic in-person and virtual workshops, and online educational resources, she equips medical professionals with the tools needed to help savvy seniors age like royalty. Dr. Nakeisha earned her Associate's Degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Bahamas. She then completed her Bachelor's in Biology at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. She matriculated at the University of West Indies medical school graduating with an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery). She later completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Program. She was awarded a Fellowship degree in Geriatrics from the prestigious Harvard Medical School. She is the CEO of Age Like Royalty LLC, geared at changing the perception of aging. A creative at heart, Dr. Nakeisha teaches key geriatric principles in a creative, simple format so that medical professionals can provide comprehensive, compassionate geriatric care the Dr. Nakeisha way! Dr. Nakeisha has the pleasure and privilege of mentoring the next generation of brilliant minds. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal and Geriatric Medicine in Florida. To rejuvenate she enjoys spending quality time with her parents and family, listening to music, dancing, and engaging in the creative arts. Dr. Nakeisha looks forward to sharing her priceless secrets with your organization, so your seniors can age like royalty.   Dr. Nakeisha's Website www.drnakeishamd.com    Dr. Nakeisha's book — SECRETS OF SASSY, SAVVY SENIORS Secrets of Sassy, Savvy Seniors: Aging Like Royalty Roadmap amzn.to Secrets of Sassy, Savvy Seniors: Aging Like Royalty Roadmap amzn.to   Dr. Nakeisha's Online Course — SECRETS OF SAAVY ONLINE COURSE Secrets of Savvy Seniors Caregiver Edition shorturl.at Dr. Nakeisha's Advisory Board Consultancy International Caregivers Association  https://www.icacares.com/advisory-board   

Quilts by Khristel Johnson     In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Fiber Historian  Khristel Johnson, who in her own words says:     “As a student of life, mother of two, and educator for over 30 years, I have always celebrated learning. I mastered my subject matter during my years as a teacher and engaged in retelling the story of American history as presented in the assigned textbooks. While I often questioned the universal narrative, I complied with teaching mandates. It would be years later when I was faced with a significant racially motivated challenge as an administrator that I began to seek comfort through the stories and history of my African ancestors.  I learned far more than I could have ever imagined. What began with a single discovery about "Pit Schools" quickly transformed into a series of unplanned fabric squares that I later constructed into my first 3-part series entitled, From the Plantation to the White House.    Driven by a growing hunger for knowledge and a desire to answer plaguing questions about American history, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The more I knew, the more I wanted to know.  Soon this singular self-serving mission broadened as I began to share the often-omitted experience of African Americans from the pages of textbooks used in classrooms across America.   This was the unplanned beginning of quilts by Khristel Johnson.   Utilizing authentic African fabrics and beads I began experimenting with colors and designs meant to be visually inviting.  My acquired knowledge and the integration of three-dimensional handmade art furthered this objective, resulting in a collection of 60 quilts.     It is my sincere hope that I can in some way inspire others to embark on their personal journey and seek amore inclusive, accurate and comprehensive understanding of the African American Experience.”   NAMES OF QUILTS KHRISTEL HAS CREATED: 2020 African Americans Applique African Diaspora Art of the Steal American History Black Cowboys 1 Black Cowboys 2 (lg) Black Excellence Black Experience (plantation to WH) Black Lives Matter Black Minds Matter (BMM) Black Power (Past, Present & Future) Black Veterans  ote (V) Blacknificant Buffalo Soldiers Change (Plantation to WH) Chickasaw Family Qlt Connections Descendents of Greatness Family Tree Freedom Riders Good Hair Herstory Honoring Our Ancestors (V) Hope (Plantation to WH) In My Lifetime Institutional Racism (BLM) Malcom X (Past, Present & Future) Red Summer of 1919 Ghana-Footsteps of our ancestors Quilt Codes (6/1/24) Black Farmers (5/1/2024) What have you got to lose? (Voting Series) We Are One (Gullah and Geechee)Tuskegee Airmen Tree of Wisdom Middle Passage Transatlantic 3/5th The Truth (BMM) Historical Reckoning Student Voices Strange Fruit A Stolen People (slavery) Stay Woke (BMM) Stevenson Family Quilt Resistence (Slavery) Power and Privilege (BLM) Plantations (slavery series) A Different PerspectiveMarketing of Human LivesMandelaHerstoryVote (part of Black vote series)Adinkra (small)   To view Khristel's work, please visit her website:     Quiltsbykj.com Email: kjohnson@quiltsbykj.com  

Once a year, I get to interview someone who is under the age of 50 to highlight their body of work, especially when they have been intentional about involving older Black women.     Tameka Lawson is a force, and her organization Restored Hope empowers Black women and girls to move beyond the everyday cycles of violence and trauma while working toward discovering inner peace and resiliency within themselves, their families and their communities. Restored Hope offers after school and in school programs that empower young women through trauma informed yoga, various social service resources, and workshops for women. Tameka Lawson is an Advocate for Social Change and is the Founder of the Selah Center for Healing.     Tameka Lawson has been a revered community activist for years, advocating for social change through her work in mindfulness programs in Chicago's Englewood community. Through her efforts, she provided organizations with the tools of mindfulness and yoga to combat the violence that community members often faced. Tameka and Restored Hope received accolades from former First Lady Michelle Obama for the phenomenally impactful work that she is doing.    During a public health brigade in 2019, Tameka recognized that Black diasporans returning to the continent often lacked a proper space to process their experiences fully. This realization led to the creation of the Selah Center for Healing. The center, located in Elmina, Ghana, will offer workshops, yoga, reiki and other forms of healing to help individuals process the information that their bodies receive after visiting the slave grounds. It is expected to open in the spring of 2024.  Tameka is also escorting five African American girls (ages 15-18) to Elmina/Cape Coast, Ghana. There she will connect them to the Ghanaian girls who she works with around the body-mind connection, meditation and leadership development. They will the tour slave dungeons and more importantly process jointly what this experience means for the girls from both sides of the Atlantic. If you would like to assist Tameka by sponsoring a girl, making a financial contribution or helping to provide feminine products, you can connect with Tameka through Restored Hopes's social media pages, the website or by going directly to Amazon (see link below) to view the organization's wish list.     Check out my list on Amazon amazon.com   Tameka is a certified trauma-informed yoga teacher, having trained under renowned teachers like Seane Corn and Catherine Ashton. Her vinyasa flow yoga classes challenge students to express their intentions as they work toward inner healing and empowerment. Her work has been featured in over 20 media publications, including People Magazine and The Doctors TV show. She is also a United Nations Delegate to the Commission of the Status of Women conference. But above all, Tameka is proud to be a mother of her four amazuping children Christopher Jr., Joshua, Ziya-Angeline and Elijah-Michael. RESTORED HOPE'S FACEBOOK PAGE Restored Hope | Chicago IL facebook.com     INSTAGRAM PAGE/LINK FOR RESTORED HOPE   https://www.instagram.com/restoredhopeorg?igsh=dnVsdWR5NW1mMnNw&utm_source=qr       WEBSITE FOR RESTORED HOPE   Reminding Women to Breathe restoredhopechicago.org      

Sharon Ehrlich (ERR-lick) is proud, Bronx-raised native New Yorker.    Sharon's business career started in the health care industry where she spent nearly a decade in hospital administration at a major NYC hospital.     A love story led to her permanently relocate to Austria. With this move she pivoted her career to IT working for IBM for over a decade and led teams throughout Europe, Turkey, and Russia.     Sharon followed her passion for educating future leaders and spent 14 years as an Adjunct Professor of Business Management at a local university.   Sharon's interest in professional development resulted in a career shiftto Sales Readiness and Enablement where she provided strategic leadership for large multinational organizations at both the European and global executive level.   Sharon is a passionate advocate for female empowerment, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and has been invited to share her views and lived experiences as a keynote speaker, podcast guest and webinar panelist.   Sharon is the founder of Living While Leading, a premier executive coaching service which focuses on supporting women IT executives in their quest to optimize their lives so that they can live and work authentically and in alignment with their priorities and values.    She also hosts the Living While Leading Podcast, a weekly podcast which focuses on topics related to women in leadership and female empowerment.    Sharon resides in Vienna with her husband and has an adult son.   In this episode, Sharon highlights and expounds on how she works with executive women who want to either transition to a completely new area of their existing careers, move from corporate work to the nonprofit sector or those who would like to become more impactful and present as it relates to their increased inner satisfaction.  Through her work with executive women, Sharon has noticed a recurring theme — that women universally have a habit of putting everything and everyone else ahead of themselves. These are all areas that Sharon can assist you in addressing so that you are maximizing joy, comfort, advancement and self-awareness. She does this primarily through her 5-month Living While Leading Four Step System.    During the interview, Sharon provides several examples of she has done this herself, along with identifying and exploring new areas that ultimately brought her new growth and fulfillment opportunities, both internally and externally.    If you would like to connect with Sharon through an exploratory session, she can be contacted through her website www.livingwhileleading.com or via email sharon@ehrlich.or.at   

In Episode 60, I interview Regine Rousseau!! Regine T. Rousseau, wine and spirits expert, writer, presenter, and media personality, focuses on making wine knowledge accessible to people at all levels of proficiency. She is recognized as 2022 Leader in the Wine Industry by Wine Business Monthly, a nominee of 2020 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards, Wine Educator of the Year, a WSET Level 3 with Merit, an International Sommelier Guild Level II, and Executive Bourbon Steward, Stave and Thief. She received the 2021 Alumni Achievement Award from Knox College. Regine has traveled around the globe sharing her wine and spirits expertise. She has authored or been featured in articles in the The Drop, New Yorker, Wine Enthusiast, Pix Wine, Black Enterprise, Black Food and Beverage, Wine Spectator, the Zoe Report, Forbes, VinePair , Afar and Chicago Tribune. Regine fell in love with wine while studying abroad during college in Besançon, France and began her career as a salesperson for a wine distributor. While in this role, she noticed a disconnect between wine professionals and consumers. Making wine approachable became a central premise of Regine's work. In 2013, Regine established Shall We Wine, a wine and spirits experiential marketing, event planning, and education company. Working with national and boutique winemakers, distilleries, importers, and distributors, she increases brand awareness, reach, and revenue for clients through innovative and traditional approaches. These include in-person and on-line activations, events, sponsorships, videos, media and social media services, and speaker and influencer marketing. She and her team are masters at translating complex terminology into language that individuals of every level of wine expertise and interest appreciates. Regine's speaking, keynote, moderator and panelist engagements include South Beach Wine and Food Festival (2022 and 2023), Blacks in Wine Symposium, Wonder Women in Wine, I.E.E.M Conference - Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, SoloCEO Summit, www.tastings.com, and Association of Writers and Writers' Programs. She is columnist for Pix Wines and a blogger on shallwewine.com, has served as subject matter expert for VinePair, has been interviewed on You & Me Chicago, WGN Chicago, Windy City Live, and Great Day Washington. Regine was the virtual event moderator for Gallo International Women's Month (2021 and 2023). Regine is a regular contributor for WGN's Daytime Chicago television show. Language is integral to Rousseau's work as a poet and published author where wine and written word are often interwoven. In her book Searching for Cloves and Lilies: The Wine Edition, Regine illustrates the dynamics of personal relationships while pairing each poem with wine that echoes the mood of her writing. Regine is recipient of the Wine Bloggers Conference Ethnifacts Diversity Scholarship, grants from McBride Sisters Collections and Allies for Community Business, and Knox College's 2020 Alumni Achievement Award. She is fluent in French, Haitian Creole, and English. She has a BA from Knox College, studied at L'Université de Franche Comte and Centre de Linguistique Appliquée.

In this episode, I interview Susan Millender, who shares with us information about a rare brain malformation (primarily diagnosed during pregnancy and sometimes diagnosed after birth). She wants us to know that her organization Families for HoPE is the only organization whose mission it is to support the entire family impacted by this disease.  She works, along with a dedicated Board of Directors and with volunteers to meet the direct service needs of the Holoprosencephaly community. Susan has always had an interest in community service and working in environments that have a strong mission to help ameliorate anxiety and isolation.  Susan is currently the Executive Director of Families for HoPE, Inc., an Indianapolis based nonprofit serving children diagnosed with Holoprosencephaly and related rare brain malformations.  She is the first person to fill the role in the organization's 17-year history.   Susan was born in East Chicago, IN and grew up in nearby Gary. She attended Ball State University and graduated from Calumet College, Whiting, IN, with a BA in Mass Communications.   Susan has worked as a health advocate in nonprofit settings in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years, specifically among children and families struggling to gain and maintain well-being and resilience.  She is a member of the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Previously,she led Seattle-King County Washington's Guided Pathways nonprofit family support organization as Executive Director. She has served as Program Director for the American Diabetes Association of Washington and Northern Idaho, and directed marketing communications programs for Seattle Counseling Services, Sound Generations of Seattle-King County, and Seattle's Bloodworks.   She counts travel and reading among the leisure-time activities she most enjoys.   Susan can be reached directly through info@familesforhope.org

Robin Tillotson Sun, 11 Jun, 15:32 (6 days ago)       to me           In this episode Saaudiah Muhammad shares the progression and trajectory that led her to a career in the Mental Health space.  Having received a strong and strict upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, from her mother, who left Alabama to experience a more prosperous life in the north, Saaudiah developed strong decision making skills and over time a discerning eye. To this day, she applies those lessons in her thriving business Black Butterfly Counseling and Consulting. Also, in 2019, she developed a Blog entitled The Muslim Therapist, and she is a strong observer of how African Americans are impacted by inequality as it relates to mental health treatment and the respect that is often not provided to the patient. When I asked her what words of wisdom would she offer women age 50+, she emphasized that she would offer her wisdom to those in the plus 40 cohort, as well. Those words simply put — “Live life on your own terms and more importantly be open to exploring new experiences and don't limit yourself.” Saaudiah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works as a psychotherapist, consultant and coach. She has spent most of her professional career working in social services, including child welfare, community services and in hospital/clinical settings for many years. Saaudiah's interest in mental health began while working at a community hospital and recognizing the difference in the treatment of patient care for those who were experiencing mental health crises. Saaudiah knew she wanted to work towards effecting a change for people facing mental health challenges. Saaudiah is passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health and therapy among communities of color and within the Islamic faith especially. Her niche is working with Black and Muslim Women in individual therapy. Saaudiah is a published writer of several articles and books including several journals. With her love of cooking and baking, she published a vegetarian cookbook titled “Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy”. As a clinician she wanted to help her clients, and all those who are in therapy with creating a therapy journal entitled Therapied: A Therapy Journal. She is also the creator of “The Better Self Journal” Book 1 and Book 2. The Better Self Journal was designed to help all those who use this journal to be inspired, motivated and encouraged with writing prompts, affirmations and beautiful Black imagery. Saaudiah loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys cooking (including baking), traveling, art collecting, and writing. She loves collecting crystals and crystal jewelry, working out, utilizing sound therapy with singing bowls and tuning forks and she is a reiki practitioner. She strives to live a holistic and healthy lifestyle. Saaudiah loves to laugh. She feels it's one of the best medicines you can have in your life. Saaudiah is an advocate for social justice. She is also working on several literary projects focusing on mental health and wellbeing. Saaudiah is dedicated to her Islamic faith and that is the force that drives her. She is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University located in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, where she obtained a Masters in Social Science Administration (Social Work). She will begin a doctoral program in Social Work this fall. **** Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy may be purchased via amazon https://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Cooking-Made-Saaudiah-Muhammad/dp/1795616806/ref= tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= All the journals can be purchased via: www.TheMuslimTherapist.org  The Better Self Journals can be purchased on www.themuslimtherapist.org or you can purchase them on Amazon.    

In this episode, I interview Jarrie Brown, who is a lover of Israel and all that she learned about this exciting country during her travels there.  She shares when her love of Israel, especially Jerusalem, began and why she and her mom took the journey there to honor her father's memory. She encourages us to travel there not only because of the spiritual significance, but as a place that is highly livable, safe and enlightening.    Jarrie L. Brown is an Ethics Compliance Investigator with a local Government Agency in Chicago, IL. A Graduate of DominicanUniversity and a Former Ebony Fashion Show Stylist (Ebony and Jet Magazine).     As a Stylist, she's traveled extensively throughout the US, Canada, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe.  And during her spare time, she is an artist, seamstress and the loving grandmother of two.    Jarrie has been traveling since the age of two, but her accomplished travel includes a tour of the Holy Land, Jerusalem, Israel (College studies and tour of the United Kingdom, France, and Rome, Italy).     “America is my Country, but Jerusalem Israel is my home”, says Jarrie!   If you would like to reach out to Jarrie regarding travel to Israel, you can email her at brownjarrie@gmail.com

In this episode, I had the exciting opportunity to interview a wonderful community artist. Antonia “Toni” Ruppert is an Illinois artist who has been creating for over 25 years. She creates paintings that tell a story. Ruppert fell in love with art as a child upon seeing her Dad draw after coming home from work at Brachs Candy Company. The oldest of six siblings, she recalls drawing horses and people on tons of pink paper that was gifted to her by the dentist office. Now creating on canvas, panels and paper using all kinds of paint, she is inspired by stories of faith, hope and love. Ruppert was the 2021 Invest South/West Artist in Residence for Chicago's Austin community and the 2022 Artist in Residence for the Addison Public Library. Ruppert is an honoree of the Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award for Cook County. Ruppert has been featured in the Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity Exhibition, Moraine Valley Community College Regional Showcase and the Dupage Art League's Best of the Best Exhibition. Her favorite paintings and murals can be found in numerous regional venues including the Berwyn North District 98 elementary schools. Other commissions include: University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago Public Library, Acorn Public Library, Addison Public Library, Austin Childcare Network, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Forest Park Park District, Elmwood Park Public Library, Grand Prairie Services, Living Springs Community Church, Markham Public Library, Near North Montessori School, Oak Forest Park District and the Oak Park Area Arts Council. In 2021, she collaborated with the Office of the Mayor of the City of Berwyn and the Award Winning Junior State of America Morton West Debate Club Chapter to commission and speak at the first Juneteenth Commemoration held in the city. Ruppert is thankful to God for her gifts and is currently illustrating a children's book —“The Place Where I Belong” by Candice Klopfenstein due out later in 2023. Ruppert is on the board of Sarah's Inn, a domestic violence awareness and prevention agency and is well known at the frontlines of the activist community and as a notable artist.  Ruppert seeks to uplift her entire community with creative expression.   You can connect with Toni at toni@toniruppert.com  

In this episode, I speak with Karen Gilliam, who is in alignment with her assignment, and she wants others to be also.  She helps others to put their dreams to the test by working with you to execute the six “Es” — Encourage, Empower, Enlighten, Educate, Elevate and Escalate. She shares that although she lost her husband to cancer, she emerged as a Queen Warrior versus a widow, who functions in a world of isolation, poverty and sorrow.     Karen, aka Coach KG, is a seasoned mentor, coach, entrepreneur, trainer, and speaker. She is the CIO, Continuously Inspiring Others, of Destn2bme By Design with Karen Gilliam.  Her career spans over four decades with her mission being the same in any capacity. Her personal and professional mission statement is to encourage, empower, enlighten, educate, elevate, and escalate people from a life of default to a life by design and being the best version of themselves.  Karen's strengths are positivity, winning others over, maximizer, empathy, and communication. To sum up these strengths, Karen is a strong communicator who positively sees the best in others and maximizes their belief in themselves by believing in them.    Karen recently added author to her hats by publishing her first book to be released this fall. The book covers her journey of caregiving for her husband of 43 years and how to live her life after his transition as a “Queen Warrior” and not a “widow”. Coach KG resides in Vancouver, WA, surrounded by her loving family of three adult children, their spouses and 11 grandsugars (because they are sweet as can be). She enjoys reading, trivia, cooking and traveling.   After hearing her, you will realize there is nothing you can't do!  MOST INSPIRING! Contact her at coachkg57@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Knowles shares her journey of self-love, her love of exercise and body building, along with the barriers that she has overcome to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle.   A 25-year veteran in higher education, Dr. Matteel D. Knowlescurrently serves as the Vice President for Student Services at Greenville Technical College.  Prior to that, she served at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort as the Vice President for Student Affairs; and prior to that, at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood in various roles in Student Development.     Born and raised in Philadelphia, Dr. Knowles' family relocated to Jacksonville, Florida when she was 12.  The first in her family to earn a college degree, Dr. Knowles first earned an Associate of Arts degree from Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood.  She then went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Counseling and Human Services from Limestone College in Gaffney; a Masters in Career and Technology Education from Clemson; a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership from the USC-Columbia; and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, alsofrom USC-Columbia.   Prior to serving in executive-level leadership roles, Dr. Knowlesserved for approximately 13 years in administrative support positions – supporting executives in mortgage banking, universities, law firms, and manufacturing companies . . . eventually transitioning into higher education.   Very active in the community, Dr. Knowles has served as a board member or member for the following service organizations: Urban League of the Upstate, Arts Council of Greenwood, Meg's House women's shelter, the Bluffton Boys and Girls Club, the Rotary Club of Greenville, the United Way of Greenville County, the Hispanic Alliance, Upstate Bootcamp, Greenville Women Giving, Education First, Incorporated, the National Coalition Building Institute, and The Links, Incorporated.   An active public speaker and workshop presenter through her company MatteelSpeaks (www.matteelspeaks.com), Dr. Knowles was a featured TED Talk presenter in 2016.  She has served as a keynote speaker in various settings and has presented numerous professional and community workshops on a variety of topics designed to inform and inspire those who desire to transform their lives.   An overcomer, Dr. Knowles' intense desire to support others through positive change and authentic transformation is directly related to some of her own personal life transformations – surfacing and thriving on the other side of divorce, morbid obesity, first-generation education, and a lack of purpose, she now fully embraces a lifestyle grounded in choices that are mentally, physically and spiritually healthy and devotes much of her free time to personally coaching others through their own life makeovers.   When she's not working, Dr. Knowles enjoys working out, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Alex.  Dr. Knowles is excited to announce the February 14, 2023release of her personal development book, It's Your Time to Soar!

After having served in various capacities as a speech-language pathologist for 40 years, Leiana J. Thomas Gary retired officially in 2019.  Always a crafter and amateur gardener with an in-born entrepreneurial spirit and raised by a mother of the Renaissance kind, Leiana tended to look at things a little differently.  During one of the last outdoor walks with her mother Alva prior to her passing in 2007, Leiana, made the snide remark “Someone should do something about these nasty looking planters” and her mother responding quietly later said, “And who might that someone be?”  After 2 years of trying not to remember that conversation, Leiana founded the Cottage Grove Planters Society.   She dug up all the hostas and day lilies out of her garden and began transplanting them with the help of family and friends into the planter pots one at a time.  After two years of tending the planters, she began to look at the blank concrete planters as canvases to display student artwork. In 2009, the Cottage Grove Planters Project began, placing framed versions of local student artwork on the then 24 planter pots, using donated funds and materials.  In 2012, the Cottage Grove Planters Project was awarded a Pepsi Refresh Grant to complete the installations. The project has continued since then and has been supported by numerous individuals and organizations such as My Block, My Hood, My City. The CGPS was recently awarded a Neighborhood Access Program (NAP) grant from the City of Chicago — Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to replace the artwork with new designs by more local school children in addition to refreshing the plants and flowers.     Also, to learn more about her forthcoming book covering the history and beauty of decorative drink ware, contact her at ltgary@sbcglobal.net.      NOTE:  Although we didn't cover this during the interview, along with Leiana's other gifts, she transforms magnets into brooches.    While wearing her mother's favorite brooch that was lost forever because the clasp opened, Leiana decided that would never happen again. Having created refrigerator magnets in the past, she began adapting brooches that would adhere to clothing without pins using magnets instead. Ladies of Attraction was born in 2009.     Website: www.ladiesofattraction.com   Website: www.cottagegroveplanters.org   Email:      ltgary@sbcglobal.net  

Akosua Awusi is the Founder and Chief Experience Officer at African Conversations and Connections (ACC Tours) — a boutique travel company providing group excursions to sub-Saharan Africa. ACC Tour's mission is to help tell the African story by providing safe, world class and inclusive guided tours of what Akosua likes to call Black Africa. ACC Tour's primary goal is to allow travelers to experience Black Africa below the surface. The company's curated tours are intimate by design — this allows travelers to immerse themselves in Africa's people, history and culture. In this interview, Akosua delves into what is magical about Ghana, its beautiful and welcoming people and why everyone should visit West Africa at least once. Akosua also shares with us her business model for getting more African Americans to visit the motherland, and she excitingly shares with us that ACC Tours have expanded their model into Tanzania. The company will also be expanding into Senegal and Nigeria. She is especially proud that in addition to her staff introducing travelers to the historic sites (e.g. Elmina at Cape Coast, Makola Market in Accra, 233 Night Club, etc.), she and her staff are adept at helping you to solidify your vision of the kind of experience you would like to have while in Ghana. If you want a dance class, yoga sessions, or take a ride in an ATV, ACC Tours can help you with that and many more offerings. We also jokingly talk about the friendly competition of which West African country has the best Jollof! Is is Ghana, Senegal or Nigeria? Akosua, who is a first generation American (her parents immigrated to Maryland from Ghana), received her degree in Finance from Temple University and her MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Akosua is bilingual in both English and Twi, and she has lived in Ghana and Belgium, along with working in other major cities in Africa and Europe.

Linda S. Husser is one of the most cutting edge Life Coaches you will meet.  When I asked her about her style of coaching and what makes it successful, Linda unequivocally stated that it's her own journey and vulnerability that makes her relatable to her clients.  She knows plenty about growing up in a dysfunctional family, but despite this, the strongest value that her parents taught her was staying connected to family and always being there for each other.  As one of six siblings, Linda still keeps that value at the center of her mind.  She knows all about habits that materialize for the purpose of hiding pain and perpetuating that foe of all foes — Imposter Syndrome. What is Imposter Syndrome, exactly?  Linda provides a clear and succinct answer — it's that feeling that no matter how many accolades one receives, achievements one attains, and compliments and praise one is offered, that lingering feeling that you are still not good enough remains. Many times this feeling is steeped in an lack awarenes of what you want, deserve and how to get it. The pain also manifests itself in the form of other preoccupations — overeating, oversleeping and oversexing.   Also, to maintain the  “I got it all together” image of outward confidence despite  low self-esteem, often times people revert to over-investing in material items.  According to Linda, none of these things will ever take the place of doing the work that leads you to believing in yourself.  When I asked Linda when one's self-esteem is really low, how do you move out  of that space.  She resolutely responded that you borrow that strength from someone else until you can move closer to a new state of mind.  You can get that from a Life Coach or anyone who strongly believes that you can shift your thinking, thus shifting your life.  Linda finds her work with Black Women age 50+ to be the most rewarding because so many women in this cohort think that they should be dialing down their dreams and desires versus seeing this period as a time to pivot and experience themselves in a new and dynamic way.  When working with clients, Linda asks “who told you you're too old to go back to school, start a business, or get married for the first time?”  These myths, through no fault of our own, are really prevalent in the media, medical settings and even with family members, who often times are living out of fear and unawareness themselves.  Linda does her innovative work through the vehicle of individual and group coaching. She is currently offering a free Master Class entitled "Ignite Your Life After 50” that runs from Monday, March 21 through Thursday, March 31, 2022.  This will be your opportunity to join a dynamic sisterhood of like-minded Black women who are seeking breathtaking “breakthroughs and remarkable results”in their lives.  According to Linda, you will get radical and design your destiny, own your full potential and genius without.  Linda reminds us that we are a unicorn not a donkey.  Finally, you will get the opportunity to “Regret Proof” your life. Linda's work is centered around helping you overcome your fear of failure and even success.  Linda confidently shares if this system worked for her, it will certainly work for you.   When I asked Linda what's next for her, she stated that she wants her Bodacious Black Woman program to become a movement.  She sees major conferences, conventions and merchandise on the horizon!  To connect with Linda, you can find her on midlifemojosession.com; www.lindahusser.com; lindahusser on Instagram.  To get your free gift of Boldacious Affirmations for Black Women, access bit.ly/lindasfreegift 

Janice Sutherland has quite the record for supporting women age 40+, particularly those who worry about being on a path that no longer serves them and need a bit of coaching on how to make a shift. Janice is an award winning career strategist, who helps mid-career professional women of color realign their desires and passions. She does all of this through the vehicle of her business “This Woman Can”. As the eldest of six children, Janice was born and raised in Birmingham, England. She inherited strong values, specifically from her mother who always believed that Janice could do anything that she set her mind upon. As with most Black families, Janice's mother encouraged her to always do your best and not to half-step. “Shoot for Nothing Less than Excellence” was the mantra. Prior to starting her business, Janice had a varied career that was centered primarily in the corporate sector. She is a former Corporate CEO, and has had stints as an Executive Coach, Leadership Development Expert, Author and an in-demand speaker. Additionally, after Janice had changed careers several times (some voluntarily and some not), Janice left London and moved to St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. It was in her new country (her ancestry emanates for Antigua) that Janice literally started over and became the first female CEO in the Telecoms sector. She had the dream job, a beautiful car and a mortgage – all the symbols of success. Feeling unsettled and wondering what was next for her, Janice left this environment, but wondered how she would share the move with family and friends. Like so many Black women, Janice wondered if people would think that she was crazy or too old for a full on career change. Also, issues of identity emerged, as well. She worried about who would she be without the job title, and most importantly, if she were to make this sweeping change, where would she start? Her biggest worry, however was “what if it didn't work out?” As Janice worked through these concerns, the beauty of it all came through because she now was equipped with helping Black women through uncertainty because she had experienced it first hand – in essence, these experiences would make her a more effective coach! As a result of having gone through her own experiences of self-doubt, she has since created a much more fulfilling life full of freedom, flexibility and choices that allow her to help others at the same crossroads. If you are looking for a strong coach that does not let you off the hook of having a fulfilling life, Janice can work with you to gain more joy in your current position, guide you through how to use your knowledge and experience to pivot to a new career more aligned to your passions. Additionally, she can help you navigate sensitive life transitions like divorce. You will walk away with a vision for your future goals and identify the cycles of self-sabotage that are impeding your progress. Janice concentrates on working with you around your beliefs, confidence level and values. Lastly, Janice will work with you to tailor success systems for your goals, strengthen your resilience so that you can confidently meet any challenge. Janice says, she will not coddle you, and you will appreciate her style when you begin to see the fruits of all the hard work you've done together. Please join Janice on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 Live or for the replay (if you can not attend on the 15th) for the event Black, Female and Over 50—The (Undervalued) Power Trifecta. This is live roundtable conversation on the intersectional bias of age, gender and race. You can join her for this event on LinkedIn at 9:00 a.m. CST Janice also is the host for the “This Woman Can” Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms (e.g. Apple, Spotify). Should you decide to work with Janice, she offers 1-1 and Group Leadership & Career Development Coaching; Career Transition Support – all of this can be offered virtually and in-person. You can connect with her on janicesutherland.com; on email at info@janicesutherland.com

Michelle Wedderburn-Waters, Founder of Afro Expats, Casa Elm and the YouTube Channel host of Michelle For Afro Expats, is a native of Toronto, Canada (of Jamaican descent), and spent her growing up years in Connecticut!  She has four brothers and both of her parents are still living.  She was educated at Central Connecticut State University, where she studied Business Management.  Michelle shared that the values that her family passed down were mainly centered around maintaining family relationships.  She was often the one organizing family events and ensuring that everyone stayed in touch with each other.  Upon researching where to relocate, Michelle and her husband looked at a number of countries as possibilities, especially Italy.  Michelle had by this time travelled numerous times throughout Mexico and, spent time with friends in San Miguel de Allende (SMA).  Michelle's husband was very open to relocating to another country, but was very skeptical about Mexico.  The typical imagery of Mexico being dangerous and one-dimensional came to mind like it does for so many people.  Michelle shared that many times people don't understand just how big the country of Mexico is and how diverse it is.  Michelle convinced her husband to visit, and it was on!  From this new experience in Mexico, Michelle and family answered a casting call for HGTV's House Hunters International.  When describing SMA, Michelle paints a very vibrant and welcoming environment.  She shared that it has a wonderful arts and cultural scene, the food is amazing (there are over 350 restaurants in SMA), and the Mexican people are amazingly friendly and loving  They are also eager to get to know you, and often language exchanges occur as a result of these newly formed friendships..  It is common after having had a conversation with a Mexican in SMA to be quickly invited to their home to partake in a meal and to get to know the rest of the family.  Michelle has been an entrepreneur for the majority of her working life, and when she arrived in SMA, Michelle knew that she would develop some new business ventures.  She noticed that friends and colleagues were always asking her questions about tips on moving abroad, and although Michelle did not see the business potential in these inquiries, her husband pointed out that other people could benefit from her expertise and business acumen. As a result, she created Afro Expats which is a compilation of a well designed website, relocation coaching and a thriving YouTube channel.  Because Michelle is always searching for new vistas, she has continued to develop other businesses centered around SMA.  She now hosts Relocation Tours that give prospective residents of Mexico and San Miguel, specifically a front row view of life in this area.  Some of the offerings on a Relocation Tour include visiting the neighborhoods of SMA, viewing properties with a real estate agent (both rental and those for purchase), day trips to surrounding areas, learning about a variety of medical and health plans, entertainment and the restaurant and arts scene.  By the time the tour is over, many have fallen in love with SMA and begin making plans to exit their home country and move there.  I asked Michelle what is it like being a woman age 50+ still creating, and she emphasized that she like so many in this age cohort are still stoking their creative juices.  LIFE IS NOT OVER!  Older women are ripe for all kinds of new endeavors. If you would like to have a Discovery Call with Michelle about a move to Mexico and San Miguel de Allende especially, she can be at reached casaelm.com; on YouTube as Michelle for Afro Expats; on Facebook as Afro Expats' Lifestyle Community in Mexico on Instagram as Afro_Expats.

Deidre Proctor has spent many years as a certified business, clarity and accountability coach, along with being the CEO of Deidre Proctor & Associates, LLC.  Deidre has always maintained a passion for helping others to achieve their goals.  As a highly sought after coach with a strong bent for helping women, Deidre shared that the biggest part of her coaching program for women is helping them get past their fears.  She says, it not enough to identify your desire or goal (although gaining clarity in this area is important), but you must take action.  Fear causes paralysis and it shows up in different forms – procrastination, remembering the negative comments of others, etc.  One of Deidre's greatest talents is creating and developing processes for women entrepreneurs. The Systematic Success Strategy is what she uses when working with this co-hort.  Also, Deidre and her husband David Proctor have co-founded Amazing Retreats International, LLC.  One of the most popular events that has emerged from her and her husband's partnership is the “Breathe Retreat.” This endeavor began in 2015. According to Deidre, this retreat is where you can truly see the growth of women.  She told the story where an attendee shared with her that she almost did not attend the retreat because she felt so guilty about leaving her husband and son for the weekend.  Although many people might respond “what's the big deal, surely they can survive one weekend without you”, Deidre recognized what a huge step this was for this woman and how she grew from the content of the retreat and how she worked through her fear.  Additionally, Deidre is also the founder and CEO of “Share Your Genius” (SYG).  This group is comprised of over 1.5 thousand women not aimed at merely getting something from the group, but the beauty of this group is that every member has a gift/talent and are now is in the position to give and share their gifts and talents.  The group also has a cadre of subject matter experts known at SYG (Share Your Genus) Certified Experts in a wide variety of skill and practice areas.  Certain days are reserved for certain topics.  For instance on 2/24/22, the day allowed for SYG Experts with strong knowledge in interior decorating, gardening and image enhancement to share with the larger group.  There are a myriad of topics (too many to list here). Deidre shared a quote from Pastor Myles Munroe that is so profound – “The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road.  It is the cemetery.  There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were not written and masterpieces that were never painted.  In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasures of untapped potential.”  This quote alone is what keeps Deidre motivated to help women grow.  She states that she is just not her happiest unless she is helping someone else.  Deidre's work has had a far-reaching impact as exemplified by the recognition she has received from the following publications – Heart and Soul Magazine, Glamher Magazine, Voyage Dallas Magazine, The North Dallas Gazette – just to name a few.  If you would like to reach out to Deidre to learn more about the phenomenal work that she is engaged in, she can be reached on deidreproctor.com; on Facebook as Deidre Proctor; on Instagram as coachdeidreproctor.

Toni Denise Carthan was born and raised in Los Angeles California, and is the mother of three loving adult sons. Her fondest memory growing up was how those in the neighborhood took the time to look after each other. “Everyone was family” says Toni. She learned early in life about diversity and culture; she had a number of Mexican friends who she grew ultra close to, and she remains friends with then even to this day. Toni shares with us the principles that she was reared with the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” From the time that I heard Toni speak at the Exodus Summit, a three day conference focusing on assisting Black women to move abroad, take a sabbatical or become a digital nomad back in the fall of 2021, I knew her story needed to be heard as there are so many Black women age 50+ who would like to retire abroad and become an expatriate (aka expat). Toni says her move to first Tulum (a short stay), then Merida (considered to be the second safest city in North America) and now in Playa del Carmen was the spark she needed to experience God's plan for her life on a higher plane. Toni stresses that the growth that she has experienced centers around her ability to try a new thing and whether or not it succeeds, she feels good that she has grown tremendously from the process. Living abroad has taught her to take one day at a time and to know that she doesn't have to have it all figured out in advance. By the way, Toni would like you to know that she lives a good life in Playa del Carmen on her Social Security. It can be done! She relies heavily on God's guidance, and this gives her the confidence to move forward in His will. Toni also has a consulting practice entitled Rise Up & Bloom Coaching, which has the mission of helping women, especially Black women to move abroad. A consultation with her helps you to identify the nuts and bolts of what it take to move to another country. She works with her clients around identifying a location, how to secure housing, understanding the Mexican Residency/Visa process (both temporary and permanent) and money management despite the lower cost of living in Mexico. Toni stresses that the biggest growth area will be around your mind shift and understanding the Mexican economy. Additionally, Toni is a jazz singer, who has had a few gigs in Mexico at cantinas, especially. She plans on getting her voice in further shape so that she can share the music that she loves – the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, etc. When I asked Toni how does she see herself growing from this point, she shared that she must buckle down to finish a book that she has been writing. Stay tuned for more on this. If you would like to connect with Toni, you can find her on her YouTube channel (Rise Up & Bloom), on Instragram (mstonidenise), on Facebook (Rise Up & Bloom Coaching).

Marcia's mission as Founder at Urban Connoisseurs is to affect sustainable growth in the wine community by increasing awareness of the number of American winemakers of African descent in the United States. She is also dedicated to creating opportunities for the next generation to seriously consider careers in the wine industry. Marcia increases the public's awareness of Black winemakers through her well designed Winemakers Club. You choose the membership, the club will select the wines and deliver them directly to your door. The club model has also been instrumental in helping Black winemakers pivot during the difficult COVID-19 and variant periods. When these winemakers could not hold tastings or other events that increased their brand recognition, many of them turned to creating wine clubs as a way to keep their businesses solvent. When I asked Marcia to share how she developed her interest in wine and developing a strong coalition of Black winemakers, she reminisced about having attended a wine tasting where the maker invited she and her sisters into his home, provided a divine meal and shared his vision for creating wines for consumers. She noted that what stood out about the experience was the emphasis placed on hospitality. The winemaker didn't just provide a sampling of a variety of wines, but spent a great deal of time making she and her sister feel extremely comfortable in his home by creating a top notch experience, inclusive of dinner. Another way Marcia is working to make Black winemakers more visible is through the making of a documentary entitled “Journey Between the Vines: The Black Winemakers' Story” and the writing of a book about this illustrious group of creators. The book will highlight the history and present day African Americans in the wine industry. Additionally, Marcia is hosting the second annual Wine Makers Summit, which will take place Friday, February 18, 2022 and Saturday, February 19, 2022. The Summit's sessions, which are all virtual, will address some of the following topics: Climate Change, Smoke Taint, Fires and How Harvest Has Been Affected; The Pandemic and How It Has Affected, Revenue, Online Sales, Wine Club Marketing and the Tasting Room The Shift: Building Your Wine Club The Bright Side of Being a Winemaker, and Why We Are Still Here Toast to the Bubbles: Who is Making What and Why Guests will also have an opportunity to visit winemakers' online booths. This event, like so many that Marcia has created, is centered around a strong value system that as outlined in Marcia's written material does the following: Supports those who produce the best quality wine grapes and wine possible; Support those winemakers who lead in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources for future generations; Maintain long-term relationships with winemakers; Support the economic and social well-being of winemakers, their employees and families; Respect for all who have traveled this challenging road, whether in success or failure; Honor the American winemakers of African descent and their entrepreneurial spirit; Research and educate as well as monitor and evaluate existing practices to improve the community and its growth Marcia has also created Women and Wine Celebrate to be held in Seattle, Washington. Stay tuned for more information about this dining/wine experience via her website urbanconnoisseurs.com Marcia has also created a scholarship fund through The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to attract students who have an entrepreneurial leaning. These students are mentored and educated about the wine industry – all of this is geared toward ensuring the there are future generations of winemakers of African descent. To learn more about the phenomenal work that Marcia is engaged in, or if you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, along with registering for the International Winemakers Summit, you can connect with her on urbanconnoisseurs.com, Instagram and Facebook (all under Urban Connoisseurs) and Marcia Jones on LinkedIn.

Tinesha is a native North Carolinian, who resides in Charlotte. She, along with her brother, were raised by a loving and giving mother, who instilled a strong work ethic in her children. Tinesha finds humor in her growing up years as she and her mom had their typical mother-daughter disagreements, but despite these occasional rifts, the love and respect was always present. When I asked Tinesha to share with us her journey from darkness to light, the key component of her healing was that she was acutely aware of feeling out of sync and off-centered. This manifested in her feeling as if she was living in a dark hole that had no outlet. She also shared that when she admitted to her mother that she wanted to commit suicide, her mom's response was “o.k. if you do that you know nothing will have changed.” This was food for thought, and as a result, Tinesha and her mother made arrangements to seek help in an in-patient facility. According to Tinesha, everything about the facility including unhealthy and uncaring staff, along with the program's methodologies for moving past the darkness was totally without what she needed to grow. She wanted out. She ultimately connected to a program that provided group sessions, and it was not long before she found herself challenging the words and sentiments of the other group members. When a group member made statements about life events, Tinesha would readily ask questions of them that often made them totally uncomfortable. In one instance, a group member was so angry by her comments, that he did not return to the group for two weeks. However, upon his return, he admitted to Tinesha that although his initial reaction was one of hurt and anger, when he thoroughly processed her words, he accepted that she was correct in her assessment. This and other stories like it were early signs that Tinesha had a gift for therapeutic/healing work! Tinesha is a huge proponent of the importance of mental health, which encompasses self-care, self-actualization, self-love and all the healthy ways in which Black women can love on themselves. As a natural hair care specialist, Tinesha's client base is comprised of Black women, who like in so many salon settings use the time with their hair stylist to process problems in relationships, self-esteem, career and a myriad of other areas. Tinesha is quickly becoming known in the self-care space as a mindset coach and self-love advocate. She stresses the importance of recognizing that healing is a lifestyle. According to Tinesha “it is paramount that in order to get and stay healthy, you must place a high premium on continual healing because old beliefs that serve to minimize our glory, our uniqueness and our growth will rear up in ways that if you don't stay on top of it, will cause you to revert back to old and unhealthy thinking.” After having heard Tinesha speak at the Black Women Travel Jubilee about boundaries, I shared with her that I didn't ever remember being taught the function of boundaries when I was growing up. As a matter of fact, I told her that I don't think I began to really understand that I didn't have them until my late 20s. According to Tinesha, boundaries are critical to a healthy functioning. She goes into greater detail about in this episode as to how this plays out. If you would like to reach out to Tinesha she can be found on the following social media platforms Facebook as Tinesha Matthews; on Instagram @tinesha.matthews; website: www.tineshamatthews.com Additionally, Tinesha has a wonderful Facebook Group entitled Tiny Change Agency.

Lisa Thompson received her bachelor's degree in Government from Oberlin College and her law degree from Ohio State University. She has had a multi-faceted career in the arena of law. She has a number of licenses and certifications under her belt. Lisa is Licensed in the United States Supreme Court, The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. She When I asked her what stands out about her childhood as it relates to kindness, work ethic and values, Lisa quickly recalled that it was commonplace for she and her dad to read together avidly and have discussions around what they were reading. Additionally, Lisa has very clear memories of her parents working hard, managing their funds with integrity and emphasizing the importance of honoring your word and doing your best at all times. Lisa currently serves as a Juvenile Court Magistrate at Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court Branch. As Magistrate, Lisa sits on the bench where she hears delinquency, abuse, neglect and dependency cases. Prior to her work as Magistrate, Lisa wasthe owner of The Thompson Legal Firm and a Partner with Thompson Steward, LLC. Lisa shared that she has had extensive experience in the practice areas of criminal defense, legal research and trial practice. When I asked Lisa what are some of the most important things that she would like to achieve in her personal development, she responded that she would like to really focus on completing the writing of a number of books that she has in the coiffures. She hopes to set aside uninterrupted time to devote to this. Lisa also shared that many of her topics come from dreams and other related avenues. If she weren't already busy enough, Lisa finds time to travel, and she is very proud that she has visited 30 countries since 2012. Her favorite country is Spain! Lisa hopes that African Americans will not overlook traveling to countries that are unfamiliar but have plenty to offer – history, beauty, great cuisine, friendly people and exciting excursions. Countries like Bosnia should not be overlooked. She enjoyed her travels there, and was amazed at the sophistication of the city. She plans to visit Georgia and Albania soon. When I asked Lisa what words of wisdom did she have to offer our audience, she responded “stop putting things off; do things while you can!” Lisa's email address is Lisa_Thompson@fccourts.org.

Trish Williams is a Fiber Artist Par Excellence. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Trish learned early from her mother and sister that she had a special talent. Her sister would take her artwork (unbeknownst to Trish) and sell it and bring Trish the money. This is how much her family believed in her and her gifts. Additionally, Trish read voraciously about art, famous artists, African American artists, and she was particularly drawn to work that made a social justice statement. While a student in the Upward Bound Program (a college preparatory program for high school students), Trish was exposed to a myriad of art from all types of artists – American, European, Latin and women. She states the cultural offerings that were placed before her, excited her and more importantly that exposure showed her that there were no boundaries to how she could show up in the art arena. She quickly connected to other fiber artists, especially those engaged in the quilting arts. She was struck by the richness of colors, patterns and the generation of innovative ideas. The stories that she heard in these quilting circles, especially from Black women amazed her and had her so enraptured that Trish quickly became committed to showcasing her work through an African American lens. As a result of the artistry and vibrancy of her work, it became commonplace for Trish's work to be featured in both solo and group exhibits on college campuses, art galleries, museums, cultural centers and festivals. Her work is classified as “fine art” and it tends to fall into the categories of “Large Works”, “Darling Divis and Friends”, “Glad Bags”, “Wearable Art”, “Mix Media” and “Public Art”. Her patrons range from the wealthy to the collector who requests a payment plan. Trish makes her art accessible. Her work has been featured in anthologies, quilt portfolios, fiber arts magazines, and her works have been the subject of lectures and trunk shows. She has also been generous with students in sharing her knowledge, wisdom and here arts manifesto. About herself, Trish says, “I bring together the rhythm of hand dyed, painted and commercially made fabrics with the syncopated lines of my quilting to tell stories about the African Diaspora and my community. While my textiles are steeped in the tradition of the story, quilt, cloth-based narratives constructed frequently from scraps of clothing and other familiar fabrics to record history at a particular time and place, they are intended to be viewed on the wall rather than to dress a bed. My tales are for all to see and know, rather than for just an intimate few. I challenge the status quo, refusing to accept the stereotypes forced upon me by society. Instead, I question the very nature of these stereotypes using familiar forms and processes to hold the viewer's attention.” During the interview, I asked Trish what words of counsel would she offer African American women age 50+, and her response was “learn how to say ‘no'. Accept your power and mean it when you say ‘no'. You can connect with her on Facebook as Trish Williams and her website is www.handworksbytrishwilliams.com

Lori Tharps is a writer, an author and a lover of all that examines culture and how it plays out in our day to day lives. She says, “I am a Black-American woman married to a Spanish man, and my life is a meltingpot of melanin, curls, accents and adventures.” As an expat writer living in the south of Spain, Lori is now able to devote the majority of her time to writing – no longer squeezing it in with her former professorship at Temple University, and a multitude of other tasks, Lori is excited to be able to live the life of a writer full time. Already a prolific writer, Lori has authored the following titles “Kinky Gazpacho”, “Hair Story: Untangling The Roots of Black Hair in America” (1st and 2nd editions), “Substitute Me”, and “Same Family Different Colors: Confronting Colorism in America's Diverse Families”. Lori has developed a palate for developing works that examine the intersection of race and real life. Lori proudly states “All my life, I've wanted to write stories that would change the world.” She has done just that, especially with “Hair Story….” as it was one of if not the first book that addressed African Americans' ancestral connections to their hair. Her background as a journalist, educator, podcast host and in-demand speaker have been a perfect conduit for her laser sharp research and observations. She hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in this interview, Lori shares with us the role this industrial city played in her development. Despite the fact that she noticed the inherent segregation in her birthplace, she, through the encouragement of her mother, was allowed to develop her highly creative energies. As a child, Lori wrote plays, assigned parts, and was always looking for ways to express her strong love of writing. As a student at Smith College, Lori was able to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain where she met her soulmate, who was to become her husband. After attending Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Lori began her public relations and journalistic pursuits on Madison Avenue at one of the top ten public relations firms, along with Vibe Magazine and Entertainment Weekly. Lori's current life in Spain is centered around affording her children the opportunity to deepen their relationship with their Spanish heritage, gracing her husband with the ability to spend time with his aging parents, and nurturing her desire to meld all of this with her desire to focus solely on her writing without the demands of a rigorous teaching career (Lori retired from her professorship at Temple prior to moving to Spain). She is an orchestral conductor of sorts! She is biking on the streets of Spain, getting lost at book festivals, and although she can conduct day to day tasks using her verbal Spanish skills, read instructions, menus and other activities of daily living, Lori is determined to learn to read literature in Spanish. She even lets us in on how she plans to strategically accomplish this feat. Lori shared in a recent post on her popular blog My American Melting Pot “I don't want to exist on the margins of society because I can't consume the written word.” Because Lori is clearly living a liberal arts lifestyle, we know she will conquer this, as well! Lori's words of counsel to older women considering moving abroad is to be clear on your “why”, make as detailed a list as possible of all of the logistical steps to be taken, follow the pland and DO IT! anPlease check out and follow this amazing woman on her blog MYAMERICANMELTINGPOT.COM, on Instagram @loriltharps and her podcast My American Melting Pot on the Apple Podcast platform.

Joyce Barr describes herself as a serial solopreneur who took early retirement at 62, following 40+ years on the grind in both corporate and non-profit service. She now operates a unique tour service called “BLAST! Tours & Coaching”. Her business is distinguished by its concierge-style personal attention combined with excellent value for those wanting to live their best life abroad. Joyce has been off the grind since March 2016, and she resigned from a successful career in affordable housing development which started with a Habitat for Humanity in 1996 – the epiphany changed her career path from a corporate ladder chaser to one driven by purpose and service. Presently, Joyce lives in Panama, as a permanent resident operating solo ventures such as a Development Consultant, Amazon Seller, Coach and Tour Operator. Since her “retirement”, Joyce has put together a digital brand that allows her to employ her diverse skill set, which she keeps activated by assisting her clients to live their best life -- especially those baby boomers wanting to divest of the “American Dream.” BLAST! Tours & Coaching is her latest venture that provides Panama Look-See tours, individual and group coaching, assistance, and support to transition to an expat lifestyle, living an affordable, stylist life abroad. BLAST! Helps Baby Boomers (especially single women), with post-retirement planning issues, such as options for long-term health care, affordable housing, or lack of family or community support. It's a full-service business! BLAST! provides those it serves with the confidence and a sure footing to maintain an independent lifestyle abroad.

Kwavi is 53 years old and BOLD! She is a certified Life Coach, Author, International Retreat Creator and an in-demand Speaker. Her niche is working with illustrious groups of women who are age 50+ to inspire them to live their best life! Kwavi received her B.Sc in Informational Technology from Thames Valley University in the United Kingdom. Additionally, she obtained her master's degree in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University in Chicago. Although she was very successful in her previous careers, Kwavi is equally proud of the excellent training that she received from the Life Coach School. Her emphasis is on the whole woman age 50 and beyond and her experience in Information Technology compliments her current career trek by providing women with tools and empowering knowledge. Kwavi also reaches women through her Master Classes like “3 Simple Steps to Live Your Best Life Over 50”. It is through Kwavi's commitment to motivating, encouraging and assisting women that accelerates her clients' ability to reach their maximum potential. This is a mission for her. In her exploratory work and conversations with women age 50+, Kwavi gleaned that the theme that kept permeating the dialogue was their feelings of invisibility. Kwavi in her mission to eradicate those internal feelings both within her clients and those external systems that contribute to this line of thinking became more determined to create solutions to this issue. “It is women who will make a difference in the world, says Kwavi. This is why she is adamant that it is not too late to walk into your authentic self and flourish in the way God has intended for you. “The world needs you”, says Kwavi. She has created the Flourish Online Community; in her words (as highlighted on her website) you will learn to reinforce self-care in the following ways: Get a whole new outlook on life in your 50s and beyond; Make your health a top priority inclusive of proper rest/sleep, increased energy and glow from the inside out; Identify habits that keep you stuck like people pleasing, perfectionism, shaky boundaries; Take steps to create the life you truly want Kwavi instructs her group members that there are six pillars to Flourish: It's all about you Relationships Health and Wellness Sleep and Sex Style To deepen her work with her women age 50 and beyond, Kwavi has written a book entitled “50 Questions to Answer When You Reach 50”. This is a guide that will help you shine and thrive! The book's aim is to get its reader to focus on answering questions that encourage you to really examine the things that are important to you. It is a non-judgmental and non-“preachy” approach to helping you pinpoint how you want to proceed on your life's journey without comparing yourself to others nor setting goals that don't serve you. You will walk away with a sense of renewal and a sense that all things important to you are conquerable. Kwavi has set a challenge to reach one million women, and she is determined to impact these women because it is them who are key to making our universe a healthier place for all. Kwavi has been featured on CBS, NBC, Best Self Magazine and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Kwavi, who reside in Atlanta, is a prolific blogger, dedicated wife and mother of two teenage boys. You can connect with Kwavi on kwavi.com, Instagram – www.kwavi.tv/instagram1 Tik Tok -- @kwavi_tv

Felicia has been helping others attain their dreams for many years, and in 2020, she was determined to achieve a long-desired dream – to become a healthier version of her already powerful self. Felicia is clear when she says, “you are not being authentic when you are carrying that much excess weight.” Felicia is equally clear when she explains that her initial goal was to lose 75 pounds, and when she did, Felicia was challenged to go even further. She started out by doing simple things that produced big results. She drank plenty of water, she walked every day, and she made a point of eating lean and green! When she would eat that slice of birthday cake, she did not go further into the abyss of overeating, nor did she beat up on herself. She would have a slice, but immediately committed to doubling up on her walking to burn off the cake. She was relentless. Felicia stresses it's the small things done consistently and with determination that make a difference. Before long a weight loss of 75 pounds evolved into a weight loss of 145 pounds. Equally impressive, she did this in 10 months. She is also ultra proud that she did not take to drastic measures to shed the weight – there was no surgeries nor starvation – just a strong desire to show up in the world authentically and happier! Felicia is on a mission to share her journey to a healthier existence with those who want the same thing. She utilizes her Life Coaching credentials to spur others on. She has written a book entitled “The Reinvention of Me: My Transformational Journey”. She has also curated a phenomenal journal entitled “Make It Happen: 100 Days To A Better U”. The launch date for both publications is Thursday, October 7, 2021. Additionally, Felicia possesses a number of other gifts and talents. She is the Owner and CEO of His Glory Creations Publishing. This endeavor allows her to support emerging writers through the coaching process of writing their stories and getting their works published. Additionally, she is a speaker and coach for Take It By Force Ministries, Inc. A resident of North Carolina, Felicia is a graduate The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Want to connect with Felicia? You can find her on the following platforms – On Facebook – Move To Your Best U Coaching Solutions; also on Facebook – His Glory Creations Publishing; Instagram @CoachFeliciaLucas

Carol Cherry, a Benefits Consultant in the insurance industry began in 2014 after ending a tenured managerial career in the Hospitality Industry. Once her children were grown, she decided to take a leap of faith and start a new career that had only been a dream for many years. She utilized training, leadership hospitality and communications skills to launch her from a large corporation to establish, plan and execute her own brand and business. She realized that if she could run the corporation's multi-million-dollar restaurant, hire staff, provide training and supervision to make a profit for them then she surely could do the same for her own business. She clearly states that it has not been easy growing her business, but every year is better than the last, and she is pleased with the progress she is making in her business. As an Insurance Broker, Carol has partnered with more than 100 insurance carriers for Healthcare, Medicare, Long Term Care and other ancillary products. Carol works with individuals looking for healthcare coverage. She also works with small employer groups looking to build a competitive benefit package to attract and retain the best talent. Her long-term vision for her company is to become a household name with multiple locations and thousands of employees that are able to replicate the process and help families all over the country understand how to use insurance as the solution it is intended to be. During the interview, Carol focuses on: What is Medicare Part A What is Medicare Part B What is Medicare Part C What is the difference in Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Medicare Supplement? What are some programs that help the low-income community with out-of-pocket costs and medications   Carol gears her Medicare 101 presentation in a way that will brings people up to date on the most recent changes to Medicare so you can make an informed decision about your Medicare options, especially during the Annual Open Enrollment Period -- October 15, 2021 to December 7, 2021. Carol wants to make sure you know: what you need to do if you're turning 65 and plan on leaving your group plan; if you're turning 65 and plan on keeping your group plan. Also, she provides a framework for you to think about whether you need Medicare Part B. Lastly, Carol explains when you should do it, and whether or not you will have a late enrollment penalty. To connect with Carol Cherry, contact her at 815/762-0761 or at her email ccherry.consultant@gmail.com

In this episode, we took a detour from our regular age 50+ guest to explore what younger women, specifically Millennials are thinking about as it relates to issues of aging. Carly hails from a large family of four brothers and two sisters, along with parents who have always been supportive. She chose the field of Phlebotomy because she was mentored by a Registered Nurse, who saw that she had the makings of a good phlebotomist. Carly shared that the best wisdom that she has received from an older woman was to be sure to “pick your battles”. It was shared by an older woman named Miss Gwen who Carly works with. Miss Gwen emphasized that everything is not worth getting riled up about. This wisdom resonated with Carly because as a mother, who must think about the well being of her children, the fallout and repercussions of saying and/or doing the wrong thing could have detrimental effects. Carly has carried that piece of advice with her throughout her life. She also shared the spark within her that has always caused her to take note of older women. “It's what they have been through and their willingness to share their stories with me as a younger woman; they stressed that they wanted me to learn from not only their mistakes, but their successes, as well.” The key characteristics that Carly envisions herself incorporating in her life as she ages is continued patience, forgiveness and problem solving. Carly has also been motivated by older women not to wait too long to bring her dreams to fruition; she is currently writing a book entitled “W.O.K.E.” (Wayward Opinion Of The Kultural Ethos). She hopes to have it completed by December 2021. In addition to writing a book, Carly is also the co-host of a podcast called Leezeelife on the Anchor Platform. This podcast focuses on issues of the day and pop culture. Carly's words of wisdom to female Millennials is to gather as much knowledge, history and information from older women and be willing to share the importance of the impact they have made and the ways in which they have contributed to your lives. Her words of counsel also include suggesting that older women be willing to share their experience without being preachy and condescending. To connect with Carly, she can be contacted @cvst2001 on Instagram; and Carly Tillotson on Facebook.

Shirley Hogsett is the Founder and CEO of Destiny Speaks, and she shares a number of gems in this podcast episode.  She has a wealth of experience.  Shirley is the youngest of 10 children born to a butcher and seamstress in Goodman, Mississippi.  It was there that the importance of a tight knit family and a solid extended community was instilled in her.  She and her family were diligent about service to God and to others, and it was through the vehicle of church that this philosophy was practiced.  Additionally, the family would visit other churches in order to be in fellowship and service outside their environs. Her parents had a staunch work ethic and were entrepreneurs before they even understood the word.  In addition to his full time job, Shirley's father was a jack of all trades -- carpentry, repairs, etc.  Her. mother was a very talented seamstress.  These "side hustles" brought  in extra income, but this showed how you could be multi-talented and multi-skilled and make money. Even the words of a mentor still resonate today -- "You are in business to solve a problem." Shirley shares that growing up reading was her greatest joy, and when the family started getting issues of Black Enterprise Magazine this was the highlight of her month.  She was amazed by reading about the phenomenal things that countless Black people were accomplishing in business.  Shirley has held some very interesting positions prior to starting Destiny Speaks. In one of them, she had a career in Professional Events and Meeting Planning, which laid the foundation for the very thing she is doing currently.  One of the responsibilities she had in this role was to identify speakers for these events; one of the things she noticed was that some of the very best speakers were not getting paid. Out of this revelation, Destiny Speaks was born. In working with Destiny Speaks clients, Shirley assists emerging speakers with honing in on their expertise and their passion, which ultimately leads them to targeting the organizations that have audiences that want and need to hear their messages. Additionally, other services are provided -- creation of the client's bio and marketing strategies.  Shirley, who formerly served  as an Empowerment Director and Chicago Chapter Leader for EBW2020, is now serving on the Global level.  In this role she and EBW are charged with empowering women in building sustainable businesses.   INC. Magazine also named EBW one of the Fastest Growing Sustainable Businesses.  Shirley has been highly recognized and honored for her work.  Specifically, she was named Who's Who in Black Chicago; she received the Business Accelerator Step It Up Award; and she has served as a Business Mentor for the 2016 Sage Summit Chicago where there were approximately 20,000 attendees from around the world.  Her words of wisdom for Black women age 50+?  To recognize that you have the years of experience, ingenuity and a God ordained purpose.  Now, you must be sure you value yourself.  Out of this, everything else is born.  Want to connect with Shirley?  She can be reached on via her website www.desinyspeaks.net; LinkedIn as Shirley Hogsett; Instagram: Shirley Hogsett; 

Shirley Hogsett is the Founder and CEO of Destiny Speaks, and she shares a number of gems in this podcast episode.  She has a wealth of experience.  Shirley is the youngest of 10 children born to a butcher and seamstress in Goodman, Mississippi.  It was there that the importance of a tight knit family and a solid extended community was instilled in her.  She and her family were diligent about service to God and to others, and it was through the vehicle of church that this philosophy was practiced.  Additionally, the family would visit other churches in order to be in fellowship and service outside their environs. Her parents had a staunch work ethic and were entrepreneurs before they even understood the word.  In addition to his full time job, Shirley's father was a jack of all trades -- carpentry, repairs, etc.  Her. mother was a very talented seamstress.  These "side hustles" brought  in extra income, but this showed how you could be multi-talented and multi-skilled and make money. Even the words of a mentor still resonate today -- "You are in business to solve a problem." Shirley shares that growing up reading was her greatest joy, and when the family started getting issues of Black Enterprise Magazine this was the highlight of her month.  She was amazed by reading about the phenomenal things that countless Black people were accomplishing in business.  Shirley has held some very interesting positions prior to starting Destiny Speaks. In one of them, she had a career in Professional Events and Meeting Planning, which laid the foundation for the very thing she is doing currently.  One of the responsibilities she had in this role was to identify speakers for these events; one of the things she noticed was that some of the very best speakers were not getting paid. Out of this revelation, Destiny Speaks was born. In working with Destiny Speaks clients, Shirley assists emerging speakers with honing in on their expertise and their passion, which ultimately leads them to targeting the organizations that have audiences that want and need to hear their messages. Additionally, other services are provided -- creation of the client's bio and marketing strategies.  Shirley, who formerly served  as an Empowerment Director and Chicago Chapter Leader for EBW2020, is now serving on the Global level.  In this role she and EBW are charged with empowering women in building sustainable businesses.   INC. Magazine also named EBW one of the Fastest Growing Sustainable Businesses.  Shirley has been highly recognized and honored for her work.  Specifically, she was named Who's Who in Black Chicago; she received the Business Accelerator Step It Up Award; and she has served as a Business Mentor for the 2016 Sage Summit Chicago where there were approximately 20,000 attendees from around the world.  Her words of wisdom for Black women age 50+?  To recognize that you have the years of experience, ingenuity and a God ordained purpose.  Now, you must be sure you value yourself.  Out of this, everything else is born.  Want to connect with Shirley?  She can be reached on via her website www.desinyspeaks.net; LinkedIn as Shirley Hogsett; Instagram: Shirley Hogsett; 

Donna C. Lawrence is the CEO, Creator and Owner of Painting it Pink Events. She sees painting as a therapeutic process, and an art form that can take you into another zone! In this episode, Donna, who grew up in Chicago, shares that she is a product of her parents, and she has a sister. She noticed even at an early age that her sister possessed an extreme talent at age five. She asked her mother “how could a five year old paint so well.” This illustrated to Donna and family that she, herself, had an eye for talent and good art. As we fast forward, Donna created a career at Wilson Junior College, married and had a son. When her son passed, Donna found herself in an emotional slump until it came to her that she was not meant to live in that way. She thought intently about how she was in the past – light, happy and feeling whole and complete. In acknowledging that she needed to cook for herself, Donna realized that she didn't want to even enter the kitchen because the colors and the feeling of lightness was just not there. She began to wonder what it would look and feel like if her kitchen were painted pink. When she painted it, she loved the lift and the exuberance she felt afterwards. She found herself experimenting with painting other things (e.g. furniture) the color pink. She found that the color pink was a catalyst for greater creativity, productivity and self-expression. Being an open spirit, Donna was introduced to a Life Coach by her sister, who thought that Donna could benefit greatly from this type of relationship. Working with a Life Coach provided greater clarity for Donna on her purpose – joy, fun, laughter, happiness and peace. She eventually started hosting events. This ultimately led her to forming the business Painting it Pink Events. Here is how she describes herself “I have re-imagined and recreated my own life. I paint everything pink – mostly everything inside my home – chairs, tables, doors, walls, kitchen cabinets, etc.” Donna is emphatic that age is just a number and that if you have a desire and a passion to do something, do it with your heart and with gusto! Even in the midst of Covid-19, Donna found a way to pivot by offering events online via the Zoom platform. She is looking forward to getting back to offering events onsite. She notes an experience where a customer brought her husband to a Painting It Pink event, and although he started out not being engaged in the activity, he soon found himself immersed in the activity and found great joy doing it. “Pink has the ability to transform moods and attitudes”, says Donna. If you would like to contact Donna or you want to be inspired by how she started a business in her 70s, she can be found on Instagram @painting_it_pink on Facebook as Donna C. Lawrence and her website is paintingitpinkevents.com

Anne Marie Davidson has an extensive background in the senior housing arena. She was drawn to this field of aging and work with seniors based on her memory of her grandmother and how valuable and precious she was to her entire family. Because of these great memories, Anne Marie made an early commitment to lend her talents and gifts to senior citizens. She has a particular gift in educating families on what signs of memory loss families should look for once they begin to notice that something is amiss with their loved one. Anne Marie talks about the three levels of senior housing – independent living, assisted living and skilled (nursing home) living. She also shares what to look for as your loved one progresses along the memory care continuum. As a Senior Living Advocate, Anne Marie works with families to determine what the senior loved one needs currently. She does a thorough assessment that aids her in identifying desired housing and needs. She also works with family caregivers by providing them with resources that assist them in taking care of themselves. According to Anne Marie, resources like the Alzheimer's Association can be great life lines and aid them in better taking care of their aging loved one. Anne Marie also shares that once it is decided upon that a new living arrangement is needed, she explains that facilities, particularly in the memory care arena, offer a menu of services that allow the family and senior to select from inclusive budget. Anne Marie also talks about the career trajectory of working in senior housing and memory care, and she emphasizes that based on the statistics of the growing numbers of seniors (particularly Baby Boomers), there will be plenty of career opportunities in the field of aging spanning from housing, memory care to mental health. Anne Marie offers the following counsel to family members faced with dealing with dementia and other cognitive related diseases – recognize that whenever you may have become aware of the signs of memory loss, the problem has been there longer that you may realize, but just remember that there are resources available and that you are not alone.

Danielle is a graduate of The University of Michigan (B.A.) and Marygrove College (Masters of Education). She also has a Certification in Hospitality and Tourism from Florida Atlanta University. This experience was one of many that planted the seeds of international travel and wanting to share this expertise with others. Danielle has an extensive background in the health and human services field (her full time job) with a focus on assisting families around eligibility for public assistance programs and resources. Danielle has traveled to five continents and eighteen countries. Along with friends, she initially began her travels within Canada and the United States. The death of both Danielle’s father and grandfather impacted her to such an extent that she decided that she did not want to live a life that was not full and required some exploration and risk taking. As a result, Danielle planned her first big trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This was a daunting experience in that once she was on the plane, she panicked and asked herself, “what in the world am I doing?” The full weight of going to a country by herself with customs that were drastically different than anything she knew about. She took a deep breath, and relaxed into her knew found freedom. Of the 18 countries that she has visited, South Africa is Danielle’s favorite. Danielle has started a travel business called Ms. International Lux Travel Group. She curates every aspect of customers’ trips, and provides them with valuable information on travel safety and ways in which to save money. Although solo travel is Danielle’s preferred mode of travel, she also organizes group excursions, as well. For her future professional and personal growth, Danielle would love to develop her skills in financial planning and investments with the ultimate plan of helping others to grow in theses areas. She would also include a financial component for those who believe travel is a near impossibility. You can connect with Danielle http://msinternationaltravel.com; on Facebook as Danielle Imaqueen; on Instagram as msinternational_lux_travel

Jataun Rollins, LCSW is a native Chicagoan and a proud produce of the Chicago Public School System. Jataun is also a graduate of Eureka College in downstate Illinois. She speaks lovingly of Carol Gearing, a loving mentor who introduced her to the literary classics like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Richard Wright and countless others. Her parents, along with her mentor, made sure that she was well read and exposed. Her career trajectory has included working in a variety of capacities in child welfare, senior services and social welfare policy. Jataun is known in the community as a Subject Matter Expert and the “go to person” as it relates to children and family services. She also made a commitment during the early part of her work career that she would not remain working at someone’s desk for the remainder of her life. She knew at some point she wanted to draw on her entrepreneurial gifts and her intense desire to make a difference within the African American community. After having taken on a whole new job, where she hoped to add to her repertoire and skill set, Jataun lost that job and was unemployed for quite a bit of time. Her faith in God was really tested, and just as she was at her lowest point financially, she was notified that a grant that she applied for had come through! It was then that she founded 1863FWD, LLC along with its non-profit arm called 1863 Care 2 Care. The mission and focus of 1863FWD is to empower and prepare the formerly incarcerated with the ability to bring their strengths to their communities. Although Jataun realizes that many of these clients will secure traditional job opportunities, she is highly committed to grooming entrepreneurs where their often hidden talents can come to the forefront. Jataun, along with her parents, siblings, children and other extended family members have always found themselves engaged in a number of entrepreneurial pursuits. As if being a renaissance woman were not enough, Jataun, is a doll maker. Her dolls have been commissioned by Therapists who work with children who are greeted with positive images of themselves during counseling and therapeutic sessions. She is also a published author of books that also speak to children’s positive self-images. Her words of wisdom to women age 50+ include JUST DO IT! She wants us to operate within our passions and not listen to those voices that don’t uplift our vision. Her mantra is “You are packaged perfectly!” She also feels it is imperative that we identify what is important to us first and foremost. “I feel the first half of my life went to rearing children and fulfilling the expectations of others,” says Jataun. JUST DO IT! You can connect with Jataun on 1863FWD.org, as Jataun Rollins on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Charla Draper is a culinary phenom, who has held a variety of positions in the world of food. She is a Food Expert, Writer/Publicist, and Food Stylist. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Charla’s interest in cooking emanated from her two grandmothers, who were both excellent cooks. She watched them in awe, and after trying out a number of other things, Charla soon learned that she wanted to cultivate a career in the culinary arts. After college, Charla landed a coveted position as a Home Economist in the Test Kitchen of Kraft Foods. It was there that she developed a strong foundation and an understanding of the proper way of testing recipes. She states, it was the perfect testing ground for building a career in the field. She eventually left Kraft and began working for Campbell Soup Company in Camden, New Jersey in their Test Kitchen. Shortly thereafter, Charla was offered a job as Food Editor at Ebony Magazine, a publication that had not done a lot around the coverage of food. Additionally, Ebony had very few food advertisers. As a result, Charla played a key role in developing (with a lean staff) the Food Department. She and her staff ran innovative contests; they found numerous creative ways to involve the readership, and they focused a great deal of their time on the cultural aspects of African American cooking. Charla also served a Food Editor at Southern Living Magazine, where she found it to be a much more formal environment. Charla is currently the owner of It’s Food Biz!” The mission of her business is to provide consultancy services to businesses on how to market their services and develop a strong presence in both the community and on a number of media platforms. She and her business have been recognized by the Museum of Food and Drink as one of the key African American contributors to American cuisine. Also, through her business Charla has developed a Chicago Public Relations Plan for “The Story of The African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From The Washingtons to the Obamas. The plan was curated to increase awareness about the huge contribution and the service rendered to American presidents. Charla’s public relations/media expertise has been contracted by The American Institute of Wine and Food, The Wisconsin Dairy Council, The Grits and Greens Conference, along with a multi-city media coverage project for The Pillsbury Bake-Off Recipe Contest. As a member of the prestigious Les Dames Escoffier and the organization Food Executive Women, Charla is excited about her next venture – to concentrate on writing her own cookbook. Charla’s words of council for African American women age 50+ who want to get into the culinary arts is to read as much about the business, develop networks and mentors and believe in yourself. Charla is currently working on and promoting The National Soul Food Month Series in June 2021. It is a series of virtual programs recognizing the 20th year anniversary of National Soul Food Month. Programs are scheduled virtually during the entire month of June. Some of the workshop topics include “Soul Food Then and Now”, “Slimmed Down Soul”, From Family to Iconic Dessert Fame” and “Soul Food Beyond the United States”. A cadre of outstanding speakers are slated. For more information, please visit www.nationalsoulfoodmonth.com Charla can be found on Facebook as Charla Draper; Instagram @charlaldraper; Chow,ChowandSoul.com; itsfoodbiz.com

Deneen L. Garrett, a native of Detroit, Michigan has remained committed to living in this great city due to it being a fertile and supportive ground for her professional and personal growth. A graduate of Wayne State University and Central Michigan University (B.S. and M.S., respectively) Deneen has held a number of progressively responsible positions with AT&T. Known as a natural motivator and coach, she has worked closely with marginalized AT&T staff by helping them identify the areas of growth, promotion and development that they would like to see manifest in their lives. In April of 2020, Deneen launched a lively podcast entitled “An Intimate Conversation With Women of Color.” Although she was hesitant to podcast and felt that she was not ready, Deneen (through the encouragement of her coach) moved past her hesitancies and launched a platform specifically designed for women of color. Her ability to recognize that all voices (Asian, African American, LatinX, LGBTQ) are heard has resulted in steady audience growth. Throughout her life, Deneen has felt compelled to be of service to others, and she is resolute that this has always been her mission. In January of 2021, Deneen moved to the talent development side of Equity and Inclusion and now leads The Women of Color Programming Experience. She recognizes that through podcasting she has cultivated a wide variety of skills, and she has now launched a new YouTube channel, along with hosting Facebook Live events – all of this is designed for the Sisterhood of a variety of women of color. Her diversity, equity and inclusion expertise has found another avenue through the vehicle of business writing. She has a business article in an anthology entitled “Upward: Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise.” Her article focuses on how to overcome challenges in the workplace and setting leadership goals. Deneen encourages all African American women age 50+ to put their energy into something they’ve always wanted to do and HAVE IT! Deneen can be found on Instagram @Deneenlgarrett; Facebook Group – An Intimate Conversation with Women of Color.

1.   Effua has more than 24 years of senior corporate experience, including servicing as Vice President at JP Morgan Chase and other multi-million dollar business across the United States; she is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades; 2.   She is the author of The ABCs of Leadership:  The Uncommon Leader from the Bottom Up,  a work that has helped a number of people to reexamine their current path, and helps the reader to sharpen skills and talents that are already present; 3.   Effua was blessed to grow up in Liberia, and she has lived and worked in a number of other areas in Africa.  It is this type of exposure that has aided her in working with diverse groups of people from around the world.  It is her belief that although many of her       clients and seminar attendees are African, she still recognizes and respects the diversity inherent on the continent; she currently resides in Houston, Texas; 4.   As a member of a large family, she learned early the importance of the role of honoring the differences in others; 5.   As CEO of her business entitltled “Amazing You, Effua is dedicated to the development of Global Human Capital, and she trains businesses in recognizing the gem that their employees represent.  She states “they are not commodities”. 6.   Effua is engaged in a number of business projects that require her to collaborate with universities and organizations globally, including several African countries.; 7.   She shares in this episode that several countries in African are open to African Americans reconnecting to the continent, along with bringing their skills to the table.  She says, “there is room at the table” for everyone in various fields — education, the medical       profession, food insecurity, etc.  African American women age 50+ can truly benefit from this because African society reveres maturing women and recognizes that they possess a unique blend of skill and understanding about life that makes for good       Business; 8.   Effua shares that she is always pleased once a client has completed her coaching/leadership development and diversity training; she notices a higher level of confidence and more clarity as it relates to the direction they need to take; 9.   She shares her how she was led spiritually to conceptualize the groundwork for her book The ABCs of Leadership, which made its debut in 2020.  She actually began the writing process for this project in 2013, and with all things spiritual, the book’s       publishing date came during the time of the pandemic; 10. Effua is strongly committed to ensuring that children learn her principles around leadership and valuing diversity; it is with this group that a new paradigm can be created; 11. She also announced that she is excited about a new book that she is finalizing entitled The ABCs of Leadership for Kids; 12. Her words of wisdom for African American women age 50+ includes taking time to for self and from this clarity about your purpose and mission increases exponentially; 13. Effua can be contacted in multiple ways — effuamcgowan1@gmail.com; Facebook:  Effua McGowan; Instagram:  @effuamcgowan; Cell Phone:  713/562-8741

Cheryl Lawson-Wright is what you would call a true Renaissance woman! Through her business Real Hope 4 Help, her principal products and services include educational consulting and services; mentoring, life coaching and support and comfort to cancer survivors and clean living; She is a former public school educator and private school director and HBCU (Edward Waters College) advocate; A prolific author, Cheryl has penned numerous articles and poems; she has also edited the works of others; As an entrepreneur, Cheryl has parlayed her skills in the arenas of fighting for the rights of all people, but especially for the disenfranchised and those victimized from systemic racism and a broken criminal justice system; An endeavor close to her heart is that of serving as an advocate for breast cancer survivors like herself; Cheryl shares for the first time on a public platform that she is a survivor in more ways than one – she is also a survivor of molestation, infidelity, family and church hurt and abuse, along with other ordeals that were meant to destroy. She acknowledges that God worked it all for her good, and she is no longer a survivor but a THRIVER! She has done extensive research on living a toxic-free life and has identified many discoveries that have assisted her on her clean living journey; In the words of Hippocrates, Cheryl now realizes that everyone has a doctor within himself or herself; food should be our medicine and medicine should be our food is her mantra; She emphasizes that every plant that God created has a miracle in it and stresses that with God and the Universe as her guide, she uses her knowledge and wisdom to lead her as she releases the past and boldly pursues a promising and prosperous future; Cheryl shares information about the fruits and vegetables that are considered “The Dirty Dozen”. They are: strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes; The clean 15 foods include avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, onion, sweet peas (frozen), cantaloupe, mushrooms, cabbage, kiwi, honey dew melon, broccoli and egg plant Cheryl also shares that California Proposition 65 Toxic Product Ingredients List. In the state of California by law, all products must list the chemical and toxic harm/side effects. Cheryl’s contact information – Instagram-- @anointedgirl61; Twitter -- @Survivor1261; Email – realhope4help@yahoo.com; Cell – 904/203-9816

Prior to starting her wellness business, Peggy spent over 30 years at Fortune 100 companies in various strategic and innovative roles including Engineering, Strategic Marketing, Process Improvement and Program Management; - An avid reader and a , Peggy is passionate about healthy cooking and eating, urban gardening and guiding others to a vibrant lifestyle; - In 2007, Peggy thought it was a good time to evaluate if she should start an entrepreneurial venture; - Her skills learned in the corporate setting were certainly transferable to the setting of owning her own business; - After conducting market research, examining her finances, she dedicated to hold off on the venture, and in 2017, Peggy revisited and committed to leaving her career to begin Yoga with Peggy H.; - She prides herself of designing and presenting Evidence-based workshops that are steeped in what produces results; - A life-long learner, Peggy has sought and achieved a number of certifications including - Peggy shares and explains exactly what is yoga and how it benefits its practitioner, which includes stress reduction,clarity of thought, and a greater sense of well-being; - Peggy states "it's more than just let's just move. She stresses that It's yoga in particular that makes the difference; - Peggy teaches the practice of Hatha Yoga; she does not use music during her classes so that students can focus on safety first then form, strength and balance;  - When asked what distinguishes her yoga business from that of her competition, Peggy states that the emphasis offering her services to a diverse group of people (e.g.race, body type, age, etc.); - Peggy was featured by AARP in their Success Stories Entitled "Work for Yourself at 50.   - She completed the "Work for Yourself at 50" program to fine tune her vision and approach to starting a wellness business;  - Peggy has a special affinity to older yoga students in that she can relate to the physical challenges that emerge during the aging process; - The words of counsel that Peggy offers to African American Women age 50+ include not being afraid to follow your dreams. - To join a class, arrange for a presentation or workshop, Peggy can be reached at    yogawithpeggyh.com

Sheri Brazley is a native Chicagoan. She attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and received a BA degree in Psychology. After graduation, she started a career working with Developmentally Disabled children for the State of Illinois and later went on to work for the City of Chicago for 25 years. During her tenure at the city, she wore many hats; she spent 10 years working in the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities where she was responsible for making sure that the city’s public events would be accommodating to people with disabilities. Prior to retirement in 2015, Sheri spent 15 years in the City's Health Department as the Assistant to the Director of Public Information where she had an opportunity to create public messaging and marketing tools on health topics. Throughout her professional career, Sheri always had a love for cooking and has maintained a successful small catering business that is still thriving. When she retired from the city, she knew that she wanted to recreate herself, so she enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts with the primary aim of pursing a new career teaching people how to cook nutritious meals to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She completed all the coursework for the Certificate Program with a 4.0 GPA — all of this during her 50s. Upon completing Le Cordon Bleu, Sheri became aware of the organization Common Threads developed by famed chef Art Smith. It was from her LCB Instructor and mentor Chef Daniel John that she learned about the mission of Common Threads. Through Common Threads, Sheri now services three schools. Additionally, Sheri has created a very popular culinary program for seniors (age 60+) entitled Snacking Around the World. This cooking demo program allows seniors to experience the food, history and culture of countries like Mexico, Thailand, China, Italy, Spain and countless others. If you would like to connect with Sheri, she can be found on Instagram as Chef_braz.

Even as a teenager, Trevy McDonald was determined to use her God given talents and gifts to uplift, inspire and empower others in order to bring them joy? How has she done that throughout her life? Once thinking that she wanted to become a physician, Trevy learned early that profession was not her calling. Learning the periodic element chart was just too boring to her. Instead, she took notice of a rising African American journalist based in Chicago named Marlene McClinton. She made such an impact with her style of reporting and delivery that Trevy immediately knew that she wanted a journalistic career. At the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Trevy earned her B.A. in Radio/TV/Film. After experiencing too many cold winters, she then headed South to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she received her M.A. in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures and a Ph.D in Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina. She was only 25 years years old when she earned her Ph.D from one of the top journalism programs in the country. After receiving her Ph.D, Trevy found herself unemployed and therefore asked herself what she could do to make herself more marketable. Trevy immediately built the groundwork for a publishing company, which she started in 1999. She is currently the owner of Reyomi Publishing, LLC, a successful independent book publishing and consulting company based in Durham, N.C. Trevy is also an author of the novels Round 'Bout Midnight and Time Will Tell. She is also the co-editor of two scholarly anthologies, Nature of a Sistuh: Black Women's Lived Experiences in Contemporary Culture and Building Diverse Communities: Applications of Communication Research. Trevy has also authored an inspirational anthology entitled How We Got Over: Testimonies of Faith, Hope and Courage. She has contributed to numerous other anthologies and publications, and she has also co-authored a reference book on starting your own publishing house called How to Win The Publishing Game. Through her experience starting and running her own publishing company, she learned her most valuable lesson -- if one is committed and steps out on faith to pursue their dream, then they will also beblessed with the resources to be able to carry out their dream. She simply states this lesson inthe form of a haiku: Commit to your dream And the desired resourcesAre provided now!

Stephanie Williams grew up in Chicago in a family that pushed education, achievement and finding purpose.  She states that traveling — both domestically and internationally — helped her to see how vast the world really is and how she fits in it.   Stephanie is an accomplished public speaker, who has addressed corporate/business audiences, spiritual leaders and seekers, along with younger audiences.  The latter has allowed her to work specifically with teens, who are usually enthusiastic and an open vessel for becoming attuned to their life purpose.  The primary way in which she has done this is through providing courses in Business Etiquette to youth emphasizing that becoming familiar with business protocols can make the difference in landing and maintaining positions.   As a person who has always used prayer and meditation as a conduit to connect with God and her purpose, Stephanie learned early (through the guidance of her parents) that in order to fulfill your purpose, you must spend time in quiet to get the clarity on the direction one should take.  She simply states “Ask God what you should be doing, and He will show you.”  Stephanie has designed a number of workshops for Fortune 100 and 500 companies like Gillette, Rebok and Coco Cola.  These workshops centered around business practices, inner transformation, goal setting and finding passion. Additionally, she has developed a plethora off workshops in Leadership Development, Marketing Consulting, Executive Coaching, Business Consulting, Health Insurance and Social Media Marketing. Business owners have come to rely on her to cull out their individual and organizational genius.  She has also had a career in media as the host of the  radio program NOW.   The programming for NOW focused on living a life that is rewarding and purpose-filled, along with building a Kingdom mindset — allowing them to make a marked difference in the marketplace.  As an instructor at the Joseph Business School (a business enterprise that emanates from Living Word Ministries in Forest Park, Illinois), Stephanie has played a key role in educating Christians on how to become successful and impactful entrepreneurs.  She has received a number of rave reviews from alumni of the school, and they have all gone on to fulfill their dreams. These former students point out that it is her ethical approach to business, her integrity, knowledge of sound business principles and her years of experience and application of what she teaches that makes her an effective communicator and instructor.  Stephanie is a proud graduate of The University of Kansas holding a degree in Broadcast Journalist.   She is also a long time member of Alpha Kappa Alphas Sorority, Inc. To connect with Stephanie, she can be reached at swc777@hotmail.com

Monica's adventurous spirit has taken her in many different directions and avenues including cosmetology, writing and the music industry. After graduating cosmetology school with honors, she ascended to advanced academies and studied with innovators who shaped the hair care industry that we know today. This included the likes of Vivenne Mackinder, Geri Cosenza, Irvine Rusk, Horst Rechelbacher, Darren Brokaw and Robert Labetta. After mastering her craft, Monica joined the prestigious team of educators at Sebastian International. This dream-come true position not only helped her to blossom as a hairstylist, but she also became a world-class instructor. Her gift as a hair colorist led her to work with German hair color company Schwarzkopf where she taught for four years. She later became the Director of Education for Salon Resources, the distributor for Sebastian International. Here she designed classes, workshops and product launches. As a freelance artist and consultant, Monica has worked with celebrities and companies including The Isley Brothers, Lela Rochon, Kevin Mayes, Nina Gancy, Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Sylvester, Carole's Daughter, Atlantic Records, Lengths Hair Extensions, and DreamWorks Records (the record company owned by Steven Spielberg). Monica has also been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, Clear Channel and Fox Networks. Other highlights of Monica's transcendent career includes her time as Director of Operations for 'In' magazine and 'Today in Church' magazine. She and magazine publisher David Holmon worked to create the monthly publications that inspired its readers and reached critical acclaim. In that role, Monica interviewed celebrities about their spiritual life and personal journeys. She interviewed such notables as Kirk Whalum, Princess Zulu, Eric Roberson, Vonetta Flowers, Evander Holyfield and Isaac Bruce. Her features stood strong next to other contributors that included Joyce Meyers, TD Jakes and Joel Olsten. Monica's most rewarding work was as the Vice President of the global music label Yoruba Records, which allowed her to work alongside Osunlade. This is when the global brand and movement was being built. In the midst of it all, Monica was called to go on a spiritual sojourn, and she knew it was time to excavate and heal her traumatic childhood and generational wounds. Sharing her shadows was the next step to enable her to be all that she was born to be. Through the coaching program of Phoenix 2000, Monica learned that her pain could be used to heal others which led her into a deep spiritual examination and study of the Divine Feminine. She did this under the teachings of Dr. Caroline 'Isis' Fuqua and Bettie Spruill. She is also an initiate of Transcendental Meditation and is a student of Yogini Nithyananda. In 2018, Monical birthed Black Amplified. From all over the globe, we convene on our vibrant Facebook page. We have just opened our Women opened our Black Women Amplified Private Membership Club and our podcast will be released in June 2020. We are an Empowerment Company transforming the lives of women through the power system that Monica created called 'Rebuild." It incorporates storytelling, narrative shifting, vision boarding, online masterclasses and one-on-one consulting. Monica believes it is her time to live life beyond the ordinary.

La Tanya L. Jackson is 55 years old and the true organic, undisputed definition of a woman over 50, Black and Fabulous! A single mother of two college educated adult children and three grandchildren, LaTanya has defied all limitations of “it’s too late,” or “I’m too old” to achieve strongly desired goals. She returned to school to get a college degree at age 42 after being out of the academic arena for 25 years. She started by obtaining her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts one month prior to her daughter getting her degree. Rather than get bogged down with problems, she does the opposite – La Tanya immediately turns to her Bucket List, which allows her to direct her energies in a different direction other than the problem. La Tanya has a big habit of keeping a smile on her face. La Tanya says, “whenever I attend a neighborhood or family event, the first thing people say is where are you traveling to next, or I saw you on Facebook – how are you doing so many amazing things?” She responds by saying “don’t see me, see God” then I share my travel tips. La Tanya has created a guide entitled “Living Your Best Life on a Budget.” As her 50th birthday approached in 2015, La Tanya decided to go full steam ahead by organizing a Family Vacation to Paris, France. Going to Disneyland-Paris was truly a dream come true. The following are just some of the exciting things that have been on her Bucket List – Hiked The Brooklyn Bridge (2016); Hiked Behind the Falls in Niagara Falls (2016); Hiked the Hollywood Sign in Hollywood Hills, California (2017); Hiked the North Pacific Rim at Grand Canyon (2017); Hiked the Red Rocks in Sedona (2017); ziplined in Costa Rica (2018); Hiked All Mountains Over Colorado (2018); Ran in the Rock & Roll Marathon Night 10k; Ran in St. Jude Hero’s 5K in Las Vegas (2018); visited the Wendy Williams Show and was chosen to ask her a question (2019). Some other first time destinations that La Tanya put on her list and achieved include – Puna Cana, Dominican Republic in 2014; New York City in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 (she is obsessed with New York); Los Angeles, San Diego, Coronado Island and Malibu (2015-2017); Guanacaste; Buena Vista and Coco Beach in 2018 Seattle, Washington (was determined to see the Space Needle for her 55th birthday) in 2019; NYE Time Square Ball Drop Countdown in 2020. When a new opportunity and challenge arises, La Tanya tends to ask herself “well, why not?” She also relies heavily on her faith and “goes boldly to God’s Throne. There have been times when she did not even know where the money was coming from for a desired adventure, but due to her positive attitude, amazing things have always manifested. In this episode, La Tanya shares how certain life events played a role in her maintaining an optimistic attitude. Additionally, she talks about some of the most exhilarating activities she has been involved in, along with what actually goes through her mind as she is tackling a goal on her bucket list. If you would like information about any of La Tanya’s past or upcoming adventures, she can be contacted on lljack64@gmail.com; she is La Tanya Lynn on Facebook; @divalt64 on Instagram

Today’s guest is Marvinetta Penn, Executive Director of Global Girls, Inc. This is a 20 year old non-profit organization based on the boarder of the communities of South Shore and South Chicago. Through rigorous theatre and dance training, girls ages 5-18 develop essential life skills including self-awareness, resilience, tenacity and grit – all skills that help these girls succeed on the stage and in life. Marvinetta has worked with youth for nearly 40 years – 19 of those years were as a Chicago Public School English and Theatre instructor and 19 have been with Global Girls, Inc. as Executive Director. Marvinetta felt the urge to work with these girls in this way due to the positive and embracing way her mother and father encouraged her to explore her gifts and talents. Healthily feeding the imagination was strongly encouraged by her parents, and they found a way to support her throughout her formative years. Marvinetta has traveled extensive to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Marvinetta has also had a career in broadcast journalism, and she has had extensive gigs as a Voice Over Artist. She has voiced for American Airlines, Payless Shoes, McDonalds, the Discovery Channel Century Tile, Walgreens and Berman’s Infiniti/Nissan/Subaru. Because of being blessed to travel widely, Marvinetta has made it a priority to expose the participants in Global Girls, Inc. to international travel. As a result, they have traveled to India, Ghana and England. While there, the girls had the opportunity to work with girls their age from those countries; this made for a rich learning experience on both sides and the ability to learn about each group’s cultural norms and their desires to create newness in their countries. Marvinetta is extremely proud of the fact that the alumna of Global Girls, Inc. have gone on to be successful in their endeavors following their program participation. They have entered a variety of fields where they have been able to implement and utilize the leadership skills they developed as students in the program. They have secured advanced degrees and have entered careers where they are making an impact. Renowned actress Lena Dunham, crator and staf of the HBO series “Girls” selected Global Girls Inc., in 2017 as one of her chosen charities to support and to help advance. Additionally, the cast from Hamilton connected with the organization and conducted Master classes for the girls at the Global Girls, Inc. studio. Marvinetta’s Global Girls, Inc. can be found on www.globalgirlsinc.org on Instagram @globalgirlsinc and Facebook. If you would like to make a contribution to the awesome work that Marvinetta is doing with Global Girls, Inc., please contact her on the website listed above.

Today’s guest is a mover and shaker in the community of Alzheimer’s Research and Programming, particularly within communities of color. She has even examined programs in China to determine if and how this country’s program models may serve people of color in the United States. Born and raised in Chicago, Karen grew up with a voracious thirst for knowledge, and she particularly loved the sciences. She grew up with the desire to become a physician, but transitioned into Psychology. She has achieved some very interesting and groundbreaking things throughout her career. As Manager of Community Relations at The Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Karen developed and implemented recruitment strategies and educational programs aimed at communities of color. This was significant since many of the studies at that point were aimed at Caucasian and other majority cultures and non-black ethnic groups. She has been instrumental in developing key relationships with the business community, elected officials, a variety interdisciplinary health practitioners, along with other stakeholders to provide the best services possible to people of color around Memory Care. Karen was also instrumental in the administration of a Religious Order Study that looked at the cognitive and memory abilities of Nuns, Priests and most recently church Deacons. Her additional gifts include the translation of Alzheimer research findings from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center to communities of color for practical application and programming. She is most proud of the fact that she played a key role in establishing institutional trust with potential study participants. This was a very ambitious endeavor given the distrust that many African American seniors have as a result of historical memories of The Tuskegee Study. Karen has made a huge leap in deciding to return to school to pursue a Doctorate in Nursing Research. She states that when she applied and interviewed for this demanding program, she did not expect to be admitted. She was pleasantly surprised by her acceptance and immediately tapped into the expertise of many of the physicians and faculty members to serve as advisors and mentors. She openly shares the challenges that she has encountered, as well as her triumphs as a student in this program. Karen received her B.A. in Psychology from The University of Illinois – Champaign, her Masters in Psychology from Roosevelt University and is a Doctoral candidate at Rush’s College of Nursing. Additionally, Karen is one of two African Americans who have been admitted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. This Honor Society is known for nursing excellence and for empowering nurse leaders to transform global healthcare. Karen can be reached at Karen_L_Graham@rush.edu Karen hopes to make inroads into the field of Foundation work, which would give her an opportunity to play a role is awarding foundation funds to organizations that are committed to working with people of color.

Celeste K. Jones is an attorney with almost 25 years of experience advocating for the most vulnerable citizens of Cook County.  Celeste has served her entire career at the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office protecting abused, neglected and dependent children and serving the needs and welfare of adults with disabilities.  Celeste has also served most of her career in leadership and supervisory roles and currently serves as Legal Director of the Adult Guardianship Division of the Cook County Public Guardian’s office.  Celeste was raised on Chicago’s west side and now resides on the south side.  Celeste earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminology from Northern Illinois University and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  In this episode, Celeste shares with the audience exactly what Guardianship is and why someone would need a Public Guardian.  Along with sharing how it is decided that someone is deemed incapacitated, Celeste thoroughly explains how guardianship over the estate and person works.  Depending on the capacity of the client, public guardians can make decision on behalf of the client around their finances, their health care decisions, their property, etc.  Celeste stresses the importance of leaving the client with their dignity by listening and taking in to account their wishes on who should or should not be appointed guardian.  Since guardianship is a serious matter, Celeste lays out what is required to serve as a guardian both from the Public Guardian’s standpoint, along with the guidelines other appointed guardians must adhere to.  The key components that must be in place include securing the services of an attorney and getting bonded. Celeste shares the following resources – Adult Protective Services Hotline – 866/800-1409; Cook County Public Guardian Adult Guardianship Division – 312/603-0800; CARPLS (Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services); Metropolitan Family Services Legal Aid Society; Illinois Legal Aid Online; Center for Disability and Elder Law and John Marshall UIC Law School Fair Housing Clinic.

Tamara Winfrey Harris is an American author, columnist and speaker.  She is currently Vice President of Community Leadership and Effective Philanthropy at Central Indiana Community Foundation.  With a B.A. in Journalism from The Greenlee School at Iowa State University, Tami has developed a national reputation for writing about the intersection of race, culture and gender.  She writes a regular column entitled “Some of Us Are Brave” for Bitch Media.  She voices her social analysis and critiques on several other media outlets including NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and Janet Mock’s “So Popular” on MSNBC.com.  Tami has also published a number of pieces in MS. Magazine.  Tami’s first book, “The Sisters are Alright:  Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America” was published in 2015.  In this book, Tami celebrates Black women while simultaneously challenging the stereotypes that American culture has tried to saddled us with.  The books lays out how these stereotypes are damaging and how they play out in our daily functioning.  She courageously delves into how Black bodies are viewed in the United States and why. She has received a number of awards and accolades for this ground breaking work including the Phyllis Wheatley Book Award at The Harlem Book Festival.  She, along with columnist Rochelle Riley and writer DeeshaPhilyaw, is especially proud of having launched “Letters to Black Girls Project.” The goal of this endeavor is to support and inspire Black girls through feminist, anti-racist, body positive, LGBTQ+ positive, anti-respectability politics and pro-Black letters from Black women.This project is designed to counteract the assault on black bodies and to pour into Black girls that they are dynamic and are capable of accomplishing anything. Tami has stated, “Maligning Black women regardless of our personal collective truth is part of American’s DNA.”Tami also has created and facilitates the Black Women’s Writing Society, which meets monthly at the Center for Black Literature and Culture at the Indianapolis Central Library.  Tami narrated “The Journey of the Middle Passage” written by the best-selling author of the book “Wench” written by Dolen Perkins-Valdes.  It is in this work that you will experience the harrowing journey of the first enslaved Africans to Land in America.Tami shares in this episode some of the desires she plans to pursue in the future, which includes becoming a trained Yoga Instructor for Black Bodies.  She also has a number of book topics floating around in her consciousness that she plans to bring to fruition.  Tami can be contacted through her website www.tamarawinfreyharris.com

Bea is an established writer, director and producer of theatrical plays and is known in the Chicago theatrical community for providing acting opportunities to people in the community.  It’s her way of sharing her gift.  She began performing on stage at an early age in church and high school in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan during the onset of the Motown era. Bea began performing with community theater with The Concept East Players.  She then moved to Chicago where she continued her theatrical training at Roosevelt University, along with studying sociology and urban studies.  At Columbia College in Chicago, she majored in Television/Radio Broadcasting with a minor in Creative Writing.  It was there that she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree while still performing with The Community Workshops throughout Chicago.  In this episode, Bea shares what was most exciting about theater versus other forms of media like film and television.  She expounds on the books that she has written and ones she is currently working on.  There are some common themes that can be found in her writing and theatrical productions, and she describes her writing process and how she determines what she will write about and what that process looks like. Her soon to be staged work “Gravy Train” happens to be her favorite work to date. For you listeners who are budding playwrights, novelists, etc., Bea describes how the community members who are featured in her productions have grown and flourished.  She often works collaboratively with other organizations, celebrities and on special projects. Bea is excited about the writing themes that she would like to explore in the future, and encourages African American women age 50+ to never let age or any potential barrier get in the way of dreaming and bringing your dreams to fruition.  When she speaks of her age, Bea says, “I’m old enough to do what I want and still young enough to enjoy it.

In this episode, you meet Phyllis West, MSW, MPH, Ph.D, who is a Professor at Governors State University and a soldier for health. Born on 16th Street (also known as a Holy City) on the west side of Chicago, Phyllis was the first person in her family to attend college. She has been living a plant based life for close to a decade and has explored veganism. She stresses the importance of nutrition and getting enough sleep. She has spent a number of years educating communities of color around healthy living through a weekly Sunday potluck where those gather to support each other in their desire to live a healthy life. Phyllis refers to herself as a Scholar-Activist, who consults with organizations around reducing gun violence. Additionally, she trains physicians on responsible medicine. For several years, Phyllis has escorted groups of students from Governors State University on highly successful Public Health Brigades to Ghana, Panama and Nicaragua. After intense preparation with the students, Phyllis, a faculty co-leader and the Health Brigade participants serve community members in the previously mentioned countries by building latrines, upgrading plumbing systems, setting up legal issues clinics and helping to build Bio-Digesters in Ghana. Phyllis touts the beauty, sophisticated engineering systems and the bio-diversity of Ghana and all of West Africa. Also, Phyllis shares her experience of spending time in the slave dungeons of Elmina and experiencing receiving instructions directly from the ancestors. The students experience tremendous growth through gaining a new sense of purpose, confidence and an appreciation of the host country. White students in the program learn how to be an ally by standing down and learning about the role that their ancestors played in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Phyllis and her faculty co-leader facilitate an reflection period for the students every evening; many revelations come forth. She stresses that the physical requirements associated with participation in the Health Brigades prompted the development of a multilayered and interdisciplinary pre-departure orientation. It is here that the students engage in numerous team building exercises, learn about the country’s public health, governmental and cultural landscape. The students are also encouraged to go to the gym and build up their physical stamina. Students must raise the money to participate in the Health Brigade. A fully paid Global Scholarship has been established for one person who is a first generation college attendee and has never traveled before. A Global Scholarship for emerging leaders is on the horizon. To be accepted into the Health Brigade, student must complete a formal application, along with an interview. Participants range from ages 18-55 and represent a variety of college majors. As a result, the team is diverse and rich due to each student’s subject concentration and interests. Phyllis’ plans for the future include her developing a Rites of Passage program for previously incarcerated men to prepare them for the journey of traveling to Africa, understanding the direct relationship between incarceration and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, along with participating in the healing of their communities. Phyllis wants African American women age 50+ to not feel they are too old to seek out mentors, to work on self from the inside out, to travel and DREAM!

In this episode, I interview Rose Sturghill, who shares her story about her caregiving experience while her mother was on the Dementia journey. Rose, age 59, grew up in Sikeston, Missouri and following a fire, she and her siblings were taken in by various families and adopted.  Rose was blessed to be adopted by a loving family that showered her with care and love – because she was young at the time, she grew up calling her adoptive parents “mom and dad.”  Once she turned 18, Rose graduated high school and began a habit of entering colleges and universities but not completing them in order to receive a degree.  She gave that up and began working health related jobs – all jobs that brought her job satisfaction.  Rose, finally made up her mind to return to school after many, many years, and in 2008, she received her Bachelor’s of Public Health (BPH); in 2013 and at age 59, Rose received her Master’s of Public Health (MPH).  She also hopes to secure a Ph.D.  Rose expressed that returning to school as an older adult was extremely challenging, and  the midst of all of this, Rose, along with family members were sharing in the responsibility of caring for their mother, whose cognitive abilities were declining. Rose shares that the most difficult time for her was once her mother got to a stage where she didn’t know her children.  This was devastating.  Rose also mentions that despite major challenges with her mother’s health, there were clearly days when it was a complete joy to attend to her mother’s needs.  Laughter often got them through this ordeal.   She conveyed that it is most helpful when families work together and where the entire caregiving burden is not on one person.  Rose goes on to elaborate about the adjustments that have to be made when a new phase (decline) of Dementia is entered. She stresses the importance of the caregiver taking time to relax and care for themselves.  Rose can be reached at rsturghill@hotmail.com