Podcasts about african american affairs

We speak with the new director of Milwaukee's Office of African American Affairs. We tell you how a middle school science project turned into a successful boat inspection program for aquatic invasive species. We tell you about Milwaukee Rec's summer programming.

Ansel Augustine, D. Min, is a minister, speaker, and advocate for social justice with over twenty-five years of experience serving marginalized communities. Dr. Augustine has integrated his faith and his expertise on Catholic social teaching with an unstoppable passion for justice by casting the service net wide to BlackCatholics, youth, young adults, campus students, and prisoners.Dr. Augustine serves as the Assistant Director of African American Affairs at the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.He joins us today to talk about his book, Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins, available at Loyola Press.

The 2025 legislative session in Washington State concluded with notable developments affecting the Black community, as highlighted by Ed Prince, Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs. In a discussion with Christopher B. Bennett on the Seattle Medium's Rhythm & News Podcast, Prince elaborated on the session's outcomes and their potential implications for the Black community.

Today, Thursday, April 3 on Urban Forum Northwest *Lance Lyttle has served as Managing Director of Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for the last nine years. He has guided the airport expansion and did an outstanding job at one the nations busiest airports. Lance is leaving to take the top job at the Orlando Florida Airport. He comments on his time at SEA TAC. *Shaude' Moore, CEO, Central District Community Preservation Development (CDCPDA) aka the Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development comments on the status of the center and shares that 37th District Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos has proposed $500,000.00 for the agency in the house budget. *State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D) 37th LD comments on the the long session and the obstacles local governments face with the changes at the national level. She has been a supporter of the Central District Community Preservation Development Authority (CDCDPA) and Americans 4 Equality/MLK Gandhi Empowerment Initiative, a technology training program. *Hayward Evans, Co Convener, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration/Continuation Committee (MLKCC) reveals the details for the April 4 "Day of Remembrance" that recognizes the 57th Anniversary of the Assassination of the the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will be held on Friday, April 4 at Seattle's Holgate Street Church of Christ beginning at 5:30 pm. *Attorney Jesse Wineberry Sr. Co Founder, Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA) has been advocating for a study on Reparations for African Descendants of the United States Chattel Salves. There is a question if there will state funds available for the study. At the June 23, 2024 Democratic Convention 1,092 Democratic Delegates voted for a resolution to have Governor Jay Inslee sign an Executive Order to establish a Commission to study Reparations. The Washington State Commissioners on African American Affairs voted unanimously at their September 13, 2024 meeting for an Executive Order to establish the Commission Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye.

Today, Thursday, April 3 on Urban Forum Northwest *Lance Lyttle has served as Managing Director of Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for the last nine years. He has guided the airport expansion and did an outstanding job at one the nations busiest airports. Lance is leaving to take the top job at the Orlando Florida Airport. He comments on his time at SEA TAC.*Shaude' Moore, CEO, Central District Community Preservation Development (CDCPDA) aka the Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development comments on the status of the center and shares that 37th District Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos has proposed $500,000.00 for the agency in the house budget.*State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D) 37th LD comments on the the long session and the obstacles local governments face with the changes at the national level. She has been a supporter of the Central District Community Preservation Development Authority (CDCDPA) and Americans 4 Equality/MLK Gandhi Empowerment Initiative, a technology training program.*Hayward Evans, Co Convener, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration/Continuation Committee (MLKCC) reveals the details for the April 4 "Day of Remembrance" that recognizes the 57th Anniversary of the Assassination of the the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will be held on Friday, April 4 at Seattle's Holgate Street Church of Christ beginning at 5:30 pm.*Attorney Jesse Wineberry Sr. Co Founder, Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA) has been advocating for a study on Reparations for African Descendants of the United States Chattel Salves. There is a question if there will state funds available for the study. At the June 23, 2024 Democratic Convention 1,092 Democratic Delegates voted for a resolution to have Governor Jay Inslee sign an Executive Order to establish a Commission to study Reparations. The Washington State Commissioners on African American Affairs voted unanimously at their September 13, 2024 meeting for an Executive Order to establish the CommissionUrban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode Notes Hashim O. Davis, the assistant dean of the OAAA and director of the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center, discusses the relevance and importance of  “Celebrating Resilience,” OAAA's theme for this year's Black History Month celebration. EDITOR'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on Feb. 17, so some impending celebratory events mentioned in the podcast have already passed.

The Washington State Legislative session is in full swing, with numerous bills under consideration. Chris B. Bennett, host of the Seattle Medium's Rhythm & News Podcast, engages in a discussion with Ed Prince, Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, about the current legislative session.

Guests include: Joseph Todd, Vice Chairman, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs Rontel Batie, Owner, Batie and Associates Reverend Walter Kendricks, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs

Guests include: Joseph Todd, Vice Chairman, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs Rontel Batie, Owner, Batie and Associates Reverend Walter Kendricks, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs

In this One on One interview with Robert Ellsberg and author, Alessandra Harris, as they discuss "In the Shadow of Freedom".https://maryknoll.link/058731Essayist, analyst, commentator, religion writer, and novelist, Alessandra Harris uncovers the historical roots and contemporary impacts of anti-Black racism in America directly leading to unjust legislation, police violence, and mass incarceration. In the Shadow of Freedom provides readers with an ethic and religious framework for implementing solutions and advocating for reform."A thought-provoking work that expresses the challenge of being a Black Catholic in America." ~ Ansel Augustine, DMin, Assistant Director of African American Affairs, USCCB, and author Leveling the Praying Field Alessandra Harris holds a degree in comparative religious and Middle Eastern studies from San Jose State University. A co-founder of and former contributor to Black Catholic Messenger, her work has also appeared in America, Critical Theology Journal, The Catholic Worker, National Catholic Reporter, and US Catholic.In the Shadow of Freedom is available at 25% off through 31 May 2024 https://maryknoll.link/058731

Today, Thursday, February 1 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PST) my scheduled guest for the hour are:*Reverend Dr. Gregory Christopher, Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Tacoma WA is retiring and there will be four days of "Appreciation and Celebration" to honor his service at Shiloh and his leadership in the community.*Tony Benton of Rainier Avenue Radio.World invites you to Call to Conscience Black History Month Museum Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 am-7:00 pm (PST) February 1-29 that will feature Exhibits and Installations by local Black History Makers. The event will be held at 4916 Rainier Avenue South.*Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga, Dean, Evergreen State College will celebrate Black History Month with their event on Saturday, February 3 12:00-3:00 pm (PST) featuring Historical Black Leaders-Elmer Dixon, Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party;Larry Gossett, Founder, University of Washington Black Student Union (BSU), and Khalfani Mwamba.*Bob Radford invites you to the First Annual Clarence Acox Gala-Legacy Fundraiser at Dimitrious Jazz Alley Monday, February 5. Gallery Onyx Auction 5:30-6:45. Showtime at 7:00 pm (PST).*Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the Commission and the states plans to honor Black HistoryMonth.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, Thursday, February 1 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PST) my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Reverend Dr. Gregory Christopher, Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Tacoma WA is retiring and there will be four days of "Appreciation and Celebration" to honor his service at Shiloh and his leadership in the community. *Tony Benton of Rainier Avenue Radio.World invites you to Call to Conscience Black History Month Museum Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 am-7:00 pm (PST) February 1-29 that will feature Exhibits and Installations by local Black History Makers. The event will be held at 4916 Rainier Avenue South. *Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga, Dean, Evergreen State College will celebrate Black History Month with their event on Saturday, February 3 12:00-3:00 pm (PST) featuring Historical Black Leaders-Elmer Dixon, Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party;Larry Gossett, Founder, University of Washington Black Student Union (BSU), and Khalfani Mwamba. *Bob Radford invites you to the First Annual Clarence Acox Gala-Legacy Fundraiser at Dimitrious Jazz Alley Monday, February 5. Gallery Onyx Auction 5:30-6:45. Showtime at 7:00 pm (PST). *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the Commission and the states plans to honor Black History Month. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye.

Today, Thursday, February 1 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PST) my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Reverend Dr. Gregory Christopher, Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Tacoma WA is retiring and there will be four days of "Appreciation and Celebration" to honor his service at Shiloh and his leadership in the community. *Tony Benton of Rainier Avenue Radio.World invites you to Call to Conscience Black History Month Museum Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 am-7:00 pm (PST) February 1-29 that will feature Exhibits and Installations by local Black History Makers. The event will be held at 4916 Rainier Avenue South. *Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga, Dean, Evergreen State College will celebrate Black History Month with their event on Saturday, February 3 12:00-3:00 pm (PST) featuring Historical Black Leaders-Elmer Dixon, Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party;Larry Gossett, Founder, University of Washington Black Student Union (BSU), and Khalfani Mwamba. *Bob Radford invites you to the First Annual Clarence Acox Gala-Legacy Fundraiser at Dimitrious Jazz Alley Monday, February 5. Gallery Onyx Auction 5:30-6:45. Showtime at 7:00 pm (PST). *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the Commission and the states plans to honor Black History Month. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye.

The Kansas African American Affairs Commission is a liaison office within the Governor's Office and its fiscal year 2022 expenditures were about $130,000. It is comprised of 7 commissioners and an executive director. In this audit, we reviewed the commission and executive director's statutory compliance and expenditure approvals. The commission and its executive director are required to meet various statutory requirements and bylaws to accomplish their mission. The commission did not comply with 2 of 6 meeting-related duties and 1 of 3 staff-related duties outlined in law or bylaws in the timeframe we reviewed. The executive director complied with her statutory duties to serve the commission in 2022 and the first half of 2023. The commissioners who responded to our survey generally had positive reviews of the executive director's performance, but some thought she wasn't as effective or responsive as she should be. With regard to its expenditures, the commission's fiscal year 2023 expenditures seemed reasonable to accomplishing its duties at a high level. However, about half of the 11 individual expenditures we reviewed in detail did not receive written approval to ensure they were appropriate. Commissioners told us they had insufficient financial awareness and oversight, in part because the executive director has not shared relevant information.

Keith Self, U.S. Representative for the 3rd District of Texas, unpacks Secretary of State Antony Blinken's first trip to China and corrects the record on the Pentagon blaming Republican members of Congress for the military's recruitment difficulties. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, shares his reflections on the significance of Juneteenth. Meg Kilgannon, FRC's Senior Fellow for Education Studies, reflects on the life and legacy of Pat Robertson, reacts to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's claim that removing sexually graphic books is “castrating” African American children, and to a new Gallup survey showing fewer Americans say same-sex relations are morally acceptable. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loving-liberty/support

Thursday, July 20 on Urban Forum Northwest -guest for the hour are:*Nate Miles, 1st Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on the organization's 114th Annual Meeting being held in Boston, MA July 28-August 2, 2023.*Erica Conway, 2nd Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on agenda items and priorities of the organization for their Annual Meeting.*Monica Lewis, Director, Seattle ML King County NAACP's Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological, Scientific, Olympics (ACTSO) comments on the program and the competition. The ACTSO competition will be held July 26-29, 2023. *The following students will represent Seattle ML King County Branch NAACP at the National ACTSO competition in Boston MA: Efe Elaiho               Computer Science, Lakeside School 11th grade Jada Yamashita      Photography, Seattle Academy 12th grade Zonta Ferreria-Allah Painting, Auburn High School 10th grade Kevin Briscoeray Jr. Music: Composition & Instrumental Mt. Rainier High School 10th grade*Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton, WA City Councilman and was recently elected to the Board of The Association of Washington Cities to represent the Western portion of Washington State.*Dr. Traci Harrell comments on the second Better Together Empowerment Series on Thursday, July 27 that will feature two sessions, 4:00-5:30 pm Networking and Support Black Businesses 5:30-7:30 pm; Living Powerfully Experience:Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation. The event will be held at 1925 3rd Avenue in Downtown Seattle.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, July 20 on Urban Forum Northwest -guest for the hour are: *Nate Miles, 1st Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on the organization's 114th Annual Meeting being held in Boston, MA July 28-August 2, 2023. *Erica Conway, 2nd Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on agenda items and priorities of the organization for their Annual Meeting. *Monica Lewis, Director, Seattle ML King County NAACP's Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological, Scientific, Olympics (ACTSO) comments on the program and the competition. The ACTSO competition will be held July 26-29, 2023. *The following students will represent Seattle ML King County Branch NAACP at the National ACTSO competition in Boston MA:  Efe Elaiho               Computer Science, Lakeside School 11th grade  Jada Yamashita      Photography, Seattle Academy 12th grade  Zonta Ferreria-Allah Painting, Auburn High School 10th grade  Kevin Briscoeray Jr. Music: Composition & Instrumental Mt. Rainier High School 10th grade *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton, WA City Councilman and was recently elected to the Board of The Association of Washington Cities to represent the Western portion of Washington State. *Dr. Traci Harrell comments on the second Better Together Empowerment Series on Thursday, July 27 that will feature two sessions, 4:00-5:30 pm Networking and Support Black Businesses 5:30-7:30 pm; Living Powerfully Experience:Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation. The event will be held at 1925 3rd Avenue in Downtown Seattle. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye.

Thursday, July 20 on Urban Forum Northwest -guest for the hour are: *Nate Miles, 1st Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on the organization's 114th Annual Meeting being held in Boston, MA July 28-August 2, 2023. *Erica Conway, 2nd Vice President, Seattle ML King County Branch, NAACP comments on agenda items and priorities of the organization for their Annual Meeting. *Monica Lewis, Director, Seattle ML King County NAACP's Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological, Scientific, Olympics (ACTSO) comments on the program and the competition. The ACTSO competition will be held July 26-29, 2023. *The following students will represent Seattle ML King County Branch NAACP at the National ACTSO competition in Boston MA: Efe Elaiho Computer Science, Lakeside School 11th grade Jada Yamashita Photography, Seattle Academy 12th grade Zonta Ferreria-Allah Painting, Auburn High School 10th grade Kevin Briscoeray Jr. Music: Composition & Instrumental Mt. Rainier High School 10th grade *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton, WA City Councilman and was recently elected to the Board of The Association of Washington Cities to represent the Western portion of Washington State. *Dr. Traci Harrell comments on the second Better Together Empowerment Series on Thursday, July 27 that will feature two sessions, 4:00-5:30 pm Networking and Support Black Businesses 5:30-7:30 pm; Living Powerfully Experience:Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation. The event will be held at 1925 3rd Avenue in Downtown Seattle. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye.

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews 2023 NLC President, Victoria Woodards. ·       A candid conversation about her outlook on the 2023 year at the NLC and her city, Tacomma, WA. ·       Why she choose to work on workforce and housing. And, much more   7 Steps to an Amazing City: 1.     Attitude 2.     Motivation 3.     Attention to Detail 4.     Zing 5.     Inclusiveness 6.     Neighborhood Empowerment 7.     Green Awareness Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.   Links Mentions During Show:  www.NLC.org  ·       www.AmazingCities.org ·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast   About Victoria Woodards, NLC President and Mayor of Tacoma, WA    Mayor Victoria Woodards of Tacoma, Washington serves as the President of the National League of Cities (NLC). She was elected mayor in 2018. Woodards has called the “City of Destiny” her home for almost her entire life. She is a proud graduate of Tacoma's Lincoln High School and has served as a soldier in the United States Army. Before becoming mayor, she served for seven years as an at-large member of the City Council. During that time, she launched the city's Equity and Empowerment initiative which led to the establishment of its Office of Equity and Human Rights. She also brought partner organizations together for then-President Barack Obama's My Brother's Keeper initiative and spearheaded the city's Project PEACE initiative which bridged community members with the Tacoma Police Department. As mayor, she continues to be a champion of these important issues while expanding her involvement in regional and national conversations on affordable housing, transportation, strengthening youth and families, public safety, growing local business, and the creation of family wage jobs. She has also worked to more fully engage the city's youth in community decisions that impact them every day, by expanding Student Government Day and establishing the city's first Youth Commission. Woodards has been selected to serve in a number of national leadership roles that allow her to share information with other cities across the country and bring best practices back to Tacoma. In addition to her role as President, she has served as co-chair of both NLC's Council on Youth, Education, and Families and its Race, Equity and Leadership program. At the United States Conference of Mayors, she serves on the advisory board; as vice-chair of the Committee on Jobs, Education, and the Workforce; and as cochair of the Women Mayors Leadership Alliance. Some of her other leadership roles as Tacoma's mayor include positions on the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, Sound Transit Board, Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board, Pierce Transit Board, Foundation for Tacoma Students Board, and the Workforce Central Board. In partnership with County Executive Bruce Dammeier and County Council Member Connie Ladenburg, she also convened elected leaders from across Pierce County for Mayoral Roundtable to explore opportunities for regional collaboration on the issue of housing attainability in the region, an initiative that formally came to be known as the ‘South Sound Housing Affordability Partners.' Woodards has consistently reaffirmed her support for immigrant and refugee families, and Tacoma remains a welcoming city committed to providing immigrant and refugee communities with equitable access to City services. Alongside her peers on the City Council, she advocates for policies that provide safety and stability for all members of the community, and she uses her national leadership roles to join with mayors across the county in calling for federal reforms. Under her leadership, the city appointed members to its first Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. This commission was established to better engage with immigrant and refugee communities, and to work with local organizations to identify and advance positive outcomes for community members in need. Demonstrating a lifelong track record of public service, Woodards has served as president of the Tacoma Urban League and as director of community development for the Tacoma Rainiers. Her past civic engagement work has also included leadership positions with the Tacoma Metropolitan Parks Board, the Washington State History Museum, and the Washington State Commission of African American Affairs. About Your Host, Jim Hunt: Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.   Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City”   Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.   Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.   Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.   Amazing City Resources: Buy Jim's Popular Books: ·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city   ·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too   FREE White Paper: ·       “10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown”  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps   Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event: ·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking   Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town: ·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting   Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities: ·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development   A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net  

•Dr. Alicia Laraine Middleton is the founder of Rainey Roo Productions and produced “The Monroe County Image Awards” which applauds leaders for their outstanding service in the community; which led to a partnership with Khalil Lundy of The Legendary Force Mds and Byrd Pressley.  Where they established Uni E TV & Radio, LLC.  Dr Alicia is co-owner and production director of PRAYz.FM and is also the programming editor of Roku TV Channel UNiE.TV. •In 2016, she was awarded “Advocate for a Better America” at the Pocono Mountains Film Festival and acknowledged “Outstanding African American Leader in New Mexico the following year by the Office of African American Affairs. •She is affectionally called Dr. Lady Raine who in 2020 led PRAYz.FM gospel radio station to a Stellar Award nomination.  And in 2022 to SPIN Awards Nomination in over 19 categories and was nominated Radio Personality at the 2022 Arizona West Coast GMA. •Currently she assists independent artists with music distribution at PRAYz FM Sony Orchard Music. •Please send me an email sharing your thoughts about this show segment also if you have any suggestions of future guests you would like to hear on the show. Send an email to letstalk2gmg@gmail.com •You may also “like” and share the podcast episode; or you may Subscribe to be alerted when the newest show is published. •NEW RADIO SHOW ON INTERNET RADIO STATION WMRM-DB SATURDAY MORNING 9:00 AM CST / 10:00 AM EST •The Podcast and Radio show is heard anywhere in the World! Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/LetsTalk2GMG/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalk2gmg-ansonia/message

Join us for our interview of the power house that is Glynis Johns. Glynis Johns is CEO and founder of the Black Scranton Project, which is a local nonprofit and heritage initiative dedicated to archiving and celebrating African American history and culture in the Scranton, Pennsylvania region. She is a mover and shaker around Scranton, around the state, and around the country. She graduated from Scranton High School and St. John's University with her Bachelor's and Master's in sociology. Her work has been recognized in many ways, including serving on Governor Tom Wolf's Commission on African American Affairs, She's been honored by U.S senator Bob Casey as a leader creating change in Pennsylvania, she's been featured as a TEDx Scranton speaker on ”Why Local Black History Matters” and most recently in a mini-documentary produced by Focus Journalism on ”The Institutions Preserving Black History in Northeastern PA” –which won a regional Emmy Award. Glynis is currently shepherding the Black Scranton Project Center for Arts and Culture (BSPCAC) located in North Scranton, which will soon be the centerfold of local BIPOC arts, culture, and entertainment. https://www.blackscranton.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsbutfashion/message

A 2023 Washington State legislative update with Ed Prince, executive director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs. Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

Thursday, February 9 on Urban Forum Northwest: *Edward Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton WA City Councilman, and a Sound Transit Board Member comments on his priorities and responsibilities.*Bob Armstead, President, Washington State Chapter-National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) comments on the increasing congressional support for the November 23, 2021 Civil Rights Complaint filed with the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ) on behalf of 22 African American Clergy, Civil Rights organizations and Business owners.*Mike Asai, Founder, Emerald City Collective the second Black owned Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Washington State that operated in Downtown Seattle 2010-2016 talks about being unfairly closed down and still without a path to reopen his business.*Peter Manning, Founder of Belle Sole the third Black owned Medical Dispensary in Washington State was located in Seattle's Rainier Beach community. He is seeking answers as to why the Black Pioneers of the Cannabis industry are being denied opportunities.*Hayward Evans, Co Convener, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee (MLKCC) comments on some Washington State Black History and the MLKCC Black History event being at the Holgate Street Church of Christ Saturday, February 25 3:30 pm.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, February 9 on Urban Forum Northwest: *Edward Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton WA City Councilman, and a Sound Transit Board Member comments on his priorities and responsibilities. *Bob Armstead, President, Washington State Chapter-National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) comments on the increasing congressional support for the November 23, 2021 Civil Rights Complaint filed with the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ) on behalf of 22 African American Clergy, Civil Rights organizations and Business owners. *Mike Asai, Founder, Emerald City Collective the second Black owned Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Washington State that operated in Downtown Seattle 2010-2016 talks about being unfairly closed down and still without a path to reopen his business. *Peter Manning, Founder of Belle Sole the third Black owned Medical Dispensary in Washington State was located in Seattle's Rainier Beach community. He is seeking answers as to why the Black Pioneers of the Cannabis industry are being denied opportunities. *Hayward Evans, Co Convener, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee (MLKCC) comments on some Washington State Black History and the MLKCC Black History event being at the Holgate Street Church of Christ Saturday, February 25 3:30 pm. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye

Bob Good, U.S. Representative for the 5th District of Virginia, reacts to revelations that more classified documents from President Biden's time as vice president were recently discovered, Biden's religious freedom record, and the latest on the government debt ceiling debate. Josh Brecheen, U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 2nd District, shares why he ran for Congress and his reflections on the opening weeks of the new Congress and the House Speaker election. Stephanie Taub, First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel, explains their upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case involving a postal worker's religious freedom. Arielle Del Turco, FRC's Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, highlights her report showing a spike in attacks on churches in recent years. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and how the Biden administration is responding to attacks on churches including many black churches. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Dr. Clarence Lusane in conversation with Justin Desmangles, celebrating the publication of "Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy" by Clarence Lusane with a foreword by: Kali Holloway, published by City Lights Books. This event was originally broadcast via Zoom and hosted by Peter Maravelis. You can purchase copies of "Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy" directly from City Lights at a 30% discount here: https://citylights.com/20-dollars-change-harriet-tubman-vs/ Dr. Clarence Lusane is an author, activist, scholar, and journalist. He is a Professor and former Chairman of Howard University's Department of Political Science. Lusane earned his B.A. in Communications from Wayne State University and both his Masters and Ph.D. from Howard University in Political Science. He's been a political consultant to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a former Commissioner for the DC Commission on African American Affairs. He frequently appears on MSNBC and CSPAN, and was invited by the Obama's to speak at the White House. Author of many books, including "The Black History of the White House," published by City Lights Books. Dr. Lusane lives and works in the Washington, DC area. Justin Desmangles is chairman of the Before Columbus Foundation, administrator of the American Book Award, and host of the radio broadcast New Day Jazz. A member of the board of directors of the Oakland Book Festival, Mr. Desmangles is also a program producer at the African-American Center of the San Francisco Public Library. This event was made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation

Darryl Davidson with The City of Milwaukee, Office of African American Affairs joins the Tory Lowe Show to discuss Fathers being in their children's lives.

Civil rights activist and journalism entrepreneur Sandy Williams died on Sept. 5, she and her partner Patricia Hicks, were two of the 10 passengers on board the seaplane that went down in the Puget Sound, west of Whidbey Island. They were on their way back to Spokane after vacationing, celebrating Sandy's 61st birthday early. We talk about her work leading the black newspaper, Black Lens and how she was an advocate for youth, African American, LBGTQ, helped establish the Pride Center at Eastern Washington University and more. We closeout the episode with little light heartedness from Gary who found a new show called Abbott Elementary on ABC. Show Links: Black Lens http://blacklensnews.com/ (http://blacklensnews.com/) Carl Maxey Center = https://www.carlmaxeycenter.org/ (https://www.carlmaxeycenter.org/) Washington State Commission on African American Affairs https://caaa.wa.gov/ (https://caaa.wa.gov/) Odyssey Youth Center https://www.odysseyyouth.org/ (https://www.odysseyyouth.org/) Pride Center at Eastern Washington University https://inside.ewu.edu/pridecenter/ (https://inside.ewu.edu/pridecenter/) 9/5/22 Breaking News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/know-far-victims-charter-floatplane-crash-seattle-rcna46482 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/know-far-victims-charter-floatplane-crash-seattle-rcna46482) Murder of Matthew Shepard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard) Resources/Recommendations to check out: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/ (Pod Save America) - Pod Save America is a no-bullshit conversation about politics  https://votesaveamerica.com/ (Vote Save America) - learn more about how you can help Need help/support? check out https://www.betterhelp.com/ (Better Help) OR https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/ (Trevor Project) If you want to share your stories or questions please email us Queernundrum@queernundrum.com, that is a Queer Nun with a Drum dot com. OR connect with us on any of our social media platforms.  Intro music by Jahzzar “Please Listen Carefully” "Jahzzar (betterwithmusic.com) CC BY-SA" and Outro music by Scott Holmes “Acoustic Indie Folk” @ scottianholmes@live.com. Editor: H. Greystone via FinalCut Pro Writer: G. Thoren

This week inside The Pastor's Office, Rev. Jonathan A. Mason sits down with Advisory Commission on African American Affairs head Anton Moore for a powerful conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Barton, WallBuilders founder, breaks down the Texas GOP platform and the remaining cases this term the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to release opinions on. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, shares about how Juneteenth showcases America at its best. Pastor Bryan Davis, a Scioto County Commissioner, highlights his effort to remove sexually graphic books from his county library. John Lennox, emeritus professor of mathematics at Oxford University, dives into a biblical perspective on artificial intelligence. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

On today's program: David Barton, WallBuilders founder, breaks down the Texas GOP platform and the remaining cases this term the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to release opinions on. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, shares

In this episode of Black Power Moves, part of the Ebony Covering Black America Podcast Network, we're speaking to Impact Strategist and International Influencer, Adjoa B. Asamoah. She is the founder of ABA Consulting, and is a trusted advisor to numerous local, state, and federal officials and candidates, most recently serving as the “National Advisor for Black Engagement” for the Biden-Harris campaign, and Black Engagement Director for the historic 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee. Adjoa spearheaded to codify the nation's first Office on African American Affairs and to introduce and pass the groundbreaking anti-hair discrimination CROWN Act. She mobilizes leaders and communities for social change and collective political action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday, December 23 on Urban Forum Northwest - guest for the hour are: *Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (D) Kansas City MO-5 comments on his message to the lobbying firms on K Street in Washington DC about their lack of diversity in their front offices. *Attorney James Bible represents the Manuel Ellis family. He will explain why the Tacoma Police Chief exonerated two police officers in the death of Mr. Ellis. *Will Hausa, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs who represents the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective in the Tacoma Police-Manuel Ellis deliberations. *Shaude' Moore, Chair, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition comments on the activities for the January 17, 2022 Observance at Seattle's Garfield High School and the Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development (formerly SVI and SOCIC). *Attorney Robert (Bobby) Alexander talks about the MLK Rally at Garfield on MLK Day. He will outline the program to date and comment on any changes due to the omicron variant. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on Facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will air on Saturday, Christmas Day 7:00-8:00 am (PST).

Thursday, December 23 on Urban Forum Northwest - guest for the hour are: *Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (D) Kansas City MO-5 comments on his message to the lobbying firms on K Street in Washington DC about their lack of diversity in their front offices. *Attorney James Bible represents the Manuel Ellis family. He will explain why the Tacoma Police Chief exonerated two police officers in the death of Mr. Ellis. *Will Hausa, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs who represents the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective in the Tacoma Police-Manuel Ellis deliberations. *Shaude' Moore, Chair, Seattle King County Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition comments on the activities for the January 17, 2022 Observance at Seattle's Garfield High School and the Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development (formerly SVI and SOCIC). *Attorney Robert (Bobby) Alexander talks about the MLK Rally at Garfield on MLK Day. He will outline the program to date and comment on any changes due to the omicron variant. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on Facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will air on Saturday, Christmas Day 7:00-8:00 am (PST).

Deena Pierott is also a Social Impact Entrepreneur and the Founder of the award winning and nationally recognized STEM+Arts program for youth of color called iUrban Teen which has chapters in four states, and most recently launched Black Women in STEM 2.0. Ms. Pierott is also a diversity strategist and international public speaker. She has served on several boards and commissions including a Gubernatorial appointment to the Commission on African American Affairs in the State of Washington. She has been featured on the following publications: Government Technology, Essence Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, Deliver magazine, Portland Business Journal, Geekwire, Colors of Influence, Neurology Now, the Chicago Tribune and on NPR. “We are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors who are slaves. It's a responsibility in this life to walk through it with dignity, grace and integrity.” “Stand up for others and be fearless with it.” “Raise your hand, ask questions, be engaged, even if you know the answer to it. Don't be a wallflower.”  Deena Pierott https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpierott  iUrbanTeen https://iurbanteen.org/ Do Better: Spiritual Activism https://www.amazon.com/Do-Better-Spiritual-Activism-Supremacy/dp/1982151277  Follow Patti Dobrowolski - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/upyourcreativegenius/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-dobrowolski-532368/ Up Your Creative Genius https://www.upyourcreativegenius.com/  Timestamp [3:56] Meeting Deena Pierott and fling into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion [7:23] Working with innovative ways to change policy [8:44] How being a gay person in Texas is similar to Deena's experience [10:21] You have to be yourself in corporate America [10:55] How Deena started iUrbanTeen [14:26] Growing iUrbanYouth, iUrbanUniversity and working with Microsoft [15:57] Why Black Women in STEM was created [17:19] Making change in the world where anything can be done [19:20] It's never too late. What's your next thing? [21:22] Who is an inspiration to Deena? [22:56] How to tap into your creative genius? What's your routine? [24:35] You got to have skin in the game [27:52] Trick is to get into motivation and keep in momentum [28:20] Workaholic, selfcare, and dealing with trauma [31:30] Hurdles of being a black women founder [34:30] Sometimes its easier to stand up for others [36:27] What is the book you are reading right now [39:40] Biggest tip for someone making a change   Patti Dobrowolski 0:03 Hello superstars. Welcome to the Up Your Creative Genius Podcast where you will gain insight and tips to stomp on the accelerator and blast off to transform your business and your life. I'm your host, Patti Dobrowolski. And if this is your first time tuning in, then strap in because this is serious rocket fuel. Each week I interview fellow creative geniuses to help you learn how easy it is to up your creative genius in any part of your life. Hey, everybody, it's Patti Dobrowolski. What's Up Your Creative Genius? Oh, my God. Today, I have just one of my favorite people in the universe. Deena Pierott. Now listen. So if you don't know who Deena Pierott is, I'm going to give you the lowdown on her and then she's going to tell us about herself. But first, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been subscribing and listening to the podcast and writing reviews. You like drove us up in the charts! It's fantastic. I love it. And I'm so grateful I am because this podcast is all about making change: how you can make change happen. And I've invited all these changemakers who have decided to change the world for other people or for themselves or their business. And so Deena Pierott is a serious changemaker. I got to read you her bio. Okay, so she is a sought after diversity strategist, Talent Acquisition Professional and international keynote speaker, no doubt, she's created cutting edge DEI programs that yield results in impact. And you know, we need that. Okay. But here's what I want to say she served on a number of boards. She's really super amazing. And she started iUrbanTeen, which really helped to advance and allow for kids who didn't have access to computers to get them. And so I know you're going to talk a little bit about that. But before we go on, I want to say this, that she was honored to be acknowledged by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change for technology inclusion, and by Ebony magazine on their Power 100 list. She is like been, in Essence Magazine, the top 50 black female founders. She's just amazing. I'm telling you, if I showed you this List of awards, you will be here forever. But my God, welcome to the show. Deena Pierott. You're amazing! Deena Pierott 2:41 Oh, wow. Thank you. I you know, when I hear that stuff, I'm going is that me? And now that you know, because a lot of times you're so busy working and creating and working and creating that you have to sometimes stop and look back at you know, I did this. Patti Dobrowolski 2:58 I know it. Deena Pierott 2:59 I did this. Oh, I'm ready to cuss I got it. Because Patti Dobrowolski 3:02 That's okay. i You should have seen somebody else I had was just F bomb every other word. Right? You're all right. Yeah. Here's the amazing. You are just incredible. And I met you because somebody decided that we should meet. We hooked up. We had lunch together with your granddaughter. Yeah. And we were both like, what are we doing in Portland? Wow, this place is so weird. And neither one of us live there anymore. So they're, you know, right. Deena Pierott 3:34 I know. There you have it. But I just think it was just an instant connection. I wonder how they might just like, Look, Patti Dobrowolski 3:41 I know, friends. I know. It is so good. And so I just been following. Honestly, I stalk you all the time to see what you're up to. And then I like, post "Deena Pierott, she's so amazing." So follow her and do stuff with her. Now tell us if you would in your own words, like tell us about you and how you got started doing what you're doing and you know, anything you want to share about it? Well, you know, Deena Pierott 4:03 it's I'm going to try to make it a shorter story because usually I tell this long story with Patti Dobrowolski 4:09 international keynote speaker that goes on. And Deena Pierott 4:13 I sometimes I think I'm a Baptist preacher. Patti Dobrowolski 4:17 Exactly. We love that. You know, Deena Pierott 4:19 I always like to say, what's the why, you know, What's your why and things that you do. And sometimes you end up in a space that you didn't think he would be in, you know, 1015 20 years ago. So I kind of fell into the Diversity Equity work back in the 90s when I moved up to Portland from Compton, California. Patti Dobrowolski 4:39 Alright, so there you go right now. Oh, now I'm from LA Oh, I know all about content. I know in the Portland is white, white. Deena Pierott 4:48 Girl. Let me tell you, it's the whitest white folks I've ever seen in my life. And I even started fading. I was not this color. But I guessed it But then I instantly saw this disconnect, I saw this inequity on how people of color, especially the black community was treated. Yeah, no, I was called the n-word. I don't know how many times and I'm going I've never been called that in California. Right. Not that it doesn't happen, but it didn't happen to me. Right. I also saw when working in the workplace, the inequities there as well. I also saw how my own people and other people of color kind of were a little complacent to things where they didn't know how or didn't feel like they needed to advocate for themselves. Patti Dobrowolski 5:36 Yeah. Would they just let it slide? Slide and just go, like, well, that's the way it is here. Deena Pierott 5:43 And see, that was not me. Oh, no, not me at all. And so I instantly started creating different forums and different initiatives at the City of Portland. And it was interesting, because I worked for a director at a bureau who was from the East Coast. And he wholeheartedly gave me the platform to do what I did right now. I felt that he truly trusted my decisions. Yes, he believed in diversity and equity. And it gave me the floor, let me run with it. And I ran like hell. So I was able to create, like, I created the city's infinity groups that they have employee resource groups, in partnership with the mayor's office, the commissioners and all that and made it really meaty. I created so many different initiatives. Oh, my gosh, I made sure that all of our interview panels were reversed. I ensured that all of our panels for contract reviews were diverse. And that was in the 90s Patti Dobrowolski 6:40 for for my cat popular. Wow, that's crazy. But I also Deena Pierott 6:43 advocated for myself, and that scared a lot of people, you know, because here's this woman of color, a black woman that is holding her own. And yeah, letting you get away with this. And so, but what made me sad, Patti was a lot of the employees from different bureaus would come to me, and they would go Deena, can you ask my boss, if I could do this? If I can go here? Patti Dobrowolski 7:05 Oh my God. I know that. Deena Pierott 7:09 You know, and it Patti Dobrowolski 7:10 makes me sad. Because that means that they don't feel empowered enough to go. They don't have the confidence to go maybe because somebody slapped him down. You know what exactly happened here? Yeah, fear of losing a job. Deena Pierott 7:23 Exactly. And so I will tell them, No, you can tell them. And this is what you say and how you say it. Yeah, I still wouldn't do it, I would still go to their directors and ask these questions. And so, but someone told me and I remember that this was in like the late 90s. One of my own folks from the black communities that Deena, you're too opinionated. You rock the boat too much. You have to make them comfortable, meaning I needed to make white people comfortable. And I'm like, I don't need to make anybody comfortable. Exactly. And I say hold on a second, what plantation? Did I just arrived on? Exactly right. And so but that kind of pushback from not only the white community, but my own community made me try harder. Right. And so that's, I was creating initiatives that were way ahead of their time, and people are just now catching on. Right. So that was my last. And that was my journey into the diversity, equity belonging inclusion arena. And so I still get asked from different companies to either Keynote or to lead their teams on edgy innovative ways to change policy. How do you look at this through an equity lens? Yeah. And how do you do it? Not me, not how I how do you do it? Right? Yeah, within those companies. So that was the DEI journey. Yeah. Now, let's go to iUrbanTeen. Patti Dobrowolski 8:44 Yeah, cuz I want to talk about them. I know. I love them. Well, the other thing is that, I mean, honestly, I'm a gay woman. So you can imagine my story isn't exactly the same. But it is about you. You have to come out every second. And then you know, I live in Texas now. So come on, people go meet my neighbors. And my neighbors were kind of like really skeptical about us. And then, you know, a young transgender kid came and left a card at our door and said, thank goodness, you have that sign in your front lawn? Because now I know that there's possibility for me. Deena Pierott 9:19 Oh, see, right. You never know. You never know who you're the role model for? Or what pathways you're helping to create someone how you're helping their voice be heard. You never know. But for you or just to think if you didn't speak up, if you didn't feel comfortable in your own skin. Think about the health issues, the mental health issues. Yes, I would be steaming inside. That's why I tell people say something. You feel that you just had a micro or macro aggression thrown your way. Say something. It may not be that instant. It may not be that same day. It may not be that week. That's some point. I need to come to Patti Say, Patti, you know what you mentioned to me what you said to me last week, blah, blah, blah. It really felt like a microaggression. That's how it felt for me. How can we bridge this? You know, how can we do this differently? You need to be comfortable enough to have that kind of conversation. don't own that shit. Okay? Patti Dobrowolski 10:18 Yeah, don't take it in. Don't, don't Deena Pierott 10:21 get in, Patti Dobrowolski 10:21 don't try to change yourself. This is me. Like I remember, I wanted to write a book called How to Be yourself in corporate America, because you have to be yourself have to be your own. You cannot. I mean, now, thankfully, some things are breaking open. But in big companies, it's still Deena Pierott 10:38 the same. I still say that's not the company for you if it's feel that way. And that's why I tell all of my folks and even our students in Ireland team. Yeah, one of the things we teach them is how do you best advocate for yourself? Patti Dobrowolski 10:50 I love that. So how did you start that? How did you start Ironman teen, Deena Pierott 10:55 you know, the story goes, I was commissioner here on Governor Greg gwass. Commission on African American Affairs back in 2006, to 2011. And at the time, all of our ethnic Commission's were talking about the opportunity gap issue, especially for male youth of color, you know, falling through the cracks, being marginalized, disenfranchised, not having a clear pathway. And I'm an entrepreneur, I'm not one to sit back and meetings and boards, and just talk something to death over and over overnight, Patti Dobrowolski 11:26 we got to get things going. We got to add some happen. You got to make some happen now. Deena Pierott 11:31 So I instantly started looking at my community is being how if our families knew about the Running Start program, which is an amazing program, which has been graduate high school with not only a diploma but with an associate's degree. The issue was a lot of our brown and black families weren't aware of it because the school counselors were telling them yeah, of course not. That's not and so we were making sure that happened. Then I was asked to participate on a chief information officer Council in Portland. And I told my friend Mark, who arranged these for these councils all across the country, but I'm not a CIO. He goes, I know that, but you're innovative and we need you. So I went okay. Works for me. And so I went to the very first meeting, Patti, and I was a little late getting to the party. And so I opened the door, and it's a roomful of white men. Yeah, so imagine me walking in there with an afro wig on. Alright, I had a big curly Afro wig. Yeah, leopard print jacket, lay Yes. And big hoop earrings. Patti Dobrowolski 12:34 I love it. Deena Pierott 12:35 I went, oh, i Whoa. Okay. So. So during that meeting, I was sitting there and I said to myself, Okay, so over here we have these youth who are being disenfranchised, marginalized. Yeah, clearly don't have a pathway for success. But in this room, is where the opportunities are. That's right. So how do I reach this divide? And during that lunch meeting, I thought up iUrbanTeen, and within six months, we launched with the help of some of those men in the room, who were still engaged with me after all of these years. Oh, that's fantastic. We launched iUrbanTeen in October 2011, exactly 10 years ago, the 13th year, and wow, that was incredible. And I knew from the first event that we had to keep going because I saw this magic happening, you know, during those sessions, because everything we do is fast paced, hands on. Kind of eclectic, cool, kind of funky. You know, all of that. But it grabs them. It grabs your attention. Patti Dobrowolski 13:38 Yeah, they'll switch a notch when they need you since we launched Deena Pierott 13:43 in that 2008. Yeah. 2011 We have since launched in Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston. We've also we're hoping to launch in New York and also in Miami, Florida, as well as several other cities in 2022 and 2023. Patti Dobrowolski 14:02 Does that mean you get to go to those cities and launch they see now that's right and went to Texas Come on. You should call me because now Deena Pierott 14:12 are you in Dallas or Houston or I'm in Fortworth? I'm close enough I could go to Dallas Yeah, Dallas Yeah, well you know we're gonna be working with the city of Dallas on expanding all right ramps there so we go I will definitely let you know. Patti Dobrowolski 14:26 Yes, for sure. I love it. Alright, so you set up i Urban Youth, right. And you really helped them to create some programs that gave them access they didn't have before tools and resources and do you do internships too? How did you set the all that up? Deena Pierott 14:44 We do you know, we started just kind of grassroots having these paid internship programs in Portland for high school students. Yeah, with partnership with Cigna and then there was a company I Otis that was there as well. And now because we've had so many youth over the years that have been with our program, now they're in college. So we had to launch I Urban University. Oh, yeah. That is for over 18 crowd. Yeah. And so now do they get mentorship and things like this? Yeah, we have mentors that work with them. Yeah, we have diverse instructors that work with them. And in all the thing that for this Ironman University, that's where we have our scholarships. We have our paid college internships there. And now we are launching a support engineer training program with Microsoft that launches early next. I love it. Oh, that's so we have women we have black women in this first cohort aged 19 to 46. Yeah, that will be trained by Microsoft and also go through the certification process where they can get jobs starting at 80 to 90,000 a year. Oh, after 120 hours worth of trade. i Patti Dobrowolski 15:57 Oh my god, that's so fantastic. Now is this black woman in STEM? Deena Pierott 16:02 That's separate. That's separate. That's I mean, Patti Dobrowolski 16:05 oh my god, that is so incredible. Alright, so now talk about your latest thing, black woman in STEM, Deena Pierott 16:12 STEM 2.0. And we call it 2.0. Because, you know, we change the M and stem to manufacturing. because math is interwoven in all the other elements as well, and sciences and technology and engineering. Math is already interwoven in that. So we wanted to add manufacturing, because yes, that's a segment that sometimes overlooked in the whole stem arena. Definitely. So a couple years ago, some of my colleagues and I wanted to create a platform or an association for women that are in those spaces that we can brainstorm, have training sessions for, conferences for and basic networking, and also sisterhood. Sister fellowship. That's right. And so that's what we did. And so this year, you know, we were supposed to have our conference last year, but because in Texas, but because of COVID Yeah. Hectic, nutso course. So this year, we are having the conference, and it's a hybrid, where we will have in person events and virtual sessions. I learned this this Friday and Saturday here in Bellevue, you know, which is a community. Patti Dobrowolski 17:19 Oh, that's fantastic. Okay, I love that. All right. So look at how many I just so for those of you that are listening, so here is somebody that saw a need way back in the 90s. And then just built that, you know, went to bat for everything that she believes in, and then started to build the infrastructure to help other people. And this is what we're talking about is when you want to make change in the world, like yours is about big change in the world so that it will impact you know, your grandkids, it will impact your neighbors, your community. So these are the things that you did, but you are such an innovator because you sat in that room of all those. This is me, I'm imagining that because that's me too. I walk I know rooms with all white men, and I'm thinking Oh, yeah. Okay, now we're gonna have fun. Now I'm going to be myself and you guys are gonna love me at the end or else right? Yeah. And part of it is that you have to use your woo strength, but you also have to in that moment, you have to really build a bridge between your state of consciousness and theirs. And that's what you are. You excel in that when you do that, how do you do that? What is it that you do that you tap into in yourself to hear what needs to be done? Deena Pierott 18:40 Well, you know, I just kind of sit back. I think I blame my mom for making me think and understand that I could do anything. Right. And I believed it. I fell for it. Yeah. And so I still believe I still know nothing. I believe I know that I can do anything well, and you have Patti Dobrowolski 18:59 such that there's no reason why you shouldn't believe but what if you're a young person coming up? Or even if you've been working in a corporation for a long time or working for somebody else in the city for a long time, and you feel like, oh, yeah, yeah, but it's too late. And I'm almost going to retire. Why would I want to rock the boat? What would you say to them? Deena Pierott 19:20 Oh, it's never too late. It's never too late. Like I just turned 63 You know, on October 6, and I'm are ready. I know. I'm already thinking about what's the next best thing? What's the next thing I could do? Right? I don't know how some of us fell into that trap of okay, well, now you're over 50 So it's time to slow down. Everything is downhill from there. I don't know who sent us that Patti Dobrowolski 19:45 Milan. Oh, no, that was really big. Yeah. Now, you know, I'm older than you. So that's fantastic. I'm like, Yeah, I'm a year older than you. And so we look good girl. We look. I'm just saying and part of it is that We want to make sure that we're evolving. This is what you're saying is, what's my next thing? So that I want to know, like, when you have a vision for yourself, what's interesting to you right now? What are you fascinated with? That you can tell us about? Deena Pierott 20:16 Well, you know, I think that for me, because I'm so people centered, I really want to do something if it is my own, like digital online magazine for women over 50, you know, women of color over 50, particularly, because that's an audience that's overlooked a lot of times, I'm kind of a, like a lifestyle brand type of thing that I want to do I want to get into podcasting, you know, like you. So that's what I feel that the next layer is for me. Yep, thing that's really cool and fun. I Urban Teen will always be at my heart. But you know, I'm building up the infrastructure now where I have now managing director for Portland and southwest Washington. Patti Dobrowolski 20:57 Well, I see you have your infrastructure in there and the people that can do it. And Deena Pierott 21:03 pretty soon it's when do I have all the gears in place where I can just kind of sit back? And just so funny, Patti Dobrowolski 21:10 because when I saw you in Portland, you talked about that, then. So what's true is you have multiple gears now, before you were just working one gear for a while Deena Pierott 21:21 working here, right? Patti Dobrowolski 21:22 Now you got four gears all going at the same time. So that's Yeah, I think will be really, really amazing to see. And you know, who is inspirational to you right now in the world who you look out and you see, and you think, Wow, that is cool. I like that. whatever they're doing, is there anybody that is a role model for you, either now or in the past that really has helped you, and helps you as you get going on ideas? Do you have like your little cadre of sisterhood that you talk to about things, do you? Deena Pierott 21:54 Well, you know, and that's interesting, because I think back on the person, that really was my inspiration, and I know, it may sound a little corny and all but it was my mother, you know, and she passed away suddenly, in 2010. I am such a rogue, that there really isn't anyone out there that I see that I want to learn from or any thing, it's sad to say, but it's sometimes when you are so much into your own. Patti Dobrowolski 22:27 Yep. It's I know, Deena Pierott 22:30 I have a lot, a lot, a lot of mentees or people women that want to consult with me on how do I do this? How do I do what you do? So but there's not a whole lot of others that I see that I can connect with, or brainstorm on. Because usually what I'm thinking about and what I'm envisioning, is so far out there that no one's been there yet. Patti Dobrowolski 22:56 Yeah, I love that. That's fantastic. And so you really what you're doing is you're tapping into your own creative genius, that flow. So you just unlock that. And so tell me, what's your daily routine that you go through? That helps you unlock your creative genius? What Deena Pierott 23:11 do you do? Well, you know, what I do is I just sit back in early morning hours when it's dead silent, and there's no noise, there's no nothing. I haven't even made coffee yet. I just sit in silence. And I just envision what I already have in place, how I can tweak it, how can I make it better? How can I do this? At the same time? How could I add in this creative edge into this? That's not been done before? You know, so I just kind of invid before I write down anything? Yeah, I first have a vision for it. Yeah. Then once the vision clicks, I'll start creating an outline for how I want to do this, then the next step is how am I going to implement this? You know, what's the impact on the students on the companies that I work for in the DEI space? Yeah. And sometimes when I'm even working with the companies like right now, I was working with a global tech company. And we did something totally different that they hadn't done before yet, right? Sometimes I'll work with them. Like, this is what I'm thinking, what how can we do this? So I'll get there. Like I tell companies, you've got to have some skin in the game, I can sit there and talk to you. I'm blue in the face around diversity and equity. But you've got to roll up your sleeves, and you got to help me make this happen. Patti Dobrowolski 24:31 That's right. Because it's not gonna happen without them. Yeah. Because otherwise you're just a consultant coming in. And same thing, if I'm drawing a picture of the vision and nobody's attached to it, then sure, nobody cares. Deena Pierott 24:44 And so if I give them the tools on how do they do this internally, where they don't even need me anymore, a lot of times you'll get diversity, people thinking or saying that they're diversity experts and consultants that intentionally want to keep that company so they can keep getting a Patti Dobrowolski 25:01 paycheck. Oh, no, that's so what is that doing? Deena Pierott 25:05 What is that mindset doing for this next level of students coming through? I haven't seen that might land at your workplace. Right? Yeah, exactly. What is that doing for my sons who are in the workforce now? Yes. What is that going to be doing for my granddaughters who had some yesterday and your workspace? I'd rather I'm this way. And that's why I don't think I'll ever be monetarily rich. I'd rather give them all the tools they can do right now. Yeah. And happen, attach it to action, create it, attach it to metrics, yep, with everything, letting them know where they need to pivot, so that they can be equitable and inclusive workspaces. Don't keep paying me for years and years to keep you sick. Yeah, Patti Dobrowolski 25:46 that's right. Well, and one of the things that I'm listening to is that so you let the ideas germinate about where you are, and you envision how you could make a better so this my friend, Dawn calls this spinning the universe, you're really spinning the universe. Now using your imagination, then you get a plan, you get it down on paper, so that you've got something so that you know, okay, this is what we're going to do. And even if it's with somebody else, you get some partnership in there, so that you can make it happen. So you're not the driver of the activity, because the thing that you can be the driver at the beginning, but you don't want to be the driver for That's right. I Deena Pierott 26:25 always say this is the hardest thing to do when you are someone like me and like you and that very creative space, is find people that share your rhythm. Yeah, right. Oh, that's right. Find people that share your rhythm. I spent so many years trying to consult with people who had no idea what I really wanted to do. Right, but I just knew that what they were saying didn't settle. Well. I'm like, yeah, yeah. And that's crazy. Oh, man. Thank you, man. Oh, thank you. So it took me a long time. And it's still really hard to try to find those people who share your rhythm, right? You're one of those people that share my rhythm. Yeah, we got to get things going girl stuff off the bat, right back and forth. In an hour sit in ideas, right? Patti Dobrowolski 27:11 That's right. But then we got to go do them. We got to get people to help us do them. Like somebody in the background putting together your peloton machine right now, is that right? So if you're listening and you hear like the sound this clanking so Dina warned me that they were going to put up her peloton now and so whoever's back there doing that, you know, keep going and just know that this is what happens in a creative space. You have got to get everything happening at the same time, because there's not enough time in the day. Deena Pierott 27:41 Yeah, the only thing Patti is I'm looking at them putting this peloton treadmill together now I'm going to have to use it. I'm like, Oh, yes, Patti Dobrowolski 27:52 you're gonna have to use well, and and you know, I would say bite off just a small piece of that, like, I just start on things like that. Well, what's true for me is that I know if I don't dive full in and set a goal, that seems like whoa, I wonder if I could do that, then I will really get motivated to do it. I may not do it the next week, but I will that initial week getting myself going. So it's the trick to keep yourself motivated. And that's how it is with change, too. Right? You see something that needs to be changed, you get super excited at the beginning. But how do you maintain your own motivation? How do you maintain it? I want to know how you maintain, Deena Pierott 28:31 you know, for me that and I gotta be honest, until they transparent, this whole self care thing sucks for me, because I don't know how to do it. I have such a workaholic. But I also learned about myself as I have to do this self care, I have to learn this piece as much energy that I'm putting into these ideas and these businesses. Yes, I have to put that in me. You know, I have been through a lot of trauma over the last 20 years. One of the coping mechanisms for trauma is to stay busy. Yes. So I stayed super busy, you know, and it wasn't until my husband that my son's father passed away of cancer in 2019 that I actually hit a wall. I hit a wall and I basically almost had a nervous breakdown. And I realized at that point, I said to myself, I'm a smart enough woman to know that I gotta walk through this trauma. Right? Yeah, trauma that I have been suppressing for over 20 years. And that was a constant it was a continued I just got busier just wrapped more up. Yeah. Then I thought about what I created under trauma. Right. The White House under trauma. I'm honored in the Lincoln Center in New York with Oprah Magic Johnson all of them because if I ever team under trauma, right, I've been all these things under trauma. And I think that's why if they all didn't really resonate with me, well, Patti Dobrowolski 29:53 they don't really sink in. You're like yeah, I did that. I know that because I was on Broadway things like this. You Her major accomplishments you just sort of brushed him off. Yeah. Don't let them soak in. Yeah, yeah. That's great. Thank you so much. And then on to the next thing, because if you slow down too much, yeah. And you have to actually feel what's going on inside of yourself. Exactly. And really takes the passing of somebody who is important to you, to wake you up. I think sometimes, for me, it did. It was when my mom died. That was when I woke up. I couldn't get out of bed. Honestly, I couldn't get out of bed. I was just like, I don't know, you know, what's the point? And then I had to deal with all the things that had happened in my life. Right? Yeah. Deena Pierott 30:37 Well, that's what I've been going through over the past couple of years, since his death is just sitting still and going through the things like, you know, the things that have happened over the years me being discriminated against in the workplace, and, and and all the pushback that I've had to deal with, and it has been a heavy lift. Yeah, me with all of my businesses here in the Pacific Northwest. Patti Dobrowolski 30:59 Oh, you know, got it got to be because if you're in LA, you'd have our alliances. Deena Pierott 31:06 Oh, yeah. Even if I was in New York, Boston, Chicago, Patti Dobrowolski 31:09 any of the big cities, Dallas to the Dallas, Deena Pierott 31:13 I just look at how well we're so embraced in Dallas and Houston. And you know, I just came back from Boston, that was in Boston in Portland, Maine. And it was a totally different vibe there. Yeah. You know, I loved it. So I feel that being a black female founder here in the Pacific Northwest, there's a lot of hurdles to go through. Yep. You know, a lot of hurdles. And it was a harder path to get here. However, I'm the total, optimistic, idealistic person, I feel that all of that struggle, all the traumas, things that I've gone through all of the hardships, helps make me the mosaic of who I am. Patti Dobrowolski 31:57 Oh, it is, and you are so beautiful. You're such a beautiful mosaic that that is what true. And what I love about what you said, is that, you know, the composite of view. And all of us really is all of the things that we've had to go through all the, you know, all the N word, in your case, all the bottles thrown at me out of somebody's car window in LA, you know, all that stuff. Those are the aggressions that happen. And what's true is you understand your essence in the universe for good. You know, you're a vehicle for good. And so you take all that and just say, This is who I am. This makes me empathetic, right? This is where my empathy comes from. And this is where my need for connection. And also, this is where my I don't know about you, but my fuel to make change in the world comes from and you're spot on. You are just so incredible. And I'm so grateful that our paths crossed, because, gosh, I mean, you've just been doing so many things. Since I saw you in Portland. You were like a little lifeline to me in that weird deli that we were eating with your cute little granddaughter. So much older now. Leila Berg. Yeah, she's Deena Pierott 33:19 nine years old. She will be 10 Pretty soon. And you know, crazy. I look at her and I see true leadership in Yeah, yeah. I was honored at Clark College a couple years ago as Iris award winner. Yeah, cool. When in the audience, my son, his wife, and the girls were the audience. And wow, when I was doing the acceptance piece, when I was accepting it, I looked over at my granddaughters, and I asked the audience, you know, can I have a moment I have a message I want to give my granddaughter Oh, my God. And they said yes. And so I asked my son, but Leila up on stage. And I said, because the other ones are way too little. And so I said, Leila, I said, I hope that one day you'll understand why your grandmother is being honored here tonight. And I also hope that you understand the pathway that I'm trying to create for you. I said, Leila, we are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors who were slaves. So it's a sponsibility in this life, to walk through it with dignity, grace, and integrity. Oh, you promise me you'll do that? And she shook her head. Yes. Oh, I blew her kiss. She blew me a kiss. The audience was crying. Oh, Patti Dobrowolski 34:30 I bet. Oh, my God. Deena Pierott 34:31 And I said, ladies and gentlemen, in 20 years, she'll be the one receiving this award. So let's give her a round of applause. Oh, I love that. Oh, it's speaking it into existence. Well, I just reader, I see such a leader in her and I see the empathy, the empathy in her there's a young boy in her classroom at school elementary school, who's autistic. And he says if the other kids fully handled Leila is the only one who's nice for him and stands up for him. Patti? I almost cried because I said, she's got it. Patti Dobrowolski 35:02 That's it. Got it. She got it. She got the gene and the kids got Deena Pierott 35:06 the gene she has a friend and the leadership, stand up for others. And be fearless with it, right? Patti Dobrowolski 35:14 Ah, love it, stand by others and be fearless. With it, that should be all of our call to action, you know, really stand up for others and be fearless with it. And so even if you can't stand up for yourself, be sure to stand up for other people, because it makes a huge, huge difference. It really Deena Pierott 35:32 is easier because sometimes they're more skeptical to stand up for themselves and advocate for themselves in the workplace. Yeah, but it's easier to advocate for someone else, you know, yeah, to see that lifeline for someone else as well, if you do it the right way. Patti Dobrowolski 35:47 Yeah. And I think we need it. I mean, I think that if you know, so many people have been a mentor or an a door opener for me, in my life. And I think for you, too, you know, we get little doors open, and then we open the door way wide. For other people. We're like, let's get okay. Now everyone knows. Deena Pierott 36:07 Let's go I want to do right. And the thing is, is that people need to like for me, I advocate for everybody. It doesn't care what color you are. What gender what anything. Yeah, I believe in fairness, I don't like to see an equity placed anywhere for anyone, you know. And so that's why I was fighting the good fight for Patti Dobrowolski 36:27 fair, do you Yeah, you're so amazing. You just hear I'm telling you, you're so amazing. Now what I want you to tell people what you're reading right now. So they know what they should be reading to? Deena Pierott 36:40 Well, right now I'm reading a book called do better. And it's all around advocating for others advocating for yourself, creating equity, where you are, I was just at the Harvard bookstore in Boston. And I saw it and I bought it. And so I just started reading it. Very good read. The other book that I just listened to on audio was cast about the cast. Oh, yes. Yeah, it's long. Listen, and you really sometimes you got to play it back. And I'll, but it's a very, very good, there is another book that I'm also kind of in between around equity in schools. So I'm always reading that kind of, Patti Dobrowolski 37:18 well, you got to you have to, and everybody should be reading that, you know, Yeah, gotta just change your mindset all the time. Keep up. That's the thing. The other piece about change is, you have to keep up, keep up with what's important for you, and try to push yourself into areas where you don't feel comfortable, so that you can walk into that room filled with white men, and you can get what you need from the audience there. Right. Oh, God. Deena Pierott 37:47 And you know, it's so funny. When I walked into that room that day, I kind of did the whole church thing on here I am so that they can pause the meeting. Yeah, I could walk straight through to the front room. And I tell some of the guys there. Can you move over? So I put a chair here, because there was chairs in the back of the room. But Patti Dobrowolski 38:05 oh, yeah, well, back. Okay. That's right, exactly. Deena Pierott 38:09 What up to the front. I had a move, but a chair there. And but what are the things that I tell women and people of color, when you're in those kinds of situations where you are one of none of other people is to be engaged? Don't be that wallflower. So as soon as it came time for questions, yes, I was the first one that raised my hand. And I asked a question that I already knew the answer to. But I did that. And I do that a lot of times in places that they can see I'm here, I'm engaged. I'm a part of this group. Patti Dobrowolski 38:38 That's right. That's right. I love it. So raise your hand, ask a question. Even if you know the answer to even if everybody knows you're in the room and make a play, make it happen. And I would say that's true, even if you're on Zoom. Because in zoom rooms, it's really important to show up. So you turn your camera on, you got to look your best. And you got your hand up and you got to put comments in the chat. That yeah, that's fantastic. I've been Deena Pierott 39:06 on something zoom things where it's a lot of people and these people are just sitting there like quiet. Are they Patti Dobrowolski 39:10 advocator Tommy, would you entertain me, please? Yeah, I need some entertainment. Yeah. Deena Pierott 39:15 And there's a way to have that engagement even on Zoom or whatever platform Yeah, data. So you know, in fact, we're having our stem a wean for the kids. We've had a couple of virtual stem conferences for the kids. That's fantastic. Fast paced, they're fun. They're this and yeah, they're they're engaging, you know, and also, I think we've pretty much mastered the engaging online presence, you know, stuff so Patti Dobrowolski 39:37 well, you were engaging before when I came in drew with your kids. I mean, that was really, that was fantastic. I love doing that. So thanks for asking me to do that. Oh, they loved it, too. It was super fun now. Okay. So give us one last tip before we let you go. What's your one tip about change that you would tell to people say to people, you know people who are wanting to make a change What do you recommend that they Deena Pierott 40:01 do? I would recommend that they learn how to embrace it. Change is inevitable. Yeah. So my biggest tip is to be comfortable with change. Be comfortable with the pivot, always be that Constant Learner. I mean, I truly embrace change, even if it's things that I have no control of. I try to understand it and all but even for myself, looking at what the peloton that's going to be changed for me because I admit, I've got to embrace look, I've got to embrace it. I'm going to look like Beyonce in about six months. Okay, that's right. But embrace you can you will like either, like kind of grandma. So. But yeah, so I can't imagine not looking forward to the future and change that happens. I think that when you are afraid of change, when you try to stop change, I think that's when you stop growing. Patti Dobrowolski 40:55 Yeah. And when you start, then you're going backwards, you know, they're Deena Pierott 40:58 going backwards, Patti Dobrowolski 41:00 you either go forwards, or you go backwards, or you go backwards, so you got to keep going. Deena Pierott 41:05 My tip is to embrace it to embrace change. Patti Dobrowolski 41:09 I love it. I love you. You're so fantastic. I love thank you so much for spending this time with us listeners, we're gonna put into the show notes how you can get a hold of Deena Pierott because you're gonna want to follow her on Instagram and Facebook, wherever all LinkedIn all the places that she is. So look in the show notes. And I just take this to heart what she said embrace change, we live in a time of flux. If we're not going to get to a new normal flux is our new normal. So get good at change. And I can't wait to see what you do. So if you liked what you heard, you know, be sure to write a review about it or send me a DM on Instagram because we'd love to have you back and loved that you tuned in today to listen to all about Deena Pierott. I love you Deena. Thanks for being here. All right for having me on. My pleasure. Thanks so much for listening today. Be sure to DM me on Instagram your feedback or takeaways from today's episode on Up Your Creative Genius. Then join me next week for more rocket fuel. Remember, you are the superstar of your universe and the world needs what you have to bring. So get busy. Get out and up your creative genius. And no matter where you are in the universe, here's some big love from yours truly Patti Dobrowolski and the Up Your Creative Genius Podcast. That's a wrap

Thursday, October 7 on Urban Forum Northwest : *Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D)-37 has been a close observer of the state's redistricting process. She will comment on the pros and cons and what impact the Commission's decision will have on her district. *April Sims, Secretary-Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council and a Member of the five person Washington State Redistricting Commission. She will comment on the work the Commission is doing and if any maps have been finalized. *Washington State Senator Joe Nguyen (D)-34 is challenging the incumbent for the County Executive of Martin Luther King Jr. County. He comments on his qualifications and his vision for MLK County. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) and National President of the African American Museums Board of Directors. She and the NAAM staff have been the lead organizers of the 60th Commemoration of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s only visit to Seattle. *Will Hausa, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on his role as member of the 60th Commemoration Committee organizing the MLK November 6,7,8 event. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on Facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT)

Thursday, October 7 on Urban Forum Northwest : *Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D)-37 has been a close observer of the state's redistricting process. She will comment on the pros and cons and what impact the Commission's decision will have on her district. *April Sims, Secretary-Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council and a Member of the five person Washington State Redistricting Commission. She will comment on the work the Commission is doing and if any maps have been finalized. *Washington State Senator Joe Nguyen (D)-34 is challenging the incumbent for the County Executive of Martin Luther King Jr. County. He comments on his qualifications and his vision for MLK County. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) and National President of the African American Museums Board of Directors. She and the NAAM staff have been the lead organizers of the 60th Commemoration of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s only visit to Seattle. *Will Hausa, Chair, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on his role as member of the 60th Commemoration Committee organizing the MLK November 6,7,8 event. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on Facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT)

Cynthia Pinchback-Hines PhD, Racial Justice Educator & Co-op Developer, of Co-op Cincy, discusses the "Power in Numbers: Black Co-op U" and "Business Legacy Fund" Programs, and announced the Annual Union Co-op Symposium, which will be held on November 12 & 13, virtually and in-person. The 1st day of the conference will be virtual, and the 2nd day will be in-person in Cincinnati. Dr. Pinchback-Hines, has a professional career spanning four decades. She is a community activist and organizer, educator, organizational development consultant, diversity leader, entrepreneur, and board member to several non-profits. Cynthia holds a PhD. in Educational Leadership for Higher Education. She has taught at Virginia State University, Delaware State University, and served as Associate Dean of African American Affairs & Ethnic Services at Northern Kentucky University, where she provided academic, cultural, and social support to African American students. In addition, she has presented at numerous professional conferences and conducted countless workshops. The Cincinnati Enquirer named her one of the ten most influential educators in Cincinnati and presented her with a Diversity Leadership Award for her achievements at Cognis Corporation.

Deena Pierott is an Idea Generator and Social Impact Entrepreneur - Founder of the award-winning and nationally recognized STEM+Arts program for youth of color called iUrban Teen and most recently co-founded and launched Black Women in STEM 2.0. Sought-after diversity strategist and international keynote speaker. I've served on several boards and commissions including a Gubernatorial appointment to the Commission on African American Affairs in the State of Washington. Honored to be acknowledged by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change for Technology Inclusion and by Ebony Magazine on their Power 100 List. Experience in designing diversity and equity programs including Employee Resource Groups for various organizations Featured in the following publications: Forbes, Inc., Government Technology, Essence Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, Deliver magazine, Portland Business Journal, Geekwire, Colors of Influence, Neurology Now, the Chicago Tribune and on NPR.   Show Highlights Engaging your families with these simple, genius tips.  ‘Heart work' that  engages peer-to-peer partnerships between teachers and students to increase value. Teach students to be better advocates for themselves with two essential questions. The impact of implicit bias on kids of color.  How to get your school signed up for iUrban Teen. Ways to advocate for yourself without fear of repercussion or need for a “second self?” Stopping explicit bias.  Ways to respond to both implicit and explicit bias. Can't miss conversion on how to share your privilege.    “I want the Ruckus Maker to remember to keep on being that Ruckus Maker. Change doesn't happen by being complicit. Continue having your voice heard when you see change is needed. How do you build up a team of champions around you to create that change? Don't stay average.”  -Deena Pierott Full Transcript Deena Pierott Transcript   Deena Pierott's Resources & Contact Info: iUrbanTeen  Black Women in STEM 2.0 Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Deena@iurbanteen.org   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join “The Mastermind” Read the latest on the blog   Show Sponsors HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard's online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader.   TEACHFX School leaders know that productive student talk drives student learning, but the average teacher talks 75% of class time! TeachFX is changing that with a “Fitbit for teachers” that automatically measures student engagement and gives teachers feedback about what they could do differently.  Learn more about the TeachFX app and get a special 20% discount for your school or district by visiting teachfx.com/blbs.   ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder. Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

Michael Gerard Mason, PhD, LPC, NCC, NCSC, is the Associate Dean of African American Affairs, Director of the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center at the University of Virginia, and expert advisor to The Steve Fund. He spoke with us about his ground-breaking work on the mental health of Black students at UVA with lessons learned for all schools post-pandemic; how the pandemic changed caretaking norms on campus; and the inflection point that now exists for how we respond to racial disparities in this country.

April is ASK Month! We are excited to officially welcome Spring... a time of new and fresh beginnings! One year ago, we were thrust into a global pandemic! We all experienced challenges and adjustments! So many experienced losses, previously unimagined. While others experienced new beginnings, career advancement, and tremendous success, also previously unimagined. This month, we discuss what separates aspects of the positive scenarios, through our theme: "The Art of the ASK: Knowing and Getting What You Want”. Today, Kristina King, African American Affairs Director - The Philos Project, shares her passion for African American-Jewish community interconnectivity. Kristina shares her leadership journey that is highlighted by a phenomenal career in the nonprofit and faith-based spaces, while bringing leaders to new heights and successes. You will benefit from her unique "ASKING" process. Listen as Kristina shares her strategy for coalition-building and for starting a "passion project" with the support of diverse partners. Kristina King is an expert at creating what she wants "to change the world"! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dr-l-d-bennett1/message

Thursday, April 22 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) Hayward Evans and my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Attorney Jesse Wineberry, Sr. returns *Carolyn Riley Payne, President, Seattle-Martin Luther King Jr. County NAACP comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict and updates the progress of the organizations initiatives *Johnathan Johnson, President, Tacoma WA NAACP comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict, the Manuel Ellis case in Tacoma, and the Pierce County Sheriff's false claims that a Black Newspaper delivery man threatened his life. *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict and provide an update on the Commission's accomplishments during the current legislative session. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT).

Thursday, April 22 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) Hayward Evans and my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Attorney Jesse Wineberry, Sr. returns *Carolyn Riley Payne, President, Seattle-Martin Luther King Jr. County NAACP comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict and updates the progress of the organizations initiatives *Johnathan Johnson, President, Tacoma WA NAACP comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict, the Manuel Ellis case in Tacoma, and the Pierce County Sheriff's false claims that a Black Newspaper delivery man threatened his life. *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the Derek Chauvin verdict and provide an update on the Commission's accomplishments during the current legislative session. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT).

Thursday, March 18 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) Hayward Evans and my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D) CA-43, Chair, House financial Services Committee comments on her legislative priorities. The current state of affairs in Washington DC since the January 6 attempt by some to overthrow the US Government. *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton City Councilmember, Sound Transit Board Member, and recently elected President, Sound Cities Association. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President and CEO, Northwest African American Museum. National President of the Association of African American Museums Board of Directors. Urban Forum Northwest streams live on www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT).

Thursday, March 18 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) Hayward Evans and my scheduled guest for the hour are: *Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D) CA-43, Chair, House financial Services Committee comments on her legislative priorities. The current state of affairs in Washington DC since the January 6 attempt by some to overthrow the US Government. *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Renton City Councilmember, Sound Transit Board Member, and recently elected President, Sound Cities Association. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President and CEO, Northwest African American Museum. National President of the Association of African American Museums Board of Directors. Urban Forum Northwest streams live on www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT).

Deena Pierott shares her STEM + Arts Program for Youth of Color- iUrban Teen. This is episode 355 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Deena Pierott is a Social Entrepreneur and the Founder of the award winning and nationally recognized STEM+Arts program for youth of color called iUrban Teen. She most recently co-founded and launched Black Women in STEM 2.0. Ms. Pierott is a highly sought-after diversity strategist and international speaker. Deena has an extensive background in both public and private sector organizations. She has served on several boards and commissions including a Gubernatorial appointment to the Commission on African American Affairs in the State of Washington. She has designed and implemented a variety of innovative equity focused programs and consults with global technology firms on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging best practices. Today we are focused on her program - iUrban Teen. Lots to learn today. Thanks for listening. Could you do me a favor? Please open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? Please? That would be Awesome. Thanks! By the way, don't forget to go to my affiliate sponsor Boon's Titanium Rings at www.boonerings.com. When you order a ring use my code - TLLK12 - at checkout to get 10% off and help the podcast get a commission. Thanks!!! Connect and Learn More: http://www.deenapierott.com/ https://iurbanteen.org/ Forbes Article about Deena Pierott Affiliate Info: Check out Teaching Learning Leading K12's Affiliate Sponsor - Boone's Titanium Rings. At check out use my code TLLK12 and get 10% off your order and help Teaching Learning Leading K12 with a commission. Boon's Titanium Rings www.boonerings.com   Length - 51:12

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, arts leader and visionary, is Vice President for Cultural Affairs for Arizona State University and Executive Director of ASU Gammage. In this inspiring and warm conversation, Colleen speaks with Hal about the safety measures she’s implementing for ASU’s audiences, the educational and outreach programs she is championing for children and families, and the thing she’s most hoping will change about the theatre in her lifetime. Colleen has artistic, fiscal and administrative responsibility for the historic Frank Lloyd Wright designed ASU Gammage, ASU Kerr Cultural Center, with responsibility for Sun Devil Stadium and Desert Financial Arena for non-athletic activities. She oversees the activation and transformation of Sun Devil Stadium into a year-round hub of cultural activity as ASU 365 Community Union. Colleen was also appointed by ASU President Michael Crow to co-lead the Advisory Council on African American Affairs. The council will enhance diversity, growth and opportunity for Black undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. She serves on The Broadway League's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Government Relations Committee, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors, Labor Committee and co-chairs the Legislative Council and Road Presenters/Intra-Industry Committee and is Arizona's only Tony voter. Colleen is a founding and current member of the Creative Capital Board and Senior Advisor to Women of Color in the Arts, former Association of Performing Arts Professionals board president, served on the National Council on the Arts at the bequest of President Clinton and is a Life Director of the Fiesta Bowl. She is a consultant to universities, international governments and a featured speaker at conferences. In 2020, she has served on multiple panels addressing human rights, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion and the future of Broadway; including interviews with W. Kamau Bell and Tony Award director Kenny Leon related to the pandemic of racism; and participated in the TheaterMakers Summit on getting Broadway touring productions back on the road. Colleen is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2020 National Coalition of 100 Black Women Education Legend, 2019 Valley Leadership Woman of the Year, 2019 ASU West Pioneer Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Medallion of Merit, Valle del Sol’s Mom of the Year, APAP Fan Taylor Award, Black Philanthropy Initiative Honor, The Broadway League's Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management and Arizona's Governor’s Arts Award. In 2012, The Arizona Republic recognized Colleen for Arizona’s 100th Anniversary as one of the individuals who had the greatest impact in the era. Follow Colleen on Instagram @CJRoggensack. Look out for ASU’s upcoming season of performances at https://www.asugammage.com/. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Association of Black Defenders Inc. Commission on African American Affairs - Virtual Public Meeting - January 27th  CST Time 6:30PM- 8:30PM.  EST Time 7:30PM - 9:30PM WebEx Events Meeting Link Join Mayor Bowser's Commission on African American Affairs for the January Public Meeting! The Commission has been tasked with advising the Mayor, the D.C Council and the public on the views and needs of African American communities in the District. The meeting will be held on the Mayor's Office on African American Affairs Webex Account. Guest Speakers: Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director, DC Health Dr. Reed Tuckson, Black Coalition Against COVID-19 Topics: COVID-19 pandemic  COVID-19 Vaccination Plan

Dr. Ralph Reed, Founder and Chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, on the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting the Texas election lawsuit, Tuesday's FRC Action Pray Vote Stand Rally in Cleveland, Georgia, and what is at stake in the Georgia runoffs. Dean Nelson, FRC’s Senior Fellow for African American Affairs and the Executive Director of Human Coalition Action, on over 25 black ministers signing a letter to U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock urging him to reconsider his stance on abortion, and on FRC Action’s Georgia pastor briefing on Thursday. Will Haun, Counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, on the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington suing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over her 50 person limit on houses of worship. Dr. Michelle Cretella, Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians, on the FDA’s approval of the COVID-19 vaccine and concerns over whether the vaccine will be mandated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Rhythm & News interview with Ed Prince, Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, about the importance of voting and a historical perspective on voter suppression and its impact on society. Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee, on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the role of Antifa and other radical groups' in the riots across the country, and also an update on the coronavirus relief bill. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African-American Affairs and the Executive Director of Human Coalition Action, on claims that the Hyde Amendment, which has protected federal taxpayer funding from being used for abortion for decades, is racist. Jack Hibbs, Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, on California Governor Newsom's overreaching restrictions on churches. David Closson, FRC's Director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview, on what pastors and churches should consider when facing overreaching government restrictions on church services. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

David Harsanyi, senior writer for National Review and the author of "First Freedom: A Ride through America's Enduring History with the Gun," on his piece "The Problem in Portland Isn't the Law; It's the Lawlessness." Travis Weber, FRC's Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, on the contrast between the presidential candidates' views on religious freedom with Joe Biden promoting teaching Islam in public schools and President Trump promising to prosecute vandals who target Catholic churches and statues. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, on Planned Parenthood's NYC chapter finally acknowledging its founder's racist and eugenicist agenda. Dan Celia, Nationally Syndicated Radio Host and President/CEO of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, on the state of the economy and the markets as Congress begins negotiating another round of Coronavirus relief legislation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Greg Steube, U.S. Representative for the 17th district of Florida, on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and also on Congresswoman Rashid Tliab introducing a bill that slashes federal funding for law enforcement agencies. John Rutherford, U.S. Representative for the 4th district of Florida, former sheriff, and member of the House Committee on Appropriations, on Congresswoman Rashid Tliab's proposed bill to cut law enforcement funding. Vincent Harinam, Law-Enforcement Consultant and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Cambridge, on the rising wave of crime across the country. Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African-American Affairs, on why remembering Frederick Douglass' great Fourth of July speech in context is helpful and necessary. Travis Weber, FRC's Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, on today's two victories for religious freedom at the U.S. Supreme Court. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

On The Mark today featured Mark Lawrence and Joe McGranaghan interviewing Jilila Parker, Executive Director, Penna. Commission on African American Affairs, talking about the commission, the unrest and protests in Penna. and other racial issues. During open phones, callers helped us dig into the racial and African American topics which are being discussed locally, the protests, crime and solutions being sought at every level of government.

On The Mark today featured Mark Lawrence and Joe McGranaghan interviewing Jilila Parker, Executive Director, Penna. Commission on African American Affairs, talking about the commission, the unrest and protests in Penna. and other racial issues. During open phones, callers helped us dig into the racial and African American topics which are being discussed locally, the protests, crime and solutions being sought at every level of government.

In honor of Black History DC, we are sitting down with Director Ashley Emerson, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of African American Affairs (MOAAA) to talk about how innovation impacts Africans Americans in the DC area, the community, #BlackHistoryDC, and more! Follow @MOAAA_DC and visit http://MOAAA.dc.gov for the city-wide calendar of events. And as always, make sure to follow us for new episodes of the lastest #OCTOpod @octodc!

Today's show features: Dean Nelson, FRC's Senior Fellow for African American Affairs, on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of religious freedom. Travis Weber, FRC's Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, on the connection between religious freedom and other civil rights and the attacks on Attorney General William Barr for his strong defense of religious freedom. Brent Keilen, Vice President of FRC Action, and David Closson, FRC's Director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview, join Travis Weber to discuss the drastic contrast on religious liberty in the party platforms, and what role FRC and FRC Action hope to play in shaping the platforms in the 2020 election. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

with Co-Host Hayward Evans: *Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D) represents the 7th congressional district of Washington State. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee, we will ask for an update on her committee work and comment on her legislative priorities for her district. *Ed Prince, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs comments on the work of the commission and talks about the Small Business Expo that was sponsored by both African American Commission and the Washington State Asian Pacific American Affairs at Sea Tac Airport on Wednesday. *Ernie Dunston, President, the Breakfast Group pays tribute to Bill Hilliard who passed away on yesterday, Bill was the first president of the organization that has thrived for over 40 years serving the community and specifically young Black Men that need counseling and tutoring. *Tana Yasu, Treasurer, Seattle/King County Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition updates the progress of the organization's efforts for the January 20, 2020 MLK Holiday Celebration and invites you to the Tuesday, October 8 meeting at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. *Author Addie Jones invites you to the Urban Book Expo at the Northwest African American Museum Saturday, October 5 12:00-5:00 pm. She will showcase her book, "Skin Deep: An Interactive Coloring Book" by her nickname Screebee.

Santes Beatty is a native of Raeford, NC. In his undergraduate studies, he earned a B. S. in Sociology with concentrations in Psychology and Peace and Conflict Studies from Guilford College. Beatty went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Huntington University and accepted a position at his alma mater as the Bonner Scholars Coordinator, eventually becoming the first Director of African American Affairs and later the Director of Multicultural Services. In June of 2014, he accepted a position at The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters as the Director of Multiethnic Ministries. In this role, he serves approximately 1600 churches and 30 districts in North America. He is a pastor, an advocate and a leader who spends time thinking about the intersection of Outreach and Reconciliation. I think you'll enjoy this conversation!

Desegregation, Black History through Film, A Teen Refugee Patrice Preston Grimes, Ph.D., expert on desegregation and education policy. She is Associate Dean, Office of African American Affairs, and Education professor at the University of Virginia; Lorenzo Dickerson, documentary filmmaker.… Read More

June 19, 2015. A day-long symposium on Juneteenth, one of the oldest observances marking the end of the enslavement of African descendants in the United States. The holiday has been celebrated in Galveston, Texas, since June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation first was announced in Texas. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom with an emphasis on education and literacy. The opened with a history of Juneteenth. Three panels followed on "The State of Black Literature," "The "Stakeholders of Black Literacy" and "Independent Artists: Our Journey as Storytellers of the African Diaspora." Speaker Biography: Hari Jones is curator of the African American Civil War Museum in Washington, D.C. Speaker Biography: Haki Madhubuti is founder of of Third World Press, the longest-running independent black-owned publishing company in the U.S. Speaker Biography: E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist, poet and editor. Speaker Biography: Nikki Woods is a social media consultant and senior producer of "The Tom Joyner Morning Show." Speaker Biography: Yanick Rice-Lam is a journalist, associate professor at Howard University and co-founder of FierceforBlackWomen.com, a digital health and fitness network. Speaker Biography: Brenda Greene is director of the National Black Writers Conference and executive director of the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. Speaker Biography: Bomani Armah is known as "Mr. Read a Book" and the "Poet with a Hip-Hop Style." Speaker Biography: Bahiyyah Muhammad is assistant professor of criminology at Howard University and founder of "Project Iron Kids," which educates and empowers children of incarcerated parents. Speaker Biography: Rahman Branch is former principal of Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., and the first executive director of the Office of African American Affairs in the Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Speaker Biography: Gabriel "Asheru" Benn is an international hip-hop artist and co-founder of Educational Lyrics, which sponsors H.E.L.P, the Hip Hop Educational Literacy Program. Speaker Biography: Beverly East is an international forensic-document examiner and author. Speaker Biography: Hafiz F. Shabazz is adjunct assistant professor and director of the World Music Percussion Ensemble at Dartmouth College, where he developed the "Oral Tradition Musicianship" course and produced more than 85 major concerts. Speaker Biography: Haile Gerima is distinguished professor of film at Howard University and an independent Ethiopian filmmaker who produced and directed the 1993 film "Sankofa." For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7150

Tananarive Due, Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Educator The winner of an American Book Award and a NAACP Image Award, Tananarive Due is the author of twelve novels and a civil rights memoir. In 2013, Due co-produced a short film, Danger Word, with her husband, Steven Barnes, and director Luchina Fisher. Alongside such luminaries as Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison, Due received the “New Voice in Literature Award” at the Yari Yari Pamberi conference co-sponsored by New York University’s Institute of African-American Affairs and African Studies Program and the Organization of Women Writers of Africa. Due has a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University and an M.A. in English literature from the University of Leeds, England, where she specialized in Nigerian literature as a Rotary Foundation Scholar.

UNM Law Professor and Director of Africana Studies Sherri Burr and Hakim Bellamy, program specialist in the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs and UNM graduate student, talk about the 2008 presidential election and what Barack Obama’s victory means in an interview with Carolyn Gonzales, University Communication and Marketing.