“Breaking Cycles, Building Dreams: A Journey of Transformation and Advocacy” with Dr. C. Nicole Mason

Send us Fan MailThis week’s guest on the UpLevel Podcast is the President Emerita at the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) and one of Fortune Magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Dr. C. Nicole Mason. Listen in to her inspiring journey from poverty to policy work, highlighting how personal narratives can shape our professional paths. She's not just breaking the cycle for herself but also creating a nurturing environment for her children, something she never had growing up. She also highlights her book, “Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America,” which serves as a memoir of her personal life experiences. Indeed, her story is filled with lessons we all can learn from.In this Episode:Explore Dr. Mason's acclaimed book, where she challenges stereotypes about impoverished communities while sharing complexities from her own experiences.Discover how year-long procrastination led to an intense writing routine that resulted in “Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America.”Hear about Dr. Mason’s challenging yet enlightening encounters with family members who caused past traumas during her book-writing process.Family Reactions and Relationships Post-PublicationThe tragic loss led to reconnection with relatives at funeral services and plans for future gatherings.Hear about how being a single parent has been deeply healing amidst life's challenges for Dr. Mason.About Dr. C. Nicole:Recently named one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune Magazine, Dr. C. Nicole Mason is President Emeritus of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). Having stepped into this role in November 2019, Dr. Mason was the youngest to lead one of the major inside-the-Beltway think tanks in Washington, D.C., and one of the few women of color to do so. As one of the nation’s foremost intersectional researchers and scholars, Dr. C. Nicole Mason brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. For the past two decades, Dr. Mason has spearheaded research on issues relating to economic security, pay equity, poverty, women’s issues,  entitlement reforms; policy formation and political participation among women and communities of color, and racial equity. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she coined the term “shecession” to describe the disproportionate impact of employment and income losses on women. Dr. Mason is the author of "Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America."  Her writing and commentary have been featured in the New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, the Washington Post, Marie Claire, the Progressive, ESSENCE, Bustle, BIG THINK, Miami Herald, Democracy Now, and numerous NPR affiliates, among others.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnicolemason/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnicolemason/X: https://twitter.com/cnicolemasonLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-nicole-mason-793877188/www.uplevelproductions.comhttps://www.instagram.com/uplevelproductions/https://www.linkedin.com/company/uplevelproductionscompanyhttps://www.facebook.com/uplevelproductionscompany