InflexionPoint Podcast: Cultivating Change from the Inside Out Creating a Brave Space for Conversations about Personal Transformation, Racism, and Accountability

KHEPRW INSTITUTEIn this episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, we explore the work and witness of Kheprw Institute, an Indianapolis-based organization grounded in the belief that the most significant resource in any community is its people. We examine Kheprw’s founding, leadership, guiding framework, and its commitment to community empowerment through self-mastery. Together, we consider how Kheprw’s Four E’s — Empowerment, Education, Environment, and Economy — offer a practical model for linking personal transformation with community transformation. We also reflect on the parallels between Kheprw’s work and a broader vision of people-centered, community-rooted change. By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to describe how Kheprw Institute connects self-mastery, community empowerment, and wealth-building into a practical model for transformative change. CREATING A HUMAN-CENTERED WORLDOne of the most compelling parts of Kheprw’s origin story is that it begins with a simple but powerful premise: People in marginalized communities are not empty vessels or social problems to be managed. They are assets, visionaries, and builders whose gifts are often constrained by unjust conditions. That is a fundamentally different starting point. The institute was founded to create a more just, equitable, and human-centered world by nurturing youth to become leaders. Kheprw’s work is rooted in African American culture and experiences. ‘Kheprw’ is an ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) word for rebirth and renewal, symbolized by the dung beetle, which brings new life from waste. For Kheprw Institute, this symbolizes using the skills, resources, and relationships to create something new and beautiful. Kheprw’s mantra is “Community Empowerment through Self-Mastery,” an emphasis that improving ourselves is the foundation for positive change.KHEPRW ALIGNS WITH REIMAGINE WEOne of the deepest alignments is that Kheprw Institute and Reimagine We both resist shallow change. Neither framework is satisfied with performance, branding, or rhetoric alone. Both point toward transformation that is relational, structural, and rooted in how people understand themselves and one another. AUDIENCE REFLECTIONBy the end of the episode, listeners should be able to describe how Kheprw Institute connects self-mastery, community empowerment, and wealth-building into a practical model for transformative change. "We believe the most significant resource in any community is its people...Building a new economy based on cooperation is essential to address the challenges of the present and sustain our communities into the future." — Kheprw Institute

KHEPRW INSTITUTEIn this episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, we explore the work and witness of Kheprw Institute, an Indianapolis-based organization grounded in the belief that the most significant resource in any community is its people. We examine Kheprw’s founding, leadership, guiding framework, and its commitment to community empowerment through self-mastery. Together, we consider how Kheprw’s Four E’s — Empowerment, Education, Environment, and Economy — offer a practical model for linking personal transformation with community transformation. We also reflect on the parallels between Kheprw’s work and a broader vision of people-centered, community-rooted change. By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to describe how Kheprw Institute connects self-mastery, community empowerment, and wealth-building into a practical model for transformative change. CREATING A HUMAN-CENTERED WORLDOne of the most compelling parts of Kheprw’s origin story is that it begins with a simple but powerful premise: People in marginalized communities are not empty vessels or social problems to be managed. They are assets, visionaries, and builders whose gifts are often constrained by unjust conditions. That is a fundamentally different starting point. The institute was founded to create a more just, equitable, and human-centered world by nurturing youth to become leaders. Kheprw’s work is rooted in African American culture and experiences. ‘Kheprw’ is an ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) word for rebirth and renewal, symbolized by the dung beetle, which brings new life from waste. For Kheprw Institute, this symbolizes using the skills, resources, and relationships to create something new and beautiful. Kheprw’s mantra is “Community Empowerment through Self-Mastery,” an emphasis that improving ourselves is the foundation for positive change.KHEPRW ALIGNS WITH REIMAGINE WEOne of the deepest alignments is that Kheprw Institute and Reimagine We both resist shallow change. Neither framework is satisfied with performance, branding, or rhetoric alone. Both point toward transformation that is relational, structural, and rooted in how people understand themselves and one another. AUDIENCE REFLECTIONBy the end of the episode, listeners should be able to describe how Kheprw Institute connects self-mastery, community empowerment, and wealth-building into a practical model for transformative change. "We believe the most significant resource in any community is its people...Building a new economy based on cooperation is essential to address the challenges of the present and sustain our communities into the future." — Kheprw Institute

REIMAGINE WE BEGINS WITH REIMAGINE ME"It's not just a philosophy, a brand, or even a framework, It represents an evolutionary process towards empowerment."—Anita D. RussellWorldview Formation: The 8:2 Theory of LeadershipWorldview formation refers to the process by which individuals or groups develop a comprehensive set of beliefs, values, and assumptions that shape their understanding and interpretation of the world.Insight: Racism, nationalism, tribalism, and hierarchy are not first political problems. They are identity problems produced by worldview formation. In many historical situations, a relatively small number of people strongly shape the moral direction of a society — for better or worse.Book Quote: “Imagine the possibility of exposing hidden forces that have manipulated civilizations, sparked genocides, and turned brother against brother. Imagine how much better your life could be if you had knowledge powerful enough to fuel culture, unite humanity, and create meaning in people’s lives for generations to come.”  — William MileCentral Question: Why do you use the word imagine? Audience Reflection EthosWho influences your moral thinking the most?Where do you see the “8:2 dynamic” in your own environment?What responsibility do individuals carry when destructive narratives dominate public discourse?When have you personally helped shift the moral climate of a conversation, group, or community?What would change in society if more people consciously chose to defend human dignity in everyday interactions?

Reimagine We Begins with Reimagine WeIt is not just a philosophy, a brand or even a framework. It represents an evolutionary process towards empowerment. Most empowerment models start with confidence. Reimagine We starts with awareness of inner formation. We envision empowerment as human development not motivation. Further, we recognize that people often try to change systems without understanding the psychological and moral architecture that created the system. In this episode, we explore the power of worldview formation and collective imagination in creating a better world together. Listen in as we discuss the transformative potential of evolving our mindset and shaping our culture and society for the future. Reimagine We treats empowerment as human development, not motivation. And development always unfolds in stages. Reimagine We is not a political ideology. It is not a self-help motivation platform nor a social justice club. Instead, it is a worldview formation process.Worldview Formation CycleOur purpose here is to expose listeners to a worldview formation process that examines how we interpret reality, how we live in that reality, and how we shape society. Understanding worldview formation begins with understanding that our words, actions, and behaviors are not random. They are downstream of an inner worldview framed by our thoughts, beliefs, and ideas. The inner worldview shapes how we interpret outer reality; how we value ourself and others;  and how we decide what is possible. All of that is to say that our innermost thoughts, beliefs, and ideas shows up in our words, actions, behaviors as a function of our worldview formation. The Hidden Reality: Humans Are ConditionedCore Concept – people do not start life thinking independently. We start life absorbing narratives as sources of formation—who we are; where we come from; and what matters.  The range of narratives include family stories, cultural/historical roots, media exposure, identity/self concept, fear/trauma, education, and more. And on top of all that,  we also experience shifts in worldview as we experience life daily. The Worldview Formation Cycle operates on four major planes: Informing our decisions, behaviors, and culture.Shaping our perception: trust, building, meaning, and identity.Creating results in society, community, justice. Conflict or cohesionFinally, the Worldview Formation Cycle continues through Praxis (consciously and unconsciously): Actions, Habits, Policies, Relationships, and Institutions.Worldview Is the Invisible Architecture That Produces Your Identity A worldview is not what you believe. A world view is what your life consistently assumes is true about realty, people, power, and purpose. Worldview is reflected in how you show up. Now ponder these questions:How do you show up?Who/what do you represent when you show up?Why do you show as you do?What is the impact of how you show up?Who do you show up as?Women's History Month HighlightIn this Women's History Month moment, we honor Sandra Babu-Boateng. She is a media entrepreneur, global strategist, and convener focused on the intersection of Africa, the African dipora, and global power.Sandra is also the co-founder of Dana Genius, as global media and experiential company that connects people, brands, and ideas through culture. She stands off a platform of Power, Promise and Path Forward. 

Two Different Meanings of Empowerment: You’ve probably heard the word empowerment your entire life. We hear it in leadership programs, self-help books, professional development, coaching, even politics. And usually when people use the word, they mean something very specific.Most empowerment models are built around one central idea: Helping a person increase their ability to achieve desired outcomes. Empowerment becomes confidence, skill-building, productivity, influence, or power. You learn to set goals and to improve communication. You become more assertive. You advance in your career.  You gain authority. Traditional empowerment makes this fundamental assumption: If individuals become more capable, then society improves by becoming effective.Reimagine We defines empowerment differently based on this fundamental question: Why do highly capable, intelligent, educated, successful people still struggle deeply in relationships, conflict, and social understanding? Two people can have the same training, same education, same professional success — and still walk into the same conversation and experience completely different realities. While traditional empowerment strengthens what a person can do, it does not necessarily examine how a person interprets other human beings. Society improves when people interpret each other with greater awareness, clarity, dignity, and understanding. This is why highly successful organizations, institutions, and communities can still become dysfunctional. They have skilled individuals but unexamined perceptions amongst and between those individuals. Why is that? Because behavior doesn’t come directly from knowledge. Behavior comes from meaning. And meaning comes from worldview.Worldview is the lens through which we interpret intention, fairness, respect, threat, and belonging. And most of us didn’t consciously build that lens. We absorbed it — from family experience, community narratives, emotional memories, and cultural expectations. Reimagine We defines empowerment differently. Empowerment is not only the ability to act effectively. It is the growing awareness of the lens through which we experience other human beings. By understanding worldviews, individuals can foster a more inclusive, harmonious, and cooperative  society.Audience Questions1) Who or what most shaped how you see “people like you” vs “people different from you”? 2) If you had grown up in a different family or culture, how certain are you your conclusions would be the same? 3) Do you usually assume strangers are safe, suspicious, or irrelevant — and where did that expectation come from?

2026 Theme: “Reimagine We Begins with Reimagine Me.” Preamble to the “Reimagine We” Declaration of Engagement:We live in a world built on extraction, not relationship. It was designed to consume people, land, labor, and spirit in the name of profit, power, and dominance. It taught us competition instead of cooperation, hoarding instead of sharing, and alienation instead of belonging. It told us that our worth is measured by productivity.That our humanity is conditional.We reject the principles of extraction and embrace the principles of cooperation, relationship, and collaboration.Key principles of healthy relationships include mutual respect, trust, and affection. Additionally, understanding and addressing each other's needs, effective communication, and conflict resolution are essential for building strong collaboration.We begin this episodic conversation with a continuation of the significance of Kwanzaa Principles as more than a year-end celebration. Here the principles are defined as a blueprint for collective liberation: Unity. Self-Determination. Collective Work & Responsibility. Cooperative Economics. Purpose, Creativity. Faith.Something is shifting. What we were told was permanent is being questioned in real time. This is not simply chaos—it’s an inflexion point. Or perhaps more precisely, a rupture. A rupture not chosen; but triggered. The point, however, is not the trigger. The point is our response. A moment when the future can bend toward what we choose to rethink and rebuild. But we cannot reimagine society without first reimagining ourselves. Remember this: Every system reflects the beliefs of the society that created it.Welcome to InflexionPoint Podcast. Where Reimagine We begins with Reimagine Me.

Opening statement of the “Reimagine We” Declaration of Engagement:We live in a world built on extraction, not relationship. It was designed to consume people, land, labor, and spirit in the name of profit, power, and dominance. It taught us competition instead of cooperation, hoarding instead of sharing, and alienation instead of belonging. It told us that our worth is measured by productivity; that our humanity is conditional; and that some lives are disposable.Reimagine We rejects the principles of extraction and embraces the principles of relationship, engagement, and connection. Key principles of healthy relationships include mutual respect, trust, and affection. Additionally, understanding and addressing each other's needs, effective communication, and conflict resolution are essential for building strong connections. We begin this new journey with a focus on hyper-individualism, Kwanzaa, and the fight for collective liberation.America's Hyper-Individualism. America worships individualism; not health individualism by hyper-individualism. Yet it begs us to consider two questions: Do we recognize that a society built on individualism will eventually devour its own people? What if we were to shift from individualism to collective agency?Kwanzaa was never meant to be just another holiday. It is a warning and a blueprint. It is a systems design manual for liberated people. Kwanzaa was created in1966 during a time of crisis—not to decorate the moment, but to orient a people. It was designed to reconnect African American with African values. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase, meaning first fruits, symbolizing harvest, renewal, and responsibility to the community. At its core, Kwanzaa asks a timeless question: What does it mean to be accountable to one another as a people? And that question is just as relevant now as it was in 1966. Our audience is encouraged to consider these questions: (1) Which Kwanzaa principle do I resonate with most in my life? (2)  Which do I need to live more fully in my own life this year? Ask yourself these questions because transformation is not something we join; it is something we become.

2025 Theme: “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we have explored stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. In our last show for 2025 we recap the year with our most inspiring episodes and introduce the theme for 2026. Throughout 2025 we have stimulating discussions between Anita, Mavis, and Gail. We have also had an awe-inspiring group of guests, handpicked to reflect the theme of community engagement and the grassroots of change. We honor our guests and the works they have done and continue to do in the name of transformation, empowerment, engagement across the multiple sectors of our society.Is It Possible to Build Trust in Community-Police Relations? Conversation with Shadae McDaniel Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives/Director, All Stars Project (ASP) of New Jersey.  Beginning in February we hosted an in-depth exploration of the All Stars-Project and its signature program "Operation Conversation Cops and Kids." Among many accolades, Shadae was ranked among the ROI-NJ “2023 Influencers: People of Color." NJUrbanNews.com Article: “Shadae McDaniel Builds Bridges, Provides Opportunities for Youth Through the Power of Performance.” Founded in 1981, All Stars Project (ASP) is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that uses a performance-based approach to help tens of thousands of inner-city youths and their families create success in their lives. Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids (OCCK) is an innovative police–community relations model program run by ASP in partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Newark Police Division (NPD). This award-winning program uses performance, improvisation, and conversation to help inner-city teenagers and police officers build trust and improve their relationship.Until We Are All Free Movement, a human rights organization led by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. In March our case study focused on the Until We Are All Free Movement with guest Kevin Reese, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director of UWAAF and Co-Founder/CEO of Until We Are All Free Consulting Group.Question: God, what is it that you’re working on in my life? What do you do when the answer is build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people? Kevin is the answer. Kevin grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent 14 years incarcerated inside of the criminal justice system. During that time, he founded the BRIDGE, a grassroots group of directly impacted criminal justice experts whose mission is to abolish mass incarceration and to find a path to true transformative criminal justice. Kevin says,“My idea was to create a program that builds a bridge between people like me, mostly men in prison but women, too, and the community. That bridge and this work is actually revolutionary. Because I’m not supposed to be able to make a connection to people on the outside. Prison is all about preventing that. But the BRIDGE partnership we’ve been working on gives light to an entire caste of people who are incarcerated.”Youth Empowerment Services, of Pittsburgh PA: “Ahead of its time and punching above its weight, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) formed in 1994...The heart of YES is a spirit of mentorship...By leveraging their unique skills and abilities and centering their voices, YES has created a formula for success that influences community growth, economic prosperity, and student-driven leadership." In our case study of the YES organization we invited Denise Jones, Educational Consultant at Youth Enrichment Services into the studio. Denise Jones is the daughter of two passion-driven educators. She attended Allegheny College, majored in Economics and minored in Black Studies. Later Denise applied for Teach for America and came to understand the joys and limitations of teaching, particularly in bureaucratic systems. Eventually she agreed to work at her father’s community-based non-profit organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), to help young people become their own best resource. She is now pursuing a PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan.Ujamaa Collective, Pittsburgh PA: A Unique Cultural Enriching Experience! Ujamaa Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit artisan boutique. We (Anita is a member!) serve Africana women providing cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial exchange in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh. Our passion for cooperatives is rooted in our values of Fair Trade, meaningful work, creativity, community, and wellness. Two  Sisters from the Ujamaa Collective shared their wisdom, community engagement practice, and the cooperation with our audiences — Lakeisha Wolf, Executive Director, and Alana Griffin, Ambassador. LaKeisha is a cultural worker, creative entrepreneur, and teaching artist with an emphasis on identity, racial justice, community connection, and whole-body wellness. She is a founding member of the Ujamaa Collective and has served as Executive Director since 2013. Alana lives out the organization’s mission to empower Africana women through cooperative economics, cultural expression, and community healing. Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré | Guest: Leontine Osuagwu. In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in leadership, particularly in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.  The home country of our guest, Leontine Osuagwu, is Burkina Faso. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence to lead with excellence in creating sustainable impact. She's brings honor and soulful insight into the events unfolding in her home country.Mental Health, NAEP and Coach Bradley: A Unique Blend of Mentorship, Empathy, and Strategic Insight In His Work as a Transitional Life Coach. Coach Bradley specializes in guiding adolescents through the transition from high school to adulthood while also supporting adults navigating career changes and life pivots. Ed integrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and values-based goal setting to create a safe, supportive coaching environment. Whether preparing students for life’s next step or helping adults embrace new opportunities, Ed equips people to create lasting, meaningful change. In a second episode featuring Coach Bradley he provided an understanding of NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), explaining its purpose and how it differs from state tests, and the role it plays in systemic racism, accountability, and test-based reforms in education.Case Study ShiftWorks Community+Public Works | Guest: Sallyanne Kluz, Executive Director. Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.Why Community and Public Arts? Sally led us into a meaningful discussion pondering this question. The short answer is this: "Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change." The work is designed to expand the range of possibilities for artists to engage communities. We applaud our guests who have made this year meaningful, insightful, and engaging!

2025 Theme: “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we have explored stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. In our last show for 2025 we recap the year with our most inspiring episodes and introduce the theme for 2026. Throughout 2025 we have stimulating discussions between Anita, Mavis, and Gail. We have also had an awe-inspiring group of guests, handpicked to reflect the theme of community engagement and the grassroots of change. We honor our guests and the works they have done and continue to do in the name of transformation, empowerment, engagement across the multiple sectors of our society.Is It Possible to Build Trust in Community-Police Relations? Conversation with Shadae McDaniel Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives/Director, All Stars Project (ASP) of New Jersey.  Beginning in February we hosted an in-depth exploration of the All Stars-Project and its signature program "Operation Conversation Cops and Kids." Among many accolades, Shadae was ranked among the ROI-NJ “2023 Influencers: People of Color." NJUrbanNews.com Article: “Shadae McDaniel Builds Bridges, Provides Opportunities for Youth Through the Power of Performance.” Founded in 1981, All Stars Project (ASP) is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that uses a performance-based approach to help tens of thousands of inner-city youths and their families create success in their lives. Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids (OCCK) is an innovative police–community relations model program run by ASP in partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Newark Police Division (NPD). This award-winning program uses performance, improvisation, and conversation to help inner-city teenagers and police officers build trust and improve their relationship.Until We Are All Free Movement, a human rights organization led by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. In March our case study focused on the Until We Are All Free Movement with guest Kevin Reese, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director of UWAAF and Co-Founder/CEO of Until We Are All Free Consulting Group.Question: God, what is it that you’re working on in my life? What do you do when the answer is build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people? Kevin is the answer. Kevin grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent 14 years incarcerated inside of the criminal justice system. During that time, he founded the BRIDGE, a grassroots group of directly impacted criminal justice experts whose mission is to abolish mass incarceration and to find a path to true transformative criminal justice. Kevin says,“My idea was to create a program that builds a bridge between people like me, mostly men in prison but women, too, and the community. That bridge and this work is actually revolutionary. Because I’m not supposed to be able to make a connection to people on the outside. Prison is all about preventing that. But the BRIDGE partnership we’ve been working on gives light to an entire caste of people who are incarcerated.”Youth Empowerment Services, of Pittsburgh PA: “Ahead of its time and punching above its weight, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) formed in 1994...The heart of YES is a spirit of mentorship...By leveraging their unique skills and abilities and centering their voices, YES has created a formula for success that influences community growth, economic prosperity, and student-driven leadership." In our case study of the YES organization we invited Denise Jones, Educational Consultant at Youth Enrichment Services into the studio. Denise Jones is the daughter of two passion-driven educators. She attended Allegheny College, majored in Economics and minored in Black Studies. Later Denise applied for Teach for America and came to understand the joys and limitations of teaching, particularly in bureaucratic systems. Eventually she agreed to work at her father’s community-based non-profit organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), to help young people become their own best resource. She is now pursuing a PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan.Ujamaa Collective, Pittsburgh PA: A Unique Cultural Enriching Experience! Ujamaa Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit artisan boutique. We (Anita is a member!) serve Africana women providing cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial exchange in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh. Our passion for cooperatives is rooted in our values of Fair Trade, meaningful work, creativity, community, and wellness. Two  Sisters from the Ujamaa Collective shared their wisdom, community engagement practice, and the cooperation with our audiences — Lakeisha Wolf, Executive Director, and Alana Griffin, Ambassador. LaKeisha is a cultural worker, creative entrepreneur, and teaching artist with an emphasis on identity, racial justice, community connection, and whole-body wellness. She is a founding member of the Ujamaa Collective and has served as Executive Director since 2013. Alana lives out the organization’s mission to empower Africana women through cooperative economics, cultural expression, and community healing. Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré | Guest: Leontine Osuagwu. In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in leadership, particularly in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.  The home country of our guest, Leontine Osuagwu, is Burkina Faso. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence to lead with excellence in creating sustainable impact. She's brings honor and soulful insight into the events unfolding in her home country.Mental Health, NAEP and Coach Bradley: A Unique Blend of Mentorship, Empathy, and Strategic Insight In His Work as a Transitional Life Coach. Coach Bradley specializes in guiding adolescents through the transition from high school to adulthood while also supporting adults navigating career changes and life pivots. Ed integrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and values-based goal setting to create a safe, supportive coaching environment. Whether preparing students for life’s next step or helping adults embrace new opportunities, Ed equips people to create lasting, meaningful change. In a second episode featuring Coach Bradley he provided an understanding of NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), explaining its purpose and how it differs from state tests, and the role it plays in systemic racism, accountability, and test-based reforms in education.Case Study ShiftWorks Community+Public Works | Guest: Sallyanne Kluz, Executive Director. Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.Why Community and Public Arts? Sally led us into a meaningful discussion pondering this question. The short answer is this: "Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change." The work is designed to expand the range of possibilities for artists to engage communities. We applaud our guests who have made this year meaningful, insightful, and engaging!

Why Community & Public Arts? Ask Sallyann Kluz...Guest Biography: Sallyann Kluz, Executive Director. Shiftworks Community+Public Art.  Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. With over 20 years of practice in the Pittsburgh region, her work is focused on the public realm and the people who inhabit it. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.“We work at the convergence of public art and civic design in the Pittsburgh Region.”  Formerly the Office of Public Art (OPA), Shiftworks launched in 2005 through partnership between the public and private sectors. The vision: Support and advance the role of public art in the Pittsburgh region. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts now operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Words from August Wilson, Pittsburgh Creative & Playwright “Art does not change the world. It changes people and people change the world.”

When the People Pull the Plug In this episode we examine how comedian Josh Johnson challenges the commodification of identity; and how movements like "Blackout the System" (Nov 25–Dec 2) help people reclaim civic and moral agency over economic dependence. This deceptively simple, yet powerful critique of how capitalism commodifies identity and reduces our roles in society to economic functions rather than human or civic ones. When Johnson says “I am not a consumer; I am a citizen”, he’s rejecting the idea that his primary purpose in society is to buy, use, or dispose of things. By contrast, a citizen carries a sense of belonging, responsibility, and participation. A citizen contributes to shaping society — they vote, advocate, care, build, protect, and question. It's a reminder that citizenship is not transactional — it’s transformational.The "Blackout the System" movement is a living example of this rejection of commodified identity. By pausing consumption, we shift from the identity of consumer to citizen; from customer to constituent. That act — symbolic and strategic — forces society to see that the system runs on our consent and engagement, not on its own momentum. It invites people to withdraw their economic participation as an assertion of civic consciousness. 3 Fundamental Questions: What happens when we withdraw our labor and money from the system? How do everyday people build power?How does this relate to systemic economic injustice, corporate control, and community resilience?

No Kings Protest - October 18, 2025"Why didn’t the Black community show up en masse?”This question itself reveals a gap in understanding — not of protest logistics, but of protest lineage. For many Black people, the act of protest is not spontaneous but generationally weighted. We have shown up for centuries — from civil rights marches to Ferguson, from George Floyd to Juneteenth resurgence. When a movement like No Kings emerges, its message may resonate intellectually but not necessarily spiritually or experientially with a community that has lived under “kingship” in the form of systemic white supremacy.

InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 94 | October 15, 20252025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change   Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on "The Truth Behind the Test: What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education," a continuation of the previous conversation with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley.   Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals.   Community Engagement Connection: Broaden Understanding of State School Testing Key Question: How does state school testing data mirror systems of racism in education? National Assessment of Educational Progress: State tests are state-developed with federal guidelines from NAEP, a national benchmark for comparison. In our discussion we explain NAEP’s purpose and how it differs from state tests. The issue is this: We don’t have one yardstick in America. Instead we have 50 different ones which we then try to compare.  Dimensions of NAEP and Equity:Potential for Justice → Reframing gaps as proof of broken systemsBenchmarking as Exposure of Inequity → “NAEP as mirror.”Weaponization of Data → Headlines vs systemic issues.Pressure & Punitive Reforms → Closures & charters.Masking Structural Advantage → White outcomes as ‘normal.’ Examples of Schools Using Data Critically and Equitable to Repair, Not ReproachKIPP Comienza — Data-Driven InstructionCalifornia High Schools — Equity-Centered Data UseExecutive Development Program Case Study — Principal Leadership & Culture Shift  

InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 93 | October 1, 20252025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley. Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals. Community Engagement Connection Across Socioeconomic Backgrounds Key Question: How do students overcome the negative messages linked to socialization? Mental Health Connection: Check-ins across the board (student, mentors, educators, community) Calls to Action: Broaden understanding of state school testing and its implications. Encourage local school involvement and participation in school board meetings. Volunteer to mentor and work with students Sustained Effort and Common Ground: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.” —President Barack Obama  

InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 92 | September 17, 20252025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. This conversation is a throwback to a previous episode in April 2025 where we explored the evolution of Dr. Robert Livingston, Social Psychologist at Harvard University. He is the author of The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations, published in 2021. In this episode we dig deeper into a whole new revelation based on his recently released book. Revelation in 2025: The Paradox of Antiracism within White Supremacy A Radical Idea. Robert Livingston's new book, Play the Game, Change the Game, Leave the Game: Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy presents a radical idea, an intriguing departure of the premise of The Conversation. Racism does not require hatred, cruelty, fear, violence, or avoidance. Abraham Lincoln is an example of someone who is sympathetic towards the Black community (Emancipation was a monumental antiracist campaign), while simultaneously believing Black people to be inferior to White people (a state of dissonance and lack of empathy). By modern standards, that’s an example of taking an antiracism stance within the context of White supremacy: Challenging one form of racism (enslavement)— while simultaneously affirming another (White supremacy in social and political life) The Addiction Metaphor. White supremacy is like an addiction of the mind and body: it promises comfort, denies harm, escalates over time, and resists withdrawal—yet true freedom requires a courageous break and deep healing. Where does racism’s stubborn, addiction-like persistence leave Black people? “If White people are addicted to White supremacy, then this changes how we as Black people, must move forward in our journey toward racial equity.”—Dr. Robert Livingston A New Approach In the wake of this new revelation, Dr. Livingston decided to switch things up a bit for the 2023 Men of Color Leadership Conference in Boston. Instead of focusing on White-centered antiracism he decided to focus on Black-centered empowerment: We can’t wait for White people to change. That day many never come so we have to empower ourselves. Central Questions. What do I have to do to survive and prosper in a game that was not created nor intended for me? How do I navigate? Our Obligation to Live a Good Life. “The fact that I was able to write this book is a testament to the power of my ancestors. I experience both awe and gratitude when I think of their strength and resilience. From their resolute determination to survive the unimaginable horror of the Middle Passage, to their tireless tenacity in abiding the indignities of slavery, to their unrelenting fight for full citizenship and representation—our ancestors have endured and overcome so much. It is incumbent upon us to continue their struggle by utilizing the pathways explored in this book to achieve the equality and prosperity that we deserve. Above all, as we honor our obligation to carry on with their fight, we must never lose sight of our forebears’ ultimate desire for future generations: to have a good life. It is our duty to live well.” —Dr. Robert Livingston  

InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 922025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. But in this episode, we take a different approach: exploring the adverse impact of community disengagement, focusing on the painful story of gentrification in Pittsburgh, PA. How We Got Here Anita opens up the conversation with a stark reality: Community disengagement in Pittsburgh cannot be separated from the city’s long arc of gentrification. Policies that began with redlining and urban renewal set the stage for today’s tech-driven investment and redevelopment, which often unfolds without strong tenant protections or genuine community power. The Pittsburgh Paradox: Pittsburgh was named one of America’s Most Livable Cities (2005–2018). In 2019, it was also identified as America’s 8th most gentrified city. In 2021, Jerry Dickinson, law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, described it as “America’s Apartheid City.” This is the Reality We Must Confront The History of Displacement Gail leads a disccussion revealing Pittsburgh' multi-layered history: From racial covenants, redlining (1930s) and urban renewal devastating a vibrant Black community (1950s-60s); to so-called "modernization" that triggered decades of decline (1960s); to Steel Collapse to "Eds and Meds" (1980s-2000s) leading to struggles against overwhelming odds for communty nonprofits. 2010s to Today: The city formalized “community input” via Registered Community Organizations, but too often those processes lacked teeth. Meanwhile, private reinvestment accelerated land values, displacement, and racialized housing cost burdens. Imagine Authentic Engagement Mavis guides you to envision what true engagement and anti-displacement could look like in Pittsburgh. The short answer is this: Participation without power is not enough. Authentic engagement means redistributing decision-making power back to the people most affected. Key shifts required: Shift from input to shared governance. Stabilize residents where they live. Integrate commuunity equity and inclusion in development rules. Resource community voice. Execute real-time accountability. Call to Action Gentrification in Pittsburgh is not new—it’s another chapter in a long story of disinvestment, removal, and broken promises. When people feel decisions are made over them, not with them, they disengage. But disengagement is not destiny. What action are you willing to take?  Watch: https://youtu.be/XBBNWXAErWs 

Our theme for 2025 is Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change. Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts. The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power In the previous episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, we broke down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. In this episode we provide concrete examples of equity in community engagement from multiple organizations. Equitable engagement as a justice-rooted practice, not just a participatory one.  Uses values-based, power-aware approach to involving individuals and communities in decision-making processes, policy development, program design, and resource allocation. Centers the voices, needs, and lived experiences of those historically marginalized or excluded by the dominant culture—particularly Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), low-income communities, immigrants, youth, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others whose perspectives are often overlooked. Redistributes power, builds trust, and creates co-ownership of outcomes. Is not a zero sum game.  

Our theme for 2025 is “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts. In this episode, we break down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. But too often, it's treated as a checklist rather than a transformational practice. Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. From culturally grounded outreach to building inclusive leadership teams and using technology to bridge the divide, we explore strategies that help us show up better, listen deeper, and co-create more just outcomes.  Watch: https://youtu.be/28D897yZrsk 

Our theme for 2025 is “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Reimagining the Power of Burkina Faso: A Converstation with Leontine Osuagwu  Leontine Osuagwu's home country is Burkia Faso. She is the co-founder of Dunamis Global Empowerment Ministries with her husband, Emeka Osuagwu, where they empower nations through Liberation, Transformation, and Dominion, and the founder of Leo’s Leadership Lounge, where she equips today’s leaders to rise as authentic, emotionally intelligent catalysts for transformational change. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence needed to lead with excellence and create sustainable impact.  Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré In the previous episode we drew the line from community engagement and cooperative economics to sovereignty. In his book, Sovereign Psyche, Prof Ezrah Aharone defines the sovereign mindset as “an energizing mindset, consciousness, and thought process by which people define and express freedom through the unique particularities of their political and ideological self-identity.” In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.   Watch: https://youtu.be/uTaThO3mbZo 

 In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Sovereign Psyche Starts in the Community: Expanding Cooperative Economics and Collective Power In this episode we explore the connection between Community Engagement, Cooperative Economics, and Sovereignty through the work of Ezrah Aharone, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Delaware State University.  Community Engagement & Cooperative Economics: The Bridge to Sovereignty. We take the position that community engagement and cooperative economics serve as a bridge to sovereignty.Community Engagement – the intentional process of involving people in collective action to address local issues, shape decisions, and build power through participation, dialogue, and trust. It centers on equity, shared leadership, and long-term capacity-building.Cooperative Economics – an economic model that emphasizes democratic ownership, shared resources, and mutual benefit.Sovereignty – “an energizing mindset, consciousness, and thought process by which people define and express freedom through the unique particularities of their political and ideological self-identity.” — Ezrah AharoneThe Sovereign Psyche – challenges people to reject internalized systems of dependency, inferiority, and Western validation.Community Engagement becomes the first step in building a sovereign psyche because it awakens collective memory and practices shared agency. Cooperative Economics is sovereignty in action expressed through “institutional capacity and control over destiny.”    Watch: https://youtu.be/qoHMTHFxxb8 

In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. From Self to Solidarity: How Personal Empowerment Fuels Cooperative EconomicsA Conversation with Alana Griffin, Ambassador of Ujamaa Collective  In Ep 86, we started a conversation about Personal Empowerment and Cooperative Economics through the lens of Ujamaa Collective, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Ujamaa collective acts as a catalyst to advance Africana Women by providing a fair trade marketplace for cultural, artistic and entrepreneurial exchange through cooperative economics. In this episode we continue the conversation with Alana Griffin, Ambassador of Ujamaa Collective. Join us as we explore the process from participation to power by reimagining the power of we.The point is to shift the perspective; to take action and create new possibilties with a different measuring stick. Personal Empowerment begins with individuals recognizing their inherent worth, capabilities, and power to make choices that impact their life and community. Personal empowerment cultivates self-awareness, responsibility, and action. Cooperative Economics channels that personal power into collective agency by providing structures—like cooperatives, credit unions, and mutual aid networks—that allow individuals to pool resources, share risks, and make collective decisions for mutual benefit.    Watch: https://youtu.be/QIUEccdGpkA 

  In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. From Self to Solidarity: How Personal Empowerment Fuels Cooperative EconomicsA Conversation with LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective  In this episode we explore Personal Empowerment and Cooperative Economics through the lens of Ujamaa Collective, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Ujamaa social mission to act as a catalyst to advance Africana Women by providing a fair trade marketplace for cultural, artistic and entrepreneurial exchange through cooperative economics. In this conversation with LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director of Ujamaa Collective, we take a deep dive into movement from self to solidarity and how personal empowerment fuels cooperative economics. Personal Empowerment begins with individuals recognizing their inherent worth, capabilities, and power to make choices that impact their life and community. It cultivates self-awareness, responsibility, and action. Cooperative Economics channels that personal power into collective agency by providing structures—like cooperatives, credit unions, and mutual aid networks—that allow individuals to pool resources, share risks, and make collective decisions for mutual benefit.    Watch: https://youtu.be/dWH9ddJG3Ms 

In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Conversation with Denise Jones, Educational Consultant at Youth Enrichment Services (YES) In this episode we continue the exploration of the importance and significance of involving younger generations in community engagement and grassroots movement. Youth participation in community engagement projects is a powerful way to develop leadership, build intergenerational solidarity, and nurture civic responsibility. We take a deeper dive into Youth Enrichment Service (YES) in this conversation with Denies Jones, Educational Consultant and member of the YES family. As the YES Program Director, Denise and her colleagues developed YES’ motivational model which she continues to examine and build as part of her PhD studies at the University of Michigan. Alongside her current studies, Denise serves as the YES Deputy Director where she continues to support the organization’s programmatic, operational, and strategic efforts and shepherds its mission and legacy.Youth Erichment Service (YES): Empowering. Enriching. Serving.Empowering youth through mentorship, education, advocacy, and exposure. Enriching students’ educational, social, cultural, and workforce experiences. Serving local and surrounding Pittsburgh communities, students, and families.   Watch: https://youtu.be/OG8G1unPZT4 

In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Case Study: Toffler Associates & Youth Empowerment Services (YES) In this episode we explore the importance and significance of involving younger generations in community engagement and grassroots movement. Engaging youth in community engagement projects is a powerful way to develop leadership, build intergenerational solidarity, and nurture civic responsibility. We offer a case study of two organzations focused on youth—Toffler Associates and Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Toffler Associates is a future-focused strategic advisory firm dedicated to empowering organizations to thrive amid accelerating change. The furure is in the hands of our youth—are they prepared?Core Values: Lifelong learning. Engaging in diverse thought. Speaking truth to power. Commitment to connection. Youth Erichment Service (YES): Empowering. Enriching. Serving.The YES model has been vetted and has thrived for nearly three decades. Student successes and outcomes are a testament to the important work they do to change the lives of young people, families, and communities in Pittdsburgh PA.    

In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we’ll explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference.   The Evolution of Dr. Robert Livigston, Harvard University Professor In this episode we focus our attention on the Evolution of Dr.Robert Livigston, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government & Center for Public Leadership. Dr. Robert Livingston is a social psychologist and leading expert on the science underlying bias and racism in organizations. He is a practitioner who is passionate about the application of social psychological theory and research in solving real-world organizational and societal challenges. For two decades, he has served as a diversity consultant to Fortune 500 companies, public-sector agencies, and non-profit organizations. We’ll discuss three distinct moments in his evolution. (1) Harvard Business Review article “How to Promote Racial Equity in the Workplace” (2020) (2) The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations (2021), which informs the work of many in the antiracism activation movement. (3) Play the Game. Change the Game. Leave the Game. Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy (September 2025 release) where Dr. Livingston flips the script, declaring it's time to face an inconvenient truth: our current approach to fighting racism is just not working. "For a brief moment following the murder of George Floyd, it seemed as though the country had finally acknowledged the destructive legacy of slavery and White supremacy and had committed to putting things right. Now, a horde of prominent voices—many of whom professed to be antiracist allies—are pulling back, cutting support, and defunding programs that sought to level the playing field.” —Dr. Robert Livingston    

In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we’ll explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference.  Watch: https://youtu.be/IOnJdq4sNxE  Case Study W.K. Kellogg Foundation - Rooted in Diversity Equity and Inclusion Since Inception In this episode our case study attention is focused on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a business rooted in diversity equity and inclusion since its inception. The organization has worked to continually advance its understanding of the barriers to equity and their impact on children and to evolve its programming to “remain innovative and responsive to the ever-changing needs of society.” Established in 1930 by breakfast cereal pioneer W.K. Kellogg, the foundation has had an eye on equity from the beginning. “While equity has been at the heart of the Kellogg Foundation’s mission from the beginning, in 2007 the organization’s leaders took the monumental step of explicitly committing the foundation to confront racial inequity as an element of our strategy to ensure every child can thrive. Today, the foundation’s deeply rooted commitment to racial equity and healing grounds every aspect of our work.” — Dr. Khan Nedd, Board Chair

Case Study - Until We Are All Free is a Movement founded with the goal of supporting, empowering, creating alternative pathways to success, and advocating for systemic change in the criminal justice system. The core question of this episode: God, what is it that you’re working on in my life? What do you do when this is the answer you get—build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people? In this episode we continue our case study of the Until We Are All Free Movement, a human rights organization led by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. Their focus is on building capital, resources, and support to provide pathways to civic and economic liberation for individuals disenfranchised by mass incarceration. Welcome Kevin Reese: We are blessed to have a conversation with Kevin Reese, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director of UWAAF and Co-Founder/CEO of Until We Are All Free Consulting Group. Kevin grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent 14 years incarcerated inside of the criminal justice system. During that time, he founded the BRIDGE, a grassroots group of directly impacted criminal justice experts whose mission is to abolish mass incarceration and to find a path to true transformative criminal justice. Being a bridge and connector is important to Kevin. It’s his way of honoring people, specifically the people who have walked with him along his journey. Growing up, Kevin had a narrow view of community and self-value, but that broadened once he understood the power of relationships. "I created The BRIDGE while I was in prison,” said Kevin. “I named it that Rewriting Destiny because I was lying in my cell, on my bunk and I asked God, ‘What is it that you’re working on in my life?’ And sure enough, he told me, ‘I want you to build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people."    Watch: https://youtu.be/XMWRBdDVk5s 

Case Study - Until We Are All Free is a Movement founded with the goal of supporting, empowering, creating alternative pathways to success, and advocating for systemic change in the criminal justice system. The core question of this episode: What can happen when active engagement is present in prison reform conversations? Here's an even deeper question: Is it possible to build trust into prison-reform efforts? In this episode our case study attention is focused on the Until We Are All Free Movement, a 501(c)3 human rights organization founded in Minnesota by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. The organization is dedicaated to building capital, resources, and support to provide pathways to civic and economic liberation for individuals disenfranchised by mass incarceration. The history of the Until We Are All Free Movement traces back to the founders’ personal experience with the criminal  justice system. After being incarcerated and facing the challenges of re-entry, Kevin Reese and Kahlee Griffey recognized the need for comprehensive support and resources for formerly incarcerated individuals, led by formerly incarcerated individuals.  The movement was founded with  the goal of supporting, empowering, creating alternative pathways to success, and advocating for systemic change in the criminal justice system. The leaders built a strong base of formerly incarcerated individuals who are actively engaged in the organization's work.“We honor and value our comrades and provide a safe place to work with our collective community through our shared experiences. This is the pathway to collective liberation and true public safety.”— Kevin Reese   Watch: https://youtu.be/pYnmTzF3Gzg 

Watch: https://youtu.be/3_31xLpEoRk   "At Howard, I learned what it means to perform in your community and what it means to be part of the global community. Even more, I realized that our existence is predicated on how we help others.”—Shadae McDaniel In this episode we continue the case study on the All Stars Project and its signature program Operation Conversation Cops & Kids. You will meet Shadae McDaniel, Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives/Director, All Stars Project (ASP) of New Jersey. As Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Shadae is responsible for the design and implementation of programs across all markets, providing strategic direction to partnerships as well as the management of All Stars Project (ASP) regional directors. She also leads the remote programs of the ASP, including the virtual Development School for Youth and the Development Coaching programs, as well as the Social Development Partners training and development initiative Recognition and Education:Shadae was named as one of ROI-NJ’s 2023 Influencers: People of Color and by Newark Venture Partners as one of the 10 Bad Ass [Girl] Bosses of Brick City. She is a graduate of the Kellogg Executive Development Program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences at Howard University and a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University.   2025 Theme: Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we’ll explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Each episode will focus on both theory and practical examples, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community-engaging efforts. Throughout this season we’ll introduce case studies as well as  guests who reflect community engagement in action.    

Watch: https://youtu.be/Mstuoz4pBUc  The Power of Listening in Political Conversations to Understand the Needs and Human Rights of the Community and Its Citizens. The core question of this episode is this: What happens when active listening is absent from political conversations?   You most likely know the answer to that question. When active listening is absent from political conversations, several negative consequences may arise, impacting both individual interactions and broader community dynamics.  Things like polarization, distrust, lack of collaboration, decline of community engagement, and mimimizing marginalized voices. You might be thinking: Why does it even matter? The truth is active listening builds trust. And trust is the foundation of meaningful community conversations and engagement. Without it, efforts to bring people together, solve problems, or drive change often fall flat. Here's an even more profound question: What if we were to consider what it would look like to build trust in community-police relations?   In this episode we take a look at the All Start Project (ASP) founded in 1981 as a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that uses a performance-based approach to help inner-city youths and their families create success in their lives. Their Operation Conversation approach reflects a deeper question: What could happen if you bring two seemingly disparate communities together (e.g., cops and kids) through the power of conversation and active listening? Join us as we delve into Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids (OCCK), an innovative police–community relations model program run by ASP in partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Newark Police Division (NPD). You'll get a glimpse into how Cops & Kids uses the power of performance to create a new kind of relationship.     2025: Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change Our theme for 2025 is Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change. Throughout the year we’ll explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes will focus on both theory and practical examples, as well as case studies and guests. The end game is to provide our audience with insights into real-life positive community-engagement efforts.    

  2025: New Year, New Focus, and New Theme Tune in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast and kick off 2025 with us. We are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, and action. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact.   New Episode: From Talking to Doing — Empowering Communities Through Engagement Throughout 2024 we have focused on the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning. In 2025 our theme is “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we’ll explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Each episode will focus on both theory and practical examples, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community-engaging efforts. We’ll introduce case studies as well as guests who reflect community engagement in action.  Watch here: https://youtu.be/wVfxMFAy3Sc   

Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. Throughout 2024 we have focused on the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Navigating the Road Ahead As 2025 approaches we are collectively entering a twilight zone of emergent possibilities. While 2024 represented a new beginning, the stage for 2025 has been set for a metamorphic shift where either authoritarianism or regnerative democracy has the potential to prevail.  In this episode we consider the appeal of identity politics, as well as its fatal flaw: stripping the complex nuances of the individual in favor of assigning the representative value of a singular characteristic to a collective group. One of the least appreciated and least understood contributors to polarization in the United States today is identity politics. "Democracy Beyond Identity Politics" suggests exploring a vision of democracy that moves past solely focusing on identity-based affiliations (e.g., race, gender, religion) to foster a broader, more diverse and inclusive political dialogue. Regenerative democracy and leadership involves addressing systemic challenges, fostering unity, and revitalizing the nation’s role at home and on the global stage. To "remain a democracy" implies preserving and strengthening democratic principles amid modern challenges. It’s about ensuring that democracy continues to thrive and adapt to evolving societal, technological, and political landscapes.    

Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. Throughout 2024 we have focused on the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Navigating the Road Ahead As 2025 approaches we are collectively entering a twilight zone of emergent possibilities. While 2024 represented a new beginning, the stage for 2025 has been set for a metamorphic shift where either authoritarianism or regnerative democracy has the potential to prevail.  In this episode we consider the appeal of identity politics, as well as its fatal flaw: stripping the complex nuances of the individual in favor of assigning the representative value of a singular characteristic to a collective group. One of the least appreciated and least understood contributors to polarization in the United States today is identity politics. "Democracy Beyond Identity Politics" suggests exploring a vision of democracy that moves past solely focusing on identity-based affiliations (e.g., race, gender, religion) to foster a broader, more diverse and inclusive political dialogue. Regenerative democracy and leadership involves addressing systemic challenges, fostering unity, and revitalizing the nation’s role at home and on the global stage. To "remain a democracy" implies preserving and strengthening democratic principles amid modern challenges. It’s about ensuring that democracy continues to thrive and adapt to evolving societal, technological, and political landscapes.    

Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Societal Racism: Resilience, Resistance, and Accountability In this episode Anita, Mavis, and Gail explore the topics of resilience, resistance and accountability in relation to Societal Racism. Societal racism is a type of racism based on a set of structural, institutional, historical, cultural, and interpersonal practices within a society that places one or more social or ethnic groups in a better position to succeed and disadvantages other groups so that disparities develop between the groups. Back in February, as a part of his bid to become an independent nominee for president, RFK Jr. made statements on the topic of resilience and racism. His audience was a room full of Black people. He describes the resilience he wants to give Black American youth: You can make kids resilient against racism with good education and Black business role models. Then the racism will “bounce off” Black children like they are “the Avengers” because “they will be immune to it.” He goes on to say that the way you do that is by giving them a great education so that they know that they have potential. The other thing is to give them business models, role models and opportunities within their own neighborhood.” A counter article from NewsOne see his remarks this way: “A 70-year-old [white male] whitesplaining to Black people that education is the key to making Black people 'immune' from racism.” The podcast discussion explores (a) how resliience is misunderstood when talking about racism; and (b) recognizing the value that resistance contribues to social justice, overcoming adversity, racism, and bias. The Institutional Antiracism and Accountability (IARA) Project evaluates efforts to move from words to action to accountability with its 6 key takeaways.

Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast: Episode 75 Here we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning. Hosted by Anita Russell with co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter.   So, what's the deal with the economy? For many 2024 election voters the economy was deemed the most important factor in casting their vote. In this episode we discuss the economy from both a political and a personal perspective. We also take into consideration economic inequality.   Economic Power: The ability of an individual, group, or nation to influence or control economic resources, activities, or outcomes. This power is derived from various factors, including wealth, control over resources, productive capacity, or influence over financial and economic systems.   Who Runs the Economy:Politicians, Economists, and/or Individuals? What you see or do depends on what you believe.

Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Election 2024 Aftermath In previous episodes we took a dive deep into leadership as a social process as defined by the Center for Creative Leadership and discussed true leadership through the perspective of action-driven decisions related to Equity Diversity & Inclusion. In tthis episode we share our personal sentiments regarding the 2024 Presidential Election.

INTRODUCTION Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Organizational Leadership Through The Eyes of Shereen Daniels Harvard Professor, Robert Livingston's book, The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations has been a foundational catalyat for InflexionPoint Podcast and its community conversations. In today’s episode we move beyond the conversation and into the context of organizational leadership—looking through the eyes of Shereen Daniels, Managing Director of HR Rewired and Chair of the African Diaspora Economic Inclusion Foundation. She is a gifted speaker, educator, and author of a bestselling book, The Antiracist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace.   Biography: Shereen Daniels, is a London-based strategist, speaker and educator who runs an advisory firm called HR Rewired. She is the Chair of the African Diaspora Economic Inclusion Foundation (adeif.org): an organization that contributes to reducing the economic inequalities impacting the UK’s African Diaspora business community with a specific focus on female entrepreneurs. Her works includes... Conference Series - Advancing Racial Equity: Moving Beyond the Conversations Podcasts: HR Rewired Advancing Racial Equity 4.0 and Turning the Page with the Antiracist Organization   Book Excerpts/Insights: New Book: The Antiracist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace. Anti-Racism Is Not Just ‘An American Issue’: A Conversation With Shereen Daniels (Forbes Interview, 2022) “...why she felt it was necessary to write, and what keeps her hopeful when engaging in anti-racism work with organizations. Amazon Author Page “An indispensable exploration of how systemic racism is engrained into business structures, policies, and procedures, The Anti-Racist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace belongs in the libraries of all business leaders seeking to make their workplace more inclusive and equitable.”   Notable considerations What does it mean to cultivate an anti-racist organization? Protecting Your Peace: Acknowledging the Emotional Strain of Speaking Up About Race (Part 1) How do you turn data into insights?  

Introduction Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Leadership Is a Social Process In episode we dive deep into leadership as a social process, reflecting potential that is all around us, including the potential for justice. We use stories from two specific YouTube channels to demonstrate true leadership through the perspective of action-driven decisions related to Equity Diversity & Inclusion. YouTube Resources: 1) Nest Stories Channel: Doctor Humiliates Black Nurse in Front of Patient, Unaware of Who the Patient Really Is 2) The Storyteller Channel: Black owner is Kicked Out of His Own Store by a Racist Manager    Call to Action: Stay woke and be prepared to vote. #StayWoke (Well-informed, Open-minded, Kind, and Empathetic)Be prepared to #Vote (Voices Organized To Empower)    

Take Action Now to Make Your Vote Count Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning. In the last episode we explored the “opportunity economy” where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed. In Episode 71 we turn our attention to leadership, truth/integrity, and voting.    Episode Highlights Leadership Is a Social Process Why Should All Citizens Vote? Truth and Integrity in the Election Open Discussion: Moving forward where do YOU go from here?     Call to Action: Stay Woke and Be Prepared to Vote #StayWoke (Well-informed, Open-minded, Kind, and Empathetic). Be prepared to #Vote (Voices Organized To Empower)  

  Take Action Now! Let’s Grow the Opportunity Economy Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today’s climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.  In Episode 70 we continue our discussion of the precipice of change in which we currently find ourselves. We explore the “opportunity economy” where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed.   Episode Highlights: Why Financial Well-Being Matters for All: The Economy, The Financial Services System and the Community Racism Impoverishes the Whole Economy (Theft of Opportunity) The Fading American Dream The future depends on the financial well-being of all US houuseholds Call to Action: Stay woke and be prepared to vote. #StayWoke (Well-informed, Open-minded, Kind, and Empathetic) Be prepared to #Vote (Voices Organized To Empower)  

Women’s Empowerment, Grassroots Movement, Prioritization, and Democracy Thank you for tuning in to the newest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast. We are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   The Precipice of Change In this episode we continue our discussion of the precipice of change in which we currently find ourselves. We dive into women’s empowerment as a function of individual action fueled by grassroots movement, prioritization, and democracy. Key Words: Freedom. Opportunity. Justice Toby Ord, author of The Precipice, senior research fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute in Oxford: "We must learn from the mistakes of the past and forge a new path towards a more sustainable and just future.” Societal Coordination and Global Cooperation - a unified approach to allocation of resources, and coordination of diverse cultural values. Ethical Responsibilities to Future Generations - decisions of the present will influence future lives.   The Rise of Kamala Harris "She’s On Her Way: The People-Powered Rise of Kamala Harris" VOTE - Voices Organized to Empower a different future based on freedom, opportunity, and justice. Status of democracy – prioritize women empowerment as a function of democracy.    Maureen Devine-Ahl: Ted Talk – Theory of Prioritization Ted Talk: Why Empowering Women is Failing Women “We need to not just empower women, but we need to prioritize them.”   Rebecca Fielding-Miller — Gender, Justice, and Empowerment: Creating the World We Want to See  “Gender is one of the most important social determinants of health."   UN Women's Economic Empowerment Strategy The “Women’s economic empowerment strategy” articulates UN Women’s vision for enabling women’s economic agency, autonomy, and well-being. It provides a rights-based and transformative definition of economic empowerment.

Grassroots Zoom After Joe Biden Announcement Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning. A lot has happened since our last discussion of the Precipice of Change, Project 2025, its legacy, and opposition. In today’s episode we continue our discussion in the spirit of grassroots movement and three elements of change—freedom, opportunity, and justice.    Call to Action #StayWOKE - Well-informed. Open-minded. Kind. Empathetic. Be prepared to #VOTE - Voices Organized To Empower. “There is a lot of work to be done to make sure our leaders reflect the people they are supposed to represent. The more diverse a group of decision makers is, the more informed the decision will be. Until we achieve full representation, we all should understand we are falling short of the ideals of our country.” —VP Kamala Harris  

The Art of Community Conversations   Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   In This Episode We Explore A Central Question:  Why is it important to consider the long-term potential of humanity when making decisions today, and how can we balance immediate needs with the goal of a prosperous future for generations to come? To answer this question we take a peek into The Precipice of Change, The Heritage Foundation, the Project 2025 Presidential Transition, and its Mandate for Leadership. We also consider reactions and counteractions to Project 2025.   We Are Standing on the Precipice of Change The Precipice of Change, a book by Toby Ord, contemplates the roles we all can play in reducing overarching risks and implications . It describes how people can make a difference through global interconnectivity—be it in academia, policymaking, philanthropy, or public debate. The Heritage Foundation and Project 2025 is building now for a conservative victory through 4 pillars - policy agenda, personnel, training, and the Mandate for Leadership, a 180-day playbook for Presidential Transition. The Stop Project 20025 Task Force is a central hub for pro-democracy to coordinate examining, highlighting, and counteracting the undermining of democracy.

The Art of Community Conversations Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   True Connections: The Bible, Black People, and Restorative Justice Exploring the Black (people of African descent) presence in the Bible can shed light on often overlooked perspectives and histories. It's fascinating how biblical narratives can intersect with themes of restorative justice, especially in today's context of addressing systemic racism and promoting inclusion. Highlighting these connections offers our listeners a richer understanding of how historical texts can inform contemporary social justice movements. Some biblical examples include: The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40 The Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 37-50) Paul's Letters on Unity in Christ (e.g., Galatians 3:28) Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26) The Queen of Sheba (King Solomon) Hagar (Abraham) Keturah (Abraham) Zipporah (Midianite/Moses) Ethioipan Woman (Cushite/Moses) Candace Queen of the Ethiopians  What Does the Bible Say About Restorative Justice? The Bible addresses social justice in various ways, providing principles and narratives that advocate for fairness, compassion, equity, and equality. These biblical principles and narratives continue to inspire individuals and communities to advocate for social justice, address systemic issues, and promote fairness and equality. They provide a foundation for understanding and engaging with contemporary social justice movements and challenges. Here are some key themes and passages that reflect biblical perspectives on social justice:  Concern for the Poor and Vulnerable Prophetic Call for Justice Judgment and Accountability Jesus' Ministry Equality and Non-Discrimination Restorative Justice  Acts of Mercy and Compassion The Bible does not use modern concepts of race in the same way we understand them today. However, it does address themes related to ethnicity, diversity, and God's vision for all people. While the Bible does not use our contemporary racial categories, its teachings provide a foundation for understanding and promoting equality, unity, and respect for all people, regardless of ethnicity or background. The Bible challenges believers to embrace God's inclusive vision and work towards justice and reconciliation in a diverse world. Here are some key aspects of how the Bible intersects with the concept of race: Creation and humanity Israel's identity Ethnic diversity in the Bible Jesus' Ministry Universal Gospel Unity in Christ Eschatological Vision These figures and references underscore the presence and contributions of African peoples in biblical narratives. They also challenge readers to consider the Bible's multicultural and multiethnic context in relationship to issues we face today including racism, inequity, inequality, and social injustice.

Blind Faith in AI or Inclusive Coding? In this episode we delve into the groundbreaking work of two powerful and brilliant women in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Joy Buolamwini's research explores the intersection of social impact, technology, and inclusion. She is the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, a groundbreaking MIT researcher, a model and a poet of code. She is also the author of national bestseller Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines and advises world leaders on preventing the harms of AI. Her MIT thesis methodology uncovered large racial and gender bias in AI services from companies like Microsoft, IBM and Amazon.  Dr. Cathy O’Neil is an American mathematician, data scientist, and author. She is the author of the New York Times best-seller Weapons of Math Destruction, and opinion columns in Bloomberg View. O'Neil was active in the Occupy movement. As a data skeptic she uncovers the dark secrets of big data, showing how our "objective" algorithms reinforce human bias. She believes a lot can go wrong when we put blind faith in big date.  AI in Society and Law Enforcement "Unregulated and untested AI technologies have put innocent people at risk fo being wrongly convicted." —Innocence Project: When Artificial Intelligence Gets It Wrong The presumption of innocense is a legal principle that every person accused of any crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. AI-empowered law enforcement sometimes results in the presumption of guilt unitl proven innocent.

Community Conversations 2024 At InflexionPoint Podcast we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic community conversations. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of critical self-reflection, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of systemic and institutional racism, antiracism activation, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, and book banning.   Featured Guest We are honored to have Rev. Desiree Lawson, newly installed pastor of The Good Shepherds Presbyterian Church in South Easton MA as our featured guest. Rev. Dawson shares her experience as the first Black woman pastor in a previous congregation.

Parables for Understanding a Nation's Sins At InflexionPoint Podcast we are dedicated to the art of listening in authentic conversation. We challenge our audience to listen actively and intentionally for the purpose of self-awareness, in-depth perspective-taking, personal transformation, and ultimately social impact. The 2024 theme explores the Art of Community Conversations in today's climate of EDI, antiracism, and book banning. In this Community Conversation we continue our discussion of Christian Nationalism viewed through the Kwanzaa Principle of Imani (Faith).   “Search for the specific term “racism” in the Bible, you wouldn’t necessarily find it. But that doesn’t mean that the problem of racism isn’t in the Bible, or that we can’t learn from God’s Word as we seek to eradicate racism from our communities and churches...Racism has deformed us, as persons, as communities, as families,” says Rev. Dr. Pedro Agudelo. “And racism isolates us from each other, separates us, and we are designed by God to complement each other.” Oppression is as old as the Old Testament – oppression though enslavement (Israelites in Egypt) Otherization made plain in the New Testament – Jews/Samaritans The diverse family of God - there’s a level of love that’s there; it's the opposite of racism and has the power to eradicate racism. Peter’s vision – what God has made clean, you must not call unclean Racism goes against God’s will/intention for unity – every human being bears the image of God

Kwanzaa Principle of Imani (Faith) The Imani principle calls for us to believe in ourselves and our capacity to bring about a better society and a better world. On the 7th Day of Kwanzaa, Imani Day, we give thanks and remembrance to family, friends, and historical figures who have contributed to their lives and the betterment of America. This day we remember the faith that our family members and ancestors had to bring us to this point. In this episode Anita, Mavis, and Gail continue their Community Conversation. They examine Christian Nationalism through the lens of the Kwanzaa Principle, Imani (Faith). Join in as they take a deep dive into the ideology of Christian Nationalism, those engaged in active opposition, and The (Unholy) Slave Bible published by missionaries in 1807. Points of Reflection: Christian Nationalism differs from nationalism, patriotism, and Christianity. Clergy opposition to Christian Nationalism The (Unholy) Slave Bible produced by missionaries in 1807 for the use of enslaved Africans. “Let nobody give you the impression that the problem of racial injustice will work itself out. Let nobody give you the impression that only time will solve the problem. That is a myth, and it is a myth because time is neutral.” — Jim Wallis (America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America)  

Ujamaa Collective, An Experience That Lasts! Fair Trade | Meaningful Work | Community | Creativity | Wellness FEATURED GUEST: FRANKIE HARRIS, BOUTIQUE MERCHANDISER/SPECIAL EVENT DECORATOR  Ujamaa Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded with a social mission to act as a catalyst to advance Africana Women by providing a fair trade marketplace for cultural, artistic and entrepreneurial exchange through cooperative economics in the Historic Hill District and beyond. “We lift as we climb.”The mission of Ujamaa Collective is accomplished through an artisan boutique, pop-up marketplace events, arts and entrepreneurship programming, and advocacy on health and wealth. The boutique operators, LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director and Frankie Harris, Boutique Merchandiser/Special Event Decorator, have a  passion for cooperatives, rooted in values of meaningful work, creativity, community and wellness. Ujamaa Collective is located in the Hill District, an historically African American community in Pittsburgh PA. "The Hill, or "Little Harlem" as it was referred to from the '30s thru the '50s, was one of the elite African-American neighborhoods in America. It was home to one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the country, as well as one of its hottest clubs, The Crawford Grill, which was owned by Gus Greenlee."— Randy Fox, HuffPost Contributor, Writer and Photographer

THE FUTURE EMERGES FROM THE PAST... What Is Your Key Antiracism Challenge? In this episode Anita and Mavis continue their Community Conversation making it personal. They each discuss what they define as their Key Racism Challenge. Points of Reflection:• Based on your George Floyd origin story, what is your definition of yourself after vs before the murder? Has there been a shift?• What is most challenging — knowing yourself, knowing where you stand, or being visible to others?• How does doing the work of antiracism connect to your social identity?   Examples of Key Antiracism Challenges: Expressing empathy through perspective-taking along with immersion into the historical narratives and personal experiences of others.  Engaging in conversations about antiracism in all the spaces in which you move - your home, workplace, place of worship, your immediate community, and the communities of those who are different from you.  Engaging in conversations with racism deniers or those who believe we live in a post-racial/colorblind society.  Persuading those who claim to be nonracist or not racist that racism is a problem that affects us all because it is embedded in the social, economic, systemic, educational, and institutional fabric that covers all of America