Laughing With Letta

When Sheletta's son Andrew asked if he had to vote again in November, she realized she needed to do a podcast ot help young voters understand the difference between the primary election and the general election, so she called her friend Brian McDaniel, professor at Concordia University, to explain it all. #LaughingWithLetta #VoteInNovember #PrimaryVsGeneral #FirstTimeVoter #VoterEducation

Minnesota entrepreneurs who qualify can still apply for The Promise Act grant. Millions of dollars are available to help business owners with everything from working capital to purchasing equipment.  MN Promise Act

If you missed volunteering at Greater Twin Cities United Way's annual Action Day, there's still a way you can help. Old National Bank is accepting school supply donations at several of its branches. Sheletta shares all the details on the latest episode of her podcast. Volunteer at Home School Supply Drive | Greater Twin Cities United Way

After Sheletta's 40-year old cousin died suddenly, she got serious about her heart health. So she called her friends from Hennepin County and their partner organizations to talk about the importance of Black women to eat right, exercise, advocate, and live right so they can live longer. Find out how to take care of your heart here -->Women’s Heart Health Initiative

Sheletta may laugh and joke, but she doesn't play when it comes to scammers. That's why she invited her friends from Minnesota Department of Commerce on today's episode to talk about the fraudulent health insurance scams and how consumers can protect themselves or file a complaint if they've been victimized.   https://mn.gov/commerce/consumer/file-a-complaint/ [email protected] or call 651-539-1600 or 800-657-3602

Minneapolis's new E Line is so popular, it has almost twice the number of riders that Metro Transit was expecting. Sheletta invited  Lesley Kandaras, Metro Transit's CEO, to join her on the show and found out about all kinds of other cool stuff, including the fact that Metro Transit is hiring. Looking for a job? Listen to the show! https://www.metrotransit.org/careers

Early voting is underway in Minnesota. Sheletta sits down with Secretary of State Steve Simon to talk about what's on the ballot, the integrity of voting machines and how absentee ballots work on the latest episode of her podcast.

Sheletta talks "trash" with Trista Martison, the executive director of the Ramsey/Washington County Recycle Energy Program about the new communities that are now available to participate in the food scraps pick up program.

After Operation Metro Surge ended and thousands of federal agents left Minnesota, residents looked for new ways to make a difference in their communities and help their neighbors. Open Arms of Minnesota allows you and your entire family an opportunity to volunteer and provide food to people who are sick.   https://www.openarmsmn.org/

Sheletta's best buddy Jim Platten just pulled his Harley out for the summer and that always makes her anxious. She's nervous about bikers being on the road and wanted to find out if there's anything she can do, as a driver, to keep her friend Jim and other riders safe. So she asked the folks from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to join her on the podcast to motorcycle safety.   https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/safe-driving-information-and-laws/mn-motorcycle-safety-center/motorcycle-training-courses

To become a successful entrepreneur, Sheletta participated in great training programs to help her understand how to scale her business, which is why she invited the folks from Elevate Hennepin on the show. They talk about their CEO Now program that provides tools, resources and expert advice to help your business grow. https://www.elevatehennepin.org/stories/elevate-stories/Building-structure-and-finding-clarity-in-CEO-Now    

 Sheletta chats with her friends from Rebuild Together Minnesota about their Safe at Home and Home Repair programs that ensure families can live in safe and healthy homes. The application opens October 1st. What do you need to qualify? Listen to the podcast to find out. https://rtmn.org/apply-for-help/

Sheletta chats with her friends from MEDA about how they help small business owners in Minnesota go from just surviving to thriving with the programs, resources and services they provide. https://meda.net/

Sheletta grew up in Kelly Village, a public housing property in 5th Ward. She credits the village in Kelly Village for helping her mature into the woman she is today. The host says she now knows that assistance was a safe space for her and a launching pad for her mother to get off welfare and eventually become a homeowner. That's why she wanted to make sure that her listeners knew that Housing Alliance HTX will open its waitlist lottery for eight public housing properties for the first time since 2023. The application period runs through July 6. She chats with Daveta Thomas to find out more. Website: https://www.alliancehtx.org/ Hotline: 832-446-1611

Sheletta chats with  Lisa L. Saul, MD, MBA, a maternal-fetal medicine physician executive, about the benefits of having a dula during your delivery and how it's now one of the new perks for patients who have UnitedHealthcare insurance.

With so many fraudsters going around and AI making it more difficult to tell if emails are real or fake, Sheletta invited her friends from AARP on the show to talk about how families can protect themselves and their money from bad actors. www.aarp.org/mn www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or www.aarp.org/fwn AARP Fraud Watch Helpline - 877-908-3360

Sheletta chats with Dr. Rahshana Price-Isuk of NorthPoint Health & Wellness about the importance of Black women getting heart healthy. http://hennepincounty.gov/heart-beats

The problem with lead in children's bodies is that there are typically no symptoms. The only way to know is through a well check exam. If you notice your children are picking at the wall and eating non-food items, it's important to screen for lead at your pediatrician's office. https://www.hennepincounty.gov/services/grants-funding-opportunities/lead-paint-removal-grant. Soil Testing - https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/property-housing/housing/healthy-homes/lead/testing-soil/ Water Testing - https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/lead-testing/water-lead-test-kit/ Community Blood Testing Events - https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/property-housing/housing/healthy-homes/lead/child-lead-testing-events/

Sheletta shines a spotlight on a new initiative in Washington County that brings mental health services to the community. 

For mental health awareness month, Sheletta wanted to make sure everyone knows about the 988 suicide line in case they are in crisis or someone they know needs to reach out for help.

Old National Bank just released a 2025 Community Action Report highlighting not just numbers and examples of how the bank and its foundation are putting money and resources in the hands of people who need it most.

Whenever Sheletta's family visits from Houston, they always tell her how clean St. Paul is and how they never see any trash while dining at a restaurant or enjoying a show. When she looked for answers, she found the St. Paul Street Ambassadors who do everything from picking up litter to helping lost children.

As an entrepreneur trying to make a dollar out of 15-cents, Sheletta was excited to find out about a new Xfinity program specifically for small businesses for just $60 a month that offers connectivity and cybersecurity. She chats with her friend Rachel Johnson at Comcast to learn more. https://business.comcast.com/small-business  

Many Black women share similar stories about the horror and health challenges of giving birth, but nobody was listening—until now.  The Maternal and Child Health staff at the Minnesota Department of Health wants to hear from you about what it is like to have a baby in Minnesota. Link: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/womeninfants/womenshealth/story.html

Religious communities are not ready to help members battling opioid misuse, that's why Pastor Ed Treat is working with churches, mosques, synagogues and temples to talk to faith leaders about addiction. Pastor Ed tells Sheletta that his organization, The Center for Addiction & Faith, will work to educate and empower houses of worship so they know what to do and how to help.

After a few close calls and a near miss, Sheletta knew she's not the only distracted driver dodging crashes daily She invited her friends from the Minnesota Safety Council to join her on today's podcast to talk about their new campaign that stresses a message to drivers: put the phone down. https://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/

For Easter Sunday service, Sheletta decides, at the last minute, to look for a lavender hat to match her church outfit. She calls on Angie Sanditer of Angie's Hats in St. Paul, Minnesota to design her a custom fedora and gives the small business owner the impossible task of getting it done in just four hours. Angie accepts the mission and creates a one of a kind sexy and stylish fascinator for The Boss Lady

With the national economy tightening, many small businesses are seeing their profits dip while their costs continue to climb. At Old National Bank, the relatively new Empowerment Small Business Loan Program is making capital available. It is aimed specifically at helping small business owners in underserved communities.  

The deadline is March 31st for you to apply for the good folks from Rebuild Together Minnesota to come and repair your home or make modifications. What's the Safe at Home program? Listen to Sheletta's latest podcast to find out.

The Washington County Opioid Settlement Council is looking for new council members. Sheletta chats with Sean Young-Stephens and Jamie Resch to talk about how this opportunity allows you to become part of an innovative public program that is supportive and takes a health oriented approach. 

It’s that time of year, high school seniors around the Twin Cities are announcing on social media their choices for college next year.   For some, a Big Ten school is a fit. But bigger is not better for everyone. That’s the unsaid motto at Dougherty Family College (DFC), which strives to offer incredible connections and student support.

Sheletta chats with the folks at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation about the North Commons Park expansion project and a grant that allows residents to create cool activities for their neighbors.

As Sheletta plans to put on her ropers and rope her a cowboy at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, she wants to make sure both she and her future Boo are safe before they get too serious. She asked her friends form Harris County to join her to talk about their HIV prevention programs and how residents can take advantage of the services they offer.

When Sheletta's son was chatting with a bot, she looked for a real person for him to text and found the Minnesota Warm Line. What's that? A live talk, chat or text line staffed with trained peer professionals who offer a listening ear when life gets lonely. 

All month long, Sheletta is highlighting resources to help small business owners in Minnesota. This week, she's telling entrepreneurs where they can find grant money for e-Bikes for commercial use. 

 All month long, Sheletta is chatting with organizations who have grant funding to help struggling small businesses impacted by the ICE surge in Minnesota. This week, she tells entrepreneurs who qualify how they can apply for the CORE grant.

Sheletta is asking the question: Are you honoring the pledge you made to yourself at the beginning of the year to be more involved in the community? If you're haven't and you're not sure where to start, Sheletta chats with her friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters who have several ways you can volunteer your time to help make an immediate impact on a young person in need.

Sheletta chats with the folks at Environmental Initiative about their clean air assistance project that provides funding for small business owners to replace equipment and reduce emissions. 

Sheletta said she and her fellow Minnesotans are exhausted fighting injustice and excited that after two deaths in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents, the tide is finally turning against Donald Trump.   

Instead of going through a midlife crisis, Sheletta is considering signing up for Midlife Academy at University of Minnesota that supports middle aged students and helps them find community on the college campus.

After logging on to the GoFundMe site to help pay for funeral expenses for someone who was a victim of violent crime, Sheletta was astonished to learn that Minnesota has a crime victim restitution fund that will cover funeral costs and much more. She talks with officials from the state agency so people will know how to get access to these dollars if they need financial assistance.

Sheletta wants everyone to start their 2026 off living healthy, well and strong, so she invited her friends from NorthPoint Health & Wellness in Minneapolis to talk about ways to manage your chronic disease. 

There is a huge gap in menopause care. Studies show Black women suffer more extreme symptoms earlier and they last longer. The impact to long term health is devastating including the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is a public health crisis so Sheletta chats with her friends from Harmoni-Wellness to dispel the misinformation and discuss barriers to menopause treatment.

Sheletta talks with two members of the Washington County Opioid Council about how their personal tragedies prepared them for the work they do today.

Sheletta chats with her friend Sharon Noel Richardson, owner of West Indies Soul Restaurant about how the promise act helped her company and why entrepreneurs in Minnesota who qualify should apply.

Sheletta chats with John Larson, the company's Chief Operating Officer about how the company plans to offer opportunities and support the community.

Sheletta chats with her friends from NorthPoint Health & Wellness about their new mental health walk-in clinics.

Sheletta chats with Minnesota Senator Bobby Joe Champion and Neighborhood Development Center CEO Renay Dossman about The Promise Act Grant for Minnesota small business owners and how the deadline has been extended.

Sheletta chats with George Lewis, a community elder, author and motivational speaker about how he was able to stop smoking after being addicted to nicotine for nearly four decades and why, getting free services and support from organizations like Quit Partner, doubles your chances of success.

Sheletta has fun talking to her friend Adam Prock, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Lottery, about all their cool new holiday scratch off games that'll make perfect stocking stuffers and holiday gift ideas.