Reclaiming Sisterhood

Is diversity, equity, and inclusion work being dismantled — or simply revealing what was never deeply rooted?In this episode, Kim Casey sits with Candace Moore to explore the current backlash against DEI and what it means for the future of justice work. From corporate about-faces to the silencing of Black women leaders, this conversation goes beyond headlines and into the heart of systems change.Candace reflects on her experience leading equity work in government, the difference between charity and transformation, and why real equity must shift both outcomes and power. Together, they examine what courage, community, and collective leadership will require in this moment.Because equity was never meant to be a press release.It’s a long game. A collective effort. A legacy.Press play — and consider what role you’re willing to play in the future of justice.

What happens when Black women choose to pause in a world that expects us to grind?In this powerful episode of Reclaiming Sisterhood, Kim Casey sits down with author, former civil rights attorney, and former CEO Darlene Hightower to explore rest as resistance. Together, they unpack the weight Black women carry—leading, sustaining, excelling—and the radical act of reclaiming time, energy, and alignment.Darlene shares her journey of walking away from a high-powered leadership role to protect her health, rediscover her creativity, and redefine success on her own terms. This conversation dives into grind culture, guilt, legacy-building, stillness, and the courage it takes to choose yourself. Because rest isn’t laziness. It’s liberation. And when Black women are rested, we don’t just survive—we transform everything.

In this episode of Reclaiming Sisterhood, co-host sits down with Cecile De Mello, Executive Director of Teamwork Englewood, for a powerful conversation about the unseen labor and overlooked leadership of Black women who sustain institutions without receiving the recognition, resources, or authority their work creates.Together, they explore what it means to be trusted to execute but not empowered to decide, the tension between centering community and claiming credit, and how Black women continue to lead from the margins while systems thrive. Cecile shares how she builds legacy-driven leadership, teaches teams to fund and sustain their work, and pushes back on philanthropy and political structures that resist real transformation.This episode reclaims the narrative of expertise, visibility, and rightful belonging—reminding us that recognition is not ego, it’s equity. The seat was always ours.

In this episode of Reclaiming Sisterhood, Kim and Adrienne sit down with educator and advocate Gizelle Clemens to challenge what we’ve been taught about Black excellence—and who gets to define it. Together, they explore how excellence has become both a source of pride and a heavy burden, shaped by capitalism, ableism, and respectability politics.This conversation centers the often-unseen labor of Black women who lead, carry, and create without recognition—and asks what it would mean to redefine excellence as wholeness, rest, community, and self-trust. From mental health and disability to hustle culture and generational expectations, this episode is an invitation to release performance and reclaim worth. Because sometimes, simply being enough is the most radical act of all.

In this episode, Kim and Adrienne sit down with Karen Freeman Wilson, President & CEO of the Chicago Urban League, to unpack the real dynamics of collaboration among Black women in leadership. Together, they explore the difference between true allyship and “coopetition,” the myths of scarcity culture, and what it takes to build collective power rooted in grace, honesty, and action.Karen shares wisdom from decades of public service—including her time as Mayor of Gary, Indiana—and offers a blueprint for moving from performative support to courageous, transformative sisterhood. This conversation is a masterclass in leading with clarity, confronting competition with compassion, and creating space for Black women to rise together.

In this episode, we unpack what it really means for Black women to carry excellence everywhere—at work, at home, and in community—while constantly being told they’re “too much,” “too loud,” or “too ambitious.” When brilliance is both celebrated and punished, how do Black women navigate systems that reward mediocrity yet demand their mastery? We’re joined by Nicole Robinson, CEO of YWCA Chicago, to explore the emotional, professional, and personal cost of being exceptional in spaces not built for us. Together, we ask: What does it look like to define excellence on our own terms? How do we transform it from a burden into a launchpad?A conversation about truth-telling, resistance, and reclaiming power—because Black women aren’t just meeting the standard; we’re setting it.

In this special live episode, recorded at Becoming Together, a two-day gathering hosted by Chicago Women in Philanthropy and Become, hosts Kim Casey and Adrienne Johnson sit down with Dr. Dominica McBride, CEO of Become and author of Becoming a Changemaker. Together, they unpack what it means to reclaim sisterhood and redefine leadership through healing, connection, and collective power. From confronting the exhaustion of our current moment to embracing rest as resistance, this episode invites listeners to reimagine how women can show up for one another—and lead from a place of authenticity, wholeness, and liberation.Learn more about Chicago Women in Philanthropy at https://www.cwiponline.orgLearn more about Become at https://becomecenter.org

In this mini-episode of Reclaiming Sisterhood, hosts Kim Casey and Adrienne Johnson go deeper—unpacking the masks Black women wear, the exhaustion of workplace culture, and the healing power of grace and authenticity. From navigating systemic pressures to embracing radical self-expression (yes, even gray hair as revolutionary!), this conversation sets the tone for the movement ahead. Subscribe now and join us as we reclaim our stories—together.

Reclaiming Sisterhood is a new podcast centering the diverse experiences of Black women—unfiltered, unapologetic, and rooted in truth. Hosted by Kimberly Casey and Adrienne Johnson, we’re myth-busting stereotypes, celebrating our magic, and building a movement of grace, authenticity, and action. This trailer sets the stage for season one: conversations on workplace dynamics, self-care, leadership, generational wisdom, allyship, and more. Tune in, reflect deeply, and join us in reclaiming our stories—together.