Archives: Episode

Tes Silverman was born in Manila, Philippines and has been a New Yorker for over 40 years. Moving from the Philippines to New York opened the doors to the possibility of a life of writing and travel. Before starting a family, she traveled to Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, and France, all the while writing about the people she met through her adventures. After starting a family, she became a freelance writer for publications such as Newsday’s Parents & Children and various local newspapers. In 2014, she created her blog, The Pinay Perspective. PinayPerspective.com was designed to provide women of all ages and nationalities the space to discuss the similarities and differences on how we view life and the world around us. As a result of her blog, she has written for BlogHer.com and has been invited to attend and blog about the Social Good Summit and Mom+Social Good. In addition, she was the Managing Editor of a newsletter for a local grassroots activism group, ATLI(Action Together Long Island). Currently residing in Virginia Beach, VA, she is the host and producer of r(E)volutionary Woman podcast and the World Voice Editor for World Moms Network, continuing to write stories of women and children who make an impact in their communities and provide them a place to vocalize their passions.

Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REvolutionary-Woman-104957361706166
IG: @pinay_view
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tes-silverman-38388956/

Today, Tes talks with Dr. Taryn Fletcher. Dr. Fletcher is a life coach, and the founder and CEO of Truly POC Inc. Truly POC Inc. helps educators and parents become culturally immersed in BIPOC experiences and take action. In her programs, people learn from one another and see the beauty and resilience in BIPOC experiences in order to buck dated systems and create a future we can all be proud of. Dr. Fletcher is also a former deputy superintendent, bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and award-winning community educational leader. Her book IN ALL LANES is an Amazon bestseller in 3 categories. She’s also a wife and mother from the first state, Delaware.

To learn more about Dr. Taryn Fletcher, Ed.D.

IG, LinkedIN, Facebook, and Twitter: @drtarynfletcher
Website: https://www.trulypocevolution.com/

Today, Tes talks with Alisha Monique. Alisha is a communications and public relations strategist, specializing in comprehensive strategy development, media relations and brand management. She has served as lead communications counsel and spokesperson for global organizations as well as non-profit and startup organizations.

Throughout her career she has worked in several industries including education, nonprofit, and
hospitality. Some of her most memorable work experiences include curating behind-the-scenes
experiences for top-tier journalists for the Food & Wine All-Star Weekend 2011 in Las Vegas, leading publicity efforts for DICK’S Sporting Goods community marketing initiatives, and coordinating fun events for Wild Turkey Bourbon. Alisha also served as an adjunct delivering lectures on interpersonal communications and public speaking.

Today, Alisha is the proud owner of a New Jersey-based boutique public relations agency that specializes in beauty and lifestyle brands. Her client roster is 100% women and minority entrepreneurs. Past and current clients have been featured in national and regional media including CNN, Insider, FOX Sports, NFL Films, Philadelphia Inquirer and The Business Journals.

Alisha holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from The College of New Jersey and M.S. in
Communication from Drexel University. She is on track to complete her doctorate degree at Drexel University this year.

Website:
https://www.alishamoniquepr.com/

Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/AlishaMoniquePublicRelations
https://twitter.com/alishamoniquepr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-m-brown-b983ba16
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisha-monique-public-relations/
https://www.instagram.com/alishamoniquepr/

Today, Tes speaks with Nicole Melancon. Nicole is a freelance travel and social good writer based in Minneapolis, MN. Nicole specializes in sustainable travel and shares her journey on her blog, http://www.thirdeyemom.com , and in other online and print publications. (My portfolio can be found here: www.nicolemelancon.com/porfolio

To learn more about Nicole Melancon:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thirdeyemom/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057062543203
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirdeyemom

Today’s guest is Yolanda M. Gordon. Yolanda is from Fort Mill, South Carolina. She is the mother of three children. Yolanda started her advocacy journey in disability advocacy after her younger children received an Autism diagnosis. She learned how to advocate for her children’s educational needs. She also assisted parents in understanding the nuances of the federal education laws and how they intersected with state education laws. She has since worked to end poverty and how families experience safety net programs in the United States.

Yolanda is a former safety net program recipient. She currently works at RESULTS
Educational Fund as the Manager of Expansion and Advocacy. Her role includes being the coordinator for the RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship which teaches young leaders, ages 20-35, how to speak to their members of Congress about ending poverty, making tax credits permanent, investment in global education, global nutrition, and affordable housing.

She is also a leader with her work on anti-oppression, intersectionality and poverty, and its effects on individuals and families. She has used her experience to lobby Congressional leaders of South Carolina on the needs of families in the state to ensure that their voices are heard. With over 400 phone calls, 30 pieces of media, and over 80+ lobby visits, Yolanda has become proficient in helping others advocate for themselves to make the greatest impact.

Yolanda is a Moth Trained storyteller, a TEDx speaker, and has spoken at many conferences and led many trainings from Missouri State University, Congressional Hunger Center, George Washington University Hunger Free Communities Conference, and The Aspen Institute.

To learn more about Yolanda M. Gordon:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yolanda.m.gordon/
IG: @yogosc
Twitter: @yolandamgordon

For more information about RESULTS:
Website: https://results.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RESULTSEdFund/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RESULTS_Tweets
IG: https://www.instagram.com/voices4results/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/results-educational-fund/

Today’s guest is Misty Griffin. Misty is the author of her best selling memoir “Tears of the Silenced”. Misty wrote her memoir to raise awareness about child abuse and sexual assault coverup among the Amish and other strict religious groups.

Misty Griffin’s inspiring story takes you through her ordeal as a severely abused child and then
her experiences as a young woman in an Amish community- a place where pedophilia was
never reported or punished – and finally her escape and efforts to save her sister and bring the
perpetrators to justice, all while adapting to a modern life she had never known.

Now a Registered Nurse, happily married and with a child of her own, Misty has dedicated her
life to save children from the hell she endured. She is the Consulting Producer on the
documentary series about child abuse in Amish and other cloistered communities, which aired on Peacock this past May as “Sins of the Amish”. She has also been to D.C, accompanied by her former Mennonite friend Jasper Hoffman and spoken personally to a member of congress about sexual assault and child abuse among the Amish and Mennonites.

Misty hopes to pass legislation to mandate reporting of child abuse in cloistered communities
such as the Amish and to extend Erin’s Law – which mandates age-appropriate sex abuse
prevention education in public schools – to private schools and religious communities. Misty’s
change.org petition #invisible calls on Congress, the Senate and President Biden to take
action.

Jannelle So – CEO _ Executive Producer Jannelle So Productions

Today, Tes speaks with Joanna Landau. Joanna is a British born Israeli lawyer and CEO of Vibe Israel, a non profit dedicated to enhancing Israel’s global image. She earned BA and MA degrees in Law from Cambridge University and an MBA, cum laude, from the Reichmann University in Israel. Before establishing Vibe Israel, Joanna worked as a lawyer in the high-tech industry and established two Internet start-ups based in Tel Aviv.

Joanna is a governor of Tel Aviv University, a member of the International Education
Committee of Taglit-Birthright and the Advisory Committee of Innovation Without
Borders, and a Director of Tel Aviv Global & Tourism, Tel Aviv Municipality’s global
marketing arm. In 2017, Joanna was chosen by Forbes Israel as one of the fifty most
influential women in Israel.

She lives in Tel-Aviv with her husband, three children and two dogs.

To learn more about Joanna Landau & Vibe Israel:
Facebook: @vibeisrael
Instagram: @vibeisrael
LinkedIn: vibeisrael
Twitter: @VibeIsrael
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVSEJVPikS8

Today, Tes talks with Osprey Orielle Lake. Osprey is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International dedicated to accelerating a global women’s climate justice movement. She works nationally and internationally with grassroots and Indigenous leaders, policy-makers and scientists to promote climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a decentralized, democratized energy future. Osprey serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and is the Co-Director of the Indigenous Women’s Divestment Delegations, and actively leads WECAN’s advocacy, policy and campaign work in areas such as Women for Forests, Divestment and Just Transition, Indigenous Rights, a Feminist Agenda for a Green New Deal, and UN Forums. Osprey is the author of the award-winning book,”Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.”

To learn more about Osprey Orielle Lake and WECAN International:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WECAN.Intl
Twitter: @WECAN_INTL
Instagram: @wecan_intl
Photo credit: Erik McGregor

Kellie Stecher is an OB/GYN and Co-Founder and President of Patient Care Heroes, as well as the Governor of the 7th District of the American Medical Women’s Association, and advisor to multiple other companies, focusing on patient and staff safety and mental health.

She has won the Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine’s Top Doctors’ Rising Star award for the last three years.

She was recently runner-up for The Sharp Index: Physician Well-Being Leader of the Year. She also won a Silver Anthem award.

Her work has made her an invaluable contributor to local and national publications, news and podcasts. Her focus is on advocacy and policy change, centering around safety and equity.

She is the author of the book, “Delivering” which is out now. The book is meant to empower women, mothers, working women, women in healthcare, and to inspire change.

To learn more about Kellie Stecher, M.D.:
Website: https://kelliestechermd.com/
Patient Care Heroes: https://www.patientcareheroes.com/
The book “Delivering”: https://www.amazon.com/Delivering-Kellie-Lease-Stecher/dp/1914560159
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-stecher-md/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kelliestecher/?hl=en
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/KellieStecherMD/

Today, Tes talks with Andrea Couture. Andrea is an author and mother of three children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. Embracing What Remains is Andrea’s first memoir and book. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, children, and her dog.

To learn more about Andrea Couture:
Facebook: Andrea M Couture, Author
Instagram: @author.andrea.couture
Twitter: acouture22
To learn more about Andrea’s book:
Amazon book: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-What-Remains-Andrea-Couture/dp/0578928264/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Today’s guest is Kavita Tanna. Kavita is guided by the famous philosophy accredited to Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Her mission is to connect with like-minded individuals who wish to empower learners through inspiring, interconnected, and globally-minded holistic education.
Kavita is a master educator and creative designer of integrated curriculum units, weaving impactful learning experiences, wellbeing, curriculum standards/ learning outcomes (state, IB, Honors, AP) and UN Sustainable Development Goals into unified experiences that restore joy to learning and teaching. She co-facilitates Project-Based Learning workshops and coaching sessions, linking staff to learners, educators, and experts around the world.
As the cofounder of Educatio Rad School with Emily Post and Nick Salmon, Kavita helped launch Montana’s first project-based, experiential learning school built upon the values of kindness, acceptance and peace, uncovered through her listening process.
In webinars, workshops and long-term partnerships, Kavita co-designs learning experiences and coaches educators with the roles they play in shaping the identities, attitudes and behaviors of learners, offering practical ideas for supporting discovery, exploration and meaning-making; building the foundations for global and intercultural-mindedness. Through her work as a passionate advocate and mentor for social-emotional-ethical intelligence and wellbeing integration in learning at all age levels, including parents, educators and administrators, her vision is to see holistic wellbeing practices embedded into global competence education.
To learn more about Kavita:
Website: https://www.globallyreconnect.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavita-t-985309153/

Today, Tes talks with Jeanee James. Jeanee is an award winning photographer, sculptor and potter. She’s also an adventurist, who has seen much of the world. She lives her life with passion and gratitude and believes we create and design each chapter in our life book. Her story is an extraordinary one that will inspire you to be proactive in creating more joy and going after that passion you put on hold because life took over.

Jeanee is an Alaskan, raised in the beautiful town of Homer, a place that is in her DNA and sculpted who she is. She says it gave her the foundation of her journey in art, adventure and travel.

Her love of art started in Alaska, receiving an art scholarship, but she changed paths and achieved a degree in Travel and Tourism.

She has backpacked all over Europe, lived on a kibbutz in Israel, was a deckhand, filleted huge halibut in Alaska, been a tour director through the Canadian Rockies, climbed the pyramids in Egypt, floated in the Dead Sea, scuba dived in the Red Sea, hiked in Australia, explored the Tahitian Islands and people, worked on luxury cruise ships traveling the world. She hiked 556 miles solo across Spain on the sacred pilgrimage called El Camino De Santiago.

She was named Woman Artist of the Year Brevard County central Florida 2008,

Best Photography studio/Photographer Readers Choice Florida 2016

Won National Honors in sculpting with Genius Women in the Arts 2020

She created, designed and leads Women’s Art Retreats she calls “Untethered”, a creative adventure for women to reboot, refill and feed women’s souls through art, hiking, music, food and inspiration.

Here is her story, with lessons of love, heartache, gratitude and ultimately following your dreams.

To learn more about Jeanee James and her custom private group, Untethered retreat:
Facebook: Jeanee Seljestad James
Email: jeanee@jeaneej.com
Website: www.jeaneej.com
YouTube: Alaskan Pilgrim

My guest today is Jessica Cox. Born without arms, Jessica drives cars, surfs, scuba dives, and otherwise lives a normal life using her feet as others use their hands. She believes that the way we think has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints. To prove her point while also overcoming her greatest fear, in 2008 Jessica became the first pilot in aviation history licensed to fly a plane with just her feet. Since then, she has visited 27 countries sharing her inspirational message as a keynote speaker.

To learn more about Jessica:
Website: https://jessicacox.com/
Facebook: JessicaCox
IG: rightfooted
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rightfooted/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF7Ogv-CKkU

Today, Tes talks with LaTasha Y. Benn. LaTasha is the founder of Love Your Beauty, LLC, a Beauty + Fitness brand. She began her professional beauty journey in 2005 in Chicago, IL, where she started doing makeup for friends and family. Since then, LaTasha has received training from celebrity makeup artists, as well as worked for MAC Cosmetics, Benefit Cosmetics and Laura Mercier. She has grown her makeup career by doing makeup for theatre productions, weddings and fashion shows, and obtained her Esthetician License in 2013. Once licensed, she started to offer skin care services in addition to her makeup services. After a successful career in Chicago, LaTasha packed up her tools and took her skills down south to Tampa, FL.
Formally known as LYBartistry, LaTasha has rebranded her business to Love Your Beauty, LLC, a Beauty & Wellness brand, in which she has expanded her services and now offers makeup services, skincare consultations, fitness products & apparel, and promotes self-care & mental wellness. LaTasha took her passion for fitness, wellness and beauty and made it her business, while shifting her focus from external beauty to internal beauty.
To learn more about LaTasha:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
IG: @loveyourbeauty_llc
Facebook: @loveyourbeautyllc

Today, Tes talks with Katherine Lucey. Katherine is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Solar Sister, a social enterprise investing in women entrepreneurs to bring clean energy access to off-grid communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Katherine is a Schwab Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year, an Ashoka Fellow,
and a Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur. She has received recognition and
awards for her work with Solar Sister including Forbes “50 Over 50 Women of Impact”, Clinton
Global Initiative, Social Venture Network, C3E, and International Center for Research on
Women (ICRW) Champion of Change Award.

She holds an MBA from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. Prior to becoming a social entrepreneur, Katherine spent over 20 years as an investment banker on Wall Street providing structured finance solutions to the energy sector.

Social Media:
Twitter: @Solar_Sister and @KatherineHLucey
Instagram: @iamsolarister
Facebook: Solar Sister
Linkedin:
Katherine Lucey https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinelucey/
Solar Sister https://www.linkedin.com/company/solar

Today, Tes talks with Gae Polisner. Gae is the award-winning author of six novels including the multi-award winning THE MEMORY OF THINGS which is used in schools around the country. A family law attorney and mediator by trade, but a writer by calling, Gae lives on Long Island with her husband, two sons, and a suspiciously-fictional-looking small dog she swore she’d never own. She is an avid swimmer and, when not writing, can be found in the open waters of the Long Island Sound. Her next book is forthcoming from Henry Holt in 2022. You may follow her on twitter and Instagram @gaepol, on facebook at gaepolisnerauthor, and find her books wherever books are sold.

SEVEN CLUES TO HOME “… a modern-day Bridge to Terabithia.” – Booklist. Junior Library Guild selection, now available from Alfred A Knopf/RHC.

JACK KEROUAC IS DEAD TO ME “… consider her to be the best voice in the YA contemporary space.” – YA Books Central. Now available Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press. Also on audiobook!

IN SIGHT OF STARS, from Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press. Booklist, Starred Review. Winner, 2018 AudioFile Earphones Award; 2020 Keystone to Reading nominee; 2019 Wisconsin State “Just One More Page” selection; 2019 Teen Choice Book Award nominee.

THE MEMORY OF THINGS, Winner, 2019 Golden Archer Wisconsin’s Children’s Choice Book Award; 2017 Wisconsin State “Just One More Page” selection; repeat NYLA Three Apples Book Award finalist; Keystone to Reading Book Award finalist; Nerdy Book Club Best, 2016; New York Times, Huffington Post, and New York Daily News, reviews. Now out on audio!

Check out all my books here: http://gaepolisner.com/
Follow Gae Polisner:
IG: @gaepol
Twister: @gaepol
Facebook: https://www.gaepolisner.com/

Today, Tes speaks with Sema Başol. Sema, who is Turkish-American, is a global marketing and public relations executive with over 35 years of experience both in the U.S. and in Turkey.

Sema is the co-founder of Turkish-Women’s Initiative, a US-based non-profit, founded
in 2008, that promotes the advancement of women through innovative community-
based programs. She is also the founder of Change Leaders Association based in
Turkey that provides leadership skills training for university women through its Sparks
Program. Close to 500 young women have graduated from this program. The social
change projects they have created and implemented have touched the lives of
hundreds of thousands of people. The stories of the graduates are captured in Sema’s
first book “Sparks: transformational stories of young women who dream of a better
world” published in Turkey.

To learn more about Sema Basol:
Website: www.thetwi.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turkishwomensinitiative
IG: https://www.instagram.com/turkishwomensinitiative/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thetwi/

Today, Tes talks with Valerie Bennis. Valerie is an award winning aromatherapist who created the Essence of Vali line of therapeutic products. She recently started a new chapter with the launch of her company, Fragrant Notes, a lifestyle blog for women over 50. Her mission is to inspire women to love and appreciate ALL that they are through all the phases of their life with purpose, self-care, passion and creativity.

To learn more about Valerie Bennis:
For Fragrant Notes:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefragrantnote
Website: www.fragrantnotes.com

For Essence of Vali:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essenceofvali
Website: www.essenceofvali.com

Today, Tes speaks with Chef Liz Thompson. Liz, a native New Yorker, started her first career in Advertising and Product Management after receiving her MBA in Marketing and Finance from Fordham University before she switched gears and attended the French Culinary Institute to become a pastry chef which has been her career path for the last 25 years. She worked in restaurants in New York for a few years before moving to Los Angeles to do an internship with Michelle Richard at restaurant Citrus.

After that, Liz did a quick stint with Food & Wines from France doing wine and food pairings, worked at Tryst Restaurant then moved to Checkers Hotel, a 5-star hotel, as pastry chef, for 5 years. She then went out on her own and opened “The Pig, Memphis Style BBQ” in West L.A. and Universal City Walk as co-owner which received accolades in The New York Times, Newsweek, Bon Appetit, Gourmet and was named “Best BBQ in Los Angeles” by Los Angeles Magazine 3 years in a row.

Liz then taught pastry and restaurant management at The Art Institute of California for 4 years
before moving on to Recipe Formulation and New Product Development, which has become her
passion. She loves to hyper focus on one ingredient and create countless different recipes
which allows her head to spin out creatively which is another area of her expertise.

Baking with Herbs
Liz is passionate about Baking with the natural flavor of fresh herbs from her garden which creates a unique taste experience. She takes any of her recipes, be it pastry or custards and infuses them through sugars, dairy and simple syrups to even make cocktails.

Imagine going into your garden and grabbing a handful of fresh basil, lemongrass, lavender and
even rose petals to transform your already fabulous crème brulee, into something even more
fabulous. The same goes for ice cream, cookies, chocolates and of course cocktails. How about
a Rose Petal and Lime Cosmopolitan in a glass rimmed with Rose Sugar?

Dive into the world of Baking with Herbs with us that has been in existence going back 2000
years ago to the Spice Trade when herbs were more valuable than gold. You will learn which
ingredient in to infuse depending on recipe, be it heavy cream, sugar or butter and the
differences in the methods of doing so.

We will create the following simple recipes that will awaken both your sense of taste and smell!

To learn more about Chef Liz Thompson:
IG: Realdesserts
FB: Chef Liz Thompson
Website: https://www.lizthompsonmarketing.com/

My guest today is Ewa Kuc. Ewa was born and raised in Poland. In 2007, after obtaining a master’s degree in Childhood Development with a specialization in Mass Media Education, she left Poland to become an AuPair in California, where she has settled, married and had her two daughters.

In 2012 she opened her first business, Ewa Samples Photography, recently rebranded into May The Art Be With You.

In January of 2022, Ewa joined Acton Academy, a network of independent owners of nontraditional schools and has since become the co-founder of Soaring – an Acton Academy – a non-profit private school in Morgan Hill, California.

She also hosts an annual event for kids, Children’s Business Fair, where for one day kids can become entrepreneurs and sell their products and services in person to the public.

Ewa is certified:
– Therapeutic Art Life Coach
– Life Story Coach.

She’s in the process of obtaining a license for Be Body Positive Facilitator Training and Mindfulness Life Coaching certification.

Her next life goal is to become a Body Image Life Coach for pre-teens, teens, and moms!

To learn more about Ewa:
IG: @ewa_samples
FB for Soaring Acton Academy: https://www.facebook.com/SoaringActonAcademy
FB for Morgan Hill Children’s Business Fair: https://www.facebook.com/MHChildrensBusinessFair
FB for May The Art Be With You: https://www.facebook.com/MaytheartbewithyouEwaSamples

Today, Tes speaks with Cheryl Thomas. Cheryl is the founding Director of Global Rights for Women. Since 1993, Cheryl has worked with partners around the world to promote women’s human rights and achieve effective legal reform to end gender based violence She has participated in the drafting of new laws on violence against women and girls, and trained legal and community professionals to enforce such laws in dozens of countries. She has worked closely with the United Nations to develop model standards on legal reform on gender based violence. Cheryl has participated in numerous UN Expert Group Meetings on violence against women including in 2008 when she co-chaired the meeting to draft UN Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women. In 2011, she was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of 150 “Women Who Shake the World”. In 2021, the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) awarded her Arabella Babb Mansfield Award for her professional achievements for women in the law.

Today, Tes talks with Kim L. Hunt. Kim is a lifelong learner who continues to hone and invest her passion in organizational leadership, Black and LGBTQ+ liberation and storytelling. For over 25 years Ms. Hunt has used her platforms in storytelling, public speaking and civic engagement to curate brave, inclusive spaces for social change. She is currently the executive director of the Pride Action Tank (PAT), a project of AIDS Foundation Chicago, where she also serves as the senior director of Policy & Advocacy Operations. PAT is a multi-issue project incubator and think tank that focuses on action that leads to improved opportunities and outcomes for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups. Kim was previously the executive director of Affinity Community Services, a 25-year-old social justice organization that focuses on Black LGBTQ+ people. Prior to her work in LGBTQ+ communities, Kim’s work focused on urban planning and community and economic development. She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including induction into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame and being named a Crain’s Chicago Notable LGBTQ Executive. She serves on the boards of Brave Space Alliance and One Roof Chicago, the OUT at CHM Planning Committee, the advisory boards of OTV and Wille’s Warriors. She is a founding co-host of OUTSpoken LGBTQ Storytelling, a monthly show in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, and a published author. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Iowa State University, a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master’s in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago. Kim lives in Chicago with her wife and has three adult children and a dog.

To learn more about Kim Hunt:
Twitter: @chikimhunt62
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.l.hunt.14/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-l-hunt-7028674/

Photo credit: Rebecca Parrish of Interchange Productions

When one asks Pilar how she sees herself within the context of the community, she will immediately respond, “I am a Mother, a Sister, a Healer. I am a soldier on the front lines who creates safe spaces for my people to heal and grow.” As a Veteran of the United States Navy where she served as an Operations Specialist, her love of details and process, systems and strategy led her to the social service aspect of the human/health sciences.

For seven years Pilar worked for the Chicago Department of Public health/CDC
as an Infectious Disease Community Epidemiologist. Desiring to have a more hands on healing impact within the community, the next decade took Pilar on a magical journey through entrepreneurship; opening a healing shop featured on ABC7’s 190 North and HGTV which led to her being selected to represent Dove Soap in the international “Real Women, Real Beauty” Campaign.

Her signature Gele, or headwrap, was so inspiring to women across the globe that a movement was formed launching Gele Day, an annual celebration of Healing for women of color, which led to the launching of Pilar’s non-profit organization, Wrap Your beYOUty Movement (WYBM). Now in its 10thYear, WYBM is committed to unearthing the most innovative and creative ways to address the current state of violence in Chicago and is committed to addressing the many forms of trauma that adversely impact the south and west sides of Chicago – especially as a result of the pandemic.

Through Ancient indigenous artforms and healing practices, WYBM assists the women of the
community in their journey to better engaging their children and their men. By facilitating safe spaces for Black people to share experiences, learn and build, healing takes place in the most profound way. WYBM empowers Black people to take what they learn back to their respective families, with an emphasis on training their own children.

Pilar is also a former Arts Vendor for Chicago Public Schools, a 2021 Chicago Peace Fellow and Associate Director at Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Greater
Chicago (TRHT).

To learn more about Pilar Audain:
Facebook: TRinigyal Pilar Audain
IG: Pilar Sango Queen

Today, Tes talks with Sara Knizhnik. Sara holds a BA from Northwestern University and an MA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She served as a university-level English-as-a-Second-Language Instructor at various universities in the Chicago area for 17 years before becoming first a volunteer, part-time gun violence prevention (GVP) advocate with Moms Demand Action and then a full-time, professional GVP advocate with the Newtown Action Alliance (NAA). Sara is the Director of Community Engagement for NAA, a national gun violence prevention (GVP) organization founded in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, CT in December 2012. Sara is also one of the Principals and founders of Purpose Storytellers, a clever public affairs firm dedicated to helping nonprofits get to the next level of policy influence and thought leadership. Sara spends her time, as both a professional and a volunteer, educating the public about how they can become active in the movements in support of gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform. She is also a Vernon Township Trustee. Sara lives in Vernon Hills, Illinois with her husband and two children.

To learn more about Sara Knizhnik:
Follow Me Everywhere via Linktree – Please click here.

Today, Tes speaks with Joni Pursell. Joni is a native Idahoan and began her financial career in 1984. She is an Investment Advisor Representative and Registered Representative with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Joni assists clients in Wealth Management Solutions, Asset Allocation, Retirement Planning, Education Planning, Insurance and Annuities and Legacy Planning. She is passionate about her clients and helping them achieve THEIR goals.
She is active in civic, business and mentoring programs throughout the Treasure Valley.
She is the past president of the Women’s Business Center.
She served on the Board of Directors for Walkin The Talk, a non-profit organization which enhances the esteem of kids and is delivered through the school system.
She is a past member of International Toastmasters
She also mentors business owners
Joni lives in Eagle, Idaho. She has 2 children, Shea and Chase and loves being grandma (‘YAYA’) to Tegan, Langlei, Mason, Mila & Madeline (They are the cutest grandkids in the world!) She loves to ride her Harley and looks forward to one day riding cross country to Maine and eating some of that famous Maine lobster. Currently she is riding a 2020 Road Glide, fulfilling this dream.
To learn more about Joni:
Website: www.raymondjames.com/JoniPursell
Website: www.nextlevelfinancialplanners.com
Broker check: http://www.finra.org.brokercheck/

To find out about Joni’s cross country ride to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease:
https://www.motorcyclepowersportsnews.com/woman-embarks-34-day-ride-support-drive-cure-parkinsons/

Mae Flores is an award-winning Filipina-American actress turned speaker and advocate. She is well-known for her role in the sci-Fi cult classic, “Atlantis Down” and her philanthropy-focused, independent music show, “Mae Flores Presents.”

Mae fervently advocates for women’s rights and gender equality because she is also a two-time survivor of sexual assault. She has received multiple awards like the UN Global Goals Ambassador Award for her work with Gender Equality and the WNBA Redefine Women Award for her work in the sexual assault advocacy space. In 2017, she spoke on the importance of moving past the trauma of her assaults in a TEDx talk titled, “I’m Still Here”. She is the founder of “Light Me Up”, a program which uses the power of movement, voice and music to show survivors how to use tools that they already have within themselves to find their own paths to healing. Currently she is the producer of various projects that focus on storytelling and healing, like the podcast, “So, Tell Me About Your Dad”.

Follow Mae Flores:
Email: maeflores111@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missmaeflores
IG: @officialmaeflores
Mae Flores’ TEDx Talk, “I’m Still Here”: https://youtu.be/__K65pyMM64
Coming Soon: www.maeflores.com

Today, Tes speaks with Marisa Zeppieri. Marisa is a former journalist and Mrs. New York, and today is a speaker, the founder of NY nonprofit LupusChick, and the author of the memoir and cookbook, Chronically Fabulous. She is also a lupus patient and started LupusChick in 2007 as a way to provide resources, inspiration and encouragement to people living with autoimmune disease. In her free time, she loves to paint, road trip, cook, and spend time with her family and rescued terrier.

You can follow Marisa on instagram @lupuschickofficial and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/lupuschick – Her website is LupusChick.com

Today, Tes talks with Jennifer Burden. Jennifer hails from the USA and is the Founder and CEO of World Moms Network, an award-winning online media organization and website promoting a world of peace through the common bonds of motherhood. Jennifer has been nominated Global Influencer Fellow and Social Media Fellow by the UN Foundation, invited to the White House, spoken at the World Bank for the right of a universal education for all children, and her writing has been featured on Impatient Optimists, The Huffington Post, ONE.org and BabyCenter. She is currently at Columbia University in NYC, where she is working toward her Executive Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in global policy studies. She is the mother of two girls and practices Heartfulness meditation.

To learn more about Jennifer Burden:
worldmomsblog@gmail.com

To learn more about World Moms Network:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldmomsnetwork
www.worldmomsnetwork.com
Twitter: @WorldMomsNetwk
IG: worldmomsnetwk

June Millington “one of the hottest female guitarists in the industry”(Guitar Player Magazine) has been making music since she was a child playing ukulele in her native Philippines. Having moved from Manila to California in the early sixties, she and her sister, bassist Jean, turned in their folk guitars for electric guitar and bass and formed a succession of all-girl bands. By 1969 they were in Hollywood with their band Fanny, one of the first all women’s rock bands to be signed to a major label (Reprise). Through five successful albums and extensive touring of Europe and North America, Fanny served notice that women could do more than simply sing, they could write and play passionate rock ‘n roll. As David Bowie said of the group in an interview with Rolling Stone:“ They were one of the finest f***ing rock bands of their time … They were extraordinary: They wrote everything, they played like motherf***ers … They are as important as anyone else who’s ever been, ever …” (RS, January 2000). In 1975 June played on Cris Wiliamson’s “The Changer and the Changed” which launched her involvement in the genre of women’s music, and which led to being a co-founder and Artistic Director of the Institute for the Musical Arts [IMA], a non-profit organization for women and girls. IMA [www.ima.org] has been hosting Rock ‘n Roll Girls Camps each summer since 2002, and has grown into an internationally known teaching, performing and recording facility supporting women in music and music-related business. The founding board included activist/writer Angela Davis and acclaimed engineer/producer Roma Baran (Laurie Anderson, Rosalie Sorrels). June released her autobiography “Land of a Thousand Bridges: Island Girl in a Rock ‘n Roll World” in 2015; Bobbi Jo Hart’s documentary, “Fanny: The Right to Rock” is currently being released amid much excitement.

June’s latest album, Snapshots was just released via IMA on her label Fabulous Records (all proceeds support programming). Available at https://www.ima.org/snapshots/

To learn more about June Millington:
www.ima.org
https://www.facebook.com/june.millington.1/
and of course, the fundraiser for Jean,
www.gofundme.com/jean-millington-go

Photo credit:
Marita Madeloni