Archives: Episode

Today, Tes talks with Rita Dave. Rita is a first generation immigrant who arrived from India at the age of 7 years old. After graduating from Queens College with a Psychology undergraduate degree, she attended New York Law School and began practicing law in 1992. Having always worked for lawyers since the age of 14, she’s participated in large tort and products liability litigation, and as a lawyer, her practice includes real estate, estate and immigration. She received an honor in the United States Congress and this tribute was read into the record on the floors of Congress. Rita’s dedication to justice resulted in her practice focusing on actual innocence work, and she strives to help those who are innocent, falsely accused and wrongfully convicted to regain their freedom. Her mission is to see that there is in fact true justice and that “presumption of innocence” is not just a premise but a reality.

To learn more about Rita Dave:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davshelat
IG: Daverita2015

Today, Tes talks with Melissa DuPrey. Melissa is a multidisciplinary artist with roots from Humboldt Park, Chicago. After earning double Bachelor degrees from the University of Houston, she returned to Chicago to join the all-Latina theatre company, Teatro Luna. Her one-woman show, SEXomedy (2012), was developed during their monthly series for women of color in the arts and received a Chicago Reader Recommendation, a Member’s Pick, and had a successful debut Off-Broadway in New York. The popular show spurred a progressive sequel, SEXomedy 2.0, which debuted at Steppenwolf Theater in April 2019. Her second solo show, SUSHI-frito, has also been critically acclaimed as part of MPAACT’s Signature Series for solo artists. In 2014, she was selected as a new talent in the ABC Diversity Showcase in New York City. DuPrey is also a community organizer and spiritualist who also launched The Good Grief Project- an extension of the social justice component from her play GOOD GRIEF, where communities of color are connected to local, accessible and multidisciplinary mental and spiritual wellness practitioners of color. Her full-length play BRUJAJA was selected as part of 16th Street’s New Play Pop Up Reading Series for 2019 and is slated for a world premiere in 2021 with UrbanTheater Company. She has performed stand-up comedy in Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. She is a featured actor in the Emmy-nominated web-series Brown Girls and has many regional and non regional theater credits in Chicago. She can currently be seen as DR. SARA ORTIZ on “Grey’s Anatomy” (Season 17 and 18). Other TV credits include a recurring appearance on “Empire” (FOX), and guest appearances on “The Resident” (FOX), “Chicago PD” (NBC), and “The Chi” (Showtime). Film credits include: Relative (2022), Long Division (2022), Cherry (2020), Two in the Bush (2017), The Way We Speak (2014) and Bromance (2014). As a musician and active member of her community, she is dedicated to the preservation of Puerto Rican culture by way of the folkloric music, Bomba y Plena, with Africaribe and Las BomPleneras. She is currently an Ensemble Member at UrbanTheater Company and Artistic Associate at Sideshow Theater.

To learn more about Melissa DuPrey:
Website: www.melissaduprey.com
Twitter & IG: @BoomBoomDuPrey

News links:
Chicago Sun Times coverage for Grey’s Anatomy
Review of Good Grief- A healing experience
Please and Resistance in the face of Patriarchy
Coverage of The Chicago Women’s March and critique of lack of inclusivity
Centering Black and Brown Narratives in Chicago as ED of Social Justice Theater

Today, Tes talks with Khem Khoeun. Trustee Khoeun has lived in Skokie since 2005 and was elected to the Village Board in 2021. When initially elected to the Skokie Park District Board in 2017, she became the first Cambodian-American woman elected to public office in the United States. Trustee Khoeun holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a minor in Political Science from Loyola University, Chicago. She is a Certified SAFe Product Owner/Manager and, in 2018, received a Courage & Leadership Award from the Devata Giving Circle. In addition to serving as a Commissioner and Vice-President on the Skokie Park District Board from 2017 to 2021, her numerous civic involvements include serving as a member of the Fairview Parent Equity Group and a volunteer with the Asian American Caucus. Trustee Khoeun also serves on the Board of Directors for the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic.
Having been born in a refugee camp to Cambodian refugee parents, she currently serves as the President of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial. She and her husband chose to live in Skokie to raise their children, now ages 9 and 11.
Trustee Khoeun enjoys Skokie’s ease of access to the expressway and public transit, the excellent schools, beautiful parks, affordable homes and the great diversity that all make Skokie a welcoming, safe place to live.

To learn more about Khem Khoeun:
Twitter & IG: @friendsofkhem

Today, Tes talks with Patricia Pastor. Patricia is a human rights attorney focused on immigration law and sexual assault law. Her work includes representing unaccompanied youth immigrants fleeing their countries due to gang violence, poverty, injustice, political and religious persecution. She pursues the release of detained migrants and works with families seeking permanent residency based on marriage and family relationships.

Patricia pursues justice for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. She has a long-
standing commitment to combating violence against women. Her work is informed by
her prior experience investigating child sexual and physical abuse allegations for the
NYPD and her history as a general counsel overseeing employment investigations.

As Legislative Lead for NOW NYS and President of Nassau NOW, Patricia has been
instrumental in promoting the election of women who demonstrate the values of equity
for all and ethical leadership. She petitions for legislation on issues critical to women and marginalized communities. Possessing a deep sense of justice for these communities, Patricia regularly contributes pro bono legal services in immigration, at U.S. borders, and to victims of domestic violence.

To learn more about Patricia Pastor:
Website: www.pmpastorlaw.com
Twitter: @2020TimesUp and @NowNassau
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timesup.2020
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/patriciampastor

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

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

Sally Lou Oaks Loveman is the former audience producer for
The Oprah Winfrey Show who lives her purpose by
connecting with audiences. When she was age fourteen, she
tuned into her passion for television when she was an
audience member at The Mike Douglas Show and spotted a
woman on the set with a clipboard. Sally Lou had no idea what
this woman did, but she knew she would do it one day too.

After her thirty-six-year career in television and having
entertained over half a million people from the Oprah stage,
Loveman shares her “do what you love” message through her
business, lovespeaks, and her new book Speak: Love Your
Story, Your Audience is Waiting

Blending the genres of memoir and self-improvement, Speak
shares Sally Lou’s story while offering tips to help readers
become better speakers and storytellers. Filled with humor
and truth, Speak encourages readers to speak, to speak up, to
speak their story, to speak without fear and to have some fun
with it. Speaking well in front of others is not only a career
asset, it’s a life asset and Sally Lou Loveman is on a mission to
prepare everyone for their stage.

Today, Tes speaks with Jannelle So. Jannelle is a Filipino-American media pioneer, who made a name for herself as the creator, and original host and producer of America’s first and only daily talks show for and about the Filipinos, “Kababayan TODAY” on KSCI-TV LA18. The show that ran for 8.5 years under Jannelle’s leadership, was also the longest-running Filipino daily talk show outside of the Philippines.

Jannelle is now CEO / Executive Producer of her own company which she launched in 2015-Jannelle So Productions, Inc. In July 2017, she launched her new weekly magazine/lifestyle show, “SO Jannelle” which airs on US-wide cable channel The Filipino Channel, the premier Global Filipino Channel, with replays on ANC; and
with over-the-air distribution on KSCITV-LA18 in Southern CA.

Jannelle and her JSP team also produce internal videos for select corporate clients. During the pandemic, Jannelle has also become a hands-on mom to her 5yo daughter, Lilly and
2yo son, Leo; effectively balancing a thriving life of entrepreneurship and motherhood.

Jannelle’s hard work and accomplishments as a media practitioner has been recognized by
mainstream and Filipino organizations. This year, 2020 – Jannelle was included in the
prestigious list of 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL FILIPINOS, to celebrate the 10 th year of TOFA,
The Outstanding Filipinos in America, at the Carnegie Hall in New York City, to which Jannelle
was first inducted in 2018.

In 2013, Jannelle received the Outstanding Community Reporting award from New America
Media, on her story about human trafficking. In the same year, Jannelle was honored by The Los Angeles Filipino Association of Filipino Employees for her contributions to the Filipino-
American media landscape. As well, she received the “Bayanihan” Spirit award from the historic
Filipinotown neighborhood council. In 2011 Jannelle received an Honorable Mention from the
Los Angeles Press Club at the 53rd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards. In the same
year, she was also named as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the US by Filipina
Women’s Network.

Jannelle is also very active in social work and community service. She currently serves as
Director of Strategic Partnerships of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations
(NaFFAA-National) and on the Board of NaFFAA Greater Los Angeles region. In 2012 – Jannelle was the youngest person elected to the Board of Directors for Gawad Kalinga-USA, a non-profit group aiming to eradicate poverty in the Philippines by building communities through values-formation and social entrepreneurship. In 2013 – Jannelle was also invited to join the LA
Associates Board of Teach for America, an American non-profit organization the aims to make
education available to children of low-income families. She is also a passionate volunteer for the
Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), a group dealing with domestic violence issues.

In 2012, Jannelle chaired the month-long Filipino American History celebration in the City of
Carson, CA, for which she was recognized as “Supreme Bayani (Hero)” by the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce in the SouthBay. Carson City officials in Southern CA came out with a proclamation on Jannelle’s achievements.

Prior to migrating to the U.S. Jannelle was an accomplished media practitioner in the
Philippines where she had a 6-year print and broadcast journalism career, which includes
coverage of top local and international events such as the 1997 ASEAN Informal Summit in
Malaysia, 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and 2002 Asian Games in Korea, 1998 Philippine
Presidential Elections, 2000 Centennial Celebrations in the Philippines, and 2006 NBA All-Star
Weekend in Houston, Texas. She has also regularly covered the fights of Philippine boxing pride
Manny Pacquiao.

In addition to TV, Jannelle also maintained a weekly lifestyle column and a separate weekly
sports column in The Philippine Star, a national paper in the Philippines. Currently, Jannelle
has also written a weekly column in Balita, one of the leading Filipino American newspapers.

Jannelle graduated cum laude with a BA in Communication Arts, and was awarded second
honors of the entire graduating class from Miriam College, Inc., Philippines, where she was an
honor scholar. In 1998, Jannelle was nominated to the Top 10 Most Outstanding Students of the
Philippines. In Los Angeles, she took up a certificate course in print and broadcast Journalism at
UCLA.

===

CONNECT WITH JANNELLE:
Email: info@jannellesoproductions.com
On YouTube: YouTube.com/SoJannelleTV
On Facebook: facebook.com/SoJannelleTV
On Instagram: instagram.com/SoJannelleTV
On Twitter: twitter.com/JannelleSo
On Kumu: @SoJannelle

Today, Tes speaks with Jeannine Harvey. Jeannine is an award-winning content producer and brand strategist. She is passionate about the possibilities that emerge from the intersection of storytelling, community, and collaborative disruption. Jeannine is co-founder and chief partnerships officer for Feed Our Democracy (FoD), a Public Benefit Corporation that promotes civic engagement and community-led change.

Jeannine has long been an advocate for gender equality, and the health, rights and wellbeing of
women and children. At the ONE Campaign, she created and managed a girls and women’s
initiative designed to amplify voices and stories. As director of digital strategy at PBS, she
designed overall strategy and creative marketing campaigns to engage children and parents
around educational content.

She believes in the inherent good in people, that action leads to more action, and that sharing
our stories lead to connection and empathy.

To learn more about Jeannine Harvey and Feed Our Democracy:
IG: @jeannineharvey1
Twitter: @JeannineAHarvey
Facebook: @FeedtheDemocracy

My guest today is Emily Teng. Emily knows a thing or two about dreaming. She has always dreamed of possibilities when others see problems. She knows what it’s like to be the underdog or misfit, fighting to be seen, valued, and heard as a sensitive soul to now leading an award-winning non-profit based in Singapore, Blessings in a Bag. Her friends liken her to Professor X saying: “Emily is not bald, but she takes in those who have been overlooked, forgotten, or left behind, and sees their unique gifts. She brings them together and uses their superpowers to change the world.”

Her decades-long work as a Community Leader received Singapore’s President’s Award for commitment to ‘rallying community spirit’ and Emily was also named world’s most inspiring leader and change-maker by Facebook in 2018. She also represented Singapore in the United States’ Women in Leadership in ASEAN as part of the Young South-East-Asia Leadership Initiative by the State Department of the USA. In 2019, she was honoured by Generation T Asia (Tatler) as “the next generation of influencers” who are changing the face of future leadership. In 2020, Women’s Weekly named Emily one of the ‘Great Women of Our Time’ in Public Service and Education.

She has taken her experiences and wisdom and turned it into a life of service for the greater good. She is currently located in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband where she lives out her new dream: supporting other change makers, visionary founders and heart-led leaders to rest, reimagine and birth their dreams to the world. In so doing, the world is transformed — one person and one dream at a time.

To learn more about Emily Teng and Blessings in a Bag:
IG: http://www.instagram.com/emilywjteng
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilywjteng/
Website: http://www.emilyteng.com

Today, Tes speaks with Kirsten Doyle. Kirsten is a writer and content creator who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and now lives in Toronto, Canada. As a child she dreamed of a career in psychology, but after she obtained her Bachelor’s degree, life took her on a different path. She embarked on a career in information technology – the career that brought her to Canada in 2000. After she lost her job to corporate downsizing, she combined her love of writing with her passion for mental health advocacy and launched a career as a mental health and addictions writer.

Kirsten is a strong believer in human rights, and actively works to promote the rights of BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disability communities. Through her athletics coaching and volunteer activities at the local elementary school, she has worked with many refugee children and their families. She is part of the Special Education Advisory Committee at the Toronto District School Board, and she is on the Board of Directors of Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario. She is also a member of the Community Police Liaison Committee, where she is advocating for anti-racism within the police system.

One of Kirsten’s pandemic projects was to start two new YouTube channels. Word Salad With Coffee is focused on writing-related content. She combines light relief (because we all need a good laugh) with writing tips for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills (because the world needs more writers). My Gen X Life is a channel where Kirsten talks about what’s going on with her family and offers her unfiltered opinions about the state of the world.

Kirsten lives with her husband and has two teenage sons. Her older boy is autistic and is a Special Olympics champion. Her younger son is a force of nature with big goals of his own to change the world.

Social media

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/c/MyGenXLife
https://youtube.com/c/WordSaladWithCoffee

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mygenxlife/
https://www.facebook.com/wordsaladwithcoffee/

Twitter:
@my_genx_life
@wordsaladcoffee

Instagram:
@my_genx_life
@wordsaladwithcoffee

TikTok:
@my_genx_life

Dr. Hilary S. Berger, Ed.D., LPC. is the Founder & CEO of Work Like a Mother®, a nationwide & award-winning career counseling program for women, and is a Mental Health based Career Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She proudly serves working women, stay-at-home mothers, college students, graduates, and career changers at all stages of their lives. For over 20 years Hilary has passionately counseled mothers to re-build their professional purpose, career competencies, and most importantly their confidence while raising children. Hilary has partnered with indeed.com, pioneered and successfully served close to 3000 women through her solution-oriented comprehensive career counseling system designed exclusively through the unique lens of women’s life stages and the realities of mother’s lives. She has written articles on the Career Implications for Stay at Home Moms, runs career academies, career boot camps, and intensive career accelerator programs for large and small audiences of women across all stages of life and work. She has been privileged to present the Work Like a Mother® career development model at the global National Career Development Association annual conference and is honored to be interviewed by numerous media outlets to raise awareness about issues facing professional women who become mothers. She has contributed to segments on this topic for TV, Radio, and Print Publications for USA Today, CBS, CNBC, Good Housekeeping Magazine, 1010Wins, Al Jazeera, and News 8 Connecticut, and related podcasts including REvolutionary Woman and Single Process.Me. She is a highly experienced college administrator, counselor, and adjunct instructor in psychology and career services at both private universities and public community colleges. She recently served as a career advisor for Teachers College, Columbia University where she is an alumnus, is now proudly affiliated with Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni Career Coaching Program, and was honored to serve this past year as co-chair for the professional development committee for MNYCCPOA and was the recipient for the 2021 Alva Cooper Award for best practices and most innovative counseling model for women. She is now dedicated to shaping a new narrative and framework for young women in high school and college to have a career roadmap for their future where motherhood is recognized as a legitimate aspect of their career journey She is an advisory board member and instructor for the SHE WORKS program through Connecticut-based, Live Girl.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/worklikeamother

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worklikeamother

Twitter: @WorkLikeMother

Laureen A. Kelley founded LA Kelley Communications, Inc., in 1990, after her child with hemophilia was born. She wanted to provide practical educational materials for families with bleeding disorders. Laurie is the author of 10 books on bleeding disorders, including Raising a Child with Hemophilia and Success as a Hemophilia Leader. She was founder and publisher of the Parent Empowerment Newsletter (PEN) for 31 years, and PEN’s Insurance Pulse for 11 years. Laurie also founded Project SHARE, a humanitarian program that donates millions of dollars’ worth of blood-clotting medicine annually to impoverished patients in developing countries. She is founder and president of Save One Life, a nonprofit child sponsorship agency for children with bleeding disorders in developing countries.

Laurie was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and received her bachelor’s degree in child psychology from Regis College. She worked as a psychologist with handicapped children and adults for four years before earning her master’s degree in international economics and business from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Laurie worked for six years as an economic consultant at DRI/McGraw-Hill, before devoting her life to helping patients with bleeding disorders.

To learn about Laurie Kelley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.kelley.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurieKelley2
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureen-kelley-31bb3b6/

To learn about Save One Life:
https://saveonelife.net
IG: saveonelife
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaveOneLifeOrg/
Twitter: @SaveOneLifeInc

Today, Tes talks with Shijuade Kadree. Shijuade is the Director of Diversity for Snap, Inc, the parent company of SnapChat. Prior to joining SnapChat, she was the Chief Advocacy Officer for The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, as well as a legislative counsel for the New York City Council.

An alumna of Emory University, Shijuade graduated with a joint degree from the Schools of Law and Public Health. A former defense attorney with Brooklyn Defender Services, Shijuade has significant government relations, policy, strategic planning and stakeholder cultivation and engagement experience.
In addition to being the Director of Diversity for Snap, Inc, Shijuade is the Founder of Compass Strategies Consulting, which partners with organizations and community leaders to create effective management practices and powerful strategies for transformation. She has legislative and organizational policy drafting experience, and leadership and executive coaching practice, across multiple interests and sectors, which informs how she tailors her guidance and approach for each client.
Shijuade has worked with all levels of government, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, striving to ensure that the work being done is thoughtful, innovative, and inclusive, with an explicitly intersectional lens. She centers her work from a black, queer, feminist perspective, believing that when all of those needs are engaged and addressed, all will benefit from the outcome. A recipient of multiple awards for her work, she is also a sought after speaker, panelist and moderator. Shijuade resides in Atlanta with her wife and children.

Despite her rough childhood situation, Diena managed to win respectable scholarships: One year exchange student (AFS) in Delaware, USA, during her teenage era. She also won a scholarship from IKIP Jakarta for her university study. The last one was a scholarship to do her master’s degree in English Language Teaching in Warwick University, UK, from The British Council.

Before founding SEJIWA Foundation, Diena worked in several companies and as a lecturer in her alma mater. She had passion in training and developing human resources. She then formed Business Dynamics, a training and consulting company, serving national and international companies. Business Dynamics focused on developing leaders, managers, supervisors, and workers to create a positive work environment in order to improve productivity.

Later on, she found a call for humanity service, particularly in dealing with bullying issues in schools and homes in Indonesia. The deaths of students in schools due to hazing and bullying were considered just a phase of children’s lives. She then set up SEJIWA Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on child protection. She managed the 2 entities at the same time. However, after 21 years of service in Business Dynamics, she finally decided to leave Business Dynamics and dedicate her time entirely to SEJIWA Foundation.
Diena plans to continue her work for children, ensuring children to live with dignity and respect in nurturing and safe environments.

To learn more about Diena Haryana:
Email: diena.haryana@gmail.com
Twitter: @DienaHaryana
IG: @dienaharyana

To Learn more about SEJIWA Foundation:
Website: http://www.sejiwa.org
Email: sejiwa.foundation@gmail.com
Twitter: @YayasanSejiwa
IG: @yayasansejiwa
YouTube: Yayasan SEJIWA

Today, Tes talks with Yvonne Watson. Yvonne is an educator, designer and academic who has held a number of positions in art & design higher education. She currently serves as Dean Curriculum + Learning & Special Advisor to the Provost Office on Curriculum Parsons School of Design and is an Associate Professor in the School of Fashion at. Since 2010 she has served in key leadership roles in the School of Fashion, first as Director of Academic Affairs and then as School Associate Dean.

Yvonne’s expertise and experience have been integral to our curricular planning for many years, at the school, Parsons, and university levels. Her role as Advisor to the Provost’s Office on Curriculum will allow Yvonne to expand upon this work and ensure that the curricular needs and priorities of Parsons are well represented at the university level, while formalizing the role she already plays in supporting cross-college and university-wide initiatives. The transition to online delivery as a result of the pandemic, and the imminent return to onsite teaching and learning, has altered many of our long-held views of how pedagogy and curriculum can be shaped. Yvonne will use her time in this role to bring leadership to the broader enquiry of how we can approach inclusive and innovative pedagogy within this changing landscape.

Since 2018, Yvonne has served as Parsons’ Associate Dean of Curriculum and Learning. She previously served as the Associate Dean in the School of Fashion, where she was instrumental in the development and implementation of the BFA Fashion Design curriculum and articulation of pathways. She is also Associate Professor within the School of Fashion, where she has taught for over ten years. Yvonne’s career has spanned roles that have encompassed both undergraduate and graduate studies as Program Director for BA Fashion Knitwear Design, MA Textile Design and Innovation, and MA Decorative Arts at Nottingham Trent University. She holds a Master’s in Globalization, Identity and Technology from The School of Humanities, Nottingham Trent University.

Her interests are in transforming the current context for the global supply chain in order to raise awareness as to the inhuman practices that currently exist in the fashion industry, gender pay gap, below minimum or living wages for workers. The intention is to bridge the fashion industry and education so that we can collectively develop an alternative fashion supply chain with a vision to creating an industry where human rights and sustainable living goals are central. She has worked for developing and emerging communities and has travelled to areas such as Ethiopia and Mongolia, to work with communities of women to enhance their product development process.

Her career has spanned roles that have encompassed both undergraduate and postgraduate program director for BA Fashion Knitwear Design, MA Textile Design and Innovation, and MA Decorative Arts at Nottingham Trent University.

She holds a BA in Fashion Knitwear Design from Nottingham Trent University in the UK, and a Masters in Globalization, Identity and Technology from The School of Humanities, Nottingham Trent University. Early in her career, she worked for a mid-range knitwear design company in New York before returning to the United Kingdom, where she designed and manufactured her own fashion knitwear line, Alpha-Omega, which sold in the UK, US and Hong Kong, before becoming a full-time academic.

To learn more about Yvonne Watson: https://www.aarp.org/disrupt-aging/stories/ideas/info-2016/yvonne-watson-fashion-disruptor.html
Twitter: @yvonne_watson
IG: @yvonneny10

Today, Tes speaks with Sophia Neghesti-Johnson. Sophia is a visual artist, published author, and songwriter originally from Tanzania, now living in the U.S.

Sophia’s photographs and mixed media paintings have been on exhibit in various U.S. cities, and her latest song, So Good, can be heard on all major streaming services.

Having children, being an immigrant, and living far from her family has inspired Sophia to begin writing a children’s book series about the many tribes of Tanzania, with the first book, Koku’s Tanzania – Wahaya, being published on Amazon.

Sophia is an active contributor of World Moms Network, a Forbes Top 100 website for women.

As well as being a speaker in the award winning webinar series – GLOW – Heartfulness Webinars for women, Sophia is also a patron and pioneer of GLOW in its stages of inception and helped it grow and sustain.

Sophia and her husband, Don, own a company, Barefoot Baobab, with which they encourage a love for reading and literacy, through storytelling and music.

To learn more about Sophia Neghesti-Johnson:
IG: Sophiloveslife
IG: Sophi_the_artist (for her music)
IG: Barefootbaobab (for their literacy company)
Website: https://barefootbaobab.com

Twitter: thnksaybesnj

LinkedIn: Sophia Neghesti-Johnson

Today, Tes talks with Bette Levy. Bette has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University and a Masters of Arts & a Masters of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Prior to retiring in 2011, she worked for the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) for 38 years with primary expertise in children/ families and residential care. She was responsible for the development of a family & Youth advocacy movement. She was also responsible for developing national program guidelines for children’s residential care.

Her secondary expertise at OMH was Disaster Risk Reduction. On September 11th, her office was forced into action due to the terrorist attacks and she served for 10 years as the lead disaster mental health & emergency preparedness liaison for NY State OMH to NYC Office of Emergency Management, NYS Emergency Management Office and to US Department of Homeland Security.

After retiring, she became an independent Management & Culture Change Consultant as well as a consultant at the US Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services and the Building Bridges Initiative, where she was responsible for developing and facilitating a National Youth Advisory Council. She has been the author or contributor to chapters in several books, guidelines, tip sheets and articles on working with youth and their families in residential care and Peer movements (youth & family). She also served as a consultant to the US Department of Justice, Fraud Division for Children’s residential care services.

Her role at the UN/NY, is as SI’s Main Representative and serves as Special Advisor to the International President for Relationships & Strategic Planning.

Soroptimist International (SI), a large Women’s Rights organization working to transform the lives of women and girls in all their diversity across the life course. Soroptimist International and their five (5) Federations is a network comprised of over 72,000 club members in 121 countries, located in 3000 communities.

Final thought : a quote from Antoine de Saint Euxpery ..
“A Dream without a Goal is a Wish – A Goal without a Plan is just a Dream’

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 Dr. Ada Cheng. Ada is a professor-turned-storyteller, solo performer, and storytelling show producer. She was a tenured professor in sociology at DePaul University from 2001-2016 when she resigned to pursue storytelling and performance full time. She has been featured at storytelling shows and done her two solo performances all over the country. Ada is the producer and the host of five storytelling shows, including Pour One Out, Am I Man Enough?, Talk Stories: An Asian American / Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show, Speaking Truths Series, and This Is America: Truths through My Body. She creates platforms for people to tell difficult and vulnerable stories as well as for communities who may not have the opportunities otherwise. She is an adjunct faculty at Dominican University and a speaker for Illinois Humanities Speakers Bureau Program. She works full time as the Education and Outreach Specialist with Women’s Leadership and Resource Center at UIC. Her motto: Make your life the best story you tell.
Ada Cheng, Ph.D.

Most Recent News:
This Is America: Truths through My Body is part of programming for 2020 Cook County Racial Equity Week
Recipient for Asian Giving Circle Grant with National Cambodian Heritage Museum (2019-21)

Speaking Engagements:
Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, Illinois Humanities (2019-2022)
https://www.ilhumanities.org/program/road-scholars-speakers-bureau/

Storytelling Show Producing/Hosting:
Am I Man Enough?
Pour One Out: A Monthly Storytelling Series
Speaking Truths Series
Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show
This Is America: Truths through My Body

Contact Info and Social Media:
Email: sj.ada.cheng@gmail.com
Website: www.renegadeadacheng.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ada.cheng.98096
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dr.adacheng/
Instagram: sjadacheng
YouTube: Renegade Ada Cheng

Today, Tes talks with Melissa Kuch Lamothe. Melissa is the author of the Amazon bestselling YA fantasy series, The Hypothesis of Giants, and co-author/editor of The MARA Mindshift Guide: A Trading Beliefs Workbook. Melissa co-hosts the cutting-edge new podcast/YouTube show, The Trader’s Mindchat Show, where she, along with her husband Michael Lamothe, explore the full spectrum of ways to improve your trading and your life.

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Melissa is mom to a 5-year-old daughter, Lily, and an advocate for literacy and women’s health. She inspires the next generation of authors through her writing workshop and mentoring programs. She is a contributing writer for The World Moms Network, and a volunteer writer for the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) to assist those challenged by hunger and homelessness.

You can follow Melissa on FB/IG @melissakuchauthor and her website www.melissakuch.com and check out The Trader’s Mindchat Show on Apple Podcasts/Spotify, as well as on YouTube.

Today, Tes talks with Lindsey Turnbull. Lindsey founded MissHeard Media to empower, educate, and inspire young women to feel confident, capable, and connected! Lindsey is building a world where all girls are heard.

To learn more about Lindsey Turnbull:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissHeardMedia
IG: @missheardmedia
TikTok: @missheardmedia

Today, Tes talks with Jen Amos. Jen is an award-winning podcaster and co-owner of an award-winning business.

Jen first found podcasting in summer 2019 as a way to work through her mild depression and bouts of loneliness. She had recently moved from San Diego, CA (her home of 20+ years) to now Virginia Beach, VA with her husband and fur baby.

Jen actively seeks to find common ground through conversation and storytelling to foster connection, community and collaboration. She is known for her active listening skills, candidness, and ability to uncover powerful stories and universal lessons while conversing with her guests. Her favorite topics to cover on her podcast shows involve military families, entrepreneurs, women, and mental health. In less than two years (starting in summer 2019), Jen has been able to conduct nearly 500 podcast interviews.

Prior to podcasting and moving to the east coast, Jen received her Bachelor’s in Journalism emphasis Public Relations at San Diego State University and was fired from her fourth consecutive job in her young adult years. For a decade since, Jen has established a career in sales and in entrepreneurship with experience in the legal industry, online marketing, and now financial services.

website: jenamoscreates.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenamos/
http://instagram.com/thejenamos
https://twitter.com/thejenamos
https://www.facebook.com/thejenamos/

Today, Tes talks with Elizabeth Barry. Elizabeth, also known as The Kind Communicator, is an executive coach and marketing consultant with 20 years of experience coaching leaders towards success. She’s been blessed to curate 17 TEDx events from concept to completion including helping speakers write and share their talks for the stage. She has 6 books based on self-development and as a result of her work, clients are motivated, productive and happy. Elizabeth is a vessel of emotionally powerful love that will transform your business, career, communication and voice with positivity and inspiration. Learn more at www.thekindcommunicator.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/869465263116018/user/1005303433
IG: @thekindcommunicator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethannbarry/

Today, Tes talks with Harriet Shugarman. Selected as a 2020 New York City Climate Hero and a 2019 featured speaker at the Global Engagement Summit at United Nations Headquarters, Harriet is an influencer and connector in the climate movement. Harriet is the Executive Director of ClimateMama, an on-line community that reaches individuals in over 110 countries and all 50 states. As a leader and mentor with The Climate Reality Project, Harriet established the Climate Reality New York City Metro Chapter, serving as its first chair. She was the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality 2017 Green Ring Award and is also profiled in former US Vice President Al Gore’s 2017 book: “An Inconvenient Sequel, Truth to Power.” Harriet’s writing and thought pieces on climate solutions appear in international, national and regional publications on-line and in print. Harriet’s 2020 book: “How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst to Action” is already found in libraries and households around the world. Harriet has worked for more than 25 years with governments, international organizations, and educational institutions on climate and sustainability issues as an economist, policy analyst, informal educator and adjunct professor including 13 years with the International Monetary Fund as a representative of the IMF at the United Nations. Harriet serves on numerous boards that address climate, public policy, youth, gender and justice, including as Board Chair of Young Voices for the Planet. Harriet lives in New York City.

Elizabeth Atalay is a Digital Media Producer, the Managing Editor for World Moms Network, and an advocate with the United Nations Foundation. She founded Documama.org as a way to use her documentary film background in a new medium. After having worked on Feature Films and Television series for FOX, NBC, MGM, Columbia Pictures, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and Castle Rock Pictures, she studied documentary filmmaking and anthropology earning a Masters degree in Media Studies from The New School in New York. More recently she has worked on social media campaigns for non-profits such as Save The Children, WaterAid, ONE.org, UNICEF, United Nations Foundation, World Pulse, and The Gates Foundation. Elizabeth has traveled through more than 75 countries around the world and lives in New England with her husband and four kids.

To learn more about Elizabeth Atalay:
www.documama.org

To learn more about World Moms Network:
www.worldmomsnetwork.com

Today, Tes talks with Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar. Dr. Dhareshwar retired as the Head, Laser & Neutron Physics Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, in 2010 and continued there as a Raja Ramanna Fellow (RRF), Department of Atomic Energy, for five years (2010 – 2015). She has a Ph.D. in Physics, from the University of Mumbai. She joined the B.A.R.C. Scientific Officers’ Training School (13 th Batch), after completing B.Sc. (Hons.) from the University of Bangalore, in 1969.

Dr. Dhareshwar worked for forty-five years at B.A.R.C., in the field of High Power Lasers, Laser Plasmas & applications and was instrumental in carrying out several prestigious projects She has over seventy five publications in International Journals.

As a Ph.D. Guide for University of Mumbai, she has guided several students to obtain their Ph.D.

Dr. Dhareshwar has been the Chairperson and Convener, at various International and National Seminars, Conferences and Symposiums. She has been invited by International Laboratories and Universities, in USA, Japan, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, for Scientific Collaboration & Training scientists and research scholars, in the latest field of Lasers & Plasma physics.

Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar is a member of Heartfulness Institute (Shri Ram Chandra Mission), a Spiritual organization, for over 30 years. As a Preceptor and Certified Spiritual Trainer and Self Development Facilitator & Mentor, she imparts Spiritual Training through Heartfulness Meditation. She has conducted numerous Heartfulness and Self Development Training Programmes all over India.

Recognizing the fact that Value Based Education was not part of the school curriculum, Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar had formulated and conducted Value Based Education programs for the first time at the four Atomic Energy Central schools, from 1992-1995. This syllabus of VBE was then taken up by 37 Atomic Energy Central Schools (AECS) all over India covering about 40,000 students. It was then conducted at several schools and colleges in Mumbai, as well as in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Dr. Dhareshwar, has been recognized for her contributions in Value Based Spiritual Education, by N.C.E.R.T. and AECS and for her contributions to Community Development, she was honored by Rotary Club, Lions Group, Kanara Saraswat Association, Modern College, Amity University, Pillai group of Institutions, MGM group, Anjuman Islam College and many Universities and Associations.

Dr. Lalitha Dhareshwar is the current President of Indian Women Scientists’ Association (I.W.S.A.), an NGO, which has the main mandate of taking science to society, empowering women and nurturing talent amongst school and college students.

She organizes and conducts several Lecture Workshops, Refresher Courses and Training Programs for college students and faculty, on current topics of interest in science. She is actively involved with the Science Nurture Program of IWSA, wherein school students are taught Science through hands-on experiments in their laboratory. Through IWSA, she is engaged in sponsoring the education of students from weaker economic backgrounds. She is also engaged in several community welfare programs.

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month and my guest today is Deb Pollack – Founder of Drive Toward a Cure.
Deb, a publicist for boutique restoration house Singer Vehicle Design, is both a convertible car gal and a Porsche loyalist – equally loving both her 996 C4 Cab and her replica ’57 speedster. Over the past three decades she’s represented small car companies with big names including Mitsubishi Motors, GM, Ferrari and Maserati. A philanthropist at heart, since 2008 she’s teamed cars and camaraderie to support the challenges of Parkinson’s disease – most notably as founder of Drive Toward a Cure (www.drivetowardacure.org), a nationally-recognized non-profit charity dedicated to finding a cure.

To learn more about Deb Polack:
Facebook: Deb Stearn Pollack
IG: @corsaprgal

To learn more about Drive Toward a Cure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI8JVVHuLgc
IG: @drivetowardacure

Conversations for a Cause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJU7UBKsBHA

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

Born and raised in a family of medical professionals in Kolkata, India, Urmi Basu received her primary and secondary education in the city. On completion of her first Degree in Sociology, Urmi moved to take her Masters in Social Work at the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. During her training she had the opportunity to work in the first cell set up for women in distress by the Mumbai Police Department. She also worked as a relief worker during the Bhopal gas leak tragedy in December 1984 which left a lasting impression on her mind about the need to be prepared for disasters, both natural and manmade.

After fifteen years of professional work Urmi set up a small non-profit named New Light in Kolkata in 2000 with a seed money as little as Rs 10,000 along with two other young people from the Kalighat red light district. The mission of the organization is to promote gender equality and fight violence and abuse of women, girl children and young people. That tiny initiative today provides care and support to a couple of thousand people. The organization also works to fight against child prostitution and trafficking for the purpose of sex- trade, child labour and bonded labour. Urmi has been a part of targeted intervention programs for victims of HIV/AIDS, trans-sexual and trans-gender people.

She lives in Kolkata, India and fights for social justice for the marginalized community every day of her life. In her own words her greatest moment of joy was when she was chosen as a recipient of a blessing from His Holiness The Dalai Lama under the title Unsung heroes of Compassion 2009 on the 26th of April 2009 in San Francisco for her work that promotes compassion and peace. In 2019, it was a distinguished honour for all associated with her as Ms. Urmi Basu received the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar from His Excellency the President of India through the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GOI, in recognition of New Light Kolkata’s contribution to women’s empowerment on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Awards & Accolades

▪ Selected as the NGO co-ordinator by the office of the Governor of West Bengal to make a presentation on micro credit, women’s participation in gender sensitivity and health issues during the visit of the former President of the United States Bill Clinton on 7th of April 2001
▪ Part of the core team that met the past Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her visit to Kolkata in May 2012 and shared the experience of working against trafficking in persons

▪ Featured in the four hour documentary Half The Sky based on the novel by New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wu Dunn, which featured Urmi and her work with the victims of trafficking on PBS in October 2012 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXcP7vMnMaM)
▪ Following the documentary she received the Global Citizen Award at the Global Music Festival in Central Park, New York in September 2012 which was organized to mark zero tolerance for hunger, poverty and abuse (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1PW5JFeuPw)
▪ Recipient of Nari Shakti award from His Excellency The President of India on the occasion of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March 2019
▪ Recognized as Person of the Year 2020 By Weekend Leader Chennai at Vellore Institute of Technology for the contribution to the welfare of women and children

To learn more about Urmi Basu:
Twitter: @urmibasu1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAukNw2T0AY
A life of dignity: dire straits faced by the sex workers in Kolkata – Urmi Basu – TEDxIIFT Kolkata

To learn more about New Light Kolkata:
Twitter: @newlightkolkata
IG: @newlightkolkata
Youtube: https://youtu.be/8hvCr0uxkM8
New Light Kolkata