Archives: Episode

Today, Tes talks with Christine Wehrli. Christine is a Filipina-American who was born and raised overseas; she considers herself a Third Culture Kid. She is currently an Events Specialist at the Rice University School of Architecture, in Houston, Texas. She graduated with a B.A. from the University of Richmond where she majored in International Studies, and minored in French and History. Prior to working at Rice University, she worked in sustainable tourism in Moshi, Tanzania, and as a library associate for the D.C. Public Library in Washington, D.C.

In her free time, she enjoys engaging in cultural activities and getting involved in the community. In Washington, D.C., she was an ambassador for InterNations, an expat networking group, and a volunteer Math teacher at the YWCA. In Houston, she is an ambassador for the Filipino Young Professionals and was involved with voter outreach for the 2018 midterm and 2020 U.S. elections.She is a licenced Zumba instructor and has led classes in various countries in her five years of teaching.

To learn more about Christine Wehrli:
IG: @filamestiza

Dr. Shruti Kapoor is an award-winning gender equality activist, economist, Tedx speaker and social entrepreneur. Shaken by the horrific gang rape in Delhi in 2012 that caught the attention of the global news media, she founded her organization, Sayfty. Its goal is to educate and empower women and girls in India against gender-based violence.

Dr. Kapoor was named by Apolitical as one of the most influential people in global policy in 2019. The BrahmaKumaris awarded Dr. Kapoor the “Achievement and Excellence in Human Rights” in 2019. The Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2019 honored Dr. Kapoor as one of the “30 #WebWonderWomen“ who has been driving a positive agenda of social change via social media. In 2018 Richtopia named Dr. Kapoor as one of the top 100 leaders from multilateral global organizations. In 2016, The White House nominated Dr. Kapoor as a change maker for The United State of Women’s Summit 2016, and in India she was named the winner of Barclay’s 2016 “We are the City 50 Rising Stars Award”. In 2015 Femverstising awarded the “People’s Choice Award” to Sayfty for their campaign promoting gender equality, and was chosen to receive a State recognition award by the Uttar Pradesh government in India for the organization’s work advocating for the safety and education of girls. Also, in 2015, Dr. Kapoor was awarded the Rex Karamveer fellowship, whose aim is “to share impactful ideas for action and transform lives through projects and ideas of hope”. Additionally, Dr. Kapoor received the 2015 “Woman of the Year Award (third prize)” from the Regional Council of Aosta Valley, Italy.

Dr. Kapoor earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Riverside, and has worked with International organizations such as The World Bank and UN Women. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Economics at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Kapoor served on the core organizing committee of UN’s Youth Forum for the Commission on the Status of Women 2017.

Dr. Kapoor has addressed many public forums including Tedx Gateway, various sessions of the Youth Assembly at the United Nations, UN Women’s events, The World Forum On Urban Violence, IIT Delhi, Merit 360, and the World Woman Summit. She is a regular contributor on gender issues and a network member of Apolitical, a global policy platform and a network of policymakers and thought leaders. As a “World Pulse Impact Leader and Digital Change Maker”, Dr. Kapoor is dedicated to media, digital and traditional approaches to strive for gender equality and gender responsive implementation of the “Sustainable Development Goals”. She is an active user of social media and you can connect with her at:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kapoors_s
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutikapoor1/

To find out more about Sayfty and My Ambar app:
www.sayfty.org
Twitter: @sayfty
My Ambar app – myambar.org

Today, Tes talks with Shanequa Levin. Shanequa is an award-winning social justice leader, motivational speaker, and author. She is also a registered ordained wedding officiant. Shanequa published a memoir titled Poverty’s Phoenix, which is about surviving childhood poverty. She is the founder and CEO of the Women’s Diversity Network, a social movement organization practicing transformative justice processes based on group leadership where marginalized lives are centered. The mission of the WDN is to connect and mobilize women of different backgrounds to create positive change through collective work and a unified sisterhood. Through WDN, she has created the Health Equity Task Force, which focuses on addressing Maternal Mortality. She’s created a yearly summit that brings diverse people together to learn about social justice issues and celebrate cultures.

In 2020 she convened a Black-led, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational coalition of organizations, activists, and community members who are working to ensure genuine public safety for all Long Island communities called LI United to Transform Policing & Community Safety. LI United’s mission is to transform public safety by divesting from policing and investing in our communities.

Shanequa also founded the Long Island chapter of Mocha Moms, a support group for mothers of color, and is the former director of Every Child Matters in NY, an advocacy and electoral engagement organization on behalf of kids. She is a member of The State of Black Long Island Equity Council through the Urban League of Long Island, a community advisor for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, a Co-Chair for the Long Island Million Women Community, a Community Advisor for Hofstra University’s Healthcare Entrepreneurship Community Challenge, and the creator of culturally relevant Facebook groups. She has also been instrumental in advocating policy changes to Early Care and Learning, Raise The Age, Paid Family Leave Insurance, Bail Reform, and more. As a survivor of childhood poverty, drug-addicted parents, an incarcerated father, and a teen mom, she uses her voice to help others break negative generational cycles.

To learn more about Shanequa Levin:
www.shanequalevin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanequa.popelevin
Twitter: @AllDayPurple
IG: @shanequalevin

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

Today, Tes talks with Maxine Thomas. Maxine exemplifies the true definition of a servant leader in the community. Accordingly, Maxine was awarded the 2017 Bob Dickerson leadership award in recognition for her leadership, courage, persistence, and commitment as a RESULTS Grassroots Volunteer. She is also the recipient of the Do Something, Be Someone Positive Leadership Award awarded by the Saint Florian Leadership Development Center.

She believes that no one should live in poverty and families must take an active role in changing their communities.

Through RESULTS she is improving access to education, health, and economic opportunity by sharing her personal story of triumph. Maxine was elected by the grassroots advocates to serve on the International Board of Directors for RESULTS. Many media pieces have been written about Maxine’s efforts to support her community, one of which is her great success in having her own Op-Ed published on The Hill. She is passionate and committed and uses her voice to influence political change. Through the international work of RESULTS, she maintains ongoing efforts with her members of congress and elected officials. Maxine thrives to build bridges between everyday people and our policy makers.

Throughout her experiences, she has learned that making a significant change can seem impossible and at the very least, takes a lot of work. She is continuously thinking of ways in which she can impact the lives of people around her.

To reach Maxine Thomas:
www.maxinethomas.com
Facebook: Maxine Thomas
IG: m_quia
Twitter: @m_quia

Today, Tes speaks with Roberta Parrino-Clinton. Roberta is the Program Director at Moms for Moms NYC, dedicated to helping and empowering women through her community activism and professional endeavors. She spent over a decade of her professional life in Corporate America in marketing and strategy roles in the financial services and technology industries, before transitioning to helping non-profits and women owned small businesses.

Roberta has her MBA from the D’Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation from the University of Connecticut.

In her spare time she enjoys learning about different cultures through food and travel with her husband and two sons, reading, baking specialty cakes, and working out.

To reach Roberta Parrino-Clinton:
IG: @roberta_pc7

To reach Moms For Moms NYC:
https://www.momsformomsnyc.org/
Twitter: @MomsForMomsNYC
IG: @momsformomsnyc
Facebook: MomsForMomsNYC

Smita Sharma is an independent photojournalist and visual storyteller whose work questions deep-rooted stereotypes and sheds light on underreported stories. Smita is known for her work on complicated human rights, gender and social issues and for her ability to represent people with dignity.

Smita’s work has been published in various places like The New York Times, BBC World, TIME, Channel 4, CNN, National Geographic Magazine amongst many others. She is a Getty Images grantee and an IWMF Reporting Fellow. Other than her home country India, she has also worked in different countries highlighting sensitive stories.

Smita received the Indian Of The Year award in 2017 and Exceptional Women of Excellence award by Women Economic Forum in 2018. In 2019, she won the One World Media Awards for her film Rebels With a Cause at BAFTA, London. She has exhibited and shown her work globally including the UN Headquarters in New York. Smita is a graduate from the photojournalism and documentary photography program of International Center of Photography, New York and is based in Delhi.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/10/stolen-lives-harrowing-story-of-two-girls-sold-into-sexual-slavery-feature/

To learn more about Smita Sharma:
Twitter & IG: @smitashrm

Today, Tes talks with Chrysula Winegar. Chrysula is Senior Communications Director at the United Nations Foundation, where she leads the New York public affairs team focused on UN system communications liaison and special initiatives. Prior to her current position, she founded Wake Up World Communications, a digital communications agency focused on social action, working with clients including the United Nations Foundation, Fox Searchlight, Malala Fund, EngenderHealth, Family Planning 2020 and many others. Her earlier career was in various marketing and communications roles in the private sector, including Ernst & Young, Estee Lauder Companies and NatWest UK.

To learn more about Chrysula Winegar:
Twitter: @chrysula
IG: @chrysula_w

Today Tes talks with Dr. Eve Krief. Dr. Krief has been practicing general Pediatrics in the town of Huntington for over 22 years. She attended Undergraduate School at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she majored in Comparative Literature. She went on to receive her medical degree from Tel Aviv University. She completed her Pediatric Residency training at Schneider Children’s Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Krief is on the executive committee of the Long Island-Brooklyn/Queens chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she serves as Legislative Advocacy chair. She is an outspoken advocate for children and was recognized as the “Woman of Distinction” for Suffolk County’s 18th Legislative District in 2018. She received the American Academy of Pediatrics Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 and a NYS Senate Commendation Award in 2019 for her advocacy work. She is the founder of Long Island Inclusive Communities Against Hate and sits on the steering committee of the Town of Huntington’s Anti Bias Task Force.

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.

Today, Tes talks with Maureen Hitipeuw. Maureen is a Community Leader and Founder of Single Moms Indonesia. With experience in office management for over a decade, a background in public relations, as well as being a former public relations manager, Maureen used her experiences and skills to develop the community she founded. A Facebook Certified Community Manager, she’s one of the first few people who received this certification from Facebook and was involved in creating the program with the Facebook team.

In 2018 she was recognized by Facebook as “One of the 115 most inspiring community leaders in the world”. She was selected to join The Facebook Community Leadership Program, a year-long program where she received knowledge, skills, tools, funding, and support to activate Single Moms Indonesia in new and innovative ways to promote positive and lasting impact.

Single Moms Indonesia was formed in 2014 as a community for single moms in Indonesia to come together and support each other. This closed group provides a safe space for members to share their stories and experiences, as well as learning from various empowerment programs designed to help its members rebuild their lives.

To learn more about Maureen Hitipeuw & Single Moms Indonesia:
Website: https://www.singlemomsindonesia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.hitipeuw
IG: @maureen.hitipeuw
IG: @singlemomsindonesia

Today Tes talks with Mandy Sanghera. Mandy is an award-winning philanthropist, community consultant and global campaigner, often referred to as a global catalyst from the UK.

She is an international human rights activist and motivational TEDx speaker who travels all over the world, empowering & motivating others. With over three decades of experience, Mandy is an expert in various development-related fields. She has been driving innovation, building strategic partnerships, promoting advocacy & programming in the areas of human rights, gender equality, accountability and social justice globally.

Mandy has helped hundreds of individuals and now reaches thousands through social media, worldwide TV appearances and public speaking engagements. This past November, she spoke at the US House of Representatives for the 3rd year in a row. She recently appeared at the World Economic Forum and supports AI for Social Good. In addition, she was celebrated among public figures such as Jacinda Ardern, Oprah Winfrey, Kamala Harris, as part of the GDL (Global Diversity List) 2020 for her tireless work in diversity and inclusion.

For information on Mandy Sanghera:

Twitter: @Mandy_Sanghera1

YouTube: https://youtu.be/uy0Nhf51J4U

https://www.globaldiversitylist.org/public-life

Maria Mostajo is a lawyer who began her legal career in 1992 as a prosecutor in the Bronx, where she handled street level and violent crime prosecutions. She later worked in the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, where she worked with state and federal law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting inter-state and large-scaled narcotics traffickers. Maria returned to the Bronx DA’s Office between 2008 -2010 to prosecute elected officials, before becoming inspector general and associate commissioner to the Department of Investigation, NYC’s internal affairs department, where she oversaw waste, mismanagement and corruption investigations involving city employees. She retired in 2017 and now serves on various non-profit boards.

To find out about Her Justice:
www.herjustice.org
@herjustice.nyc

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 talks with Radhika Gajulapalli. Radhika was born in India and came to the United States in 1973. She grew up in Flushing, NY and later moved to a suburb on Long Island. She has a bachelor’s in accounting with a minor in Computer Science. After working in the IT industry for over ten years, she left the industry to devote her time and energy with Heart and Hand for the Handicapped, a non-profit organization that supports handicapped children in the United States and India. With her accounting and computer background, she was able to streamline their accounting and fundraising efforts, first as the Treasurer in 2013, before becoming the President of the organization in 2015, and then again in 2020.

To learn about Heart & Hand for the Handicapped, go to: www.hhhonline.org
Facebook: HHH – Heart and Hand for the Handicapped

To contact Radhika Gajulapalli: Twitter-@tweetrgi
Instagram – Rgi85

I hope you enjoyed the first episode of Revolutionary Woman. Upcoming episodes will feature women who have made a difference in their communities by founding and participating in organizations such as Heart & Hand for the Handicapped, Light Me Up project, Her Justice, World Moms Network, Sayfty, the United Nations Foundation and many others.

If you subscribe, you’ll get the latest episode every Thursday. Please hit the like and subscribe button on the podcasting platform of your choice.

Next Thursday, November 12th, my guest is Radhika Gajulapalli, President of Heart & Hand for the Handicapped. Her journey took her from being a professional in an IT department to becoming President of a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and shelter for severely handicapped children.

Today, Tes talks with Cynthia Changyit Levin.

Cynthia Changyit Levin is an American activist for global health and education. In 2003, she left a career in automotive engineering to become a stay-at-home mom. Her new maternal perspective helped her see difficulties of mothers raising children in poverty more clearly, but added to worries about the future her children would live in. Engaging in advocacy helped her move from feeling helpless about the world’s problems to serving as a board member of a top international advocacy organization and accepting invitations to take part in World Bank meetings and a UN Foundation trip to Africa. For the past 13 years, she has led and coached volunteer advocates with RESULTS, the United Nations Foundation, and CARE.

Levin is a former staff member and board member of RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund, an international anti-poverty advocacy group. In addition to regularly visiting the offices of members of U.S. Congress, she writes opinion pieces for newspapers about issues of poverty and health. She has been published in The New York Times, the Financial Times, and many local newspapers across the United States. She blogs about her experiences in parenting and advocacy in the “Anti-Poverty Mom Blog” and is the author of the upcoming book “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started.”

For more info: www.changyit.com

NOTE: We had a few audio issues on this recording. We’re working out the kinks still!

Tune in November 2, 2020 for the first episode of r(E)volutionary Woman featuring global health and education advocate, Cynthia Changyit Levin