Podcast Library
Michelle Vance (50:46)
We don’t ask others to do what we ourselves are not willing to do. This episode features co-host Dr. Michelle Vance. Michelle shares how her lived experiences around identity have shaped her career and fight for social justice.
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Tyler Yates (35:09)
Tyler Yates is the Community Overdose Prevention Initiatives Coordinator with the North Carolina Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. In his current role, he works with a variety of both governmental and non-governmental agencies and institutions including local health departments, community-based grassroots organizations, First Responders, and others to advance evidence-based, overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies. He graduated from UNCG in 2022 with his BSW.
Tyler’s lived experiences as a former drug user and justice-involved individual drive his passion to promote access to health, wellness and autonomy for people who use drugs and people with substance use disorders. In his spare time, he enjoys playing and watching hockey or being outdoors with his fiancé and their animals. The views expressed in this podcast are his and do not reflect those of his employer or other affiliates.
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Melody Gross (52:58)
Melody Gross is a keynote speaker, certified professional life coach, survivor, and disruptor of domestic violence. She owns Courageous SHIFT, a speaking and consulting agency that reimagines workplace culture and employee safety at the intersection of domestic violence and DEI. Through speaking engagements, training, coaching, and policy consulting, Melody and her team partner with organizations to shift culture and develop psychologically and physically safe work environments. Their clients include midsize to large corporations, small and women-owned businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Melody has shared her expertise in Healthline, Psych Central, Well+Good, Spectrum News, WBTV, Sporting News, and Charlotte Observer. She’s been named one of 20 Impressive Women by Axios Charlotte, Best Advocate by Queen City Nerve, 50 Most Dynamic Women by Charlotte Media Group, and The Great 28 by QCity Metro. Melody has experienced and witnessed the impact on families, communities, and organizations and is on a mission to #DisruptDomesticViolence. Follow her on all social media platforms at @iammelodyco.
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Sil Ganzo (34:12)
Sil Ganzó is the founder and Executive Director of ourBRIDGE for KIDS. Sil moved on her own to Charlotte, NC from Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2003. In 2014, Sil recognized a gap in culturally responsive educational and socio-emotional resources for newly-arrived families so she founded ourBRIDGE, a healing-centered, non-faith-based organization that has, since then, supported the acculturation, education, and well-being of thousands of immigrants and refugees through out-of-school programs and wraparound services for families in over 15 languages.
Sil and ourBRIDGE have been widely recognized for their advocacy for the rights and well-being of immigrants and refugees. One of the honors of Sil's life was being Congresswoman Alma Adams’ guest at the State of the Union Address in Washington, DC in 2017 and being the first Latina (and only the second woman) to receive the prestigious Dr. Nish Jamgotch Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2020, among many other awards and recognitions.
Sil lives in Charlotte with her husband, Claudio, and her two children: Iván and Martina.
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Carla Carlisle (34:49)
Carla is not only an acclaimed author and TEDx speaker but also a compassionate advocate for our community's well-being. Through her dynamic workshops, including collaborations with the Mecklenburg County Department of Public Health (NC), Carla empowers both youth and parents to navigate life's twists and turns using her renowned resource, "My Big Notebook." And get ready because this fall, Carla's latest book, "My EpicFlow," designed to help adolescents process their emotions constructively, will be hitting the shelves!
But Carla's contributions extend far beyond her literary endeavors. She also provides consulting services to research studies and organizations dedicated to youth suicide prevention, mental health, intergenerational trauma, and self-care. And let's not forget about her third book, "The Compassionate Companion," a valuable compilation of insights from foster and adoptive parents, offering guidance on the journey ahead.
Drawing from her own experiences chronicled in "Journey to the Son," Carla brings a personal touch to her work. As a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and armed with degrees from esteemed institutions like American University and Johns Hopkins University, Carla's passion and expertise shine through in all she does.
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Traletta Banks (33:32)
Traletta knows first-hand how one bad decision over 20 years ago can affect all aspects of accessibility in community and systems, including housing, education and employment.
With that lived experience, she now works with individuals that have criminal backgrounds, connecting them with meaningful employment and resources, to help reach their personal and professional goals. She is the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Erika’s Closet, a grassroots organization, that assists justice involved individuals with clothing, job coaching, and other essential items needed to transition back into the community.
With Traletta at the helm, Erika’s Closet has supported and assisted over 200 people, with clothing, employment, and other resources in the last 2 years. Erika’s Closet supplied 323 children, in North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia with brand-new sneakers and school supplies for Back-to-School. Erika’s Closet provides clothing and food to over 100 individuals in Charleston and Beckley West Virginia every month.
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Jordan Hayes (31:53)
Jordan Hayes (she, her, hers) grew up in a small town in South Carolina. She graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelors in Social Work in 2021.
Soon after graduating she began working for Disability Rights & Resources, the Center for Independent Living in Charlotte, North Carolina as a Peer Mentor. Prior to that, she worked as a self-advocate for York CAN (Collaborative Action Network).
Jordan is passionate about being in community with other individuals with disabilities, offering support to folks envisioning their future, and helping individuals navigate local resources. In her free time, she enjoys painting and journaling.
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Greg Jackson (59:36)
Greg Jackson, 2021 Charlottean of the year and father of 3 girls, was a rapper and a sous chef when protests began following the Keith Lamont Scott shooting in 2016. Greg led a group to protest at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters. A crucial conversation that day changed his trajectory. Shortly after he started the non-profit Heal Charlotte. Through Heal Charlotte, Greg has helped train officers to communicate with the community in volatile situations, created an after-school camp for at-risk youth in his northeast Charlotte neighborhood of Orchard Trace Condominiums, and deployed efforts that focused on revitalizing the area with a holistic approach to the family unit. Serving the community and being a bridge of communication between the community and its officials is what drives him.
In his words “If everybody did a little, no one will have to do a lot”.
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Kris Taylor’s Story (47:35)
We don’t ask others to do what we ourselves are not willing to do. This episode features co-host Kris Taylor. Kris shares how her lived experiences brought her to her career in social work and shape her work and passions in and out of the classroom.
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Kris + Michelle: Season 4 Teaser (8:32)
Join Michelle + Kris as they discuss Season 4 where the focus will be on the power of lived experience. Our guests this season will bravely share how what they have been through has shaped where they are today.
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Kris + Michelle: Season 3 Wrap Up (22:50)
Join Kris + Michelle as they discuss + reflect on key themes and momentsfrom Season 3.
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Kali Franklin, MSW: "You don't always have to know what to say." (31:15)
Kali grew up in Lexington, NC and obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work from UNCG. Kali then went into the advanced standing program between UNCG and NC A&T to obtain her master’s degree in social work. Since graduation in 2021, she has spent her time specializing in trauma.
She has worked in a non-profit agency assisting veterans in transitional housing in High Point, NC. From there, she then went on to work at a private practice in Winston Salem, NC. Kali is currently still at the private practice, B Balanced Counseling & Wellness and works with teens and adults who are dealing with trauma. Kali was recently credentialed in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in April 2023, which continues to help her work with clients dealing with trauma.
In her spare time, she can be found hanging out and building Legos with her husband. They also enjoy going on walks with their golden retriever, Max and relaxing with their cat, Chip.
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Sterling Grissom, MSW: "How do I build rapport? Sit on the same bleacher with them." (32:30)
Sterling Grissom (he/they) is a recent graduate from the JMSW program where he began to focus on his clinical narrative and gain an understanding of what it means to be a clinical social worker. Sterling currently works at Guilford Counseling PLLC providing comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy treatment with a somatic focus.
Sterling has a passionate focus and interest on how trauma affects the body and advocates for the implementation of coping skills being added to education and healthcare systems. He also has a photography website where he shows off his photography as well.
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Alejandra Davis, MSW, LCSWA: "Sometimes it's hard to live with what you're doing...because you're like, am I hurting someone else by what I'm doing? (36:37)
Alejandra is a cisgender heterosexual Latina female who spends her time loving her two dogs. She enjoys spoiling them and treating them like her children. Alejandra started her career in social work in 2016 as a Parent Educator. She continued to grow in her career when she started to work for a Child Advocacy Center in Charlotte, North Carolina as a Family Advocate and later as a Forensic Interviewer. She later graduated with her Masters and started her work in Mental Health.
Alejandra is currently a Mental Health Therapist at Peaceful Shore Therapy located in Huntersville and does contract work with Cabarrus County Youth Development Center. As an immigrant from Mexico, she is committed to educate the Latinx community on the benefits of mental health services and continue to destigmatize mental health in the Latinx Community.
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Octavia McLean, MSW, LCSWA: "I was so so unsure of myself and I just had to trust that I had my toolbox and I had tools that were in them." (33:18)
Octavia McLean, MSW, LCSWA is a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, advocate, anti-oppressor, and change maker. She is a Laurinburg, NC native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from East Carolina University.
Graduating from the JMSW Program at North Carolina A&T and UNCGreensboro in May of 2022, she became the first in her family to attend and graduate from a master's degree program. Octavia has experience in crisis intervention as she currently works as a school intervention specialist for Mecklenburg County. Her passions include mental health, advocacy, and social justice, to name a few.
In her spare time, Octavia enjoys playing with her 4-year-old Shih-Tzu/Chihuahua, Salem, reading, sleeping, spending time with family & friends, and listening to her old-school or early 2000's playlists.
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Deja Stover, MSW, LCSWA: "I know there's a disconnect here that they aren't seeing, and it's my job - I took an oath - to do these things. I have ethics to live by." (33:44)
Deja is a master’s level clinical social worker and mental health therapist. She received her Bachelors of Social Work from UNC-Charlotte, and then went on to get her Masters of Social Work from Howard University where she was a part of their inaugural class of Advanced Standing Accelerated Program (2 semesters, 1 year) students.
After graduation, Deja decided to return home to North Carolina and now has the privilege and honor of working as a trauma-informed Outpatient Therapist, actively working towards full licensure and finding her specialty in the mental health field. She is also employed as an MSW discharge planner at a hospital where she gets to explore the hospital field of social work.
Deja utilizes both places of employment to grow her knowledge and experience in the field of social work as she continues to grow as a professional.
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Tray Ruffin, MSW, LCSWA, LCASA: "When you’re in that room with someone and they are in a crisis, you can’t pull out a book…" (34:39)
Traveante’ Ruffin is from a small town in Eastern NC called Scotland Neck. Growing up he always knew he had a passion for helping others but never imagined he would become a Social Worker. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from NC A&T State University. While in undergrad he was a part of the Army National Guard and had an interest in continuing to serve service members without being in uniform.
Since graduation, he has worked in Psychiatry which has become his passion. He has been able to service an array of different individuals and is currently working in Emergency Department Psychiatry @ UNC Health & at WakeMed. To Tray, this has been a rewarding career being able to meet individuals in crisis and assist in stabilization.
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Jasmin Ashford, BSW: "I think that the profession as a whole doesn't focus on all the possibilities and all the opportunities that a social worker could do..." (35:51)
Jasmin is a May 2022 Bachelor of Social Work graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since August of 2022, she has been working as the Director of Social Services at Autumn Care of Cornelius Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center.
She is mainly responsible for discharge planning. Her objection is for all discharges into the community to be medically and physically safe. In addition to this, she is the overseer of residents’ rights and the advocate for all residents in the facility, short-term or long-term. Her dedication and desire to serve as a social worker pushes her to be successful at what she does.
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Destiney Springs-Walker, MSW: "How do I navigate being in such a system that then oppresses the same population that I'm trying to liberate & empower?" (40:58)
Destiney is a follower of Christ, daughter, service member and social worker.
Destiney is from Charlotte, NC, where she serves in the United States Air Force, specifically in the North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG). She’s served in the NCANG for eight and a half years and uses the skills she’s developed from her MSW to serve, mentor and lead others.
She is a recent professional in the social work profession, graduating from the JMSW program at UNCG and North Carolina A&T in May 2021. Since graduation, she’s had the privilege of practicing for a year and a half in a “non-traditional” social work setting. She has a passion for empowering under-served populations in unique spaces. Currently, she works as a Staff Social Worker at Legal Aid of North Carolina, where she serves on an interdisciplinary team that fights for justice for low income tenants facing eviction.
As a new social work professional in the field Destiney is excited about the journey the Lord has her on. In her downtime, she loves listening to music and spending time with family.
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Abbie Peck, MSW, LMSW: "How do we work withing a system we may be abolishing?" (38:37)
Abbie has her BSW from UNC-Charlotte and her MSW with a concentration in Community Action and Social Policy from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She also has her LMSW in the state of Maryland. Abbie currently works at the Federation of State Medical Board as their State Legislation and Policy Coordinator in Washington, DC.
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Xuan Truong, MSW, LCSWA: “The term ‘self-care’ is very ethnocentric because it isn’t taking into account cultural competencies.” (41:32)
Xuan (English pronunciation: “Sue Anne”) is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and holds a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. Her passion for disability justice has led her to have a variety of experiences including career coaching, local systems advocacy, and community building.
In Summer 2021, Xuan was an American Association of People with Disabilities intern, where she was placed with the National Disability Rights Network. She developed and implemented a communications plan to work with legislators to phase out subminimum wage for people with disabilities (14c). Xuan also serves as the Chair for the Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative and has recently started her role as Chair for North Carolina Center for Independent Living, Disability Rights and Resources. She currently holds a position as Academic Advisor for Central Piedmont Community College.
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Kris + Michelle Season 3 Kickoff (7:10)
Join Kris + Michelle as they discuss Season 3 where we will focus on novice social workers. Our guests for this season have graduated within the past two years and are here to spill the beans on the real world of social work.
Thank you for your continued support!
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Kris + Michelle Season 2 Wrap Up (16:21)
In this episode, Kris + Michelle reflect on the final two episodes of Season 2. Make sure you're all caught up, then listen to their reflections on the season and evolving roles of social workers.
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Keshia Sandidge, LCSW: "Be ok with getting involved in political discussions because ultimately, if you don't, decisions will continue to be made FOR you and not WITH you in mind." (28:33)
Keshia is a wife, mother of two, and a licensed clinical social worker.
In 2020, she was elected to the Cabarrus County Board of Education with a pledge of accountability, transparency, and community centricity.
She officially launched her campaign for state office and is proud to be running for the North Carolina Senate in District 34 not as a politician or Raleigh “insider,” but as a mother, wife, social worker, and community leader with a record of results to show for it.
Whether it’s being a mom, a social worker, or a leader on the Board of Education, her strategy is the same: identify the problem and find a solution that works for everyone.
Resources:
Keshia For Senate 34
Miriam Espaillat: “There is a space for you. There is a place where you can have impact." (33:33)
Miriam G. Espaillat is Co-Founder and Director of Community for Raydal Hospitality managing company for Sabor Latin Street Grill, Three Amigos Mexican Grill and Cantina, and La Caseta. Miriam is an immigrant Latina from El Salvador who grew up in Queens, NY and migrated to Charlotte, NC in 2006. She married in 2008 and is the mother of two boys. Miriam graduated with a master’s in social work degree from UNC-Charlotte in 2013. She holds a clinical social work license and is a member of the National Association of Social Worker-NC Chapter (NASW-NC). She has completed training through NASW-NC that focuses on segregation, advocacy, racial injustice, and equitable opportunities. She recently obtained a Women’s Entrepreneurship certificate through Cornell University and is certified as a Financial Social Worker.
Miriam is passionate about the immigrant community and vulnerable populations that experience employment barriers. Through her work as a Research Analyst at Atrium Health, she learned about social determinants of health that impact Latinos/x in Mecklenburg County.
Miriam currently sits on the board of Leading On Opportunity, The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation through Foundations for the Carolinas, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, and Social Serve. Miriam seeks to amplify the voice of women entrepreneurs, Latino/x, immigrants, mental health, and small business owners.
Resources:
Raydal Hospitality
Kris + Michelle: Season 2 Recap (27:23)
In this episode, Michelle + Kris share their thoughts and reflections on the first part of Season 2. Make sure you are all caught up and then listen along.
If you are digging the podcast and what we are doing and would like to support us, please click the link below and click “Support.”
We appreciate your support - please like, follow and share so that we can reach even more listeners.
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Tchernavia Montgomery: "The real challenge is reimagining that system and seeking to incorporate individualized solutions into the lives of certain populations...that's equitability." (32:36)
In March 2021 Tchernavia began serving as the Executive Director of Care Ring. Care Ring, a locally and nationally recognized organization was founded in 1955. It serves as a trusted pillar of community-based health services in Mecklenburg County dedicated to providing affordable and accessible holistic high-quality health services to the uninsured and underinsured residents. Montgomery and Care Ring’s charge is to improve health outcomes for our most vulnerable residents by expanding access to affordable quality-based care and promoting health equity. Prior to transitioning to this role, Tchernavia served as Chief Program Officer of Crisis Assistance Ministry, overseeing eviction prevention programming and operations. Tchernavia’s deep commitment to socioeconomically-stressed families, mirroring her own experience in poverty allows her to be a true servant leader at heart. A licensed clinical social worker, she has devoted 17 years to empowering our community's most vulnerable citizens. Tchernavia serves as an adjunct faculty member within the UNC Charlotte College of Health & Human Services graduate programs, where she also chairs the School of Social Work’s Community Advisory Board. She serves as a board member of the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross, the North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, MeckEd , A Kid Again and is Vice-Chair of MedLink,. She is also a member of the Mecklenburg County Early Childhood Education Executive Committee and Mecklenburg County Continuum of Care Governing Board. Tchernavia is a senior fellow with the Lee Institute’s American Leadership Fellowship. And In 2021, she received the City of Charlotte & Atrium Health's MLK Growing the Dream Award and the UNC-Charlotte Black Alumni Excellence in Leadership Award. She is a published author and a proud member of the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she was honored with the chapter's 2019 Dynamic Delta of the Year award. Tchernavia is a devoted spouse and loving mother of 3 sons.
Resources:
www.careringnc.org
Maruka Rivers: "I am not my sister’s keeper but I am my sister." (29:06)
Maruka J. Rivers, MSW, LCSW, CCTP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional located in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Simmons University (formerly Simmons College) and The University of North Carolina Greensboro. Maruka is passionate about social justice, and decolonizing social work practice, and believes prioritizing our individual and collective healing is a revolutionary act. To this end, Maruka focuses her academic research and clinical practice on culturally responsive care for people of marginalized genders, Black and Brown folks, and the LGBT+ community. Maruka consults with community organizations to strengthen service delivery to marginalized populations and dismantle the systemic barriers to mental health and social welfare services. As a trauma therapist, she works with individuals and couples using Narrative, Internal Family Systems, and Acceptance and Commitment therapy to help them heal and live their best lives. She is excited to be offered Brainspotting as a new treatment approach to facilitate healing.
When Maruka is away from the office she is a partner, a TiTi, a foster mom, a budding yogi, a foodie, and loves to watch spy and heist movies. Maruka is lucky to live 3 hours away from the beach and the mountains and loves an outdoor getaway.
Resources:
https://www.mriversawakenings.com/
Roger Suclupe: "If we are going to make waves…if we are going to help shift the narrative, we need to utilize and leverage our positions of power." (26:09)
Roger F. Suclupe, MSW, LCSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and BSW Program Director for the School of Social Work at UNC Charlotte. He earned his MSW from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and BA in Psychology from Appalachian State University. Roger is licensed in the state of North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been practicing in clinical settings for 20 years. His research areas of interest include the intersection of Latinx communities and health/mental wellness, Latinx communities and access to services, community-based participatory research, grief and loss, child/adolescent/adult mental wellness, cultural awareness and inclusion in social work practice, creating and increasing social capital through social mobility, and creating healthy and thriving communities. His expertise in the clinical field includes working with individuals who have experienced complex trauma (physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect), families who have adopted, vulnerable populations in the school system, Latinx communities, immigration policy, sports as a tool for health and mental wellness, children and families involved in higher level of care (psychiatric residential treatment), grief groups (children, adolescents and parents) and statewide clinical program marketing.
Roger has been in private practice for 14 years providing clinical therapy, contract work, and consulting for area agencies. Roger facilitates grief groups for parents who’ve experienced the loss of a child and children who have experienced the loss of a loved one through Kindermourn, served as a bicultural clinical consultant for Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, and consulted on projects for The Foundation For The Carolinas. Roger co-hosted a podcast for two seasons, The Helping Hands of Our Community (archived episodes can be found on the Common Good Hour Podcast link), and currently co-hosts The Common Good Hour Podcast.
Anna Blanton: "You can be a stellar social worker and have really, really concrete boundaries." (36:56)
Anna brings more than 13 years of advanced clinical social work practice and leadership experience to her role as Vice President of Support Services at AMOREM. Anna is dedicated to bringing enthusiasm, diverse hospice knowledge, and a commitment to serving all populations with cutting-edge interprofessional clinical practice skills.
Anna holds two degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning a BA in Psychology and a Master of Social Work (MSW). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board and serves on the Professional Education Committee with the Carolinas Center for Hospice & End of Life Care. Most recently, Anna earned her advanced palliative and hospice social work certification (APHSW-C) and is a member of social work hospice and palliative care network (SWPHN).
In her personal life, Anna finds joy in spending time at her home on Lake Norman with family, friends, and her two dogs. Anna was born and raised in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina.
Reverend Joey Honeycutt: "Journeying with them does not mean you hold the manual open so they can read it. It means you both wander the wilderness together." (1:01:15)
Rev. Joey Honeycutt is a queer, white, Southern, anti-racist social worker, bereavement counselor, and ordained pastor. Joey holds an MSW from UNC-Charlotte, an MDiv from Duke Divinity School, and is ordained by the United Church of Christ. Joey worked for six years as a victim advocate and crisis response coordinator with survivors of sexual and relationship violence before going to seminary with an academic focus on the intersections of queer identity and religious/spiritual trauma. Joey completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education as a chaplain at Duke University Hospital, where part of their work focused on supporting the patients and staff of Duke’s Adolescent Gender Care Clinic. Joey served as a hospice chaplain from 2019-2021 before becoming a bereavement counselor with the same hospice organization. Joey lives in Durham with their wife, Becket, and three very lovable and poorly trained rescue dogs.
Welcome to Season 2! (9:13)
Join Kris + Michelle as they discuss our upcoming Season 2 where we will highlight social workers as doers and, more importantly, bridge builders.
Season 1 Archives
Season 1 Wrap Up with Kris + Michelle: "We can’t do this work unless we’ve done our OWN work
." (22:19)
Join Kris + Michelle as they download Season 1 of Spark Sessions Podcast and chat about what has resonated with them thus far.
Kristie Puckett Williams, MA (Part 2): "Pain is the greatest motivator for change." (32:18)
Kristie Puckett Williams is the Statewide Campaign for Smart Justice Manager for the ACLU of North Carolina. Her direct experience with poverty, drug addiction, domestic violence, and incarceration have led her to pursue a career in policy and advocacy. She is an issue area expert on the conditions of confinement for women and girls, including pregnant women and girls in carceral facilities. Puckett also serves as the Chair of the Women in Incarceration Workgroup for the State Reentry Council Collaborative and as a commissioner on the North Carolina Commission on Racial & Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System (NC CRED). She holds an M.A. in Human Services Counseling: Addiction and Recovery Counseling.
Meredith Powers, PhD,MSW: "We, as a profession, think about “person and environment”, but it’s really the political, social & economic. Often, we leave the physical environment out of it." (17:33)
Meredith Powers, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She currently teaches Environmental Justice and serves as a Field Liaison for social work students working with immigrant and refugee populations. Throughout her practice career, she has worked in direct service primarily with immigrant and refugee clients; and in community settings with public education for sustainability, and congregation and community partnership development. Her current research includes the professional socialization of social workers, ecological justice, and university-community partnerships for sustainability. She established and administers the growing, international, online networks ‘Green/Environmental Social Work Collaborative Network’ and a Facebook group Ecologically Conscious Social Workers for social workers around the world who arecommitted to ecological justice. She was recently awarded a Sustainability Faculty Fellowship for her work promoting collaboration of sustainability across campus and in the community.
Holly Jackson - Walls of Love: "What you put out into the universe is what you get back."(37:52)
Holly Jackson is from Cleveland, Ohio. She is mom of 3 beautiful girls and has 8 grandchildren . She is a huge sports fan, book worm and music lover, but her biggest passion is helping people. 29 years ago she left a Domestic Violence situation while pregnant causing her to be homeless. Unable to get her due to being employed she vowed to help others not be shamed for their situation. She now spends her time advocating for the homeless, those in need and giving back to communities across the country.
HELP US FUND A WALL IN GREENSBORO, NC ON JULY 31st!! Visit www.wallsoflove.com and make a donation. Make a note that your donation is specifically for “Greensboro” so that your contribution goes directly into supporting that community!
Kristie Puckett-Williams, MA (Part 1): "Rather than the system drowning me the way that it was designed to do, it actually taught me how to swim with my hands tied behind my back." (26:40)
Kristie Puckett Williams is the Statewide Campaign for Smart Justice Manager for the ACLU of North Carolina. Her direct experience with poverty, drug addiction, domestic violence, and incarceration have led her to pursue a career in policy and advocacy. She is an issue area expert on the conditions of confinement for women and girls, including pregnant women and girls in carceral facilities. Puckett also serves as the Chair of the Women in Incarceration Workgroup for the State Reentry Council Collaborative and as a commissioner on the North Carolina Commission on Racial & Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System (NC CRED). She holds an M.A. in Human Services Counseling: Addiction and Recovery Counseling.
Tomeka Isaac & Michaela Penix: "We have to be bold and call out racism and the effects on a person's health." (52:34)
In 2017, Tomeka James Isaac set out to find decent healthcare for her pregnancy with her son Jace. This journey would set her stranded in uncharted territory. Losing Jace and surviving H.E.L.L.P Syndrome caused Tomeka to re-examine the facts of their medical diagnosis to see what happened, what needed to change, and what could be done to prevent this from happening to anyone ever again.The tragic, yet preventable death of Jace and almost losing her life in the process birthed an unbridled passion and purpose to spread awareness and to be a catalyst for change as it relates to racial and implicit biases faced by African American women and infants on a daily basis. Tomeka’s ambition for Jace’s Journey, where she is the co-founder and Executive Director, is to help educate the medical community and the general public on what to look for when treating the African American population and how to dispel or eliminate the misnomers and biases that these mothers face during pregnancy and childbirth.
Michaela Penix is the March of Dimes Director of Maternal Infant Health for North Carolina. She has her Bachelors Degree in Biology and Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Health Behavior and Program Evaluation, along with graduate certificates in Women’s Studies and Ethnic and Rural Health Disparities. She has worked to improve the health of communities for nearly 20 years, with a focus on women’s and children’s health and safety. Michaela is passionate about health equity, social justice, and overall efforts to uplift the community. In her spare time, Michaela enjoys traveling, volunteering, and spending time with her family, friends, and sweet puppy, Sarabi (Suh-Rah-Bee).
Alison Clougherty: “There’s nothing about my son that needs to be fixed.” (38:16)
Alison Clougherty is a Marketing Director for 4Wall Entertainment based in Nashville, TN. She works with agencies, designers and executives in order to grow their client brands. Prior to working with 4Wall, Alison worked at a global experiential marketing agency in Los Angeles and as a conference and event planner for the National Federation of Teachers in Washington, DC. Alison holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Education Policy from George Mason University. After 15 years in a marketing and event planning role, Alison recently returned to graduate school to pursue a second master’s in Education with a focus on Teaching the Visually Impaired to prepare for her new role as Co-Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit agency, Blind/VI Early Services of Tennessee (BEST). In addition to her professional experience, Alison writes a personal blog, Seeing Things in a Different Way, about her journey in raising her son who was born blind. Her blog posts have been featured in Braille Monitor and Future Reflections publications.
Brandon Stiles: “My identity is not negotiable.” (33:42)
This episode features Brandon Stiles, a senior manager at an electric company in the southeast US. Brandon shares an important perspective on representation in the workplace and how happy hours can change everything. Brandon’s diverse background and wide array of professional experiences have positioned him as a strong leader in the energy sector. Brandon has worked in electricity markets across the U.S., having served in a variety of roles with increasing responsibilities at several utility companies. He is currently a senior manager at a large utility in the Southeast. Throughout his career, Brandon has committed to creating and contributing to inclusive workplaces where every employee feels comfortable and safe bringing their full selves to work. At his current company, he helped create the LGBTQ+ employee resource group that focuses on raising awareness, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ employees. Brandon holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Toussaint Romain: “Everyone is not needed, from a historical perspective, to fix this problem. The RIGHT ones are needed.” (19:00)
Toussaint Romain is currently the Deputy General Counsel for Appalachian State University. Previously, Toussaint served as an Assistant Public Defender for the past ten (10) years, where he provided zealous legal representation to indigent clients charged with crimes like Murder, Drugs, and Robbery and as Habitual Felons. Toussaint represented thousands of individuals and he had over 50 jury trials of which he received Not-Guilty verdicts in more than 40 of those cases. Toussaint also led trainings, at the UNC School of Government, in Motions practice, factual and legal investigations, and in developing trial theories for attorneys from across the state. He was also a faculty member at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, for nine (9) years, leading advanced undergraduate courses in Constitutional Law and Mass Incarceration. Toussaint has guest lectured at law schools across North Carolina and he has taught CLEs for the American Bar Association and several other state bar associations across the nation. In addition, Toussaint is a nationally-renowned speaker presenting on issues of Leadership, Systemic Racism & Sexism and Criminal Justice Reform to legal professionals, systems' leaders, and corporate executives. Prior to earning his law degree in 2007, Toussaint worked for federal prosecutors, federal and state judges, large law firms, the National Institute of Justice and U.S. Senator John Edwards. Toussaint also studied at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. In college, Toussaint was an NCAA Division 1 Athlete and he won a Conference USA Championship at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Artie Hartsell: “We are all just walking each other home. You know?” (40:34)
This episode features Artie Hartsell, a social worker whose lived experiences were the catalyst for their organizing for equality. Their trajectory of service and organizing began early in life and has led them to working closely on LGBTQIA+ and human rights legislation.
Hope Vibes: “Do what you can with what you have until you can do more.” (39:42)
This episode features Emmanuel and Adrienne Threatt, co-founders of Hope Vibes, a Charlotte based non-profit that started with a social media rant. Come hear about their innovative solutions to support our homeless neighbors.
Welcome to Episode 1 of Spark Sessions Podcast! (8:44)
This inaugural episode focuses on what "sparks" Kris and Michelle - how they met, how they created this space to inspire change, and how they hope you will be moved to action by the lived experiences of doers and action takers. Come get to know us.
Spark Sessions Podcast Teaser (1:06)
Meet Kris Taylor and Michelle Vance, the co-hosts of Spark Sessions Podcast!
As social work educators, Kris and Michelle inspire people to see themselves as solutions. Their intention is to ignite curiosity and change by highlighting voices and invite listeners to build knowledge, networks, and strategies to fight injustices. Together, we can shift conversation to action.
In this podcast series teaser, hear from Kris and Michelle about the purpose behind Spark Sessions Podcast and what to expect from the series.