B. Lifted Up!

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & CORPORATE CHANGE 

The true gift of any society is found in its diversity. Diversity is directly connected to innovation; and innovation to wealth. You cannot have the benefits of wealth without also enlisting the energy of innovators. Trisch L. Smith, Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Edelman Public Relations, is a true diversity and inclusion champion, communications expert, and public relations veteran. During her tenure with Edelman, the world’s leading global communications marketing agency, Smith has managed stakeholder outreach, strategic positioning, crisis and reputation management campaigns for a host of Fortune 500 corporations. As future population demographics shift, embracing diversity will lead to new levels of wealth which the world has never seen before. The million $ question is whether organizations are serious about inclusion in a meaningful way – engaging minority representation in leadership positions at the corporate party. Listen!

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RESILIENCE -

What is the work that God has given you -- that will go out into the world as a work of art?

The last few years have tested our capacity to survive and remain sane under some pretty intense conditions. The pandemic, financial instability, political discord and social unrest. We have been both shaken and awakened at our core, giving cause to review and re-evaluate our value systems in order to re-position and move our agendas forward. Join this dynamic discussion with Global Strategist and Best-Selling author, Dr. Cindy Trimm, as we peel back layers of physical & mental exhaustion, and re-prioritize the way that we show up in the world.

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BWI MARSHALL– A SUCCESS STORY 

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is one of the most innovation aviation hubs in the U.S. One GREAT Airport – servicing Two GREAT cities. Ricky D. Smith, a 32-year transportation professional, was appointed Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) in July 2015. He is responsible for the management and operations of: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall), Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the State of Maryland. During his tenure, Smith has led the airport to five consecutive record-setting years for passenger traffic, including restoring BWI Marshall as the busiest airport in the Washington/Baltimore region; the 22nd busiest in the U.S.; and the Best Airport in North America for Customer Service. What does the ability to conceive & implement change look like? Tune in and take notes from this visionary!

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WOMEN WHO CHANGED GOSPEL MUSIC

Gospel music has a rich history. In addition to our most celebrated gospel pioneers – i.e. Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and James Cleveland -- the golden age of gospel was also filled with pioneering women who made a difference on the road to abundance; who carved their own paths and planted roots for others to reap the harvest; change agents who left a legacy that often rivaled the music. Join this riveting conversation with Emmy Award winning news anchor (Spectrum/NY1) & Author of “Isn’t Her Grace Amazing!: The Women Who Changed Gospel Music”, Cheryl Wills, as she highlights women in the gospel industry who often go unnoticed and underappreciated for their talents – including writing, arranging, directing, developing singers; as well as those who have left an indelible mark on the industry.

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THE POWER OF MUSIC

Light draws attention. And, so we are drawn to Vivian Scott Chew, a self-proclaimed risk-taker who stands out in the field of entertainment as a woman with drive, determination & vision. Actor Billie Porter refers to Vivian as: ‘a force of nature’. She piloted her own brand of innovation in global music and entertainment with an accomplished history at the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP), Polygram Records and Sony Music. In 1998, Vivian launched TimeZone International, a marketing & promotion company that assists U.S. artists with their global careers. In 1999, she and her husband, music director Ray Chew, established an event production company Chew Entertainment; and in 2013 the Power 2 Inspire Foundation (501c3) to help cultivate and develop the next generation of Black & Brown music creators & business leaders. Yet, it was entry into the live music event & production arena with “Night of Inspiration” at Carnegie Hall -- that was magical! Vivian is emphatic that “the power of music cannot be denied”. Just Listen!

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LEADERSHIP

Leadership is not always an uphill climb. When something is birthed deep inside your soul, what do you do with that feeling to capture its essence, nurture and grow it? The Ask Benny Pough, CEO of DVERSE Media who has served as President of Roc Nation Music, Executive VP of Epic Records, and Senior VP of Universal Music Group’s Island Def Jam. Upon the release of his first book, “On IMPACT”, his journey as brought him to fulfill the desires of his heart. Listen to this podcast, as Benny shares the fruit of lessons well learned along the way, and affirms that the gap between uncertainty and innovation is leadership.

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BLACK WOMEN IN RADIO

Who will preserve our history? In April 2023 Black Women In Radio (BWIR) and the Radio Preservation Task Force of the Library of Congress joined forces to launch a new sound and oral history project. For the first time in American history, Black women are not only being recognized, but are included in archival history. LEGENDS: The Evolution and Legacy of Black Radio Culture, led by BWIR Founder, Felèsha Love, is a comprehensive study of radio culture through sound, pivotal historical socio-political challenges, and collectibles from the people who helped shape Black radio and music culture. Love is joined by Mutter Evans, Carole Carper and Jacquie Gales Webb – 3 of the first distinguished “Inaugural 39” inductees. Each woman’s unique career is a multi-dimensional journey, rich in history and ripe with full-bodied experiences. You don’t want to miss this!

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BLACK WOMEN IN RADIO

Who will preserve our history? In April 2023 Black Women In Radio (BWIR) and the Radio Preservation Task Force of the Library of Congress joined forces to launch a new sound and oral history project. For the first time in American history, Black women are not only being recognized, but are included in archival history. LEGENDS: The Evolution and Legacy of Black Radio Culture, led by BWIR Founder, Felèsha Love, is a comprehensive study of radio culture through sound, pivotal historical socio-political challenges, and collectibles from the people who helped shape Black radio and music culture. Love is joined by Mutter Evans, Carole Carper and Jacquie Gales Webb – 3 of the first distinguished “Inaugural 39” inductees. Each woman’s unique career is a multi-dimensional journey, rich in history and ripe with full-bodied experiences. You don’t want to miss this!

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MENTAL WELLNESS

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. The national movement to raise awareness about mental health is vital to our communities, particularly in wake of the key issues of our day – tightening money supply, housing & food insecurity, access to quality healthcare, vigilante-ism, diverse policing techniques and increasing gun violence. The stigma of mental health demands public education and advocacy for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. Dr. Donna Hamilton, Author, “Wellness Your Way” and Dr. Michelle Boone Thornton, Author, “Transforming Your Reality: Removing the Mask” are here to help sort through the facts and prescribe a framework that promotes wellness.

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THE WELFARE OF THE CITY 

Juanita Campbell Rasmus understands the power of service. She is a speaker, writer, spiritual director, and contemplative teacher; and has been the co-pastor of the St. John’s United Methodist Church in downtown Houston with her husband, Rudy, since 1992. Her book, “Learning to Be: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out”, offers spiritual practices to discover new ways of being. Pastor Juanita serves her community by facilitating meals, housing and empowerment for the homeless. She teamed up with Tina Knowles Lawson and Beyoncé to help forty thousand flood victims recover in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. How can serving your community make a difference? Just listen to Pastor Juanita who advocates that, “The universe is inviting us to live our most expansive lives. Don’t play it small!”

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