Breaking Distance

Breaking Distance host and Beauty for Freedom Founder, Monica Watkins, sits down for an intimate conversation with model, activist, mother, designer, and Beauty for Freedom ambassador and Project Manager, Joanna Pauline. They discuss motherhood, working with survivors of human trafficking, and Joanna's upcoming projects.

Breaking Distance host and Beauty for Freedom Founder, Monica Watkins, interviews Associate Director of The Racial Justice Fund at Change.org - Rashawn Davis and Senior Campaigner at Change.org - Christina Martin. Their conversation covers racial justice, their lives during the pandemic, how to become a changemaker and their personal journeys in the world of politics and social justice. Change.org is the world’s platform for change. On Change.org, people everywhere are starting campaigns, mobilizing supporters, and working with decision makers to drive solutions.

Breaking Distance host and Beauty for Freedom Founder, Monica Watkins, sits down for an intimate conversation with Mrs. Anna Ptak approaching subjects such as the intersection between human trafficking and pornography, federal and state HT policy, re-exploitation of survivors and children and human trafficking.

An intimate chat with Savhera Co-Founder, Dr. Vanessa Bouche, and Survivor Leader and Savhera Employee, Ava.

Savhera is an essential oil brand providing products that contribute to wellness, justice and sustainability by providing dignified employment to brave survivors of sexual exploitation in India and the United States.

In our 5th Episode in our Breaking Distance series "On Race, Art and Everything In-Between", a collection of conversations focusing on investigating the systemic racism plaguing our world today. We are creating a space to uplift diverse communities while spotlighting people of color changing and shaping our world through philanthropy, the arts and activism. This episode features London Based Artist, Journalist and Filmmaker Darnell Christie. We approach being Black in media and what that experience feels like, his upbringing in London, what inspires him to create, his Vlog series “Black in Colombia” and his podcast “Darnell Responds”.

In our 4th Episode in our Breaking Distance series "On Race, Art and Everything In-Between", a collection of conversations focusing on investigating the systemic racism plaguing our world today. We are creating a space to uplift diverse communities while spotlighting people of color changing and shaping our world through philanthropy, the arts and activism. This episode features Lisa Dent, the Executive Director of Artspace New Haven, a visionary and dynamic non-profit organization championing emerging artists and building new audiences for contemporary art. Lisa speaks about her experiences as a curator, Executive Director, gallery owner and woman of color in the art world and the challenges she's faced along with the triumph and hope.

Our Breaking Distance team had the honor of interviewing Bil Donovan, one of today's most accomplished and revered fashion illustrators. He is a respected educator and author and has traveled the world as a global artist and spokesperson for companies like Christian Dior. Bil speaks about his passion for creating and how it all started, his love of educating, fostering and nurturing the next generation of artists and his activism and newest protest artwork series #LiberatorToo, honoring Black Lives.

Our Breaking Distance team had the honor of featuring an amazing organization and program on the show last week, Margaret's Place (A program of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation), discussing how school programming and youth have been pivoting throughout the global pandemic and we had an opportunity to learn more about the programs provided for youth in New York, Los Angeles and Cincinnati. Safe At Home provides healing services to youth who have been traumatized by exposure to violence including domestic violence, child abuse, teen dating abuse, and sexual assault in order to empower them to live healthy lives free of violence. Their mission is to educate to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives. And as a program of Safe at Home, Margaret’s Place is a multifaceted school-based program created with the understanding that protective factors can decrease or mitigate the harm associated with exposure to violence and complex trauma. The program has several master’s level counselors to help children to strengthen their resilience, let them know that they are not alone, and underscore that the violence they have suffered is not their fault– all while providing a safe place in the school. We were joined by Jennifer Herbert, the Associate Vice President of Programs at Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. Jennifer has over 15 years of clinical experience as an art therapist and trainer in New York City, working with children, families, and communities affected by trauma, violence, and homelessness. In her current role at the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, she addresses the cumulative effects of isolation and complex trauma, with an emphasis on prevention and intervention, and works to build and cultivate relationships with participants of the program as well as various community partners. and David Sewsankar, an Alumni Intern of IS 143. David joined the Safe At Home team in 2016 as an Alumni Intern. In that role, he has shaped and led the organization’s Perspectives With Equal Respect (P*WER) curriculum, a workshop facilitated by young men for young men that explores the role of gender and stereotypes in gender-based violence. He also facilitates groups, creates new workshops, and mentors current middle- and high-school students in Margaret’s Place programs.

Our Beauty for Freedom, Breaking Distance Podcast Team sat down with Beauty for Freedom Ambassador, Global Artist , Humanitarian and Multi-faceted Musician Scarlett de la Torre for a candid discussion about how her music has led her down a path of sound healing, her work during the COVID Crisis, activism around the fight to end sex trafficking globally and support for the civil uprising around Black Lives Matter.

Our Beauty for Freedom, Breaking Distance Podcast Team sat down for a candid discussion about the history of San Francisco Pride, Queer Culture, Activism and the Influence of The Arts and Music with Artist, “Credit in the Straight World” Film Director, and “Nervous Breakdowns” Band Founder Keala Ramos, a Nonprofit Industrial Complex Rabble-Rouser Ana "Smitty" Smith and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy a Transgender Activist, Advocate and the Executive Director of the Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat & Historical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat & Historical Center’s (a.k.a. “House of GG”) mission is to create programs, services, and resources that positively impact the lives, history, and visibility of Transgender, gender-questioning, and gender-nonconforming people. They do this through programs that promote healing justice, resilience, and organizing among our communities, particularly by and for transgender women of color, to remove barriers that inhibit our survival.