ChangeMakers

Founder & CEO

For more than a decade Andre has performed extensively in award-winning theatrical productions nationwide. He is a noted alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). As an actor, Andre has been awarded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, NAACP Theatre Award, Los Angeles Ovation Award, and was nominated for the BroadwayWorld Best Lead Actor Award for his role as “Simba” in the Tony Award-winning Disney’s The Lion King, performing to date with the show’s Broadway Company.

Andre is the writer, producer and star of the short film STOP in addition to television and film appearances in the Amazon series BLACK, NBC's Law & Order: SVU, and Netflix's Luke Cage.

A former Marine who has traveled all over the world, Andre now splits his time between Los Angeles, New York, and Memphis, where he primarily resides with his wife (a writer), son, and their feisty little Cairn Terrier Leon.

Co-Founder & CFO

C.J. has been a freelance writer since 2009, with a focus on conveying stories that exemplify the human spirit. She has written for numerous companies and nonprofit organizations including Executive Speakers Bureau, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, and cityCURRENT. She has penned the blog River City Rising (cityCURRENT) for more than four years.
Upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Spelman College- where she attended on a full academic scholarship- C.J. completed the requirements for her Master of Arts in International Relations at UCLA after transferring from Morgan State University. Following a short internship at CNN (Los Angeles) and four years of working as a commercial and voice-over actress, she returned to her first love (surprising absolutely none of her teachers, professors, close friends and family!): writing.
While residing in Los Angeles C.J. began a creative writing group at a residential home for at-risk youth and, after moving to Memphis, volunteered at a nonprofit organization helping students build their writing and English skills in preparation for the GED exam. In 2011, C.J. was the graduation keynote speaker at BRIDGES in Memphis, Tennessee.

C.J. recently completed her first Contemporary Fiction novel, FOR TRUE. She's an avid Crossfitter and enjoys traveling the world.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Our friend Kellie Turnage, @kturnage121, is bravely sharing her story of #addiction, which almost cost her everything, including her life, so she can help others and walk them from the darkness she personally experienced then to the light she enjoys now with her beautiful family and career.

It’s critically important that we better understand addiction and that we have these conversations, especially with so many of our loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors suffering and turning to drugs, alcohol and other harmful things to cope with what is happening in our world today.

Sharing your story and struggles is hard, but the more you open up and the more we can encourage you to open up, the more we can heal and move forward together with a deeper level of understanding, empathy and love.

If you or someone you know are experiencing alcohol or drug addiction, learn more about resources to help you here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

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Now in it's 11th year, Aidan Cares is an independent 501c3 created by a board of supporters that believe in this crucial mission. All donations are used for impacting youth and adults along their paths to give and serve partnering to do so with charities doing awesome stuff.

Learn more: https://www.aidancares.org/

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Through great adversity after a horrific road traffic accident in October 2017 left Dr. Ajay G Doni with a prosthetic leg, Dr. Ajay has used that life changing event as a platform to guide various amputees on how to overcome amputation trauma, provide tips on improving gait pattern, and educating others on various prosthetic options and components available as brand ambassador for Össur.

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/AjayDoni07/

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Carol Johnson-Dean, Ed.D., is currently the Interim President, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN.  Prior to that appointment, she served as the Executive Director of New Leaders, South Region, a national organization providing leadership development for aspiring principals and teacher leaders.  She has provided oversight to New Leaders programs in Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Minnesota.  She has also served as Executive Director, of Large District Support for the Tennessee Department of Education (2015).

Carol Johnson-Dean is a 2014 Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellow and a Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt/Peabody College.  She currently serves on the National Board of City Year, Memphis Advisory Board for Facing History and Ourselves, a member, Memphis Teacher Residency Advisory Board and Education Co-Chair, for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Board, and Member First 8 Advisory Board, and an Ambassador, National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).  She is also a member, University of Minnesota Alumni Association Board and Memphis Chapter, Fisk University Alumni Association.

Johnson-Dean served as Superintendent of Boston Public Schools (BP) 2007-2013, having been appointed by a unanimous vote of the Boston School Committee.  As Superintendent of the 58,000-student district, she also served as a Cabinet Member for Mayor Thomas M. Menino.  Under her leadership, the Boston Public School District improved proficiency rates, narrowed achievement gaps, focused on access and opportunity, as well as graduating students prepared for college and career success.  During her tenure, graduation rates increased annually, the dropout rate decreased by over 40% to its lowest levels since 1977, and more students enrolled in Advanced Placement and the district more than doubled the number of 8th graders enrolled in Algebra I, demonstrating significant results on NAEP.

In 2012, Dr. Johnson-Dean received the nation’s highest honor for urban education leadership, the Richard R. Green Award, presented by the Council of the Great City Schools.  In 2010, the Boston Public Schools was recognized as one of the most improved school districts in the world by McKinsey and Company.  A strong advocate for Arts Education, Dr Johnson-Dean received the AASA/VHI Save the Music Award, increasing the percentage K-8 students receiving weekly arts instruction from 67% to 93% and doubling the number of art teachers in the district.

Dr. Johnson-Dean has a wealth of experience in Public Education as a teacher, principal and district administrator.  Prior to her appointment in Boston, Dr. Johnson-Dean was Superintendent in Minneapolis, MN, Memphis, TN and St. Louis Park, MN.  She was named Minnesota Superintendent of the Year and the Tennessee PTA Superintendent of the Year.  Nationally, Dr. Johnson-Dean has served on the Board of Directors for the Council of the Great City Schools, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley Board, the Harvard University Urban Superintendent’s Advisory Board, the University of Michigan School of Education/Dean’s Advisory Board and she has served on both the College Board and the Spencer Foundation Board (Chicago).  Dr. Johnson-Dean earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Fisk University in Nashville, TN and a Master’s Degree (Curriculum and Instruction) and Doctorate Degrees in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota.

She has also been awarded honorary degrees from LeMoyne-Owen College and Rhodes College, both in Memphis, TN and Simmons College in Boston.

Dr. Johnson-Dean is married to Dr. Willie Dean, a retired YMCA Executive. Together, they share six adult children.

Photo by Jim Webber / Daily Memphian

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Robin and Jason Hills, who share their personal story of turning disabilities into the powerful abilities of finding love, starting a family, having successful careers and encouraging others to break out of their mental and physical constraints to find fulfillment, embrace diversity, achieve greater levels of success, and make a difference in the community.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Nick has spent over 15 years living or spending time in over 30 countries around the world. He has led non-profit organizations, coached CEO’s, consulted with Fortune 500 companies, and spoken at award-winning events.

Nick loves hanging out with his family, collaborating with amazing humans, reading (70-ish books per year), smoke his pipe, drinking coffee, and traveling. 

Follow cityCURRENT + Nick Laparra

@cityCURRENT | cityCURRENT.com

@NickLaparra | @LetsGiveADamn | www.nicklaparra.com

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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A story so powerful it was made into a movie, Liz Murray shares her fascinating, inspirational story of growing up with two drug addicted parents who she began supporting at age 10. Homeless at age 15, the death of her mother was the wake-up call that made her break free of her circumstances and pursue a different path for her life. While living on the streets of New York, she completed and graduated from high school in just two years. Overcoming horrible odds, she won a full scholarship and was accepted to Harvard University. Murray offers one of the most moving, elegant and uplifting tales you will ever hear.

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/lizmurraybreakingnight/

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As vice president of government affairs for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Keith Norman's primary responsibilities include establishing and maintaining relationships with government officials and strengthening Baptist's community outreach partnerships. 

He also is pastor of First Baptist Church—Broad, sits on the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission board of directors, serves on Christian Brothers University’s board of trustees and is a former commissioner of the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance. Norman is the immediate past president of Memphis’ NAACP chapter and serves on NAACP’s national board of trustees. A graduate of Morehouse College, Norman earned a doctorate degree from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2016 and published his dissertation, which outlines strategies for urban community development in Memphis, Tennessee. Norman is now pursuing a certification in diversity and inclusion management from the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Sandler Training has been named the number one management training program in Entrepreneur Magazine for five years, as well as the top rated sales and sales management training organization in the country by Inc. Magazine.

Learn more: https://www.csp.sandler.com/about/local-sandler-trainer

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com