With over 400,000 subscribers, he has created the number one Cruise channel on YouTube. And he takes us along wherever he goes on the planet, from Greenland and the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. He's been on over 109 cruises in the last 20+ years, and there's so much more to come. Gary Bembridge is my guest today, and you will be fascinated to learn about his birthplace, corporate background, and his trek around the globe. Hello! You're listening to Conversations with Carole!

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Gary Bembridge started “Tips For Travellers” as a hobby podcast when Apple first launched podcasts on iTunes and YouTube began to host videos. At the time, he was the Global Vice President of Marketing of Johnson’s Baby products and was travelling around the world a few weeks every month. At first, he shared the cities he was visiting, but after trying and getting hooked on cruising, he started to cover that more. 

After retiring from Johnson & Johnson following a 24-year career path, he focused on cruising and making more videos, leading to his channel becoming the number one cruise vlog channel on the platform, hitting 400,000 subscribers and 140,000,000 all-time video views in September 2023.

Gary was born in Zimbabwe to British parents and has been based in London since 1987.

Learn more about Gary at www.tipsfortravellers.com.

Here's a longer quite interesting autobiography about Gary Bembridge:
https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/about-gary-bembridge

From a Jewish summer camp, Leverett Wing embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery. Raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts, he found minimal connection to his Asian American heritage in the classroom. But through that camp, he unearthed the treasures of his culture. Today, as the leader of Boston's essential civic engagement organization, The Commonwealth Seminar, Leverett's story is a compelling testament to the power of embracing one's ethnicity, paving the way for impactful civic leadership. His inspiring journey embodies the significance of cultural identity, self-discovery, and leadership for us all.
Hello! You're listening to Conversations With Carole!

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Leverett Wing - Executive Director, 

The Commonwealth Seminar

Leverett is the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Seminar, a non-partisan organization seeking to "Open the Doors of Government to Everyone" by educating advocates and leaders who live in & work with underserved communities about the "ins & outs" and "essentials" of working with, and within, all levels of government.

Before the Seminar, Leverett led the Community Services Division at The MA Department of Housing & Community Development, overseeing a budget of over $200 million. Leverett was also the Executive Director of Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), a national, D.C. based organization focusing on civic engagement in the Asian American community. Before that, Leverett helped spearhead an effort to create the Massachusetts Asian American Commission and was named the Commission's first permanent Executive Director.

Leverett also serves on the boards of several highly respected organizations. Among them, Leverett sits on the Board of Overseers at Joslin Diabetes Center, the Board of Advisors at Eastern Bank, the Board of Overseers of the Boston Children's Museum, and the Board of Overseers of 'GBH-TV/Radio.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of Boston's Higher Ground in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Leverett is also a Board member for Meet Boston and serves on the Bureau's Multicultural Committee.

In Boston, Leverett was recognized by Get Konnected as one of their "One Hundred Most Influential People of Color" and is a recipient of the prestigious "Good Guy Award" from the M.A. Women's Political Caucus, only the second Asian American to receive the award.

IN 2021, The Multicultural Symposium Series Empowerment Breakfast honored Leverett for his unwavering leadership and commitment to communities across the region.

A Special Edition Of Conversations With Carole

Young revelers danced the night away in the heart of the Israeli desert, their joyous celebration turning into a harrowing dash for survival at the break of day. Innocent families perished within the secure confines of their kibbutz, desperately clinging to life as they remained devoid of any military aid. 

Meanwhile, the vulnerable, both young and old, cowered in fear as missiles rained down upon the buildings beside them in Gaza. These are the unsung heroes and victims of the ravages of warfare – men, women, children, couples, families, and individuals from both Israel and Gaza – all caught in the crossfire of a brutal conflict with no clear victor in sight. 

Today, we sit down with criminal justice expert and acclaimed sociologist Dr. Stephanie Cappadona of Curry College to delve into the profound and enduring impacts of the Israeli-Hamas Conflict on us all.

This is a special edition of Conversations with Carole.

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About Dr. Cappadona

Ph.D., Sociology, Northeastern University 
 M.S., Criminal Justice, Northeastern University

Stephanie Cappadona is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Curry College. She received her M. S. in Criminal Justice and Ph.D. in Sociology with a concentration in Violence and Conflict from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Dr. Cappadona's dissertation is entitled "Which Bias Crimes Get Prosecuted? An analysis of bias-motivated incidents and prosecutions in the City of Boston, Massachusetts 2007-2008". Her teaching and research are grounded in social justice and human rights. She teaches courses in Sociological and Criminological Theory, Sociology of Violence, Criminology, Justice and Human Rights Advocacy, Human Diversity in Criminal Justice, Hate Crimes and Hate Groups, and Juvenile Justice. 

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RESOURCES ON ISRAEL and  PALESTINE 

Good Historical Documentary on how Britain impacted Israel.  

https://youtu.be/ZXfuqUhzESg?si=R6Q_WQieFZaxwRMg

TED TALK FEATURING DR. IAN BREMMER

https://youtu.be/wQmBsbt9blg?si=nDVV3zKc7t8u_IV_

GAZA a documentary that you can watch on Netflix or YouTube

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AoUTiLTM-4

CHRIS HEDGES REPORT

https://chrishedges.substack.com

A Good Book To Read:

AGREE TO DISAGREE: A Critical Thinking Guide to Communication, Conflict Management, and Critical Media Literacy 

BY Nolan  Higdon (Author) and Mickey Huff (Author) 

https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Agree-Disagree-Nolan-Higdon/dp/1032168986/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UVKZAEA31DJY&keywords=let%27s+agree+to+disagree+book&qid=1697384674&sprefix=%2Caps%2C66&sr=8-1

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place between September 15th to October 15th as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then it has been celebrated nationwide. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

From Spain to the cultures in South America we’ll talk with our expert guest today, who made his way from Venezuela to Florida to Rhode Island. He’s Oscar Mejais, the Founder, President, and CEO of the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has grown from 100 hundred members to nearly 1000 in 7 short years!  You won’t want to miss this show! You’re listening to Conversations with Carole!

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Oscar Mejías was born in Venezuela. He graduated as a computer engineer and arrived in the USA in 2003. 

  
After relocating from Venezuela to Florida, Oscar has been working in Business, Education, and technology for the last 16 years in Rhode Island. He worked with several organizations, including the SBA, SBDC, RI Economic Development Center (EDC), and Center of Women & Entrepreneurs (CWE), for training and educational purposes. Oscar is the Chairman of the Emerging Markets Committee in the Economic Summit organized by the Small Business Administration of Rhode Island (SBA) since 2015. He worked as an IT Implementation Project Manager for a Global Financial Institution in Massachusetts (2011 - 2014). 

Oscar Mejías is a recognized business and civic leader whose involvement with the Latino community in the last 15 years has given him a well-obtained reputation for dedication and leadership. As a business owner, and has been awarded as New England Minority Business Owner 2015(SBA).

He was recognized by The White House Initiative for Excellence in Education for Hispanics. He is the CEO of BETECH (an IT Consulting firm) and EMERGING STUDIES INSTITUTE, a Bilingual Vocational and Technical School. 

Oscar Mejías is the Founder & CEO of the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, whose mission is to advocate, promote, and lead Hispanic-owned businesses to success. This successful organization provides technical assistance and resources to Latino Business owners, supporting the Latino Community's economic development in Rhode Island. With nearly 1,000 members, this organization represents a force in the state's economic ecosystem. 

  He is a recognized former member of several Diversity & Inclusion committees: Providence Foundation, Providence Community Library, Cranston Armory Steering Committee, and Governor's Working Group for Diversity in Construction, among others. He is a New England Council Diversity Committee member, the City of Pawtucket Mayor's Community Board and Co-Chair of the ARPA Task Force for the City of Providence. He is also an active member of several economic development committees in the state of Rhode Island, including the Board of Directors of the RI Public Expenditure Council, the RI Commodores Group, and the RI Committee for Economic Development Strategies. 

He is married with two daughters and is proud of his first granddaughter.

Salute To Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Tobias Vanderhoop

"Growing up in an extended family as I did, both in Everett and on the Island, definitely contributes to my sense of Tribe today. You didn't want for anything; we all shared what we had."

You won’t want to miss this interview. Those of the insightful words of my special guest today, Tobias Vanderhoop, who proudly represents the Aquinnah people of the Wampanoag Tribe. We'll learn more about his close relationship with his community as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. You’re listening to Conversations with Carole!

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About Tobias Vanderhoop
My Vision

Kuweequahsun, nutus8wees Tobias Vanderhoop. Nuwôpanâeeshkeetôp nuwtômâs Ahqunahut. 

(Greetings my name is Tobias Vanderhoop. I am a Wampanoag man from Aquinnah.)

Tobias grew up "off Island," in the City of Everett, north of Boston. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to come to the Island frequently, and his interactions with his cousins, friends, and this special place made him know this as his home. 

In 1992, Tobias moved to Aquinnah (the Indigenous town on Martha's Island) with the idea that he could stay there and work for his Tribe. While working for the Tribal Administration, Tobias had the opportunity to participate in a partnership between the Tribal Education Department and the University of Massachusetts Boston, working toward a Bachelor's Degree in Community Planning and Management, which he earned in 2004. After receiving a call to action from Tribal Elder Norva Randolph in 1999, Tobias also served on the Tribal Council for a total of eight and a half years. 

After serving two terms as a Tribal Councilman, he felt he could do more for his community, so he applied to Harvard University and was accepted into their Mid-Career Master's in Public Administration program. Tobias commuted from Cambridge back to the Island as often as possible from July 2007 – June 2008 to continue to serve the Tribal Council while completing his education. 

Since then, he has continued to push the boundaries of his service to the Tribal Community, serving as Tribal Administrator for four and a half years and assisting the Tribal Chief in the judiciary branch of our government as Chief Administrator.

Following a two-year Tribal assignment in Ketchikan, Alaska, Tobias returned to Aquinnah and launched his consulting practice, which assists organizations interacting with various Tribal departments on Island.

Today’s podcast features Carol Ann Whitehead, an amazing social entrepreneur and civic activist from Manchester, England.  She is the Managing Director of the UK based publishing and events agency, “The Zebra Partnership.” Carol Ann is currently living in Northern Ireland, chaperoning her teenage daughter, who is under contract with BBC Television. Carol Ann is one of the most prolific social media mavens on LinkedIn. You won’t want to miss this interview. 

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Carol Ann Whitehead is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an award-winning Managing Director of The Zebra Partnership. It serves as a Publishing, Events, and Campaigns agency working with consultants and performers on a project-by-project basis in the United Kingdom. The Zebra Partnership also serves a diverse overseas audience, from festivals to royal visits.

Her community service includes:

• Being a Non-Executive Director and Heritage Trustee for the historic Portico Library and Newsroom.
• Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
• Serving on the CMI Womens Board.

As an ally, Carol Ann was Executive Director and presenter of the ITV National Diversity Awards nominated for Your Manchester Media 2020-2022. It's an LGBTQ+ originated flagship weekly magazine show streamed via Sky Glass and other platforms with a million viewers in 2021.

Carol Ann is a bi-weekly BBC Radio Manchester contributor known as a 'Trender' discussing current affairs nationally and internationally. She is the Host of 'The Whitehead Files,' an Oprah-styled fireside interview in studio, online, or on location across many platforms.

Carol Ann serves as a guest lecturer at the University of Manchester, is on the Northern Power Women Power List, and is a Pankhurst Trust Ambassador.

She delivered an 'Improving Wiki Diversity' lecture at the United Nations Youth Association in Denmark and mentored young people to host their own Wikieditathon event. In 2019 she was honoured with Global Goodwill Ambassador status from the foundation, and in 2021 Carol Ann was named Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion in the top 100 Social Media Influencers. 

Carol Ann was awarded the 2022 'Inspiring Women Worldwide accolade from the Women's International Network in Geneva.

They defied the odds and pursued educational excellence anyway. Despite racism, housing segregation, and academic hurdles, they pursue their dreams at The University of Michigan boldly and courageously. Now, a special project is archiving their years on the campus. African American students who attended U of M from 1853 to 1970 are now part of a unique database that anyone anywhere in the world can access. 

Dr. Richard Smith, a U of M grad, explains how this project started and why it’s important to record the history of Black students who have studied at the university.  

It’s especially important for Carole because her grandfather and mother are both part of this remarkable database.

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Richard Smith, M.D., FACOG, a long-time OB-GYN physician at Henry Ford Hospital who helped champion a national model for prenatal care services, is the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). By the time he retired in 2020, Dr. Smith had delivered nearly 9,000 babies. Generation after generation of countless families turned to him to usher their babies into the world.

Dr. Smith attended Harvard University School of Public Health, the University of Michigan, and Howard University College of Medicine.

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A new public database of African American students created by the University of Michigan documents students who attended U-M between 1853 and as recently as 1970.

A comprehensive compilation of this nature did not previously exist at the university and remains very rare for universities across the country.

In the process, hundreds of compelling stories have been uncovered surrounding segregated housing, relocation after slavery, and “segregation scholarships,” which originated in the 1920s.

“What we have discovered is that it was African American students, their organizations, the local community, and African American alumni who carved out lives for themselves on this campus, often with no help and with opposition from the university itself,” said Terrence McDonald, director of the Bentley Historical Library.

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Carole's Mother was a U of M grad: 
Gwendolyn Juanita Charleston Copeland

Carole's Grandfather took graduate courses at U of M:
Rev. James A. Charleston
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To learn more visit:
https://africanamericanstudentproject.bentley.umich.edu/database

The podcast Conversations with Carole is meant to build a community where we can talk about current and historical issues relevant to our times. I've been in the cross culture business for many years and celebrate the past work I've done in radio. It made sense NOW to move the conversation to a podcast format where we can all get involved!

Each week, we will dedicate our time to an intriguing topic or person in our quest to dig deeper into the subject matter. And we're not just interested in a conversation about American issues. We want to travel the globe, bringing in diverse voices and people who are making a difference in this world.

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As an award-winning keynote speaker, trainer, and global thought leader, since 1987, Carole Copeland Thomas moderates the discussions of critical issues affecting the marketplace. She has her pulse on the issues affecting working professionals and regularly consults with industry leaders. She has spent 36 years cultivating relationships and partnerships with local, national, and international sponsors, including Walmart, Amtrak, and Emirates Airlines. Carole is the past president of The National Speakers Association -New England Chapter and was on the leadership team of Black NSA. Carole is a blogger and social media enthusiast using various technology platforms to enhance her business development activities. 

Carole has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Black Enterprise, ABC Radio, and CBS News.

She is the author of eight books and is the Past National Vice Chair of the National Black MBA Association

Carole is a 28-year member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and an active member of Black NSA. She won the President Emeritus Award for the leadership role she played during the 2017-2018 NSA New England Chapter Year.

Visit Carole's website at www.carolecopelandthomas.com.