During Kevin Reese’s 14 years of incarceration, he began addressing the injustices that permeate the criminal legal system. Today, he continues that work as the Executive Director of Until We Are All Free. Chanda connected with Kevin to talk about his dedication to restorative justice, reimagining the prison system, and the importance of healing from unchecked and generational trauma.

Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor Jason DeRusha has spent his career bringing people the news. Chanda sat down with Jason to discuss the challenges media faced in the wake of George Floyd's murder and throughout the pandemic. They also dive into how he was been impacted personally and professionally by covering pivotal moments in history.

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Minneapolis Foundation President & CEO R.T. Rybak steps in as guest host and speaks with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the urgency of climate change and what needs to be done. Sven and R.T. explore how to better explain this increasingly pressing issue to children and others with examples from here in Minnesota and around the world.

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the Minneapolis Foundation's YouTube channel.

With students once again back in school, it seems appropriate to provide a unique look into what’s being discussed in the field of education here at home and across the country. Over the last two years, Chanda has had a number of engaging and informative guests who are education experts. This episode shares powerful and enlightening clips from previous shows that tie the community to the classroom.

John Rogers is the Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, the global value-based asset management firm he founded in 1983 and first African American-owned asset management firm in American history. Chanda sat down with John to talk about moving away from supplier diversity and into business diversity, along with the importance of creating multigenerational wealth for Black and Brown communities.

Anthony Smith is the Executive Director of Cities United – a national network focused on eliminating violence in American cities related to Black men and boys. In this episode, Anthony and Chanda talk about Anthony’s path to Cities United, the importance of inspiring our youth, and how to build an ecosystem for community safety.

As president, Jen Ford Reedy helps the Bush Foundation invest in great ideas and the people who power them. Jen sat down with Chanda to talk about philanthropy’s role in transforming systems, the leadership challenges she encountered in 2020, and the art of philanthropic strategy.

Lisa Pawelak has more than 20 years of experience serving students and families in Minneapolis Public Schools. Today, she is the principal at Lucy Craft Laney Community School in North Minneapolis. In this episode, Lisa and Chanda talk about their love of the Northside, the lessons Lisa learned during the pandemic, and how Lisa is helping Lucy Laney be a safe, welcoming space where every student need is acknowledged.

Toya Randall is the curator of Voice. Vision. Value. This digital narrative project celebrates the leadership impact of Black women in philanthropy. Toya connected with Chanda to talk about what it means to be a person of color working in philanthropy, her 2020 experiences, and the benefits and challenges of proximity.

Dr. Yaba Blay is an activist, scholar, speaker, and author of “One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race.” Her work focuses on the lived experiences of Black women and girls. In this episode, Chanda and Yaba talk about the complexities of colorism, the history of Blackness, and the politics of race and identity.