Conversations with Chanda

In this episode, Chanda is joined by Dr. Patricia Virella, an Assistant Professor of Urban Educational Leadership at Montclair State University, to explore the role of belief in education, leadership, and identity.

Patricia shares her journey from being underestimated in school to becoming a principal and professor, and how those experiences shaped her approach to advocating for students and families. Together, they discuss what it means to navigate systems that don’t always see you—and how parents and leaders can respond with clarity and intention. 

The conversation expands into leadership, where Patricia reframes hope as a strategy—not a feeling—rooted in agency and action. They also reflect on burnout, navigating white spaces, and the importance of creating environments where people feel seen, safe, and supported.

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https://patriciavirella.com/

In this conversation, Senior Vice President of Impact Alfonso Wenker of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation sits down with Marcus Owens, Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment for the City of Saint Paul.

Marcus shares how financial empowerment is about more than money—it’s about dignity, access, and creating real pathways for people to move forward. From leadership to systems change, this conversation explores what it means to build wealth in a way that includes everyone.

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https://spmcf.org/
IG @spmfoundation

In this episode, Chanda Smith Baker sits down with Henry Jiménez, CEO of Propel Nonprofits and a longtime nonprofit leader in Minnesota, for a conversation about what it really takes to support organizations doing the work closest to community.

Drawing from decades of leadership, Henry reflects on the growing demands nonprofits face, from reporting requirements to short-term funding cycles, and how those systems can unintentionally slow down impact.

Together, Chanda and Henry explore what a more trust-based approach to philanthropy could look like, and how stronger partnerships between foundations and nonprofit leaders can create lasting change in our communities.

https://propelnonprofits.org/

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https://spmcf.org/
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In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Senior Vice President of Impact Alfonso Wenker interviews Jamie Verbrugge, President & CEO of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, about nonprofit leadership, housing stability, and leading with dignity in complex times.

Catholic Charities Twin Cities is one of the largest social service providers in Minnesota, serving people experiencing homelessness through permanent supportive housing, emergency shelter, family services, and aging and disability support. Jamie shares how his background in municipal leadership prepared him to guide a 150-year-old faith-based nonprofit rooted in Catholic social teaching and community impact.

This conversation explores radical welcome, moral clarity in leadership, and how institutions can build trust by serving without condition. They discuss homelessness in the Twin Cities, housing access, stewardship leadership, trauma-informed care, and what it means to “do things with people” rather than for them.

Learn more about Catholic Charities Twin Cities at www.cctwincities.org.

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In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Chanda Smith Baker speaks with Ashani O’Mard, President of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, about what it takes to align capital, leadership, and community around affordable housing.

Recorded during a Minnesota–Atlanta housing learning exchange, this conversation explores cross-sector collaboration, capital strategy, and why housing is ultimately a shared responsibility.

https://www.andpi.org/

https://conversationswithchanda.com/
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Chanda is joined by philanthropy leader, board member, and author Nausheena Hussain for a thoughtful conversation about faith, money, leadership, and legacy.

Nausheena reflects on her journey from corporate America to nonprofit leadership, the intentional decision to step away from an organization she built, and why healthy leadership transitions—especially for women of color—remain so rare. Together, they explore how faith shapes our relationship with money, generosity, and responsibility, and why philanthropy must expand beyond narrow definitions of wealth and power.

To purchase book:
Prosperity with Purpose: A Muslim Woman's Guide to Abundance and Generosity

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Chanda Smith Baker explores the human side of healthcare where care, leadership, and crisis intersect. The conversation begins with Bridget Rosario-Vega, a staff member at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, who shares her deeply personal experience navigating a serious hospital stay and the nurses and caregivers who showed up with compassion when she needed it most.

Chanda is then joined by Lisa Shannon, CEO of Allina Health, for a candid discussion about the realities shaping healthcare today, from workforce strain and mental health gaps to innovation, AI, and the hard choices healthcare leaders are facing. Together, they hold two truths at once: a system under pressure and the people within it who continue to show up with humanity and care.

This episode is a reminder that healthcare is not just a system. It is people caring for people, and leadership showing up in moments that matter most.

Hon. Harriette Chiggai, Advisor on Women’s Rights to the President of Kenya, joins Chanda Smith Baker for a powerful and deeply human conversation about courage, bias, and the fight for safety and dignity in leadership.

From growing up in Nakuru to advising the highest office in her country, Harriette shares what she has learned about resilience, mentorship, and the cost and reward of breaking barriers. Together they explore the realities women face in power, the importance of creating safe homes and safe spaces, and why women must support one another if we want lasting change.

This episode reminds us that no matter how heavy the journey gets, it is not over until it is over.

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In this episode, Chanda sits down with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for a conversation that goes beyond the ballot box. Together, they unpack the state of democracy in America and why choosing not to vote isn’t resistance, but resignation.

From the real impact of government shutdowns to the erosion of public trust, Simon shares a behind-the-scenes look at how democracy actually functions and what happens when we disengage. He reminds us that voting isn’t charity; it’s power. It’s how communities get seen, resourced, and respected.

This conversation is a wake-up call to anyone who has ever thought, “My vote doesn’t matter.” It’s also a roadmap for how to lead, connect, and rebuild across our differences.

Learn more: mnvotes.gov 
— official Minnesota voting information

Foundation: spmcf.org
— Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation

More episodes: conversationswithchanda.com

Steve Grove, a former Google executive and current Star Tribune leader, joins Chanda Smith Baker on 'Conversations with Chanda' to discuss his new book, 'How I Found Myself in the Midwest.' Listen as Steve dives into his personal journey of reinvention, the challenges and triumphs faced in his career transitions, and the unique community dynamics in Minnesota. Discover how local stories of hope and innovation can inspire broader societal change.