In this powerful episode of the History of Being Black podcast, host Dr. Johnathan JeVon White sits down with Tammy Thompson, president and CEO of Catapult Pittsburgh, for an honest and inspiring conversation about poverty, power, and possibility.

Tammy shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in generational poverty and experiencing homelessness to leading a nonprofit dedicated to asset building for low- to moderate-income families. She speaks candidly about the structural barriers facing the Black community, the importance of economic empowerment, and why transparency, advocacy, and collective action are essential in addressing poverty at scale.

This episode challenges listeners to rethink how poverty is discussed, who gets left out of policy conversations, and what it truly takes to create sustainable change in Black communities.