Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire

My guest today is Maria Luisa Whittingham. Maria Luisa is a business owner, community builder and advocate for social justice. Born in the Bronx, NY, Maria's family moved back to Puerto Rico for Maria's early formative years, then back to NYC when Maria when 10. Maria studied fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in NYC and worked in the garment industry for a couple of designers before opening her own shop "Maria Luisa Boutique" in Nyack, NY. She has thoughtfully grown her vibrant Nyack business over the past 32 years and has expanded to 2 stores where she provides unique fair trade, Eco-friendly and handmade items (clothing, footwear, bags, wallets, books and gifts). Maria Luisa has known the wisdom behind collaborating with her fellow merchants in town. She created a scholarship fund for graduating female high school seniors, supports a variety of local non-profit organizations and has been recognized as a 'woman of vision' for the Rockland Women Leaders Hall of Fame, as well as "Rockland County Entrepreneur and Community Activist of the Year" at Social Justice Day. She shares her involvement, thanks to her son, with NAACP, her repeated participation in "Undoing Racism" workshops and her dedication to being a "gatekeeper" for people of color. Check out the show notes for a link to Maria Luisa Boutique and help me support this inspiring woman, who has been an instrumental support to so many!! Enjoy the podcast! Links: Maria Luisa Boutique

My guest today is Bob Stien. Bob has a reverence for nature, raises consciousness and support for men, and is a social justice activist. Bob's passion for nature has been channeled through his years of leading hikes in the woods, melting children's fear, and igniting an appreciation of the outdoors. Bob has worked tirelessly to help preserve a nearby 40 acre property. Bob's abundant supply of wood has served numerous people and projects, giving him the nickname in my family as "Bob of the Wood". Bob is a member of 2 monthly Men's Groups, has run countless workshops for fathers, is involved in local and national men's leadership organizations, and honors the transformative work of Ted Bunch & Tony Porter's "A Call to Men", whose tag line is "Working to create a world where men are loving and respectful and all women are valued and safe." Check out the show notes for links to the organizations Bob has referenced, see where you might invigorate your own care for our earth, raise consciousness and take positive action for that which troubles you. Enjoy the podcast! Links: Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain Marydell Faith and Life Center The Outdoor Science Alliance The Trust for Public Land Palisades Interstate Parkway Commission NYNJ Trail Conference: Long Distance Trail Crew The Nature Place A Call to Men, Tony Porter Ted Talk Men's Leadership Alliance Tom Kelly - online groups for men Commission on the Status of Women every March at the United Nations

My guest today is Lisa Litman. Lisa is a local business owner, music enthusiast, and innovative personal assistant. After the recent death of her husband, and the closing of her 30 year-old shop, Sign of the Times, Lisa has learned how to re-invent herself, creating a new word-of-mouth business that responds to various needs of friends and neighbors. Lisa is grateful that she and her son Harry, were intimately present to the daily care-giving for her husband's dying process, knowing that not everyone can afford such time and flexibility. Her dear friend, who is an end-of-life doula, provided the greatest gift of all, supporting Lisa to advocate and care for her husband in his final days. Music is what held and pulled Lisa through; music is her passion! Just as Lisa's shop brought her Nyack, NY community together, music is now providing a renewed sense of meaningful community for Lisa. Lisa has woken up to the preciousness of life, the rich experiences of music, sacred spaces, new foods, new neighborhoods, travel and freedom. Check out the links below for Lisa's FaceBook contact. She may be the reliable, trustworthy person you are looking for to help you or a family member out. Enjoy the podcast! Links: FB: Lisa Litman www.levonhelm.com

My guest today is Everest Cruz. Everest is a resident at the Fletcher Boykin transitional house for formerly incarcerated men in Spring Valley, NY, run by MADE Transitional Services. Everest has been in and out of prison since he was 13 years old, so since I met him in July, now at the age of 29 years old, Everest has experienced his longest stretch of being out of prison: over 60 days! He grew up in San Diego, CA with his older sister and single mom. His father was not in the picture; in fact, Everest has never met his father. It was unbearable for Everest to watch his mom work so hard yet consistently struggle to put food on the table. Everest provides insights into the pressure he felt to join a gang, while being lured into the false hope that the gang would provide an avenue for him to help his family. I wonder how many of us would have made the same decision given the same desperate circumstances. Everest keeps it real, speaking openly about his past, which he acknowledges is critical to his healing process. Everest's driving motivation to turn his life around is his nine year old son, who lives in California. Even though he hasn't seen his son since his son's first birthday, Everest is sustained by their Face Time contact. He treasures these connections with his family and is determined to make his son proud. Everest is deeply grateful to the Bronx defenders who have believed in him and are helping him gain legal immigration status. I am in awe of all the unsung heroes, who work tirelessly on behalf of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society, treating them with dignity, respect, and compassion. Check out the link below for MADE Transitional Services and their October Gala. Help support their efforts in giving Everest and others a second chance to turn their lives around. Enjoy the Podcast! Links: Made Transitions

My guest today is Karen Siff Exkorn. Karen is an Executive Coach, Corporate Consultant, Author, Playwright, Autism Expert and Motivational Speaker. She also happens to be my sweet soul sister! Karen grew up in Worcester, MA and shares her background in dance, her college experience at Brown University where she explored her love of dance, while majoring in psychology. She moved to NYC and immersed herself in the corporate world, which gave her the experience and confidence to start her own corporate consulting firm. She completed her Masters at NYU's Gallatin School, where she created her own concentration, combining psychology, spirituality, dance and performance. Karen tells the story of how she met her beloved husband Franklin, and how their world was turned upside down when their two-year old son Jake was diagnosed with autism. Searching for support and guidance, Karen immersed herself in research, determined to understand what this meant and how best to advocate for her son. She ended up writing a comprehensive book for parents, teachers, therapists and doctors that provides critical information on autism. I am so inspired by Karen's intellect, heart, creativity, spirituality, and sparkly gift of embodying Joy! Check the show notes below for links to Karen's website, books, articles and the Emmy award-winning Nightline segment that features her son Jake's, rare journey of recovery. Please keep an eye out for Karen's one-woman play "Do This" - it's heart-warming, poignant, funny and deeply moving! Enjoy the podcast. Links: SpeakOn.org Nightline segment: How This Child With Autism Was Able to Recover with Therapy. Emmy-Award Series following Jake from 4 years old to 18 years old, produced by Karen Zukor and John Donovan The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping and Healing from a Mother Who's Child Has Recovered Toni Morrison—My Movie Date LinkedIn Fifty Two Shades of Blue-ish