Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Standpoint Consulting, guests Kym Alexander and Kayla Brooks join host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams to discuss their collaborative journey in building a Black women-owned business focused on equity. They reflect on the impact of trust, love, and mutual admiration on their work, the transformative power of leading with love, and their hopes for the future. Through personal experiences and shared values, they emphasize the importance of creating systems that allow people to thrive without barriers.

July is National Minority Mental Health Month. In this episode, we revisit past episodes to hear from our guests about mental health and why it is an equity issue.  Episodes include

• Mind with Dr. David Goode-Cross
• Self-Reflection with Dorian Spears
• Somatics with Dr. Mary Jo Greil
• Wellness with Jacqueline Oselen

These episodes can be found at the Standpoint Consulting website. You'll also get to meet Kym Alexander, Managing Director of Standpoint Consulting as our guest host.

"I look at everything in terms of relationships. Social poverty basically is you don't have in your home, on your street, in your network, in your neighborhood, the kinds of institutions and relationships that are essential to human flourishing. And we don't really think about human flourishing very much. We we talk about need, but human flourishing depends upon certain types of relationships for me, a certain types of community, certain types of meaning. All these things are highly important and you don't get it by yourself on your phone or in your household." - Dr. Seth Kaplan

The episode aims to explore the importance of strong social relationships within neighborhoods, particularly immigrant communities, and the impact of social poverty on people's quality of life. Dr. Seth Kaplan discusses the deep connection between neighborhood fragility, equity, and race, emphasizing the need for policies that address the needs of all communities to foster sustainable support and flourishing neighborhoods.

"For us, the central premise of equity from an early childhood standpoint is that all people begin their developmental journey with very differing levels of resources. Those resources are determined by social positioning. So race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, sexuality, nationality, on and on. And in order for us to realize equity, we have to redistribute resources based on the needs of the individual and the family and the child." - Dr. Kandace Thomas

Dr. Kandace Thomas and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams explore the disparities in care and education for children, emphasizing the need for equitable policies and resource redistribution based on individual and family needs. They discuss the importance of investing in maternal health, infant mental health, and early childhood education, especially in historically marginalized communities. Whether you're a policy advocate, educator, or simply someone looking to make a difference, this episode promises valuable insights into the future of equitable early childhood education. Tune in and join us on this journey towards making positive change for our youngest generations.

"For all the work that I do, I don't actually use the word equity in my work. Generally, right? Because I don't know that it's achievable. What I probably use is trying to do right by people or trying to be fair. And you know, the myriad definitions of fair...I really try to think through, how do I do right by this person? How do I do right by people? And I would say, the growth over the last 3 years has recognized that I am part of people too."

Today we're looking into the crucial intersections of mental health care and equity with our distinguished guest, Dr. David Goode-Cross, a licensed psychologist and the founder of The Goode Practice. Dr. Goode-Cross brings a wealth of experience and a revolutionary approach to mental health care, focusing on empowering marginalized communities and disrupting traditional systems to create more equitable healthcare environments.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore Dr. Goode-Cross’s unique perspective on systemic change within mental health practices, the challenges of providing services in an equitable fashion, and the importance of identity concordance in therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Goode-Cross also sheds light on his personal journey from aspiring self-help author to becoming a reputable psychologist, his research on resilience among Black gay and bisexual men, and the day-to-day realities of working within a practice that primarily serves people of color who are also gender or sexual minorities.

"Writing Black stories that center joy and everyday experiences is a revolutionary act that shifts narratives and challenges stereotypes."

This episode with Kelis Rowe spotlights the critical need for authentic representation of Black American teenagers in young adult romance novels. The discussion emphasizes the importance of these narratives in fostering a positive self-image and broader societal perception. Both Kelis and host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams dive into the often overlooked areas of Black joy and everyday experiences beyond racial pain, advocating for a more inclusive approach in literature and media.

"Sustainability is about legacy. Looking forward to generations of people and shifting your behaviors today so that they can have a better outcome tomorrow."

This episode focuses on how Yinka Bode-George's organization acts as a catalyst in aligning corporate sustainability efforts with environmental justice. Addressing the complex issues of environmental racism and inequity, Yinka shares insights on projects aimed at creating a sustainable future that honors equity, such as the Sustain Our Future initiative. The overarching theme resonates with the goal of writing a love letter to future generations through sustainable and just environmental practices.

Inequitable organizations can cause harm to the people within them, and it's not just the harm of preventing them from becoming their best selves or preventing them from showing up in their best ways in the workplace. But it's also harmful to our bodies and our minds. In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Mary Jo Greil, who's had a lengthy career in the corporate world and is now an executive and somatic coach. She'll share with you her experience of being the first woman and sometimes the only woman in her workplace, and how her experiences have led to her helping people get into their bodies and learn how to heal from the stress of being in those positions.

We're joined on this episode by the esteemed Dr. Charles McKinney, a notable historian and professor of African American history and the director of Africana Studies at Rhodes College. Today, we look at the crucial role history plays in our understanding of equity in society.

Charles brings to light the challenges of studying and teaching historical realities, especially those surrounding the black experience. We explore the erosion of rights, the increase in violence against marginalized communities, and how these troubling trends are, unfortunately, nothing new.

With his expertise, Charles articulates how politicians and societal institutions contribute to these patterns and underscores the dire need for accountability and action. He emphasizes that equity is not just a concept, but "justice in real time" and that by looking back, we can equip ourselves to move forward more justly and thoughtfully.

We will discuss the pushback against historical truths in educational settings and the power of understanding history to address contemporary inequalities and the enduring challenge of anti-blackness.

Health and wellness is an industry in the US. Beyond the business and economics, it’s also a matter of equity. Inequities in where we live and work, and where children go to school -- and even the availability of food -- all of this and more can deeply impact wellness.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Jacqueline Oselen, or "Jackie O." as she’s known by friends, who is a mother of 3 sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and a village-community of children. She’s also a wellness coach, yoga instructor, and advocate for Black community wellness. We’ll discuss where wellness and equity really intersect and how it’s more than self-care. Plus, why the wellness of Black women is so important to the nation as a whole.