JT is first generation American and as so many others represents what is best in Gwinnett County, represents what is best about Georgia, and in his daily walk represents what could be the best of a future America, an American that is coming no matter what we do, but how well we allow it to come forth is the question.  JT etches the edges with us and talk about the very serious critical issues that face us as a district, county, state and nation. Health care, education, libraries, how often have we stated that reading is fundamental, investing in our future. These issues are important now just as much as they have always been and they serve as a foundation for the preservation and expansion of the American dream. JT Wu is running for office, to be an aspiring statesman. Hit the play button and etch the edges with us as we talk to JT. And when you’re done check out his platform at jtwuforgeorgia.com and learn what he plans to do in order to preserve and expand the American Dream.

In this episode we continue the conversation we started in Part 1 – Breaking Shackles. We hear from Akbar Stout, a man like any other, an American that grew up on the dream that was supposed to account for all Americans. However, for Akbar the dream didn’t take. He was a Black kid growing up in a two-parent household, decency and positivity surrounded him. Unfortunately, just like it is for any American ethnicity, be you White, Latinx, or Asian the cracks in the culture push through. What is ugly, evil and pervasive in the poorest neighborhoods be the urban or rural still creep into suburbia or middle class urbania, and it is there Akbar was exposed, lured by the illicit. We find in his message the true cost of not imparting a critical thinking framework to our youth, being able to discern and dismiss the insatiable evil of fool’s gold, the petty prettiness of crime. Akbar fell into the trap by choice, and his payment would be prison, punishment for the life he lived. However, while inside he was afforded an opportunity to share his story, and that sharing continues still even as he is free to breathe the open air. The work continues. Take a moment, listen and let’s etch the edges.

On this episode we welcome back Bernard Mills, a man who embraced the criminal lifestyle as an opportunity to live and thrive, and become something better. Let that statement settle for a moment. Our world as it is structured for far too many of us offers crime as a worthwhile opportunity at a better life. Remember, perspective matters. We also bring on Ronnie Long, a man tried and convicted for a crime he didn’t commit. Yes, we’ve seen this story before, all over television and the movies, and we hear about it as real life. Real people suffer. But the drama is a story, one that many of us say just is, sorry, life is hard. That, is not the way. On this episode we hear the stories of Bernard and Ronnie and we dive deep into the humanity of these men, to see them as human beings, and realize in the hearing of the stories, that second chances are worthwhile, for Ronnie a first chance and a shift in how the system works. No one should be convicted for a crime they did not commit. We all know this. However, we have to lean in and not treat it just another something we hear on the news. If you think a 2nd and 1st chance for those consigned to hell but want nothing more than to live righteously I the right thing to do, then do more than listen, etch an edge and act. Let’s listen.

In this age of division it is absolutely imperative the we figure out how to talk to each and not at each other. It is absolutely critical that we figure out how to do the mandate of this podcast and the project, bridge the ideological divide and come together. It is essential that we learn to internalize and understand perspective, value it for what it brings, toss it into the crucible of conflict, and figure out answers for the challenges we face that we can all live with, together. Our guest on this episode, Jerry Fu is all about conflict resolution. He lives to do just this type of activity and that is why we’re so glad to have him on this episode of Etch The Edges. As we learn about his work of conflict resolution we get some insight into who he is, how he arrived at his calling, and the challenges he faced through the prism of diversity, dealing with stereotypes. Join us for this uplifting discussion as we continue our journey into 2022, and work to close the divides between us all for the greater good. Let’s Etch The Edges.

It’s 2022 and the mission and mindset continues. We have to lean into discomfort, lean into the things that are necessary. There are elections this year. Voting rights are truly under attack. No matter your perspective we have to understand that the debate is on the table, and the concern is generations long, a charged road to be sure. WE ARE IN THE GAME OF THRONES, and life is far more precious than seeking to live the metaphor of the dramatized. Insurrection and and secession cannot be up for consideration. That is not American and that has nothing to do with freedom. Additionally, CRT is looming large and threatening to overwhelm our critical conversations, which to be sure is a tragedy as the actual emergency is not that it is looming, but that it is being seen as a threat instead of what it is, a systemic approach to realizing the truth of the American ideal, an academic approach to uncovering our shared American truth. There is all this and more. So, let’s lean into discomfort. Let’s think critically. Let’s talk. Let’s share stories. Let’s get familiar, find comfort, and develop some trust. And let’s do all this while we work the work of getting into some Good Trouble.

From Burbank California we Etch The Edges with multimedia artist and entrepreneur Sebastian Schug. No matter where you are in your life journey it bears listening to Sebastian and hearing how he has carved out a life for himself around his passions, the things he enjoys doing. In this world it is as it has always been for the majority of us living on this planet. We must earn our daily bread working for someone else. And to be sure even as you work for yourself you are beholden to receiving a check from someone. However the crux of the matter is finding space for yourself, your true self, if such a space is what you need and can be found.

In my book Critical Success: The 2 Rules of 3 I talk about the third principle of 3POP, The Three Principles of Prosperity, which is Entrepreneurship. If it is for you, then let it be for you, embrace it, engage in executing the plan that will fulfill it, this objective of earning your daily bread at your own enterprise. Let’s etch the edges with Sebastian and figure out how he does it.

Oh, and you have to listen to some of these stories! They are OFF THE CHAIN!

The work on Etch The Edges is sharing the stories, realizing the truth in all of us and sharing it, no matter what perspectives we may have. It is the hallmark of the critical thinker to seek and understand the other side. However, in order to do this you must have the right tools, the best tools. On this episode we etch the edges with Scott Miller, best-selling author, career coach, and host of the world’s largest weekly leadership podcast, On Leadership with Scott Miller. In his latest book Master Mentors we meet 30 amazing and transformative minds that provide us with the right tools, the best tools. This was a real boon, so listen in and enjoy the conversation as we etch some edges and learn from a few Master Mentors.

Landing in the mighty metro ATL. Let’s say it as it is despite the desire of a minority to divide us one from the other, Commissioner Fosque made her home in Gwinnett County. We are all part of the metro Atlanta area and many of us are proud of this.

Gwinnett is what America looks like and what it should be.

This is the culmination of generations of work. She very much highlights the foundation and foresight of the founders of this county and their ability to look generatios ahead. She respects what came before. She looks with inclusion and equity to where we sincerely believe we want to be. She sees a community in our county where everyone thrives. That is her personal mandate and that is her commitment. We are superior in our approach and how we execute.

She speaks and embodies the Gwinnett Standard.

She says, all any of us needs is an opportunity. This is the work! This is the way! Your language, your ethnicity, your origins, we are welcoming, and that feeds our standard.

The point of serving in office is all about meeting the needs of the people and being willing to do what is required to ensure those you represent are served effectively. On this episode of Etch the Edges we speak with Lilburn City Councilwoman Yoon-Mi Hampton. Lilburn is a city in Gwinnett County Georgia. It is diverse, inclusive, and growing. As such it is changing in many ways, ways that require change in representation. How this change takes shape and who steps up is critically important. Listen and learn Yoon-Mi’s story, her challenges in life, and why she may be exactly what Lilburn needs, a stateswoman that is perhaps the very best person the citizens of Lilburn could have elected to office. Let’s Etch The Edges.

On this episode we say some of you may know Donna McLeod, but we ask that you take a moment to really get to know Donna McLeod. A servant leader who made her way to America from the Caribbean by way of Canada. With a strong understanding of American freedom and liberty, she had to pass the test, she did the citizens work of engaging in the process of governing. She understood the assignment. This is the responsibility of every American citizen, one we take far too lightly. However, Donna did not take this duty lightly at all. She understood the need to engage. She understood the need to educate and fight for much needed equity within the confines of American freedom and liberty. Under the big tent of the Democratic Party she stepped up and out front, to serve as a State Representative, answering the call of her constituency, to represent them not as a politician, but as a stateswoman. Listen to her story and understand why she serves. Get to know Donna Mcleod the person, behind Donna Mcleod the stateswoman. Let’s Etch The Edges

Support her non-profit CANI – Community Action  Network Initiatives here: https://caniinc.org/