Halima turned the tables for the season 6 premier by interviewing me! We dug into my obsession with leadership, especially as it relates to identity and value and personal leadership. Out of it came a big story about how one leader I worked with reinforced the importance of listening while also teaching me that leadership isn't a vanity project. You'll also find out how "For Our Edification" began and how I got the radio moniker "Fast Eddie."  

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

Three words define Mykel Shannon Jenkins' career as an actor, director, and producer--passion, purpose, and persistence. I've seen these three qualities come out of Mykel's pores since I saw him on Bonnabel High School's speech and debate team. In this conversation, we go into a deep dive about where he saw his career going and some of the hard decisions that go into life as an actor. Mykel also talks about a day in the life of a working actor and what it means to direct your life.

About Mykel Shannon Jenkins

IMDB Profile:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420926/?ref_=ra_sb_ln

Mykel, born in Biloxi, Mississippi to an officer in the U.S. Air Force, called many states home. With his parents and two siblings, the family finally settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Mykel graduated from Bonnabel High School. After that, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans. While in high school, Mykel was a national competitor in drama as well as speech and debate. That is where his fire for the dramatic was ignited.

During college, while holding down a part-time job as a waiter, Mykel became a household name as the host of New Orleans’ WB38 Kids’ Club, where he served as an on-air personality for more than four years introducing kids and parents to a world of knowledge. After college while still in New Orleans, Mykel began his acting career, landing minor roles in a few movies. During this time, Mykel’s knack for writing reared its creative head as he penned his first screenplay about childhood friends who pull off the greatest art heist. Although this one did not make it to film (yet), Mykel has written, directed, and produced over six screenplays since that first one.

In 2003, empowered by his family and armored with a dream and staunch determination, Mykel made his big move to Hollywood. Mykel has studied under some of the most renowned teachers in the industry, such as the Beverly Hills Playhouse, Gary Imhoff, Lesly Kahn, and he continues to be mentored by acting coach Eric Stuart. Over the years, Mykel’s hard work paid off. His TV credits include The CW’s "Containment," "Steppin’ Back to Love," "A Royal Christmas Ball," "Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland," and "The Bold and the Beautiful," among many others. Mykel’s film credits include The Last Heist, Beyond the Trek, The Masked Saint, Same Kind of Different as Me, and Undisputed 3: Redemption where he brought to life the charismatic and unforgettable American fighter, Turbo.

Mykel also starred in the critically acclaimed WellGo USA Ent (THEATRICAL)/Netflix’s The Paper Tigers, a film about three now middle-aged Kung Fu prodigies who reunited to avenge the death of their master teacher. Most recently, Mykel played Dobbs Ryker opposite Morgan Freeman (gang kingpin Kendric Ryker) and Luke Hemsworth (Lee Gunner) in the action-thriller motion picture Gunner (2024).

Expanding his opportunities, Mykel delved into creative writing and directing, which was provoked by his own words, “Why wait for an opportunity? I will create my own.” He has written, directed, produced, and starred in over six features, including The Gods, The Gods 2: The Dark Side, Two Wolves, and Octopus Pot. Mykel is currently writing The Gods 3, and a series entitled Summer 17. In 2024, Mykel released Youn’G (which he again wrote, produced, directed, and co-starred), spotlighting his son, Bryce Clyde Jenkins, in a coming-of-age dramedy about a teenage boy who, with the help of his close friends, fights for his true love while at the same time discovering his cool neighborhood mentor is his father.

Although Mykel is quite busy writing, directing, and acting, he still finds time to train physically as well as spiritually. As a personal trainer, Mykel knows what it takes to maintain a healthy body and mind: hard work and dedication. Mykel applies these disciplines to all that he does.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

This throwback episode features a conversation with playwright and author Harold Ellis Clark Jr. While he is known for his great radio broadcasting, public relations and communications work, Harold has made a mark as an award-winning playwright and author. In this interview from the old "Eddie Francis Podcast Show," Harold talked about his burning desire to write, how it felt to see that dream come true, the struggle in maintaining the dream, and how he stays motivated.

About Harold Ellis Clark Jr.

Profile:  https://www.stage32.com/profile/788995/about

Harold is a proud native of the Westbank of the Greater New Orleans area. He has won awards from Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN) for "We Live Here" (2013) and UpStage Theatre (Baton Rouge, LA) for "Fishers of Men" (2013).

He has been named one of two finalists for the Stanley Drama Award an unprecedented three times for "Tour Detour" (2013), "Uncle Bobby ’63" (2015), and "Madame Thames’ Spirit Bar" (2016). Harold was also named a semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference in 2013 ("Tour Detour"), 2014 ("We Live Here"), and 2015 ("Uncle Bobby ’63"); and he traveled to Durban, South Africa for the South African premiere of "We Live Here" (2017). American Blues Theater (Chicago, IL) named Harold a featured finalist for the 2018 Blue Ink Playwriting Award for his play, "Run No More," and produced a staged reading of the drama. Additionally, the North Carolina Black Repertory Company (Winston Salem, NC) produced a staged reading of "Run No More" in 2019. As a 2018-2019 member of Southern Rep Theatre's 4D New Play Development Program in New Orleans, Harold penned "Indoctrination," for which he was named one of ten finalists for the 2019 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award. A staged reading of "Run No More," previously scheduled for April 17, 2020 at IATI Theater (New York, NY) as part of Cimientos 2020, occurred June 14, 2020 virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harold is known among Greater New Orleans radio listeners for having taken over the weekly talk show "Sunday Journal" for which he won multiple awards from the Press Club of New Orleans. He also authored the novel, Chummy's Spirit.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

This throwback interview goes back to May 2018 when I asked Halima about cultural philanthropy. In this Write to Bear Alms segment, she gave great insight about how giving differs from one community to the next. At the time, Halima had been the chief philanthropy officer for the Texas Muslim Women's Foundation. 

Halima talks about the common traits among various communities in their giving, philanthropic legacies, her "a-ha" moment about cultural philanthropy, and the most unusual gift she has ever received as a fundraising and philanthropy professional.

About Dr. Halima Leak Francis

Website: https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/public-administration

Halima is a nationally accomplished educator, practitioner and scholar whose career spans more than 20 years. She has focused on strengthening capacity, sustainability and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, and higher education administration. Halima joined Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement in 2019 to lead the development of the school’s public administration program. As the program’s founding director and professor of practice, she worked with school leadership and advisors to steer curriculum design, recruit a nationally accomplished faculty, and secure accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.  Under her leadership, the program exceeded launch expectations by tripling initial enrollment projections and was later named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, reinforcing its role as a contemporary voice for advancing inclusive public service and community leadership.

Halima joined Tulane from Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, a multi-sector, ethnically and culturally diverse civic organization specializing in providing culturally specialized social services. She has a proven track record of strengthening of communities through meaningful collaboration, strategic leadership, and philanthropic investment. Along with her work at Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, she has developed programming and engaged public and private supporters on behalf of institutions such as the City University of New York School of Professional Studies, New York University, Barnard College, and Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina). Throughout her career, Halima has also taught diverse populations of students, increasing educational and professional development access in public service related fields through online and blended learning environments.

Halima holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University – Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development where she also earned her master's degree in sociology of education. She earned her B.A. in English from Hampton University. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systemic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations and programs that are committed to the same. She serves as a founding co-chair of the HERitage Giving Fund, Tulane History Project co-chair, Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Impact 100 co-chair, and Foundation for Louisiana board member. Additionally, Halima holds the Carnegie Corporation of NY Professorship in Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane’s Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C., she has lived and worked in cities throughout Virginia, New York, and Texas. She now enjoys her home in the New Orleans area with husband Eddie, who is an award-winning mass media veteran and New Orleans native. Her favorite times are spent with her husband, her amazing bonus son, other family members, friends, and pets.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, so it seems like a good time to continue sharing my experiences having been recently diagnosed with ADHD. I wondered how ADHD impacts the leadership journey, so I offered thoughts on what makes the journey a challenge. There are also thoughts about how people can support those who seem to have great leadership potential but also seem to display signs of ADHD. Finally, you'll hear about the advantages that someone with ADHD has as a leader.

Disclaimer:  I am not a mental health professional, and this does not serve as a diagnosis of any mental health conditions. 

Resources

• Impact of ADHD at Work | Attention Deficit Disorder Association

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

Priscilla María Gutiérrez's story is a true mental health journey. Having lived through trauma, she set to understand what it means to truly trust herself. Priscilla joined "For Our Edification" to tell her story of personal leadership so that others can understand what it means to reach a point of self-validation. In this episode, we learn, most importantly, what a healthy support system looks like and what keeps Priscilla going as a life coach.

About Priscilla María Gutiérrez

Website:  https://www.priscillamaria.com/

Priscilla María Gutiérrez is a keynote speaker, Certified Trauma-Informed Life Coach and trauma survivor who empowers others to become cycle breakers. She also a certified speaker for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) who holds a J.D. from the University of California Irvine School of Law. She also graduated cum laude from Johns Hopkins University.

Also a speaker for Greek University, she sees her life's purpose as helping others heal from trauma, overcoming limiting beliefs, and creating their ideal lives. As a sober, bisexual Latina woman with diagnosed mental illness, she makes it a point to show up authentically to exemplify that recovery and healing are very possible.

Priscilla is most active as a mental health advocate. She has served as a thrive coach for the Reframe App, supporting people reducing or quitting drinking. She coaches students in the DC Futures Program, a scholarship program offered through the Washington, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. Priscilla also hosts a monthly support group for LGBTQ+ Latinx people for OutCare Health, and she co-hosts Tuesday meetings for the Sober Black Girls Club that serve queer BIPOC femmes in recovery. She has helped facilitate a domestic violence support group as a trained advocate at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, and Priscilla has supported trauma survivors as a law student through the Veterans and Domestic Violence Clinics.

Additionally, she has written op-eds and essays for popular online platforms, such as Yahoo!, Blavity, and Nalgona Positivity Pride about mental health and the effects of trauma. Priscilla has also provided leadership and secured almost $400,000 in funds for a national mental health organization that serves Black communities.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

On episode 19 of "For Our Edification," David Grubb spoke passionately about athletes and their mental health. Trevon Bryant lived it. As a running back at the University of New Hampshire, he saw his future as a professional football player ahead of him. One day, it slowed down drastically because of a severe knee injury. Trey eventually fell into what he calls a "dark hole," not only because he felt his dream slipping away, but also because he was missing a critical figure in his life--his father.

On this episode, Trey talks about how he climbed out of that dark hole to find other ways to experience that winning feeling. He talks about how he uses his story to inspire others through his talks as well as his mindset coaching.

About Trevon Bryant

Social Media: LinkedIn and @talkingwithtrey on Instagram and TikTok

Trey was a college football player with dreams of playing in the NFL when he suffered a traumatic knee injury, tearing his ACL, MCL, both medial and lateral meniscus and patellar tendon all in one snap. His life changed in an instance. He had to figure out a way to reinvent himself. Trey’s educational, professional and athletic leadership experiences have allowed him to develop different concepts and perspectives on how to effectively lead through adversity and opposition.

Trevon uses his Division-1 football experience to motivate and challenge those who have faced any level of difficulty or challenge through their position of leadership. As a residential hall director at the University of New Hampshire, Trevon worked with students closely through their personal and professional development. He continues to connect with students as a speaker with Greek University.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

It's another blast from the past. In 2016, Michael Jordan made significant donations to several causes. There were many critics, however, who questioned why the sports legend donated the money where he did. 

In this "Write to Bear Alms" segment from the old "Eddie Francis Podcast Show" and in the spirit of Black Philanthropy Month, Halima gave her thoughts about the intersection of philanthropy and personal leadership. She talked about the logic that goes behind philanthropic gifts and how nonprofit organizations can understand what philanthropists are looking for when they're ready to make their gifts.

About Dr. Halima Leak Francis

Website: https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/public-administration

Halima is a nationally accomplished educator, practitioner and scholar whose career spans more than 20 years. She has focused on strengthening capacity, sustainability and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, and higher education administration. Halima joined Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement in 2019 to lead the development of the school’s public administration program. As the program’s founding director and professor of practice, she worked with school leadership and advisors to steer curriculum design, recruit a nationally accomplished faculty, and secure accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.  Under her leadership, the program exceeded launch expectations by tripling initial enrollment projections and was later named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, reinforcing its role as a contemporary voice for advancing inclusive public service and community leadership.

Halima joined Tulane from Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, a multi-sector, ethnically and culturally diverse civic organization specializing in providing culturally specialized social services. She has a proven track record of strengthening of communities through meaningful collaboration, strategic leadership, and philanthropic investment. Along with her work at Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, she has developed programming and engaged public and private supporters on behalf of institutions such as the City University of New York School of Professional Studies, New York University, Barnard College, and Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina). Throughout her career, Halima has also taught diverse populations of students, increasing educational and professional development access in public service related fields through online and blended learning environments.

Halima holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University – Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development where she also earned her master's degree in sociology of education. She earned her B.A. in English from Hampton University. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systemic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations and programs that are committed to the same. She serves as a founding co-chair of the HERitage Giving Fund, Tulane History Project co-chair, Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Impact 100 co-chair, and Foundation for Louisiana board member. Additionally, Halima holds the Carnegie Corporation of NY Professorship in Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane’s Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C., she has lived and worked in cities throughout Virginia, New York, and Texas. She now enjoys her home in the New Orleans area with husband Eddie, who is an award-winning mass media veteran and New Orleans native. Her favorite times are spent with her husband, her amazing bonus son, other family members, friends, and pets.

Once upon a time, Halima was in the fundraising world. But she wasn't a "make it rain" fundraiser. That's because Halima's success was built on the understanding that fundraising isn't just about money, it's about relationships. Hear about why your organization's attitude towards donors is crucial, why it's crucial to choose sustainability over survival, and how your can empower your entire team to be fundraising ambassadors. Plus Halima talked about a couple of free resources to boost fundraising capacity.

Most importantly, this episode reveals why Halima is such a strong leader and how wisdom can have a lasting impact on fundraising.

About Dr. Halima Leak Francis

Website: https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/public-administration

Halima is a nationally accomplished educator, practitioner and scholar whose career spans more than 20 years. She has focused on strengthening capacity, sustainability and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, and higher education administration. Halima joined Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement in 2019 to lead the development of the school’s public administration program. As the program’s founding director and professor of practice, she worked with school leadership and advisors to steer curriculum design, recruit a nationally accomplished faculty, and secure accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.  Under her leadership, the program exceeded launch expectations by tripling initial enrollment projections and was later named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, reinforcing its role as a contemporary voice for advancing inclusive public service and community leadership.

Halima joined Tulane from Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, a multi-sector, ethnically and culturally diverse civic organization specializing in providing culturally specialized social services. She has a proven track record of strengthening of communities through meaningful collaboration, strategic leadership, and philanthropic investment. Along with her work at Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, she has developed programming and engaged public and private supporters on behalf of institutions such as the City University of New York School of Professional Studies, New York University, Barnard College, and Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina). Throughout her career, Halima has also taught diverse populations of students, increasing educational and professional development access in public service related fields through online and blended learning environments.

Halima holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University – Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development where she also earned her master's degree in sociology of education. She earned her B.A. in English from Hampton University. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systemic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations and programs that are committed to the same. She serves as a founding co-chair of the HERitage Giving Fund, Tulane History Project co-chair, Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Impact 100 co-chair, and Foundation for Louisiana board member. Additionally, Halima holds the Carnegie Corporation of NY Professorship in Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane’s Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C., she has lived and worked in cities throughout Virginia, New York, and Texas. She now enjoys her home in the New Orleans area with husband Eddie, who is an award-winning mass media veteran and New Orleans native. Her favorite times are spent with her husband, her amazing bonus son, other family members, friends, and pets.

Dr. Sheena Howard has succeeded because of a simple mantra:  "This is not the end of my story." She joined "For Our Edification" to talk about the importance of her work as a creator who centers her work on representation. Having survived domestic abuse at one point of her life, Sheena's  journey is a call to action for anyone who's ever felt lost or unseen. She shares the power of self-belief and becoming the hero of your own narrative. Discover how Sheena's personal leadership can help you to tap into your inner strength and find the will to march toward your full potential. 

About Dr. Sheena Howard

Website:  https://sheenachoward.com 

Sheena C. Howard, is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and scholar. In 2014 Sheena became the first Black woman to win an Eisner Award (considered the ‘Oscars of Comics’) for her first book, Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation (2013). She is also the author of several critically acclaimed books and comics books. In 2017, Sheena published the Encyclopedia of Black Comics, which is the first book of its kind, profiling over 100 Black people in the comics industry. The Encyclopedia of Black Comics was named the 2018 American Library Associations’ Outstanding Reference Source. 

In 2014, Sheena published Black Queer Identity Matrix and Critical Articulations of Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation. Sheena is the co-writer of the comic book, Superb about a teenage superhero with Down Syndrome. 

Sheena has appeared on NPR, ABC, BBC, PBS as well as other networks and documentaries as an expert on popular culture, politics and social justice. Sheena is the subject of a 2018 Emmy-nominated episode of State of the Arts, which airs on NJTV and WHYY.

In 2016, Sheena directed, produced and wrote the documentary Remixing Colorblind, which explores the ways the educational system shapes our perception of race. Parts of the documentary were filmed at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Lehigh University and Drexel University. The film premiered at The Ritz Landmark theatre in Philadelphia. Sheena organized and hosted a talk about race and education at the Philadelphia Main Library in 2017 as a part of her documentary tour in which proceeds from the event went to local non-profit organizations.

Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, Sheena has twice received a Proclamation from the City of Philadelphia for her literary work, social justice and creative projects.

A dedicated mother, she is a professor at Rider University in the Department of Communication and Journalism. Outside of her full-time job, Sheena spends time writing and speaking to organizations and educational institutions on a variety of topics including social justice, diversity, and representation.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.