For Our Edification

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 discussed 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.

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

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

Adult ADHD: Statistics and Facts | WebMD

Why Is Adult ADHD on the Rise? | University of Utah Health

6 strengths and benefits of ADHD | Medical News Today

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 out 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 is also a certified speaker for the 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.

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 a 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 in 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, 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.

Trey discussed 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 instant. 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 closely with students through their personal and professional development. Trey is sharing his message through “Talking with Trey” and is uplifting people all over the world.

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.

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

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. In this Write to Bear Alms segment, hear about why your organization's attitude towards donors is crucial, why it's crucial to choose sustainability over survival, and how you 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.

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

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 in 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 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 comic 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 Association’s 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.

At the age of 53, I found out that I have ADHD. Here's how it feels and this is how I'm handling it.

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

No one asked for this commencement address, but they got it.

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