Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a major buzzword in the workplace. It intends to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the office, but how to make it successful depends on several factors. 

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 56% say having DEI in the workplace is a good thing. But to make sure a workplace DEI program makes people feel diverse, equal, and included takes a lot more than just checking off some boxes. 

Our guest today is Dr. Stephanie R. Leonard. She is an Assistant Professor of Management in the School of Business at Howard University. Her research focuses on diversity and inclusion phenomena such as organizational rationales for diversity, antecedents for inclusive climates, race-based trauma implications for workplaces, and micro-generational differences. In addition to academia, she has experience working in Human Resources.

In this episode, Dr. Leonard and host Monica Lewis cover the importance and benefits of DEI, exploring both surface-level and deep-level diversity dimensions, and the moral and business cases for DEI. Dr. Leonard provides insights into the challenges and strategies for implementing DEI programs, highlighting the necessity of an inclusive environment for leveraging the full benefits of diversity. We’ll also touch on common obstacles, the current adolescent phase of incorporating DEI into the workplace, and practical advice for individuals and organizations to advocate for and foster DEI. 

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How can a workplace still offer a DEI friendly environment, even if the actual number of diverse individuals is low?

15:20: Why should we care about diversity and inclusion if there aren't too many diverse employees here? For me, we still need to celebrate deep-level diversity. These are the dimensions that we cannot see: our differences in personalities, our differences in values, and our different religions. And celebrate what you can celebrate. For instance, if there is a flexible work schedule program that's working well because women are allowed to, there's childcare or things like that. Celebrate that because it's going well. And I also think it's important to plan for the arrival of your diverse employees. You may not have them now, but you still have to plan for them to come.

Treating DEI as an investment in the workplace

36:51: That's how you have to treat diversity and inclusion: this is an investment. If we fail, we're going to assess what went wrong, and we're going to get back on the saddle and try it again until we get it right. And that's what you do when it's important to you, when it's at the core of your vision for the company.

Neglecting diversity crisis management can lead to a downfall of an organization 

19:32: Diversity crisis management: people don't know how to handle a diversity crisis. We know how to handle all kinds of crises, but when it comes to diversity crises, it takes companies weeks to come back and present to the public what is going to be done. And it's just unacceptable. And so all of those things will lead to a downfall and a failure for the organization.

Guest Profile:

• Stephanie Leonard | Howard Profiles

In this final chapter of our mini-series on AI, we venture beyond campus to spotlight Howard alumni making waves in both big tech and entrepreneurship through the power of AI. Despite the persistent Black wealth gap and underrepresentation of Black professionals in technology, Howard's tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem is fostering a new generation of leaders.

Host Dr. Kweli Zukeri delves into the transformative potential for young people in the tech world. We’ll hear success stories from several Howard alumni currently working in big tech and entrepreneurship, how the innovative education and curriculum support at Howard prepared them for these industries, as well as how the Afrotech Conference is creating more opportunities for Black technologists and entrepreneurs.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Why now is the best time to be within the technology industry

27:03: [Sam Altman] I think this is probably the greatest time, at least since the internet, to be graduating, to be a young person. If you're interested in entering the technology industry, this is a very special opportunity that probably won't come along again for a while. You all got very, very lucky. It's at the birth of a new industry and a time of tremendous change when young people have the most advantage and the most opportunity. There's a reason that I think young people drive a lot of the technological revolutions. You all are way more familiar with AI tools than people older than you. You bring a new set of fresh perspectives. What can be created now? What just wasn't possible before this?

HBCUs where culture is created

15:09: [Erin Horne McKinney] I think one of the great things about being at an HBCU is that we are the culture creators. Right at ours, there's no such thing as failure—there are learning experiences, right? And those are the things that make you grow. People are coming to us for the culture, for the experience. But one of the things you get as a minor, no matter which HBCU you go to, is that you get that grit. That hustle, learning to overcome obstacles, learning that when somebody says no to you, it’s not really no; it means you need to become a better problem solver, right? So, learning how to problem solve.

On turning academic knowledge into practical skills

36:29: [Antonio McMichael] I think you get a lot of foundation from the classes that you're taking that will teach you the what and the how, the academic side of things. But you have to be able to take the academic side and turn it into something practical, like actually building things.

Guest Profiles and Show Links:

• Kweli Zukeri | Howard Profiles
• Kweli Zukeri | LinkedIn
• [email protected]
• Coded Bias 
• State of Tech Diversity: The Black Tech Ecosystem | NAACP
• AfroTech
• AFROTECH™️ Conference
• Blavity Inc
• Simone Tyler | LinkedIn
• Erin Horne McKinney | Howard Profiles
• ERIN (Ear-in) HORNE MCKINNEY, M.A. | LinkedIn
• PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
• Black Commerce Conference
• HBCU Startup Scholars - PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship Education Innovation Grant
• Legand Burge | Howard Profiles
• Legand Burge | LinkedIn
• Algorithmic Justice League
• Howard West: A First Step in Creating More Opportunities for African-American Engineers
• Dr. Grant Warner
• Riana Battick | LinkedIn
• Sam Altman
• Open AI
• Antonio McMichael | LinkedIn
• Coretta Martin | LinkedIn
• IEP&Me

In this 2nd episode of our AI series, Dr. Kweli Zukeri dives deep into the transformative work happening within the Howard community to make the AI revolution inclusive, accessible, and impactful for Black communities and beyond.

Join us as we highlight groundbreaking projects going on right here, like the creation of an audio database of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to revolutionize voice assistive technologies, the diversification of healthcare data to address disparities and the training of the next generation of Black data scientists. Plus, we’ll discuss an innovative speech therapy app designed with inclusivity in mind.

This episode unpacks Howard’s commitment to tackling AI bias and building inclusive ecosystems—efforts that reflect the proud HBCU legacy of using cutting-edge knowledge to uplift Black communities and drive progress for society at large.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

On changing the narrative around AAVE

19:06: [Kweli Zukeri]: Speech is self-expression. So, being able to speak in one's own dialect of vernacular matters deeply. Reflective of the Black American experience itself, its structure has roots in the languages of West Africa and to survive despite American society's pressures to subdue it. Hence, the so-called code-switching phenomenon most Black professionals feel they must abide by to this day. Racist pressure to brush it aside or keep it in the margins can impact their own feelings and relationship to it, perhaps, subconsciously swaying us to consider it lesser than, which is a form of internalized racism. That's why I'm so excited by the Elevate Black Voices project.

One's self-expression influences how effectively people get work done

23:48: [David Green]: Your ability to have your natural speech accepted and responded to allows a certain freedom in what you're able to think about and what you're able to articulate. You're not searching for certain words, you're not searching for certain ideas, and you're not trying to put on a performance of a certain kind of voice that you would think would get a better response.

On creating a safe space for Black English

05:04: [Washington]: We want to create a safe space in celebration of Black English, celebrating all the different dialects, the Southern, the different kinds of ways that Black people speak, so that you don't have to code-switch or pretend to be someone else.

Guest Profiles and Show Links:

• Kweli Zukeri | Howard Profiles
• Kweli Zukeri | LinkedIn
• [email protected]
• Announcing Howard University's Groundbreaking AI Initiative
• GENERATIVE AI | Howard University Provost's Office
• About | Howard University President
• Manning Marable 
• The Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics
• Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
• Amy Quarkume | Howard Profiles
• CORES Future Lab
• Cognitive and Neurodiversity AI (CoNA) Lab at Morgan State University
• Gabriella Waters | LinkedIn
• Gloria Washington | Howard Profiles
• Gloria Washington | LinkedIn
• Howard AAVE Project | YouTube
• Institute for Human-Centered AI
• Sabrina Bramwell, grad student
• Elevate Black Voices, project supported by Google 
• David Green | Howard Profiles
• 1st year writing program at Howard
• MLA-CCCC Joint Task Force on Writing and AI
• Conference on College Composition and Communication
• Legand Burge | Howard Profiles
• Legand Burge | LinkedIn
• AIM-AHEAD
• Meharry Medical College
• HNRS 020: The Tech Reparations and Responsibility: Algorithmic Data Bias and Ethics course for Honors Students | Howard University
• Worlds of Hello app

You've probably noticed how discussions about AI, particularly Generative AI, have been everywhere since the start of 2023. It's called a disruptive technology since it's rapidly and thoroughly changing how humans operate in every digital space, which of course has implications beyond just the digital world. 

This 1st episode of our 3 part mini-series, The GenAI Revolution: Navigating the Potential & Peril for Howard University & Our Communities, hosted by Dr. Kweli Zukeri delves into the rapid rise and pervasive influence of Generative AI. Perspectives on AI's influence vary: some see it as a boon to creativity and productivity, while others fear job displacement and intellectual exploitation.

Join us to hear from Howard University, HBCU, and tech leaders in discussion about how AI works and why it’s biased, as well as the root causes of these biases, which stem from the data and algorithms that power it. We dig into how AI biases can shape our world and what we can do to challenge and change them.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Overcoming fear and seizing opportunities with AI

24:40: [Coretta Martin] Innovation is a part of life. And for people to embrace artificial intelligence, I think that there's a lot of fear right now that it's a robot, someone's going to lose their job. And, mind you, if you work in customer service or in office space, there are some studies that say there might be some impact on jobs, but there's really going to be more of an impact on the increased amount of jobs and the increased amount of opportunities. Socrates was worried about writing. Other people were worried about radio. Some people were worried about the printing press and no one being able to memorize things anymore. In 2005, when I was at Howard, they were worried about email. AI is just the next thing. It's here. It's great. There are so many uses. Get into it. Like, be into it and really figure out how you can use it in your life or how you can be a part of the movement of building it.

On technology’s potential

23:52: [Sam Altman] I think critical thinking, creativity, the ability to figure out what other people want, and the ability to have new ideas—in some sense, that'll be the most valuable skills of the future. [25:12] If you think of a world where every one of us has a whole company worth of AI assistants that are doing tasks for us to help us express our vision, make things for other people, and make these new things in the world, the most important thing then will be the quality of the ideas, the curation of the ideas, because AI can generate lots of great ideas, but you still need a human there to say this is the thing other people want. And also, humans, I think, really care about the human behind something.

How AI gives us back our time

18:18: [Amy Quarkume] Time is a great gift. It's a great gift you cannot give back, right? So, the idea that I can do something and not spend so much time gives me more time to do something else. So, as we talk about our communities, many times I would be great if I rested. I would be great if I had an assistant. I would be great if I just had time to myself. So, AI creates that.

Guest Profiles and Show Links:

• Kweli Zukeri | Howard Profiles
• Kweli Zukeri | LinkedIn 
• Kweli Zukeri Email
• Gabriella Waters | LinkedIn
• Cognitive and Neurodiversity AI (CoNA) Lab at Morgan State University
• Antonio McMichael | LinkedIn
• Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
• Amy Quarkume | Howard Profiles
• Simone Tyler | LinkedIn
• AfroTech
• Blavity Inc
• Coretta Martin | LinkedIn
• IEP&Me
• Sam Altman
• Open AI
• Gloria Washington | Howard Profiles
• Gloria Washington | LinkedIn
• Safiya Umoja Noble
• Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble
• Safiya Umoja Noble | UCLA
• Safiya Noble, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
• Anthony Wutoh | Leadership of the Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer
• President Ben Vinson III, PhD | Howard University President
• Anna Makanju | LinkedIn

 Throughout the 30-year history of Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Howard University students have demonstrated that community service does not have to be exclusively for your own community.  When was the last time you've offered help to someone in need? Did you do it without thinking about what you might get in return?

If so, you already know a thing or two about how Howard University students spend their spring break.  Traveling to different locations all over the country, Rankin Chapel's Alternative Spring Break participants commit their week-long break to serving others.

The yearly event seeks to involve students in meaningful service projects to develop the next generation of servant leaders. And in this episode oh HU2U, we let Autumn Coleman take over as host, our student correspondent for University Communications. 

By traveling and serving various communities across the United States, Howard students embrace the university's motto of Truth in Service. This year's theme, 'A Legacy of Paying It Forward, 30 Years of Service,' continues to celebrate those decades of impactful work. The episode features personal stories from students and organizers, including student site coordinators like Alina Britt and staff advisors like Deborah Boatwright, showcasing the program's planning, challenges, and rewards.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

What drives Britt to do the ASB?

Alena Britt [02:23]: There were a lot of times where I was like, okay, I'm drained because it would either be during finals or midterms, and it would be a lot, but at the end of the day, I remember my purpose. I remember why. And I just kept going with that. [02:48] I had a vision for how I wanted this to go. And I want to keep in mind that it's also spring break, and I want to keep in mind that this is also a service trip. I was like, okay, people like music; people like instruments. Let's do this. So with all these ideas in mind, it's just like, whatever I want to do, we can do it.

Living out ASB’s mission truth and service

Melvin McLawhorn [08:12]: I wanted to create a capstone before I go out into the real world, per se, just to give back to my community. I could have spent any of my time, especially my break, maybe out partying or something, but truth and service have always been instilled in me, so I couldn't find a better way to spend my time.

Howard students making a difference with Ignite Chicago

Emily Summers [06:16]: Last year, you all came and helped us keep our space beautiful for our clients. We did a talking circle about college experience, and it helped expose some of our clients who were thinking about college, or still in high school, to the benefits and the kind of scope of experience that they could have in college. And today, you are helping us beautify our wonderful neighborhood of Bronzeville, which is so important because we know that if you look around and the community you're in feels cared for, you feel like you want to care for it and you want to care for yourself.

Guest Profile:

• Howard University Alternative Spring Break | Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel
• Autumn Coleman | The Dig at Howard University
• Autumn Coleman | LinkedIn
• Alena Britt | LinkedIn
• Deborah Boatwright | Howard Profiles
• Mecca Moore | LinkedIn
• Ignite Promise
• Emily Summers | LinkedIn
• Howard Sandifer
• Chicago West Community Music Center
• Melvin McLawhorn | LinkedIn

According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are completely preventable.  There are a lot of reasons why Black women are at higher risk, including access to quality health care, pre-existing health issues, structural racism, and implicit bias.

Black maternal health is a serious public health crisis worldwide. What can we do to reduce this number and what are the experts doing right now to fight it?

Today’s host Amber D. Dodd, Howard Magazine’s associate editor, digs into these troubling statistics in today's episode, with 2 esteemed guests from the Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Shari Lawson specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Howard University Hospital and is a faculty member at the College of Medicine. Victoria Revelle is a program manager for the women's health and OBGYN department at the College of Medicine at Howard University.

Listen as these women discuss the systemic issues contributing to Black women's significantly higher maternal mortality rates, such as structural racism, access to quality healthcare, and implicit bias. Additionally, Shari and Victoria emphasize the importance of advocacy, trusted support systems, and exploring various birthing options.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Why are self-advocacy & partner support crucial for pregnancy? 

18:23: [Amber] What should expectant parents and mothers do to ensure that they're being heard when they don't feel right?

18:93: [Victoria Revelle] Yes, I would definitely say advocacy is important. Being able to speak up and advocate for yourself. In addition, I would say having a trusted partner is crucial. So having someone that you can call on and say, "Hey, I've already spoken up. I don't know if I'm being heard," or perhaps maybe you could advocate as well on my behalf to make sure that I'm receiving the rightful care that I know is due unto me as well.

On educating patients and families on critical warning signs during pregnancy

10:39: [Shari Lawson] So, I do think it's really important that patients and their family members or loved ones are educated about the warning signs of something that could be worse. So for them to know, well, if I have a headache, could I have preeclampsia? But they may not necessarily even know to call it that. So I think that that's part of our role as physicians and as community members to make sure that people are aware of what the urgent warning signs are.

The need to fix broken systems, not black women

19:42: [[Victoria Revelle] I do want to mention that language is so crucial and is so important. And so, as we think about finding more solutions, I think it's important that we remember that when we're defining this problem, Black women are not broken. The systems that Black women are in, such as where they eat, learn, work, play, and pray, are broken. So, when we're thinking about how we define this, I want to be clear that we're saying this is a Black maternal healthcare crisis. And so, the care that is being received by Black women is something that surely, as a society, we can work on and improve.

Guest Profile:

• Dr. Shari Lawson, MD | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Washington, D.C.
• Shari Lawson | LinkedIn
• Alliance For Innovation On Maternal Health

 According to the National Golf Association, 4.1 million African Americans played golf in the United States in 2021, a significant increase from the 2.6 million who played golf in 2011.  Despite this growth, Black golfers remain an anomaly in the sport, with figures such as Tiger Woods and more recently, Cameron Champ serving as those exceptions that only prove the rule. 

However, the creation and development of collegiate golf programs at more HBCUs could prove a unique pipeline for increased representation at the professional level, and Howard’s golf programs are at the forefront of this movement.  Howard's players are winners of the HBCU National Championships, the PGA Tour Works Collegiate Championship, and most recently, the 2024 Northeast Conference Golf Championship. 

A lifelong player and 12-year coach, Sam is now the Director of Golf at Howard. Coach Sam

Puryear has overseen the program for 4 years now and has his eyes set on even more success. 

Today’s host Larry J. Sanders sits down with Coach Samuel Puryear to discuss the growth of African American participation in golf. The discussion highlights the importance of mentorship, the social and economic barriers in golf, and how the sport's networking opportunities can benefit careers beyond professional playing. 

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Building equity for young golfers at Howard

09:11: [Larry] So, discuss the impact of the program on the university from your perspective and on the golf landscape as a whole. 

09:18: [Samuel] Well, that's actually the reason that I chose to take the position here at Howard. Because, number one, I wanted to be able to be a conduit with young Brown people and give them a chance, because of my experience in the mainstream golf world, coaching it, PWIs and seeing the best that golf has to offer. I wanted to show these young people what golf could look like if they did their part. So, I accepted this position with the expectation that I was going to build a program that would expose them to competing in some of the best programs, the best players, travel the country, use some of the best equipment, and give them opportunities where they would be able to compete once they graduated college. So, for me, this is just a continuation or an extension of what I've been dreaming and working on my whole life. And that, to me, is what made Howard such a great fit.

There are a lot of opportunities to grow in golf 

13:19: Golf is the one game where if we continue to push more of us in it, we'll have more opportunity to expand upon and teach and allow people to understand the other side, which is some of the stuff we've been trying to do.

Why race didn’t held Samuel from playing golf

08:11: The race was there, but I just refused to let it stop my dreams. You have the guy throw you the keys and say, "Hey boy, go get my car; I'm in Space 45." I would laugh and say, "Oh, that's great. But when he gets your car, tell him to get mine; I'm in Space 46." You learn to laugh about it, because if you don't laugh, you cry.

Guest Profile:

• Sam Puryear - Women's Golf Coach - Howard University Athletics
• Sam Puryear | LinkedIn

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions for American youth. Addressing the diagnosis is no easy feat, and there is no one size fits all solution. But an ADHD diagnosis for Black children can be compounded with unique challenges, such as stigmatization, which can negatively impact how others at school and within their communities treat them. 

In the 2nd part of this 2-part series, host, Howard alum, and developmental psychologist Dr. Kweli Zukeri continues his conversation on ADHD with guest Dr. Mercedes Ebanks. Dr. Ebanks is a double Howard alum and Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the Howard School of Education. She is also a Behavioral Therapist and the Co-Founder and Parent Coordinator of the Mecca Group, LLC.

This episode will delve into the complexities of an ADHD diagnosis in Black American children. We’ll hear about the importance of understanding the cultural and environmental factors that contribute to ADHD symptoms and the potential misinterpretations of these behaviors in educational settings, and the broader societal issues contributing to ADHD symptoms, such as excessive screen time and the lack of representation among Black medical professionals. The conversation also emphasizes the role of parents, teachers, and mental health professionals in recognizing ADHD's potential and developing strength-based approaches to support children. 

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How can parents of children with ADHD help them overcome challenges, leverage strengths, and reach their full potential?

29:16: [Kweli Zukeri] What advice do you have for parents whose children have ADHD? How can they help their children mitigate the challenges and limitations while simultaneously enhancing the strengths and potential that accompany it?

29:31: [Dr. Mercedes Ebanks] It's helping your children to be self-reflective and to identify their feelings, being either overwhelmed or overstimulated. Helping them to monitor that. Also, it's really basic communication. I think helping children communicate how they're feeling is important. I think that's the first. Talking to them about their feelings or what their experience is like with the inattention—is it affecting them in the classroom, or are they using it for good, “good.” So I think it's very important to help their children understand what is going on. Awareness is key.

41:03: What is considered a disorder doesn't have to stop you. We can excel at anything.

ADHD has no switch off and switch on button

05:10: A child with ADHD has it at school and at home. So, their behaviors are very different at home than in school. It may not be ADHD, but you also need to ask the questions: what is being asked at home and what is being asked at school? There's more to it to truly understand because, are they being asked to focus at home, or is it quiet at home? Perhaps the child is needing to watch TV because the mother or father has to work or has other, you know, responsibilities, and can't give the child the individual attention that is needed.

The power of words for people with ADHD

22:48: Helping children understand and be very aware of their body, their senses, and their abilities, I think, are very important. And to teach children how to communicate that. If that's communicating through motion and physical activity, through dance, or through sports, however, they need to communicate. It could be through art. It certainly is a way to communicate their talent. And this is all it is. It is a gift that was given to them that needs to just be honed.

Show Links:

• Dr. Edward Hallowell
• Scattered Minds - Dr. Gabor Maté
• Being Black with ADHD | Howard Magazine
• Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington
• Dr. Keisha Mack
• The Journal of Negro Education | JSTOR
• Hancock (2008) - IMDb
• Black Panther (2018) - IMDb
• CHADD
• ADHD Black Professionals Alliance - IngerShaye
• '55th NAACP Image Awards' Honors Poet Amanda Gorman With The Chairman’s Award Presented by Unilever | News | BET

Guest Profile:

• Mercedes Ebanks | Howard Profiles
• Mercedes E. Ebanks, PhD - The MECCA Group, LLC
• LinkedIn | Dr. Mercedes Ebanks
• The MECCA Group
• Instagram | The MECCA Group
• The MECCA Group, LLC | LinkedIn
• Facebook | The MECCA Group
• The Mecca Group - YouTube

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions for American youth.  Addressing the diagnosis is no easy feat, and there is no one size fits all solution.  An ADHD diagnosis for Black children can be compounded with unique challenges, such as stigmatization, which can negatively impact how others at school and within their communities treat them. 

On today's episode, which is part 1 of a 2-part series, Dr. Mercedes Ebanks joins host, Howard alum, and developmental psychologist Dr. Kweli Zukeri to explore this situation. They will also discuss the potential that lies within changing the ADHD narrative and approach from one of deficit to superpower and how parents and teachers can help their children and students with ADHD both utilize it as a strength and manage its problematic aspects.

Dr. Mercedes Ebanks is a double Howard alum and Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the Howard School of Education. She is also a Behavioral Therapist and the Co-Founder and Parent Coordinator of the Mecca Group, LLC. 

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How can a workplace still offer a DEI friendly environment, even if the number of diverse individuals is low?

27:19: Any disorder is critical to treat. And from it really comes awareness, truly helping families understand what their children are experiencing, and then how it impacts the family. Because for a parent to bring their child in for an evaluation or for therapy because they're impulsive, and they're making bad decisions and they keep getting in trouble in school, it's difficult for parents to admit that to themselves. That's difficult to ask for help, because they're expected as a parent, as you said earlier, it's the toughest job to do because we're trying to get it right, and we can't always get it right. So, to get that assistance is why we, at The MECCA Group, are here to be able to provide that assistance.

There’s no one-formula-fits-all for treating ADHD

29:57: I think the best treatment plan for each child is an individual one. It's not a one-formula-fits-all approach. You have to look at the lifestyle the family has, in terms of what their beliefs are.

Education is key to understanding what ADHD really means 

28:58: When you look at social media and what has been discussed in the news and mass media about ADHD, a lot of it is pushed towards medication. Parents, however, don't want to look at medication as the first-step way of treatment. That's what they're scared of: having their children look like zombies under this medication and how that's going to help them. So, education is really key to helping parents understand what ADHD means.

Show Links:

• Dr. Edward Hallowell
• Scattered Minds - Dr. Gabor Maté

Guest Profile:

• Mercedes Ebanks | Howard Profiles
• Mercedes E. Ebanks, PhD - The MECCA Group, LLC
• LinkedIn | Dr. Mercedes Ebanks
• The MECCA Group
• Instagram | The MECCA Group
• The MECCA Group, LLC | LinkedIn
• Facebook | The MECCA Group
• The Mecca Group - YouTube

In 2015, Kendrick Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly came at a crucial moment for Black America.  After protesters took to the streets to voice their concerns about police brutality and white supremacy, Lamar's hit single, “All Right,” became a Black Lives Matter anthem.  Black music's role as a mouthpiece for the people is no surprise.

Sam Cooke's “A Change Is Gonna Come” captured a tumultuous turning point of the civil rights movement, as did Nina Simone's resonating anger with “Mississippi Got Damn.” But Black musicians have had their hand in galvanizing recent civic participation, such as Georgia's rapper's community attempt at electing Stacey Abrams as Georgia's first Black governor in 2020.

Just a few months away from the 2024 presidential election, we’re kicking off season 2 of From HU2U with Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. He is a Howard University alumnus, as well as the CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, a national organization committed to civic engagement in communities of color, particularly vulnerable citizens of injustice. 

Today’s host Amber D. Dodd, is Howard Magazine’s associate editor. She sits down with Reverand Yearwood to chat about his early years being a part of the civic engagement of Howard University's campus culture, breaking down the silos within social justice movements, how the Hip Hop Caucus was birthed out of the climate justice movement, and how Black people's place in American society reflects music's political influence.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Hip Hop Caucus as an instrument to encourage people to vote

29:11: People don't want to just keep voting for people who ain't doing what they need to do. And so we need to let people know that, okay, well, maybe you're not voting for that person, but don't sit this thing out, though. Because then you still have an impact on the local level, on the state level. And then people count that. And so they look at it, when they go back after the election, they'll go back and count who voted. And then, based upon that, there's power that's created by how many people vote. So even if you don't feel you're turned on by your local mayor, you're not turned on by your governor, you're not turned on by the president, you still got to make sure that your voting has to be counted in some aspect. And so our job is to make sure that people get out to vote.

Empowering the next generation's leaders

21:00: I'm so proud that now this new generation of leaders at the Hip Hop Caucus has a hell of a task on their hands because they now have to figure out how creation is a new demonstration. And they now have to figure out how storytelling and communications, along with advocacy, go together to educate a community that's never heard about something that is killing them every single day.

Music as a roadmap to liberation

36:56: I do think there's a need to get back to understanding our history, that our history is created literally in this country, like many things, because of policy that is used to destroy us. And we somehow use our music, like we did, to escape from enslavement. When somebody sang 'Down by the Riverside,' it had nothing to do with Jesus. It was a road map to freedom. And so for artists that are listening now, we still need road maps to freedom. Now, more than ever. It may not be 'Down by the Riverside,' but we still need things to be planted in our music, in our poetry, in our art that'll help us to escape to freedom.

Guest Profile:

• Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus
• Hip Hop Caucus
• the album HOME - Think 100%
• Underwater Projects: Official Trailer and Upcoming Screenings - Hip Hop Caucus
• Ain't Your Mama's Heat Wave
• Respect My Vote
• Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
• Euphoria - Kendrick Lamar
• The Coolest Show podcast