Holding presence in the past was challenging for Black people. Art ignored the existence of the Black being unless relegated to subservient and dismissive roles. An investigation of that presence of the past and the impact Black art will have on holding presence in the future is discussed in detail by Ms. Judine Somerville and Mr. Clayton Singleton.

The Art of Resistance features Hampton Roads’ own award-winning playwright, performer, filmmaker, and professor of Theatre at Old Dominion University, Brittney S. Harris, in conversation with Grammy-nominated, multi-award winning young composer, violinist and professor at The Juilliard School in NYC, Curtis Stewart. Renowned Historian and Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, will moderate this discussion, exploring each guest’s artistic genre.

Deanna Latimore sits down with Norfolk State University School of Nursing and Allied Health Program graduate Jennifer Hernandez and discusses her journey to NSU, current position and future aspirations. As a mental health advocate, Jennifer also shares valuable insight to maintaining wellness while living a busy life.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with her friend and colleague, Dr. Joanne Elena, the Scientific Director, Clinical & Cancer Control Research for the American Cancer Society. They discuss how they met. Dr. Elena's background and the path that lead to her current career assisting potential grantees to get funding through ACS.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with Travis Spratley and his companion to discuss his life and journey as a person living with Epilepsy. Spratley talks frankly about his struggle to adapt to his new normal while trying to provide for his family and find resources to assist him. As an Epilepsy advocate, Sprately is dedicated to understanding his diagnosis and getting better everyday.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with Dwight Richards, Population Health Planning & Improvement Coordinator for the Portsmouth Health Department. They discuss his connection to Hampton Roads as military veteran born in the Caribbean. Dwight is a public health professional with a passion for helping others by using data to inform the public.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with her friend and colleague, Norfolk State University professor in the Department of Nursing and Allied Health, Melody Armstrong. They discuss her military experience and being the first African American Nurse on an amphibious assault ship. They also share details about the 2023 NSU/Virginia Department of Health: Office of Health Equity Conference.

Dr. Felicia Mebane chats with Maggie Lane, a Hampton Roads Outreach Coordinator at Postpartum Support Virginia. They talk about her journey to Hampton Roads and how she changed careers from nursing to becoming an advocate for new mothers. Maggie specializes in lactation support and post partum doula and explains the process for both roles. She also shares information on the training needed for this type of work. Maggie shares information about grants and support services available with Postpartum Support Virginia.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with Dr. Kirsten Eriksen, Professor and Associate Dean of the Norfolk State University School of Social Works and Dr. Margaret Buxton, Director of the Ida Barbour Early Learning Center (The first daycare for children of color founded in 1910) located in Portsmouth, VA. They discuss the history of the learning center and the NSU, ODU and EVMS grant funded project "No Hit Zone" which explores the connection between physical punishment and child abuse.

This is HH&HR's first on location recording.

Dr. Felicia Mebane sits down with Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health program at the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Dr. Brett Sierra and talks about his journey to his current position from studying to become a doctor at James Madison University to obtaining his doctoral degree (DHSC-Practical doctorate) in health sciences from at EVMS. They discuss his current research in housing equity and how it intersects health outcomes and his work with the Greater Hampton Roads Population Health Summit lead by the Brock Institute at EVMS.