Ignite 2 Impact Podcast - Raise up and Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders

Penny Bailer retired in 2015 after 32 years of nonprofit leadership: 14yrs, Executive Director, City Year Detroit and 17yrs, CEO, Michigan Metro Girl Scout Council, receiving CRAIN's 2nd annual "Best Managed Nonprofit" award.

In 1976, Penny helped Co-Found the DPS Golightly Education Center where her children attended grades 1-8. She served as Founding President of the Golightly Parent Organization. Golightly was later named a National Blue Ribbon School.

In 1990-94, Penny was elected/served on the Detroit Board of Education. She earned her Executive MBA/Advanced Management degree/1989 at MSU/Troy and a BFA in Music/Piano Performance, UGA/1962.

Penny serves on/leads several nonprofit boards, including New Detroit and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; Chair, Detroit Promise Zone Authority; Vice Chair, Detroit Housing Commission; Education/Co-Chair, Clark Park/Osborn Promise Neighborhood; Board/Chair, Detroit Collegiate Prep @ Northwestern HS. She is on the boards of Detroit Rotary, City Connect Detroit and the WSU College of Education. She served on the Governance Committee of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren and is a Facilitator for Citizen Detroit.

More info: http://www.pennybailer.com

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Penny served as Executive Director of City Year Detroit (CYD) from 2001-2015, responsible for Michigan's largest AmeriCorps program, retiring in 2015. During that period, over 1,000 young adult "corps members" served full time with CYD for up to two years each, providing data-driven all day academic classroom tutoring, mentoring and role modeling to thousands of Detroit's school children, keeping them "in school and on track to graduation." City Year also partners (in 28 cities nationally including Detroit) with Johns Hopkins University and Communities in Schools, Inc. for their U. S. Dept of Education-funded Invest in Innovation (i3) award-winning school transformation model called Diplomas Now.

Penny served for over 17 years (1983-2000) as Executive Director/CEO of the Michigan Metro Girl Scout Council in Detroit, increasing the girl membership from 21,000 to 43,000 and registered adult volunteers from 6,000 to 14,000 and proudly earning the 1992 CRAIN's "Best Managed Non Profit Award." She was elected to the Detroit Board of Education (1990-94) and in 1997 was named one of of CRAIN's Detroit Business "100 Most Influential Women."

Since 1979, Penny has served on and led numerous non-profit and civic boards in Detroit, focused primarily on youth, education and Detroit's revitalization. In 2014, Mayor Mike Duggan appointed her to the Detroit Promise Zone Authority, which she chairs and which provides free college tuition to Detroit residents who graduate from Detroit high schools; the mayor also appointed her to the board of the Detroit Housing Commission, for which she was elected Vice Chair. She currently serves on the boards of New Detroit, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, City Connect Detroit and Detroit Rotary, of which she will become President in 2019-20. She served on the Governance Committee of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren throughout its tenure January-March 2015. In 1976, she was a Co-Founder of the DPS Golightly Education Center (K-8) -- which was attended by both her children and later named a National Blue Ribbon School by President Clinton.

In 2012, she was named Chair of the Self Governing School Council for Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School @ Northwestern, a DPS/Diplomas Now High School, where she continues to serve as Chair.

In June 2017, Penny proudly represented Michigan in swimming at the bi-centennial National Senior Games (aka "national senior olympics) and plans to continue to work hard to continually qualify, if so fortunate, throughout the rest of her life.

Bailer earned an Executive MBA from the Advanced Management Program at the Eli Broad School of Management in 1989 from MSU's Troy Graduate School Campus and a BFA in Music/Piano Performance in 1962 from the University of Georgia near her hometown of Atlanta, after which she did 1 year of graduate work toward a Master's degree in Music (Piano) at Pennsylvania State University. In July 2011, she was awarded a Harvard Business School scholarship by the HBS Detroit Alumni Club for an executive education week at HBS: Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM).

More info: www.pennybailer.com

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Hear Rochelle Riley - real and raw. She is a columnist for the Detroit Free Press, where she has been a leading voice for children, education, competent government and race since 2000.

She makes frequent television and radio appearances, including on National Public Radio and local television and has won numerous national, state and local honors, including the 2013 National Headliner Award, one of the most prestigious in the country, for local column writing. Her columns on the text message scandal that led to the imprisonment of Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit's former mayor, were part of the Free Press' 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage for local news.

She received the 2017 Eugene C. Pulliam Editorial Fellowship from the Society of Professional Journalists and the 2017 winner of the NABJ Ida B. Wells Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. It is an annual honor given to an individual who has made outstanding efforts to make newsrooms and news coverage more accurately reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. The award is named for the distinguished journalist, fearless reporter and anti-lynching crusader.

Rochelle also is author of the new book "The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery" (Wayne State University Press, 2018).

A strong advocate for press freedom, Rochelle is co-chair of the National Association of Black Journalists Global Journalism Task Force, which works to increase the number of minority journalists covering the world.

She is a global traveler who has been to 25 countries and counting.

She was a 2007-2008 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan, where she studied online communities and film. And she was a 2016 inductee into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

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This is an enlightening and inspiring interview with Sam Wells, of Flint, who was honored last year by the Michigan Community Service Commission. He was one of those chosen individuals from across the state of Michigan that received the prestigious GOVERNOR'S SERVICE AWARD.

Specifically, Sam was recognized as the "Mentor of the Year." This award honors an individual who provides youth (25 and under) with the confidence and assets to be successful. Hear on this podcast how he does it and WHY.

Sam Wells of Flint Township is a man that leads by example. He has led efforts to help young men become the next generation of leaders through the Alpha Esquire Mentoring and Leadership Program, which includes predominantly African-American young males from Flint and Genesee County.

Sam helped develop the program and serves as the director. The Esquires enroll 40 members annually and emphasize education, community service, life skills and character building.

Sam coordinates several events and workshops each year to help the young men in the program develop. He has also added a scholarship component, which awards $20,000 to 20 graduating seniors. The program also provides luggage, dorm microwaves, refrigerators and computers to students.

To his peers, Sam has proven he will do anything he can to mentor the young men of the program and make sure they are successful in life. "His tireless dedication is a labor of love," said his nominator David Guinn. "I have seen him give the shirt off his back for job interviews, prom or other important nights."

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Charles Edward Williams, II was born in Detroit, Michigan and reared in Birmingham, Alabama; he was built with the Ford toughness of a Midwestern American family, while planted in red dirt values of southern congeniality. With compassion and vigilance Rev. Williams uses those life experiences to guide his hands in leading the fight for workers rights, civil rights, equality, and access for the under-served population of the world.

At an early age Rev. Williams was eager to reach into the real world, and be a part of a movement for change. From college campus political activity, social justice corporate and issue campaigns, to leading political campaigns for candidates like U.S Senator Debbie Stabenow and Al Sharpton and serving in the office of the pastorate.

Rev. Williams charge had been confirmed by his opportunity to be mentored by Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Timothy McDonald, U.S Senator Debbie Stabenow, William Lucy, Dick Gregory, Rev. Joseph Lowery and countless others. Although, Running Political Campaigns, Engaging in Partisan Politics, engaging in Social advocacy, and evangelizing around the country is a dream realized for Rev. Williams. The destination of accomplishment is a far off and will continue to lead to global human and civil rights advocacy.

At the current age of 32, Rev. Williams can look back and smile at his accomplishments, but only long enough to re-energize and prepare to work toward the next level of work that waits in the future. Rev. Williams is an executive board member of the African American Ministers Leadership Council (AAMLC) an Affiliate of People For The American Way, The Former Chairman of The Board of the Gamaliel Foundation Affiliate Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES), The President of the National Action Network Michigan Chapter, and The Pastor of the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, the historic pulpit where Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, T.S Boone and a host of Americas leaders used as a stage to spread a progressive message for change. Rev. Williams is a blog Contributor for The Huffington Post, and frequently appears on CNN, MSNBC and other local and national media outlets.

As Rev. Williams' life unravels, education has become a continuous instrument of growth: from undergraduate studies at Eastern Michigan University and on to graduate studies. Rev. Williams believes the scripture Hosea 6:4 "My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge" and acts on the words by the Islamic prophet M. He hosts an annual MLK event every year, "The Dream Keepers."

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Bishop Edgar Vann was stepping down from the pulpit of Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit after preaching to his congregation on New Year's Eve one year ago when he was confronted with death.

"It was as if a dark curtain was falling and I could feel myself losing consciousness and falling out," the 60-year-old said. "I turned to my wife and grabbed her and that's the last thing I remember."

Had it not been for someone in his congregation who administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately, he wouldn't be alive today.

"My heart stopped and there was no pulse," Vann said.

(source: Detroit Free Press)

His book, I DID IT TO MYSELF: True Confessions of an Overachiever (Westbow Press) tells the story of how that incident changed his life.

On this podcast, hear Bishop Vann discuss work-life integration and how he led the cause that requires students in Michigan to be taught CPR by the time they graduate from high school. He will also talk about leadership and how leaders should inspire and impact others today.

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Bishop Vann does not limit his ministry to the church. He is the founder of the Vanguard Community Development Corporation organized in 1994. He is leading an entire community towards restoration, healing and empowerment. He is also committed to helping individuals destroy the yoke of poverty and affirm themselves with sound biblical principles.

He has preached extensively throughout the United States, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Haiti and Eastern Europe. He fulfills the mission of Second Ebenezer Church as he empowers people everywhere with the Word making a global impact.

He is a mentor, coach and spiritual father to his many sons and daughters in the ministry and Pastors throughout the country.

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William F. Pickard, PhD, is CEO and chairman for multiple enterprises, including VITEC L.L.C., Global Automotive Alliance L.L.C., Grupo Antolin-Wayne, ARD Logistics, L.L.C., and Commonwealth Regal Industries. He is also the owner of several McDonald's franchises and a co-owner of five black-owned newspapers.

Dr. Pickard is also CEO of Bearwood Management and author of Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship.

LEARNING TO DREAM BIG Pickard caught his first glimpse of the automotive world in the 1950s when his parents moved the family from Florida to Flint, Michigan, a city built on the car industry. While his parents worked on the assembly line at General Motors, the young Pickard attended school, where he was treated as an outcast for being both new to the neighborhood and African American. He struggled in his schoolwork until an English teacher encouraged him to work to his fullest potential. Pickard considered this teacher his first mentor and the person who introduced him to the importance of helping others to achieve their best. With his new ambition in place, Pickard pushed ahead to earn an associate's degree at Flint Mott College in 1962 and a bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University in 1964. He then earned a master's degree in social work at the University of Michigan. STARTING A CAREER, HELPING OTHERS Armed with his training, Pickard began his good works. He started his career in 1965 as the director of education at the Cleveland Urban League and then, in 1967, joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as executive director. In 1969 Pickard returned to school to earn a PhD in psychology at Ohio State University in Columbus. On completing his studies he worked in several professorial positions at various institutions in southeastern Michigan and northern Ohio. At the same time he started on a new path into the world of entrepreneurship, allowing his business and investment skills to emerge-skills that would be tested through several ventures and eventually lead him to success. FROM GOOD DEEDS TO GREAT SUCCESS Soon after a chance meeting with a McDonald's corporate executive, Pickard began his first business endeavor as the owner of several McDonald's franchises. He was also investing, not too successfully, in car dealerships around that time. Later, a lunch with Henry Ford II led him from dealerships to the automotive supply industry. Ford told him, "We need black suppliers," and Pickard took that to heart (Detroit News , May 21, 2002). Soon he began investing in minority firms that produced automotive parts. This move led to his creating the Global Automotive Alliance (Alliance), one of the country's leading minority-owned companies. SHARING THE WEALTH With the means to help others on a larger scale, Dr. Pickard created a company wide internship program to recruit the next generation of minority employees in plastics processing. He also serves on the board of the National Urban League, and is a member of the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).In addition, he continues teaching, is an avid volunteer and donor to charities and mentors many aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders. In 2001 the Detroit News honored him as a Michiganian of the Year for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur , teacher, and mentor to future leaders.

In this special edition podcast host Dr. Geneva and Pam Perry cover how to be social with your audience, what to share with them and how to appropriately communicate with diverse-aged audiences - online and off.

Everyone would agree better leadership through social media is truly needed today.

According to CNN, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said President Trump should "stop tweeting and start leading."

"All President Trump does is to take horrible advantage and try to politicize and divide," the New York Democrat said at a news conference in Washington, adding that Trump can't refrain from his "nasty, divisive habits." Communication is key to leadership. How has social media changed the way leaders communication with their stakeholders? Has the digital world left some leaders behind in trying to influence their younger employees? Has email, tweets and instant messenger made more foes than friends? Hear Dr. Geneva and Pam discuss on this show and in an upcoming teleclass, they will give more tips on what leaders should be do to "get their leadership on" in the age of the internet.

Promoting Confident, Heroic, Inspiring, Courageous moms. (CHICmomorg.com)

Jessica Byrd, mother of two found her passion as a career mom by starting an organization to interact with young mothers to provide them with the tools, necessities, and environment to better raise their children. Jessica firmly believes in not only engaging our children with a positive social environment, but also providing a network of positive enforcement for young parents - which in result will promote a better society. CHICmom Org's sole purpose is to implement - Confident, Heroic, Inspiring, Courageous mothers.

When Jessica became a new mommy she was bombarded with tons of decisions to make, as most moms; should I work, should I do daycare, should I breastfeed, the list goes on. Despite having a very strong support group in her family, she noticed that amongst her peers, motherhood was like a secret society. A society of mothers who appeared to have it all figured out, but the reality was we all need help, and more importantly we all need each other.

Jessica noticed that mothers lacked a sense of community and she wanted to solve that problem. What started as a post on Facebook, asking mothers to join her "moms club" has now grown to over sixty mothers in a member oriented organization named CHICmom.

As a career mom, Jessica has always given her personal and career growth just as much attention as she's given being a mommy and wife. Her previous roles in event management, project management, and public relations has allowed her to rise in the ranks in her career path.

Starting as a public relations consultant in Atlanta, GA, and returning to her hometown to then land a positive at The Michigan Chronicle, she's never given up on her strong aspirations in following her career path in marketing and communications with the desire to start a mentoring coaching business for college students.

Currently Jessica utilizes her communications, event management, and marketing expertise to serve as the Community Relations Specialist for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Jessica has a niche for community engagement, with a personal goal to living a life on purpose and assisting everyone around her to do the same.

As a mother of a three and four-year old, life can be very demanding, but she admits to finding strength in CHICmom and strongly believes it was her God-given purpose. Additionally, she knows first hand that being a mother doesn't stop you from growing, in fact you discover a new sense of self discovery.

Carol Goss retired after nearly a decade as the Skillman Foundation’s president & CEO. During her tenure, the Foundation underwent major strategic shifts, including becoming an embedded funder working on-the-ground in six neighborhoods.

Goss, a social worker by training, championed that effort and became a voice for children in the city when few others were beating that drum.

Because of Carol Goss, the landscape of work for Detroit children has been reengineered. Because of her leadership, groups like Excellent Schools Detroit, Data Driven Detroit, Osborn Neighborhood Alliance, Congress of Communities Southwest Detroit, and Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance are in place now, moving outcomes for kids.

Today, Goss is the Founder of Warrior Women Against Poverty. 

"It is a movement of African American women who are working to support and mentor some of our most vulnerable women and their children. We started 2 years ago after spending a year at Harvard on a fellowship and we now work in partnership with COTS to help these women move towards self sufficiency.  They all want jobs and stable housing and more education and better lives for their children," said Goss.    Leaders have to take risks, walk in paths that have not been used, and be patient for results. Leaders must also show compassion and not be judgemental.  Warrior Women Against Poverty is leading the way and showing others how they can change lives one woman and one family at a time.   Goss was named, "Persons of the Week" by WXYZ TV (an ABC affiliate). See the Warrior Women Against Poverty video here.