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

 Jason K. Appling is the Co-Founder of Cool Smart, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that has a mission to educate the youth and young professionals on the importance of philanthropy and increasing awareness of charitable initiatives in metropolitan areas through Cool, Smart, and Fun programming.

Cool Smart, Inc. was founded in 2014 by Jason Appling and his business partner Byron Suggs.

Elite professionals and socialites unite with the goal of giving back

As approaching the age of 30, Jason was inspired to become more socially responsible in his community and realized that growing up, volunteerism and charity was not a major influence in his household. This inspired the birth of the Cool Smart, Inc., assuming that the youth would be more apt to volunteer and raise money for their community if educated on the importance of philanthropy but done in a manner that infused Cool, Smart, and Fun activities.

Byron Suggs, Fox2 Detroit Reporter and Jason Appling

In 2011, Jason Appling and his partner launched an annual fundraising event called Tux & Chucks. The original idea behind the event was to celebrate the two individual’s birthday but use the funds raise to donate to local non-profits organizations. The theme of the event was inspired by partner Byron Suggs’s wedding party who wore tuxedos and Converse Chuck Taylor gym shoes. The initial event drew over 350 people but as of 2015 draws over 1200+ patrons and over the course of 5 years has raised $45,000 for 9 local non-profit charities in the Metropolitan Detroit Area.

 

In addition, Jason Appling holds position of 2nd Vice President for BUF Connect, a young professional’s leadership group under the Black United Fund of Michigan. The mission of BUF Connect is to increase awareness of the Black United Fund’s mission to the young professionals between the ages of 21-40. The Black United Fund (BUF) is committed to impacting and supporting positive changes in a diverse community, by providing funding and support to start-up non-profits that focus on education, community development, cultural enrichment and economic improvement.

Appling holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication from Michigan State University in Lansing, MI. His affiliations also include:

• Member, General Motors African Ancestry Network (GMAAN), corporate-sanctioned affinity group to provide a competitive advantage in attracting, developing, and retaining African Ancestry employees while engaging our communities to drive General Motors business priorities/performance.

For more information, visit www.coolsmart.org 

Loretta A. Forbes is a nationally recognized girls empowerment speaker, Author of two best selling books “Hello, My Name is B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.” and “If God is a King, That Makes Me a Princess” and a licensed therapist.

Loretta has been featured on PBS, FOX 2 news, Rolling Out Magazine, Michigan Chronicle Newsprint, and has also been interviewed on a wide variety of radio shows including The Deborah Smith Pollard show on Mix 92.3, Dr. A.R. Bernard Show, author of “Four Things Women Want From a Man” and former BET host Cheryl Martin’s nationally syndicated podcast.

Due to her passion for girl’s advocacy, Loretta established her own business, Life Beyond the Norm LLC in 2012 to provide and offer a wide range of services to girls.  Such services include, counseling, keynote speeches, confidence coaching programs, various workshops to foster girl empowerment and personal development.

Loretta has a passion and mission to motivate and inspire girls, by helping them understand who they are, and how powerful they are. She believes every girl should dream big, live life beyond the norm and tap into their inner power to discover answers they need to create a life that reflects their gifts, talents and abilities. She also believes that with the right attitude, confidence and training, girls and young women can exceed the limits of their environment.

A graduate of Michigan State University (B.A. in Psychology) and University of Chicago (M.A. in Social Service Administration), Loretta has prepared herself educationally to gain the proper training to fulfill what she believes she has been called to do…help girls become strong women.

 Loretta currently serves under the leadership of her father and pastor, Dr. James L. Morman, where she is the Director for the C.O.R.E. counseling program at Christian Tabernacle Church. She also serves on the alumnae board for her alma mater, Mercy High School and is a board member for The Federation of Youth Services (Detroit, Michigan), a non-profit organization helping inner city girls.

When Meryl first fell in love with figure skating on a frozen lake by her childhood home outside of Detroit, Michigan, she had no idea the journey she was about to embark on.

Teaming up with partner, Charlie White at the young age of nine, Meryl and Charlie began their quest together. Neither knowing much about the discipline of ice-dance, the team was driven by a passion for skating and the desire to learn, grow and see improvement from one day to the next.

20 years later, Meryl and Charlie are the reigning Olympic Champions and the first and only Americans to win the event. They’re also six-time U.S. Champions and 2-time World Champions, making them the most decorated U.S. ice dancers of all time.

            Immediately following their 2014 Olympic win in Sochi, Russia, Meryl and Charlie continued to dance into the hearts of Americans on season 18 of the hit TV show, Dancing with the Stars. With pro partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Meryl again came away with a win and the coveted Mirrorball trophy.

Continuing their post-Olympic whirlwind, Meryl and Charlie now travel the world sharing their passion for skating with some of the most loved international skating tours, including Stars on Ice. With education always having been a priority for the pair, both are currently finishing up degrees at the University of Michigan while exploring other passions and interests.

For Meryl, the journey to becoming an Olympic Champion was filled with challenges and opportunities that allowed her to find strength and confidence. As such, Meryl now seeks to empower girls and young women through her multiple philanthropic endeavors.

Most prominently, Meryl is proud to be a Founding Co-Chair of Figure Skating in Detroit, a youth development organization that empowers girls to develop life skills through the sport of figure skating with a heavy emphasis on education. Meryl is also on the Advisory Panel of the Women’s Sports Foundation, a UNICEF Kid Power Champion and Classroom Champions Athlete.

“Meryl is a great example of beauty, achievement and giving back to the community. That's what true leaders do,” said Denise Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Enterprises, who is the Co-Chair, Champions Committee with Figure Skating in Detroit. 

 

When not at home with her family in Birmingham, Michigan Meryl most loves sharing her story and experiences in the hopes of inspiring others to follow their dreams.

For more information please visit www.MerylDavisAndCharlieWhite.com 

Dr. Moorer flunked-out of Kettering University twice returned earning a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems –then later returned as a professor and was recognized as Kettering’s most distinguished alumni.

Cleamon Moorer Jr., DBA, is a father, husband, philanthropist, educator, author, mentor and educational entrepreneur. Moorer is the author of best-selling memoir “From Failure to Promise: 360 Degrees,” the story of how he overcame flunking out of college to become an engineer, college professor and dean.

From Failure to Promise has held the #1 top-rated spot on Amazon in the US and Canada on several occasions in the genre of memoirs/biographies of educators. Black Enterprise magazine named him "Modern Man of Distinction."

Defying obstacles is what makes him true motivational speaker because he can transform audiences to catch his “never give up spirit.”   

Speaking at many conferences across the nation – including a TED Talk where he delivered “Pursue Promise: Success is Not Enough.”  In that talk (which is also the title of his next book), he conveys how real failure occurs if a person fails to abandon safe, monotonous, routine, uninspiring work.

Dr. Moorer believes that innovation, creativity, promise and legacy are often the byproducts of “quitting" and obeying the inner voice that says, "This Is Not It... you were designed to do more and to be more.”

Dr. Moorer is the founding Dean of the College of Business and Editor-In-Chief of PURSUIT: "The Official Magazine of Baker College.”  He is a motivational speaker with the Young Black Minds, Speaker’s Bureau, LLC.

Look at any leader - and you'll see they were once a volunteer. 

Volunteers launch movements. Think about the Civil Rights Movement where countless volunteers, including Rev. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, banded together to make an impact. Many leaders were also birthed from that movement - my dad being one of them. 

"Money Helps But People Solve Problems," said my friend, Governor George Romney.

Just some history on me: I co-founded United Way Community Services, merging two United Way affiliates to more effectively provide health and human services, and served as its first executive vice president and chief operating officer.

 I also engaged Detroit’s mayor and auto companies to mobilize hundreds of professionals to mentor Detroit youth, worked with former Michigan Gov. George Romney to increase volunteerism throughout the region, and championed quality education as chair of the Compact, Detroit’s first successful education reform effort. While at United Way, I attended Harvard Business School, and taught at the United Way of America’s Academy of Volunteerism.

Once the majority of volunteers were stay-at-home moms and retirees. Today’s volunteer is a teenager, a GenXer, a professional, a corporate employee, a home-based entrepreneur, a community activist, and all personalities in between. It is through all their efforts that much of the work to help people and improve community life is done.

Leaders. Leadership. Life lessons learned is what this podcast is all about - from a personal perspective.  Starting my "volunteer career" as a teenager...as a candy striper! 

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”― Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hear this show and be inspired on how my volunteerism has helped shape my life, career and my community. IT CAN DO THE SAME FOR YOU! 

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NBA Hall of Famer, Businessman and Former Mayor Dave Bing continues his conversation on leadership strategies that he feels will ignite the next generation. His passion is making it happen in the Bing Youth Institute where is the founder and chairman.  

"One of the biggest challenges in the face of adversity is to provide leadership that gives hope and empowers our young men."

- Dave Bing 

Bing feels it's about mentorship. He has tapped successful black men to mentor Detroit boys. "Time is important - and that's the main thing that will make a difference," said Bing, who kicked off the BINGO program with four Detroit schools and is now in 15 schools.  

The program, whose acronym stands for: Boys Inspired through Nurturing Growth & Opportunities (BINGO). 

What is BINGO? The Issue: One of the most prevalent issues facing many urban communities throughout our country is the plight of young men of color. The Mission: To create a meaningful mentoring experience that will help to unleash the unlimited potential of urban young men. The Solution: The BINGO mentoring program will provide Mentees a safe environment to seek advice and guidance, to mature, and to improve their decision making skills. The program has three key components to assist Mentees in establishing and reaching their goals and aspirations for the future.

• ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING 
• SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
• BINGO OUTINGS 

This October marks the first "graduation" class! And you'll hear on this show what is going to happen next. 

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Besides being an American retired Hall of Fame basketball player, Dave Bing has many other major accomplishments. He's run a steel company where he became the top minority supplier to the the auto industry and later was elected Mayor of the City of Detroit. 

But after all that, this show discusses the thing he is most proud of  - and the reason why he leaps out of bed in the morning excited about life and the impact he can make in the lives of young men.  BINGO! 

This show will give a picture of what the young Dave Bing was all about and what makes him the leader he is today. (This is just part 1)

Dave Bing has uniquely claimed success in three distinct arenas; professional sports, business and politics. Dave Bing was elected the 62nd Mayor of the City of Detroit in May 2009. A native of Washington, D.C., Bing is a graduate of Syracuse University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and was later bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2006. He was also a standout basketball player in both high school and college.   

Dave Bing came to Detroit in 1966 when he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as their #1 pick. Voted one of the top 50 basketball players of all time, Bing was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame in 1984, and into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1990.

Bing turned his winning strategies from the basketball court to the boardroom as the founder of an automotive supply corporation, The Bing Group in 1980, where he served as President and Chairman until April 2009.  Within a decade, The Bing Group was recognized as one of the nation’s top Minority-Owned Companies by Black Enterprise. 

Answering yet another call to serve, Bing decided to run for Mayor to help rebuild a city that he has loved and been a part of for more than 40 years. Proving that the basics of good performance, integrity and business can be applied to any area or industry, Bing has brought a renewed sense of trust and hope to the City of Detroit.

 

Bing’s latest challenge is the establishing the Bing Youth Institute whose mission is to create a meaningful mentoring experience to help unleash the unlimited potential in young men of color.  

www.BingYouthInstitute.org

See show notes at www.DrGenevaSpeaks.com 

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Collin Mays is one of Michigan’s fastest rising young professionals. Mr. Mays graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.A. in Political Science. On campus he was very active and held numerous positions including, President of the WMU College Democrats and Chairman of Political Affairs for the Student Association. Collin began his career interning for the Michigan State Senate and Wayne County Corporation Counsel. 

​Mr. Mays is a 2012 Who’s Who in Black Detroit inductee, a 2014 Young Democrat of the Year, a 2015 Spirit of Detroit award recipient and a 2015 Michigan Chronicle 40 under 40. Collin has appeared on numerous television and radio programs as well as being featured in multiple publications. He previously served as District Director to State Representative Vicki Barnett as well as District Director to State Senator David Knezek. Currently, he serves as Talent Development Director for Southeast Michigan Community Alliance.  ​Mays is also a member of the UNCF Detroit InterAlumni Council, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Boys Hope Girls Hope and the National Organization of Blacks in Government. Through his professional achievements, personal endeavors and community involvement Mr. Mays has proven to be a champion both inside and outside the realm of Government.

See show notes at www.DrGenevaSpeaks.com 

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Andrew Morrison is Chief Operating Officer of Mentoring in Medicine (MIM). As one of Mentoring in Medicine’s original visionaries, he has utilized his 25+ years of award-winning marketing skills to assist the organization with strategic planning, fund development, outreach and new programs. He is credited with creating, “Morgan’s Big Biology Test” – a hip-hop science stage play, the virtual summer science camp and planning MIM Day – a mentoring event in several cities on the same day. In addition he has spearheaded MIM’s efforts in Montana with the Crow Indians, and in Anchorage with the Alaskan Native Americans.

Mr. Morrison is an accomplished entrepreneur who has built several million dollar revenue businesses in the areas of direct marketing, design and training. He is the founder of Small Business Camp, an entrepreneurial training and marketing services firm that provides high-impact strategies for entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders. In this capacity, Mr. Morrison has trained hundreds of individuals from Hawaii to Nigeria.

He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and was featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Entrepreneur Magazine, Crain’s Magazine and The Network Journal 40 Under 40. Mr. Morrison received a B.S. (Electrical Engineering) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

MIM ignites an interest in the health professions among these students. The organization also helps prepare students to become competitive applicants to—and graduates from—schools in medicine, nursing, and other health professions.

This medical mentoring program ... is opening new windows of career possibilities for disadvantaged minority youth and helping to increase diversity in health care and science careers. 

 

Recording and performance artist, educator, and activist Mahogany Jones's career is distinguished by titles. Mahogany Jones harnesses the true power of music to uplift the spirit, body, and soul and educate the masses. A sensational performer and lyrical powerhouse, Mahogany embodies Hip Hop, femininity, spirituality, and passion in each commanding performance.

The 4x Undefeated BET's 106 & Park "Freestyle Fridays" champion has gone on to headline in over 13 countries on four continents as an official U.S. music ambassador. As a Hip-Hop activist, she launched A PURE Movement to empower women and girls and confront violence against women. Most recently Mahogany was named a 2016 Kresge Arts Fellow.

In her career, Mahogany has now released 3 full-length albums and has been featured on over 30 compilations, Mixtapes and CDs. She was able to achieve all of the feats listed above, while still taking the time to give back to the future leaders in music, as facilitator for one of Detroit’s largest literary arts non- profits, Inside Out, an adjunct instructor at the Detroit Institute of Music, as well as a lead facilitator for Detroit non profit, the Yuinon, and is a proud member of the Foundation- a women in Hip-Hop collective based in Detroit.

Mahogany has graced stages with such greats as Gil Scott Heron, Talib Kweli, KEM, Rah Digga, India.Arie, The Roots, and Jessica care Moore. Most recently, she was billed alongside Grammy Award-winning rapper, Rapsody, at the much publicized and successful, Foundation Women in Hip Hop Concert, which was apart of Detroit’s first Women in Hip Hop Conference.

See show notes at www.DrGenevaSpeaks.com 

Follow our hashtag #ignite2impact

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