InflexionPoint Podcast: Cultivating Change from the Inside Out Creating a Brave Space for Conversations about Personal Transformation, Racism, and Accountability

InflexionPoint Podcast: Cultivating Change from the Inside Out Creating a Brave Space for Conversations about Personal Transformation, Racism, and Accountability

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InflexionPoint Podcast: Cultivating Change from the Inside Out Creating a Brave Space for Conversations about Personal Transformation, Racism, and Accountability episodes

  • 2025 Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change: An Inspirational Year in Review
    2025 Theme: “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we have explored stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. In our last show for 2025 we recap the year with our most inspiring episodes and introduce the theme for 2026. Throughout 2025 we have stimulating discussions between Anita, Mavis, and Gail. We have also had an awe-inspiring group of guests, handpicked to reflect the theme of community engagement and the grassroots of change. We honor our guests and the works they have done and continue to do in the name of transformation, empowerment, engagement across the multiple sectors of our society.

    Is It Possible to Build Trust in Community-Police Relations? Conversation with Shadae McDaniel Senior Vice President/Programs and Strategic Initiatives/Director, All Stars Project (ASP) of New Jersey. 
    Beginning in February we hosted an in-depth exploration of the All Stars-Project and its signature program "Operation Conversation Cops and Kids." Among many accolades, Shadae was ranked among the ROI-NJ “2023 Influencers: People of Color." NJUrbanNews.com Article: “Shadae McDaniel Builds Bridges, Provides Opportunities for Youth Through the Power of Performance.” Founded in 1981, All Stars Project (ASP) is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that uses a performance-based approach to help tens of thousands of inner-city youths and their families create success in their lives. Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids (OCCK) is an innovative police–community relations model program run by ASP in partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Newark Police Division (NPD). This award-winning program uses performance, improvisation, and conversation to help inner-city teenagers and police officers build trust and improve their relationship.

    Until We Are All Free Movement, a human rights organization led by formerly incarcerated criminal justice experts. In March our case study focused on the Until We Are All Free Movement with guest Kevin Reese, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director of UWAAF and Co-Founder/CEO of Until We Are All Free Consulting Group.
    Question: God, what is it that you’re working on in my life? What do you do when the answer is build a bridge of people and be a bridge through and with people? Kevin is the answer. Kevin grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent 14 years incarcerated inside of the criminal justice system. During that time, he founded the BRIDGE, a grassroots group of directly impacted criminal justice experts whose mission is to abolish mass incarceration and to find a path to true transformative criminal justice. Kevin says,“My idea was to create a program that builds a bridge between people like me, mostly men in prison but women, too, and the community. That bridge and this work is actually revolutionary. Because I’m not supposed to be able to make a connection to people on the outside. Prison is all about preventing that. But the BRIDGE partnership we’ve been working on gives light to an entire caste of people who are incarcerated.”

    Youth Empowerment Services, of Pittsburgh PA: “Ahead of its time and punching above its weight, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) formed in 1994...The heart of YES is a spirit of mentorship...By leveraging their unique skills and abilities and centering their voices, YES has created a formula for success that influences community growth, economic prosperity, and student-driven leadership." 


    In our case study of the YES organization we invited Denise Jones, Educational Consultant at Youth Enrichment Services into the studio. Denise Jones is the daughter of two passion-driven educators. She attended Allegheny College, majored in Economics and minored in Black Studies. Later Denise applied for Teach for America and came to understand the joys and limitations of teaching, particularly in bureaucratic systems. Eventually she agreed to work at her father’s community-based non-profit organization, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), to help young people become their own best resource. She is now pursuing a PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan.





    Ujamaa Collective, Pittsburgh PA: A Unique Cultural Enriching Experience! Ujamaa Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit artisan boutique. We (Anita is a member!) serve Africana women providing cultural, artistic, and entrepreneurial exchange in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh. Our passion for cooperatives is rooted in our values of Fair Trade, meaningful work, creativity, community, and wellness. Two  Sisters from the Ujamaa Collective shared their wisdom, community engagement practice, and the cooperation with our audiences — Lakeisha Wolf, Executive Director, and Alana Griffin, Ambassador. 


    LaKeisha is a cultural worker, creative entrepreneur, and teaching artist with an emphasis on identity, racial justice, community connection, and whole-body wellness. She is a founding member of the Ujamaa Collective and has served as Executive Director since 2013. Alana lives out the organization’s mission to empower Africana women through cooperative economics, cultural expression, and community healing. 

    Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré | Guest: Leontine Osuagwu. In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in leadership, particularly in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré. 
    The home country of our guest, Leontine Osuagwu, is Burkina Faso. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence to lead with excellence in creating sustainable impact. She's brings honor and soulful insight into the events unfolding in her home country.


    Mental Health, NAEP and Coach Bradley: A Unique Blend of Mentorship, Empathy, and Strategic Insight In His Work as a Transitional Life Coach. Coach Bradley specializes in guiding adolescents through the transition from high school to adulthood while also supporting adults navigating career changes and life pivots. Ed integrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and values-based goal setting to create a safe, supportive coaching environment. Whether preparing students for life’s next step or helping adults embrace new opportunities, Ed equips people to create lasting, meaningful change.
    In a second episode featuring Coach Bradley he provided an understanding of NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), explaining its purpose and how it differs from state tests, and the role it plays in systemic racism, accountability, and test-based reforms in education.

    Case Study ShiftWorks Community+Public Works | Guest: Sallyanne Kluz, Executive Director. Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.
    Why Community and Public Arts? Sally led us into a meaningful discussion pondering this question. The short answer is this: "Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change." The work is designed to expand the range of possibilities for artists to engage communities. 

    We applaud our guests who have made this year meaningful, insightful, and engaging!


    0 min
  • Case Study: Shiftworks Community+Public Works in Pittsburgh PA
    Why Community & Public Arts? Ask Sallyann Kluz...Guest Biography: Sallyann Kluz, Executive Director. Shiftworks Community+Public Art. 
    Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. With over 20 years of practice in the Pittsburgh region, her work is focused on the public realm and the people who inhabit it. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.

    “We work at the convergence of public art and civic design in the Pittsburgh Region.” 
    Formerly the Office of Public Art (OPA), Shiftworks launched in 2005 through partnership between the public and private sectors. The vision: Support and advance the role of public art in the Pittsburgh region. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts now operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

    Words from August Wilson, Pittsburgh Creative & Playwright
    “Art does not change the world. It changes people and people change the world.”


    Giveaways:

    · Shiftworks Online Presence
      https://shiftworkspgh.org
      https://shiftworkspgh.org/news/

    · Shiftworks Video Archives on Vimeo
      https://vimeo.com/user1831387

    · Shiftworkspgh on Facebook
      https://www.facebook.com/ShiftworksPGH

    · Shiftworks on Instagram
      https://www.instagram.com/shiftworkspgh/

    · Pittsburgh Creative Core
      https://shiftworkspgh.org/our-work/civic-engagement/pittsburgh-creative-corps/

    · August Wilson African American Cultural Center
      https://awaacc.org/about/about-august/
    57 min
  • When the People Pull the Plug: The Nov 25-Dec 2 Economic Blackout & What It Means for Power

    When the People Pull the Plug 


    In this episode we examine how comedian Josh Johnson challenges the commodification of identity; and how movements like "Blackout the System" (Nov 25–Dec 2) help people reclaim civic and moral agency over economic dependence. This deceptively simple, yet powerful critique of how capitalism commodifies identity and reduces our roles in society to economic functions rather than human or civic ones. When Johnson says “I am not a consumer; I am a citizen”, he’s rejecting the idea that his primary purpose in society is to buy, use, or dispose of things. By contrast, a citizen carries a sense of belonging, responsibility, and participation. A citizen contributes to shaping society — they vote, advocate, care, build, protect, and question. It's a reminder that citizenship is not transactional — it’s transformational.


    The "Blackout the System" movement is a living example of this rejection of commodified identity. By pausing consumption, we shift from the identity of consumer to citizen; from customer to constituent. That act — symbolic and strategic — forces society to see that the system runs on our consent and engagement, not on its own momentum. It invites people to withdraw their economic participation as an assertion of civic consciousness. 




    3 Fundamental Questions: 

    • What happens when we withdraw our labor and money from the system? 
    • How do everyday people build power?
    • How does this relate to systemic economic injustice, corporate control, and community resilience?



    Giveaways:

    · Josh Johnson

    · Blackout the System
      https://www.facebook.com/reel/2208236329702719

    · Blackout the System: We're not asking. We're shutting it down.
      https://www.blackoutthesystem.com

    · We’re Shutting It Down: Coordinated Economic Blackout Set for Nov 25 – Dec 2
      https://www.blackenterprise.com/economic-blackout-nov-25-dec-2-blackout-the-system

    · Take Action: Community Building

    · Communities Over Building
      https://www.blackoutthesystem.com/community-building

    · Building Mutual Aid Networks

    · It’s Not Charity. It’s Solidarity.
      https://www.blackoutthesystem.com/about-mutual-aid

    · Citizens United, Explained
      https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained
    0 min
  • Why We Didn’t Show Up: The Unseen Layers of Black Absence at the No Kings Protest
    No Kings Protest - October 18, 2025"Why didn’t the Black community show up en masse?”This question itself reveals a gap in understanding — not of protest logistics, but of protest lineage. For many Black people, the act of protest is not spontaneous but generationally weighted. We have shown up for centuries — from civil rights marches to Ferguson, from George Floyd to Juneteenth resurgence. When a movement like No Kings emerges, its message may resonate intellectually but not necessarily spiritually or experientially with a community that has lived under “kingship” in the form of systemic white supremacy.
    Giveaways:

    · Media Takeout: Black People Absent from No Kings Protests...Progressives Upset!
      https://mediatakeout.com/black-people-absent-from-no-kings-protests-progressives-upset

    · Bill Maher Asks Why More Black People Did Not Show Up to “Very White” No Kings Protest
      https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bill-maher-asks-why-more-183724210.html

    · The Root: Black America Reacts to No Kings Day Protest
      https://www.theroot.com/black-america-reacts-to-no-kings-day-protests-around-th-2000068433
    52 min
  • The Truth Behind the Test - What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education
    InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 94 | October 15, 2025
    2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
     
    Introduction
    Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on "The Truth Behind the Test: What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education," a continuation of the previous conversation with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley.
     
    Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley
    With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals.
     
    Community Engagement Connection: Broaden Understanding of State School Testing
    Key Question: How does state school testing data mirror systems of racism in education?
    National Assessment of Educational Progress: State tests are state-developed with federal guidelines from NAEP, a national benchmark for comparison. In our discussion we explain NAEP’s purpose and how it differs from state tests. The issue is this: We don’t have one yardstick in America. Instead we have 50 different ones which we then try to compare. 
    Dimensions of NAEP and Equity:
    • Potential for Justice → Reframing gaps as proof of broken systems
    • Benchmarking as Exposure of Inequity → “NAEP as mirror.”
    • Weaponization of Data → Headlines vs systemic issues.
    • Pressure & Punitive Reforms → Closures & charters.
    • Masking Structural Advantage → White outcomes as ‘normal.’
      • Examples of Schools Using Data Critically and Equitable to Repair, Not Reproach
      • KIPP Comienza — Data-Driven Instruction
      • California High Schools — Equity-Centered Data Use
      • Executive Development Program Case Study — Principal Leadership & Culture Shift
        •  

        Giveaways:

        · Understanding NAEP & Educational Equity

          National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard.

        · The Education Trust – https://edtrust.org.

          The official site for national data on student achievement and achievement gaps.

        · Learning Policy Institute – https://learningpolicyinstitute.org.

          Advocates for closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and those from low-income families. Research and policy recommendations on educational equity, teacher diversity, and resource allocation.

        · Southern Education Foundation – https://southerneducation.org.

          Publishes landmark studies on the relationship between race, poverty, and educational opportunity

        · On Policy Impacts and Racial Inequity

          IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association) – https://idra.org.

          Policy insights on equitable funding, school attrition, and support for Black and Latino students.

        · Analysis on testing, accountability, and disparities across states - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-state-level-perspective-on-school-spending-and-educational-outcomes.

        · Using Data to Repair, Not Reproach

          SSIR: “Using Data to Disrupt Systemic Inequity” – https://ssir.org/articles/entry/using_data_to_disrupt_systemic_inequity.

          Practical models for using community-centered data to dismantle inequity

        · Forefront Education: “Using Data for Racial Equity in Schools” – https://forefront.education.

          Step-by-step strategies for equitable assessment and intervention.
        55 min
      • Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection
        InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 93 | October 1, 2025
        2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
        Introduction
        Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley.
        Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley
        With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals.
        Community Engagement Connection Across Socioeconomic Backgrounds
        Key Question: How do students overcome the negative messages linked to socialization?
        Mental Health Connection: Check-ins across the board (student, mentors, educators, community)
        Calls to Action: Broaden understanding of state school testing and its implications. Encourage local school involvement and participation in school board meetings. Volunteer to mentor and work with students
        Sustained Effort and Common Ground: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.” —President Barack Obama
         

        Giveaways:

        · Coach Ed Bradley - https://coachedbradley.com

         

        · Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@coachedbradley

        · Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574884824531

         

        · Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coach_ed_bradley/

         

        · Navigating Life’s Transitions – Expert Coaching Through New Beginnings with Guest Coach Ed Bradley

          https://lanareid.com/coach-ed-bradley-navigating-lifes-transitions

         

         

        · Powerful Minds Counseling - https://www.powerfulmindscounseling.net

         

         
        0 min
      • Case Study - From Antiracism to Black Empowerment
        InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 92 | September 17, 2025
        2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
        Introduction
        Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. This conversation is a throwback to a previous episode in April 2025 where we explored the evolution of Dr. Robert Livingston, Social Psychologist at Harvard University. He is the author of The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations, published in 2021. In this episode we dig deeper into a whole new revelation based on his recently released book.
        Revelation in 2025: The Paradox of Antiracism within White Supremacy
        A Radical Idea. Robert Livingston's new book, Play the Game, Change the Game, Leave the Game: Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy presents a radical idea, an intriguing departure of the premise of The Conversation. Racism does not require hatred, cruelty, fear, violence, or avoidance. Abraham Lincoln is an example of someone who is sympathetic towards the Black community (Emancipation was a monumental antiracist campaign), while simultaneously believing Black people to be inferior to White people (a state of dissonance and lack of empathy). By modern standards, that’s an example of taking an antiracism stance within the context of White supremacy: Challenging one form of racism (enslavement)— while simultaneously affirming another (White supremacy in social and political life)
        The Addiction Metaphor. White supremacy is like an addiction of the mind and body: it promises comfort, denies harm, escalates over time, and resists withdrawal—yet true freedom requires a courageous break and deep healing. Where does racism’s stubborn, addiction-like persistence leave Black people? “If White people are addicted to White supremacy, then this changes how we as Black people, must move forward in our journey toward racial equity.”—Dr. Robert Livingston
        A New Approach
        In the wake of this new revelation, Dr. Livingston decided to switch things up a bit for the 2023 Men of Color Leadership Conference in Boston. Instead of focusing on White-centered antiracism he decided to focus on Black-centered empowerment: We can’t wait for White people to change. That day many never come so we have to empower ourselves.
        Central Questions. What do I have to do to survive and prosper in a game that was not created nor intended for me? How do I navigate?
        Our Obligation to Live a Good Life. “The fact that I was able to write this book is a testament to the power of my ancestors. I experience both awe and gratitude when I think of their strength and resilience. From their resolute determination to survive the unimaginable horror of the Middle Passage, to their tireless tenacity in abiding the indignities of slavery, to their unrelenting fight for full citizenship and representation—our ancestors have endured and overcome so much. It is incumbent upon us to continue their struggle by utilizing the pathways explored in this book to achieve the equality and prosperity that we deserve. Above all, as we honor our obligation to carry on with their fight, we must never lose sight of our forebears’ ultimate desire for future generations: to have a good life. It is our duty to live well.” —Dr. Robert Livingston
         

        Giveaways:

        · Robert Livingston, Bio

          https://robertwlivingston.com

        · Robert Livingston PhD: From Antiracism to Black Empowerment

          Introduction to Play the Game, Change the Game, Leave the Game: Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy

          https://robertlivingstonphd.substack.com/p/from-antiracism-to-black-empowerment

         

        · Racial Inequality in Organizations: A Systems Psychodynamic Perspective https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/22-052_6cb507c5-5d9a-46ce-86cf-4c42620e94cf.pdf

         

        · Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm

          https://www.robindiangelo.com/publications/#niceracism

         

        · Tom Eblen: St. Martin's Village Subdivision Was a First for Blacks in Lexington

          https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/community/article44406060.html#storylink=cpy

         
        0 min
      • Community Disengagement - The Disastrous Outcome of Gentrification
        InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 92
        2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
        Introduction
        Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. But in this episode, we take a different approach: exploring the adverse impact of community disengagement, focusing on the painful story of gentrification in Pittsburgh, PA.
        How We Got Here
        Anita opens up the conversation with a stark reality: Community disengagement in Pittsburgh cannot be separated from the city’s long arc of gentrification. Policies that began with redlining and urban renewal set the stage for today’s tech-driven investment and redevelopment, which often unfolds without strong tenant protections or genuine community power. The Pittsburgh Paradox: Pittsburgh was named one of America’s Most Livable Cities (2005–2018). In 2019, it was also identified as America’s 8th most gentrified city. In 2021, Jerry Dickinson, law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, described it as “America’s Apartheid City.” This is the Reality We Must Confront
        The History of Displacement
        Gail leads a disccussion revealing Pittsburgh' multi-layered history: From racial covenants, redlining (1930s) and urban renewal devastating a vibrant Black community (1950s-60s); to so-called "modernization" that triggered decades of decline (1960s); to Steel Collapse to "Eds and Meds" (1980s-2000s) leading to struggles against overwhelming odds for communty nonprofits. 2010s to Today: The city formalized “community input” via Registered Community Organizations, but too often those processes lacked teeth. Meanwhile, private reinvestment accelerated land values, displacement, and racialized housing cost burdens.
        Imagine Authentic Engagement
        Mavis guides you to envision what true engagement and anti-displacement could look like in Pittsburgh. The short answer is this: Participation without power is not enough. Authentic engagement means redistributing decision-making power back to the people most affected. Key shifts required: Shift from input to shared governance. Stabilize residents where they live. Integrate commuunity equity and inclusion in development rules. Resource community voice. Execute real-time accountability.
        Call to Action
        Gentrification in Pittsburgh is not new—it’s another chapter in a long story of disinvestment, removal, and broken promises. When people feel decisions are made over them, not with them, they disengage. But disengagement is not destiny. What action are you willing to take?
         Watch: https://youtu.be/XBBNWXAErWs 

        Giveaways:

        · Pittsburgh: The Ultimate Guide to America’s Most Livable City

          https://www.pittsburghbeautiful.com/2025/02/06/pittsburgh-the-ultimate-guide-to-americas-most-livable-city

         

        · Pittsburgh Is One of the Most Gentrified Cities in the U.S.

          https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news/pittsburgh-is-one-of-the-most-gentrified-cities-in-the-us-14381722

        · Jerry Dickinson: Pittsburgh Is America’s Apartheid City

          https://www.publicsource.org/commentary-jerry-dickinson-pittsburgh-is-americas-apartheid-city/

        · Public Source: Hidden Racist History of Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

          https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-racially-restrictive-covenants-barring-black-buyers-suburbs-subdivisions-racism/

        · URA Housing Opportunity Fund Annual Report (2024)

          https://www.ura.org/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjUvMDcvMTcvMjZhdHR4MGFhc18yMDI0X2hvZl9hbm51YWxfcmVwb3J0LnBkZiJdXQ/2024-hof-annual-report.pdf

        · Disrupting the Eviction System

          https://evictionlab.org/disrupting-the-eviction-system/
        56 min
      • The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power (Part 2)
        Our theme for 2025 is Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.
        Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts.
        The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power
        In the previous episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, we broke down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. In this episode we provide concrete examples of equity in community engagement from multiple organizations.
        Equitable engagement as a justice-rooted practice, not just a participatory one. 
        • Uses values-based, power-aware approach to involving individuals and communities in decision-making processes, policy development, program design, and resource allocation.
        • Centers the voices, needs, and lived experiences of those historically marginalized or excluded by the dominant culture—particularly Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), low-income communities, immigrants, youth, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others whose perspectives are often overlooked.
        • Redistributes power, builds trust, and creates co-ownership of outcomes.
        • Is not a zero sum game.
          •  

          Giveaways:

          · Complimentary Virtual Workshop Facilitated by Anita D Russell

            Monthly Virtual Workshop Delivered in Two 3 Hour Sessions

            Thursday September 11 & 18

          · 6-9 PM

            Enroll Now

          · Space is Limited

            https://theplacetosoar.teachable.com/p/soar-on-par-toolkit-6-keys-to-nurture-grow-empower-your-life

          · Subscribe to OMA News and special events on Health & Wellness, Spirituality, and Personal Growth

            https://omapittsburgh.org/oma-event-calendar/

          · The Skillman Foundation: Equity Is Not a Zero Sum Game

            Discusses the role diversity , equity, and inclusion play in the world of philanthropy

            https://www.skillman.org/blog/equity-is-not-a-zero-sum-game

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH4_AEaGGRk

          · Artist Think Tank: Greenwood Plan/Boom Concepts

            A community-led Artist Think Tank designed to understand, unravel, and navigate challenges and elevate recognition for Black Artists in Pittsburgh PA.

            https://www.greenwoodplan.com

            https://www.audacitytours.com/artistthinktank

          · Story Ambassadors:

            A health equity initiative that trained residents as “story ambassadors.” Community Health Speaks: Health Equity Ambassador Program + Policy Link & RWJF

            https://communityhealthspeaks-com9.webnode.page/ambassador-program/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

          · Story Circles:

            A school district that shifted its family engagement model from surveys to story circles. Yarning circles, murals and athletics: schools prove there’s more to a good education than Naplan (standardized testing) results

            https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/30/schools-more-to-a-good-education-than-naplan-results

          · Yarning Circle Meaning and Importance for Australian Indigenous Culture

            https://www.evolves.com.au/yarning-circle-meaning-and-importance-for-australian-indigenous-culture

          · Why Is Equitable Engagement Important for Sustainability?

            https://esg.sustainability-directory.com/question/why-is-equitable-engagement-important-for-sustainability
          0 min
        • The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power
          Our theme for 2025 is “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.”
          Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts.
          In this episode, we break down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. But too often, it's treated as a checklist rather than a transformational practice.
          Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. From culturally grounded outreach to building inclusive leadership teams and using technology to bridge the divide, we explore strategies that help us show up better, listen deeper, and co-create more just outcomes.
           Watch: https://youtu.be/28D897yZrsk 

          Giveaways:

          · Artist Think Tank: Greenwood Plan/Boom Concepts: A community-led Artist Think Tank designed to understand, unravel, and navigate challenges and elevate recognition for Black Artists in Pittsburgh PA.

            https://www.audacitytours.com/artistthinktank

          · Story Ambassadors: A health equity initiative that trained residents as “story ambassadors.”

            Community Health Speaks: Health Equity Ambassador Program + Policy Link & RWJF

            https://communityhealthspeaks-com9.webnode.page/ambassador-program/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

          · Story Circles: A school district that shifted its family engagement model from surveys to story circles. Yarning circles, murals and athletics: schools prove there’s more to a good education than Naplan (standardized testing) results

            https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/30/schools-more-to-a-good-education-than-naplan-results

          · Yarning Circle Meaning and Importance for Australian Indigenous Culture:

            https://www.evolves.com.au/yarning-circle-meaning-and-importance-for-australian-indigenous-culture/

          · Centering Community Voice: A movement to place the perspectives, opinions, and goals of community residents at the heart of community health system transformation with the goal of achieving equitable health outcomes for all.

            https://centeringcommunityvoice.org

          · Community Voice: Guiding Principles Across the Spectrum of Engagement https://centeringcommunityvoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Community-Voice-Brief.pdf

          · Native Governance Center: Native-led nonprofit dedicated to assisting Native nations in strengthening their governance systems and capacity to exercise sovereignty.

            https://nativegov.org

          · National Civic League: The mission of the National Civic League is to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities.

            https://www.nationalcivicleague.org

          · FREE: Subscribe and follow Anita on Substack: https://anitadrussell.substack.com
          58 min

        About InflexionPoint Podcast: Cultivating Change from the Inside Out Creating a Brave Space for Conversations about Personal Transformation, Racism, and Accountability

        From the publisher's feed

        Enter a brave space to ponder solving The Cairo Question. Engage in dialogue based on the premise that dismantling racism goes beyond laws and legislation or politics or economics. It's an inside job…