The rodeo comes to town on Aug. 1. This will be a first for South Bend when the Midwest Invitational Rodeo visits the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. The rodeo features Black rodeo performers, and that will allow the people in our community to see a little-known part of Black history. Several activities will take place before the cowpokes take center stage. Here to talk about the mental health awareness work that will be done at the rodeo are the Rev. David Buggs and his wife Dr, Larissa Buggs, who is a board-certified psychiatrist. Please welcome them to the Many Hats Podcast.

Voracious is defined as someone who has an insatiable appetite. It’s an adjective often used to describe someone who like to read, and it describes my next guest on this installment of The Many Hats Podcast. Kathy Burnette has been a voracious reader since she was a young person growing up in the Inglewood neighborhood of Chicago, so it should not be surprising that Kathy owns The Brain Lair Bookstore on South Bend’s near Northwest Side. However, Kathy would say that the arc from Inglewood to the Brain Lair was not linear. True, Kathy has worn many hats that qualified her to become a bookseller, including elementary school teacher and middle school librarian. However, owner a bookstore was a distant dream until she concluded that the challenge of getting literature that told diverse stories could only be addressed if she became one of the people who addressed it. I’d like to welcome. Kathy Burnette, owner of The Brain Lair bookstore to The Many Hats Podcast.

On February 6, we lost a cherished member of the arts community when Kelly Burget passed away. Kelly, the founder and artistic director of Uzima Drum and Dance, was the epitome of a person who wore many hats. Throughout her distinguished career, Kelly was classically trained musician, actress, educator and television personality, in addition to be a loving wife and mother. It was though her work as a dancer where people got their chance to see Kelly’s creativity, talent, kindness, generosity, and love for Black culture. A native New Yorker who was born in the borough of Brooklyn, Kelly accepted a scholarship to dance with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Kelly gained valuable experience in a myriad of dance styles while training at Ailey, and she took a particular interest in African dance. Kelly came to our community in 2003 to host The Harvest Show and became an adjunct professor of African and Afro-Dance at IUSB in 2012. It was around this time that Kelly began crafting what became Uzima Drum and Dance, playing a leading role in developing the company into a beloved community arts institution. Kelly’s legacy lives on through the people who worked with and loved her and have pledged to complete the work that she started. That work continues on Saturday, July 18 when Uzima Drum and Dance presents Ndyio ya Milele “Eternal Yes,” a performance honoring Kelly’s legacy. Appearing on this special episode of the Many Hats Podcast to talk about that performance and Kelly’s life and legacy are Pierre Batiste, Michelle Jewel and Mia Daly.

Briana Welch is a creator at heart, and bold, bright colors have always played a starring role in the process. That creativity had been centered around cosmetology for many years. She fell in love with that art form at the age of 16, and eventually became a licensed cosmetologist and makeup artist. Briana’s journey to what became Holly and Oak Yarn Company began during the pandemic when she explored new ways to express that creativity. That led her to an old love crocheting. She began displaying her wares at local markets, including one found across the street from the storefront where Holly and Oak is currently located. Now Briana is forming generations of knitters and crocheters into a community at her shop on the near Northwest Side. Wife, mother, cosmetologist, makeup artist, entrepreneur. Briana has worn many hats. Please welcome her to this episode of the Many Hats Podcast.

In 2023, the South Bend Common Council passed an ordinance establishing the South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission. The commission was charged with investigating the harms perpetrated against South Bend’s Black community. While these harms are historic, many of the impacts can still be felt. The commission’s goal was to develop findings and make recommendations to address those harms. The SBRJC completed its task this year and presented its report and recommendations to the Common Council on June 8. The commission will hold a public forum on Monday where it will share the report with the community and seek feedback. Here to discuss the commission’s work and talk about Monday’s forum is commission chairwoman Trina Robinson.

I’ve had a front row seat to this woman displaying her many gifts for the last 35 years – if you include the courtship period. I can tell you that Gail Alane Dukes has many talents. Organizational skills: She’s the head of hospitality at Greater Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, and the librarian at Holy Cross Grade School. She’s a seamstress who can also knit, as anyone who owns one of her scarves can attest. However, when it comes to cooking, Gail has a gift. Gail is the owner of Social Butterfly Catering, a company that she’s owned for nearly 30 years. While COVID kept the world on lockdown, Gail displayed her brilliance when she went into the kitchen and began experimenting with making homemade jam. Those experiments led to the creation of Bread’s Best Friend Jam Company. Gail and I will talk about her journey on this episode of the Many Hats Podcast.

Regardless of where you fall in your fitness journey, it’s time to get up and move. However, many people don’t know where to start. Fortunately, our community is filled with fitness trainers who have the expertise and patience to meet you where you are, and it’s never too late. Whether you’re an athlete looking for that extra edge, someone taking those first tentative steps back into the gym or you want to learn a new sport, the guests that I will talk with over the next four weeks of the Many Hats Podcast all have a story to tell. My next guest, Eld. Carl J. Steen III, seeks to address the needs of the entire person, first as a preacher of the gospel and as a fitness trainer, who founded and own 3rd Gen Fitness. Eld. Carl J. Steen is a legendary name in the city of South Bend’s faith community. His grandfather pastored Saint’s Memorial Church of God in Christ. His father, Bishop Carl J. Steen II is currently the pastor, and CJ III is an ordained pastor there. CJ also seeks to minister to the natural body through his personal training business. For the Eld. Carl J. Steen III there is no separation between mind, body and soul. The married father of three with one on the way seeks to get every aspect of our lives in line. We will talk about it here on the next episode of the Many Hats Podcast.

Regardless of where you fall in your fitness journey, it’s time to get up and move. However, many people don’t know where to start. Fortunately, our community is filled with fitness trainers who have the expertise and patience to meet you where you are, and it’s never too late. Whether you’re an athlete looking for that extra edge, someone taking those first tentative steps back into the gym or you want to learn a new sport, the guests that I will talk with over the next four weeks of the Many Hats Podcast all have a story to tell. My first guest is Amber Thomas, owner of Amber’s Fitness Lab, located in the 1600 Block of South Miami Street in South Bend. The name of Amber’s business gives you a hint that she takes a scientific approach to fitness training that’s influenced by her years working in the health care field. Amber spent her life involved in sports, so she knows the connection between body and health. However, Amber also had to overcome internal challenges that could have stopped her from becoming a fitness training with a loyal following. We will hear about it on this episode of The Many Hats Podcast. Please welcome Amber Thomas.

When I get together with my daughter, Chloe Dukes, the conversation is free flowing. One minute we can be laughing about an old memory or something we saw on the internet and the next we can be having a serious discussion about the great issues of the day. You will hear that on this episode of the Many Hats Podcast because Chloe is my guest. Why? Mainly because she will be at the Civil Rights Heritage Center on Friday to hold a gallery talk about her art exhibition “Growth and Truth” that has been on display since February. Secondly, the idea of me doing a podcast was hers, so she needed to come on here and help me create some content. For real though, Gail and I are so proud of her and we love her to life. Please welcome my first born child, Chloe Dukes, to the Many Hats Podcast.

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