MISSION Story Slam Podcast

Charles "Chuck" Black describes himself as a storyteller, organizer, educator, proud Philadelphian, and person who stutters — and he worked nearly every one of those into his story about a workplace bully who badly underestimated him. Chuck won the Judges' Award at MISSION Story Slam 14: No Judgment for the Mazzoni Center. Chuck joined Michael Schweisheimer to talk about turning personal storytelling into advocacy, co-founding Philly Queer Storytelling, and his national work registering student voters.

• Chuck's MSS Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHMDZzKyj68&t=3s
• Chuck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cblackdc/
• Philly Queer Storytellers (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/phillyqueerstorytellers/
• Campus Vote Project (Chuck's employer): https://campusvoteproject.org/
• Mazzoni Center (Chuck's charity of choice): https://www.mazzonicenter.org/
  
  

Carey Searles spent 36 years with SEPTA's Regional Rail — working his way up from conductor to the train yard, including the day he misplaced an entire engine in three feet of snow. His story of that frantic afternoon won the Energy Co-op Crowd Favorite Prize at Mission Story Slam 14: No Judgment. Carey joined Michael Schweisheimer to relive the chase, talk retirement, transit systems on both sides of the Atlantic, and why he still won't touch engine 922.

Kenny Chiu is a teacher who shared a story about his many families at MISSION Story Slam 11: It’s A Family Affair.  Michelle Palmer is Executive Director of Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, an academic accelerator that supports highly-motivated and traditionally underserved middle school students and also provides pre-professional teacher training.  Kenny is one of Breakthrough’s many success stories.

Atiyah Harmon is a Social Impact Strategist and Founder & Executive Director Black Girls Love Math, a mission-driven organization that eliminates gender and racial inequalities in math for all who identify as Black girls in grades K-12.  Atiyah shared her origin story and more on the podcast with Michael Schweisheimer.

Mckayla Warwick is Executive Director of Collective Climb a nonprofit that focuses on restorative justice in the BIPOC community. She shared the origin story of Collective Climb and it's rocky road to existence.

Tamica Tanksley is a podcast host, Keynote Speaker Equity & Impact Advocate, Nonprofit Leader, and an Award-Winning Storyteller. She showed her prowess winning MISSION Story Slam 13. Today as Program Director at Compass Pro Bono she specializes in connecting nonpofits and businesses to help build strong communities. She spoke about this and more on a special two-part MISSION Story Slam Podcast with Michael Schweisheimer sponsored by The Philadelphia Citizen as part of Generocity’s PHLanthropy Week

Tamica Tanksley is a podcast host, Keynote Speaker Equity & Impact Advocate, Nonprofit Leader, and an Award-Winning Storyteller. She showed her prowess winning MISSION Story Slam 13. Today as Program Director at Compass Pro Bono she specializes in connecting nonpofits and businesses to help build strong communities. She spoke about this and more on a special two-part MISSION Story Slam Podcast with Michael Schweisheimer sponsored by The Philadelphia Citizen as part of Generocity’s PHLanthropy Week

Deian McBryde returned to MISSION Story Slam 13: Braver Today to tell us his story of finding the courage to be his true self. He tells us more about that and his other experiences on The MISSION Story Slam Podcast with Michael Schweisheimer sponsored by The Philadelphia Citizen as part of Generocity’s PHLanthropy Week

Communication Strategist, Marta Rusek told a funny and touching story of self-discovery at MISSION Story Slam 12 that had the audience hanging on every word. Marta told her story for Women against Abuse. She talks about her story and more on the MISSION Story Slam Podcast with Michael Schweisheimer.

Roz Pichardo’s tragic upbringing was preparation for her life’s mission of saving lives in Philadelphia’s drug-plagued river wards. She has personally administered over 2400 doses of Narcan. Roz founded Operation Save Our City and Sunshine House to give hope to her community. She won MISSION Story Slam 12 Judges’ Award with the story of her work and she talks about it on the MISSION Story Slam Podcast with Michael Schweisheimer.