NCTV17 Podcasts

Hosted by Jane Wernette, the latest episode of Spotlight features:

1) Lily Chen, President/CEO of the United Chinese Americans

2) Mike Llewellyn, President of Naperville Little League Baseball Association

3) Beth Carey, Director of Development for Sharing Connections

Hosted by Liz Spencer, this episode of Business Connection features David (Dave) Mika with BMO Harris Bank, Kader Sakkaria, Imran Karbhari, and Trevor Mecomber who are authors of Chaos by Design.

Inside the Chamber is hosted by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and brings together a group of experts to discuss today’s top business trends and issues, especially as they affect Naperville.

The Black Lives Matter movement and the intolerance for racism was brought to the forefront following the killing of George Floyd On Memorial Day, 2020.   That day, the world watched in shock as Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd's neck until he died.  People globally protested and companies voiced their commitment to see effective change in areas of racial and social injustice.  Several of Dana's friends who are active in doing such things join the show virtually to discuss what made the death of George Floyd different from the other incidents of deadly police brutality against black Americans.

Guests on the Show

Rev. David Swanson....Pastor, New Community Covenant Church

Pastor Chris Harris, Sr...CEO, Bright Star Community Outreach

Rev. Dr. Valerie Toney Parker...Young Adult and Social Justice Pastor, Arnett Chapel AME Church - Chicago

Trey Davenport...Dana's Son

Lena Davenport...Dana's Daughter

"For the first time we saw white people who would normally stay quiet make a lot of noise and be vocal and be present," said Harris.  "For the first time, ,I saw people who had courage speak to truth to power and say that the system is racism and that was exciting.  The death of one man literally shook the world."

"I'm seeing the boldness of young people come forward in a way I haven't seen before and to me that is reassuring," said Parker.

Black Lives Matter in the Corporate World

They group discussed in what ways diversity efforts have been cheap and what steps we need to take towards true solidarity, starting in large part with corporate America.  "It's no longer appropriate in this country to only have white faces in your advertisements or at your board room tables," said Swanson.  "This is what I would call cheap diversity, having diversity for the sake of advancing your own reputation rather than actually making a material difference in individual and community's lives."

"When you say 'Black lives matter,' black corporations matter.  Black talent matters.  Black leadership matters," added Harris.  "You want to impress me?  Don't just have another lunch and learn.  Don't just give [black people] a job.  Make them leaders in your organization."

Hosted by Jane Wernette, the latest episode of Spotlight features:

1) Palma Aikins, Chapter Leader of 100+ Women Who Care – Naperville

2) Alexandra Engelhardt, Executive Director of Fox Valley Special Recreation Association

3) Mike Briggs, President/CEO of Little Friends, Inc

Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic that has plagued the entire world, local leaders in education are talking schools reopening in our community. The group discusses with the hosts the plan for going back to in-person learning, the anticipation in doing so, measures to keep students and staff safe, and what protocols are in place should someone within a school test positive for COVID-19.

Guests Include:

Dan Bridges, Superintendent – Community Unit School District 203

Dr. Adrian Talley, Superintendent – Indian Prairie School District 204

Mavis DeMar, Principal – St. Raphael Catholic School

Schools Reopening – A Process and a Positive Outlook

The three guests and hosts discuss the reopening as a process, with different grade levels returning to in-person learning at different times. In District 204 for example, Talley says grades pre-kindergarten through second phased into at-school learning in October. Then the district expanded grades three through five, followed shortly this year with middle and high school students.

“What we’ve been very fortunate about is that the children and the students are all very energized and excited about what happening,” said Talley.

“Very similarly, we are very excited in District 203 in transitioning to our hybrid model,” says Bridges. He goes onto explain that there have been groups of students at most of the schools from the beginning of the school year, “minus some short adaptive pauses” in late fall. “There is a new level of excitement now,” he says describing the eagerness of students. “A tremendous amount of credit goes to our educators for the work that they’ve done to prepare for this. We’ve asked them to do things they’ve never had to do before.”

Saint Raphael in contrasts has been open in person since August 19, essentially the start of the school year. Demar attributes that to the thorough training of all teachers in safety measures, placing of six foot markers, and the students wearing masks. “They don’t even notice they have them on. They’re going through their day learning and being challenged. It’s really been amazing.”

Remote or In-Person Learning? Deciding Factors

With both private and public schools represented, the panel was able to compare and contrast the two and discuss why some schools and school districts were able to move to in-person learning sooner than others. They all agree that when it comes to comparison, it’s “apples to oranges.”

“I’m a very small school,” says Demar. “I have one of every grade level. If I had five of every grade level, I’d be in the same way that district 203 and 204 are.

Factors that determine schools reopening in a district include:

-Size of the District

-Class size

-Available facilities

-Classroom structure and arrangement

“It’s really hard to look at and ask that question ‘Why is this district or this private school and you’re not’ because our conditions and what’s available to us are just so different,” says Bridges. “Every superintendent and every private school leader has to make decisions based on what’s best for their circumstance.”

Staying social remains one of the best ways for older adults to stay healthy, physically and mentally.

Brian Foster, President of the Naperville Lisle Triad and active older adult Denni Hosch join the conversation to talk about ways to stay engaged during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Heading south for the winter? You just might be a snowbird.

On this episode of Seniors Today, snowbird Marilyn and potential snowbird Brian Foster join the show to talk about what it’s like to migrate to warmer climates.

Bringing the community together - that's the hope for many, especially in a time of fear, lawlessness, violence and extremism dividing the country.  "To restore the soul and to secure the future of America requires more than words.  It requires the most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity," host Dana Michelle says to kick off this episode, quoting president Joe Biden from his recent inaugural address.   Naperville's mayor and several other regional leaders join together to discuss their reaction to Biden's theme of unity and how it can be localized, social media's role in both dividing and unifying people, the importance of making amends as a way to bring people together, and how we can all take a play a role in this, both as individuals and collectively.

What does having a BUSINESS WORKS advocacy network mean to the Chamber & Your Business?

Hosted by Jane Wernette, the latest episode of Spotlight features:

1) Mike Havala, President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes Community Services

2) Alma Jones, President of The Rotary Club of Naperville

3) Roshita Pandey, Grants Manager of Metropolitan Asian Family Services/ Universal Metro Asian Services