"We are in the business of moving people," Denise Barreto told Pivotal Moment. Barreto is the first-ever chief equity and engagement officer for the Chicago Transit Authority, the nation's third-largest transit system - and TEDx speaker of Normal is Optional. The author, executive producer, and co-founder of Serqet Productions talks about entrepreneurship, fighting systems of injustice, and the joy of saying, No. Tune in for Barretos advice for entrepreneurs and creatives...and her message to Tom Hanks. :-) 

Key takeaways in this episode:

• You dont have to leave your job to start your business.

• When your life shatters, you can decide which pieces you want to keep.

• Recognize systems of injustice and the pathways to correct them.

• Our current situation is a quiet prelude to liberation

TEDx Normal is Optional

https://www.ted.com/talks/denise_barreto_normal_is_optional

From Here to There: 5 Steps to Doing Your Lifes Work Every Day

https://www.amazon.com/Here-There-Steps-Doing-Lifes/dp/1475083564

Serqet Productions

https://serqetproductions.com/

Executive Producer, Fly Brother, PBS

https://www.pbs.org/show/fly-brother/

My goal is to bring out the best in teachers so they can bring out the best in their students, Dr. Donald Parker told Pivotal Moment. The former principal, author, professional development leader, and keynote speaker has a message for educators. Listening is the first step to letting students know that you care.

In this episode, the author of Be the Driving Force shares helpful tips from his TEDx talk and proven strategies for success in the classroom in 2025 and beyond:
 

• Take a stand against authoritarian leadership and embrace radical empathy leadership.
  
  

• Teachers must touch the heart before they touch the brain. 

• A job is something you do, a calling is what you love. Its an inspired action.
  
  

• Stressed-out teachers make stressed-out students. Healthy teachers make healthy students. 

• Practice the SNAP method. Speak up for yourself. Never compromise your respect. Affirm your worth. Protect your rights. 

TEDx Arlington Heights talk

• How to start a radical leadership rebellion

Books by Dr. Don

• Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity

• Building Bridges: Engaging Students at Risk Through the Power of Relationships

Booking, contact, and details

• https://drdonparker.com/about/

Suggested readings

• The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen Covey

• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

Dr. Ava Thompson Greenwell is a documentary filmmaker, author, and journalism professor at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. In this episode, she talks about the mounting challenges facing todays reporters, the importance of journalism during times of political transition, and Medills continuing leadership in training tomorrows storytellers. 

Tune in to learn the ONE question every journalist should ask.

Find and follow Dr. Greenwell: 

Certified life coach, booking & scheduling 

• theinquirycollective.com - website 

Documentaries

• Hearing Silences: 50 Years of Black Women Faculty at Northwestern 

• Mandela in Chicago

Books

• Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News

Podcasts

• Ladies Leading

Suggested works:

• Out of the House of Bondage by Thavolia Glymph

Your setback is setting you up for something better, Mack McGhee told Pivotal Moment. 

Changing hearts and transforming lives is more than a slogan for McGheeits his ministry. The chief administrator and division director of Institutional Care for Wayne County Michigan is a recognized leader in juvenile justice and a champion of true reform for young people in the system. 

The adult justice system is punitive, McGhee said. But young people need a chance. They need an opportunity to think differently. Juvenile justice should provide a future-focused orientation.

McGhee, author of B.E.L.I.E.V.E. In Your Dreams: If You Can See It You Can Be It, shares these fundamental truths during his motivational talks and with his students at Howard University. In this episode, he provides an outline of how to break the school-to-prison pipeline, and how to help young people tap into their power and potential: 

• God has given each of us a gift. Your purpose requires you to use it.  

• Dont miss out on opportunities because youre more concerned about what people think about what youre called to do.

• You need motivation and inspiration to reach your transformation.
  
  

• Follow the P.A.C.T. approach - professionalism, accountability, communication, teamwork. 

Works referenced in this episode:

Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell

The number one mistake people make is not starting, Angel Livas told Pivotal Moment.

Thinking of starting a business? A podcast? Or writing a book? Angel Livas, founder and CEO of the Alive Podcast Network, has conquered each goal, with plans to revolutionize the media space. I didnt come to play, I came to revolutionize the landscape for Black creatives, Livas said. The Inc. 2024 Female Founder honoree is a noted TEDx speaker, the recipient of the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (Biden Administration), and a rising star on AWS Startups Pitch Whats Possible which garnered 50 million views before the seasons grand finale. 

The ALIVE Podcast Network, a Techstars Portfolio Company, powered by JP Morgan, is the latest business venture by Livas whose career includes developing radio shows for Larry King and Jane Pauley. In this episode, the media mogul talks to Pivotal Moment about her blueprint to help creatives tap into their God-given purpose - and turn their vision into reality. On the show, she shares industry insight for 2025 and beyond: 

• It takes a village to raise a successful business.

• Youre the person youre looking for. You have the skills and the credentials."

• Even in difficult times, there is hope, blessings, and abundance on the other side.
  
  

Check out these lessons, and more, in this episode. 

Rapper Chi Candi, known for her smooth sounds and dope curves, continues her rise on the charts with sold out shows in the U.S. and Dubai, marking her claim to fame and leaving fans calling out for more. She talks to Pivotal Moment about being the only female rapper on the national stage for BETs One Shot and how she had to impress judges like T.I., DJ Khaled,  RZA, Tech9, Mike Smith -- and yes, Twista.

And despite Chicago's reputation for violence, Chi Candi says, "Chicago is not just one thing. We are many things. I'm who I am and where I am because of this town." 

Check out her sizzling single and video, I'm Hott, and listen to excerpts throughout the show. 

Sally Hazelgrove is making a difference in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood. Her after-school boxing program, The Crushers Club, takes kids off the streets, and trains them to box, teaches them to lead, and pays them - YES, PAYS THEM, in the process. The Englewood club has employed hundreds of Chicago youth.  Crushers Club also offers a music education program, and this month, a new YouTube talk show, JoJo TV. Hazelgrove talks to Pivotal Moment about what happened at just 10-years-old and how it guides her today. She tells us about the impact shes made in Englewood - and around the world.  

Crusher's Mission:
"Our mission is to be the strongest alternative to gangs. We arm young people with the support and skills they need to restore their lives and improve their neighborhood. Crushers Club is rooted if four ideals - respect, discipline, ownership, and love - that give our members a fighting chance."--Sally Hazelgrove, Founder

For more information, visit Crushers Club.

There's MORE in STORE in 2024!! GET INSPIRED by our first episode of the new year with New York Times bestselling author and global communications expert, David Murray. The head of the Professional Speechwriters Association talks to Pivotal Moment about making sense of today's issues and how to communicate effectively in our response to them. Murray, author of "An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half" shares insight for speechwriters, communicators, industry leaders, and professionals at every stage looking for greater impact and influence in 2024.

Books by David Murray:

• An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half

Blog:

• Subscribe to Writing Boots

Website:

• Professional Speechwriters Association - Prorhetoric.com

New book "Soccer Dad" coming up!

Burning out is not a badge of honor, Judy West told Pivotal Moment. Find an environment where your gifts can flourish. West is the head of Women Executive Pastors, an international group of more than 160 women executive pastors from around the world. In this episode, she shares her insight on unlocking your spiritual gifts, walking in your God-given purpose, and finding your rhythm in life, rather than balance alone.

West is an executive pastor at The Crossing Church in St. Louis where her focus is on coaching, counseling and consulting. For West, leading WXP is an extension of her desire to serve and her gift to lead. If you're a woman in leadership or looking for inspiration and guidance, listen to this episode of Pivotal Moment for the lessons that help women unlock their greatness:

• Find an environment where your gifts can flourish.

For this and so much more, tune into this episode of Pivotal Moment with Nikitta Foston.

The Crossing Church

Women Executive Pastors

Two years ago, Eventnoire beat more than 200 startups to clinch the #1 spot in Mountain Dews Real Change Challenge. Earning the win, and a part of the $1M pool, positioned the company as a leading voice in digital solutions and a national brand in the event marketplace. Eventnoire Co-Founder Jeff Osuji talks about his vision for the company as a premier gateway for experiences that celebrate and embrace Black culture - opportunities that improve the quality of life for marginalized and underserved groups.

In this episode, Osuji discusses his journey as an entrepreneur, brand architect and growth driver. Watch to learn more about:

• Eventnoires selection as the official ticketing platform for TechChicago Week

For more information on Eventnoire, visit eventnoire.com.