For those who are keeping a keen eye out for rising talent, you are in for a treat. Today’s podcast features a very talented young lady who has an extremely bright and creative future ahead of her.

Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning news producer and author. Born and raised in Chicago, she graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Communications and a passion for writing. While Nikesha began her career as a news producer, she is now a full time writer and has authored four books including the acclaimed Four Women. Four Women was awarded a 2018 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Award and also recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists as an Outstanding Literary Work.

She’s a millennial and she is courageously finding diverse ways to deliver her creative talents.

If you’re not, you should be familiar with the work of the NAACP. The historic organization has led the way for decades on the front line of the civil rights movement. Today, the organization continues to be engaged in the work of racial equity and fairness.

At the helm of the Jacksonville chapter is local legend Isaiah Rumlin. For the past 16 years, Rumlin has served as president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the NAACP. He came to Jacksonville many years ago as part of his profession in the insurance industry. Rumlin is a fixture in the Jacksonville community both in and out of the civil rights arena. He’s been appointed by various mayors to serve on a diversity of boards and commissions. Not to mention his wealth of Jacksonville history.

On this edition of Real Talk we’ll talk with Isaiah Rumlin. We’ll discuss the NAACP, past, present and future. And we’ll also cover the history of the dueling Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfasts and what this situation really means to the community.

Real Talk #14: Black life and the UK - A conversation with Kolarele Sonaike by Charles Griggs

Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. is in his sixth term as the Chairman of the Board of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Dortch is the recipient of numerous awards and honors that celebrate his efforts, including: Ebony Magazine 100 Most Influential African Americans; he c urrently serves on the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees, and was honored by the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame…just to name a few.

Dortch is a giant in the Atlanta business community and comes with a wealth of knowledge on how move Black communities to success. As Chairmen of the Board of the 100 Black Men of America, Dortch is key to relationship building for support of the organization and its more than 100-chapter member network to sustain the mentoring work being done throughout the nation.

On this edition of Real Talk we’ll talk with Tommy Dortch. We’ll discuss Black economic development, civic involvement and of course, the work of the 100 Black Men of America.

Albert Chester, Sr. is an HBCU football legend and a Florida A&M University Hall of Famer. He played quarterback at FAMU from 1975-1978. During that time, he was a three time MVP and accounted for more than 3,600 offensive yards and 43 touchdowns. As a junior in 1977, he led the Rattlers to the nation’s only unbeaten record in any division, as the team finished 11-0-0. In 1978, the Rattlers won the first ever 1-AA national championship title by beating the University of Massachusetts.

For the past two seasons, Chester has been heard as the color commentator on FAMU football broadcasts, which along with his experience and love for the game, makes him the perfect person to get insights on the outlook of HBCU sports.

Darryl Willie is a first term elected member of the Duval County School Board.

Willie moved to Jacksonville, Florida at a turning point in his career as an educator, and quickly decided to do his part to make a difference.

Willie is fast becoming a major player in Jacksonville education politics. And with several significant issues currently in play, such as half cent sales tax referendum, student performance, and the expanding landscape of school choice. Willie has been a sort of baptism by fire.

The top 3 issues that would totally win over Duval County Black voters. With the energy of the 2018 mid-term elections in the rear view mirror, it’s time for Duval County local elections to take center stage. Four candidates are lined up and ready to go, and with about six weeks left before election day all eyes are focused on issues, right?

Wrong.

Thanks to a few hundred years of slavery and Jim Crow, followed by decades of economic exclusion, African American households have far less wealth than whites. In fact, according to a recent study by Demos and the Institute on Assets and Social Policy, the typical black household now has just 6 percent of the wealth of the typical white household. It would seem that this setback would lead to less giving by African Americans. On the contrary. In fact, black Americans have a long history of philanthropic commitment. A report by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation a few years ago found that African Americans give away 25 percent more of their income per year than white Americans. But while African Americans are giving, is it being done with an intended strategy for progress? On today’s ‘Real Talk,’ we’ll discuss black folks and giving, with political strategist Obi Umunna, Pedro Cohen of the YMCA, JeffriAnne Wilder, Research Scientist, Nattional Center for Women & Information Technology, and Iris Grant from the Genési Group. Stay tuned for this edition of Real Talk.

As we rang in 2019, Ron DeSantis took the mantle as Governor of Florida. And while Andrew Gillum lost the race in November, he ignited progressive voters across the nation during his campaign. In his wake, Gillum fired up African-American voters on Florida’s First Coast – as Duval County went Blue for Democratic candidates at the top of the ballot for the first time in many years. In today’s ‘Real Talk,’ we’ll take a look back at the November election outcomes with political strategist Obi Umunna, Pedro Cohen of the YMCA, Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder, Research Scientist, National Center for Women & Information Technology, and Iris Grant from the Genési Group. Stay tuned for this edition of Real Talk.

In 2015, Garrett Dennis was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, to represent the constituents District 9. However, recently, Dennis has been standing out as a firm critic of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry as well as many of his Council colleagues. To some, this has earned him the reputation as a trouble-maker who is out of touch with the City’s needs. To that Dennis would say that he’s the only person brave enough to stand up to the mayor and his “good-old boy” supporters.

On this edition of Real Talk we’ll have an in-depth discussion with Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis. We’ll get his take on how he got here, current challenges and future opportunities.