In this engaging episode of Talk 122, a podcast by the Harlem

• Mary McNamara Bernstein, Executive Director of the Rockford Area Arts Council, discusses the transformative power of the arts in education and community engagement.

•Ariana Cook, music teacher at Maple and Parker Center, shares her enthusiasm for connecting young learners to music and how it bridges cultural and linguistic divides.

• Allison Turner, veteran art teacher at Harlem High School, reflects on her 27 years of experience and the incredible impact of visual arts on students.

Join us as we explore how the arts foster creativity, enhance academic success, and inspire students to connect with their communities.

This week's episode of Talk 122 has been years in the making. Dr. Yarbrough sits down with Harlem leaders and discusses the opening of the Harlem 122 Employee Health Clinic!

Guests include Shelly Wagner (Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources),

Communications and Community Relations), and Diana Disch (Harlem's Wellness

In this exciting episode of *Talk 122*, Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough dives into the growing world of girls' flag football at Harlem High School! Joined by standout players Hari Young (running back) and Madison King (wide receiver), along with quarterback Giada Nowling and Coach Dodson, we hear about the explosive rise in popularity of flag football. The team shares their experiences, from Madison’s game-winning pick-six to Hari’s love for trying something new.

Coach Dodson also sheds light on how Harlem became a leader in flag football, with support from the Chicago Bears and ISHA. With a fun peek into the athletes' favorite teachers and what it’s like on the field, this episode will leave you cheering for Harlem’s flag football future. Don’t miss it!

Welcome to Season 4 of Talk 122, the official podcast of Harlem School District #122! In this special premiere, the tables are turned as Dr. Terrell Yarbrough, Superintendent of Harlem School District, takes the guest seat for an insightful conversation.

Joining him as co-hosts are Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Community Relations, Jason Blume, and Harlem High School senior, Asiah Pierce. Together, they dive into meaningful discussions reflecting on their shared experiences, the evolution of the district, and the importance of diversity in Harlem schools.

Jason Blume leads the first part of the episode, reminiscing with Dr. Yarbrough about their time working together and how the district has grown and transformed over the years. In the second half, Asiah Pierce offers her unique perspective as a student, exploring the impact of diversity initiatives and how they have shaped her high school experience.

This is a heartfelt and thought-provoking episode that you won’t want to miss as we kick off another season of Talk 122!

Join Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough, Board President Michael Sterling, and Vice President Kurt Thompson in this sizzling summer edition of Talk 122. The trio dives into a fun and fiery hot wings challenge, sampling sauces from mild to the scorching Carolina Reaper, all while discussing important school updates.

In this episode, they reflect on the successful transition of the sixth grade to middle school, the exciting progress of the CTE building, and much-needed renovations at the middle school, including upgraded bathrooms. They also share their enthusiasm for upcoming projects like a new staff clinic and expanded educational programs.

Get ready to laugh as the heat rises and the conversation flows, offering a unique mix of informative updates and spicy entertainment. Don’t miss the fun and insightful discussion, and find out how the school leadership is preparing for an exciting new year. Tune in and get a taste of what’s cooking in the district, both in terms of hot wings and hot topics!

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On this compelling episode of Talk 122, Dr. Yarbrough engages in a thought-provoking discussion with the knowledgeable staff members from the YMCA of Rock River Valley, focusing on the crucial topic of nutrition.

First, we speak to Kaela Wolfe, Nutrition Services Director at YMCA & Katie Saeger Nutrition Services Manager YMCA. They discuss serving kids snacks at the Kids Time after-care program planning around what kids might want or not have access to regularly at home. They speak about testing and asking for feedback from all stakeholders. Kaela discusses her time at Olson Park and all the teachers who influenced her. Katie then discusses her experience as a parent at Harlem High School and helping during track practices.

Then, Dr. Yarbourgh sits down with Brent Pentenburg, the CFO of the YMCA Rock River Valley. Brent has been with the Y for over 20 years and served as CFO for more than 6. He talks about the ‘why’ of providing nutrition services to the community and younger kids. Type 2 diabetes in young children is projected to increase by 600% by 2050; Brent discusses how they can be part of the change to prevent that.

In this episode, Dr. Terrell Yarbrough interviews a special guest, Dustin Eckhardt, a mural artist and former Harlem graduate. They discuss Dustin's background, his journey into becoming a mural artist, and his plans to create a mural at Harlem Middle School. Dustin talks about his artistic process, involving research, sketching, and painting, and expresses his enthusiasm for involving students in the project.

The interview emphasizes the impact of art on the community and concludes with an invitation for students to participate in art-related activities.

You can find out more about Dustin at his website https://dustineckhardt.art/

In the latest episode, Dr. Yarbrough talked with two alums from Harlem High School. The first one is Bryana Travieso, who graduated in 2023. They spoke of her work on the documentary "Holmes County," which she started during her junior year. The project involved visiting towns in Mississippi to learn about different cultures and community dynamics.

The second guest was Jailyn Charles, who graduated in 2022 and attended UIC. She majored in English and minored in film & media production. They discussed her writing, her work on a zombie feature film screenplay, and the production of the "Holmes County" documentary. They also talked about her passion for seeing the project's vision come to life and the importance of the project itself. They even discussed driving for 13 hours to film the documentary.

"Holmes County" is still in production and will tell the story of the first black woman to gain the right to vote in Mississippi. The tentative release date for the film is November 2024.

First, we sit down with Kennedie Meyers who just published her second book, “Let’s Walk Instead”. They discuss her writing progress and how she starts writing at a young age. Kennedie talks about how she learned to self-publish on her own and how she got out of writing block with help from a teacher.You can purchase the book on Amazon.com: https://a.co/d/2Rx32bY

Next, we sit down with Mckenna Winters, an aspiring Harlem singer who just signed with a record label in Nashville. Dr. Yarbrough asks about how Mckenna got into singing, her parent’s support, and her father running her social media page. She then discusses her life on and off the stage, her time in Nashville, and about how she had 1 top hit. You can follow Mckenna on her website at: https://mckennafaithwinters.com/

On this Veterans Day episode of Talk 122, Dr. Yarbrough discusses the Harlem Vet Doc Film “Take Your Own Notes” with a Harlem alumni and veteran Melissa Beckford about her experience in the military and at Harlem. Then we take a sneak peak of the film that is being shown at RVC on November 10 and in St. Louis this weekend. We then sit down with Kiara Newman about working on this powerful documentary. They discuss how this student-driven project was made and the impact of the stories.

Melissa Beckford, Harlem alumni Class of ‘97, is a single mother and immigrant who now works for veterans affairs.

Take Your Own Notes features the stories of five women veterans who live in the greater Rockford area. The documentary strives to demonstrate how these women have made an impact in their families and local communities through active participation, especially with regard to military-related issues. Take Your Own Notes strives to provide an outlet for women who may have experienced or may continue to experience challenges featured in the documentary, which will hopefully cultivate an open dialogue about military-related issues women veterans face on a day-to-day basis.