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.

In the first episode of season 3, we sit down with Ryan Reinecke (Rock Cut), Jerry Harris (HMS), and Dr. Bois (HHS) to discuss the many updates that our buildings are getting! From painted hallways to a new gym to the CTE addition.

On This final episode of season 2 of Talk 122, Dr. Yarbrough sits down with Brent Murray. Brent is the owner of Dairyhäus Ice Cream Shop in Rockton, Illnois. They talk about what it takes to run an ice shop, his work with the Harlem Vet Doc and more!

Order online at https://www.dairyhausrockton.com/

Dr. Yarbrough hosts Talk 122 Podcast featuring Jake Hubert, Director of Secondary Education, and Rebecca Logan, Director of Elementary Education at Harlem school district.

Jake discusses his path to the school district, his passion for telling jokes, and the Career and College pathways at Harlem. He also talks about the upcoming addition at Harlem High School.

Rebecca then joins the conversation and talks about her experience working with elementary kids and the great staff at Harlem.

Tune in to Talk 122 Podcast for more insights into the Harlem school district and the education sector in general.

In this episode of Talk 122, host Dr. Yarbrough talks to Jill Mosher, Director of Food and Nutrition Services. Jill discusses her experience working with the Harlem School District to provide meals to students. She also shares insights from her time in Harlem, providing a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of working in food service.

Join Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough in this episode of Talk 122 as he sits down with Kim Woodkey, a teacher at Ralston, to discuss a supply fundraiser for Ralston's GSA club. Later, Josh Aurand, Chief School Business Official for Harlem, joins the conversation to give a behind-the-scenes look at managing finances for the school district, and to reveal exciting upcoming projects like a new gym, playground equipment and the CTE addition to Harlem High School. Don't miss this insightful and informative episode! Listen now!