The Broad Cast

The UNO Chicago Episode with Maya Solis by C-Strategies

On the latest episode of The Broad Cast, hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek sit down with Zaldwaynaka "Z" Scott, President of Chicago State University, just as CSU starts a new school year with undergraduate enrollment up 15% and the first football game in the university's 159-year history.

President Scott shares how CSU became the first Illinois public university to offer state-certified quantum and semiconductor programs, building on more than a decade of quantum research and a growing partnership with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park.

Reflecting on her tenure since 2018, President Scott, who grew up just two miles from campus, also explains how CSU’s initiatives are breaking down barriers and opening doors for South Side students.

On the latest episode of The Broad Cast, hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek sit down with Kelly Powers Baria, Executive Vice President of Powers & Sons Construction and a leader of Lakeside Alliance, the joint venture that built the newly-opened Obama Presidential Center. Kelly shares how her father sparked the idea for a Black-led construction partnership in 2016, ultimately forming a first of its kind 51/49 minority-led joint venture with Turner Construction.

Looking back on nearly a decade of work, Kelly talks about what went into ensuring the project reflected Chicago's diverse communities and her own path as a woman of color in a male-dominated industry — plus the powerful moment when she sat between her father and daughter at the OPC dedication ceremony, representing three generations of Powers celebrating this historic opening.

On this episode of The Broad Cast, hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek sit down with Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) and Ald. Nicole Lee (11th Ward) to explore Chicago's historic FY26 budget battle and the behind-the-scenes effort to craft an alternative budget.

The conversation covers how a broad City Council coalition came together to close a billion-plus dollar budget gap while protecting job growth and making critical pension payments without raising property taxes — plus what’s at stake the City’s heads into an even more challenging FY2027 budget cycle.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. Edda Fields-Black joins The Broad Cast to share the extraordinary story behind “Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid and Black Freedom during the Civil War.” She explains how her research into more than 160 Civil War pension files uncovered the voices of enslaved people who experienced the raid firsthand. She discusses Harriet Tubman as a military strategist, the stakes of telling Black history in the current political climate and how her work is helping families trace their enslaved ancestors for the first time. She also reflects on her creative collaborations, the evolution of her scholarship and the personal meaning behind this groundbreaking book. Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

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The Broad Cast is hosted by Becky Carroll, President and CEO of C-Strategies, and Eileen Dordek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and political activist.

Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials:

LinkedIn: @C-Strategies Inc.

Instagram: @cstrategieschi

Facebook: @C-Strategies Inc.

Christy George played a major role in leading the most successful Democratic National Convention Host Committees in recent history — and now she’s at the helm of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, the state’s public-private economic development arm, as President and CEO. On this episode of The Broad Cast, Christy joins hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek to talk about her path to public service, how she led the Host Committee for a high-profile convention and what it means to lead with purpose.

She shares what’s behind Illinois’ recent economic momentum, from attracting quantum computing companies to fueling clean energy and advanced manufacturing growth. Christy also reflects on what it takes for women to step into once-in-a-lifetime leadership roles, and why lifting others up along the way is central to how she leads.

Illinois is staking its claim as a global leader in quantum technology with the launch of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). In this episode, hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek sit down with Dr. Preeti Chalsani — Chief Quantum Officer at the Illinois Economic Development Corporation and Business Development Lead for the IQMP — to break down what quantum is, why it matters and how this first-of-its-kind campus will transform both science and the economy.

From drug discovery to climate solutions, Dr. Chalsani explains the real-world potential of quantum, the importance of building an ecosystem in Illinois, and what it means for jobs and communities on Chicago’s South Side.

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The Broad Cast is hosted by Becky Carroll, President and CEO of C-Strategies, and Eileen Dordek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and political activist.

Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials:

Instagram: @cstrategieschi

LinkedIn: @C-Strategies Inc.

Facebook: @C-Strategies Inc.

Bluesky: @cstrategieschi.bsky.social

1871 has long been the heartbeat of Chicago’s tech ecosystem — a hub for visionary founders, resilient innovators and dedicated mentors building community and driving inclusive innovation. And, it’s been The Broad Cast’s recording location for the last six years!

This spring marked a major transition: 1871 moved out of its office space in the Merchandise Mart, signaling a new chapter for the organization. One day before they closed the doors, The Broad Cast sat down with 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler for one last recording in their studio.

Betsy looked back on her seven-year journey leading 1871, from its bold beginnings to becoming a national model for inclusive innovation. She shared why it was time to leave the Mart, what this shift means for Chicago’s startup community and how 1871 plans to evolve while staying rooted in connection and collaboration.

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The Broad Cast is hosted by Becky Carroll, President and CEO of C-Strategies, and Eileen Dordek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and political activist.

Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials:

Instagram: @cstrategieschi

LinkedIn: @C-Strategies Inc.

Facebook: @C-Strategies Inc.

Bluesky: @cstrategieschi.bsky.social

As our world faces a growing number of natural disasters every year, emergency responders are stepping up in greater numbers in response. That includes organizations like the Red Cross, whose nearly 150 years of experience and thousands of volunteers nationwide are there to support individuals and communities before, during and after disasters strike. Kellie O’Connell is the new CEO of the Red Cross of Illinois, and she joins hosts Becky and Eileen on the latest episode of The Broad Cast to talk about her decision to pursue this role, how the Red Cross is adapting to address increasing natural disasters, the ecosystem of women CEOs in Chicago and more.

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The Broad Cast is hosted by Becky Carroll, President and CEO of C-Strategies, and Eileen Dordek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and political activist.

Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials:

Instagram: @cstrategieschi

LinkedIn: @C-Strategies Inc.

Facebook: @C-Strategies Inc.

Twitter: @cstrategieschi

In the early days of the second Trump presidency, there’s already been a slew of regressive executive orders targeting everything from federal funding to marginalized groups. Here in Illinois, organizations that advocate for racial and economic justice, like The Shriver Center on Poverty Law, are moving to the frontlines of the battles created by these EOs, and other policies, to protect the rights of those most impacted by the actions of this administration. Shriver Center President and CEO Audra Wilson joins hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek to discuss the initial weeks of the Trump Administration, its impact and how Shriver is preparing for what lies ahead.

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The Broad Cast is hosted by Becky Carroll, President and CEO of C-Strategies, and Eileen Dordek, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and political activist.

Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials:

Instagram: @cstrategieschi

LinkedIn: @C-Strategies Inc.

Facebook: @C-Strategies Inc.

Twitter: @cstrategieschi