What puts Black women and babies at risk, and what can Cleveland do about it?

On this episode of Cleveland Pulse, Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Miranda Rogers, founder and president of Pregnant with Possibilities, to talk about Black maternal and infant health, community support, nonprofit leadership, and the work happening in Cuyahoga County to help families thrive.

Miranda shares her personal journey from teen mom and first-generation college graduate to community leader, along with how Pregnant with Possibilities supports youth, pregnant and postpartum individuals, and families through education, resources, behavioral health services, and financial stability.

The conversation also explores the connection between community advocacy and voting, why local elections matter, and how leaders can bring the voices of their communities to policymakers.

If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, Black leadership Cleveland, economic equity Ohio, and meaningful civic engagement, this conversation is for you.

Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center (PPRC)

President & CEO: Veranda
CEO Email: [email protected]

Office Address:
20700 Southgate Park Blvd.
Maple Heights, OH 44137

Website:
www.pregnantwithpossibilities.org

What does higher education look like when the goal is not simply earning a credential—but gaining a passport to opportunity?

Cleveland Pulse host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dr. Michael Baston, president of Cuyahoga Community College, for a wide-ranging conversation about education, economic mobility, entrepreneurship, workforce development and Black leadership in Cleveland.

Dr. Baston shares how growing up in Jamaica, Queens, shaped his understanding of community and possibility. He explains how his mother encouraged his childhood ambitions, why he and his wife secretly visited Tri-C campuses before accepting the presidency, and what convinced them to make Cleveland home.

Edwin also shares his personal Tri-C story: after being academically dismissed from Cleveland State University, he enrolled at Tri-C, rebuilt his confidence and grades, and returned to complete his degree. Their conversation reveals why community colleges can be powerful places for second chances, career changes and lifelong learning.

The episode explores how Tri-C is expanding access through applied bachelor’s degrees, credit for prior learning, entrepreneurship programs, skilled-trades training and workforce partnerships. Dr. Baston challenges employers who say they cannot find talent to consider a different question: What are they doing to become more attractive to workers?

For Cleveland’s small-business owners, managers and community leaders, this discussion offers practical insight into developing talent, supporting entrepreneurs and creating pathways that lead beyond survival to thriving wages.

The conversation also connects education with Cleveland community advocacy and civil rights. Edwin and Dr. Baston reflect on Black history, faith, civic responsibility and the Cleveland NAACP Freedom Fund theme, “Made for the Moment.” Their message is direct: honoring past movements requires us to participate in the work facing our communities today.

This is a conversation about economic equity in Ohio, Cleveland civic engagement and the institutions helping residents turn purpose into progress.

Subscribe to Cleveland Pulse, share this episode with a Cleveland doer, and connect with the Cleveland NAACP to help transform awareness into action. That is Power in the Pulse.

Cuyahoga County is facing a housing crisis, and this episode of Cleveland Pulse breaks down what that really means for Cleveland families, renters, homeowners, and neighborhoods. Host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Anthony Scott, Esq., Director of Housing and Community Development for Cuyahoga County, for a grounded conversation about housing access, vacant lots, affordability, code enforcement, and the real barriers keeping people from safe, dignified housing. 

Anthony shares how a lack of resources sits at the center of the crisis, from the shortage of available housing to the difficulty of repairing older homes that families have lived in for generations. He also explains why vacant properties, demolitions, and rising development costs continue to shape Cleveland’s housing landscape. 

The conversation also explores “zombie titles” and heirs property issues, showing how unclear ownership can keep families from accessing assistance or preserving generational assets. Anthony breaks down the county’s role in housing, including HUD funding, CDBG dollars, HOME funds, down payment assistance, and the hard choices local government has to make when there is never enough funding to meet the full need. 

Later in the episode, Anthony discusses the push for a new housing fund and a broader vision for “workforce housing” for residents who earn too much for some programs but still struggle to afford stable housing. He outlines four key priorities: development, down payment assistance, repair and rehab, and emergency rental assistance. 

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone who cares about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Cleveland civic engagement, and the future of Black leadership in Cleveland. If you want real talk about housing policy, neighborhood stability, and what practical solutions could look like in Cuyahoga County, this episode delivers.

Mental health is still one of the hardest conversations in our community, especially for Black men. In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with licensed counselor Eric King for a real, honest conversation about depression, stigma, faith, therapy, and what healing can actually look like.

Eric King shares his personal journey into counseling, including how his own experience with depression shaped his work helping men navigate emotional health, identity, and growth. Together, Edwin and Eric unpack why so many men are taught to suppress pain, why therapy still feels taboo, how faith and counseling can coexist, and what signs tell you it may be time to seek help. They also discuss youth mental health, how to find the right therapist, what to expect in counseling, why access to care still falls short, and what a healthier community response could look like. 

This episode is for the doers: the people trying to hold together family, purpose, faith, and responsibility while still making room for their own healing. If you’ve ever said “I’m good” when you weren’t, this conversation is for you.

Why listen:

•  Eric King explains why many Black men “soldier through” depression instead of naming it 
•  The episode tackles the tension between faith and therapy without dismissing either one 
•  You’ll hear practical guidance on finding a therapist, setting expectations, and recognizing when it’s time to get help 
•  The conversation also looks at youth mental health, access gaps, and the kind of community care we need more of 

#ClevelandPulse #MentalHealth #BlackMenMentalHealth #ClevelandCommunityAdvocacy #CivilRightsPodcast #ClevelandCivicEngagement #BlackLeadershipCleveland #EconomicEquityOhio #PowerInThePulse

What does real violence prevention look like in Cleveland right now?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Myesha Watkins, Administrator of the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and former executive director of Cleveland Peacemakers, for a grounded conversation about gun violence, public safety, and what it takes to build safer communities across Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Myesha shares how her lived experience, social work background, and years in community violence intervention shaped her approach to this work. Together, she and Edwin dig into the realities behind gun violence in Cleveland, including how conflict, trauma, underinvestment, and access to firearms all intersect. They also talk about why violence prevention must be treated as a public health issue, why safe gun storage matters, and why families need to start age-appropriate conversations with children as early as possible.

The episode also highlights local solutions already happening in our region, from family gun safety education classes through the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and Cuyahoga County Board of Health to community organizations doing on-the-ground intervention work. Myesha makes the case that Cleveland doesn’t need more talk without coordination. It needs partnerships, trusted messengers, practical resources, and real investment in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence.

This conversation is for Clevelanders who care about community advocacy, public safety, youth opportunity, and building a city where families can live without fear. If you’re interested in Cleveland civic engagement, Black leadership in Cleveland, and practical strategies for safer neighborhoods, this episode belongs in your queue.

What happens when the system gets it wrong — and a man still finds a way to rebuild, love, and thrive?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson, an exoneree who spent 27 years, 6 months, and 20 days incarcerated for crimes he says he did not commit. What follows is a powerful conversation about wrongful conviction, faith, survival, exoneration, and what it means to come home and build a meaningful life after the unimaginable.

Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson shares how his case moved forward through the Ohio Innocence Project, how withheld records and witness issues helped unravel the conviction, and why he chose to stay the course until he was fully exonerated. But this episode is about more than the injustice. It is also about restoration. Charles talks about marriage, family, entrepreneurship, writing his book, and building a future rooted in peace instead of bitterness.

You’ll also hear about his new chapter as a business owner with Sweet Rice Classic Custards in Euclid, his advice for the next generation, and why keeping good people around you matters. This is a Cleveland story about endurance, accountability, community, and the human cost of a system that too often asks questions too late.

If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, civil rights, justice reform, second chances, reentry, and Black leadership in Cleveland, this is a conversation worth hearing. It is honest, human, and rooted in the belief that people are bigger than the labels placed on them.

What does it take to build a school from the ground up in Cleveland? In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dr. Luciana Gilmore. She is an educator, entrepreneur, community advocate, and founder of Ford Girls Leadership Academy. Edwin and Dr GIlmore sit for a powerful conversation about purpose, faith, and creating equitable opportunities for Black girls in Cleveland.

Dr. Luciana Gilmore shares her journey from more than 25 years in education to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, completing her doctorate, and turning a long-held vision into a real school set to open in August 2026. She also reflects on the inspiration behind Brown Boy Joy, the importance of positive self-image, and why Cleveland needs greater access to high-quality, affordable educational spaces for girls.

This episode explores what it means to lead with conviction, build something bigger than yourself, and create pathways for the next generation. If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Black leadership in Cleveland, civil rights, education access, and civic engagement, this conversation delivers both inspiration and a real call to action.

You’ll hear:

Dr. Gilmore’s roots in CMSD and her path into education
The leap from principal to entrepreneur
How Brown Boy Joy grew into a national story
Why Ford Girls Leadership Academy matters for Cleveland families
The vision for mentoring, family partnership, and student leadership
How the community can support through mentorship, donations, and advocacy

This is a conversation for the doers—people who believe Cleveland’s future gets stronger when we invest in young Black leaders now.

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dayja Smith, Cleveland entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of Coco’s Crown, for a real conversation about Black beauty, hair identity, entrepreneurship, and creating access where it does not already exist.

Dayja Smith shares how growing up in Cleveland shaped her hustle, how her background in science helped her build a natural hair care brand, and why healthy products made for us still matter. From launching Coco’s Crown to leading through consulting, coworking, and community impact, Dayja Smith breaks down what it means to be a multifaceted Black millennial professional in Northeast Ohio.

This episode also goes deeper than business. Edwin and Dayja talk about the emotional and cultural meaning of Black hair, how identity and confidence are tied to self-expression, and why conversations around the CROWN Act, colorism, and acceptance still matter in Cleveland and beyond. They also explore how organizations like the Urban League help build opportunity for the next generation.

If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Black leadership in Cleveland, and practical conversations around identity, ownership, and community, this episode is for you.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Dayja Smith’s Cleveland roots and entrepreneurial journey 
•  The story behind Coco’s Crown and why she created it 
•  Why Black hair is more than style—it is identity, culture, and confidence 
•  Reflections on the CROWN Act and access in professional spaces 
•  Honest conversation about colorism, “good hair,” and Black self-image 
•  Why pouring into the next generation matters 
•  How Dayja Smith is building community through leadership and service 

Listen now and tap into a conversation centered on Cleveland civic engagement, Black identity, and the power of building something for us, by us.

What does it really take to bridge the gap between generations in Cleveland?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Kayla Lowery, a Cleveland native, Bowie State University graduate, and emerging voice in civic engagement, for a grounded conversation on youth leadership, Black identity, HBCU culture, and why coming back home matters.

Kayla shares how her early exposure to community work, family history, and the justice system shaped her understanding of civic responsibility. From learning what the NAACP actually does on a college campus to seeing how advocacy can influence policy, this episode offers a clear look at how young Black leaders are building power with purpose. 

The conversation also explores the value of HBCUs as spaces where Black students can grow, lead, and find real community; the importance of trusted information in a world driven by algorithms; and what it means to educate, sustain, and stay connected to the people around you. Kayla’s perspective is thoughtful, practical, and deeply rooted in Cleveland. 

This episode is for the doers. For Black Clevelanders, community builders, young professionals, educators, and anyone asking how we move from conversation to action.

Why this episode matters:

•  It speaks directly to Cleveland civic engagement through a generational lens. 
•  It highlights how young leaders connect civil rights, community advocacy, and personal responsibility. 
•  It reinforces the role of education, culture, and community in building long-term power. 

Listen in for a conversation about Cleveland community advocacy, Black leadership in Cleveland, economic equity in Ohio, and how the next generation is shaping the future right now.

Cleveland is a city of legacy, but too many of our families are forced to rebuild from scratch every generation. In this power-packed session of the Cleveland Pulse Podcast, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with East Cleveland’s own Warren Lambertson Jr. to dismantle the myths surrounding life insurance and financial planning.

For the "Millennial Mover" in their 30s, life insurance isn't just about a death benefit—it’s about living benefits. We explore how Clevelanders can use permanent policies as tax-advantaged assets to buy homes, start businesses, and fund educations right here in our neighborhoods. Warren shares the raw, personal story of losing his father at 42 to colon cancer and how a single "checked box" on a blue-collar job application changed his entire life’s trajectory.

Why this matters for Cleveland: Economic equity in Ohio begins with financial literacy. We discuss the historical impact of figures like Cirillo McSween, the first African American financial advisor at a major firm and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s treasurer, who used insurance to fund the Civil Rights Movement. Whether you are navigating the gig economy or establishing your career in Cuyahoga County, understanding the difference between "renting" (term) and "owning" (permanent) your coverage is the key to neighborhood stability and Black leadership in Cleveland.

Key Topics Covered:

• The reality of "Geriatric Millennial" planning.
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• How your health—not your money—buys your insurance.
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• The link between the CROWN Act, family trusts, and workplace freedom.
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• Breaking the "Selfish Monster" mindset to leave an asset, not a bill.
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