The InnovateHER Podcast

Maite Salazar, candidate for Missouri's 5th Congressional District and social justice advocate joins us to discuss the importance of representation in civic leadership and how to be comfortable with yourself.

Referenced in the episode: 

• University of Missouri Kansas City
• Moms Demand Action
• Kara Werner LinkedIn
• Dr. Harris Mirkin
• Inoru Wade
• Austin Strassle
• Lauren Sobchak

Michele Watley, political strategist and founder of The Griot Group and Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet, joins us this week to discuss her work in amplifying the voices of black women in politics. Michele shares her journey and we discuss the systemic silencing of black women's' voices as well as how to be better allies.

Links of interest:

• JE Dunn Construction
• Planned Parenthood
• Missouri Dept. of Transportation
• Consensus Civility Award

Amanda Graor, Chief Innovation Officer for the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) talks the power of being open to what the universe is telling you, her background in STEM and entrepreneurship and how the collective impact of cities and initiatives make us all stronger.

Links of interest:

• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)
• Kansas City Young Audiences
• Kansas City Design Center
• Lost & Found Design
• Sandlot Goods

This week, we’ll be talking to Tammy Buckner, founder of Techquity Digital a technical agency and consulting firm, and co-founder of We Code KC, a youth programming initiative dedicated to exposing youth to technology skills. Tammy will tell us about her journey as a minority women in tech as well as why it’s important to be brave vs. fearless and how being in competition with yourself is always better than being in competition with other women.

This week on The InnovateHER Podcast, we're joined by Kaitlin Abdulrahman, a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Global Caravan and host of the 3point45 podcast, a storytelling venture that highlights the journeys of the 3.45 million Muslims living in the United States. This week on the podcast, Kaitlin shares a story from an individual living in the American Muslim community. We'll talk with her about a few of her favorite stories from the show and discuss her journey from a Catholic/atheist household to the devout Muslim woman and advocate she is today.

This week on the InnovateHER Podcast, we're joined by Aaron Fulk, of Lillian James Creative, a 7-figure creative agency. Aaron is a champion of women and a brilliant businesswoman who happened to take an unconventional path to success. Aaron will talk with us about her start as a single mom, being a role model for her daughter, the importance of being a practitioner and the story of how not knowing everything can sometimes be the greatest blessing for your business.

• Lillian James Creative
• Aaron Fulk on LinkedIn

Last week, we talked with some of the cast and crew of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf about their experiences in putting on the show. 

Written by Ntozake Shange and with direction by Khanisha Foster and choreography by Bridgette Dunn-Korpela, For Colored Girls is a series of vignette-style stories told by black women about the joy and heartbreak they have experienced--illuminating the histories that have shaped them in a society that too often fails to acknowledge and honor them.

Today, we’ll talk with some more of the cast. In this episode, cast members Ashe Jaafaru, Sharyon Culberson and Celeste Cooper open up about their experiences and processes to bring an emotional, compelling piece like this to life. These women are masters of vulnerability and it was a privilege to hear their stories.

• More about the production on the KCREP website

This week, the InnovateHER Podcast talks with some of the cast and crew of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf about their experiences crafting a riveting piece of theater. 

Written by Ntozake Shange and with direction by Khanisha Foster and choreography by Bridgette Dunn-Korpela, For Colored Girls is a series of vignette-style stories told by black women about the joy and heartbreak they have experienced--illuminating the histories that have shaped them in a society that too often fails to acknowledge and honor them.

We hear from Assistant Director Bree Patterson and actors Teonna Wesley and Meredith Noël on their experience working on the show, everything from the power of movement in theater to their favorite memories from the show.

• More about the production on the KCREP website

In the latest episode, Lauren is back with Deanna Munoz to continue her discussion. This time, we learn about the work Deanna is doing to propel women forward and creating young leaders. We also learn about her TedX KC talk, "being authentically me," and how her daughter inspires her.

This week, we talk the Latino Arts Foundation with founder Deanna Munoz. Deanna will get authentic with us, discussing her origins with the Scribblers, talking about her experience on Queer Eye and why arts education is so important in her community and educating us on how in Chicana culture, cars can also be art.