As we begin Black History Month, we sat down with Dr. Cyntoria Grant, Associate Director of Public School Partnerships, Harvard Ed Portal, for an intimate and inspiring conversation about leadership, faith, and resilience. Dr. Grant reflects on her journey from service-driven beginnings to national impact in education and ministry, sharing powerful lessons from a humbling season marked by professional loss, deep growth, and renewed purpose. Through honesty and wisdom, she reminds us that leadership is rooted in service, elevation requires humility and rest, and faith and community are essential when navigating life’s transitions—especially in seasons of change.

“There are moments when strength looks like stillness. When grace shows up in the quiet.”

In this intimate episode, Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, & CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality, invites listeners to pause and reflect on life’s turning points — those sacred moments when strength meets stillness, and grace carries us through.

Drawing from her book Moments with Grace, Monalisa shares personal reflections, readings, and lessons on faith, healing, and renewal — reminding us that grace isn’t something we earn; it’s something we live into.

We are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc. With over 25 years of experience across the financial, legal, and nonprofit sectors, Ronia has dedicated her career to empowering others through leadership development, training, and service.

This episode focuses on the heart-centered leadership that sustains women and changemakers in their work. It highlights the importance of grace, faith, and self-reflection as tools for navigating leadership challenges and personal growth.

We are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc. With over 25 years of experience across the financial, legal, and nonprofit sectors, Ronia has dedicated her career to empowering others through leadership development, training, and service.

This episode focuses on the heart-centered leadership that sustains women and changemakers in their work. It highlights the importance of grace, faith, and self-reflection as tools for navigating leadership challenges and personal growth.

The MJE Living Room Podcast brings together authentic, heartfelt conversations with leaders, healers, and changemakers. The 'Healing the Healers' series explores the emotional, mental, and spiritual balance required for those who lead, serve, and uplift others.

In episodes 9 and 10, we are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc. With over 25 years of experience across the financial, legal, and nonprofit sectors, Ronia has dedicated her career to empowering others through leadership development, training, and service.

This episode explores how purpose, service, and leadership intertwine to create lasting impact. We’ll discuss how Ronia’s journey across multiple sectors has shaped her approach to leading with purpose and building a legacy rooted in service and transformation.

This year, we launched our podcast "The MJE Living Room Conversations;" an intimate dialogue hosted from MJE's Blue Library. This new MAV X MJE series brings grassroots leaders, community healers, and advocates together to explore the question: Where do we go from here?

Fresh from the MAV National Conference, we've gathered for heartfelt conversations about sustaining healing, building leadership capacity, and strengthening our national network of women leading community transformation. Monalisa Smith, Founder of Mothers for Justice and Equality and the MAV Learning Community, led these open conversation with special guests who are shaping the next chapter of our movement -- from momentum to model. Stay tuned for 2026!

Thank you to this year's inspiring guests:

Episode 1: Hosted by Monalisa Smith - Founder, President, CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality - Roxbury, MA

Episode 2: Milagros Burgos - Founder of Imani Dream Angel / Rincon - Chicago, IL and Nortasha Stingley - Chicago, IL

Episodes 3 & 4: Jacqueline Monteiro - Founder of W.S.R & Wellness Coaching LLC - Leicester, MA and Eileen Paterson - Mothers for Justice and Equality - Boston, MA

Episodes 5 & 6: Nana Akomaa Kyerematen - Author of "Is America Constitutionally Unconstitutional?" - Mothers for Justice and Equality - Boston, MA

Episodes 7 & 8: Desiree Decoo - Founder of HOPE - (Heal on Purpose Everyday) - Boston, MA

Welcome back! This week, we are joined by Desiree Decoo—Founder of Heal on Purpose Everyday (HOPE), a therapist, public health leader, and advocate with nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and communities on their healing journeys.

In this episode, we connect personal healing to leadership and service, exploring how healed individuals often become more grounded, compassionate leaders. We discuss how doing the inner work reshapes the way we show up for others, transforming care, empathy, and responsibility into lived action rather than just conversation.

Join us for a grounded, uplifting conversation that invites us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what wellness looks like in our own lives.

This week in The Living Room, we are joined by the incredible Desiree Decoo — Founder of HOPE, therapist, public health leader, and advocate who has spent nearly 20 years helping individuals, families, and whole communities move toward healing and wholeness.

In this episode, we shift the conversation from simply talking about wellness to truly living it every day. Desiree guides us through what it means to practice wellness in real life — in our routines, relationships, and in the quiet moments we often overlook. She reminds us that healing is not a destination, but a daily commitment to caring for ourselves with intention and compassion.

Join us for a grounded, uplifting conversation that invites us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what wellness looks like in our own lives. 💜

#changeyourmindsetchangeyourlife #community #boston #love #stopgunviolence #podcast #mothersforjustice #leadlearnlivelove

This week, as we reflect on gratitude and community, we celebrate MJE’s Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, where we provided 100 turkeys to families in need. Just as we nourish bodies, we also need to nurture minds and spirits. Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Nana Akomaa Kyerematen, Master’s Clinician, cultural competence advocate, and MJE Board Member, as we explore cultural and ancestral healing and honor our ancestors through the power of community and storytelling. 💜 Tune in and join us in The Living Room—where gratitude, healing, and community intersect.

#MothersForJusticeAndEquality #MJE #stopgunviolence #talkshow #womensupportingwomen #TurnPainIntoPurpose #stopviolenceagainstwomen #HealingJustice #boston #CommunityHealing #podcast #ItsNotOkay #culture

Welcome to episode 5! This episode dives deep into the role of culture—how our ancestry, our identities, and the transitions we navigate across countries, communities, and generations all shape the way we heal. Healing is never just personal; it is tied to the stories we inherit, the values we grow up with, and the spaces we move through.

We’re honored to welcome Nana Akomaa Kyerematen, author of Is America Constitutionally Unconstitutional? Nana brings a unique perspective as both a writer and cultural thinker. Together, we explore how cultural identity can become both a source of strength and a site of tension, how migration reshapes emotional landscapes, and how understanding our roots can open new paths for recovery and resilience.

#MothersForJusticeAndEquality #MJE #stopgunviolence #talkshow #womensupportingwomen #TurnPainIntoPurpose #stopviolenceagainstwomen #HealingJustice #boston #CommunityHealing #podcast #ItsNotOkay #culture