Joyce and Nelson Johnson, who walked and worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and founded The Beloved Community Center (BCC) in 1965 came with Wesley Morris to discuss the work the BCC continues to initiate.  This center promotes dialogue, education and discussion among all cultures in the Triad area and is a national leader in social justice work.

They discussed specific projects that they have championed such as Healing Tuesdays (stimulated by North Carolina's Moral Mondays).  Nelson & Joyce discussed their work to found and build The Poor People's Campaign - first created by Martin Luther King, Jr. - and the long overdue need for giving voice to Americans who are indeed poor and have been disregarded. 

Wesley Morris detailed his work to lift up The Beloved Organizing Healing and Training Institute (BOTHI). These trainings at the BCC are interactive - promoting positive, respectful discussion from all perspectives.

The African Student Association at Guilford College's President, Emerantienne Tang discussed the formation of this student organization on campus. She talked about the upcoming African Night events scheduled for April 21, 2018 and an upcoming pageant competition on February 24th between our ASA and other ASA organizations from other colleges.

She discussed her inspiration to create Guilford's chapter of the ASA, detailing how she felt as a young adult immigrant from the continent of Africa, searching to find cultural grounding in the United States. 

Later in the program, Emerantienne discussed having Sickle Cell Disease and her own struggle with the risky and year long treatment that individuals with this disease must consider, as well as the only 50% chance of treatment success.

Detailing some of the events of African night, she discussed the need for models of any size or cultural background to model African clothing and practice for African dances on Friday's at 2pm.

The first segment (4-4:30) of this episode was dedicated to previewing the activities planned to honor Black History Month (February) at Guilford College.  Krishauna Hines-Gaither & Brianna Randolph detailed the many unique events being sponsored including a discussion of the history and use of "The N Word" and the first installment of a three part series: "Hair & Body Politics."  

The second segment (4:30-5) Dave Wils, NC Democratic Party leader and national party committee member came on and presented his inside "takes" on how The Democratic Party is working on coming together. He discussed potential 2020 candidates and specifics around the messaging the party is putting forth in support of a wide variety of human issues.  I asked him why The Democratic Party was not connecting with the poor working class that may have made up/ or still make up... Mr. Trump's base.  Dave disagreed with my premise that Democrats weren't addressing the issues facing this segment of the population, but agreed that the party was challenged in getting across this message to "base" Trump supporters. 

Dave emphasized the need for continued grass roots work for Democrats and predicted a blue wave in both the NC House this fall and nationally for the 2018 Elections.

On this episode, Fernando Jimenez, Photo Journalist, discussed the LGBTQ+ identifiers and how to approach discussions of LGBTQ+ descriptors with family members, friends, co-workers and associates. Fernando shared his own personal stories of coming out to his conservative Christian mother and his time with the North Carolina State Legislature during the NC Bathroom Bill time frame.

Fernando's experiences were poignant and relevant to many who may have listened to this show.

We discussed when and how to approach specific topics of LGBTQ+ descriptors with friends and co-workers and how to listen in compassionate and caring ways when topics of deep descriptive nature come up.

As a national committee representative of Define America, Fernando discussed his influential role in forming a local chapter of Define America at Guilford College. Fernando outlined Define America's goals including its current work to support immigrants and tuition equality.

Dr. Ziwei Qi, Professor of Criminal Justice discussed her new course: The Changing Roles of Women within the criminal justice system.  Zi discussed that this course and concept within the field of criminal justice has been evolving slowly since the late 1800's with some of the more significant changes coming in just the last few years.

She discussed that this study will include an intensive look at women as survivors of abuse/crime as well as women as offenders. She discussed both of these evolving roles - to include the specific changes that have been occurring and why.

Zi further discussed how the roles of women in leadership positions within the criminal justice and social justice systems are growing. We discussed how this male dominated profession has struggled to respond to the needs of women and cases such as "Sandra Bland" who committed suicide in a local jail in 2015 tragically revealed the omissions within the justice system of compassion and understanding.  We discussed the prevalence of prejudice with regard to the perception of women as weak and not deserving of respect or validity.

We further discussed the case of "Valerie Plane (Wilson)" who's CIA cover was blown in 2003 by a reporter and the callous and apathetic manner in which the response to her loss of her career played out. 

Zi is hopeful that the #MeToo / #TimesUp movements, as well as women and men standing up in support of women will effect change.

On this episode Nicole Kaufman, Counselor, joined me to discuss the deeper issues embedded within the #MeToo Movement. We also presented the new TIME'S UP Manefesto created by Hollywood Female Leaders to help low & middle income female workers experiencing sexual harassment.

Nicole read through the TIME'S UP goals and objectives which included the work to establish a equal respect and working environment for women to include pay, respect, and validation.  The TIME'S UP also is in the process of creating a legal fund to assist in future litigation for females experiencing sexual mistreatment.

We defined, enumerated and described inappropriate sexual behavior to include sexual misconduct, harassment, and rape/rape behavior. We  also clearly outlined healthy dating practices for men.  

Nicole read from research and a book outlining how to understand Narcissistic behavior - which often typifies alleged sexual predators and perpetrators.  She further described female passive behavior which may signal "prey" to a predator - emphasizing that being the victim of sexual abuse was NOT the fault of the woman, but rather the need to understand what signals may be important to learn from.

On this episode we planned to discuss the AP (Associated Press) top stories of 2017. Going off script, we discussed the impact of the Trump Presidency - and how it revealed what had been building underneath.

Dr. Mike Sistrom, Professor of History, Greensboro College and Dr. Thom Little, Professor of Political Science analyzed how our collective narrative has become fragmented - and this fragmentation has played out in our political experience and continued to divide us.  We discussed ways to bring Americans back together through the Millennial generation's energy to get involved politically and to just come together to begin respectful dialogues about issues of conflict.

Mike pointed toward other years historically that our country has been divided:  1863 - during the civil war; 1935 - after the Depression; and 1968 - following the civil rights struggles & Vietnam War- continuing through the following decade,  leading up to the Nixon Presidency.

Them highlighted the differences between how Congressional leaders handled both the Nixon & Clinton Presidencies as compared to our current experience of shattered norms today.

We touched on many other serious changes in issues from 2017 from the North Korean conflict; terrorist attacks; weather extremities; and the #MeToo.  Mike & Thom discussed that 2018 would likely reveal a continued evolution of the #MeToo & a resolution of the Mueller investigation. Both discussed that we all should "hang on" because it is likely to be "a bumpy ride."

On this episode I was joined by Shania Lao, Staff writer for The Guilfordian and Cheryl Hatch, Assistant Professor of English. We discussed the #MeToo Watershed phenomena from the perspective of both social media and journalistic impact. 

Staying true to our commitment to focusing on current events, we discussed the influence of the #MeToo on yesterday's election in Alabama of Democratic Senatorial Candidate, Doug Jones (against Roy Moore, accused sexual predator).  We further defined "fake news" journalism, social media and the blurring of these concepts that has led to the common use of the term "fake news" in areas like Alabama.

We described some of the most current articles within the #MeToo/Silence Breakers watershed moment, and analyzed why humans have been silent for so long. I pointed out the realities that still linger for those who do not have the power or financial security to talk about what they have been through. 

We established that this watershed moment is continuing to both grow and evolve and we may be just beginning to define its impact.

On this episode, we discussed the book: The Privileges of Wealth, defining the distinction between wealth & income inequality and compared these to the most recent tax cut proposals in Congress.

Head of Department (Economics) & Author Bob Williams defined "income" as the money a person or household earns to purchase monthly resources. Bob defined "wealth" as the accumulation of assets that give a person access to power and the ability to advance.  He described that the growing inequality experienced by Americans would worsen if the legislation (as currently presented) passes the Senate.  Bob gave the example of the elimination of estate taxes on the wealthiest 1% and the lowering of taxes on billion dollar corporations as items in this legislation that would further worsen the already widened divide.

Natalya Shelkova offered an insightful discussion on how Americans separate themselves (by their choices of home location) economically, thereby eliminating their understanding of the experiences of those around them from lower socioeconomic experiences.

Bob gave a brief history of the elimination of CEO salary taxes on extremely high income/salary amounts.  He recalled from historical context that President Kennedy first lowered these taxes (90%) on extremely high incomes in 1963 to about 75%.  Ronald Reagan then lowered this tax to about 50% and steadily the tax on extremely wealth went to its current rate of 39% where it sits now - and Congress is trying to lower once again. 

Dr. Williams further described the history of racial, cultural and economic privilege in America - going back to the original settlement of North American by Whites, who slowly took the land and resources from the American Indians and enslaved African citizens.  He highlighted that this structural power imbalance continues to perpetuate itself.  I highlighted how such structural inequalities often are both direct and indirect causes of conflict.

On this episode, I was joined by Gwen Erickson, Tiffany Holland and Kate Hood, co-developers of the new Underground Railroad Trail & Curriculum.  

Tiffany and Gwen discussed the development of the details of this curriculum which was designed for 4th, 8th & 11th grade instruction in cooperation with Guilford County Schools. Kate Hood presented several interesting historical details from her research and presented aspects of the work she researched & coordinated for the grant.

Kate, Gwen & Tiffany shared a history of The Underground Railroad in the New Garden area - highlighting the importance of recognizing the role this network of freedom played in American history. 

This curriculum is also online and can be accessed from Guilford College's library website.  

Other faculty and staff members who have worked hard to make this project happen: James Shields and Tamika Davis were uplifted along with the teachers from Guilford County Schools.

The Underground Railroad Trail & Curriculum is designed to be unique for each level of instruction with an emphasis on the experiential aspect of walking through these woods and feeling the nails in the trees which marked the pathway to freedom.