Breaking Barriers

About the Guest(s):

Michele Sullivan is a renowned speaker, author, and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Michele has overcome numerous challenges throughout her life and has become a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all. She had a successful career at Caterpillar, where she served as the Director of the Caterpillar Foundation, leading global philanthropic efforts. After retiring, Michele continued her work in the nonprofit sector and became involved with organizations such as the One Campaign, focusing on social impact and poverty alleviation. She is also the author of the book "Looking Up," where she shares her inspiring journey and encourages others to embrace their differences and make a positive impact in the world.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Nick Ford and co-host Joy discuss the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) with guest Michele Sullivan. Michele shares her personal journey as a little person and how she found support and inspiration through organizations like Little People of America. She also talks about her career at Caterpillar and her role as the Director of the Caterpillar Foundation, where she focused on social impact and philanthropy. Michele emphasizes the need for collaboration and understanding in today's polarized world and encourages listeners to embrace their differences and work together to create positive change.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Differences: Michele highlights the importance of embracing differences and recognizing the value that each individual brings to the table. She encourages listeners to focus on collaboration and understanding rather than division.
• Three-Legged Stool: Michele introduces the concept of the three-legged stool, which represents the collaboration between the private sector, the nonprofit sector, and the public sector. She emphasizes the need for these sectors to work together to create exponential change and address societal challenges.
• Grassroots and Grass Tops: Michele discusses the importance of grassroots efforts and community involvement in creating change. She also highlights the significance of grass tops advocacy, which involves working with government and policy-making entities to drive systemic change.

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About the Guest(s):

Kameron Middlebrooks is a highly driven individual dedicated to advocating for civil rights and social change. His career began when he served as a youth representative on the NAACP board of directors before transitioning to a leading role within the organization. Kameron has a rich history of organizing and mobilizing communities, including registering over 15,000 voters during his tenure. He has previously worked for Barack Obama's Campaign. Currently, he serves as the Field Director for the Reform Alliance in Iowa, where he is focused on transforming the supervision system within the American justice system and has played a pivotal role in passing transformative legislation.

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, hosts Anthony Arrington and Joy Briscoe engage in an insightful discussion with Kameron Middlebrooks about his work with the Reform Alliance, the importance of community safety, and the path to changing the criminal justice system. Kam shares his journey from early days with the NAACP to his current role, highlighting the significance of building coalitions and engaging in deliberate conversations to address public safety and reform in the justice system.

The discussion navigates through the political landscape of Iowa, emphasizing the necessity of bipartisan support to implement meaningful change. Kam outlines the innovative approach employed by the Reform Alliance to incentivize positive behavior and reduce recidivism among those on probation, detailing a bill with the potential to drastically impact the lives of thousands of Iowans positively.

Key Takeaways:

• The Reform Alliance focuses on transforming the supervision system in America and aims to pass legislation to aid in effective criminal justice reform.
• No permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent issues: Staying mission-focused helps in bridging ideological divides in policy work.
• Coalition building and engaging both sides of the political aisle are crucial strategies for driving legislative change, especially in states like Iowa.
• Education and workforce development are often used as alternative angles to discuss criminal justice reform, highlighting common goals across different political spectrums.
• Meek Mill's case was a catalyst for the formation of Reform Alliance, emphasizing the disparity within the justice system, even for the affluent and influential.

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About the Guest(s):

Dana James is a prominent figure in the journalism industry, particularly championing the voice of the Black community in Iowa. She stands as the publisher and founder of Black Iowa News, which is currently the only Black-owned newspaper in Iowa. With her background as a former reporter for the Des Moines Register, Dana brings her extensive experience to the forefront in her current pursuits. Beyond her editorial capacities, she's the treasurer of the Iowa Association of Black Journalists and has vast involvement within the realm of written media, including a column titled "New Black Iowa." Dana is also a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative and co-hosts the "Being Heard" podcast alongside Lya Williams. Her diligent work showcases her unwavering commitment to amplifying Black perspectives, showcasing the Black community, and advocating for others.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Dana James speaks up about the challenges and triumphs of running Black Iowa News, which illuminates the Black Iowan perspective on current issues. This conversation delves deep into the importance of representation in media, the handling of Black stories by news outlets, and the role of journalism in addressing community-specific needs concerns.

Dana reveals how the events of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd catalyzed her return to journalism, with Black Iowa News coming into being as a necessity to sound the alarm for her community when others wouldn’t. Offering her insights via a digital platform, Dana emphasizes the mission to facilitate interconnection within the dispersed Black communities across Iowa state. This episode, thriving on transparency and empowerment, underscores Dana's commitment to amplifying Black voices in a state that often overlooks its Black population's issues and triumphs.

Key Takeaways:

• Dana James challenges mainstream media's representation of Black communities, emphasizing the need to surface personalized Black narratives.
• Her paper, Black Iowa News, aims to bridge gaps across Black communities in various Iowa locals, striving for statewide collaboration and support.
• Despite the obstacles facing the newspaper industry, Dana persistently drives her business forward, acknowledging the multi-fold support she receives from the community and beyond.
• The discussion reveals a critical view of the "Iowa nice" mentality, scrutinizing its potential to silence oppression rather than fostering true community support.
• Dana emphasizes the significance of using one's voice and platform to tirelessly combat systemic issues and foster generational progress within the Black community in Iowa.

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