Shows
Music And A MissionMusic And A Mission #12: What's The Big Deal About Juneteenth?Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Traditionally, it was a day for prayer and gathering with family in the African American tradition, but it has also come to be a time of focus on education and self-improvement. In this episode, I share the history of the holiday and its origins in the state of Texas. The colors of the Juneteenth flag are red, white and blue, and they reflect three virtues of the Juneteenth slogan: new freedom, new people and a new star.
Juneteenth Foundation: history of...
2021-06-2011 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #11: Congo Square ConversationsCongo Square is an open space within Louis Armstrong Park, which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, just across Rampart Street north of the French Quarter. The Tremé neighborhood is famous for its history of African American music. My guest, Freddie Williams Evans, has done extensive research on the topic and joins me to discuss the historical landmark. Two books on the subject can be found on Ms. Evans' website. CORRECTION: During the interview, the host VT mislabeled the Fisk Jubilee Singers as being from Tuskegee, when they hailed from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.
2021-04-2857 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #10: Athletes & Activism With Ernest [Black History Edition]My guest for this episode is Mr. Ernest Crim, III an award-winning educator, activist, international speaker and author of the Amazon best-seller Black History Saved My Life. Crim and his wife were the targets of a hate crime that went viral in 2016. Since then, he has committed himself to speaking to students to teach them how to reach their full potential using Black History, while also training educators on how to replicate his strategies in the classroom. The African proverb my guest shared during the program is: If you dont know who you are, anybody can name you. If...
2021-02-2044 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #9: MLK Celebration SpecialThis mini-episode is to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday commemoration is today in the United States. I share how the holiday came to be and my thoughts on the progress we have made as a nation in obtaining civil rights and equality.
BOOKS:
A Sweet Smell Of Roses Angela Johnson
The Undefeated Kwame Alexander
Dear Martin Nic Stone
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made For Whiteness Austin Channing Brown
Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community? Dr...
2021-01-1907 minMusic And A MissionHoliday Sharing With Sharon #8My third guest this season is Sharon Cho, the lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainer & Social Emotional Learning trainer and clinician at QuaverEd. Ms. Cho has been a classroom teacher, Instructional Coach, behavior specialist and curriculum writer as well as a Music Director for a Fine Arts Academy. In performance, she has received a Grammy Award for her Background Vocalist role in Tajmo, a collaborative album by Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ that took home Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. We discussed music, identity and the power of setting boundaries for emotional health. She left listeners with this...
2020-12-1731 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #7 Breakthroughs With BirtsMy second guest this season is Dr. Angela Birts, a professional educator, diversity consultant, social entrepreneur and college lecturer based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. On this episode, Dr. Birts discusses her experiences as a Black woman in America and shares several resources and book recommendations. Learn more about her services at https://www.deicapacitybuilding.com/#/. Dr. Birts' recommendations are as follows:
Come Tear Down The Walls cover by Mpoomy and Brenden
Coates, Ta-Nehisi (2015). Between the World and Me.
Desmond, Matthew (2016). Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.
Ke...
2020-11-1942 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #6 Education With Ericka"We are the ones we have been waiting for..." was penned by poet June Jordan in her Poem For South African Women, and was the parting phrase shared by my guest in this first fall episode. Ericka Huggins is an educator, former political prisoner, human rights advocate, and poet. For 45 years she has lectured in the United States and internationally on Restorative Practices and the role of spiritual practice in creating social change. Ericka speaks on campuses and in community about the importance of inclusive grassroots movements, past and present. You will be inspired by her story and legacy...
2020-11-0848 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #5: CreativityIn this episode, I discuss creativity and its importance. Creativity is defined as the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative. Recommendations from this episode are below:
Out Of Our Minds: The Power Of Being Creative by Sir Ken Robinson
Phineas & Ferb: an animated musical comedy television series by Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh. Produced by Disney, the show is about two stepbrothers, their older sister, neighborhood friends and a pet platypus
Candace Against The Universe trailer https://youtu.be/jcqziqIcJ_g
This episode is in memory of C...
2020-09-0512 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #4: Ethnic StudiesMesq'al Kebra is a San Francisco Bay Area entrepreneur who shares her journey as an ethnic studies major from Mills College in Oakland. She is co-CEO of Infinite Vortex Of Light. Learn about their projects at https://www.infinitevortexoflight.com/projects. Her book recommendations are:
A People's History Of The United States by Howard Zinn
The Revolution Will Not Be Funded by Incite: Women Of Color Against Violence
2020-08-2049 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #3: Beauty Behind BarsToday's guests Ericka & Pride Scott share their story as owners of Honey Art Studio, which is bringing hope for many despite the barriers of incarceration. Restoration, an exhibit of art work by prisoners, will be on display on August 16th at the Yerba Buena Center For The Arts in San Francisco, California. A virtual celebration of art by those who are incarcerated and by other Bay Area community members will also be featured. To make submissions (art, photography, poems, etc.) email honeyartstudio415@gmail.com or visit https://honeyart.net/ for more information.
https://ybca.org/ybca-fellows/
Book suggestions from the epi...
2020-08-0946 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission #2: Race In AmericaRacial Equity Researcher Dr. Erica Boas joins me for a conversation about race and life as a Japanese American and woman of Jewish heritage. Book suggestions from the episode:
Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling
Smoky Skies by Eve Bunting
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
There There by Tommy Orange
2020-08-0940 minMusic And A MissionMusic And A Mission Intro: Can You See?I'm an African American woman sharing my thoughts on race and include an original song analysis on the topic. I invite you to subscribe this podcase and share it with others. My goal is for arts and equity unite and to create a community of like minded folks. Thanks so much for listening!
2020-08-0914 min2020-08-0900 min
SLT "the TALK"3.26 SLT "the TALK" featuring Veronica Talton, Music Educator & Recording Artist3.26 SLT "the TALK" featuring Veronica Talton, Music Educator and Recording Artist. To learn more about Veronica check out www.veronicatalton.com. To learn more about the Speak Life Tour check out www.speaklifetour.org.
2020-03-2640 min