Glocal Citizens

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week in our final #herstory in our 2022 March series, I'm happy to welcome Black feminist researcher, writer, and curator Nydia Swaby. Nydia is a Jamaican-American and have called London home for the past decade. She has a PhD in Gender Studies (SOAS), an MA in Women’s History [Sarah Lawrence College], and a BA in Anthropology and African American Studies [Rollins College]. Her practice builds on theories of racial, gendered, diasporic, and queer formation, Black feminism, Black studies, and my previous experience working at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In her creative approach to knowledge production, she uses archives, ethnography, photography, film, and the imagination to curate programs and visual narratives, write essays and performance pieces exploring the gendered and diasporic dimensions of Black being and becoming. She also creates ancestral altars using family pictures and memorabilia, found photographs and archival images, West African textiles and wood carvings, crystals, fossils, stones, shells, and other curios. These practices converge in her forthcoming monograph, Amy Ashwood Garvey and the Future of Back Feminist Archives (Lawrence Wishart, Summer 2022) and Caird Research Fellowship at The National Maritime Museum, ‘Curating Archives of Affect: Black Feminist Pasts, Presents, and Futures’ (December 2021 - September 2020), and my ongoing visual series, ‘Becoming with Archive: Blackness, Gender, Diaspora’ (2010 - Present). Alongside her practice-based research, Nydia work as the Curator of Learning at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, where she collaborates with academics, curators, artists, and writers to develop a multi-disciplinary, practice-based research and learning program. She is also a member of Feminist Review’s Editorial Collective and the Curator of Programmes, and co-edited a recent issue on queer, feminist, diasporic, and decolonial archives. Please read on and explore the topics of interest below for a thoughtfully curated account of the many individuals discussed in the episode. Where to find Nydia? www.nydiaswaby.com On LinkedIn What's Nydia reading? The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah Dear Science and Other Stories by Katherine McKittrick What's Nydia watching? Master Daughters of the Dust Other topics of interest: Amy Ashwood Garvey Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Pan African Movement Garveyism Jamaica Kincaid On Code Switching Double Consciousness Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo Ifeanyi Awachie Imani Perry Lorraine Hansberry Barby Asante S. Pearl Sharp Akosua Adoma Owusu Rita Gayle Joan Morgan Brittney Cooper The Politics of Pleasure Special Guest: Nydia Swaby.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the program, I had the opportunity to chat with Nigerian writer and activist, Ayisha Osori. Ayisha, also a lawyer, consultant and communication strategist has 18 years experience in the public and private sectors. Her clients include the World Bank, United Nations Development Fund, UNICEF, the Department for International Development, the Royal Institute of International Affairs and the National Democratic Institute, to name a few. She is the former CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and is currently a Director at the Open Society Foundations. A published author with a series of children's textbooks on social studies used in primary schools and a children's reference book on Nigeria, her first book, Love Does Not Win Elections chronicles her experiences in the electoral process and Nigerian Politics as a whole. She kept a weekly column for five years, first as the Pedestrian Lawyer in Thisday newspaper [https://www.thisdaylive.com] and most recently, as the Nigerian Citizen for The Leadership newspaper. A regular commentator on radio and television, she has been involved in numerous campaigns to improve social justice for women and girls, governance in Nigeria and is an experienced advocate on gender and social justice issues. It was truly a pleasure to meet and find such accord with Ayisha. Many thanks to Episode 97 guest, Kehinde Togun for making the connection, contributing to our March Herstory mission. Where to find Ayisha? On LinkeIn On Twitter On Instagram On YouTube What's Ayisha reading? The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Marton What's Ayisha watching? King Richard The Tragedy of Macbeth CODA Modern Family Frasier Meet the Press What's Ayisha Listening to? BBC's Focus on Africa Other topics of interest: Africa Continental Free Trade Area Rock the Vote Eisenhower Fellowship Map of Abuja Oyo Empire Special Guest: Ayisha Osori.

International Women's Day Greetings Glocal Citizens! Did you know IWD was first celebrated in 1911? Commemoration of the date was the outgrowth of the suggestion by Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women's rights at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. It was first celebrated 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. For this 111th IWD and in the spirit of advocacy and empowerment, my guest is, and continues to be a woman to watch. She's a thought leader in international development with a passion for young people, health and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ekua Yankah, an Afro-German was born in Germany to Ghanaian parents; after living in cities across the globe, she is now based in Portugal. Ekua, a polyglot has 20+ years of international experience working for UN agencies such as UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast & Central Asia and the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) as part of the European Expert Group on Sexuality Education in Europe. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Centre for Social Research in Health at University of New South Wales in Sydney where she has authored/co-authored five book chapters, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, research reports, training manuals and curricula on education, sexual and reproductive health and health innovation. Ekua also has a passion for contemporary art and cinema and is an active supporter and funder of various initiatives in the art world. Be sure to catch both episodes of this two-part conversation as Ekua offers expansive insights into her ability to overlay her professional and passion pursuits for wide benefit. Where to find Ekua? On Linkedin On Instagram On Facebook What's Ekua reading? Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi What's Ekua watching? Our Madness The Underground Railroad Other topics of interest: PSI.org Peter Aggelton The American of Journal Sexuality Education The Clue app and Hormonal Podcast Nana Oforiatta Ayim ANO Institute of Art and Knowledge We Are Born Free Online Radio On Renee Mboya HANGAR and Monica de Miranda Savvy Contemporary John Akomfrah Kwesi Owusu Kuukua Eshun Shaolin Qi Gong Kung Fu Meditation online Special Guest: Ekua Yankah.

International Women's Day Greetings Glocal Citizens! Did you know IWD was first celebrated in 1911? Commemoration of the date was the outgrowth of the suggestion by Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women's rights at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. It was first celebrated 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. For this 111th IWD and in the spirit of advocacy and empowerment, my guest is, and continues to be a woman to watch. She's a thought leader in international development with a passion for young people, health and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ekua Yankah, an Afro-German was born in Germany to Ghanaian parents; after living in cities across the globe, she is now based in Portugal. Ekua, a polyglot has 20+ years of international experience working for UN agencies such as UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast & Central Asia and the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) as part of the European Expert Group on Sexuality Education in Europe. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Centre for Social Research in Health at University of New South Wales in Sydney where she has authored/co-authored five book chapters, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, research reports, training manuals and curricula on education, sexual and reproductive health and health innovation. Ekua also has a passion for contemporary art and cinema and is an active supporter and funder of various initiatives in the art world. Be sure to catch both episodes of this two-part conversation as Ekua offers expansive insights into her ability to overlay her professional and passion pursuits for wide benefit. Where to find Ekua? On Linkedin On Instagram On Facebook What's Ekua reading? Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi What's Ekua watching? Our Madness The Underground Railroad Other topics of interest: PSI.org Peter Aggelton The American of Journal Sexuality Education The Clue app and Hormonal Podcast Nana Oforiatta Ayim ANO Institute of Art and Knowledge We Are Born Free Online Radio On Renee Mboya HANGAR and Monica de Miranda Savvy Contemporary John Akomfrah Kwesi Owusu Kuukua Eshun Shaolin Qi Gong Kung Fu Meditation online Special Guest: Ekua Yankah.

March greetings Glocal Citizens! I discovered my guest this week in conversation with friend and guest of Episode 73, Jaykumar Menon. Knowing that I practice yoga, he figured an introduction to his cousin and her latest book would be fruitful. Indeed, I'm happy to have spent some quality time with Shailaja Menon to kick-off March, Women's History Month. Shailaja is an Author, Speaker, TV Host and Certified 500-hr Manasa Yoga instructor with over twenty years of teaching experience in the field of yoga. Born and raised in India, now based in Malaysia, she is the Founder of the Mat & Beyond Yoga Studio in Puchong, Selangor. Her book on yoga, Yoga Shakti: Awaken Your Own Power, was published in May 2018. She hosts the weekly show Yoga Shakti on Anand TV, based in the UK with audiences in Europe, North America and New Zealand. If you haven't already tried yoga, #listenandlearn how a few simple yoga practices can improve your day-to-day existence - Ham Sa. Where to find Shailaja? www.matnbeyond.com On Linkedin On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On YouTube What's Shailaja reading? Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being by Deepak Chopra Other topics of interest: Integral Yoga On the Eight Limbs of Yoga Dr. Mark Hyman Dr. Daniel Amen Dr. Joe Dispenza Dr. Michael Beckwith Special Guest: Shailaja Menon.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's guest and I share a bit of our own personal Black history going way back to grade school, when his younger brother and I were in the same class from Kindergarten through primary school. We all met up again in high school as "jocks," doing our thing in the Colorado athletics scene. Fast forward to the late 1990s and there we were again bright-eyed and ambitious in New York City--Brooklyn to be exact, laying the groundwork for becoming the adults that we are today. From the basketball court to the comedy stage, Jon Laster has always been a crowd pleaser. He moved to New York City to realize his dream of being a Comedian and quickly moved up the comedy hierarchy establishing himself as one of the funniest comedians and most sought after hosts. Early in his career, he appeared on three season’s of BET’s Comic View [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103356/], hosted the first and second Underground Comedy Festival in New York City, completed a year-long tour with the National Association for Campus Activities appearing on college campuses across the US and hosted the longest running weekly comedy room ever in Brooklyn. Performing and hosting comedy clubs and colleges such at - the Improv in Los Angeles and Miami to Caroline’s and the Comedy Cellar in New York City, from the out skirts of Nebraska, to the shores of Bermuda, Jon has stood audiences on their feet across the globe. In response the tragic murder of George Floyd and national upheaval that followed, Jon found himself wanting to do more than simply protest. He wanted to do something that would directly impact and improve Black lives. Targeting Black businesses in particular, Jon recently ticked a new box on his resume becoming a tech CEO, with the launch of the Blapp app. Blapp connects is communities to local Black businesses across an array of sectors--bars and restaurants, boutiques and markets, professional services and much, much more. With nearly 20,000 downloads since launching in October 2021, Blapp is well on it's way to becoming a game changer in both the brick and mortar and online shopping spaces! Where to find Jon? Blapp App Comedy Cellar On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Jon watching? Valley of the Damned on Discovery ID Disney+'s Mandalorian Other topics of interest: Former CSU President, Albert C. Yates About Leslie Jones One Bedroom Film About Margot Merrill Fernandez Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Venmo co-founder Special Guest: Jon Laster.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week, my heart is indeed warmed (I hope you all had a love-filled Valentine's Day) as I prepare to travel back to Ghana, leaving winter behind for 2022. I'm excited to share this fun and insightful conversation, which in many ways helps me pick up where I left off as I met my guest this week just days before traveling to the US. Fellow Stanford alum, Gina Paige's magic lies at the intersection of culture, science, and business. Her passion for helping individuals connect to their cultural identity has secured her a solid place in history as the co-founder of African Ancestry, Inc., as a pioneer for a new way of tracing African lineages using genetics, and as the innovator behind a new marketplace for people of African descent looking to trace their roots more accurately and reliably. She travels the world helping people demystify their roots and inform on identities so that they may better understand who they are by knowing where they’re from. With a career that spans nearly thirty years, she has become the go-to expert on DNA-based ancestry tracing for people of African descent. This month African Ancestry is featured on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: Lineage to Legacy 2-part special where fan favorites of Love & Hip Hop and Black Ink learn about their genetic origins. Where to find Gina? https://ginapaige.com On LInkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On YouTube What's Gina listening to? Chuck Brown Lonnie Liston Smith Pharaoh Sanders Sun Ra Roy Ayers Old School Hip Hop Sample Other topics of interest: Gogo Music Narrative Psychology Dr. Rick Kittles 20th Century Hip Hop Special Guest: Gina Paige.

New month greetings Glocal Citizens! February in North America marks Black History Month [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month] and my guest comes to us from a bedrock city in the story of migration and activism in black history by way of his own family's journey from in his native Cape Verde. Temosticles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira is a multi-talented keynote speaker astounding audiences with his unique blend of poetry, hip-hop music, and relevant social messages. He has spoken at many prestigious universities including Harvard University, Brown University and UMass Amherst and he has shared the stage with recording artists Common, KRS-1, and Ludacris. From large audiences at city-wide earth day festivals, to more intimate settings including classrooms and school assemblies, his word inspire people, particularly youth, with powerful messages focused on personal transformation, critical thinking, global responsibility and how young people can use their voices to be leaders in their communities. Merging his talents as a hip-hop artist and passions as an environmental justice activist he has recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign enabling him to publish his stunning 252 page YA (young audiences) graphic novel, Planeta Blu - Rise of Agoo. He wrote this story to inspire the next generation of youth of color. As an African American born in west Africa, he was called to write this book to create a world where a strong, young black woman would be the hero and that other youth of color could see themselves in the same heroic, positive light. This is another lively two-part interview so be sure to tune in x2 for insights into how this justice entrepreneur is re[presenting] superheroes of yesterday and today for a more sustainable tomorrow. Where to find Tem? planetablu.com On LinkedIn On Instragram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Tem reading? Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy, The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz by Miguel Ruiz Books by Ram Dass Spawn Comic Series What's Tem watching? Star Wars See What's Tem listening to? Kendrick Lamar A Tribe Calle Quest De La Soul Bob Marley Nahko and Medicine for the People Chachi Carvalho Tem Blessed's Music Strela Negra Ceseria Evora Other topics of interest: Van Jones' Dream Corps Upward Bound Knoll Farm and Peter Forbes Sundown Towns Historic New Bedford Frederick Douglass Cape Verdean Americans Revolution Leader Amílcar Cabral Portuguese Dictator DiAntonio de Oli veira Salazar Image Comics Dark Horse Comics *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Temistocles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira .

New month greetings Glocal Citizens! February in North America marks Black History Month [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month] and my guest comes to us from a bedrock city in the story of migration and activism in black history by way of his own family's journey from in his native Cape Verde. Temosticles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira is a multi-talented keynote speaker astounding audiences with his unique blend of poetry, hip-hop music, and relevant social messages. He has spoken at many prestigious universities including Harvard University, Brown University and UMass Amherst and he has shared the stage with recording artists Common, KRS-1, and Ludacris. From large audiences at city-wide earth day festivals, to more intimate settings including classrooms and school assemblies, his word inspire people, particularly youth, with powerful messages focused on personal transformation, critical thinking, global responsibility and how young people can use their voices to be leaders in their communities. Merging his talents as a hip-hop artist and passions as an environmental justice activist he has recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign enabling him to publish his stunning 252 page YA (young audiences) graphic novel, Planeta Blu - Rise of Agoo. He wrote this story to inspire the next generation of youth of color. As an African American born in west Africa, he was called to write this book to create a world where a strong, young black woman would be the hero and that other youth of color could see themselves in the same heroic, positive light. This is another lively two-part interview so be sure to tune in x2 for insights into how this justice entrepreneur is re[presenting] superheroes of yesterday and today for a more sustainable tomorrow. Where to find Tem? planetablu.com On LinkedIn On Instragram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Tem reading? Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy, The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz by Miguel Ruiz Books by Ram Dass Spawn Comic Series What's Tem watching? Star Wars See What's Tem listening to? Kendrick Lamar A Tribe Calle Quest De La Soul Bob Marley Nahko and Medicine for the People Chachi Carvalho Tem Blessed's Music Strela Negra Ceseria Evora Other topics of interest: Van Jones' Dream Corps Upward Bound Knoll Farm and Peter Forbes Sundown Towns Historic New Bedford Frederick Douglass Cape Verdean Americans Revolution Leader Amílcar Cabral Portuguese Dictator DiAntonio de Oli veira Salazar Image Comics Dark Horse Comics *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Temistocles "Tem Blessed" Ferreira .

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we have part two of my conversation with an emerging global health leader with a unique range of international experiences. Erica M. Daniel began her professional exploration by pursuing her Masters in Public Health (MPH) and wanting to expand her capacity to work with individual clients, she pursued a certification in sex and relationship coaching through the Somatica Institute. As an intimacy coach she is serving as a catalyst to change the narrative on how sex, relationships, and love are viewed, particularly by those of African descent and Christian backgrounds. Erica dismisses the stigma that sex positivity equates to promiscuity. Instead, embracing the joy of natural sexual energy and expression. She channels her passion for this into the organization she founded in Accra, “For the Love of Fufu,” an Accra-based project operating on the premise that most people want to be an active part of their social experience. It brings a new style to how people connect and make lasting memories by curating highly interactive and engaging events around traditionally taboo topics. In true Global Citizens style, Erica is also lead curator of GlobaLuminary Consulting where her objective is to help everyday, normal individuals travel this world, the way best for them. I hope you enjoy taking a trip with us into Erica's world of love, intimacy and healthy self-care. Where to find Erica? Intimacy Coaching with Erica GlobaLuminary Consulting For the Love of Fufu On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What's Erica reading? Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel Come As Your Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz What's Erica watching? Don't Look Up Money Heist Queens Gambit Other topics of interest: 69 The Somatica Institute Sex, Love & goop *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Erica Daniel.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we have part one of a juicy two-part conversation with an emerging global health leader with a unique range of international experiences. Erica M. Daniel began her professional exploration by pursuing her Masters in Public Health (MPH) and wanting to expand her capacity to work with individual clients, she pursued a certification in sex and relationship coaching through the Somatica Institute. As an intimacy coach she is serving as a catalyst to change the narrative on how sex, relationships, and love are viewed, particularly by those of African descent and Christian backgrounds. Erica dismisses the stigma that sex positivity equates to promiscuity. Instead, embracing the joy of natural sexual energy and expression. She channels her passion for this into the organization she founded in Accra, “For the Love of Fufu,” an Accra-based project operating on the premise that most people want to be an active part of their social experience. It brings a new style to how people connect and make lasting memories by curating highly interactive and engaging events around traditionally taboo topics. In true Global Citizens style, Erica is also lead curator of GlobaLuminary Consulting where her objective is to help everyday, normal individuals travel this world, the way best for them. I hope you enjoy taking a trip with us into Erica's world of love, intimacy and healthy self-care. Where to find Erica? Intimacy Coaching with Erica GlobaLuminary Consulting For the Love of Fufu On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What's Erica reading? Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel Come As Your Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz What's Erica watching? Don't Look Up Money Heist Queens Gambit Other topics of interest: 69 The Somatica Institute Sex, Love & goop *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Erica Daniel.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's guest has recently become hot topic across traditional and social media platforms. His black fetus illustration went viral ushering his medical career in with a bang. Nigerian, Chidiebere Ibe graduated in Chemistry from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and in 2020. He then became creative director of the Journal of Global Neurosurgery. Having lost his mother to cancer, he became passionate about medicine, especially in relation to mothers and children. Independent from an early age, he raised funds for tuition to attend Kyiv Medical University in Ukraine, and will begin as first-year medical student this month. Chidiebere's affiliations include a roles as a Research Fellow/Creative Director at the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN) and the Young Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (YCAANS). He is also Creative Director and Chief Medical Illustrator of the Journal of Global Neurosurgery. He is passionate about contemporary illustrations of black patients and intends to continue working assiduously promoting the use of black skin medical illustration in medical textbooks and public health materials. He is pursuing a career in pediatric neurosurgery and intends to establish an association for black medical illustrators. We're confident that he will do just that! Where to find Chidiebere? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What is Chidiebere listening to? Nathaniel Bassey Moses Bliss Todd Dulaney Travis Greene Donny McClurkin Dunsin Oyekan What's Chidiebere reading? You Have a Brain: A Teen's Guide to T.H.I.N.K. B.I.G. by Ben Carson M.D. Other topics of interest: Elservier Publishing Ukrainian language *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Chidiebere Ibe.

New Year Greetings Glocal Citizens! As we usher in 2022 aka double deuces, this week’s episode is all about mindset. We’re going back into the Global Citizens archive for a compilation of mindset hacks from early guests of the podcast. In case you’e new to the podcast and not unlike some of my guests you might be wondering what is a mindset hack? Well, a description that I quite like is that mindset hacking is exploring the limits of what is possible, seeking excellence, or even balance which entails doing something exciting and meaningful, deliberately finding opportunities to be clever, problem solve and enjoy what you are doing. So with that in mind, this week you’ll hear from: Cordie Aziz-Nash, she is the CEO and founder of Environment360 and has roots in Sierra Leone, Ghana and the US; Nigerian-American filmmaker and founder of Refined Creative based in Accra, Ghana, Emmanuel Etim; Ghanaian, musician and social entrepreneur, Leslie Bentil, he’s the founder of Gutta Soles and the Gutta Soles Foundation; Nigerian pianist, music director, composer, and leader of Afrobeat band Ayetoro, Funsho Ogundipe; Ghanaian Amma Gyampo, Co-Founder of B2B Entrepreneurship Development firm, ScaleUp Africa; Also from Ghana, serial techpreneur and creative, Kwame Acheampong; Yogi and wellness-peneur, Nana Amoako-Anin, founder of Bliss Yoga Accra; and Valerie Labi, a social innovator, business leader and mother who just last week welcomed her third bundle of joy. Congratulations to Val and her family! So, as we ease our way out of holiday mode and into the flow of work I hope you enjoy these sound bites of inspiration to help nourish the start of your new year! Links of interest: AIESECUS.org Mindsetopia.com Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God is Speaking by Priscilla Shirer About Kofi Ansah Fringe TV Series Sound effects: "[Ambience, Seaside Waves, Close, A.wav](www.jshaw.co.uk)" by InspectorJ of Freesound.orgSpecial Guests: Amma Gyampo, Cordie Aziz, Emmanuel Etim, Funsho Ogundipe, Kwame Acheampong, Leslie Bentil, Nana Amoako-Anin, and Valerie Labi.

Holiday Greetings Glocal Citizens! 'Tis the season for gratitude, cheer and new beginnings which is exactly what this week's guest offers in story and insight. Brigitte Perenyi is an award-winning Documentary Story Producer, Director, and Voice Over Artist, with a keen eye for visual and narrative details. She has traveled and worked in over ten countries in Africa and Europe; producing in one of the most challenging environments for media outlets, corporations, and organizations including BBC, World Bank, Open Society Foundation, and Conciliation Resources (CR). In 2017, Brigitte lead the full production of her personal story in a documentary film called, My Stolen Childhood. The BBC Our World commissioned 25 minutes edit which has been seen by millions of people globally. In November 2019, the BBC named her one of the most inspiring women in the world. She is a story strategist and cultural translator, who helps international media agencies and development organizations step away from narratives of victimhood and unequal power dynamics to tell stories that connect to the human heart. I'm delighted to share this inspiring guest and her story of ascent, overcoming a traumatic childhood to emerge in her womanhood as a masterful narrative storyteller. Where to find Brigitte? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On YouTube What's Brigitte watching? Awon Boys on Netflix The Creative Brain What's Brigitte reading? Healing the Soul of a Woman: How to Overcome Your Emotional Wounds by Joyce Meter Crazy Faith: It's Only Crazy Until It Happens by Michael Todd Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life by Sarah Jakes Roberts Other topics of interest: What is the Trokosi System? Imposter Syndrome Check out Emmanuel Etim's episodes of the podcast and Refined Creative *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Brigitte Perenyi.

Season's Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I'm sharing heartfelt cheer and lots of laughter as I meet with one to Africa's education super stars. In the past decade, her organization has quietly trained more than 10,000 teachers across five countries and the number is set to continue growing with each new initiative under her belt. As CEO and Executive Director of the Sesame Square Foundation in Abuja, Nigerian-born Ayobisi "Bisi" Osuntusa manages and oversees all aspects of the Education Research and Outreach departments of the Sesame Square project. In this capacity, she also co-develops teacher training and other educative materials, providing trainings for teachers, guardians, and educational officers, among her other leadership and implementation duties. Education has always played center stage in Bisi's life as you'll learn listening to the episode. And I trust that you'll come away with loads of new insights into the work necessary to prepare families, teachers and children to be the best that they can be! Where to find Bisi? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Bisi reading? Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah What's Bisi watching? From Paris with Love Other topics of interest: Arewa24 Kanuri Language IDP Camps Lego Foundation Shipt When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Ayobisi Osuntusa.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I had a great time with my guest this week who joined by for my last interview from Accra for the year. We met via another stamped and sealed Glocal Citizen Asare Adjei [Glocal Citizens - Asare Adjei] and what a pleasure is was meeting this trailblazer! Nyamal Tutdeal is a former refugee from South Sudan resettled in the United States with her family. She has worked with various immigrants, migrants, refugees, indigenous communities, and women groups, both domestically and internationally. She is a notable international speaker and an advocate for displaced communities. Her advocacy work took her to the White House during President Obama’s term in office. She has hosted cultural events and facilitates dialogue on conflict resolution, antiracist/race relations and peacebuilding. She is also a mediator and teaches mediation, conflict coaching, restorative justice and conflict transformation. Nyamal is the co-founder and Executive Director of the NyaEden Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University and Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services, a Nonprofit in Pennsylvania. She previously served as the policy director for Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalitions, a Nonprofit working on immigrants and refugees issues, and currently sits on the board. She holds a B.A. in Human Relations, an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Nyamal is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution at Nova Southeastern University. A hallmark of Nyamal's technical approach is humor which she shared generously--we had great fun and many laughs during the interview. You're invited to laugh along as we journey with Nyamal for her native lands to the US! Where to find Nyamal? [[NYAEDEN FOUNDATION](www.nyaeden.org) On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook Shades of Injera What's Nyamal reading? Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Other topics of interest: Nuer People White Fragility Jessica .B Harris and High on the Hog Ponca People Jesus and Jollof *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I had a great time with my guest this week who joined me for my last interview from Accra for the year. We met via another stamped and sealed Glocal Citizen Asare Adjei [Glocal Citizens - Asare Adjei] and what a pleasure is was meeting this trailblazer! Nyamal Tutdeal is a former refugee from South Sudan resettled in the United States with her family. She has worked with various immigrants, migrants, refugees, indigenous communities, and women groups, both domestically and internationally. She is a notable international speaker and an advocate for displaced communities. Her advocacy work took her to the White House during President Obama’s term in office. She has hosted cultural events and facilitates dialogue on conflict resolution, antiracist/race relations and peacebuilding. She is also a mediator and teaches mediation, conflict coaching, restorative justice and conflict transformation. Nyamal is the co-founder and Executive Director of the NyaEden Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University and Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services, a Nonprofit in Pennsylvania. She previously served as the policy director for Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalitions, a Nonprofit working on immigrants and refugees issues, and currently sits on the board. She holds a B.A. in Human Relations, an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Nyamal is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution at Nova Southeastern University. A hallmark of Nyamal's technical approach is humor which she shared generously--we had great fun and many laughs during the interview. You're invited to laugh along as we journey with Nyamal for her native lands to the US! Where to find Nyamal? [[NYAEDEN FOUNDATION](www.nyaeden.org) On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook Shades of Injera What's Nyamal reading? Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Other topics of interest: Nuer People White Fragility Jessica .B Harris and High on the Hog Ponca People Jesus and Jollof *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! Ten years on, after the Arab Spring bloomed, we're taking a virtual tour to Tunisia. There I met with Nadhir Douma a ICT specialist with an eye on continuous improvement of the human condition. Born and raised in Tunisa, Nadhir is a social entrepreneur, innovator and Artificial Intelligence enthusiast with an ICT background and more than 20 years in information systems mainly in higher education. He has founded and led two start ups in edtech in Tunisia. His first start up, e-Taalim, a free Weblog on e-Learning for executives, professionals and students in Africa and the Arab World was welcomed by several international organizations including UNESCO, ICT4ALL Forum, the European Commission, ALECSO and the OECD. In 2010, e-Taalim was chosen by the European association, Medventures as the best ICT start up in Tunisia. His second start up, ISLAMeBooks, a digital publishing house/ebookstore specialized in Islamic books in many languages was chosen by the World summit award as one of the best 40 eLearning projects worldwide in 2013. He is currently mentoring and coaching start up founders and giving advice in eLearning, ePublishing, eMarketing and eBusiness. In addition, he is also one of 371 Swedish Institute scholars enabling him to pursue a masters in Computer Science for sustainable development in Sweden. His connection to the Nordic region began in 2019 when his eHealth start-up project was among 75 projects from across the globe selected to incubate and launch in the Startup Visa program in Denmark. Tune in and find out more about Nadhir's other areas of interest and knowledge such as sustainability, sustaintech, circular economy, transformative technology, phytotherapy and more. Where to find Nadhir? On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadhirdouma/] On Twitter [https://twitter.com/nadhirus] Other topics of interest: About Sousse [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousse] Tunisia's Startup Act [https://www.insme.org/the-tunisian-startup-act/] Benefits of Prickly Pear [https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/prickly-pear-cactus/faq-20057771#:~:text=Prickly%20pear%20cactus%20%E2%80%94%20or%20also,antiviral%20and%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20properties] Benefits of Rosemary [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370#_noHeaderPrefixedContent]Special Guest: Nadihir Douma.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! As of this week we've been on this journey for 100 Episodes!! Hurray :) and thank you all for joining me on this mission. I continue to be very much committed to manifesting a new world one guest at a time and the idea of showcasing the works and ways of all the dynamic diasporans out there doing their something is motivation to get to episode1000 in due time! My guest this week is a media professional and content creator that rounds out our first 100 episodes quite nicely. Ivy Prosper is Ghanaian born and while spending the majority of her life in Canada she is a passionate Pan-Africa and has developed a desire to help tell stories that can change the negative narrative of Africa often portrayed in the media. is very passionate about advocating for women and doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind when it comes to gender issues and educating people who don’t understand the disparity that still exists when it comes to gender equality. For over a decade she has been a public speaker addressing concerns related to the empowerment women. Born in Ghana, she immigrated to Canada at an early age with her parents. A graduate of Ryerson University, her career in the public eye began as a teen when she was pursuing a career as a fashion model before venturing into the fashion industry first as a designer then in retail footwear until she became an assistant buyer for a women's retailer. She later made a career change after studying Radio & Television Broadcasting at Specs Howard School of Media Art in Detroit, Michigan. Since then she has worked as a Television Reporter, Host, Producer and script-writer on various projects. Most notably she worked as a Consultant/Fixer on one episode of the Christiane Amanpour series, Sex & Love Around the World, which aired on CNN in 2018. She was nominated for Host of the Year in a Development Series by the RTP Awards in Ghana for her work on The Maternal Health Channel TV Series in 2013. Over the last year she has been a freelance Producer on documentary film projects with Refined Creative, a production company based in Ghana. As a reporter she’s interviewed noteworthy people including Oscar-Winning Director, Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Actor/Producer Idris Elba, Oscar-Nominated actor Jake Gyllenhall, Recording artist Akon, Comedian Leslie Jones, Actor David Oyelowo, Grammy-winning recording artist Melanie Fiona and many more. There is so much more to Ivy, listen in and fully Prosper! Where to find Ivy? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On YouTube On Facebook On Pintrest What's Ivy reading? Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. Maxwell Other topics of interest: Mel Robbins' The 5Second Rule NAACP Niagara Movement Year of Return and Beyond Maternal Health Channel Grand Health Bazaar ...and join me on November 23rd @ 2PM WAT as moderate the COVID-19 status and solution-scaping afternoon sessions. *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Ivy Prosper.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I'm live on the streets of Accra this week on the podcast with my guest, Yaw "Zoh Zoh" Boateng. He is a Ghanaian activist musician and builder transforming items typically thought as waste into functional works of art. His stage name, Zoh Zoh translates to "one step at a time" in the Ewe language, one of his two mother tongues. He chose this moniker because life is a journey and his has taken him across the globe. In his journey he has lead an eight-piece band producing a unique, upbeat, and invigorating Afro-Reggae sound co-mingling Afro Beat, Afro Fusion Jazz, Old School Reggae and African Funk High life, all together for with a unique sounding rhythm driven by West African percussion. He has opened for act such as the late James Brown and Hugh Masekela. Nowadays he is making a mark in Ghana as the owner of The Pallet Kitchen which is constructed of recycled pallets. His current project, "The Arrk," a tribute to the native history and sea vessels will open in December 2021 in time for the bustling holiday season. Where to find Zoh Zoh? On LinkedIn On Facebook On YouTube On Twitter Other topics of interest: Napier, New Zealand Who are the Kiwis? Nomadic African and other Zoh Zoh Music Zoh Zoh chats with Wode Maya Special Guest: Yaw "ZohZoh" Boateng.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week comes to us from Toronto, Canada by way of her native Cameroon. Tina Mbachu is a bilingual, social impact specialist and international development professional focused on Africa and the intersection of gender equality and economic empowerment. She is passionate about social entrepreneurship that fosters the creative economy on the continent and also builds opportunities for job creation. She is also the owner of A Few Good Things, an online store with the aim to highlight talented African designers whose work has sustainable and ethical production practices at its core. As a complement to A Few Good Things is her start-up enterprise Atelier MBOKA, which is focused on building an inclusive value chain for fashion accessories. If you're a social entrepreneur in the making or simply curious about the how to optimize social impact for your own work places, Tina is a resource ready and able to be your guide. Where to find Tina? www.tinambachu.com On LinkedIn On Instagram A Few Good Things on IG What's Tina reading? True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart by Thich Nhat Hanh What's Tina listening to? On Spotify Other topics of interest: The Black Innovation Program @ DMZ Bamileke People of Cameroon Kizomba *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Tina Mbachu Obodozie.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! Around this time last year, the world--Africa particular witnessed the rise of a new and notable class of activists in the #EndSARS protests which was punctuated by a brutal conflict between police forces and activists in the Lekki Toll Gate Shooting on 20th October 2020. In this week's episode, I had to opportunity discuss the changing face of activism as well as the necessary changes in the ways that policy is taught, designed, communicated about and implemented with a consummate policy professional, Kehinde Togun. As former colleagues at www.ndi.org, he was introduced to me by my guest in Episode 93 [https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/93], Sefakor Ashiagbor and I am grateful, as always, for the introduction. Kehinde is currently the Senior Director for Policy and Government Relations at Humanity United where he leads the team responsible for engaging governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society in pursuit of policy change and regulatory action that cultivate the conditions for enduring peace and freedom. He has led global democracy and governance programs for 15 years which has included complex research advising on overseas investments; leading diverse development initiatives, including training senior staff of the Tanzanian government to improve service delivery to citizens; supporting members of the Iraqi and Kurdistan Parliaments to increase outreach to constituents; working with citizens in Nigeria and Kenya to improve electoral integrity; and enhancing the ability of NGOs in Iraq, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Turkey to demand greater accountability from their governments. He also serves on multiple boards including the Center for Racial Justice in Education [https://centerracialjustice.org/], an organization that trains and empowers educators to dismantle racism in the US education system. Born and partially raised in Nigeria, Kehinde started his glocal citizenship journey at the age of 11 when his family migrated to the US in search of healthcare solutions. Listen in, there's so much more to this talented diasporan. Where to find Kehinde? On LinkedIn On Twitter What's Kehinde listening to? Up First on NPR The Daily Punch Hacks on Tap Code Switch on NPR Snap Judgement Other topics of interest: About Teach for America The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan Truman National Security Project Council on Foreign Relations *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Kehinde Togun.

Greetings Glocal Citizen! For this two part conversation we're continuing on a narrative transformation path in conversation with another writer, author and researcher--meet Dr. T.J. Desch-Obi author of Fighting for Honor: The History of African Martial Arts in the Atlantic World. Currently based in Columbio, T.J. is of West African--NIgerian and Liberian parentage and grew up in the Midwestern United States. He received his doctorate in African history from the University of California Los Angeles and is currently a visiting professor at Universidad ICESI’s Centro de Estudios Afrodiaspóricos in Cali, Colombia. He specializes in the historical ethnography of pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora with a focus upon martial arts, physical culture, religion, sport, historical linguistics, and military history. His current research focuses on the social history of the machete and the Afro-Colombian machete fighting from 1848 to 1960, and twentieth century prison boxing. Dr. Desch-Obi is a permanent member of the history department at the City University of New York’s, Baruch College, where he also teaches in the Black and Latino Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Departments. I hope you enjoy this journey with T.J. across continents and through a world history often obscured! Where to find T.J.? Selected research On YouTube What's T.J. reading? The Way of a Pilgrim Other topics of interest: Filipino Kali Robert Farris Thompson Beni Hasan Tomb Nsibidi script of Nigeria N'Golo Holocene Climactic Optimum Jan Vansina Christopher Ehret La Violencia Phillip Zarrilli Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick DouglassSpecial Guest: T.J. Desch-Obi.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! For this two part conversation we're continuing on a narrative transformation path in conversation with another writer, author and researcher--meet Dr. T.J. Desch-Obi author of Fighting for Honor: The History of African Martial Arts in the Atlantic World. Currently based in Columbia, T.J. is of West African--NIgerian and Liberian parentage and grew up in the Midwestern United States. He received his doctorate in African history from the University of California Los Angeles and is currently a visiting professor at Universidad ICESI’s Centro de Estudios Afrodiaspóricos in Cali, Colombia. He specializes in the historical ethnography of pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora with a focus upon martial arts, physical culture, religion, sport, historical linguistics, and military history. His current research focuses on the social history of the machete and the Afro-Colombian machete fighting from 1848 to 1960, and twentieth century prison boxing. Dr. Desch-Obi is a permanent member of the history department at the City University of New York’s, Baruch College, where he also teaches in the Black and Latino Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Departments. I hope you enjoy this journey with T.J. across continents and through a world history often obscured! Where to find T.J.? Selected research On YouTube What's T.J. reading? The Way of a Pilgrim Other topics of interest: Filipino Kali Robert Farris Thompson Beni Hasan Tomb Nsibidi script of Nigeria N'Golo Holocene Climactic Optimum Jan Vansina Christopher Ehret La Violencia Phillip Zarrilli Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: T.J. Desch-Obi.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we're venturing down to South Africa where we meet one of Africa's most prominent experts on African philanthropy. Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo, born and raised in Zimbabwe--now based in Pretoria, SA, is a descendant of the Moyo (heart/soul) and Ndlovu (elephant) clans. Over the course of his personal and professional lives, he has continued to marvel and draw strength from their combined histories and diversities. He is a writer, author, researcher and thought-leader with keen interest in questions of African resources, democracy and governance. He has, so far, championed African discourse on philanthropy, contributed to the growth of many African civil society formations and has taken part in most of the continental processes of development and governance. He is currently an adjunct professor at University of the Witwatersrand Business School where he also heads the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment. Dr. Moyo has more than twenty years experience working on knowledge generation, research and policy analysis as well as building capable institutions across Africa. He writes and support institutions of civil society, private sector and intergovernmental agencies on matters of governance, development and sustainability. Dr. Moyo, over the years, has become a go to specialist on African philanthropy. There's sooooo much more to learn from this dedicated activist, #listenandlearn! Where to find Dr. Moyo? www.bhekinkosimoyo.com On Twitter On Facebook What's Dr. Moyo reading? In My Father's House by Kwame Anthony Appiah Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga The Beautiful Ones are not yet Born Ayi Kwei Armah Chinua Achebe Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi I did not come to you by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani Other topics of interest: Giving to Help, Helping to Give: The Context and Politics of African Philanthropy by Tade Akin Aina, Bhekinkosi Moyo, et. al. Akwasi Aidoo African Philanthropy Network Allen Fowler International Society for Third Sector Research Kathleen McCarthy On Karate Chinua Achebe CAPSI Journal *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Bhekinkosi Moyo.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's a new season and across the globe elections and government transitions are top of mind and all over the headlines. For professionals like my guest this week, Ghanaian-American, Sefakor "Sef" Ashiagbor the spirit of the season is her every day occupation. Sef is a colleague of my guest on Episode 88, Gemima Neves Barlow [https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/88] at the National Democracy Institute where she is senior advisor for political party programs. She provides thought leadership and analytical expertise to shape the design and implementation of the Institute’s political party programs worldwide. She has conducted research, developed knowledge management products, authored publications and served as a conference panelist on a wide range of topics including: promoting issue-based political parties; political party coalition-building; parliamentary group organizing; political finance; democratic resilience; and political party programming. She has led political and program assessment missions to a wide range of contexts, and served in NDI offices in Ghana and Malawi. Her extensive professional travels have taken her to countries as diverse as Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Morocco, Nepal, Uganda and Ukraine. Previous to joining NDI, Sef worked in international humanitarian assistance, developing funding proposals, and overseeing the procurement and shipment of relief materials to a variety of countries in crisis. She also worked in the West Africa department of the World Bank. Sef earned her Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor's degree in History from Selwyn College, Cambridge. She is almost fluent in French and speaks Spanish. Where to find Sef? On LinkedIn What's Sef reading? A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie How Beautiful We by Imbolo Mbue What's Sef watching? The Piano Masterpiece Other topics of interest: What's happening in Guinea? What happened in Côte d’Ivoire in 1999? The Circle on Netflix *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Sefakor Ashiagbor.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week has travelled to more than 60 countries and worked on five continents. Currently based in southern Spain, Dr. Ronda Železný-Green is a digital changemaker creating social learning systems to empower Black people, women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized populations in the technology and education sectors. Serving as a mobile technologist, trainer, and researcher, Ronda’s 16+ years of professional experience spans five continents and the public, private, and civil society sectors. A Black and Native American cis woman excelling with ADHD, Ronda also has extensive experience delivering action-oriented training that integrates the themes of racial equity and justice and gender with global perspectives. Hallmarks of her career include learning/educating with tech; championing, coaching, and mentoring women in tech; and empowering people to use technology as transformative tools to live their best lives. She is currently the Global Head of Training and eLearning at the Internet Society where she is leading the end-to-end rebuild and relaunch of our training programs, including the digital transformation of existing training activities due to COVID-19. She also serves in advisory and director roles at the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) at the United Nations Foundation, InnovateHer - where she is the board chair, and Noise Solution. At the same time she's a tech-prenuer as co-founder and director of Panoply Digital Ltd is a socially conscious organization using their expertise in ICT, education, and gender to create solutions to development challenges. Ronda is a whirlwind of digital dynamism! Where to find Ronda? www.rondazg.com On Linkedin On Twitter On Instagram What's Ronda watching? Flight 93 Love is Blind La Granja de Zenón Other topics of interest: What happened in 2009 in Madagascar? About the Peace Corps About Bell Hooks About Paulo Freire Seyi Akiwowo and Glitch On Intersectionality Special Guest: Ronda Zelezny-Green.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! For our next two-part conversation we're discussing health policy solutions for living well in Africa with my guest, CEO and founder of Nigeria's LiveWell Initiative (LWI), Adebisi "Bisi" Bright. As a social entrepreneur in the health sector, a qualified consultant clinical pharmacist and public health practitioner, Bisi is an innovative, pragmatic and result-oriented professional helping to improve wellness with a goal to improving life expectancy and reducing health illiteracy among the people. She is engaged in doing this by adding value to the 'social space' through the nonprofit organization LiveWell Initiative LWI - a health empowerment organization which has outreached over one million Nigerians and at least 3,000 Ghanaians with free health over the past three years. Be sure to stay tuned for both parts as Bisi shares insights on their highly successful COVID-19 treatment protocol and how LWI is pioneering a volunteer centered health care system in underserved, blighted areas in Nigeria. Where to find Bisi? www.livewellng.org On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Bisi watching? Gone with the Wind Other topics of interest: University of Zimbabwe What is Sadza? West African College of Pharmacists Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health International Alliance of Patients' Organizations World Hepatitis Alliance Shared Value Initiative Global COVID-19 Vaccination Stats Special Guest: Adebisi Bright.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! For our next two-part conversation we're discussing health policy solutions for living well in Africa with my guest, CEO and founder of Nigeria's LiveWell Initiative (LWI), Adebisi "Bisi" Bright. As a social entrepreneur in the health sector, a qualified consultant clinical pharmacist and public health practitioner, Bisi is an innovative, pragmatic and result-oriented professional helping to improve wellness with a goal to improving life expectancy and reducing health illiteracy among the people. She is engaged in doing this by adding value to the 'social space' through the nonprofit organization LiveWell Initiative LWI - a health empowerment organization which has outreached over one million Nigerians and at least 3,000 Ghanaians with free health over the past three years. Be sure to stay tuned for both parts as Bisi shares insights on their highly successful COVID-19 treatment protocol and how LWI is pioneering a volunteer centered health care system in underserved, blighted areas in Nigeria. Where to find Bisi? www.livewellng.org On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Bisi watching? Gone with the Wind Other topics of interest: University of Zimbabwe What is Sadza? West African College of Pharmacists Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health International Alliance of Patients' Organizations World Hepatitis Alliance Shared Value Initiative Global COVID-19 Vaccination Stats Special Guest: Adebisi Bright.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast it's our first family affair. In a one year later flashback, I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth "Liz" Rollins-Moskowitz, mother of my guest from Episode 37, Salim Rollins. Liz describes herself as "an 82-year old trying to grow up and figure life out." With roots in Westchester County, New York, Liz traveled the world first when her parents moved to Switzerland as a teenager and later as a model and wife of modern day Renaissance Man, acclaimed photographer, musician, writer and film director, Gordon Parks. In her modeling career, Liz appeared in Life Magazine, Vogue Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and other well-known publications of the times. Liz currently lives in Mill Valley, California where she continues to paint and is happily grandmothering, book clubbing, and meditating. Where to find Liz? On Facebook What's Liz reading? Under the River into the Sea by Walter Mosley The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhumpa_Lahiri] Other topics of interest: About Liz's father, E. Simms Campbell About Gordon Parks The Learning Tree Ebony Fashion Fair Freda DeKnight's Date with a Dish Harlem's Hotel Theresa Cab Calloway Duke Ellington Count Basie Spirit Rock Meditation Center On Education Reform in School Books Samuel P. Taylor Park Kokrobitey Institute *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! Earlier this month the world's eyes turned to Tokyo, Japan for the long awaited 2020 Summer Olympics which inspired me to connect with a former Stanford University track and field teammate, five-time Olympian Jacqueline "Jackie" Edwards-Flowers. Representing The Bahamas, she competed in the Long Jump and was ranked as high as 5th in the World. In her 17-year career as a professional track and field athlete Jackie's accomplishments include 2-time NCAA Champion and 5-time All-American while at Stanford. She also competed in a record nine consecutive outdoor World Championships. Following her athletic career, Jackie was a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and had a flourishing coaching/personal training business in Los Angeles, California. She worked with a wide range of clients from middle and high school aged kids to adults and professional athletes as a coach, a trainer and a Sport Psychology Consultant. Five years ago, Jackie decided to take on a new challenge and transition into the very competitive field of event planning. She always had a passion for creating beautiful spaces and memorable events but with no formal training in this industry, it was no easy task. However, her years of overcoming obstacles and rising to the occasion, along with her “if it’s hard, let me try it” attitude, helped her to set her sights on her new goal. Her journey began in interior design and has progressed into a career where her feet are firmly planted as the Project and Special Events Coordinator in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at California State University, Northridge where she truly feels that the sky is the limit. Recently, while working from home due to the pandemic, Jackie was spurred to add to her portfolio by creating a full-service home staging business, Gold Medal Home Staging & Design. She launched her company in late October 2020 and has already completed 30 projects. She says that her work at CSUN is her job and her staging business is her joy and that the combination of the two is extremely fulfilling. Where to find Jackie? Gold Medal Home Staging and Design On Wikipedia On Facebook What's Jackie watching? HGTV The Bachelorette The Bachelor The Real Housewives of Atlanta What's Jackie reading? Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power by T.D. Jakes Other topics of interest: Thomas Robinson Stadium Frank Rutherford Jackie Joyner-Kersee Brooks Johnson Mike Powell Dr. Ross Flowers Thumbtack App Altra Running Shoes *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Jacqueline "Jackie" Edwards-Flowers.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! We're welcoming August with a doubleheader featuring Will Niava, an award winning Ivorian-Ghanaian film director based but not bound to Montréal, Canada. After his education in film production at the Concordia University in Quebec, Will directed a number of projects around the world. Namely, four episodes of MTV Shuga, a fiction series in the Ivory Coast as well as “Violence Of The Lambs”, a music video released on NOWNESS from which he made his first short film “ZOO”. ZOO was selected at over 60 international film festivals of which 15 are Oscar qualifying. The film has since racked up over 10 awards. After its Vimeo Staff Picks release, ZOO is now available on the prestigious Criterion Collection. I catch up with Will while he is in our shared home country, Ghana where he has been for the better part of the last year on new uncle duty and in research mode for his next project. He is in the post-production process of his second short film “ELEMENT” while also preparing his first feature film experience, co-writing alongside Jérémy Comte, the Oscar-nominated director. As you'll hear in Part 2, Will is now represented by LA based production studio Florence for commercials and music videos which has given him the opportunity to work with artist such as H.E.R and Billy Eilish. Where to find Will? www.wniava.com On LinkedIn On Instagram On Vimeo On YouTube On Twitter On Facebook What's will listening to? Classic Reggae AmaPiano Dave What's will watching? Memories of a Murder In the Mood for Love Uncut Gems Good Time Other topics of interest: NAFTI Ghana Concordia University - Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema Black Magic Equipment Red Digital Equipment Ghanaian Footballers Jordan Ayew and André Ayew Fauve Short Film Solitary Dancer Barry Jenkins Jordan Peele About Amapiano AfrofuturismSpecial Guest: Will Niava.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! We're welcoming August with a doubleheader featuring Will Niava, an award winning Ivorian-Ghanaian film director based but not bound to Montréal, Canada. After his education in film production at the Concordia University in Quebec, Will directed a number of projects around the world--namely, four episodes of MTV Shuga, a fiction series in the Ivory Coast as well as “Violence Of The Lambs”, a music video released on NOWNESS from which he made his first short film “ZOO.” ZOO was selected at over 60 international film festivals of which 15 are Oscar qualifying. The film has since racked up over 10 awards. After its Vimeo Staff Picks release, ZOO is now available on the prestigious Criterion Collection. I catch up with Will while he is in our shared home country, Ghana where he has been for the better part of the last year on new uncle duty and in research mode for his next project. He is in the post-production process of his second short film “ELEMENT” while also preparing his first feature film experience, co-writing alongside Jérémy Comte, the Oscar-nominated director. As you'll hear in Part 2, Will is now represented by Los Angeles based production studio Florence. for commercials and music videos which has given him the opportunity to work with artist such as H.E.R and Billy Eilish. Where to find Will? [www.wniava.com](www.wniava.com) On LinkedIn On Instagram On Vimeo On YouTube On Twitter On Facebook What's will listening to? Classic Reggae AmaPiano Dave What's will watching? Memories of a Murder In the Mood for Love Uncut Gems Good Time Other topics of interest: NAFTI Ghana Concordia University - Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema [ Black Magic Equipment Red Digital Equipment Ghanaian Footballers Jordan Ayew and André Ayew Fauve Short Film Solitary Dancer Barry Jenkins Jordan Peele About Amapiano Afrofuturism Special Guest: Will Niava.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I meet with another artist with Caribbean roots. Beverley Watson is a ceramic sculptor, art therapist and licensed educator specializing in children with special needs. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Beverley has been based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn for more than 30 years. She attended the Jamaica School of Art and Brooklyn's Pratt Institute where she studied ceramic sculpture as an undergraduate and also received her Masters of Professional Studies in Special Education and Art Therapy. Between the mid-1990s and 2007, Beverley co-founded Zakiya Art, a gallery that exhibited other Black artists' works in her Bedford-Stuyvesant home. This spring, Nefer Atum Lotus Blossom: rebirth & regeneration, her first solo exhibition opened at Brooklyn's Artshack community ceramics studio. In Nefer Atum Lotus Blossom Beverley exhibits work that continues where she left clay thirty years ago, inspired by the spirits of oceans, Africa and self-love. During that time Beverley was moving through life's challenges, breakthroughs, and gratitude, and bringing forth her inner Lotus, the reflection of her inner beauty. I'm excited to share this emerging treasure with you! Where to find Beverley? @Artshack Brooklyn On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook What's Beverley reading? Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch Other topics of interest: Queen Afua About Lotus Flowers About Astral Projection Abraham Hicks Special Guest: Beverley Watson.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is Panamanian-American, Ivonne F. Cameron. Another serial entrepreneur, Ivonne who is based in the Washington, D.C. Area is currently CEO of ISE International Group, a healthcare, health and safety, COOP company. Prior to starting ISE in 2017, she launched over 14 start-ups across different industries from energy to fintech. The largest being a $92M health insurance company for the District of Columbia. Her global experience extends to work implementing health care programs and system improvement initiatives with countries seeking strategic solutions including Great Britain, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Republic of Georgia, Kenya, Liberia and United Arab Emirates. In our conversation you'll get to know more about what it took to start a health care company in the midst of massive systematic overhaul as well as what it takes to prepare any business to plan and remain viable during times of operational uncertainty such as the current global pandemic. Where to find Ivonne? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Facebook What's Ivonne reading? You Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins The $100 Start Up: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman Grit by Angela Duckworth The Little Black Book of Success Workbook: Laws of Leadership for Black Women by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evan Daniels The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage by Daymond John What's Ivonne watching? The Men Who Build America Launching and Supporting Black Owned Businesses, Mandy Bowman - TEDx Dover The Art of Diplomacy, Tayo Rockson - TEDx Cooper Union The Skill of Self Confidence, Dr. Ivan Joseph - TEDx RyersonUSpecial Guest: Ivonne Cameron.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is Gambian real estate mogul, Mustapha "Youthman" Njie. Mr. Njie has over 30 years of proven experience in the building and property industry. He is the founder and CEO of TAF Africa Global, a Pan-African real estate company that has built homes across eight African countries with dominance in Nigeria and The Gambia. Growing up from a small and humble background, when he founded TAF Africa Global in 1990, the goal was to be the leading property developer in Africa. In 2018, TAF refined its vision as in a mission to develop one million quality homes between 2018 and 2038. Three years in, I’m sure you all are as excited as I am to find out how it's going as well as what's new and next for this signed and stamped glocal citizen. Where to find Mr. Njie? TAF Africa Foundation On YouTube On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Mr. Njie watching? Mr. Njie talks with Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya How to design a golf course Other topics of interest: Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mohamed Mahathir Senegalese professional footballer Sadio Mané What platform do I use to record remote interviews?Special Guest: Mustapha Njie.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! In the next conversation it's a "Throwback Tuesday" as I reconnect with another old friend who is taking us on a journey between her home country of St. Croix to Denmark and back again. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, raised in and now based in the Virgin Islands, La Vaughn Belle makes visible the unremembered. Borrowing from elements of architecture, history and archeology Belle creates narratives that challenge colonial hierarchies and invisibility. La Vaughn explores the material culture of coloniality and her work presents countervisualities and narratives. Working in a variety of disciplines her practice includes: painting, installation, photography, writing, video and public interventions. Her work with colonial era pottery led to a commission with the renowned brand of porcelain products, the Royal Copenhagen. She has exhibited her work in the Caribbean, the USA and Europe in institutions such as the Museo del Barrio (NY), Casa de las Americas (Cuba), the Museum of the African Diaspora (CA) and Christiansborg Palace (DK). Her art is in the collections of the National Photography Museum and the Vestsjælland Museum in Denmark. She is the co-creator of “I Am Queen Mary”, the artist-led groundbreaking monument that confronted the Danish colonial amnesia while commemorating the legacies of resistance of the African people who were brought to the former Danish West Indies. The project was featured in over 100 media outlets around the world including the NY Times, Politiken, VICE, the BBC and Le Monde. Belle holds an MFA from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba and an MA and BA from Columbia University in NY. She was a finalist for the She Built NYC project to develop a monument to memorialize the legacy of Shirley Chisholm and for the Inequality in Bronze project in Philadelphia to redesign one of the first monuments to an enslaved woman at the Stenton historic house museum. As a 2018-2020 fellow at the Social Justice Institute at the Barnard Research Center for Women at Columbia University she worked on a project about the ‘citizenless’ Virgin Islanders in the Harlem Renaissance. This two-part conversation bookends the US Indepencence Day holiday, and at a time when so much about identity and nationalism is begging for long overdue examination, these episodes are healthy food for thought. In true #TBT fashion you'll want to come back to these discussion for the learning and insights into the continued work of deconstructing colonialism. Where to find La Vaughn and her works? www.lavaughnbelle.com I Am Queen Mary On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's La Vaughn reading? Just As I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free by Dr. Shefali Tsabary Other topics of interest: Teach for America Helle Stenum Salsa Cubano How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney About the Virgin IslandsSpecial Guest: La Vaughn Belle.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! In the next conversation it's a "Throwback Tuesday" as I reconnect with another old friend who is taking us on a journey between her home country of St. Croix to Denmark and back again. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, raised in and now based in the Virgin Islands, La Vaughn Belle makes visible the unremembered. Borrowing from elements of architecture, history and archeology Belle creates narratives that challenge colonial hierarchies and invisibility. La Vaughn explores the material culture of coloniality and her work presents countervisualities and narratives. Working in a variety of disciplines her practice includes: painting, installation, photography, writing, video and public interventions. Her work with colonial era pottery led to a commission with the renowned brand of porcelain products, the Royal Copenhagen. She has exhibited her work in the Caribbean, the USA and Europe in institutions such as the Museo del Barrio (NY), Casa de las Americas (Cuba), the Museum of the African Diaspora (CA) and Christiansborg Palace (DK). Her art is in the collections of the National Photography Museum and the Vestsjælland Museum in Denmark. She is the co-creator of “I Am Queen Mary”, the artist-led groundbreaking monument that confronted the Danish colonial amnesia while commemorating the legacies of resistance of the African people who were brought to the former Danish West Indies. The project was featured in over 100 media outlets around the world including the NY Times, Politiken, VICE, the BBC and Le Monde. Belle holds an MFA from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba and an MA and BA from Columbia University in NY. She was a finalist for the She Built NYC project to develop a monument to memorialize the legacy of Shirley Chisholm and for the Inequality in Bronze project in Philadelphia to redesign one of the first monuments to an enslaved woman at the Stenton historic house museum. As a 2018-2020 fellow at the Social Justice Institute at the Barnard Research Center for Women at Columbia University she worked on a project about the ‘citizenless’ Virgin Islanders in the Harlem Renaissance. This two-part conversation bookends the US Indepencence Day holiday, and at a time when so much about identity and nationalism is begging for long overdue examination, these episodes are healthy food for thought. In true #TBT fashion you'll want to come back to these discussion for the learning and insights into the continued work of deconstructing colonialism. Where to find La Vaughn and her works? www.lavaughnbelle.com I Am Queen Mary On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's La Vaughn reading? Just As I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson A Radical Awakening: Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free by Dr. Shefali Tsabary Other topics of interest: Teach for America Helle Stenum Salsa Cubano How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney About the Virgin IslandsSpecial Guest: La Vaughn Belle.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I've crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed safely in NYC for my annual #BKSummer. My guest this week takes me back to my first NYC summer. The summer when I decided that New York would one day be home for me. A summer spent test driving the life of Wall Street bankers in the SEO (Sponsor for Educational Opportunity) Career program internship. While Wall Street was no fit for me, it helped form the foundation of my guest's professional career. Chinedu Echeruo, currently based in New York, born and raised in Nigeria, is a serial entrepreneur and firmly believes that individuals, empowered by imagination and information, can solve virtually any problem. He founded the pioneering travel app HopStop (Apple acquired HopStop) that helped millions of users navigate public transportation in major metropolitan areas around the world. Chinedu has been featured in media including Bloomberg, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC and more. Chinedu was also a core member of the investment team at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund. Prior to completing his M.B.A., he spent several years in the Mergers and Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, financing and private equity transactions. Chinedu holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and B.S. in Finance and Accounting (Honors) from Syracuse University. In his latest series of new ventures he currently goes by the title Dreamer at the Start-up School of Alchemy and the Love & Magic company. Once you've taken in this episode, at the very least you too will be in a better position to imagine all that is you! Where to find Chinedu? www.startupschoolofalchemy.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube What's Chinedu watching? PBS Space Time Other topics of interest: Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill Information Theory Variational Free Energy Opportunity Zones The Greenwood CompanySpecial Guest: Chinedu Echeruo.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I had the treat of hosting a woman with sights on a healing revolution. Maya Gilliam is a serial entrepreneur as owner of Hempress Farms and Ma’ati Spa located in her native, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as global graphic design firm, III Eye Digital. A graduate of Howard University, she spent her early career in media focusing on sports with stints at USA Today and the NBA. In search of a way to reduce her screen time, she studied massage therapy and other wellness disciplines which led to the founding of Ma'ati Spa, LLC in 2012. Her business was hard hit by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which inspired Maya into applying her hemp cultivation skills to transforming her spa business and merging spaces with Hempress Farms, LLC. Hempress Farms is a licensed boutique, family owned, artisanal hemp grow. Her products are sustainably produced and responsibly sourced from seed to bottle. The merged space is the only hemp tasting room in downtown Winston-Salem. Another certified #GlocalCitizen, Maya continues to hone her love for travel and luxury as she explores replicating her enterprise experience in Africa given the changing policy landscape in the industrial and medicinal hemp sectors. That's how we were able to connect in Accra on her recent African tour which included a stop in Rwanda. Listen in and get know more about what's now and next for Hempress Farms. www.hempresshealer.com On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What's Maya listening to? Burna Boy Afrobeats Other topics of interest: Yadkinville, North Carolina The Hakuna Group My Hempress Farms gift Bella Canna Enterprises CannaAfrikaSpecial Guest: Maya Gilliam.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode is close to heart. I have as my guest Bangkok born, Virginia raised, globally trained and now achieving honorary Mbongo status in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nisha Ligon, a social entrepreneur with a background in media and science, and a passion for education. She has produced content for the BBC, the Guardian, online learning platforms, and an award winning documentary, Twiga Stars-- she's an avid footballer. Nisha holds an MSc. from Imperial College London and a B.S. from Yale. Our paths intersect with her role as Co-founder and CEO of UBONGO, Africa's leading kids' edutainment company. Ubongo creates top quality, localized edutainment to help Africa's 500 million kids learn, and leverage their learning to change their lives. Their vision is to equip Africa's next generation with the educational foundation, critical skills and positive mindsets to change their own lives and communities for the better. Over 17 million families in Africa learn with our edu-cartoons and radio programs, and we're rapidly growing across the continent. At Ubongo, she’s lead visionary, series producer/ screenwriter, and does whatever it takes to get our products made, tested and released! Through a distribution relationship with Ubongo, LEAP Transmedia introduced Ghanaian children and families to the program beginning in 2015. Where to find Nisha and Ubongo? www.ubongo.org On LinkedIn On Twitter On Facebook On Instagram On YouTube What's Nisha listening to? How to Save the Planet Podcast The Cipher Podcast Homecoming Pinna for kids Other topics of interest: About Laura Poitras Ubuntu Tom Chi @ TEDxSpecial Guest: Nisha Ligon.

June greetings Glocal Citizens! We're nearly halfway through "the year after" and in the spirit of reimagining spaces and places for our new next, my guest this week is all about personal development. Elvina Quaison, a British-Ghanaian is the founder of SESA, a global personal development organization. SESA is a space, a resource to assist others find answers, guidance and advice to make the life game more enjoyable. She has also served as Business Club Manager at AFFORD straddling continents to add value for businesses in the UK and Africa. Elvina's work in Ghana included a role as Marketing Manager at Beaufort Properties and the Director of Silk Solutions a company that made moving into Ghana easier and opened the market to the small business wanting to expand into a new exciting sphere. Reaching this point followed a path of working with and in African countries for over 11 years in various capacities including include facilitating workshops, trainings and one to ones as well as presenting at events from intimate talks to large international conferences. Fun fact about Elvina, she is also known as "Auntie Vina" and she hosts a story telling channel. She started the channel to share her love for children's books and the amazing journeys the imagination can take little people. She chooses books that focus on black children or are written by black authors. She also includes books that show a diversity of race, culture, religion, gender roles, health and life experiences and so much more, because our little people deserve so much more than just one way of looking at this big wide world. Check it out, her YouTube link is below! Where to find Elvina? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube [email protected] What's Elvina reading? Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey Books by Brené Brown What's Elvina watching? The Matrix Other topics of interest: Adinkra Symbols Fante People of Ghana Akina Mama Wa Afrika African Women's Development Fund The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the SyndromeSpecial Guest: Elivina Quaison.

African Unity Day Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we're back in Nigeria with one of Forbes' 30 under 30 in Enterprise Technology. Starting his first company at age 19, he's a serial entrepreneur in the public interest. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji spent the last few years as the CEO of Flutterwave, a business building payments technology and infrastructure connecting Africa to the global economy. He led the company to becoming one of the fastest growing payments technology businesses of all-time processing over $2 billion across over 50 million transactions. In his tech-prenuer endeavors, prior to Flutterwave, Iyinoluwa co-founded Andela - Africa's largest engineering organization with over 1,000 software engineers; Andela’s investors include Mark Zuckerberg and Google Ventures amongst others. Iyinoluwa or "E" now heads Fund for Africa’s Future where he spends time helping founders, philanthropists and investors from around the world understand how to do build fast growing and impactful technology businesses in Africa. Today we salute all that Iyinoluwa is doing to manifest a more unified Africa! Where to find Iyinoluwa: On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Iyinoluwa reading? The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald American Disruptor: The Scandalous Life of Leland Stanford by Roland De Wolk Other topics of interest: Velocity @ University of Waterloo Learning Management Systems The Gilded Age Niger Delta ConflictSpecial Guest: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.