Jessica Cherry's ReImagination Café

In a time of rising polarization, social fragmentation, and widespread disconnection, how can communities rebuild trust and strengthen civic life? In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Jessica Cherry continues her conversation with Bridget Marquis, Director of Reimagining the Civic Commons, exploring how public spaces across the country are being transformed in ways that bring people together in meaningful ways. Through stories from Detroit and Memphis, the episode highlights how communities are turning vacant land, underused corridors, and even historically divisive spaces into welcoming places of connection and belonging. The episode features three local leaders: Alexa Bush and Karlyta Williams in Detroit, and Carol Coletta in Memphis. Their stories show how thoughtful design, community engagement, and cultural storytelling can reshape both neighborhoods and perceptions. Together, these stories offer a hopeful vision of what becomes possible when communities invest in shared spaces that invite connection across differences—and how those everyday moments can help rebuild trust and strengthen civic life.

In a time of rising polarization, social fragmentation, and widespread disconnection, how can communities rediscover a sense of shared purpose and possibility? Bridget Marquis of Reimagining the Civic Commons argues that the path forward lies in revitalizing our public spaces. In this first installment of a two-part conversation with host Jessica Cherry, Bridget explores why the spaces we collectively own—our "civic commons"—matter now more than ever, and how communities across the country are transforming parks, libraries, waterfronts, trails, and other shared assets into vibrant hubs of connection, belonging, and civic life. The episode also features two local leaders in Akron, Ohio—Dan Rice and Grace Hudson—who reflect on the central role that trust plays in Civic Commons work. Their experience highlights that progress depends not only on what gets built, but on how leaders listen, collaborate, and build relationships with the communities they serve. Together, these voices paint a hopeful picture of what becomes possible when we invest not only in our civic infrastructure, but in the social fabric that allows communities to thrive—and how rebuilding trust at the local level can help communities reconnect and move forward together. In Part 2, we continue the conversation, highlighting additional cities and leaders who are transforming public spaces in powerful ways.

In this episode of the ReImagination Café, Jessica welcomes Kate Mudge, Co-Director of the Care Farming Network, and Woody Woodroof, founder of Red Wiggler Care Farm—voices behind a growing movement that uses therapeutic farming to promote health, well-being, and belonging. From one Maryland farm to hundreds across the U.S., they share stories that show how care farms heal, provide purpose, and connect people. You'll also hear from: Shawn Hayden (CEO, GAAMHA) on recovery programs that pair people in recovery with rescued farm animals. Lacey and Adam Ingrao (Bee Wise Farms) on mindfulness-infused beekeeping that supports veterans, invites honest dialogue, and builds community. Charley Schwartz (Red Wiggler) on creating sanctuary safe spaces where people feel heard, seen, and that they belong. Don't miss this conversation about: What care farming is—and the mutual benefits for participants, staff, volunteers, and communities. Red Wiggler's model: meaningful employment for people with disabilities, and community food access. How the Care Farming Network helps farms connect, share resources, mentor, and support one another. Innovative, real-world models serving people with disabilities, veterans, people in recovery, and other under-supported communities.

In this episode of Jessica Cherry's ReImagination Café, Jessica welcomes the visionary founder of Battery Dance Company, Jonathan Hollander — a cultural ambassador, changemaker, and global connector through the art of movement and dance. From the streets of New York City to communities around the world, Jonathan and his colleagues Emad Salem, Robin Cantrell, and Rutkay Özpinar, share how dance has become a powerful tool for diplomacy, healing, and human connection. Their stories are a testament to the idea that creativity can bridge divides, spark hope, and transform lives. Don't miss this inspiring conversation about: The power of dance to inspire social change. Building a global arts movement from the ground up. Reimagining what it means to lead with purpose and passion. Battery Dance Company is a New York-based nonprofit that creates lasting social impact by fostering understanding and improving lives through the universal expression of dance.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Tiffani Martin, Founder and CEO of VisioTech, a social tech company with a mission of harnessing the power of human ingenuity and AI to create a more inclusive and accessible world. Tiffani shares her remarkable personal story, which includes losing her eyesight at the age of 28 due to diabetic retinopathy. Choosing to focus on what she wanted to achieve instead of the obstacles in her path, Tiffani embraced AI-driven assistive technology, and fearlessly forged a new path forward. Tiffani shares the various assistive technologies that empower her to perform tasks and excel at work. She also discusses some of the services that VisioTech provides, and how it is partnering with other organizations to educate marginalized communities about cybersecurity, data privacy, and accessibility.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica is joined by Jess Skaare, who describes her experience transitioning and coming out as trans while working at the New York headquarters of a large corporation. Jess first shares her personal experience grappling with her gender identity, including many years of feeling like a secondary character in her own life. She then discusses various elements of a trans-inclusive workplace culture, including LGBTQ+ representation in senior leadership roles; a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect and share experiences; policies that respect the dignity of trans colleagues and make them feel like they can bring their whole selves to work; and gender diversity education and training. Jess also proposes specific actions that senior leaders, managers, and colleagues can take to help create a trans-inclusive workplace. For a supplemental background track that provides more information about Jess's personal story, please visit the ReImagining the Workplace website at reimaginingtheworkplace.net.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Valerie (Val) Jensen, the Founder of the Prospector Theater, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater. Val sets out the wide array of roles that employees - called prospects - perform at both the Prospector Theater and Val's Gemstone Farm. She also describes how she and her team tap into prospects' strengths and passions - which they call "sparkle" - empowering them to shine. Val also discusses the Prospector Theater's educational initiatives, including their service learning programs, which are custom-designed programs for businesses, schools, and other groups that educate participants about people with disabilities and showcase the vast talent that exists within this population. Jessica also has conversations with four prospects - Ali Wood, Joe Gillotti, Sam Furniss, and Rachel Wise - who describe the impact of meaningful employment on their lives.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Rudhir Krishtel, founder of Krishtel. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Rudhir and his team ignite transformational change in our workplaces by opening the door to collective dialogues about issues that arise at the intersection of leadership, well-being, and diversity, equity and inclusion. A former practicing attorney who wore stress as a badge of honor, Rudhir shares the wake-up call that changed his perspective, the meaningful conversation that gave him permission to take a pause from his busy life, and how spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, inform his work. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly navigate difficult conversations, Rudhir shares several stories that illustrate how he creates the safe spaces that are the cornerstone of transformational work.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Gary Hirsch, Co-founder of On Your Feet, which uses storytelling and improvisation to help companies pursue their business objectives. Gary is also the creator of Botjoy, a global art movement designed to spread joy throughout the world using tiny robots painted on the back of dominos. Whether creating robots through his Botjoy initiative, or delivering innovative training programs through On Your Feet, Gary is passionate about bringing people together and creating experiences that are playful, interactive, and engaging, and that ultimately lead to better results. Gary shares the heartwarming personal story that was the catalyst for his drawing and ultimately his Botjoy initiative, and sets out how he uses the tenets of improv to design and facilitate training programs that teach valuable skills, while igniting joy.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Heidi Rosenfelder and Jamie Woolf, the Co-Founders of Creativity Partners. Heidi and Jamie draw on their vast experience working at Pixar Animation Studios, and many other organizations, to conduct cutting edge team culture assessments that uncover hidden problems, and work with leaders and teams to build productive, humane, and innovative workplace cultures that support their organization's strategic goals. Passionate about infusing creativity and art into the workplace, Heidi and Jamie discuss the transformative impact of engaging in art, and share some of the innovative programs they have designed to build connection, bolster engagement, spark imagination, and bring joy and humanity to the workplace.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by executive coach, award-winning entrepreneur, and Forbes contributing writer Bonnie Marcus. A passionate advocate for women's advancement in the workplace, Bonnie addresses the "double whammy" of gendered ageism and the unique challenges that it creates for women over 50 in the modern workplace. Bonnie highlights the tremendous toll that gendered ageism takes on women who, despite continuing to get great results, are often undervalued and relegated to the sidelines as they age. Bonnie emphasizes the need for women in this cohort to understand their value, state their ambition, be politically savvy, and adopt a badass mindset. She also shares tools from her book Not Done Yet that are designed to empower women over 50 to reclaim their confidence, own their age, and step into their workplace power.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Richard Martin, CEO of the Mindful Business Charter, which is a framework for reducing unnecessary stress at work by establishing healthier and more effective ways of working. A former senior partner in an employment law firm, Richard describes the day his world fell apart due to a massive breakdown following a period of prolonged stress, and how he picked up the pieces, ultimately embarking on a fulfilling new career helping businesses nurture their employees' mental health. Applying the four pillars of the Charter, Richard highlights straightforward ways we can alter our day-to-day behaviors to reduce stress and create kinder, fairer, and more productive workplaces.

In Part 2 of this 2-part episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Cheryl Stallworth and Melissa Dougherty, co-founders of ShedLight, a social impact consultancy. Cheryl and Melissa discuss the role of corporations in addressing the complex web of challenges we are currently facing in our country. They address the backlash that many corporations and brands experience when entering the fray on polarizing social issues, and provide strategies for mitigating that risk. They also provide several examples of corporations that are having a positive social impact, while achieving their growth goals.

In Part 1 of this 2-part episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Cheryl Stallworth and Melissa Dougherty, the co-founders of ShedLight, a social impact consultancy. Cheryl and Melissa discuss why they believe that revealing the untold stories of American life is a crucial part of healing our divided nation. They share insights from community and business leaders, social activists, and other changemakers who they have met during road trips and who are driving change in ways that matter within their communities. They also share stories from everyday Americans to help companies and others better understand the challenges that people are facing.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Mel Comer, an experienced CFO and COO, and co-founder of Fuel 3, which provides CFO advisory services and accounting solutions to startups and tech companies in the Web3 world. An inspirational workplace leader whose superpower is cultivating strong relationships within her teams, Mel addresses both the factors that have shaped her leadership style, including the profound and enduring impact of her mentors, and the leadership traits that she believes are most important for creating collaborative work environments that ignite performance.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Michael (Mike) Kasdan, a law firm partner and Founder of Lawyering While Human, which provides mental health and wellness services for law firms and law schools. Mike takes us behind closed doors, and reveals what it looks like to practice law while battling severe depression. He also addresses the cultural elements within the legal profession that can contribute to the poor state of attorney mental health and offers strategies for creating a culture that better supports the mental health and well-being of attorneys and other legal professionals.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Amy Johnston, a licensed clinical social worker and Clinical Director at Urban Wellness, a mental health organization in Chicago. Amy discusses with Jessica how she conceptualizes mental health, dismantling stigma in our workplaces, ways to build connection with colleagues, and why employers should take a holistic approach to workplace mental health and well-being.

Join Jessica Cherry as she speaks with leaders who are successfully transforming our workplaces so that everyone can live up to their full potential and thrive. From corporate executives, to mental health professionals, to owners of small businesses, there are bold individuals all around us who are challenging the status quo and transforming the world of work. Join Jessica as she probes these leaders for their insights on what it takes to catalyze positive change at work and why, now more than ever, this is so crucial.