He has led in industry-leading corporations like Kraft Foods, Imperial Sugar, and The Coca-Cola Company.

He is consistently sought to advise or serve on premiere non-profit boards where he provides oversight in governance, board development, CEO selection, and organizational leadership.

Galen is a published leadership author and has coached or consulted with over 875 senior executives, CEOs, and non-profit leaders across 7 countries.

As the founder of Kiln Global Coaching and Consulting, Galen is also a member of the BPI Group Coaching Cadre and host of the Leadership Toolbox and Whiskey, Jazz & Leadership podcast.

• Learn more about Galen here: galenbingham.com
• Click here to watch our interview on BlackLivesMatterTV.

“My role is to test, re-test, and ultimately drive the organization’s overarching vision, strategy, and tactical direction,” explains Towanna, whose CoachDiversity team delivers training and curriculum for to-be coaches and customized diversity and leadership programs for corporate and individual clients.

Towanna has spent the past three decades working in the federal government and the private sector, which has led to her serving a broad range of business executives, sales, and IT (information technology) professionals. She delivers custom keynotes and coaching and training programs designed to assist organizations in their efforts to equip their leaders and key contributors with the skills and competencies needed to excel in today’s challenging business environment. She uses her expertise to help businesses shape corporate strategies that produce positive bottom-line benefits.

“My goal is to be a trusted partner and problem solver for many clients tackling morale, employee retention, employee engagement, training, and development in the post-recession world,” explains Towanna, who has a Doctorate of Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a Doctorate of Divinity from Elbon-Solutions College of Ministry, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Howard University.

• Click here to learn more about CoachDiversity.com
• Click here to watch our interview on BlackLivesMatterTV

As the Senior Managing Partner and Director of the Diversity Executive Leadership Academy, Billy is an expert in workplace inclusion, engagement, and cultural competence. His days are spent working as a diversity and inclusion consultant, trainer, teacher, and writer.

Billy’s clients: Ranging from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to PF Changs Restaurants, QualComm Inc., and Square Inc. — Billy’s clients are diverse and impressive, and all share one thing in common: The desire to be inclusive.

In the beginning: Billy’s career began as a core faculty member at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in San Diego, which is one of four campuses of an elite private graduate school for training applied psychologists. It is currently a school within Alliant University. He designed and developed the Culture & Human Behavior program, which trains doctoral-level applied cultural psychologists.

An award-winning teacher: Billy has worked at the University of California, San Diego, California State University, Fullerton, Argosy University, and University of Lund (Sweden). He currently serves as dissertation chair for Walden University in the Organizational Psychology program.

To apply his work in non-academic settings: In 1998, Billy developed the Diversity Training University International. This free-standing corporate university furthers his goals of applying his knowledge and skills in training cultural competence among those in the community and workplace. The Diversity Executive Leadership Academy, an executive-level diversity leadership certification institute, is a DTUI.com subdivision.

Public speaking: Billy is frequently invited to serve as keynote speakers by a range of organizations and businesses, such as the Multicultural Advocates for Cultural Competence organization. He has conducted workshops at the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in Higher Education for the last decade due to his outstanding performance evaluations.

Watch our interview on Facebook Live.

About Kamilah: After receiving a BS in economics from Rhode Island College and an MA in Management and Supply Chain & Acquisition from the University of Maryland’s Global Campus, Kamilah A’Vant went on to lead Color — the diversity and inclusion (D&I) online and event-based publication based in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Color provides premier events focused on highlighting professionals of color and empowering diverse communities. Color’s unique events address D&I issues, share tools for personal and professional enrichment, foster long-lasting network connections, and recognizes the achievements of D&I leaders,” explains Kamilah, who also serves as the New England Chapter President for the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC).

“This non-profit, professional, media trade association has a mission to educate, advocate and empower for diversity and inclusion in areas of communications, media, and entertainment,” Kamilah explains, noting that NAMIC offers diverse networking opportunities, mentorship, and leadership development programs for its members and partners with other non-profit, academic, community, private and industry organizations in New England to promote its diversity and inclusion goals.

Kamilah has more than nine years’ experience in broadcast television, previously working for LIN Media and Media General, Inc. She negotiated contracts with cable companies to carry network television programming and managed 71 US broadcast television stations. She is on the board of the Rhode Island PBS Foundation.

She also serves as Adjunct Faculty at Bay Path University, is a member of the Southern New England Association of Black Journalists (SNEABJ), and a Community Advisory Board Member for the “Reflection in Action” program at Harvard Medical School Office of Diversity Inclusion & Community Partnership.

• Download our podcast interview now!
• Watch our interview on BlackLivesMatterTV
• Click here to check out Color magazine.

Portrait of Kamilah by Christopher Huan Photography

A popular public speaker and the author of five books, her areas of expertise include interpersonal communication, ethical and inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, diversity, and relationship building.

A graduate of Hampton University with a B.S. in Computer Science, and a Master of Education from Johns Hopkins University, she also has a graduate certificate in Leadership Development for Minority Managers and Leadership in Technology Integration.

• Download our podcast today!
• Watch our interview on Facebook Live
• Learn more about Wanda here.

The graduate of the College of William and Mary holds a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration from VCU.  Jamia has worked in various health systems in Virginia and North Carolina, moving her career forward in Strategic Planning and Business Development to her most recent position as Manager, Community Benefits for an entire health system.

In the last 14 years of working in healthcare, she has made it her personal mission to empower community members to become stakeholders in their own health.  She has been an Adjunct Professor, teaching Executive Leadership skills at VCU in their Master of Health Administration program; she is passionate about influencing the next generation of professionals.

As the new CEO of Families Forward Virginia, she will take what she has learned to propel the organization into the future.

Jamia is an educator, a connector, an advocate, as well as a “doer.” It is her personal mission to empower families in Virginia to become stakeholders in their own success.  By providing prevention, education, resources, tools, and access to wrap-around services, she hopes that together we can create sustainable, healthy families two generations at a time.

In her spare time, she loves listening to audiobooks and podcasts. She is currently listening to “Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown.”

Jamia believes that a good laugh, a listening ear, and an open-heart — cures everything. She also recognizes that hard work and sacrifice are always rewarded, a leader can do nothing without a team, and when your passions align with your life purpose, great achievements can be made. As a silver lining of the pandemic, she believes, is her newfound love for taking nature pictures with her cellphone, baking cupcakes with sprinkles, and buying a couple of pairs of new shoes.

Her greatest achievement by far, she says, is being a mother to three amazing children, two boys: Jackson and Dylan, and her daughter, Aidenne Luna.

• Download the podcast now!
• Click here to watch us on Facebook Live

Professor: Previously, Steve worked for years at Aquinas College, where he shared his vision and passion for diversity and inclusion with students. He is a specialist in communication, socio-psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Author: “I work with individuals and organizations to understand human behavior and leveraging human differences in an ever-changing, fast-paced 21st world,” explains Steve, whose book — What If? Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue — is used by organizations and schools to invite people to delve into deeper conversations about diversity, inclusion, and the power of caring.

Entrepreneur: Steve is also the founder of Something2Say Studios, a video production company dedicated to developing inclusive stories from a different perspective. “S2S captures our more popular pedagogies on screen,” shares Steve, pointing to his “Inclusion and Insights” series, an effective tool for cultivating and maintaining conversations on pertinent inclusion issues. Included in the series are Madam C.J. Walker, Ida Tarbell, Rita Moreno, Duke Kahanamoku, and Kyle Maynard.

Education: Steve earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Calvin College and his master’s and doctorate degrees in Communication Science from Michigan State University. When he is not traveling, Steve spends time rooting for the Michigan State Spartans. He loves spending time with his incredible wife and four talented children.

• Download our podcast now!
• Click here to read Steve’s Story”:https://beinkandescent.com/steve-robbins/

A multi-million, 8(a) Certified, Minority Woman-owned Small Business founded in 2016, CASE delivers secure, high-quality web-based process automation tools and knowledge management solutions. CASE guides an organization through change, focusing on business process and technology. “Our mission is to provide leaders with real data to make better business decisions,” Angela says.

Angela is also the co-founder and director of Kids Code Too — a non-profit organization focused on building computer science confidence in elementary students (3-8th grades) from underserved communities. Kids Code Too teaches students to build computers, utilize the computers to learn to code, and teach other kids to do the same.

A little background: Earlier in her career, Angela was a Senior Associate at a Fortune 500 company. She served as the Software Development lead for all web development work on two of its largest contracts (over $700M/5yrs) in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) market.

She was responsible for leading and managing the delivery of over 200 Research and Development projects for NGA. Ms. Mitchell led the implementation of over 20 custom workflow tools that automate numerous Chief of Staff and Business Executive functions at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) offices to reduce time spent on administrative functions and increase knowledge management.

Additionally, she has led both Enterprise (10,000+ users) and Directorate level workflow collaboration tools. She has successfully built end to end solutions that provide leadership with the information necessary to make data-driven business decisions.

Angela holds a Bachelors’s degree in Computer Information Systems from James Madison University, a Masters’s degree in Information Telecommunications Systems at John Hopkins University, and Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Babson College, the #1 ranked Entrepreneurship school in the US.

• Stream our podcast interview now!
• Watch our interview on YouTube: BlackLivesMatterTV.us
• Learn What’s Next for Angela on Inkandescent Women magazine
• Check out Angela’s new book, Start Before You Are Ready.

Quentin currently serves as a business adviser, legal expert, and business strategist for companies & individuals in industries ranging from professional sports, entertainment, fashion, and the media to the medical, legal, financial, law enforcement, education technology arenas.

Additionally, Williams is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Williams Media and Marketing Group, L.L.C., a Los Angeles-based media and marketing company.

He is the founder of Dedication to Community, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to empower communities worldwide by “paying it forward” through business and responsible societal efforts.

Tonight we explore:

• Quentin’s fascinating background and journey
• How this journey formed his life’s calling
• The creation of Dedication to Community, and its focus
• Quentin’s deep sense of optimism about our domestic and global future during very challenging times.
• How does he maintain such a positive outlook while battling explicit divisiveness in large numbers of societal members?

*Be sure to download our podcast on InkandescentRadio, or stream it on our YouTube channel, BlackLivesMatterTV.us.

You’ll learn about all that and more on tonight’s episode!

First, a little back story: I had the privilege of meeting Suzette Love when we took a graduate class in the fall of 2019 at Claremont Graduate University . Called “Good Work,” it was taught by world-renowned positive psychologist Dr. Jeanne Nakamura. Since we were two of the oldest students in the class (by far), we’d huddle together when it came time for break-out class discussions. I was always fascinated to hear Suzie’s perspective on topics ranging from “what is good work?” to her term paper’s presentation on black educators’ history and powerful impact in America. Tonight, we have the privilege of interviewing Suzette for our show!

As you’ll learn during the Q&A with our host, Tony Farmer, Suzie is studying for her Ph.D. in educational studies at CGU. In addition to having been a classroom teacher for much of her career, she also spent more than a decade of her life as a professional singer, songwriter, and music producer in Sweden. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and raised in Southern California, Suzie admits her claim to fame is the years she spent as a rock star in Europe.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 1. How Suzie made Sweden her home — and how she became a pop star in Europe 2. Why she chose to return to the US to pursue a career as an educator 3. What she’s accomplished and observed as a teacher 4. The future that Suzie sees for black children post-pandemic 5. Who this academic wants to be in the years to come

• Download the podcast now!
• Stream it on BlackLivesMatterTV
• Read more about Suzie, who was the cover story of the July 2020 issue of Inkandescent Women magazine.
• Listen to her popular tune, Black Magic Soliloquy.
• Scroll down for her essay, From Emancipation to COVID-19 — We’ve Come This Far by Faith: The Evolution of Black Education

From Emancipation to COVID-19 — We’ve Come This Far by Faith: The Evolution of Black Education

An Essay by Suzette M. Love – MPA; M. Ed

January 2021 — The Civil Rights Movement leaders of the 1950s and 1960s were moved to create a world in which their children could take advantage of the economic opportunities so endemic to the American dream. With the precedent established by the Brown Vs. Board decision barring segregation in public schools in 1954, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, most Black people believed that they were well on their way toward achieving the Movement’s aspirations.

Martin Luther King Jr. and others’ egalitarian ambitions were firmly rooted in a prescient desire to ensure equality of access for Black children to America’s education system.

When Emancipation occurred in 1865, nearly 4 million illiterate men, women, and children had to be nurtured, cared for, and educated. Among Blacks, the task was taken on through a more collective approach. Well educated Black men and women answered the call and courageously migrated from the North to the South to uplift their people1.

They understood that educating the nation’s population of newly freed slaves would take more than just teaching them to read and write. For more than 150 years, Black children have been participants in the American educational system. However, the shocking disparities of their socio-economic standing in comparison to White children could leave one speechless. Today, those disparities encapsulated in a history of persistent institutional inequities have become even more apparent with the intensive impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its disproportionate effect on the Black community.

Click here to read more!

The CEO of Girls For A Change, based in Richmond, VA, she is among the “Top 40 under 40,” was recognized in 2016 by President Obama as a “White House Champion of Change for After School programming for Marginalized Girls of Color.” She also received the Nonprofit Partner of the Year award from the Metropolitan Business League in March 2018. Angela says the honors are appreciated, but the reason she has been recognized is that she is committed to “Preparing Black girls for the World — and the World for Black Girls.

Her journey began in 2004 when she founded Camp Diva to honor 5-year-old Diva Mstadi Smith-Roan, who was killed in a firearm accident earlier that year. Angela planned a two- week summer experience to allow Diva’s mom to share her love with other girls, especially those in need of a support system. Girls for A Change was born in 2013 when Camp Diva merged with this national California-based organization. Today, it works with more than 100 girls’ groups throughout the U.S.

“Together, we work together to envision and create lasting change in their neighborhoods, cities, and schools,” explains Angela, whose TED talk describing a father-daughter dance for incarcerated dads and their “at-promise” girls has been viewed nearly 1 million times.

Following its release, Angela’s work was featured on ABC World News, Inside Edition, NPR, and This is Life Lisa Ling. She has been in demand from corporations, at conferences on girls, and colleges and universities throughout the country.

When she isn’t inspiring change, advocating gender equality, and promoting opportunities and empowering girls, Angela says she is hanging with her family in Richmond, VA, enjoying festivals and concerts with her husband and motivator, Raymond Patton, and their loving children, Imhotep and Asani. Her interests include spending a day at the spa, visiting the Caribbean, cardio kickboxing, watching documentaries. After the coronavirus passes, she is looking forward to once again attending dinner parties with close friends.

• Download our podcast now!
• Click here to learn more about Angela and her organization in Inkandescent Women magazine.
• Click here to learn how you can get involved with Girls For A Change

On tonight’s show, we talk not only about the groundbreaking technology ANJEL.tech that he launched this year, but how his experience as a fighter pilot and the decades he spent in high-level positions in the Department of Defense set the stage for the company he is now growing.

James explains: “Our cloud-based geospatially-enabled app, ANJEL Tech, allows users to begin live streaming and transmitting footage to their family members when they feel they are in a dangerous situation. This safety precaution appeals to the African American community because of what has been happening across the nation regarding police brutality. Additionally, it can be used to alert loved ones of other personal safety issues such as domestic abuse, elderly abuse, etc.”

James adds that he and his team initially created ANJEL.tech to help Black moms protect and save their kids’ lives. “One of the core missions is to help more Black children live and grow into adulthood and meet expected life milestones such as school graduation, marriage, family/ children, career, homeownership, and so much more.”

A little background: James spent decades in the U.S. Department of Defense, culminating as a Tier-2 (2-Star General-equivalent) member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (SES). He has 30 years of federal service and has solved numerous national-level problems in increasing responsibility, scope, and complexity.

Education matters: James holds a B.S. in General Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.A. in Information Technology from Webster University, and he completed his Executive Education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Defense Intelligence Senior Professional. He is happily married to Dr. Evelyn Teague Samuel, and they reside in the suburbs of Washington, DC, with their two amazing young sons.

• Download our podcast interview now!
• Download the ANJEL Tech app in the iOS App Store (coming soon to the Google Play store.)
• Click here to learn more about Pluribus, Inc.
• And click here to read more about James in this feature in BlackNews.com.

This diversity and inclusion specialist shares her thoughts on being a small business owner in her books: “Signs You Might Be An Entrepreneur: How to Discover the Entrepreneur in You,” and the ebook, “Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Marketing.”

Sharifah’s next big goal is to make a difference as a politician. The California native ran for Long Beach City Council in the 2020 primary election and has her sights set on the California Senate in 2022.

We met when Sharifah invited our producer, Hope Katz Gibbs, to be a guest on her video podcast, Ask Sharifah: The Round Table Talk Show. And we couldn’t wait to have her as a guest on the Black Lives Matter Radio Show.”:http://www.blacklivesmatterradioshow.com

On tonight’s podcast, you’ll learn:

• What inspired Sharifah to build her first website in 1994 — and what she’s done as an online influencer in the years since
• Why she launched her first radio show in 2009, and how the podcast business has grown and changed in the last decade
• How she felt about being laid off over 8 times — and how she had the courage and endurance to keep on swinging
• How her role as director of marketing at Punch TV Studios helped the company gain national exposure and raise millions in its Initial Public Offering — and what that taught her about building and promoting her own company
• And so much more!

• Download our podcast interview now!
• Click here to watch Sharifah interview Hope and five other guests on the Nov. 23, 2020 episode of The Round Table
• Click here to explore more at Ask Sharifah

She leads all aspects of Customer Care’s Inclusion & Diversity efforts, developing programs, providing coaching and support, and serving as the primary contact and liaison for enterprise enablement resources, including leader and agent operational communications and tools. She has years of experience in communications, marketing, corporate responsibility, and public affairs working within both private and public sectors.

Toi holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Augustine’s University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University. She is also a certified project manager and certified diversity coach who has earned grant writing and technical writing certificates from the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University. She is also a trained crisis communicator.

“I have a passion for ensuring each person I encounter feels seen, heard and respected,” she Toi, who is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and celebrates her life through her passion for art, reading, writing, hiking, laughing with family and her dearest friends — and coffee. “I try to bring a sense of overwhelming enthusiasm in every area of my personal and professional life.”

On today’s show, we discuss:

• Toi’s thoughts regarding the BLM movement?
• What she says to those who note, “All Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter.”
• What makes inclusion important to her?
• What she believes corporations can do to ensure their employees feel they can bring their full professional selves to work.
• What she says to those who think diversity training — aka unconscious bias training — is enough?
• How she uses her coaching skills to support the advancement of inclusion, professionally or personally.
• And last, but not least, what would you like people to know about BLM from her perspective.

Don’t miss it: Download our podcast interview now!

Chris has been called on to assess and repair culture and diversity and inclusion challenges around several high visibility, national-level situations to include the Charlottesville Race Riots, the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, and the Kavanaugh confirmation. All totaled, he has facilitated more than 5,000 culture sessions across more than 170 government, non-profit, and private sector organizations.

Some of Chris’ certifications and honors include: Certified Diversity Executive – Institute for Diversity Certification • Certified Coach – International Coaching Federation • Certified Emotional Intelligence Assessor – Otto Kroeger Associates • Certified Master Facilitator – International Institute for Facilitation (1 of 44 in the world) • 11-year member of the Senior Executive Service in the federal government • 2-time Culture Executive (NGA and DIA) • Former Diversity Executive (DIA) • 3-time People’s Choice Diversity Award

On tonight’s show we’ll take a deep dive into the topic of I&D. You’ won’t want to miss a single moment!

• Download the podcast now!
• Click here to learn more about Veritas Culture

Today, she is leveraging her personal insights and hard-won expertise to help women and people of color accelerate their careers by providing them inclusive communities where they can obtain exposure, support, and empowerment from accomplished experts.

Our producer, Hope Katz Gibbs, features Kim in the July 2020 issue of Inkandescent Women magazine. The two have known each other since they were 12 and students in Lafayette Hill, PA. When the Black Lives Matter marches began in the spring of 2020, Hope reached out to Kim to get her perspective, wisdom, and insights into what we can do together to make the world a better place.

Tonight, we sit down with Kim to take a deeper dive into the discussion.

• Be sure to download our conversation now!
• Check out Kim’s thoughts on What’s Next for her business, industry, and the world.
• Check out this video: Women In Color, produced by Ex-V Agency, NYC..
• And follow all the amazing work that Kim is doing by connecting with her on LinkedIn

• Scroll down for more of Siddeeq’s essay on the Black Lives Matter movement
• Be sure to download the podcast for our entire interview
• Click here to share your thoughts and comments with me: Email Tony
• Do let us know if or someone you know should be a guest on the Black Lives Matter Radio Show

What the Black Lives Matter Movement Has Taught Me

By Siddeeq Shabazz

I am committed to my faith and my family. In the wake of the global outrage over the recent litany of black lives lost at the hand of white vigilantes and police officers, I find myself at an interesting crossroad.

For decades, I have been resistant to engage in racial issues. But as the Black Lives Matter movement has unfolded in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, I was gripped with pain, guilt, and shame. For perhaps the first time in my life, I have looked deep inside myself to understand my complicity in the hatred and hostility toward many marginalized Americans.

I have since vowed I would not spend another day of my life turning a blind eye to the nuanced racism I have learned to accept, justify, and ignore.

After looking at the myriad responses in my own community and throughout our country, my spirit has been awakened to the calling God has put in my heart. I see now that I have been prepared in unique ways — with compassion, resilience, and deep longing for community — to step into this hostile territory seeking restoration through my life; these qualities have been developed, in trials that I created or was born into, through my ancestry. (Through my paternal side, I am African-American, and my mother is Sicilian-American.) They are also the result of the sweet victories I have found in my new identity as a child of God.

Interestingly, one of the few Christians in the university setting resembles being one of the few people of color in most settings. However, this has afforded me perspective, compassion, and a desire to fervently seek tangible justice improvements for all others who feel marginalized. I look forward to taking steps toward this new future.

More about Siddeeq

Education: New Mexico State University: Ph.D. in Business Marketing; BA in Administration; ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer Certification: EXOS Athlete Performance Certification Professional Football player: 2003 NFL Draft (Oakland Raiders); NFL/NFL Europe/CFL Professional Founder: T.E.A.M. Shabazz Foundation; YourDay Lifestyle Coach Networking: BNI Las Cruces Elite Business Builders, Chapter Founder/President Volunteer: Mountain View Market Co-op Board of Directors Skills: Motivational/Public Speaking, Conflict Resolution, Leadership Training, Coaching, Mentoring

As the organization’s first African-American CEO (2018), Reggie is a recognized authority on media and telecommunications issues and has served as a presenter, keynote speaker, and judge at various events and conferences, including Mobility: A Game Changer for African-American Communities Braintrust, the Black Media Coalition’s Conference, Annual Pacific Telecommunications Council Conference, and Excellence in e-Learning Awards.

For his work, he has won an array of awards for his insight and dedication, including being recognized for distinguished service in supporting distance learning to include the USDLA Hall of Fame Award, Black Engineer of the Year Award for Community Service, Federal Government Distance Learning Association’s (FGDLA) Hall of Fame Award, FGDLA Pillar Award, Virtual World Association’s Excellence Award and the Action Hero’s Award from the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces. In 1993, he received a letter of commendation from New York’s mayor David Dinkins for supplying emergency programming during an asbestos crisis in the city’s schools.

That’s not all. As part of his determination to help as many students as possible, he serves as the board chairman for the Patriots Training Technology Center, which oversees STEM programming for more than 1,500 students annually. He is a Board Trustee for Berkeley College, which enrolls approximately 8,000 students each year, including more than 900 international students in its baccalaureate, associate degree, and certificate programs.

Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree in English Communications from Lincoln University in PA, his MA in International Management from the University of Maryland University College, and his Ph.D. in Education from Capella University.

So it’s a privilege to interview Reggie for our Black Lives Matter Radio Show.

• Download this episode now!
• Scroll down to read our Q&A.
• Click here to learn more about Dr. Smith

8 QUESTIONS FOR DR. REGGIE SMITH: Black Lives Matter Radio Show

Your Host: Tony Farmer

Tony: Given that this is our Black Lives Matter issue of Inkandescent Health & Wellness magazine, I want to start by asking about your experience in your career as a black man.

Reggie Smith: I’ve had broad experience across several industries for over 30 years.  As a black man, I’ve experienced challenges far and wide, but I would not solely make them black vs. white issues. I’ve had negative experiences from white managers and/or staff that undervalued my credentials and/or experience. In some cases, I’ve been labeled as a person with “too much experience” once it was discovered I had a Ph.D. What is “too much experience” when that same experience is why I won the business contract and delivered exceptional work to that same client? Then there is the black side: how I’ve been “tossed under the bus” by some of my fellow black men. I tend to chalk such experiences up as jealously. In my experience, it does not matter if you are white or black. Your character and how you treat others is the only thing that matters.

Tony: With protests erupting, is your belief about the current situation in the US and the world?

Reggie Smith: As a black man, there are so many potholes to avoid, and at the end of the day, we only want a fair playing field. These experiences ran]]> false no 0:00 No no https://inkandescentradio.com/podcast/tony-farmer/ Sun, 11 Oct 2020 18:16:31 +0000 https://inkandescentradio.com/podcast/tony-farmer-hope-katz-gibbs-introduce-the-black-lives-matter-radio-show Why: In July 2020, the Inkandescent team knew we wanted to help shine a light on people with important messages about the Black Lives Matter movement that has taken the country, and the world, by storm. So we decided to put action behind that idea.

What / Where: It is with pride and pleasure that in August 2020, we launch an Inkandescent Radio Show, where we’ll interview leaders from around the US who will help us explore topics, discuss challenges, and share their ideas on how we can all live together with more equality, peace, and love. We are also at work, creating a book featuring our interviews, coming in 2021.

Your Host: Tony Farmer, director of development at The Inkandescent Group,, will be leading the conversation. A powerful life coach and minister with decades of experience working in human resources departments at organizations that include the federal government, he’ll guide us through conversations that we know will provide insight and solace in the civil rights movement. Joining him as co-host is Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent.

Episodes and Interviews Coming this Fall:

• Reggie Smith, executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association — Washington, DC
• Siddeeq Shabazz, former NFL player and wellness coach — Las Cruces, NM
• Kimberly Lee Minor, founder, Bumbershoot — NYC
• Suzie Love, Swedish rock star and Ph.D. student in education — Claremont, CA
• And many, many more!

Scroll down to read Tony’s introduction to our show and book.

A Life Coach Shares his “Quiet Rage” — and offers steps toward healing

By Tony Farmer, Director of Development, The Inkandescent Group, LLC

Since the tragic death of George Floyd at the hand of the Minnesota Police Officers, I have been struggling. I’ve been trying to get my head wrapped around how I feel. I’ve had conversations with people who are seeking explanations as to why it happened. Others want to know how it has impacted the Black Community. Some need comfort and consolation to help them cope with watching a video depicting the loss of a man’s life.

The fact is that I just haven’t taken the time to focus on how I feel until now.

I started digging through memories, recalling situations, scenarios, and experiences that I have suppressed. I swept past the fake smiles that I’ve worn, the artificial pleasantries exchanged, and the micro-insults endured.

Soon my skin felt warm, my muscles tensed, my heart became heavy. Suddenly, my breathing seemed to come in shallow puffs instead of a rhythmic flow of air in and out. As I delved deeper into my caged conscious, one word kept flashing in my mind like a fiery neon sign, “RAGE.” The word rang loudly in my ears, the voice screaming it was mine. It’s evident that the rage was always there, but I had managed to keep it quiet; today, however, it will no longer be ignored.

How can this be happening again? Where is the justice? Why didn’t anyone come to his aid? When do I get to feel safe? A scene flashed in my mind where I am the one on the ground pleading for my life. Images are streaming in my head of my brothers and my nephew with targets on their backs because of skin color.

Now I am standing face to face with this ball of anger, fear, and angst, asking myself, “what can I do”?

• I must temper my rage with self-reflection, empathy, and intellect.
• I will use my voice to spread a message of hope instead of hate.
• I will use my hands to build relationships instead of tear down individuals who don’t look like me.
• I will stand strong and move the needle of equality forward instead of allo]]> false no 0:00 No no