On the eve of Election Day, this episode dives into the essential issues driving tomorrow's vote and the critical reasons why showing up to the polls matters. Anthony and Joy discuss reproductive rights, equity in leadership, and the challenges surrounding voting rights—emphasizing the need for continued advocacy for marginalized voices. We also explore the impact of systemic issues, from the role of empathy in global crises to the ripple effects of justice in our communities. Make your voice co...
Nov 04, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this episode of Breaking Barriers , recorded at the Empowerment Symposium in Iowa City, Anthony, Nick, and Joy explore racial equity, economic development, and generational shifts in the workplace. They discuss the courage needed for organizations to stand for racial justice, the importance of empowering women of color in economic development, and the generational focus on equity and work-life balance. The episode also touches on bridging gaps in education and addressing white privilege in pe...
Oct 01, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 31
About the Guest(s): Michele Sullivan is a renowned speaker, author, and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Michele has overcome numerous challenges throughout her life and has become a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all. She had a successful career at Caterpillar, where she served as the Director of the Caterpillar Foundation, leading global philanthropic efforts. After retiring, Michele continued her work in the nonprofit sector and be...
Jun 04, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 30
About the Guest(s): Kameron Middlebrooks is a highly driven individual dedicated to advocating for civil rights and social change. His career began when he served as a youth representative on the NAACP board of directors before transitioning to a leading role within the organization. Kameron has a rich history of organizing and mobilizing communities, including registering over 15,000 voters during his tenure. He has previously worked for Barack Obama's Campaign. Currently, he serves as the Fiel...
Apr 04, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 29
About the Guest(s): Dana James is a prominent figure in the journalism industry, particularly championing the voice of the Black community in Iowa. She stands as the publisher and founder of Black Iowa News, which is currently the only Black-owned newspaper in Iowa. With her background as a former reporter for the Des Moines Register, Dana brings her extensive experience to the forefront in her current pursuits. Beyond her editorial capacities, she's the treasurer of the Iowa Association of Blac...
Mar 14, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 28
About the Guest(s): Dr. Ladrina Wilson: CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, with a background in higher education administration and a passion for community service. Nicole Sallis: Director of Communications for Grow Cedar Valley, with experience in fashion, entertainment, branding, and marketing. Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. LaDrina Wilson and Nicole Sallis discuss their experiences as black women in leadership roles in economic development and chamber organizations in Iowa. Th...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 27
About the Guest(s): Jasmine Briscoe is a young, driven professional making her mark from Iowa all the way to New York City. She graduated with an IB diploma from the first International Baccalaureate program in Waterloo, Iowa, and moved on to attend NYU as an MLK scholar, majoring in psychology and sociocultural analysis with a concentration in intersectionality. She now works in public health research, focusing on vaccine hesitancy in historically underserved groups and advocating for equitable...
Feb 08, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 26
About The Guest(s): Jeff Disterhoft is the former CEO of GreenState Credit Union, where he led the organization's growth and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. He has a background in finance and has been nationally recognized for his leadership in the industry. Summary: Jeff Disterhoft discusses the importance of diversity in homeownership and the impact it can have on future generations. He shares his personal journey of walking in the path of faith, family, friends (in ...
Jan 25, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 25
About The Guest(s): Melanie Ryan is a leadership and culture development expert with over 20 years of experience. She is the founder of a nonprofit called Beck's Place and has a background in finance. Melanie is passionate about creating equitable teams and facilitating individual growth. Summary: Melanie Ryan discusses her decision to leave her corporate job and dedicate her career to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She emphasizes the importance of change management and guiding people th...
Jan 08, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 24
About The Guest(s): Kyle Roed is the Vice President of Human Resources at CPM Holdings and the Founder and CEO of Human Innovation LLC. He is also the Co-Founder of Disrupt HR in Cedar Valley and the creator and host of the Rebel HR Podcast. Summary: Kyle Roed, Vice President of Human Resources at CPM Holdings, joins the Breaking Barriers podcast to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the manufacturing industry. He emphasizes the importance of looking beyond unemployment rates to a...
Dec 28, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 23
About The Guest(s): Reggie Sanders: Former Major League Baseball player, played for 17 years, won the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, currently works for the Kansas City Royals in their front office. Dmitri Young: Former Major League Baseball player, played for 13 years, won the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 2007, currently works in amateur baseball and coaching. Brian Jordan: Former Major League Baseball player, played for 15 years, also played in the NFL fo...
Dec 07, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 22
About The Guest(s): Preston Wilson: Former professional baseball player who played 10 seasons in the major leagues, won the World Series in 2006, and was an All-Star in 2003. Ray Burris: Former professional baseball player who played 15 years in the big leagues and is currently involved in developing young athletes. Michael Tucker: Former professional baseball player who played 13 years in the big leagues and is now focused on helping young kids through camps and clinics. Marcus Nettles: Former ...
Nov 22, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 21
About The Guest(s): Earnest “Coach E” Horton is the Founder and CEO of Black Baseball Media , a high-profile company based in Chicago that focuses on providing opportunities for minorities in the game of baseball. He is also a baseball coach and is passionate about helping young players develop their skills on and off the field. Summary: Coach E discusses the need to attract more minorities to the game of baseball at an earlier age. He believes that the major league level needs to make changes t...
Nov 08, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Reshonda Young is the co-founder of Bank of Jabez, a Black-owned bank and community development financial institution (CDFI) in Waterloo, Iowa. She is also the director of 24/7 Black, a Black business entrepreneurship accelerated program that helps Black business owners develop and market their ideas. Reshonda is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, and has been an active voice in advocating for pay equity, equitable healthcare, and other issues that benefit working families. Summary: Reshonda Young, co-...
Oct 26, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 19
About The Guest(s): Charity is the Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and has been involved in nonprofit work for many years. She is passionate about advocating for libraries and protecting intellectual freedom. Summary: Charity discusses the issue of book banning and censorship in libraries. She explains that book banning is a form of censorship that silences marginalized voices and restricts access to information. She highlights the importance of allowing individu...
Oct 06, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Andre Wright is a designer, activist, visionary, and community builder. He is the Co-founder of Humanize My Hoodie, a global fashion activism movement that designs hoodies to inspire, empower, and spark meaningful conversations. Andre has been recognized for his work and featured on New York Fashion Week, Politico, NPR, Essence Magazine, and more. Summary: Andre Wright discusses his journey as a designer and activist, and how he has dedicated his life to empowering underrepresented people. He sh...
Sep 14, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 17
About The Guest(s): Robert L. Smith is a native of Dallas and a long-time advocate for equity in sports and education. He played football at the University of Iowa and has had a successful career as an NCAA Big Ten football official. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Educational Opportunity Programs and Special Community Services at the University of Northern Iowa. Summary: Robert L. Smith shares his journey as a black athlete and his experiences advocating for equity in sport...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Checkout the full show: ttps:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyoCvyghdPQ&t=55s Vince and Chris are experts in the field of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. They have a unique and authentic approach to addressing culture issues within organizations. They challenge traditional methods and focus on understanding the root causes of diversity and belonging challenges. Summary: Vince and Chris discuss their authentic approach to addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within ...
Jul 28, 2023•5 min
In this episode of Breaking Barriers we interview Alfred Ramirez. Alfred Ramirez is a keynote speaker, coach, trainer, and facilitator for public and private organizations. He has held various positions in the public and private sectors, including serving as President Clinton's White House Associate Director of Presidential Personnel and the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. During the show we discussed the evolution of the diversity, equit...
Jul 07, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, we had the privilege of having an inspiring conversation with the founders of TurnSignl, an innovative tech company that's making waves in the social justice space. Jazz Hampton, Andre Creighton, and Michael are three Black men who decided to use their skills and backgrounds in law, finance, and technology to create a platform that could truly impact and change the institution of fair and transparent policing. TurnSignl is a Minnesota-based tech company that provides real-time l...
Jun 20, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Happy 5 year anniversary to Top RANK! We are so glad to be helping all of the organizations and communities we have had the opportunity to collaborate with on advancing DEI&B, and we look forward to continuing the journey. WOW has the world changed since 2018! What has happened? Why are we in so much turmoil in America and globally? Are we being honest about what we see? Are we seeking to understand the truth? Are we willing to talk about it? So many questions, so many answers needed. Howeve...
Jun 07, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode of Breaking Barriers, co-hosts Anthony Arrington and Nick Ford welcomes Heather Schott, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Krause Group, the parent company for a diverse set of businesses that include convenience retail, logistics, Italian wineries, and hospitality, real estate, agriculture, and soccer clubs. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Heather holds two undergraduate degrees in mathematics and business from Morningside College and a Diversity Inclusion Leader ...
May 16, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 12
“There's freedom of speech, right? Whether, what some people want to say, whether I wanna hear it, whether others wanna hear it. I think that our country's built on the freedom to say, even very stupid things.”Words from Dr. Lori Sundberg , the president at Kirkwood Community College, nationally renowned community college in Iowa.Dr. Sunberg, who is a first-generation college graduate, holds a Doctorate of Business Administration Management from St. Mary's University. During our conversation we ...
May 03, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 11
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Khafre Jay, the Bay Area Hunters Point activist who is using his passion for music and community justice to make a difference. Khafre Jay is the founder of Hip Hop for Change, a revolutionary nonprofit Hip-Hop organization that has been recognized by several organizations.The conversation kicks off with Khafre Jay sharing his experience of wanting to write a song for a nonprofit. He was told no one would care about his music. Despite the harsh words, he w...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Anthony Arrington, Nick Ford, and Joy Briscoe discuss how to approach race-related issues in the workplace. Joy passionately urges listeners to stay vigilant and be attuned to the subtle behaviors that could indicate discriminatory treatment. She empowers her audience to take action and be the catalyst for change. Two distinguished Navy veterans, John Cordle and Keith Green, come forward to share their personal experiences of discrimination in the military. Cordle, a retired captain and a proud ...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Join the Top RANK Culture Team as they dive into an insightful and engaging conversation with the incredible Daniela (Dani) Herrera! In this video, you'll get a closer look at the journey of an award-winning EDI professional and the inspiring story of Dani, a career coach and content creator with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion.Dani has been "Breaking Barriers" and ensuring effective ED&I (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) by providing resources and reconstructing outdated h...
Mar 30, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, our guest is Desiree Coleman Fry, an accomplished executive who helps moms balance work, wellness, and womanhood. She is a recipient of the 2022 DNI Champion Award and 2019 Rising Star and DNI Award and has been featured in prominent media outlets like the New York Times, Business Insider, and PBS. During our conversation, Desiree shared her inspiring journey as a working mom and how she manages to juggle all of her roles and responsibilities. She discussed her advocacy for work...
Mar 13, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode of the Breaking Barriers DEI&B Podcast, co-hosts Anthony Arrington, Nick Ford, and Joy Briscoe are joined by the first Black mayor of Waterloo, Iowa, Mayor Quentin Hart. They discuss the importance of joining diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging together with a common set of ideals, Mayor Hart's work in Waterloo and beyond, and how a Black mayor deals with the expectations of their community. Mayor Hart is a well-known figure in Iowa and has made significant contributi...
Feb 20, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 6
You feel you're being taken advantage of or feel like you're being exploited. "I'm sick of racism, and when I read other people's experiences, I simply become enraged." Why is it that people are now able to see why there is so much anger? We bring to you the story of Sharon Hurley-Hall , who has been writing about racism for years, but it was the George Floyd incident that brought all of her life's experiences into sharp focus. Sharon shares with us her journey and the anger she feels towards th...
Feb 06, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 5
uilding a relationship is an essential step in the process of developing self-awareness. By connecting with others, we are able to gain new perspectives and understand different viewpoints. This in turn allows us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our own thoughts, beliefs and actions. This self-awareness is crucial in creating an environment and spaces that are inclusive of all people. When we are able to truly listen and hear others, without judgment, we create a space that is saf...
Jan 20, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 4
