The Empowerment Zone

The Journey of an Agile Journalist

Roy S. Johnson: On the Front Lines from Sports to Social Justice
Today Ramona explores the fascinating journalism career of Roy S. Johnson. In their conversation, Roy discusses his extensive work covering sports, entertainment and business at several prominent publications including Sports Illustrated, History Channel magazine, Men’s Fitness and Savoy magazine. Roy also explores his current role as a statewide columnist for AL.com, where he has been on the front lines of reporting and interpreting the awakening of America during the racial and social justice movement of 2020. According to Roy, his responsibility as a journalist is to tell stories and provide information about spaces and places, where others cannot go. Roy is an award-winning journalist, digital content strategist, life coach and media consultant. From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Roy currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama.
For more information about Roy, visit his page on AL.com.

Is living debt-free really financial freedom?

Bryon Jennings: Challenging Belief Systems about Wealth
In this enthralling conversation, Ramona talks to Bryon Jennings, who will be a regular guest to talk about wealth, economics and business. Today, Bryon discusses money and building wealth. As Bryon explains, the black church has shaped many of the ideas that African Americans have about money. Interestingly, Bryon challenges the community’s existing beliefs about money, including the debt-free concept. According to Bryon, African Americans and Latino/as must change the way we think about money in order to build wealth in our communities. Bryon is the President of the black-owned payroll company Next Generation Payroll. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Bryon currently lives in Dallas, Texas.
For more information about Next Generation Payroll, visit www.ngpayroll.com.

Giovanni Gonzalez: Mindful Performance Blueprint, Your Resource for Building Trust

How do you build an effective team?
Today, Ramona’s guest Giovanni Gonzalez discusses how he helps individuals and companies to elevate their performance. According to Giovanni, building trust and transforming organizational culture is key to building an effective team. Giovanni is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mindful Performance Blueprint (MPB), the creator of “Access the Leader Within - 3 day Leadership retreat,” and author of La Mente de un Imigrante. Born in Colombia and having lived in Belize, Giovanni currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information about Giovanni, visit www.mpb.group.

Dr. Maria Hernandez: LatinaVIDA, Empowering Latinas to Lead

How do you develop the next generation of Latina executives?
Considering the fact that Latinas account for only 3% of all professionals and executives in the US workforce, there exists a need for organizations and programs that cultivate Latina leadership. Enjoy Ramona’s discussion today with Dr. Maria Hernandez, who shares how LatinaVIDA is empowering Latinas on their journeys to professional success. Dr. Hernandez is co-founder of LatinaVIDA and lives in Oakland, California.
For more information about LatinaVIDA, visit www.latinavida.org.

Victoria Archable: Helping Families Navigate the Process of Finding the Right Care

How do you plan for safe, quality care for elderly loved ones?
Today, Ramona talks to Victoria Archable, Owner, Certified Senior Advisor, and Certified Dementia Trainer with CarePatrol Metro Atlanta. CarePatrol is a full service placement agency that assists families in finding safe and quality care for elderly loved ones. In this discussion Victoria discusses how she helps families navigate the complex process of finding the right care.  In the majority of cases the solution involves placement in an assisted living, memory care, or independent living community. According to Victoria, many families within the African American and Latino communities are inadequately prepared when it is time to make these important decisions. Learn from Victoria how to plan for this moment.
For more information about Victoria, visit www.MetroAtlanta.Carepatrol.com.

Sylvia Puente: Reflections on the Transformative Year of 2020

How has the civil unrest of 2020 impacted leadership?
Today Ramona talks to Sylvia Puente about the civil unrest of 2020 and how the movement has influenced and changed conversations among decision makers. No longer are the topics of systemic racism, structural inequality, and white privilege on the margins of discussion. Sylvia elaborates on how leaders within the nonprofit, advocacy and philanthropic spaces are now candidly addressing topics that were formerly considered radical. Sylvia also discusses the impactful work of the Latino Policy Forum in advancing leadership development, healing circles, and Black/Brown relations. Sylvia is President and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum and lives in Chicago, Illinois.
For more information about Sylvia and the Latino Policy Forum, visit www.latinopolicyforum.org.

Tracey Greene-Washington: Philanthropy and Community as Co-Creators and Co-Designers

Creating Equitable Partnerships to Solve Social Challenges
Ramona's guest in this episode is Tracey Greene-Washington, who talks about her leadership in transforming the relationship between philanthropy and community. According to Tracey, the philanthropic sector must change its approach from charity to see community as partners in solving complex social issues. Tracey is President of the Indigo Innovation Group and Founder of Co-Think and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For more information about Tracey, visit www.indigoinnovationgroup.com.

Eboni Hall: American Forests and Tree Equity

The Value and Impact of Urban Forestry
Today, Ramona talks to her cousin Dr. Eboni Hall about urban forestry. In this enlightening conversation Dr. Hall expounds upon Tree Equity. Tree equity approaches urban forestry as a social equity issue and not just an environmental issue, considering the fact that trees are necessary in the fulfillment of basic needs for survival. As Dr. Hall explains, tree equity ensures that everyone experiences the benefits of trees. Eboni Hall, PhD, is the Senior Manager of Urban Forestry Education at American Forests, where she oversees a new initiative to develop and implement the organization’s mission of education and outreach.
For more information about American Forests, visit https://www.americanforests.org/.

Izora Jones: You Can Learn at Any Age

Ramona’s 94-Year-Old Grandmother Continues to Pursue Education
In this episode, Ramona celebrates her grandmother Izora Jones, who turned 94 years old this month! A resident of Fort Worth, Texas, “Dr. Grandmommy,” as Ramona affectionately calls her, is a big advocate for education. She has educated three generations of her offspring, with three of her seven grandchildren earning doctorate degrees. On top of that, she also continues to pursue her own education, by participating in continuing education programs at her local college Tarrant County Junior College. Notably, she has taken over 170 courses and even learned to swim at the age of 64 years! Take it from Izora, you are never too old to learn! Happy birthday Dr. Grandmommy!
To learn more about Izora Jones’ continuing education efforts, read “Pursuit of Knowledge: Senior Eduction Student Takes Lifelong Learning Seriously” by Kendra Prince in Tarrant County College Reach Magazine (2018). You may also see her feature story in the NBC 5 - KXAS local news segment, “NBC 5 Izora Jones Story.” (2018).

Ricardo Negron-Almodovar: A Champion for Latino Justice and Del Ambiente

Litigating for the Latino Community and Linking up the Puerto Rican LGBTQ+ Community
Today, Ramona talks to Ricardo Negron-Almodovar about his work with Latino Justice and Del Ambient. In this enlightening discussion, Ricardo sheds light on the various voter participation challenges of the upcoming 2020 elections and explains how Latino Justice is working to address these critical issues. As one of the founders of Del Ambiente, Ricardo also discusses his work in supporting the Puerto Rican LGBTQ+ community in Florida. A native of Puerto Rico who now lives in Orlando, Florida, Ricardo serves as the Legal Service Coordinator for Latino Justice, formerly the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF). Focusing on several pillars—Criminal Justice Reform, Economic Justice, Immigrants, Rights, Voting Rights and Leadership Development, Latino Justice works to protect the civil and human rights of the Latinx community through litigation. A survivor of the Pulse Tragedy in 2016, Ricardo also works closely with Del Ambiente, an effort led by LGBTQ+ Puerto Ricans to link and build up the LGBTQ+ Puerto Rican community in Florida and beyond.
To find out more information about Latino Justice or to volunteer for their voter initiative “Cada Voto Cuenta” (Every Vote Counts) as a poll monitor in the states of Florida, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania, visit www.latinojustice.com.
To report voter issues, please call 833-557-5869.
For more information about Del Ambiente, visit their FaceBook page Del Ambiente.