The Empowerment Zone

It is Juneteenth!

A Texas Family Celebrates: Izora Jones, Loretta Houston, and Rita Sibert — 
Juneteenth is now a National Holiday, and The Empowerment Zone” is celebrating.  In today’s episode Ramona provides a brief overview of the history of Juneteenth.  Afterwards, she has a lively and engaging conversation with her family about the history and significance of Juneteenth. Natives of Texas, the family has lived in the state for generations, so Juneteenth has always been a part of their family experience and tradition. In this multi-generational conversation, family members of three generations talk about their fondest memories of Juneteenth and what the National Holiday means to them.  Guests include Ramona’s 96-year-old grandmother Izora Jones, mother Loretta Houston, and aunt Rita Sibert.
Highlights from our conversation:
History of Juneteenth in Texas
How Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas and a national holiday in the US
Mexia, Texas
Limestone County
Comanche Crossing and Booker T. Washington Park, Mexia Texas
Deaths of teenagers Carl Baker, Steve Booker and Anthony Freeman
Juneteenth celebrations in Texas
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Poor People’s Campaign and March
Family memories of Juneteenth

Trailer! A Texas Family Celebrates Juneteenth

Next episode out on Monday, June 19th with guest Izora Jones, Loretta Houston and Rita Sibert
It is Juneteenth! A Texas Family Celebrates

How do Museums Advance History and Social Change?

Dr. Sarah Zenaida Gould: Mexican American Civil Rights Institute — 
Most of the time when we think of US Civil Rights history, we primarily think of it in a black/white dichotomy.  In today’s episode, Ramona talks to museum professional and public historian Dr. Sarah Zenaida Gould about the importance of expanding our understanding of US Civil Rights History by including the historical narratives of other marginalized groups and communities.  In their discussion Dr. Gould expands upon her work at the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) and her efforts to foster social change through museums.  Based in San Antonio, MACRI is dedicated to chronicling and advancing the Mexican American community’s civil rights efforts in the U.S.  Originally from Houston, Dr. Gould is the Executive Director of MACRI and currently makes San Antonio, the cradle of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement, her home.
Resources:https://www.somosmacri.org/ 
Highlights from our conversation:
Dr. Gould’s personal and professional journey and how she developed a love for history and museums
Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI)
How museums influence and foster social change
Significant influence of the African American Civil Rights Movement on other movements focused on social change
Reconstructing history to create narratives that include marginalized groups and communities
Importance of challenging stereotypes in books and public spaces that focus on history
Reframing distorted historical narratives

Trailer! Dr. Sarah Zenaida Gould: Mexican American Civil Rights Institute

Next episode available from Monday, June 12th with guest Dr. Sarah Zenaida Gould
How do Museums Advance History and Social Change?

Do you know how to be your own cheerleader?

Neelu Kaur: Empowering Women for Self-Advocacy — 
Were you raised in an individualistic or collective culture? Based on your answer to this question, you may experience challenges when it comes to self-advocacy and self-promotion. Those of us who come from collective cultures, or are raised by parents in collective cultures, struggle with speaking up for ourselves as well as speaking about ourselves in both professional and personal settings. In this episode, Ramona talks to Neelu Kaur about the importance of self-advocacy, guidance from her book Be Your Own Cheerleader:  An Asian and South Asian Woman's Cultural, Psychological, and Spiritual Guide to Self-Promote at Work.  Join the conversation today to learn strategies on how you can become more empowered, confident and intentional about raising your voice, so that you may create a more fulfilling life.  Neelu is an author, facilitator and Executive Coach and resides in New York.
Resources: https://www.neelukaur.com/ 
Highlights from our conversation:
Neelu’s personal and professional journey to embracing self-advocacy
Ways to deal with anxiety and panic attacks
Be Your Own Cheerleader:  An Asian and South Asian Woman's Cultural, Psychological, and Spiritual Guide to Self-Promote at Work
How culture influences concepts of self-advocacy
Why self-advocacy is so important personally and professionally
Dancing between the “We" and the “I”
Strategies for speaking up for yourself
Daily practices to “be your own cheerleader”

Trailer! Neelu Kaur: Empowering Women for Self-Advocacy

Next episode available from Monday, June 5th with guest Neelu Kaur
Do you know how to be your own cheerleader?

Leadership Development in Higher Education for Greater Impact

Dr. Elena Foulis: Teaching students how to “be agents of change” — 
Leadership development and the importance of impacting your community are and should be a significant component of a college education. In today’s episode Ramona talks to Dr. Elena Foulis about her efforts in teaching her students to “Be agents of change.” As Dr. Foulis explains, learning how to be an impactful leader in the community occurs inside and outside of the classroom.  During this enlightening conversation Dr. Foulis provides educators and community leaders with strategies on how to formalize leadership development in their teaching practices, mentorship, and engaging students in community organizations.
A student-centered educator with over 15 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Elena Foulis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Language, Literature, and Arts at Texas A&M University, San Antonio.  Originally from Matamoros, Mexico, Dr. Foulis now resides in San Antonio.
Highlights from our conversation:
Dr. Foulis’s personal and professional background
The importance of leadership development in higher education
Service learning
How to make formal education relevant to students
Inspiring students to make a social impact
Mentorship
Creating connections and widening networks for college students
Strategies on how to formalize leadership development in the classroom
Strategies for college success

Trailer! Dr. Elena Foulis: Teaching students how to “be agents of change”

Next episode available from Monday, May 29th with guest Dr. Elena Foulis
Documentary film “Blurring the Color Line: Chinese in the Segregated South"

Documentary film “Blurring the Color Line: Chinese in the Segregated South”

Dr. Crystal Kwok: Examining the Complexity of African American and Chinese Relations —
This month “The Empowerment Zone” is celebrating Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) by featuring Dr. Crystal Kwok and her documentary film “Blurring the Color Line:  Chinese in the Segregated South.” Join the conversation as Ramona talks to Dr. Kwok about her film, which examines the complex historical relationship between the African American and Asian American communities. We are proud to announce that the film will premiere on the World Channel on PBS streaming platforms this month on May 25. Dr. Kwok’s documentary has already won multiple awards including the Mira Nair Rising Female Filmmaker Award at the Harlem International Film Festival and the Courage Award at the DisOrient Film Festival.
Dr. Kwok is a transnational award winning filmmaker who established her career in Hong Kong as an actress, writer, director, and talk show host.  Originally from San Francisco, California, Dr. Kwok now lives in Hawaii.
Resources:https://www.blurringthecolorline.com/ 
Highlights from our conversation:
Dr. Kwok's dissertation defense
Dr. Kwok’s acting career and her professional trajectory to becoming a filmmaker
Working with Jackie Chan
Challenges women face in the entertainment and movie industries
How and why Dr. Kwok created her own platforms
How Dr. Kwok’s film evolved from researching the history of women in her family to exploring
Chinese and African American relations
Complexity of race relations in the American South
Exploring how Chinese Americans embrace and engage in anti-blackness
Binary spaces
How Dr. Kwok seeks to inspire social impact through her film
Strategies for college success
Redefining education

Trailer! Dr. Crystal Kwok: Examining the Complexity of African American and Chinese Relations

Next episode available from Monday, May 22nd with guest Dr. Crystal Kwok
Leadership Development in Higher Education for Greater Impact