This week on the Blacklight On Sports podcast, Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald sit down with John Robinson, a longtime educator, coach, mentor, and community voice in the Twin Cities.

A proud North High (Class of ’79) graduate, Robinson has spent decades shaping young lives through basketball and education. He’s made his mark coaching both boys and girls basketball at St. Paul Como Park and as an assistant coach at St. Paul Central, helping the girls’ team secure back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008.

But Robinson’s legacy goes beyond the court. He currently serves as:

• An educator at Hazel Park Preparatory Academy
• A community ambassador for the City of St. Paul
• A member of the prestigious Minnesota Mr. Basketball Committee

With a lifetime of leadership, mentorship, and service to youth, John Robinson’s story is one of impact, legacy, and heart.

Executive Producer/CEO Publisher
Tracey Williams-Dillard

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
3744 4th Ave South
Minneapolis MN 55409
612-827-4021

MSR Digital Studio
Ray Seville

Charles Hallman
MSR Sports Columnist

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, PhE.
MSR Sports Columnist

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 1934

Steven Davis Jr. is a servant leader, design thinker, author, and athlete transition coach. A former football standout at the University of Minnesota, Davis was a four-year starter and senior captain for the Golden Gophers, earning his B.A. in Mass Communications in 2008.

Today, Davis is the founder of Strive Higher After Sports, an organization dedicated to helping athletes navigate the often difficult transition from sports to life. A certified life coach, he mentors athletes to embrace growth, purpose, and identity beyond the field. His life mantra—“Strive Higher Every Day”—guides his work, his coaching, and his own personal journey of lifelong learning.

In this episode of Blacklight On Sports, Davis joins Hallman and McDonald for an honest conversation about mental health, identity loss after athletics, and how Black men can reimagine success outside of sports. He reflects on his own transition and shares what fuels his passion for helping the next generation of athletes find meaning and momentum beyond the game.

Executive Producer/CEO Publisher
Tracey Williams-Dillard

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
3744 4th Ave South
Minneapolis MN 55409
612-827-4021

MSR Digital Studio
Ray Seville

Charles Hallman
MSR Sports Columnist

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, PhE.
MSR Sports Columnist

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 1934

In this episode of Blacklight On Sports, Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcome Nekima Levy Armstrong, a powerhouse in both the courtroom and the streets, whose leadership has shaped the fight for racial equity across Minneapolis and beyond.

From her early days as a law professor at the University of St. Thomas to her impactful presidency of the Minneapolis NAACP, Nekima has long stood at the intersection of justice, community, and activism. She brings that same fire to the conversation in this episode—taking on the tough questions around race, equity, sports, and the role of athletes as agents of change.

Nekima’s unfiltered voice continues to inspire and challenge leaders across generations. Now the executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation, she remains on the frontlines of advocacy, mentoring, and movement-building.

Contact Nekima Levy Armstrong
📧 nekimamalewarmstrong@gmail.com

Executive Producer/CEO Publisher
Tracey Williams-Dillard

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
3744 4th Ave South
Minneapolis MN 55409
612-827-4021

MSR Digital Studio
Ray Seville

Charles Hallman
MSR Sports Columnist

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, PhE.
MSR Sports Columnist

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 1934