What happens when retirement plans are replaced by school drop-offs, homework, and parenting all over again?

In this episode of Conversations with Karen and Cat, we welcome Dimeca and Burdette Hawkins, founders of Poppa & Gigi's Promise. They share their journey of unexpectedly becoming full-time caregivers for their grandchildren and how that experience inspired them to create a nonprofit dedicated to supporting grandparents and other relative caregivers.

Resources from the episode

Poppa & Gigi's Promise

Supporting grandparents and caregivers raising children through resources, community, advocacy, and events.

Step Forward Community Walk

📅 October 3

🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Learn more, register, and donate at:

PoppaAndGigisPromise.org

Connect With Us

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation.

Together, we can ensure that no grandfamily walks this journey alone.

Can healing truly change your life?

This week on Conversations with Karen and Kat, we welcome Eboni Caldwell, founder of Productive & Prosper-Us Empowerment, LLC. After surviving homelessness, domestic violence, divorce, and financial hardship, Eboni transformed her pain into purpose and now helps women heal emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

In this powerful conversation, she discusses healing trauma, inner-child work, setting healthy boundaries, journaling, faith, forgiveness, and discovering purpose after life's greatest challenges.

If you're ready to embrace healing and move forward with hope, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

Topics Covered

• Healing trauma
• Women's empowerment
• Inner-child healing
• Faith and purpose
• Mental wellness
• Healthy relationships
• Self-love
• Personal growth
• Journaling
• Breaking generational cycles

Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with changemakers, community leaders, and visionaries who are making a difference.

What if the behaviors we label as resistance, defiance, or laziness are actually signs of an untold story?

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Karen and Kat, we welcome Dr. Erlange Elisme, behavioral health consultant, trauma-informed leadership strategist, author, and founder of Elisme Consulting Services.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health, education, and leadership, Dr. Elisme explores how trauma shapes our relationships, workplaces, and communities. She explains why many high-functioning people silently carry emotional burdens, how leaders can create psychologically safe environments, and why healing is a collective responsibility—not an individual one.

The conversation also highlights the wisdom of the Haitian tradition of kombit, reminding us that we were never meant to carry life's challenges alone. Dr. Elisme shares practical insights on building resilient teams, supporting young people, addressing mental health stigma in communities of color, and recognizing the humanity behind every behavior.

• Why behavior is often communication rather than defiance.
• How trauma affects leadership, workplaces, and families.
• Why high achievers are often the last to seek support.
• The importance of psychological safety and compassionate leadership.
• How community and connection are essential to healing.
• Practical ways to support mental wellness in everyday life.

This timely conversation, released during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, is an invitation to rethink resilience, extend grace, and create communities where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Email: elisme@elismeconsultingservices.com

Phone Number: 6785956446

Website: https://www.elismeconsultingservices.com

Signup for Dr. Elisme's July 16th webinar, The Body Whispers: Catch Burnout Before Resignation https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991030125703?aff=oddtdtcreator

Subscribe to Conversations with Karen and Kat as we continue impacting the world—one conversation at a time.

America stands at a turning point.In this episode, John H. Moye joins Conversations with Karen and Cat to break down the political and social shifts shaping Georgia and the nation.The discussion focuses on voting rights, representation, public policy, and the growing concern that democratic protections are weakening.John explains how recent court decisions continue to chip away at the protections created by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.He connects history to the present.He explains why these legal changes matter to everyday voters.John speaks from decades of experience in public service, nonprofit leadership, workforce development, and civil rights advocacy.This episode challenges listeners to think critically about the future of civic engagement in Georgia and across the country.

In this episode of Conversations with Karen and Cat, we sit down with Melissa Ramirez, Director of Gwinnett Young Professionals at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, to explore what it truly means to build community with intention.

Melissa shares her journey into leadership and how she has cultivated a space where emerging professionals can connect, grow, and lead with purpose. From creating impactful programming to fostering authentic relationships, she breaks down the importance of showing up, staying engaged, and building networks that go beyond business cards.

This conversation dives into:

• The evolving needs of young professionals in today’s workforce
• How meaningful connections can open doors and create lasting impact
• The role of leadership in shaping inclusive and supportive communities
• Practical ways to get involved, grow your influence, and lead where you are

Melissa also offers insight into how Gwinnett Young Professionals is creating pathways for the next generation to thrive—not just professionally, but personally and civically.

Whether you're just starting your career or looking to deepen your community impact, this episode is a reminder that leadership begins with connection.

In this episode of Conversations with Karen and Cat, we sit down with Dr. Deidre J. Crowley—educator, nurse, business coach, two-time Amazon Best-Selling author, recipient of two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the 2026 Ms. NE Gwinnett County Queen, Ms. Corporate America Competition Candidate.

Born in Jamaica, Dr. Crowley shares the powerful experiences that shaped her journey—from growing up with strong faith and determination to navigating life transitions that led her from teaching to a career in nursing and healthcare leadership. Guided by her life mantra, “After the battle comes the reward,” Dr. Crowley reflects on the challenges, sacrifices, and moments of faith that helped her overcome obstacles and pursue her purpose.

Throughout the conversation, she discusses the importance of resilience, service, education, and believing in one’s calling, while encouraging listeners to keep moving forward even when the path is difficult.

This inspiring conversation reminds us that every challenge can become a stepping stone toward purpose, growth, and impact.

To sponsor Dr. Crowley in the Ms. Corporate America Georgia Competition, email dee4u22@hotmail.com

In this powerful and deeply affirming episode of Conversations with Karen & Cat, we welcome back renowned African-centered psychologist, educator, and author Dr. Kevin Washington (Mwata Kiari Emeka Sankara) to explore a transformative approach to mental health and healing.

Grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Dr. Washington introduces his groundbreaking work, Ubuntu Psychotherapy: Addressing the Transgenerational Trauma of Afrikan/Black People. Together, we unpack how historical and transgenerational trauma continues to shape the lived experiences of Afrikan people—and why culturally grounded healing is not just necessary, but urgent.

This conversation challenges traditional Western models of therapy and offers a new paradigm rooted in community, spirituality, identity, and restoration. Dr. Washington walks us through the five pillars of healing—Remembering, Reminding, Reframing, Revitalizing, and Re-normalizing—and shares how we can begin reclaiming our narratives, our wellness, and our wholeness.

✨ This episode is for anyone seeking deeper understanding, cultural alignment, and liberation through healing.

You can learn more about Dr. Mwata at:

https://www.nyansapoempowerment.com/

https://mwataspeaks.com

https://SpeakBlackToMe.com

You can find his book at

https://a.co/d/02F1CmO3

Karen and Kat sit down with Akbar Ali, the youngest Democratic state representative in the nation, and a proud son of Gwinnett County.

At just 21, Rep. Ali shares his journey from community organizing and student activism to serving in the Georgia State House. He reflects on leading with integrity, protecting public education, lowering costs for families, and ensuring unheard voices are represented.

This episode is a powerful conversation about servant leadership, generational impact, and what it truly means to put community first.