In this episode, Alishia Lee and Vanny Wmamba pull up to the table for a candid conversation regarding fashion and its place within our culture, examining how it has been a rich tapestry that reflects identity, mental health, culture, and social change.

Alishia is the visionary CEO and designer behind Me By Lee Custom Designs, a fashion brand where storytelling, sustainability, and inclusiveness take center stage. Her work has graced TV and film productions featured on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and more, while her Luxe and Long Full Figured Fashion line redefines couture for everyBODY. She is also the Program Director for the MAC Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting fashion, entrepreneurship, and economic development in the Midwest. From producing sold-out runway shows to hosting Sip & Sew community events, Alishia continues to inspire makers, disrupt the fashion status quo, and create space for bold, authentic expression in every thread.

Vanny is a remarkable storyteller and filmmaker who continues bridge the gap between African and African American cultural through various projects. He has been the lead organizer for the Sapologie Walk in Cincinnati, a cultural movement where Congolese elegance comes to America. A sophisticated experience with great similarity to Dandyism, it is celebration of style, community, cultural pride, and authentic storytelling.

The authentic reality of our history reflects that White insecurity has contested Black political life since the first public endorsement for Black suffrage.

Two days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, President Abraham Lincoln addressed a jubilant crowd that had gathered outside the White House. While the crowd expected an address celebrating the Union victory and the preservation of the nation, Lincoln instead used the occasion to outline his view of reconstruction. He also for the first time publicly expressed his support for Black suffrage which led John Wilkes Booth, who was in the audience to vow, “That is the last speech he will ever make.” Three days later, Booth assassinated the President at Ford’s Theater.

In this LIVE episode, Tamaya Dennard joins C.J. for a candid conversation regarding her journey into politics, the legacy and reclamation of Black political life, and more. Tamaya is the Programs and Partnerships Manager at RepresentWomen. Inspired by Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan and an abiding belief that everyone deserves a non-tokenized voice in what’s happening in their community, in 2017, Tamaya became the first openly gay woman elected to public office in the City of Cincinnati. Her focus in office was dismantling legislation rooted in systemic racism, classism and sexism and creating equitable policies that gave everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.

In this episode, CJ illuminates the legacy of James McCune Smith, the first African American Physician. Sherry Hughes, Director of Strategic Community Engagement with Cincinnati Cancer Advisors, joins CJ at the table for a candid conversation regarding health and wellness advocacy. Advocating for our health is actively participating in our own health care by speaking up, asking questions, and insisting on our needs are heard by health professionals and the system.

A Cancer Second Opinion | Cincinnati Cancer Advisors (CCA)

In this episode, Lance Wheeler, the Vice President of Learning & Engagement at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, joins CJ at the table for a candid conversation regarding the legacy of Black museums, while exploring best practices and strategies to protect them. The conversation examines the plight of museum practitioners and the crisis of historic preservation. Lance is a brilliant thought-leader in the field of public history with more than a decade of experience.

The remarkable legacy of Charles Howard Wright, Detroit physician and founder of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, is illuminated in this episode in addition to the recognition of historian, educator, and founder of BlackPast.org, Dr. Quintard Taylor. Dr. Taylor launched BlackPast in 2007 with a vision to make African American and global African history freely accessible to the public. Under his leadership, the nonprofit became the world’s largest online encyclopedia dedicated to Black history, engaging more than sixty-four million users since its founding.

CJ dedicates this episode to Dr. John Fleming, the Godfather of Black Museums. Dr. Fleming is a legend in the museum field who played a leading role in the development of nearly two dozen museums. The opening dedication includes a brief reflection from Dr. Tonya Mathews, President and CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.

In this episode, Dr. Felicia Bell joins CJ to examine the foundational relationship between African Americans and the U. S. Capitol. Illuminating the truth regarding free and enslaved craftsmen’s contributions towards the construction of the U. S. Capitol reflects how African Americans have played an essential role in the building of the world’s most recognizable structures. This episode will unpack the impact of African Americans on the history of the Capitol from its existence to present day.

LINKS
Standing on Business Ep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3eA3zuLDtM
The White House Was, in Fact, Built by Enslaved Labor: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/white-house-was-fact-built-slaves-180959916/
Landscapes in the Making: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780884025214