Finally, a podcast specifically targeted black and brown folks passionate about living the inner-city urban lifestyle. The Urban Academics Roundtable Podcast is a little different from most. It takes the Ted Talk concept to another level with high levels of interaction with Q&A segment after a story by a different Chosen Visionary. It’s brilliant!
The Urban Academics Roundtable Podcast will host 15-minute Bonus sections of each full-length HOT-Seat segment (previously recorded). We will release weekly segments every Friday after the pre-planning pilot, and Anchor is currently hosting it.
Here’s the feed for the Urban Academics Roundtable Podcast. Enjoy! Please be sure to leave us a comment or ask your questions in the comments section below.
Food has been the cornerstone of African-American life since landing here on these shores of America, especially the coast of South Carolina, where the low country reign supreme. Imagine combining a Chosen Visionary with the spirit of stick-to-it-ness, and you have a recipe for the Urban Academics Roundtable.
The Roundtable was started as a direct result of COVID-19 (April 16, 2020). As educators, school systems and PIMOSH providers through the expansion of 2019, we knew something was brewing in education late 2018.
For the first time since 2004, The PIMOSH Network was making moves with folks we’d been talking to for years around the idea of expansion/subsidiary opportunities in South Carolina being one of the expansion states. Things were changing – seemingly for the better, still more of the same bureaucracy.
A fight was on our hands, and we knew it – Here was COVID-19, schools were closed, parents didn’t know what hit them, and now we should have higher levels of respect for teachers, especially those within inner-city, urban school systems. On top of everything else – There was a presidential election.
With most public schools closed and limited supplies getting to inner-city kids at certain times during the pandemic, there was a woman in Charleston who took it upon herself to feed and help everyone! Here’s the thing – Her idea of food forever was planted years before COVID-19. Again, food draws people in general. How much more the children?
This Week In The HOT-Seat
Ragina Scott Saunders is a Charleston, SC native – A true Gullah Geechee girl. She’s also the brainchild and owner of Scotts Grand event center located at 5060 Dorchester Road in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Her love for cooking and hospitality came from her grandparents.
“There was always a pot on the stove that was supernaturally never empty, no matter what the circumstance. Everybody always got to eat!”
Ragina Scott Saunders, Author, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist Scott’s Grand Event Center N. Charleston
Scotts Grand celebrates art, family, and business through special occasions, catering, and corporate events. Her outgoing and self-driven nature, coupled with a personal passion for “helping people connect, has found blessings and much success as an expert throughout the catering, event management space.
Lady Ragina continues that tradition passed down from her grandparents, feeding folks through the Destiny Community Café, the area’s only Pay-What-You-Can Healing Community café; She’s the founder and executive director.
The purpose of Destiny is to raise the level of awareness about food insecurity (hunger) in this country and reduce food waste while also being a catalyst for change in our communities. The Cafe works to reduce food waste while serving and giving from the heart.
Ragina Saunders is no stranger to media and TV interview – Here’s a recent piece of press bestowed on the Queen of Soul Food …
She is also the creator of the Soul Food Foundation and contributor to Gullah/Geechee Kitchen bringing chefs, cooks, and restaurants together around “soul food” to preserve the culture, history, and roots of the soul food industry.
What’s More?
She is a wife of over 28 years with great faith. As a mother of three, two daughters, and one son, she is blessed with a granddaughter who is now 4-months old. They all live happily with “Sparrow,” their dog.
Whenever Lady Ragina is not saving the world, she is on the beach reading a book with family nearby.
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Who should attend? Administrators, C.E.O.s, Child Advocates, Civil Service Members, Content Creators, Educators, Entrepreneurs, First Responders, Guidance Counselors, Journalists, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Please post your questions and thoughts in the comments section below; For any HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or members of the Urban Academics family. More information is HERE! Thank you for reading, and may God bless you!
The arts in education and theater are not new to the world; each of these phenomenons is expressive models that most people desire. The ability to express oneself does come in many forms. Still, the theatre is not recorded, nor is it edited, and therefore needs skilled performers and talent for ticketed guests to experience something they’ll remember and tell others about.
When we look at black and brown folks in the theatre, it’s not widely a choice for performing artists; Black folks tend to go towards film/movies or rap/sing. This week at the Urban Academics Roundtable, Chosen Visionary Number Fifty-One (51) will share the climate in the theatre when he was a student and graduate from Howard University Drama Department, and whether that distinguished degree made the playing field easy or not?
What does the climate look like today in the theatre for black folks, and what can we do to ensure the next generation of talented young people find their way to the most fruitful opportunities?
WATCH NOW – The HOT-Seat at Urban Academics, Season One
The term “Black Theatre” combines plays and musicals directed, performed, produced, or written by African-Americans (Blacks) over the past 200 years.
The Harlem Renaissance of the late ’20s and ’30s was mostly responsible for causing the blow-up that paved the way for hidden skilled performers and talented acts. There is so much that came out of this era that remains, but what was once there that is no more? Find out at the Urban Academics Roundtable, Thursday at 9:30 pm (EDT). You are invited to join us; It’s FREE; GRAB a Seat HERE.
a graduate of Howard University’s Department of Drama. He Mr. Holtz is a writer, actor, director and teacher with an extensive background in theater, film/video and stand-up comedy. He teaches theater in the Newark (NJ) Public Schools.
Notable Accomplishments
Film and TV Projects: Chicken Special
Film and TV Projects: Field Your Way Through It,
Film and TV Projects: The Mission
Sitcoms: Beacon Place
Sitcoms: South Africans-Americans
School Project: Mind Builders-Positive Youth Troupe
School Project: NJPAC, Writer’s Theater of New Jersey
School Project: New Jersey State Council for the Arts, NJPAC
School Project: New York Shakespeare Festival’s Playwriting in the Schools program
School Project: NYU’s Creative Arts Team
School Project: The Children’s Art Carnival
School Project: Theater for the Forgotten’s Changing Scenes
Service: Cultural Envoy to South Africa through U.S. Department of State as a playwright
Mr. Holtz currently serves as Writer/Producer with Think Young, LLC developing docuseries on the life of Andrew Young. If you have any questions for King Holtz, please use the comments section below – We will make sure he gets your message and respond accordingly.
Are You New To Urban Academics?
Who should attend? Administrators, CEOs, Child Advocates, Civil Service Members, Content Creators, Educators, Entrepreneurs, First Responders, Guidance Counselors, Journalists, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Please post your comments or questions in the comments section below for any HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary, or for Members of Urban Academics Online. More information is HERE! Thank you for reading, and may God bless you!
Believing in your dreams and that of others is not as easy as it sounds, but doable on all accounts if you only believe. You can do anything you will do in this life, but it’s difficult to drown out the background noise and stay focused on the goal ahead. Chosen Visionaries are born out of
People come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and can be tricky at best. It’s up to the visionary to see what God has purposed in their hearts and then move to that end with the fear present, taking courage in moving forward. Why do some make it while others give up, falling flat on their face more often than not?
WATCH NOW: HOT-Seat at The Roundtable, Season One
The Urban Academics HOT-Seat, Season One Featuring Twelve Chosen Visionaries in the HOT-Seat. You Can Binge Watch by Clicking Below! SUBSCRIBE to Our YouTube Channel NOW & CLICK THE BELL!
His week’s Chosen Visionary began a professional life of acting and singing after moving to NYC from Chicago and landing her debut role as a breakout star in the movie MO’ Better Blues (A Spike Lee Joint) and several other movies over the years. What’s so neat was that her role called for a female singer/vocalist; She got the job, and her featured song, Harlem Blues, climbed up the R&B Billboard charts to number one (see the video to her chart-topper below).
Cynda sings professionally for film and the stage. She sings Jazz, Americana, and R&B/Hip Hop Fusion with THe WES Group, Michael Martin Band, and The C & Ronnie G’s Band.
Cynda has always liked to volunteer, and when she’s not helping others, she’s working on her many projects. She especially loves the Guiding Light, Inc. out of Muncie, India, where Cynda serves as the nonprofit’s consultant for the arts. Ms. Williams continues to sing and accepts quality roles in film, television, theatre, and she’s here at the Urban Academics Roundtable.
Are You New To Urban Academics?
Who should attend? Administrators, CEOs, Child Advocates, Civil Service Members, Content Creators, Educators, Entrepreneurs, First Responders, Guidance Counselors, Journalists, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Please post them in the comments section below if you have questions for Lady Cynda Williams or Urban Academics. Thank you for reading, and may God bless you!
Being a gifted child comes with its advantages and disadvantages too! When you have usable gifts and talents within the Black Church, that can become a whole other level of problems, some of which you can share, and the rest, let us say many folks carry that part to their graves.
The Black Church is responsible for turning out many quality acts over the years, and we’ve heard all of the stories at one point or another. Aretha Franklin, Monica, Toni and Tamar Braxton, so many others. What do you do when it hurts regardless? Most artists tell stories of running away from the church/pain.
This week at the Urban Academics Roundtable, the chosen visionary is here to share his story around hurt experienced in the church because he was gifted and talented. All blessings, bad and good, come through people – But not all people can be who we want them to be. Until we know the circumstance, situation, or overall story, getting it all wrong is easy.
Manny James, Church Street South Entertainment, recording artist, songwriter, and composer, was born and raised in New Haven, CT. A singer and performer since the age of 8. He grew up in a community that presented many challenges. He says, “We didn’t have much growing up, but we made the best of what we had” Those days and experiences fueled the creativity you see today.
According to Manny, Church Street South, his childhood neighborhood, is honest and remains relatable today. Manny’s approach to life, songwriting, and performing come from Church Street South projects, what was once called the worst housing projects in America during the 1980s.
Manny says his music and performances give back to the people.
“As an artist, I need to create from an honest space. Writing songs where people relate always makes the best music.”
Manny James, R&B Singer/Songwriter and Community Activists
Notabke Accomplishments
Co-wrote and released the YouTube viral sensation “So Incredible” (The Julio Jones Dance) via a Visa/NFL “My Football Fantasy” campaign. The campaign garnered 4.6 million views in less than a week.
Debuted in the Top 25 on iTunes (Just Being Honest)
He established himself as an artist and songwriter before “Just Being Honest” hit digital outlets
James brought no-holds-barred soulful and unique performances
In 2017 the phenomenal “Church Street South” release, named after the neighborhood he grew up in, led to his most successful year to date, gaining twenty-two thousand fans from 57 countries.
What’s More?
In 2020 Manny formed his record label Church Street South Entertainment and released a new single, “Never Let Go.” The song is well received. A full-length album is next, showcasing unsung musicians and up-and-coming vocal magic. You can contact Manny by using the comments section below.
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Who should attend? Administrators, CEOs, Child Advocates, Civil Service Members, Content Creators, Educators, Entrepreneurs, First Responders, Guidance Counselors, Journalists, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Questions?
Use the Comments Section Below to ask questions or get in touch with this HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or the Urban Academics staff. Ask away, and she will get to your questions and quickly as possible. CLICK HERE FOR HOT-SEAT INFO!
If you’re looking for virtual marketing hacks, look no further than Mr. Glenn Murray, a Marketing & Viral Promotions Expert and Guru. He is the Principal Founder of 220 Communications, the parent company to 220 Publishing and Food, Wine, and Spirits Ventures.
Mr. Murray has led viral social media campaigns that have generated over 1-Million impressions for the arts, film, music, and culinary events, and he’s in this week’s hot-Seat giving up his secret sauce! Let’s talk about business – What it takes to make it wherever you’re trying to go; Authors, Businessfolks, Experts. Free-Lancers, Lifetime Students, Small-Business Owners, and parents! To Get on this call – Thursday’s at 9:30 PM (EST).
When we talk about Viral Marketing, it’s the process of getting the word out about a product, service, or both to the masses. I believe if your campaign generates over 1 million impressions, it’s considered to have gone “Viral.”
Some Viral Videos, however, don’t benefit the creator, either because they are not regularly publishing videos to YouTube or Vimeo, so how would they know how to monetize. The second way is when someone posts a random video they just captured in the car. She uploads and boom – The video of a cat laying next to a dog playing nicely gets 2 million views – When that happens, Ellen’s Show will call
You are welcome to join us for an evening of enlightenment with another Chosen Visionary for these times. We’ll be at The Urban Academics Round-table with the GURU, who can change your situation virtually overnight. Bring an apron, bib, a fork, spoon, and knife; This is going to be yummy! Also, please DO
NOT FORGET TO BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU; It’s FREE, but you’ve got to Register HERE First!
Glenn Murray Chicago, IL Social Media Expert on Going
If you are someone looking to get your book, idea, message, or thoughts out into the world, do these three things before you do anything else: (1) Decide who your target market is (ALL demographics included); (2) Figure out where those folks are in groups (large groups); and (3) Use YouTube to create a strategy based on what other successful marketers are using. If you need help, The Urban Academics is in the business of working with Authors & Entrepreneurs. You can register FREE and start from there!
Mr. Glenn Murray is a man who enjoys watching TV or a good movie when he’s not busy attempting to save the world. A true gem in the fields of Marketing and Promotions.; You should get at him – Leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for reading.
Are You New To The Weekly Roundtable
Who should attend? Administrators, CEOs, Child Advocates, Civil Service Members, Content Creators, Educators, Entrepreneurs, First Responders, Guidance Counselors, Journalists, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Questions?
Use the Comments Section Below to ask questions or get in touch with this HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or the Urban Academics staff. Ask away, and she will get to your questions and quickly as possible. CLICK HERE FOR HOT-SEAT INFO!
Black Girl Joy is not easy to come by during the days of COVID-19; The year 2020 will forever be known as the one that wasn’t! For the first time in history, children were relieved from their school duties and 100 percent promoted to the next grade. Parents were sent home from work indefinitely, and the United States, along with the rest of the world, shut-down, almost completely. Well, that was up until the Urban Academics Roundtable got its start.
Instead of crying and worrying about the world falling apart, it was decided that there needed to be a place to document everything happening around and to black and brown people amid the world changers. We can all agree; The world will never be the same.
Each week, a different person (male or female) sits in the HOT-Seat at Urban Academics, sharing their stories of resilience and triumphant encounters with doom; THey didn’t run away but stood tall now you can hear from each of them LIVE. These talks are raw, real, relevant, and much-needed for this generation.
This is the Roundtable of ALL Roundtables – Don’t Miss it! It’s FREE, but you must register! You can Register Here.
What is Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month became a US celebration in 1982, but it was called Women’s History Week. Within just a few years, President Regan extended the week-long celebration into a full month of honoring women throughout American society, including black women. The National Women’s History Project takes credit for its founding.
According to History.Com, We should celebrate the contributions, notable accomplishments, and the transformative power women have in, for, and to the United States. Also, to be publicly recognized for specific achievements women have made over the course of our history in a variety of fields.”
This Week’s HOT-Seat:
This week at the Roundtable, we celebrate Twenty-Five Women Speakers with Black Girl Joy! Each one brings something new and fresh to the table, and they are the “Chosen Visionaries” of this generation, born for such a time as this. Please accept this as a formal invitation for you to dine at the Urban Academics Roundtable every Thursday at 9:30 PM. It’s an experience you will never forget. CLICK HERE to RSVP for a Seat.
Twenty-Five Women Speakers With Black Girl Joy https://www.urban-academics.com/hot-seat
The Chosen Twenty-Five With Black Girl Joy
The following is a list of powerful women who are blazing trails for anyone to follow, especially young girls. It’s not as easy as you may think to find examples of how we ought to carry ourselves as ladies, but that stops today. This resource is for you! If you see a link in this section, it means the woman has a book, product, or service that you can purchase. It means the world to creatives when someone finds their offerings and makes a purchase. It’s proof of concept and will help them continue running without weariness!
Elder Dinah Kinney, (New Haven, CT), Chief Deputy Clerk of Court for United States District Court of Connecticut, First Lady at Mount Hope Temple, and Ordained Minister
Kaye Harvey (New Haven, CT, by way of Atlanta, GA), President and CEO of Alexis Hill Montessori Schools, Inc.; And Robinhood Stock Representative
Please help us celebrate these women on the move by purchasing their books, products, and services and writing a review, sharing on social media, including comments, like, share, thumbs up, and whatever the platform calls for. This is the only way to go viral, and we must be in the business of sharing information. Please do not keep it all to yourself.
Who should attend? Administrators, Educators, Child Advocates, Entrepreneurs, Guidance Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Questions?
Use the Comments Section Below to ask questions or get in touch with this HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or the Urban Academics staff. Ask away, and she will get to your questions and quickly as possible. CLICK HERE FOR HOT-SEAT INFO!
Opportunity is the number one reported obstacle of why most people don’t pursue dreams, or in other words, their true calling. There are probably about 97% of the population falling into this category. But there is another three percent, and they make up the creatives and risk-takers who know no bounds to their thoughts snd ways. They are sometimes black sheep or wayward children – they don’t want to walk in a line unless they need to pass.
Number Six With A Mindblowing Getting Organized, Prepared Being Ready – Do you really want to know her secret? You are welcome to watch (listen) to the Raw, Real, and Relevant Replay below. Don’t forget you can leave questions for Lady Lonai Mosley, and she will get back to you. Meanwhile, please Subscribe to Urban Academics YouTube Channel.
More About Lonai Mosley
Lonai Mosley runs a fantastic digital boutique in Brooklyn, NY. Known to mere mortals as the Media Money Maker Mogul, she’s carved out quite the career in working with NYC Schools, entertainment companies, and more! She is HOT Seat Chosen Visionary Number VI, Season I. Enjoy!
What do people do when they forget who they are? This is the question this generation of black folks face when they stare themselves in the face and admit the truth. Who, what, when, where, and how did we get programmed this way?
What way? You might ask, and I’m glad you did (ask). This week’s HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary will take care of that with his plea for every boy, girl, man, and woman would say “Yes To Love!” Linwood Ali Jabbar Bran question and many more at the Urban Academics Roundtable – This week is no different, a Freedom Fighter, Historian, Writer, Founder and CEO of The Society of Former Slaves and Freemen, Inc.
Mr. Linwood Ali Jabbar Branham Sr. is a life-long resident of New Haven, Connecticut, dedicating his life to the fight for justice, freedom, equality, and education for those who suffered systemic racism. He is the founder and CEO of The Society of Former Slaves and Freemen, Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes the education, liberation, and inspiration of people of color with an emphasis on the youth.
Mr. Branham is a motivational speaker on both local and national stages and on radio stations too! He’s worked closely with Churches, Elementary, Middle, High Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Juvenile Detention Centers to spread his love for learning and blacks and brown people. The motto is to get the message out by any means necessary. His passion is participating as a panelist with organizers of committees focused on education and black issues and speaking to groups of today’s youth.
Linwood Ali Jabaar Branham New Haven Connecticut www.urban-academics.com
The “Love Train,” according to Mr. Linwood, is a vehicle anyone can climb aboard, no change, no bills, just goodwill one towards another. To this chosen visionary, there’s no stopping us as black folks – They’ve tried everything, but it’s God’s will to use his chosen people, which is us. So, change your mind about hate, starting today. Here’s a special invitation for you to dine with us at the Urban Academics Roundtable. GRAB A SEAT HERE!
Notable Accomplishments
A loving Father and Grandfather
A visionary who sees history as a continual unfolding of God’s Perfect Will
A Writer and Historical Storyteller
An organized and commemorated the 1st annual Black Holocaust Memorial ceremony in the nation (2014)
Entrepreneur: Founder and CEO of The Society of Former Slaves and Freemen, Inc.
Mr. Linwood Ali Jabaar Branham, through education, helps people heal and promote awareness prevention. When he’s not busy saving the world, gardening, growing flowers and food are his past times. Getting in touch with Mr. Branham is easy; use the comments section below. Thank you.
Are You New To The Weekly Roundtable
Who should attend? Administrators, Educators, Child Advocates, Entrepreneurs, Guidance Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Questions?
Use the Comments Section Below to ask questions or get in touch with this HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or the Urban Academics staff. Ask away, and she will get to your questions and quickly as possible. CLICK HERE FOR HOT-SEAT INFO!
What happens when you combine beauty and smarts, technology and skill, and the called and chosen? A major move in the natural and the spirit! During these days of COVID-19, we are well aware that there must be RAM in the Bush!
Churches are closed, and most schools do not have the capacity to fully open – They can’t begin to understand what today’s kids face in the new world adults have been forced into. Where, or to whom do our children run when they’ve run out answers or tears of their own?
This week’s HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary is one who is seeing great success and living her best life. However, that’s not always been her story; One including Child Sexual Abuse, and even Breast Cancer. Here are survivor stories from one who lived to tell. You must jump on this call – One that can save your mind and ultimately your life. It’s FREE, but you’ve got to REGISTER HERE!
Rev. Willetta “Lettie” Ar-Rahmaan, M.Div., MSIS is an Author, Bi-Vocational Ordained Baptist Minister, employed by IBM Software Quality Engineer Manager. She is the owner and visionary of On The Move Ministries, LLC, the former pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Newton, NC, and former Minister of Assimilation at First Baptist Church West in Charlotte, NC. She’s a native of Hamden, CT, but completed high school in Durham, NC.
Notable Accomplishments:
A MINISTER: Bi-vocational Ordained Baptist Minister
Rev. Lettie believes through education, we can help people heal and promote awareness prevention. Lettie is the mother of one daughter and grandmother of three young women; Her Tag Line: #educatehealprevent.
Are You New To The Weekly Roundtable
Who should attend? Administrators, Educators, Child Advocates, Entrepreneurs, Guidance Counselors, Mental Health Professionals, Parents, Political Figures, Students, Upward Mobile Professionals, School Systems Interested in Change, Teachers, and People Involved in Motivating Our Students Higher (P.I.M.O.S.H.) Subsidiaries. GRAB a Seat HERE.
Do You Have Questions?
Use the Comments Section Below to ask questions or get in touch with this HOT-Seat Chosen Visionary or the Urban Academics staff. Ask away, and she will get to your questions and quickly as possible.
