Discover how two visionaries turned music into a lifeline for struggling students, challenging everything you thought you knew about education. David "TC" Ellis, a pioneering Minnesota rapper and music producer, and Tony, an accomplished entertainment lawyer and educational leader, co-founded Studio 4 and the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA). Tony Simmons and David Ellis reveal the groundbreaking approach that's not just keeping kids in school, but launching careers and transforming lives. Find out how this innovative model could reshape education across America.

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www.hsra.org/

How a Hip-Hop School is Revolutionizing Learning: A Conversation w/ Tony Simmons & David "TC" Ellis

Join Chanda Smith Baker in conversation with philanthropic leader Lauren Y. Casteel as they explore Black women's leadership in philanthropy. Lauren Y. Casteel is president and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado. Drawing from her family's civil rights legacy and 35-year career, Lauren shares powerful insights on community building, navigating racism, and fostering systemic change. Together, they discuss how bold, innovative philanthropy can create lasting impact for marginalized communities.

https://voicevisionvalue.org/listen
https://www.wfco.org/

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Honoring the Legacies that Sustain Us w/ Lauren Casteel

John W. Rogers, Jr. is the Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, the global value-based asset management firm he founded in 1983 and first African American-owned asset management firm in American history. Chanda sat down with John to talk about moving away from supplier diversity and into business diversity, along with the importance of creating multigenerational wealth for Black and Brown communities.

https://www.arielinvestments.com/

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(2021) Leaning Into Business Diversity: A Conversation with John W. Rogers

Detria Austin Everson, CEO of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, shares her inspiring journey in philanthropy and social justice. Discover how service can be your superpower as Everson reveals the keys to unity, resilience, and hope in leadership. Learn how celebrating small victories can lead to big changes and why black women's voices are crucial in the fight for equity.

https://detriaaustineverson.com/

https://voicevisionvalue.org/listen
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Unlock your Superpower w/ Detria Austin Everson

Dr. Christopher Emdin is the Professor of Science Education and Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too," "STEM, STEAM, Make Dream," and much more. Chanda and Chris discussed the major challenges in our education system. Emdin boldly declares the education system is flawed and rooted in oppression. But he offers a radical alternative that embraces hip-hop culture's creativity, rhythm, and critical thinking.

https://chrisemdin.com/

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(2020) The Hip-Hop Mindset: Creativity, Flow, and Conscious Thought

In this episode of Centering Conversations, an exclusive segment with Voice Vision Value, Ashleigh Gardere, the President of PolicyLink, shares a bold vision to redesign the nation from the ground up. Challenging the status quo, Gardere argues that current systems were never designed for collective flourishing - it's time to redefine the values and legal frameworks that will deliver a just and equitable future for all.

Read PolicyLink's Vision:
https://www.policylink.org/vision

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A Radical Vision for a Nation That Works for All w/ Ashleigh Gardere, President of PolicyLink

Chanda sat down with Christo Brand, a former prison guard on Robben Island, who shares his remarkable story of friendship with Nelson Mandela. Discover how an unlikely bond formed between a jailer and the iconic leader, and the profound lessons of respect, humanity, and forgiveness that transformed them both.

https://christobrand.co.za/

To purchase "Doing Life with Mandela" book:
https://a.co/d/bK7jCAh

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How a Prison Guard Discovered His Humanity with Nelson Mandela

Join Chanda Smith Baker and the Jeremiah Program's CEO Chastity Lord, Board Chair Meredith Moore, and alumna Lavasha Smith as they discuss JP's two-generation approach to disrupting poverty. This conversation explores how JP's holistic support empowers single mothers and their children, combining personal experiences with different perspectives.

Jeremiah Program:
https://jeremiahprogram.org/

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2-Generation Impact with the Jeremiah Program

Pierre Berastaín, Regional Director of CPI Center for Public Impact, is a Harvard-educated, gay Latino immigrant who turns personal barriers into blueprints for social transformation. In this raw, powerful conversation, he dismantles systemic barriers through personal resilience, revealing how marginalized communities can transform pain into profound social change. Discover radical strategies for healing, leadership, and reimagining government that will challenge everything you thought you knew about survival.

Centre for Public Impact:
https://centreforpublicimpact.org/

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Beyond Survival: Rewriting the Rules When the System Wasn't Built for You

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Girl Scouts River Valleys CEO Marisa C. Williams and four-time bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones shatter the myths of perfectionism and self-doubt. They dive into the transformative power of borrowed courage, revealing how women and girls can silence their inner critic and step boldly into their purpose.

Girl Scouts River Valleys:
https://www.girlscoutsrv.org/

Luvvie Ajayi Jones Books:
https://luvvie.org/books/

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Unleash Your Inner Troublemaker: A Conversation with Marisa C. Williams and Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Conversations with Chanda isn’t just a podcast — it’s a movement. Hosted by powerhouse CEO, philanthropist, and unapologetic truth-teller Chanda Smith Baker, this award-winning show cuts through the noise to confront the issues that shape our world: race, power, leadership, justice, and philanthropy. With a fearless voice and a deeply personal lens, Chanda brings listeners into raw, unfiltered conversations with national changemakers like, Robin DiAngelo, PhD, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Caroline Wanga, and Ibram X. Kendi, as well as the bold Twin Cities leaders shaking up business, community, and culture. Whether it's pushing past politeness or unpacking the quiet power behind real change, Conversations with Chanda is where leadership gets real — and personal. This is not just a listen. It’s a call to lead. Subscribe and download now — your next breakthrough starts here.

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