Ally2Action Episode 8: Jon Laster

Frank Chi joins us on Episode 10 of the A2A Pod. We jam about his passion for creating and uplifting film and narratives around inclusion and identity in American life. Frank’s debut film 38 AT THE GARDEN - about the cultural significance of Jeremy Lin’s 2012 “Linsanity” run, premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. It is available on HBO and HBO Max.

Ally2Action Episode 9: Sara Toussaint

Jon Laster is an award winning, New York based comedian, who has performed across the USA. Jon has been featured in the New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine and on the syndicated morning TV show, The Breakfast Club. Other career highlights include, hosting the Billion Dollar Show at the world-famous Comedy Cellar in New York City, appearing on Comedy Central on This Week at The Comedy Cellar and as a writer for two Super Bowl commercials the ESPY’s, BET Awards and a digital series for the Huffington Post, Celebrities Have Issues. Jon has also produced an indie film One Bedroom that won 12 awards at 12 different festivals and was recently released on iTunes.

Karim Webb and Ron Walden are executives and entrepreneurial activists who keep service, mentorship and community at the center.  This conversation breaks down many aspects of how they feel true advocates and allies can show up for historically under-resourced and represented groups; the difference between equity and parity; the importance of helping people gain access to capital; and accountability and transparency of representation within corporate America and ultimately improve outcomes.  Major takeaway: ADVOCACY MATTERS.

Quency Phillips joins us and reminds us what and how our "WHYS" change over time - but also what never changes. To see and be seen. His father a major inspiration in his mission - Quency dives into how his new journey of fatherhood only cements his desire to continue leading the way in spaces of equity and dedication as a beacon of his family and community.    Quency is executive director of Joint Venture’s Building Back Better initiative, established in 2021 as a backbone effort to support regional recovery and reduce stark inequities magnified by the pandemic. Phillips has been committed to social good for more than 25 years through community service and entrepreneurship. Phillips most recently steered community engagement for Google Development Ventures’ $15B Silicon Valley development portfolio. Phillips was selected as a co-chair for the IWBI Health Equity Advisory, as well as the D&I Council for the Americas for Lendlease. Phillips was selected by Lendlease to provide the Keynote for the Global People & Culture Conference, addressing the path to allyship.

Episode 5 is a treat. We welcome Carri Twigg, co-founder of Culture House Media and former Special Assistant to President Obama and Director of Public Engagement for Vice President Joe Biden. Carri's experience in the spaces of American and cultural identity are vast and we are lucky to count her as the founding A2A scholar/expert. We sat down and discussed many things, including her origin story as a bi-racial girl growing up in rural Ohio, her articulation of an America that isn't zero sum and how important it is to read, learn, and tell stories that shift/shape culture. Her thoughts and ideas are a fundementally different approach to parity and progress. We're thankful she stopped by to share her insight and incredible mind with us.   Carri is deeply engaged with content that takes on the urgent cultural questions confronting America and the world.  After 10 years in politics, she is focused on challenging our status quo media narratives. She is a Co-Founder and Head of Development for Culture House media, a Black, Brown, Women owned full service premium film and TV production company. Carri also leads Culture House's consultancy work, collaborating with major studios and creatives to ensure their projects are culturally productive. Carri is an expert in crafting engaging, socially relevant and politically resonant stories, and has been seen on stages from TedX to SXSW.    CARRI TWIGG   Instagram - www.instagram.com/carritwigg   Website - www.culture.house

This week we are joined by Lew Shomer, the CEO of Shomex Productions - the nation's largest producer of Diversity and Disability Career Fairs. His career and life is truly one of allyship backed by action. It was an honor to sit and talk to him about his 15+ years on the board of NAACP, his continued fight for equity and awareness and why he feels the word "inclusive" shouldn't be used. Our minds expanded and our hearts warmed during this hour, and we know yours will be too.

Brad Jenkins, the CEO of the Enfranchisement Productions and Co-Founder of RUN AAPI sits down with us to have a lively conversation about the nuances that inform personal story and its effects on formation of racial stereotypes.  An avid Jordan 1 wearer - he liberally shares with us his experience growing up as bi-racial kid in predominately Italian New Jersey neighborhood and how it has shaped and prepared him for not only the work he does within culture, community and politics but as a neighbor, husband, father and son.     Before joining Will Ferrell’s Funny or Die as Managing Director and Executive Producer, Jenkins spent four years serving as President Obama’s Associate Director in The White House Office of Public Engagement.  From the White House, Jenkins brought together creative executives, through leaders, and some of the world’s biggest stars to advance the President’s agenda - culminating in the Emmy-award winning “Between Two Ferns” interview on the Affordable Care Act.  Since then, Jenkins has produced over 60 social impact campaigns with organizations, companies, PACs, IEs and foundations.    Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bradjenkins Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bradjenkins/

Recorded in July 2021   Yolonda Ross is an actor and producer who plays the character ‘Jada Washington’ in the hit series “The Chi”. She delivers a powerful performance as her character goes through a Cancer-journey storyline, where Yolonda has to shave her own head in real life for it to embody the chemotherapy her character is going through. Matt Coulter and Yolonda discuss many aspects of her preparation for the show, and about how Yolonda also continues to work with "Coils To Locs" http://coilstolocs.com; a black female owned business that makes wigs with and while folks lose their hair - due to the lack of access textured natural wigs. You may be surprised to know that wigs for women with textured hair are not already offered as an alternative in every hospital in this country. We dive into this and the reality of the disparities in healthcare and its extensions of care for people of color. We are so grateful for her joining us to shed a light on this through the role she portrays in ‘Jada Washington’.

Kevin Powell, the writer, civil rights activist and Ally2Action's (A2A) expert & scholar sits down with its Founder Courtney Carter, and President Matthew Coulter to discuss why he believes the work of A2A is important and how each person no matter what their experience can be a better ally to one another.  We cover race, gender, music, the reunion of The Real World Season One; his upcoming TuPac biography and much more!