In Our Words - Series Highlights

Episode 1: Radaya Ellis and Sean Lewis - I've made mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. This mistake doesn't define me. I realized at a very young age how I wanted to live. And, you know, I went for it. And I know the safety net, you know, there's nobody. There's no one there for me to run to if it didn't work. So I had to go forward even when it fell down.

Radaya Ellis - 4Goods & Services provider EXECUTIVE . 4Waukee mission is to propel, promote and progress the city of Milwaukee. 4Waukee specifically focuses on the people, fashion, and art to promote, market and inform The nation of Milwaukee’s greatness and various endeavors.

How to connect: Instagram - @4waukee

Sean Lewis (Exit Elite Realty) - Principle stakeholder in the following business ventures:

- Licensed REALTOR

- Real Property Investing

- Corporate training

- Website Link: https://www.exitelitewi.com/agents/112-sean-lewis/  

How to connect: Text - seanlewis285377

Episode 2: Robin Scott and Jamila Riley - I'm learning to just enjoy it. And to pick up on other things later. And to say, This is my investment in my business, right? This is something that at the end of the week, now, I can give myself a little bit of pat on the back and say you know what, I did something that is going to be beneficial to my work.

Robin Scott  - Executive Director at We All Rise: African American Resource Center (Green Bay). The vision of We All Rise is to create and help restore a vibrant African American community. Through uplifting, skill building, and intentionally targeting root causes of systemic oppression, and actively promoting the healing of all.

Website Link: https://www.weallriseaarc.org/

Jamila Riley - Is a crochet brand that builds self-esteem and boosts confidence through bold and unique accessories, apparel, and home goods. Housed in the lower level of Sherman Phoenix (Milwaukee). 

Website Link: https://www.shermanphoenix.com/

Episode 3: Dr. Monique Liston and Dr. Kadihjia Kelly - It really truly is not about the money. It really is about just making sure that I'm serving my community in a way that doesn't jeopardize their mental health because it's very hard out here. Just the whiteness is always showing up. And so I just think at the end of the day, it's about self preservation for me.

Monique Liston -  Founder, Joyful Militant and Chief Strategist at Ubuntu Research and Evaluation (Milwaukee). Powered by a collective of unapologetic Black women, femmes, and non-binary people working as transdisciplinary strategist committed to resistance against anti-blackness. 

Website Link: https://www.ubunturesearch.com/

Kadihjia Kelly - Licensed professional counselor and owner of Stars counseling (Appleton). Kadihjia has been working in the field of counseling since 2018. Dr. Kelly’s expertise is working with self-Identified Black/African American clients focusing on Critical Race Theory and Racial Fatigue.

Website Link: https://www.starscounseling.com/

Episode 4: Arletta Allen and Samantha Collier - I wouldn't even have had the opportunity to discover myself. I come through many adversities from being a prostitute at the age of 15 and navigating those spaces, being broken away from my father. Not having the validation of knowing I'm somebody in his eyes caused me to look to be somebody in somebody else's eyes. 

Arletta Allen - Government official, national award-winning professional speaker, social influencer, TEDx speaker, and Entrepreneur Arletta Allen owner of Authentically Arletta who is a dynamic speaker that serves as a true example of resilience and perseverance . 

Facebook : @AuthenitcallyArletta 

Samantha Collier - Educator, healer, and advocate. TeamTeal365 has a mission to empower and educate sexual abuse survivors and encourage dialogue about sexual abuse and prevention.

Facebook: @TeamTeal365 

Episode 5: Chris Kimbrough and Walter Matthews - It's very important because when you operate in your business, or even, whatever you do in life, it's very much important to be yourself. Because if you're not yourself sooner or later, you get tired of being fake, you get upset, but when you are yourself, go like that forever.

Chris Kimbrough - Owner of STARZ Barbershop (GreenBay). Chris now owns and operates 3 barbershop locations, with his last grand opening on the UWGB campus. Starz Barbershop & Beauty desires to create a family friendly environment, while getting a haircut. 

Website Link: https://starzbarberandbeauty.com/

Walter Matthews - founder of Verdis Concepts & Solutions and Southern Quarters Enterprise, based in Milwaukee, WI. Walter has been in business for 15 years, presenting to leadership teams, businesses and entrepreneurs on integrative mental health and wellness practices, along with many other key topics pertaining to functionality and business effectiveness. 

Website Link: https://thriveglobal.com/authors/walter-matthews/

Episode 6: Albert Walker and Bobby Drake - If you look in front of the easy way, just take the hard way first. Because if you go the easy way, or what looks to be the easy way, you’re gonna figure out that's not it and you got to start over. And then you'll find another easy way and then you're gonna realize that's not it. And you'll start over and you'll be stuck on the easy way. Just take the hard way from the beginning.

Albert Walker - Owner of Imago dei Barber Lounge (Green Bay). Husband, minister, community activist. 

Website : Imagodeibarber.com 

Bobby Drake - Husband and father of 2, Bobby started his career as a spoken word artist, actively working in the community and political system, Bobby has won an Emmy Award and a national association for Black journalist award. As a music producer Bobby has received the independent music awards "Best spoken word album" for his 4th project "Hands Down" (Available on all streaming platforms). 

Website : Bobbydrakedidit.com

Episode 7: Anthony Kazee and Phillip Bennett - You got to know how to be a good worker, before you can be a boss. Because being a good worker, gives you that knowledge to understand that I gotta be a good worker for him for his business to thrive and survive. So when I go get my own, I have to be able to have the knowledge to know how to work.

Anthony Kazee. Looking for insight on how to invest in residential & commercial real estate? Trust that this process is not easy and building a team is most necessary. Meet Anthony Kazee owner of KG Development Group (Milwaukee)

Facebook: @AnthonyAmbitiousKazee

Meet Philip Bennett… Owner of The Cozzy Corner, Envy Fits and Fashion, Legends Cuts and styles, and residential real estate investor (Appleton).

Website: www.thecozzycorner.com , @EnvyfitsandFashion

Episode 8: Brandi Iberia and Tasha Greenleaf - So you got to show up as your authentic self, stop with the imposter syndrome. We keep trying to show up like everybody else, because we think oh, he sounds fly when he says this, but she sounds cute when she says that. But at some point, the mask gotta come off. So you're gonna be better off just being you.

Brandi Iberia Owner and CEO of Luminocity Media Group LLC, (Milwaukee). Formed in 2011, Brandi’s company focuses on the areas of marketing and promotions, social media development and management, public relations, event planning, artist development, and entertainment resources. Additionally, Iberia is well-known for Saved and the City Christian Network, faith based media conglomerate focused on kingdom solutions for real world issues as well as her new podcast, marketing with Black Girl Magic!

Website: www.luminocityent.com/ 

Facebook: @LuminocityMediaGroup

Tasha Greenleaf, Owner of Urban Cultural Arts  / Art & Event Center (Green Bay) which was established in 2019 as a Paint & Sip. However, as of October 2021 was restructured as an Art and Event Center. The Center is focused on bringing all forms of art created to the community. The Center now provides a space for painting, dancing, poetry, music, comedy and different culturally focused events which will allow the community to learn what art looks like in other parts of the world.

Website: Urbanculturalarts.com 

Facebook: Urban Cultural Arts/Art and Event Center

Episode 9: J.D. Murphy and Ambrose W.B - Once you've learned that lesson, you don't have to repeat that, you don't have to repeat that process. You probably will. But you have a different perspective of going through, this is just a necessity. This is something that I got to work through.

Ambrose WB - a social entrepreneur integrating his experiences owning and operating a healthy lifestyle company for 16 years and the education non-profit industry as a Social-Emotional learning coach specializing in breathwork and meditation for the last eight years. 

Website: mkeswell.com 

JD Murphy - Owner of Mentor Systems (Green Bay). For 23 years JD has been conducting character development training with a tool called The Flag Page, with the purpose to help as many people understand and attain more of their potential. As well as department team building, sales training, and individuals with the development of a clear-cut career path or job change. 

Facebook : @JDMurphy

Episode 10: Dasha Kelly-Hamilton and KC Brown - I've really moved into after this career of work, of seeing so many people in so many different ways, step into themselves by stepping out of the box of logic, it's still a wisdom, and it's not for things to not make sense. It's just allowing that things might make sense in ways that you don't anticipate, and that is the gift of being alive

Dasha Kelly-Hamilton (Still Waters Collective - MKE)

Facebook: Dasha Kelly-Hamilton 

Website: Dashakelly.com, Stillwatercollective.com 

KC Brown (Police Veteran and Non-profit Founder - FDL)

Facebook: @KCBrown

Series Contacts: 

Rajon Hall, MSW - Podcast Host and Real Estate Agent 

Instagram: @BigDreamsRealty