Pivotal Moment with Nikitta Foston

"We are in the business of moving people," Denise Barreto told Pivotal Moment. Barreto is the first-ever chief equity and engagement officer for the Chicago Transit Authority, the nation's third-largest transit system - and TEDx speaker of Normal is Optional. The author, executive producer, and co-founder of Serqet Productions talks about entrepreneurship, fighting systems of injustice, and the jo...

My goal is to bring out the best in teachers so they can bring out the best in their students, Dr. Donald Parker told Pivotal Moment. The former principal, author, professional development leader, and keynote speaker has a message for educators. Listening is the first step to letting students know that you care. In this episode, the author of Be the Driving Force shares helpful tips from his TEDx...

Dr. Ava Thompson Greenwell is a documentary filmmaker, author, and journalism professor at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. In this episode, she talks about the mounting challenges facing todays reporters, the importance of journalism during times of political transition, and Medills continuing leadership in training tomorrows storytellers.  Tune in to learn the ONE questi...

Your setback is setting you up for something better, Mack McGhee told Pivotal Moment.  Changing hearts and transforming lives is more than a slogan for McGheeits his ministry. The chief administrator and division director of Institutional Care for Wayne County Michigan is a recognized leader in juvenile justice and a champion of true reform for young people in the system.  The adult just...

The number one mistake people make is not starting, Angel Livas told Pivotal Moment. Thinking of starting a business? A podcast? Or writing a book? Angel Livas, founder and CEO of the Alive Podcast Network, has conquered each goal, with plans to revolutionize the media space. I didnt come to play, I came to revolutionize the landscape for Black creatives, Livas said. The Inc. 2024 Female Founder h...

Rapper Chi Candi,   known for her smooth sounds and dope curves, continues her rise on the charts with sold out shows in the U.S. and Dubai, marking her claim to fame and leaving fans calling out for more. She talks to Pivotal Moment about being  the only female rapper on the national stage for BETs One Shot and how she had to impress judges like T.I., DJ Khaled,  RZA, Tech9, Mike S...

Sally Hazelgrove is making a difference in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood . Her after-school boxing program, The Crushers Club, takes kids off the streets, and trains them to box, teaches them to lead, and pays them - YES, PAYS THEM, in the process. The Englewood club has employed hundreds of Chicago youth.  Crushers Club also offers a music education program, and this month, a new YouTube t...

There's MORE in STORE in 2024!! GET INSPIRED by our first episode of the new year with New York Times bestselling author and global communications expert, David Murray. The head of the Professional Speechwriters Association talks to Pivotal Moment about making sense of today's issues and how to communicate effectively in our response to them. Murray, author of "An Effort to Understand: Hearing One...

Burning out is not a badge of honor, Judy West told Pivotal Moment. Find an environment where your gifts can flourish. West is the head of Women Executive Pastors, an international group of more than 160 women executive pastors from around the world. In this episode, she shares her insight on unlocking your spiritual gifts, walking in your God-given purpose, and finding your rhythm in life, rather...

Two years ago, Eventnoire beat more than 200 startups to clinch the #1 spot in Mountain Dews Real Change Challenge. Earning the win, and a part of the $1M pool, positioned the company as a leading voice in digital solutions and a national brand in the event marketplace. Eventnoire Co-Founder Jeff Osuji talks about his vision for the company as a premier gateway for experiences that celebrate and e...

Sit up. Speak up. Stand up. For Retired Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews, this is more than a slogan - its a lifestyle. Now, after 32 years in the United States Navy, the third African-American woman in the U.S. to hold the post of rear admiral - is starting a new chapter. Admiral Annie, is the founder of a new leadership training enterprise, specifically for women over 40. In this episode, she talks...

"That's what I love to do. Tolu Samuels talks to Pivotal Moment about his incredible growth spurt, from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-7...in one season. Just outside of Chicago, Hillcrests star player and college-bound senior talks about dominating on the court, including epic wins at key tournaments. Now, hes looking ahead to the future, to the program and players that fuel his energy - and his faith. What...

I dont let fear paralyze me from making moves, Rockland Page told Pivotal Moment. Fear is normal in entrepreneurship, but when you see the fruit of your labor, it propels you beyond them. Thats living the dream. Combining style, culture and storytelling, the founder and CEO of ROCKaBLCOK lifestyle brand is making a worldwide impact in the fashion industry. From his humble beginnings making T-shirt...

You help people achieve their goals. Thats leadership, Dr. Kelly Elmore told Pivotal Moment. When you realize the impact you can have on people, you show up. As chief wellness officer, Dr. Elmore travels the world, leading people to healthier lives - spiritually, physically, financially, mentally and emotionally, or SPF ME, part of her VivaLife global health and empowerment movement. VivaLife is d...

"History is made by the people who have power," Dana Rubin told Pivotal Moment. "So much of our story is told by men and through men's voices." But Rubin's book, Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women," debunks the myth that men were the only powerful speakers in our country's history. "Women in America have been speaking out for nearly four centuries," Rubin said. "And...

Dr. Constance Shabazz, CEO of Salaam Community Wellness Center of Chicago, has devoted her professional life to health care and social justice. As COVID-19 swept through the city, she witnessed the devastating impact on communities of color. Long-standing health inequities in marginalized populations were exacerbated. People with underlying health conditions were at greater risk. Those who contrac...

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME! Too many of us wait for the right time to start or expand our business. We wait to be motivated or inspired to take our vision to the next level. But TODAY is a new day! Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and SVP, Marketing & Member Experience at the American Medical Association says, "It's not about you, it's about the value your brand will bring to others." In...

KARIMA! With her smash hit Redeemer, Karima opened D-Nices Club Quarantine Live for nearly 20,000 fans at Hollywood Bowl. Now, Redeemer is #1 on Billboard Gospel. If youre afraid, do it anyway, she tells Pivotal Moment. In this episode, the Grammy-nominated artist talks about selfies, chicken noodle soup, her new clothing line - and just how quickly God can turn your world around. Listen to the fu...

There are possibilities you have not considered because of the presence of anxiety, says Grammy-nominated artist, Brian Courtney Wilson. The gospel superstar talks to Pivotal Moment about his mission, his music, and how to move your mountain. Learn about his recent collaboration with Ledisi, his 5th and most recent album, Still, and his new podcast, Breathe Again, live on Facebook every Thursday a...

Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Mariah Carey were among his celebrity clients for his first business. That power of celebrity soon led Fred Mwangaguhunga, a former Wall Street tax attorney, to create MediaTakeOut, featuring the hottest African-American celebrity news online. MTONews, known as the Black TMZ, has been featured in Black Enterprise, Vogue, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, GQ,...

Allen Iversons wicked crossover became part of her WNBA game before thrilling crowds as a Harlem Globetrotter. Now, Joyce Ekworomadu is using her skills off the court to inspire and empower as a motivational speaker. Its about the business of serving others, she says. Who can your life story help?" In the league, Ekworomadu is known as Sweet J for her smooth jump shot, including 15 threes (in a ro...

"Vote because she can't," says Zachary Huff, founder of the Stamped Out Movement. The 19-year-old Chicago artist launched the social justice movement after the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and 12 others as a result of, "police brutality, systemic racism, and institutionalized racial bias," Huff told Pivotal Moment. The Chicago activist created commemorative stamps...

We are growing and weve got a great product on the court, says Kelsey Plum, 58 point guard for the WNBAs Las Vegas Aces and member of the USA team. In 2017, Plum was named espnW Player of the Year, AP Womens Player of the Year, and the #1 draft pick. Although she was on the injured list this season, she continues to make moves off the court, representing the Nike brand and cheering on her teammate...

Sports was transformative to my life, says Michael Alter, owner of the Chicago Sky. It changed the way I view the world. On Pivotal Moment, Alter shares his vision for the Chicago Sky and how the citys newest sports team is making a run for the finals in 2020.Were championship-ready. Alter, who played in the AAU league with industry legends like Terry Cummings and Isaiah Thomas, says that he would...

"You don't have to wait to be great," says 12-year-old Marvel Superhero, Jahkil Jackson. "Become a change agent now." And change the world he has. Inspired by a visit to a homeless shelter, Jackson decided he wanted to help. At just 5-years-old, he created Blessing Bags, filled with toiletries to distribute to the nation's homeless, from Chicago to Los Angeles and every stop in between. Now, Jacks...