Civically Grown

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown , Ken Roper shares his journey from growing up in Pickens County to serving as County Administrator, where he leads the operations of Pickens County government. A lifelong public servant, attorney, former prosecutor, and municipal judge, Ken reflects on how early experiences in leadership, community, and service shaped the way he leads today. K...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown, Paige Hughes Binfield shares her journey from growing up in a small rural town in upstate New York to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs. Paige reflects on how early opportunities through YMCA Youth and Government helped shape her confidence, leadership style, and commitment to public service...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Frank Clark, a board certified psychiatrist, poet, and author of six children's books, shares a leadership journey shaped by faith, vulnerability, and the courage to step outside expectations. Grounded in the dual anchors of scripture, "to whom much is given, much is required," and a core belief that true character is revealed in times of...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown , Dr. Jen Cruz shares a leadership journey rooted in service, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. An applied social epidemiologist and community organizer, Jen reflects on growing up in Wapato, Washington, a small town where leadership was less about titles and more about showing up for others. Jen describes a leadership style fuele...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown, Moryah Jackson shares her leadership journey shaped by resilience, service, and early opportunities to lead. Now serving as Executive Director of Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity, Moryah reflects on growing up amid frequent moves, housing insecurity, and constant transition, and how those experiences built the adaptability and confi...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown , Dr. Shaniece Criss connects with Cathy Stevens, senior associate at the Riley Institute at Furman University, about leadership, preparation, and creating opportunities for young people through education and community partnerships. Cathy reflects on her leadership journey and the lessons she has learned from working with leaders across the cou...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown , Dr. Shaniece Criss talks with David White, founder and CEO of Fostering Great Ideas, about leadership, dignity, and building movements that last. David shares how his teen experiences, from sharing meals with men experiencing homelessness to hearing that he was special, shaped his confidence, resilience, and willingness to take bold risks. He...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown , Dr. Shaniece Criss sits down with China Terrell, commercial real estate developer, attorney, and founder of Peace. Legal, for a reflective and energizing conversation about leadership, faith, and the power of making your “next move.” China learned early how to organize people, write proposals, and create events that brought others together at...

***This Episode*** In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss sits down with Phyllis Johnson, president and co-founder of BD Imports and founder of the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about leadership, courage, and what it means to grow something over time. Growing up as the youngest of eight in rural Arkansas, Phyllis learned early about collab...

What does fashion have to do with leadership, confidence, and community? More than you might think. In this episode, Dr. Shaniece Criss connects with Leigh Ann Miller, Managing Partner at Mae New York, a luxury womenswear brand creating small batch, made to order pieces in the historic New York garment district. Leigh Ann shares how early leadership experiences gave her the confidence to build wha...

When the answers aren’t clear and the stakes are still high, what does leadership look like? In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss is joined by Lieutenant Colonel Bobbie Ragsdale, an Army Veteran with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, a Deputy Commander in the U.S. Army Reserve, a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate, a Harvard Kennedy School alumnus, and a Bronz...

What does it take to lead through uncertainty with resilience and still bring others with you? In Episode 4 of  Civically Grown , Martine Helou-Allen, founder and executive director of RIZE Prevention Inc., shares how early leadership experiences, mentorship, and resilience shaped her path. Martine reflects on formative moments from middle school ropes courses and Youth in Government to...

Dr. Aliaa Remtilla, a Harvard-trained anthropologist, executive coach, and startup founder, joins Civically Grown to share her leadership journey. The conversation explores how belonging, vulnerability, and humility shape the leaders we become. From an awkward childhood moment wearing a volunteer badge, to navigating male-dominated professional environments, to redefining self-worth and leadership...

In this episode of Civically Grown, Tom Dursina, a humanitarian program planner with the United Nations World Food Programme, takes us through his journey from his first steps in humanitarian work to leading on the ground today. He shares how action, integrity, and listening shape his leadership, the guidance he received from his mother, and the insights gained while supporting refugees. Tom also...

In this episode, Dr. Kirsten Naomi Chapman shares her journey from a middle school teacher in Hawaii to a leader in community impact. She discusses her experiences in youth leadership, her role in saving band funding by engaging with local government, and her efforts to respect Hawaiian culture in educational reporting. Kirsten emphasizes the importance of deep listening and community support in l...

Civically Grown shares the stories of leaders whose early steps in civic engagement began in youth leadership and have grown into legacies of lasting community impact. Dr. Shaniece Criss, a former youth governor turned health scholar and public servant, hosts this podcast. It is your source for inspiration, insight, and actionable strategies that fuel your momentum and amplify your influence. Each...