Conversations with Chanda

Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor Jason DeRusha has spent his career bringing people the news. Chanda sat down with Jason to discuss the challenges media faced in the wake of George Floyd's murder and throughout the pandemic. They also dive into how he was been impacted personally and professionally by covering pivotal moments in history.

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Minneapolis Foundation President & CEO R.T. Rybak steps in as guest host and speaks with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the urgency of climate change and what needs to be done. Sven and R.T. explore how to better explain this increasingly pressing issue to children and others with examples from here in Minnesota and around the world. If you’d l...

With students once again back in school, it seems appropriate to provide a unique look into what’s being discussed in the field of education here at home and across the country. Over the last two years, Chanda has had a number of engaging and informative guests who are education experts. This episode shares powerful and enlightening clips from previous shows that tie the community to the classroom...

John Rogers 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.

Anthony Smith is the Executive Director of Cities United – a national network focused on eliminating violence in American cities related to Black men and boys. In this episode, Anthony and Chanda talk about Anthony’s path to Cities United, the importance of inspiring our youth, and how to build an ecosystem for community safety.

As president, Jen Ford Reedy helps the Bush Foundation invest in great ideas and the people who power them. Jen sat down with Chanda to talk about philanthropy’s role in transforming systems, the leadership challenges she encountered in 2020, and the art of philanthropic strategy.

Lisa Pawelak has more than 20 years of experience serving students and families in Minneapolis Public Schools. Today, she is the principal at Lucy Craft Laney Community School in North Minneapolis. In this episode, Lisa and Chanda talk about their love of the Northside, the lessons Lisa learned during the pandemic, and how Lisa is helping Lucy Laney be a safe, welcoming space where every student n...

Toya Randall is the curator of Voice. Vision. Value. This digital narrative project celebrates the leadership impact of Black women in philanthropy. Toya connected with Chanda to talk about what it means to be a person of color working in philanthropy, her 2020 experiences, and the benefits and challenges of proximity.

Dr. Yaba Blay is an activist, scholar, speaker, and author of “One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race.” Her work focuses on the lived experiences of Black women and girls. In this episode, Chanda and Yaba talk about the complexities of colorism, the history of Blackness, and the politics of race and identity.

As the Founding Director of NYU’s Policing Project, Barry Friedman is committed to bringing data-driven best practices to policing. In this episode, Barry and Chanda discuss what a holistic view of public safety would look like, why we need to build in more front-end accountability into our policing system, and their upcoming Policing Project partnership.

As a pastor, activist, author, and filmmaker, Dr. Otis Moss III preaches messages of love and justice. Today, he is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Chanda sat down with Otis to talk about his family’s legacy, why our community needs public health – not public safety, and why it’s important to understand the totality of Black history.

Angela Harrelson and Paris Stevens are the aunt and cousin of George Floyd. Since George’s death, both Angela and Paris have been using their voices to speak up for justice. In this episode, Chanda, Angela, and Paris talk about the global impact of George’s murder, their reactions to Derek Chauvin’s trial, and the courage it takes to fight when you’re in pain.

As a civil rights lawyer, NYU professor, and President of the ACLU, Deborah Archer works to overcome the systemic injustices in our society every day. Chanda and Deborah connected to talk about how racism affects all aspects of life, the navigational skills you learn as a Black woman, and how the law struggles to keep up with the evolution of racism.

Jelani Cobb is an award-winning writer for The New Yorker on issues of race, history, justice, and politics. He currently is a part of the Westminster Town Hall Forum’s series, “The Arc Toward Justice: Taking Stock One Year After George Floyd’s Death,” which is sponsored by the Minneapolis Foundation. In this episode, Chanda and Jelani talk about the adultification of Black children, the calculate...

Dr. RaShall Brackney is a recognized expert in community-police relations, procedural and restorative justice practices, and harm reduction. She currently is the Chief of Police in Charlottesville, Virginia. In this episode, Chanda and RaShall talk about how RaShall got into police work, the steps she’s taken to build community trust in her department, and her personal and professional responses t...

Kim Foxx made history when she was elected to be the first African American woman to lead the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Illinois. Chanda connected with Kim to talk about how her upbringing informs her leadership, the struggles of representing institutions, and the support systems that keep her grounded.

Kareem Farah is an educator and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project – a nonprofit that empowers educators to meet student needs through blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction. In this episode, Chanda and Kareem talk about the 21st-century skills that need to be taught in the classroom, the importance of trauma-informed teaching, and how COVID-19 has affected education.

Elizer Darris is the Co-Executive Director of the Minnesota Freedom Fund – an organization that disrupts the predatory practices of criminal bail and immigration bonds. Chanda sat down with Elizer to talk about the trappings of the criminal justice system and what it takes to be a changemaker.

Jim Bear Jacobs is dedicated to bringing to light the Indigenous stories of Minnesota. This includes his “Healing Minnesota Stories” work at the Minnesota Council of Churches. In this episode, Chanda and Jim discuss how storytelling can spark consciousness, the ways philanthropy has shifted strategies over the past decade, and how trauma can resurface in unexpected ways.

Drew Evans is the Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Chanda met Drew in 2019 when she was a part of a state-led working group on police-involved deadly force encounters. In this episode, Drew and Chanda talk about the BCA’s role in the criminal justice system, the laws and circumstances that can prevent justice, and how the BCA is trying to build community trust...

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is an award-winning author and anti-racist scholar. His latest book, “Four Hundred Souls,” is a collaborative effort that showcases the history of African Americans from 1619 to 2019. Chanda and Dr. Kendi connected to talk about the importance of anti-racist education, the struggles of reimagining public safety, and why we need to invest in narrative change work.

As President of North Central University in Minneapolis, Scott Hagan found himself propelled into the national spotlight last year when the university was asked to host George Floyd’s memorial. Chanda sat down to talk to Scott about that experience, his journey to understanding racism on a systemic level, and how he’s trying to use his platform for good.

As a scholar and author, Eddie S. Glaude Jr. writes about the complexities of race and the American experience. His latest book is “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.” Chanda and Eddie connected to talk about the intersection of greed and racism, the pitfalls of symbolic representation, and how to prevent burnout while working toward justice.

For nine years of his life, Christian Picciolini was part of the neo-Nazi movement. Now, the former extremist runs the Free Radicals Project where he helps individuals, families, and communities disengage from hate- and violence-based extremism. Christian was in Minnesota in late 2019 for a community listening session on hate crimes with local faith and political leaders, including Attorney Genera...

Isaiah Oliver is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. In this conversation, Chanda and Isaiah discover that they share similar paths to their roles in philanthropy. They discuss the support systems that help them lead, the national and local issues affecting the work, and how philanthropy needs to evolve to stay relevant and effective.