My Cotton Patch Moment

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Darrin Dewitt Henson, a multi-talented artist, actor, choreographer, producer, and author whose work has impacted film, television, music, and literature. From his award-winning choreography for NSYNC's Bye Bye Bye to memorable roles in Soul Food, Stomp the Yard, and The Family Business, Darrin has built a remarkable career rooted in disci...

In this Season 5 premiere of My Cotton Patch Moment, I begin a powerful new conversation about the impact on families—especially children—when fathers are absent, whether through incarceration, separation, or other life circumstances. Airing just days before Father's Day, this episode shifts the focus from abstract statistics to the real, lived experiences of the thousands of children left carryin...

In this season four finale of My Cotton Patch Moment , I reflect on a season that examined incarceration not as an abstract policy issue, but as a lived reality for children and families. Throughout these conversations, one truth remained constant: children do not serve the sentence, but they live with it. This season centered the voices of formerly incarcerated parents, advocates, educators, judg...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Michael C. Williams, the newly appointed Child Welfare Director for Oklahoma Human Services and a nationally recognized leader in child welfare reform. With more than 25 years of groundbreaking service—from Connecticut to Oklahoma—Williams has reshaped how systems engage families, uplift communities, and preserve parent-child relationships...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Georgia State Representative Rhonda Taylor, a dedicated advocate for women, families, and justice reform. Representing District 92 in Rockdale County, Representative Taylor shares how poverty, hunger, and survival often push mothers into the criminal legal system—even as overall incarceration rates decline. She reminds us that behind ever...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Reverend Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks—fourth-generation preacher, scholar, and barrier breaker—to explore what it truly means to preach liberation, practice compassion, and carry hope into places many people forget. As the first woman to lead the 157-year-old Hill First Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, and as Assistant Dean of Students...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Dr. Mika V. Battle—founder and executive director of Bridge to Freedom, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating recidivism and restoring the lives of returning citizens. After her own incarceration, Dr. Battle transformed personal tragedy, addiction, and generational trauma into a powerful mission: to help others rebuild with d...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Dr. Robin J. Bell—retired Army veteran, consultant, professor, and founder of Rehabilitation Reform and Reentry Resources (R4)—to explore the deep, generational impact of incarceration and the transformative power of giving people a real chance to rebuild. Dr. Bell has devoted her life to supporting returning citizens and children affecte...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Charlotte Garnes, founder of RENFORCE and Redemption House, to explore what it truly means to transform pain into purpose. After serving 46 months in federal prison, Charlotte used what she calls her "righteous anger" to create pathways of hope and opportunity for justice-impacted women. Today, she leads initiatives that focus on reentry...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Rudolph Brothers Jr., a seasoned attorney who has spent over 30 years in the criminal justice system—beginning as a corporate lawyer, then serving as a public defender, prosecutor, and Division Director for the Office of State Counsel for Offenders in Texas. In his decades of service representing incarcerated individuals, Mr. Brothers wit...

In this episode of My C otton Patch Moment , I sit down with Reverend Dr. Karma Johnson—Senior Chaplain, Assistant Pastor at Turner Monumental AME Church, and longtime Angel Tree advocate. With a ministry grounded in compassion and community service, Dr. Johnson has dedicated her life to supporting incarcerated individuals and, just as importantly, their children and families left behind. She open...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with retired Florida Circuit Judge Tonya Rainwater, a trailblazing leader who presided over every division of the 18th Judicial Circuit from 1991 to 2019 and helped establish Brevard County's first drug court. Twice elected chief judge, Rainwater spearheaded programs like the Rainwater Center for Girls, offering a lifeline to juvenile girls in...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Antonio Brown, entrepreneur, activist, and the first LGBTQ person of color elected to Atlanta's City Council. From growing up with parents cycling in and out of prison to dropping out of high school at 15 to support his siblings, Antonio's story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of possibility. He opens up about surviving...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sat down with Robyn Hasan-Simpson, Executive Director of Women on the Rise GA and co-founder of HOAPE (Helping Others Achieve Power and Equity). From serving 10 years in prison to becoming a leading voice for criminal justice reform, re-entry advocacy, and women's empowerment, Robyn shares her powerful journey of resilience, faith, and leadership. She...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment , I sit down with Amy Ard, the executive director of Motherhood Beyond Bars. This organization is rewriting the narrative for incarcerated mothers, their children, and caregivers. Amy's journey into this work began with one unforgettable—and heartbreaking—moment: witnessing a woman give birth while shackled to a hospital bed. That image sparked a mission t...

Welcome to Season Four of My Cotton Patch Moment . I've spent the summer reflecting deeply—on healing, justice, and the stories we rarely tell. Inspired by Nelson Mandela's quote about knowing a nation through its prisons, I knew I had to begin this new season with the voices and stories that are too often ignored: the children of incarcerated mothers. This episode is one of the most personal and...

In Season Four of My Cotton Patch Moment , host Mildred J. Mills returns with a powerful new arc exploring the ripple effects of parental absence. What happens when a mother or father is no longer home? How do families rebuild? Where does healing begin? This season honors the voices of survivors and lifts the veil on stories once buried in silence. From c hildhood wounds to generational scars, eac...

In honor of my anniversary, I am re-sharing one of my favorite episodes dedicated to my husband, Darryl Mills. The episode is He Showed Me Who He Was!  This was episode 3 of Season 1.  Thank you Darryl for your support and your encouragement. Your love changed my life. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs a...

In honor of Father's Day, I am re-sharing one of my favorite episodes dedicated to my Daddy: Things My Father Taught Me!  This was episode 8 of Season 1.  If your father or the man who raised you is still alive, this episode is a reminder to tell him that you love him and you appreciate all the things he taught you. 📝👧🏽👩🏽🧓🏽📖 This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw an...

In honor of Mother's Day, I am re-sharing one of my favorite episodes dedicated to my Mama: Things I'm Glad I Asked My Mama!  This was episode 5 of Season 1.  If your mother or the woman who raised you is still alive, this episode is a reminder to talk to her and let her share her stories with you. Pull out your phone and record her sharing these moments. They will be cherished memories when she i...

In this episode, we're celebrating the grand finale of Season Three—a season filled with transformative conversations that explored the intersection of healing, purpose, and personal growth. Throughout this season, we've delved into stories that reflect the journey from silence to self-expression, the impact of generational healing, and the courageous act of facing internal fears with faith. Liste...

In this episode of "My Cotton Patch Moment," I welcome a very special guest - my husband, Darryl W. Mills. Together, we discuss the inspiration behind Darryl's charitable endeavors, the evolution and importance of supply chain management, and the profound sense of family and community nurtured through his HBCU experience at Wilberforce University. We also reflects on our nearly four-decade-long ma...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moments, I am joined by the insightful Reverend Gibson "Nibs" Stroupe, a prominent figure in the Presbyterian Church with decades of service and dedication to social justice. Nibs shares his personal journey from a childhood in Arkansas, shaped by the absence of his father and the strong presence of his mother, to confronting his own ingrained racism and transfor...

In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moments, I sat down with Monique Franz, the visionary founder of Kinsman Avenue Publishing . Monique shared her inspiring journey of setting up a non-profit press aimed at elevating BIPOC voices and stories that have been overlooked for too long. We explored the powerful legacy of her grandmother, a pioneering preacher, and how it shaped Kinsman's mission. Moniqu...

In today's heartfelt episode of "My Cotton Patch Moment," I have a conversation with my granddaughter, Asia Marie Jordan, to share her inspiring journey of single motherhood. A student at Indiana Wesleyan University, an entrepreneur, and a customer service agent at Luxottica of America, Asia balances her roles with strength and vulnerability. With great faith and determination, she challenges the...