The Jali, host Melyssa Barrett

What does it take to go from the streets of Compton to the halls of UC Berkeley — and then to become the first African American and first female Mayor of Tracy, California? And what does it take to then say, "I'm not done yet" — and run for Governor? In this historic first for The Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett sits down with Dr. Nancy D. Young — former Mayor of Tracy, California, pastor, auth...

In this episode, Melyssa shares her personal journey through love, loss, and life after losing her husband. From an unexpected stage four cancer diagnosis to rebuilding her identity, this conversation explores grief, resilience, and the power of community and faith: I was interviewed by Lettie Ordoyne, who created The Widowhood Story  podcast to support women navigating grief after losing a spouse...

Welcome to The Jali Podcast, hosted by Melyssa Barrett. This week, Melyssa welcomes back Dr. Eugene Manly Jr., scholar and health equity advocate, for a timely and powerful conversation on equity, accountability, and community-centered change. Dr. Manly shares insights from his work with the Scheck Foundation, discussing the growing challenges facing equity efforts, shifting funding landscapes, an...

Today’s episode is a special replay of a powerful community webinar focused on districting in Tracy, California. This timely conversation dives into representation, civic voice, and equity—because districting isn’t just about maps, it’s about civil rights, access, and who gets to shape local decisions. This webinar was made possible through a collaboration between three deeply rooted community org...

In this episode of The Jali Podcast, Melyssa Barrett sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley, Jr., Ph. D., MS , a biomedical scientist turned social impact leader and the Founder & CEO of the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity (SCHEQ) Foundation . His work challenges us to move beyond performative commitments toward real accountability and community impact. Dr. Manley brings over 20 years of experience...

Welcome back to The Jali Podcast, where we honor legacy, illuminate leadership, and amplify stories that shape our communities. I’m your host, Melyssa Barrett, and today’s episode explores leadership, culture, and the future of talent in the social sector. Joining me is Dr. Kennedy Turner, a talent consultant with DRG Talent, where she specializes in leadership searches for mission-driven and nonp...

Joining me are Melissa Leon Perez and Dylan Tran, two remarkable students from Stockton Early College Academy and interns with the NAACP Stockton Branch in partnership with San Joaquin Delta College. These young leaders share their personal journeys, family influences, and their growing passion for social justice and civic engagement. Together, we dive into Proposition 50, exploring how congressio...

In this episode, we highlight a recent Proposition 50 Virtual Town Hall, hosted by the Stockton Branch of the NAACP in partnership with The Links, Incorporated (Stockton Chapter), the California Association of Black Lawyers, and WAPA. This timely conversation explored how Proposition 50 could shape the future of representation and resources in our communities. Our distinguished guests—Michael Tubb...

In this episode, Melyssa Barrett sits down with serial entrepreneur and DEI leader Douglas Freeman, the founder of the Entertainment Football League Association (ENTFLA) — a groundbreaking Black-owned indoor football league redefining what it means to blend sports, entertainment, equity, and economic impact. Freeman shares the journey from boardrooms and billion-dollar DEI programs to launching a...

In this transformational episode of The Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett is joined by leadership strategist, speaker, and author Benita Williams, whose new book Sustainable CEO introduces the Divine Overflow Sequence—a framework for leading with alignment, purpose, and legacy. Benita shares her journey of guiding CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs to move beyond burnout and into sustainable lea...

In this faith-focused episode of The Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett welcomes Michael James, founder of David Grace Ministries, a man whose life is a testimony to faith in action. Michael David James is a dedicated and compassionate individual, married to his high school sweetheart, Valerie Grace James, for 38 years. Together, they have two wonderful daughters, three granddaughters, and one gra...

After a tragic accident left him paralyzed from the chest down, Fletcher Cleaves could have given up on his dreams. Instead, he rewrote the narrative. Once a promising football player, now a globetrotting motivational speaker and accessibility advocate, Fletcher shares how faith, family, and mindset helped him rise above adversity. In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Fletcher—also known a...

In a year where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is facing growing political backlash and public scrutiny, this special solo episode of The Jali Podcast cuts through the noise with truth, intention, and heart. Host Melyssa Barrett reflects on over 100 episodes of conversations with changemakers—from CEOs and artists to educators and everyday heroes—and asks: What does it really take to build...

Did you know the median wealth of a single Black woman in America is just $100, while the median wealth for white men exceeds $28,000? Or that the racial wealth gap between Black and white families hasn’t changed in over 30 years? This is not about a lack of hard work. It’s about systemic barriers—generations of missed opportunities caused by inequities in access, education, and estate planning. T...

In this inspiring episode, host Melyssa Barrett sits down with Dr. Nancy D. Young, a transformational leader, speaker and author who made history as the first elected African American and female mayor of Tracy, California. Dr. Nancy shares how faith, resilience and unapologetic leadership shaped her path from Compton to public office, rising above adversity and racial harassment along the way. The...

In this inspiring episode of The Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur and thought leader Stacie Selise—a proud Delta and legacy-builder making waves both personally and professionally. From a fun sorority moment to a heartfelt discussion about the values shared across the Divine Nine, this conversation is a true celebration of sisterhood, service, and strategy....

At just 16 years old, Miles Lima is breaking barriers in leadership, education, and global opportunity. Blind since childhood and a three-time cancer survivor, Miles is the founder of Manteca Scholars LLC - a student-led program bringing public school students into the prestigious World Scholars Cup, an international academic competition blending debate, collaborative writing, and team challenges....

In this inspiring episode of the Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett sits down with Tamara Shiloh—author, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of the Multicultural Children’s Bookstore—to explore how she's transforming the way we teach and understand diverse history. From her acclaimed children’s book series like Jaxon’s Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists to launching inclusive le...

Join us as we sit down with Ronaldo Hardy, a transformative leader in the financial education sector. As the CEO of BALANCE, Ronaldo is at the forefront of providing essential financial wellness programs across the nation. In this episode, he shares his insights on the importance of financial literacy, the challenges and strategies for inclusive financial education, and his passionate commitment t...

In this episode of the Jali Podcast, we delve deep into the inspiring stories of three trailblazing African American women in horse racing - Eliza Carpenter, Sylvia Bishop, and Cheryl White. These remarkable figures broke barriers in a dominantly male sport and left an indelible mark on its history. Join us as Emmanuel Waters from Old Hillside Bourbon Company discusses their unique contributions,...

On today’s podcast, I want to shine a light on the recent cutbacks to DEI initiatives that have been happening as of late. I’ll explore the pushback against these efforts and discuss how we can reenergize the movement through the teachings of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. As corporations and governments scale back their commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, what can we do to keep the...

Amidst this month's critical economic discussions and the rising economic boycotts—Target, Amazon, Walmart—Dr. Shelley Jones-Holt joins Melyssa Barrett on The Jali Podcast to address courageous leadership and economic empowerment. With DEI under attack, Dr. Shelley shares vital strategies for building Black wealth, leveraging cooperative economics, and fighting back against erasure. Discover the p...

Dive into Episode 163 of The Jali Podcast featuring C.G. Lewis—business leader, inspirational speaker, and author. This episode focuses on leadership, self-empowerment, and intentional living, particularly aimed at women navigating career transitions and economic uncertainties. C.G. Lewis shares essential tools and strategies for fostering values-driven leadership and achieving genuine self-realiz...

In this powerful episode of The Jali Podcast, host Melyssa Barrett sits down with the esteemed LaJuana Johnson Bivens—civil rights activist, government leader, and champion for socio-economic empowerment. From her roots in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to her influential work in Stockton, California, LaJuana has dedicated her life to advancing equity and justice. As the CEO of Equity Alliance Group, Inc....

In this episode, I reflect on the Kendrick Lamar’s electric Super Bowl Halftime presentation showcasing DEI center stage during the most-watched event nationwide. Join me as we deep dive and unpack the cultural significance, legacy and contemporary storytelling of the performance.