The MJE Living Room Conversations

The MJE Living Room Conversations Podcast returns with Roxbury International Film Festival founders Alison Simmons and Lisa Simmons in conversation with host Monalisa Smith. Together, they explore the inspiring origins of the Rox Film, its mission to elevate the voices of filmmakers of color, and the transformative power of storytelling to spark healing, dialogue, and social change. From addressin...

The MJE Living Room Conversations Podcast returns with Roxbury International Film Festival founders Alison Simmons and Lisa Simmons in conversation with host Monalisa Smith. Together, they explore the inspiring origins of the Rox Film, its mission to elevate the voices of filmmakers of color, and the transformative power of storytelling to spark healing, dialogue, and social change. From addressin...

The MJE Living Room Conversations Podcast returns with Roxbury International Film Festival founders Alison Simmons and Lisa Simmons in conversation with host Monalisa Smith. Together, they explore the inspiring origins of the Rox Film, its mission to elevate the voices of filmmakers of color, and the transformative power of storytelling to spark healing, dialogue, and social change. From addressin...

To kickoff this season, our host Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, and CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality (MJE), sat down with Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda, Senior Family Advocate at MJE, Nikia Shell, and Senior Outreach Coordinator, Aretha Maugé. This important conversation explores empowered leadership in public service, the intersection of grace and governance, and how policy decisi...

To kickoff this season, our host Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, and CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality (MJE), sat down with Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda, Senior Family Advocate at MJE, Nikia Shell, and Senior Outreach Coordinator, Aretha Maugé. This important conversation explores empowered leadership in public service, the intersection of grace and governance, and how policy decisi...

In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

The Living Room Conversation is an intimate dialogue hosted from MJE's Blue Library- a space that symbolizes reflection, wisdom and collective healing. Inspired by the 'Red Table' concept, this new MAV X MJE series brings grassroots leaders, community healers, and advocates together to explore the question: Where do we go from here? Fresh from the MAV National Conference, we'll gather for a heartf...

As we continue Women's History Month, we sat down with Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune about what it means to practice empowered leadership where grace meets governance. Councilor Louijeune reflects on her upbringing as the daughter of Haitian immigrants in Boston and how her family’s strong sense of community shaped her commitment to public service. The conversation explores how compassio...

We sat down with Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune about what it means to practice empowered leadership where grace meets governance. Councilor Louijeune reflects on her upbringing as the daughter of Haitian immigrants in Boston and how her family’s strong sense of community shaped her commitment to public service. The conversation explores how compassion, faith, and humility can guide polit...

You may know her from our events such as the Mothers Against Violence National Conference, Mother’s Day Luncheon, and so much more! We sat down with local cultural leader Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks for an inspiring conversation about arts, culture & legacy in community spaces. She explores what it means to be a trusted community leader, the importance of cultural events in Boston’s Black com...

We welcome back Renée Ọmọladé as she shares a powerful reflection on balancing motherhood, faith, and leadership while raising three Black sons in Boston and advancing educational equity across Massachusetts. Grounded in her Christian faith, Renée describes motherhood as both a gift and a radical act—intentionally affirming her sons’ identities, teaching them to love their brown skin, preparing th...

Our salute to Black History Month continues with Renée Ọmọladé—educator, activist, mother, and board chair—for an inspiring discussion on leadership, identity, and community impact. A South End native and Dorchester resident, Renée shares her journey from navigating educational inequities to organizing major racial justice efforts in Boston, bringing Michelle Obama to Dorchester through her work w...

As we continue our salute to Black History Month, we carry forward a powerful conversation with Dr. Cyntoria Grant on building sustainable movements rooted in leadership, faith, and grace. Dr. Grant reflects on the creation of Parent University in Boston Public Schools, her journey through city government and higher education, and a life-altering accident that led her into a season of stillness, r...

As we begin Black History Month, we sat down with Dr. Cyntoria Grant, Associate Director of Public School Partnerships, Harvard Ed Portal, for an intimate and inspiring conversation about leadership, faith, and resilience. Dr. Grant reflects on her journey from service-driven beginnings to national impact in education and ministry, sharing powerful lessons from a humbling season marked by professi...

“There are moments when strength looks like stillness. When grace shows up in the quiet.” In this intimate episode, Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, & CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality, invites listeners to pause and reflect on life’s turning points — those sacred moments when strength meets stillness, and grace carries us through. Drawing from her book Moments with Grace, Monalisa sh...

We are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc. With over 25 years of experience across the financial, legal, and nonprofit sectors, Ronia has dedicated her career to empowering others through leadership development, training, and service. This episode focuses on the heart-centered leadership th...

We are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc. With over 25 years of experience across the financial, legal, and nonprofit sectors, Ronia has dedicated her career to empowering others through leadership development, training, and service. This episode focuses on the heart-centered leadership th...

The MJE Living Room Podcast brings together authentic, heartfelt conversations with leaders, healers, and changemakers. The 'Healing the Healers' series explores the emotional, mental, and spiritual balance required for those who lead, serve, and uplift others. In episodes 9 and 10, we are honored to feature Ronia Stewart — a corporate leader, philanthropist, and Founding President & CEO of Ga...

This year, we launched our podcast "The MJE Living Room Conversations;" an intimate dialogue hosted from MJE's Blue Library. This new MAV X MJE series brings grassroots leaders, community healers, and advocates together to explore the question: Where do we go from here? Fresh from the MAV National Conference, we've gathered for heartfelt conversations about sustaining healing, building leadership...

Welcome back! This week, we are joined by Desiree Decoo— Founder of Heal on Purpose Everyday (HOPE) , a therapist, public health leader, and advocate with nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and communities on their healing journeys. In this episode, we connect personal healing to leadership and service, exploring how healed individuals often become more grounded, compa...

This week in The Living Room, we are joined by the incredible Desiree Decoo — Founder of HOPE, therapist, public health leader, and advocate who has spent nearly 20 years helping individuals, families, and whole communities move toward healing and wholeness. In this episode, we shift the conversation from simply talking about wellness to truly living it every day. Desiree guides us through what it...

This week, as we reflect on gratitude and community, we celebrate MJE’s Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, where we provided 100 turkeys to families in need. Just as we nourish bodies, we also need to nurture minds and spirits. Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Nana Akomaa Kyerematen, Master’s Clinician, cultural competence advocate, and MJE Board Member, as we explore cultural and ancestral heali...

Welcome to episode 5! This episode dives deep into the role of culture—how our ancestry, our identities, and the transitions we navigate across countries, communities, and generations all shape the way we heal. Healing is never just personal; it is tied to the stories we inherit, the values we grow up with, and the spaces we move through. We’re honored to welcome Nana Akomaa Kyerematen, author of...