In this special episode, we sit down with Taliah Givens, Senior Director of UNCF’s Student Professional Development Programs, and Jaydon Molando, a graduating senior from Morehouse College, to explore the transformative power of the 15th Annual UNCF Student Leadership Conference (SLC).

The 2025 SLC will convene nearly 140 high-achieving HBCU students for an immersive, real-world career prep experience. From high-impact business simulations and mentorship “speed dating” to a student-led podcast production track, this year’s expanded curriculum is all about preparing students not just for jobs—but for purpose-driven leadership.

Taliah, an engineer turned workforce strategist, shares how she has helped design and lead more than 40 internship programs serving over 1,600 students nationwide. She also speaks candidly about her journey from Paterson, NJ to the forefront of youth and career development.

Jaydon reflects on how SLC opened doors that the classroom alone couldn’t—especially as a student-athlete juggling academics and sports. His internship with BD through the program has positioned him for post-grad success and personal growth.

Learn more by visiting https://uncf.org/pages/uncf-spdp-student-leadership-conference-slc

In this compelling episode, I had the honor to speak with Ms. Michelle Jones Galvin, where we discussed her ancestry as a descendant of Harriet Tubman. The conversation explores how preserving African American history through institutions like the Harriet Tubman Home and National Historical Park shapes national identity and informs our understanding of American history. Topics include the importance of local government involvement in historical preservation, the intersection of race and gender in museum storytelling, and the power of Tubman's legacy. Ms. Jones Galvin also reflects on how cultural institutions can support modern-day advocacy, entrepreneurship, and education, especially for women of color.

Learn more by visiting www.mosesofherpeople.com

In this episode, I speak to Thana Hickman, the visionary CEO and founder of Viola’s House, a transformative nonprofit dedicated to supporting homeless teens and young mothers facing unplanned pregnancies. As we recognize Black Maternal Health Week, this conversation shines a powerful light on the urgent need to address the disparities affecting Black mothers across the nation.

Thana shares how Viola’s House evolved from a teen maternity home in Dallas to a nationally recognized organization that supported over 6,500 mothers in 2024 alone—providing access to safe housing, healthcare, education, and essential resources. We also explore the themes of her compelling book, No Place to Belong, and how her work as a TEDx speaker and advocate is pushing the conversation forward around maternal health equity and social justice.

This episode is a timely, heartfelt, and eye-opening dialogue about breaking cycles of hardship, building community, and fighting for a world where every mother has the support she needs to thrive.

🎧 Tune in as we honor Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) with a conversation rooted in compassion, action, and purpose.

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