Consistency, Genuineness, and Boundaries with Sumiyah Mshaka

My guest this week is double-duty social worker and fitness guru Sumiyah S. Mshaka. Sumiyah and I talk about a bunch of complex social phenomenon including trauma, experiential change, and social work.

Sumiyah is a LCSW and group fitness instructor who comes from a family with a legacy of social justice. After graduating from the UCLA MSW program in June 2004, Sumiyah began her extensive career in social justice advocacy, youth development and mental health treatment of adolescents in foster care and juvenile justice. This has included serving most recently in a mezzo social work position in the new DMH Division, Continuum of Care Reform, Interagency Placement Committee (IPC) program.

Sumiyah is active in her community, serving on the Governance Board of CAIR-LA and volunteering with L.A. AIDSWalk, Islah L.A. and Islamic Relief’s Disaster Response Team. For the past five and a half years, Sumiyah has taught Group Fitness classes at 24 Hour Fitness.

You can learn more about Sumiyah’s work by connecting directly with her via Facebook!

Listen to "Consistency, Genuineness, and Boundaries with Sumiyah Mshaka" on Spreaker.

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Embracing Your Power With Minister Kat

On this week’s episode of THE Celebration, I interview Minister Kat the founder of KittyRose Lyfestyle.

Minister Kat and I discussed the power of prayer in our day to day activities, its manifestation and  how taking a leap of faith can help us break new ground and boundaries. She believes that the practice of self love and trust will ultimately propel us to follow our dreams.

She left the corporate world in 2003 and went on to create the weekly show “Natural Sessions”, viewed in over 4.7 million homes. Her first boutique was opened in 2010 in Harlem and another in West Village, New York. Other projects include producing The Mary J. Blige Center for Women.

Kat is from Brooklyn and her mission is to teach and heal from all experience, and to embrace acceptance. She teaches Self Esteem and Social Media Workshops to pre-teen girls and adults.

You can follow Minister Kat on Instagram @mzkittyrose

Listen to "Embracing Your Power With Minister Kat" on Spreaker.

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Awareness, Advocacy, and Action with Umar Hakim

This week, we are joined by Los Angeles community leader Umar A. Hakim. We draw on Umar’s expertise and experience to discuss self-awareness, leadership, and transforming a charitable cause into advocacy and action – especially in non-profit and activist circles.

A native of the city of Compton, Umar is the Executive Director of the ILM (Intellect, Love, Mercy) Foundation and holds degrees in both business management and ethical leadership. Umar draws on the key principle of Facilitative Leadership to coordinate ILM’s programming, which includes Humanitarian Day, Go Beyond the G.A.M.E, and Community Accountability Labs. With a focus on using design thinking for developing new social systems and encouraging next steps for leaders in need of clarity in an age of being relevant, Umar founded INKERIJ in 2012.

Umar is an active alum with American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, contributes to civic-social organizations including NewGround: Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change and California/LA Voice PICO network, and is an active community organizer in the City of Los Angeles.

Connect with Umar on Facebook or follow him @inkerij_official.

Listen to "Awareness, Advocacy, and Action with Umar Hakim" on Spreaker.

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Self-Reflection, Transformation and Poetry with Abstract C.I.M

On this week’s episode, I interview spoken word artist Abstract C.I.M.

Abstract and I tackle self-love and self-respect as the key to fulfillment and happiness. We also talk about the importance of knowing yourself and being self-reflective, and how Abstract incorporates it into her poetry.

Abstract C.I.M is a spoken word artist and speaker. She has won and placed in several poetry slams and competitions across the country, and has toured and performed with artists such as Def Jam Poet Red Storm and Tyrese Gibson. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a Creative Writing Concentration and a minor in Theatre at Georgia State University.

A native of Augusta, GA, Abstract is thriving and advancing towards her goal of running an all-inclusive creative and corporate writing business in her newfound home of Atlanta while touring the world to spread her messages of love and self-worth.

I hope you enjoy this deep and inspiring episode!

You can learn more about Abstract by visiting her website. You can find the show notes for this week’s episode here.

Listen to "Self-Reflection, Transformation and Poetry With Abstract C.I.M" on Spreaker.

Abstract C.I.M will be our feature on this week's edition of the Live and Online: Expression Session.  Register below! 

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Facilitation, Mindful Policing and Activism With Lloyd Wilkey

On this week’s episode I interview activist, facilitator, and my good friend,  Lloyd Wilkey. I have had the honor of working with Lloyd over the past 6 years.  Lloyd has had a huge influence on the way I view dialogue, facilitation, youth development, and conflict mediation.  

During our interview, Lloyd shared his experience of being both a Black Lives Matter activist and at the same time training and working with police officers.  Lloyd is an advocate of what he has coined “Mindful Policing”. His work is centred on social justice, dialogue, equity and inclusion.

In celebration of Black History Month, Lloyd also graciously and beautifully shares his singing talent with us.   Lloyd is the co-founder of Diverse City Consulting and LA Riot Boxing

You can find Lloyd Wilkey on Facebook or his website

Listen to "Facilitation, Mindful Policing and Activism With Lloyd Wilkey" on Spreaker.

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Purposeful Movement, Purposeful Life with Arielle Miller Cohen

On this week’s episode, I interview Los Angeles based Arielle Miller Cohen -  registered Yoga Teacher, Lifestyle Coach, blogger and writer.

Arielle and I talk about the importance of personal accountability, internal motivation, and cultivating a growth mindset. We also discussed how to break free from limiting beliefs and live your truth. As a health and wellness enthusiast, she believes strongly that people’s lives can be changed positively through intentional movement.

Popularly known as “The Girl with the Purple Hair’’, her no holds barred approach to living life and accepting challenges has inspired many to intentional conscious living Through her yoga classes and writing, Arielle seeks to bring people and community together,  and help them experience holistic fitness from the inside out.

Arielle also works as a public school teacher and has a Master’s Degree in Leadership.

Listen to this week’s episode with purpose, and we’re sure it will have you moving into further greatness.

You can follow Arielle on Instagram @arielle_miller and on her site.

Listen to "Purposeful Movement, Purposeful Life with Arielle Miller Cohen" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Recipe for Magic with Tira Yasmine

Tira Yasmine is a poet, author, life coach, jewelry designer and entrepreneur. In this week’s interview she shares how her  grateful attitude has helped create what she calls her “recipe for magic”.

Part of Tira’s magic recipe is being a firm believer in God, which has resulted in  inner power and peace. This power and peace has propelled her into being an ardent change agent. She uses her art and writing to create holistic change,  a reflection of her belief that gentleness can also create effective change.

Check out this engaging episode on Tira’s recipe for living your best life.

You can follow Tira on instagram @tirayasmi

Listen to "Recipe for Magic with Tira Yasmine" on Spreaker.

Tira Yasmine will be our feature on this week's edition of the Live and Online: Expression Session.  Register below! 

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch

On this week’s episode I interview author, poet and activist Shelby Birch from her Peace Corp assignment in South Africa.

 Shelby shares some of the highlights and surprises of her service. She also reflects  on her activism, and how overcoming challenges, has helped shape her worldview and aided her in becoming her best self. 

 Shelby brazenly tells her story through her writing, and her strong belief in wisdom, artistic freedom, and expressionism shines through. Her most recent published book, ‘Lit’ is a powerful illustration of how she uses poetry as a mirror to examine issues on womanhood, blackness, awkwardness, and heartbreak.

You can follow Shelby Birch on Instagram @shelbybirch

Listen to "South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch" on Spreaker.

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Questions and Answers! With Special Guest - Adaora Nwandu

I wanted to start 2019 with a unique episode, and that’s exactly what we’ve got for you here. You were all given a chance to submit questions at the end of 2018. I didn’t get a chance to read these questions before Adaora Nwandu posed them to me in our interview.

We had a great time doing this episode, as no one holds me more accountable than Adaora, and she’s hilarious as she does it. You get to hear about our own plans for the future, as well as some of the ways we’ve responded to the highs and lows of 2018, and how I don’t let likes on social media run my days either.

There will definitely be more chances to submit questions in the future, but in the meantime enjoy our stories from our life experiences these past months and years.

During the interview, I mentioned an inspiring post by @Advil and promised to link his profile for you.  Here it is!

Listen to "Questions and Answers! With Special Guest - Adaora Nwandu" on Spreaker.

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Leadership is a Bridge

This is the last day of my year of courage. Over the last 12 awesome months, I’ve shared thoughts on courage from my various interviewees, culminating the last two weeks with discussions that were purely about courage.

With the wonderful insights we received, we move into 2019 brimming with courage - to fulfill our own hopes and dreams. To be courageous leaders for ourselves and our communities.

When it comes to making our way, there is a bridge that connects the extremes within us. Walking that bridge and finding the balance is leadership.

Here are 4 bridges that I have focused on in this year of Courage.

1. Reflection and Decisions

2. Short Game and Long Game

3. Discipline and Go With the Flow

4. Reps and Rest

As we cross from 2018 and 2019, I wish you a year bridging those parts within you as you move forward in Courageous leadership.

Listen to "Leadership is a Bridge" on Spreaker.

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