Can We Talk for REAL

The Strength of My Soul: Stories of Sisterhood, Triumph and Inspiration includes stories that also highlight mothers and their struggles. As noted about the book women are the bearers of life. Women breathe live, live life and love life with all its turns in the roads. This week Can We Talk for REAL will continue to celebrate Mothers in our own unique way. We will have a mother and daughter conversation with Dr. Carole Hysmith and her daughter Lenore about their mother/daughter relationship and how it has formed to be what it is today.Mothers have always been the back bone of the African American Community. So image you have a daughter that identifies as a same gender loving woman. Joining “Can We Talk for REAL”, Wednesday, May 11th to continue celebrating Mothers will be Dr. Carole Hysmith. Dr. Hysmith will take us through her journey “ The Union between a Mother and Her Same-Gender Loving Daughter” and how she and her daughter were able to grow in this new relationship once they started the conversation and put in the work. Dr Hysmith talks about how her world was rocked when she discovered her daughter was a lesbian. However, over thirty years later she now realizes that knowing about her daughter has enriched her own character and their relationship. Listen to her own words. http://www.thestrengthofmysoul.com/team_member/dr-carol-hysmith/ Happy Mother’s day to all the Mommies and if you need a way to start that conversation join us and ask your questions of someone who had been there done that. Remember in every situation there can be you are never alone. There is no handbook only a SISTERHOOD that share Best Practices that still has its flaws but it’s with LOVE that it is passed on. Show starts at 8:30 est, 7:30 cst, call in 347-215-8985 and Press 1 to speak.

March is NATIONAL READING MONTH. In celebration of National Reading Month CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle E. Brown welcome LaWayne Childrey to the show to talk about his book “Peeing Back the Layers: A Story of Trauma, Grace and Triumph.” His book was selected as one of the top six autobiographies of 2015 by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. This book tells Childrey’s story - how a troubled, black, gay youth from the Deep South grew up to become one of the most respected news journalists in the country. Childrey is also a recipient of the national Edward R. Murrow Award for Journalistic Excellence. The award is given by the Radio Television Digital News Association honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the electronic news profession. Childrey has also won numerous Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters awards for his reporting with Mississippi Public Broadcasting. In 2014 the Alabama Community College System selected Childrey as its most outstanding alumnus in the institution’s 50-year history. The ACCS awarded a $5,000 scholarship in Childrey’s name to a deserving Alabama high school senior. During the same year, Childrey was named alumnus of the year for Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham. In his compelling autobiography Childrey demonstrates his ability to persevere during times of immense adversity. Join CAN WE TALK FOR REAL Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 8:30PM EST/7:30PM CST to celebrate NATIONAL READING MONTH and be inspired by this outstanding African American author, Lawayne Childrey. CAN WE TALK FOR REAL – your award winning blog radiocast. Celebrating three years of bringing you issues, education and entertainment.

Joining Can We Talk for REAL, co-host Terry and Michelle, Wednesday Night, October 14, 2015 will be Kim Hunt out- going Executive Director for Affinity in Chicago. Kim held the position for over 6 years and has many memories, good and bad. She has lead groups in celebration and protest never afraid to say what she knew had to be said. We will have that candid conversation about Social Justice, Family, Laws, Youth and the Future. During this conversation we will get to know a little about the woman that had a vision of where the LGBTQ community should be heading on various Social Justice Topics. Join us as she leads us through the many faces of Kim over the past 10 years. Including where she has been and where she is going. Many that know Kim, knows how passionate she is in her work and personal life. So join us so you can hear first -hand what drove her day after day to leave a legacy for a community that is still growing and moving in so many positive directions in part due to Kim’s determination. What is next for Kim? Tune in and find out. Kim L. Hunt is currently the executive director of the Pride Action Tank, a results-driven group that addresses challenges facing individuals and groups within LGBTQ communities through a collaborative process of inquiry, advocacy, and action. She is an activist, urban planner, start- up enthusiast, and lifelong learner. During her 30 year career Kim has focused on building and strengthening thriving communities. She teaches mini-courses at the University of Chicago, is co-host of OUTSpoken! LGBTQ Storytelling, and serves on several boards and advisory councils.

Rejoining Terry Boi, Ina Anthony and Michelle Brown on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 8:30PM EST/7:30PM CST for this pre-Mother’s Day Show are new parents Jonica and Nkenge Jazz Burkhead. Jonica and Nkenge were our guests in January sharing their story of growing their family via IVF. Now that little Johan has arrived. The new parents are back to talk about life with baby – the birth, each of their experience with maternity/parental leave and work, the joys and challenges and how big brother Patrick is doing with baby Johan.Also joining us will be L and Sharron Dorris proud parents of son Jeremiah Dorris. Their story is unique because L and Sharron work with children shelters. After watching how these children live, L and Sharron decided that they wanted to give a child all the love they knew they could give, so they decided to adopt. Jeremiah came into their lives and his happy and warm personality stole their hearts and the rest is history. Jeremiah was adopted in 2014 and if you see the pictures posted by the proud parents you know Jeremiah is at home.CWT4R will open the lines during the last half-hour of the show so that you can share your special tribute/remembrance of your mother. Let’s tell the women we call momma/mother whether blood or not how much we love them and what they mean or meant to our lives. Remember some mommas were aunts, grandmothers, and sisters. Read a letter, say a poem or just say I LOVE YOU.

For close to twenty years Donna worked for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), most recently as the Associate Director of Field Outreach/Diversity. She has advocated for LGBT legislative priorities, such as Marriage Equality and the Employment Non Discrimination Act by building relationships in people of color communities. Her work has successfully created visibility for LGBT people of color nationally. We are the link in understanding and changing the world dynamics around the conversation. Be proud of you and own all parts of you, and the world will have to adapt because you are significant. I must see – and we all must see, reflections of ourselves in fighting for LGBT rights.“ Donna Payne continues to serve as a Member of the Board of NBJC, and also serves as a Board member of Global Diversity & Inclusion Foundation (GDIF), and as a Member of the Metropolitan Community Church, of Washington, DC. She was named by “Root.com” as one of Top Twenty Black LGBT Movers and Shakers in 2012, and received the National Action Network Woman of Excellence Award, also in 2012. Donna Payne is the author of “Pocket Guide to having Difficult Conversations about LGBT Discrimination,” designed to educate and empower anyone fighting discrimination and bullying. As she prepares to embark on the next journey of her remarkable life, Donna talks about the lessons learns and challenges still on the horizon for the LGBTQ community.