YOU & FIVE-O PODCAST: Recent Episodes
You & Five-O
You & Five-O's podcast is hosted by BJ Council (Owner/Founder of You & Five-O), Harmony Chavis, and Drew Council. With this podcast, we aim to discuss current events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, community policing, and mental health, while continuing to connect back to You & Five-O's mission to educate people on how to have safe and lawful interactions with law enforcement.
Episode 55: Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents with Guest Melissa Radcliff We told y’all that we’d be back! In this episode we welcome Melissa Radcliff, Program Director of Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons in Wilmington, NC. After talking a little about her background and how she got involved with the statewide program, Radcliff shares her dedication to working with incarcerated parents, their families, and supporting them through the reentry process. BJ and Melissa then discuss the role we as a community play in supporting children with current or previously incarcerated parents and helping them share their stories. It’s an unfortunate truth that they are often forgotten in the general conversation about improving the reentry process for incarcerated persons. The conversation then focuses specifically on the mission of Our Children’s Place and the FRESH (Family Re-Entry Support and Help) program, and how their efforts aim to develop opportunities for children to connect with their incarcerated parents and generate community support for the children whose parents are incarcerated or being released. BJ also explains how she and YFO became involved in the programs and the many ways that learning how to properly interact with law enforcement can help these same people and their families. BJ and Melissa emphasize the importance of empowering these children to take control of their own futures and not feel confined to the circumstances of their parents. The conversation shifts to the current initiative called Reentry 2030, which aims to improve reentry success for people exiting prison and those under supervision. The conversation ends with a reiteration of how difficult reentry is for incarcerated people and their families, as well as the devastating impacts these obstacles can have on their efforts to move forward. More about Melissa RadcliffMelissa Radcliff has been with Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons based in Wilmington, NC since February 2007. Our Children’s Place is a statewide education and advocacy program focused on community support for children of incarcerated and returning parents. She has worked in the area of victim services since the 1990s at a domestic violence agency, rape crisis center, prosecutor’s office, and police department in Rhode Island, Arizona, and North Carolina. She is currently overseeing the FRESH (Family Re-Entry Support and Help) program in 14 re-entry prison facilities. Melissa has extensive experience working with correctional facilities, community organizations, and other entities to develop opportunities for children to connect with their incarcerated parents and generate community support for the children whose parents are incarcerated or being released.
Episode 54: Bridging the Gap Between Police & Community with Guest Chief Keith GoyetteIt's been a minute since we’ve done an episode, and this was a great one to start out with! This time, we welcomed Chief Keith Goyette of Kinston Police Department - a long-time colleague and friend of BJ - back to the podcast. After sharing his background, Chief Goyette breaks down the Kinston department, the number of people he oversees, and highlights the fact that the civilians that work within the department are the true unsung heroes of the organization. BJ asks about some of the biggest problems facing Kinston police, as they have been recently facing some community backlash over a few use-of-force incidents. Chief Goyette explains the complexity of the situation and emphasizes that though social media can be a great tool, it can also be a problem creating a one-sided narrative. The two also discuss the current climate of the upcoming elections, the stickiness of political affiliations, and the pressure to endorse candidates or join organizations. They move one to one of YFO’s favorite topics: the importance of community policing and how Chief Goyette incorporates it in his community. Chief Goyette underlines their upcoming Citizen Police Academy and its success the previous year. BJ wraps things up by sharing some stats about the Kinston Police Department, and Chief Goyette explains YFO’s involvement in Kinston and how important it is to have a bridge that connects law enforcement and the community. More about Chief Goyette:Keith Goyette began working as a police officer with the Ayden Police Department in 2000 and later joined the Kinston Police Department in January of 2001. Over the years, Keith has advanced his way through the ranks of the organization, working in numerous divisions within the agency to include Patrol Officer, a member of Special Response Unit, Crime Scene Investigator, Narcotics Unit Supervisor, Investigations Division Supervisor, Patrol Supervisor as well as a Field Training Officer for the agency. Keith is a General Instructor and actively teaches several courses in the BLET program at Lenoir Community College. In 2009, Keith received his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Keith holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Mount Olive, as well as a master’s degree in Homeland Security Administration from Tiffin University. He is also a graduate of the 74th AOMP Session at North Carolina State University and is also a graduate of the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University. Keith is a graduate of the School of Police Staff and Command from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety and has also completed the Leadership Certificate Program and the Criminal Investigator Certificate Program from the North Carolina Justice Academy. On February 2, 2023, Keith was selected as the permanent Chief of Police for the Kinston Police Department. During Chief Goyette’s tenure, he has implemented several policies, procedures, and initiatives helping reduce violent crime, build community trust and increase transparency, while embracing both constitutional policing and police proactivity. Chief Goyette places tremendous value on public safety and community engagement with the understanding that it is a shared responsibility and that police cannot do it alone. He is committed to making Kinston one of the safest cities in the East.
Episode 53: The Future of Policing with Guest Chief Jason ArmstrongFor our final podcast of the year, we’re excited to welcome Apex Police Chief Jason Armstrong to the show to talk about his journey in policing, the community policing he does, advancements to the profession, and more! We believe he represents the future of law enforcement, where positive change can be made. We encourage the community to help identify leaders like him by voicing their appreciation and commending those officers for delivering the service they desire from their police department. Chief Armstrong’s journey to the Apex Police Department took him through Ferguson, MO, where he dealt with the aftermath of the Michael Brown incident. He explains how this inspired his work with the community to improve relationships with the police, and how he’s carried this through his work today. He talks about his philosophy on community policing, how he gets support from the community and implements it with his officers, what’s worked and how he goes about it in Apex now. We finish the show by discussing the changes he’s made in Apex - including creating a non-sworn civilian internal affairs (the first of its kind!) and relaxing the policies on appearances so his officers can be more themselves. Chief Armstrong is also currently hiring for the Apex Police Department - you can find more details at apexnc.org/261/Police-Department More about Chief Jason Armstrong:Jason Armstrong was appointed the Chief of Police for the Town of Apex, North Carolina, on August 2, 2021. Prior to his appointment in Apex he served as Chief of Police for the Ferguson Police Department (Missouri) for two years. Chief Armstrong joined Ferguson PD after an accomplished career with the Forest Park Police Department (Georgia). He started his law enforcement career with Forest Park PD in 2001 and held nearly every position in the organization over his 18-year career, to include Interim Police Chief. Chief Armstrong is recognized as one of the nation’s top law enforcement leaders in the areas of community outreach & engagement and police reform. During his tenure with Ferguson PD, the department saw its most significant gains on their federal consent decree with the Department of Justice. Chief Armstrong is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Chief Armstrong’s professional accolades include the 40 Under 40 Award from both the IACP and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus in Public Service Award from Columbus State University. In 2019, he was appointed to the IACP’s community policing committee. Chief Armstrong currently serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the Executive Board for the North Carolina Police Executives Association and the Police Chief Advisory Board for the North Carolina League on Municipalities. Chief Armstrong holds a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration and has amassed over 3,300 professional development training hours during his 22-year career. When he is not in the public eye, Chief Armstrong enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. The family enjoys traveling, sports, boating, and exploring new adventures.
Episode 52: Speaking Our Truths with Guests Alicia R. Johnson and Crystal GravesToday, we’re introducing another new segment for our podcast: Speaking Our Truths. The goal with this is to give a voice to the communities that are talked about, have biases around, or are misunderstood - so we can work to reduce the stigma and give voice to their issues and concerns, with the hope that they’ll be heard and inspire others to work toward change.
For this episode, we are joined by two women living in Durham public housing - Alicia R. Johnson and Crystal Graves - who are passionate about their communities and want to inspire them to do better. This initial podcast allows us to introduce them and their stories to you - where they came from and their journey to where they are now. We also touch on the issues they’ve faced, what it’s like living in public housing, the impact and stigma around it, what can be improved, and more. Stay tuned for more from this inspiring segment!
More about our guests:
Alicia R. Johnson
Alicia was born in Kansas City, MO, and at the age of five, her family moved to Durham for a few years before heading to Maywood, IL, where she was raised. She now lives in the Durham Housing Authority community of Laurel Oaks. She has two beautiful children, and says “My life’s journey hasn’t been easy, yet by the Grace of God I’m still here. I have my church leaders who have and are helping me with my spiritual walk with Jesus Christ my Lord.” Alicia has a Cosmetology and Instructor License, and is currently pursuing her Barber Instructor License in order to eventually start her own Cosmetology/Barber school. She believes in educating and encouraging people through compassion, love and understanding with the belief and faith they will become the best they can be.
Crystal Graves
Crystal moved from Florida to Durham in 2014 and currently lives in the Cornwallis Community, where she is Vice President. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters and worships at Faith Assembly Christian Center-TNC. Her passion is creating opportunities that support and benefit the needs of others. She enjoys the responsibility of planning, organizing, and managing events. The work up-to and when the goal is reached is what drives her passion, which is to build relationships within the community, and the organizations that support that community. She does this as part of her faith and belief that when we support the needs of others, we all are better. This journey of partnering and collaborating with others in making a difference is helping her build the foundation to create her own nonprofit in the future. Her hope and prayer is that these partnerships are filled with growth and meaningful connections.
We’re back! With the latest in our new segment “Your Questions, Your Power” - where we help community members understand the importance of asking the right questions of their elected officials and local law enforcement, and how data can be beneficial for creating change. Today we are excited to be joined by Bob Scales - co-founder and CEO of Police Strategies LLC.
After getting reacquainted with each host, we hear from Bob about his background and experience, journey to where he is now, and an explanation of his company’s police force analysis system. Numbers don’t tell you everything you need to know about each police interaction or situation, so their system goes beyond the data to truly understand what’s going on, why there are disparities, and what that means for the police agency and community (and what can be done about it).
We discuss how police are their own worst enemy when it comes to data and transparency, how the media portrays the data about policing, Bob’s experience with police reform and the DOJ/politics involved, his opinion on consent decrees, and the research paper he recently released on use of force. As always with this segment, we also go into detail on what questions to ask to understand the data you’re receiving, the questions you’re allowed to ask your police agency to get more data, and how to best utilize that as a community member.
More about Bob Scales:
Bob Scales is a founding partner of Police Strategies LLC where he currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Scales served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in King County Washington, a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, the Assistant Director for Public Safety for the City of Seattle, the Director of the Government Affairs for the Seattle City Attorney, and the Compliance Coordinator for the Seattle Police Department. Scales represented Seattle during the USDOJ pattern or practice investigation of Seattle PD in 2011 and helped to negotiate the subsequent consent decree. Scales was elected to two terms on the Bainbridge Island, WA City Council and served one year as Mayor.
Episode 50: Your Questions, Your Power with Guests Finesse Moreno-Rivera & Kelly Childress
Today we are launching our new segment: “Your Questions, Your Power” with Finesse and Kelly! This segment highlights the importance of data, especially as it relates to policing - we want to help the community understand what to look for, how to ask for data, and how to interpret it. You have the right to do so! After Finesse and Kelly introduce themselves again, they dive into discussing what they each want to accomplish with this new segment… primarily making data transparent and accessible, and how to practically apply that to your local organizations to help create change.
They also discuss the importance of Black people voting - the history of it and where we are today, especially regarding the changes happening in Mississippi that are causing voter suppression. Kelly brings up the need to look at the root cause of crime, otherwise policing isn’t as effective, and they all suggest solutions for how to fix that - for police, community members, and local organizations. They end by discussing policing, the number one resistance to police officers, and understanding how to safely get through interactions with law enforcement. Finesse shares her personal experiences with police, and they highlight the importance of learning how to safely get through police stops in drivers ed.
Episode 49: Law Enforcement Accountability, Starts with a Complaint with Guest Chief Henry King
Welcome back to the You & Five-O podcast, where we have Chief Henry King of the Edenton Police Department joining us. We have had a long-time relationship with King, and recently worked with him to release our new short film #Huemans: A Guide to Get Home - a free resource available on youandfive-o.com and our YouTube page to provide Black and Brown communities with information on how to safely interact with law enforcement.
After telling us about his background and early experiences with police, King and BJ talk about how Black and Brown people who are active in the community don't desire to be police, but those kinds of individuals are needed in the police force to help bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. King says police are public figures, but believes that in order to get respect, you have to give respect.
King talks about the struggles of small police departments and how they don’t have the tools needed to handle certain assignments, such as homeless shelters or housing for assaulted women. He also talks about how voting and police reform go hand-in-hand.
King aims to provide opportunities to anyone who wants to work in law enforcement and is willing to obtain the necessary education, training, and certifications - regardless of race. He wants to create a diverse pool of candidates who can replace him as the chief of police in the future. He also explains how to file complaints about officer’s behavior, and what the process is like at his department.
Bola WRAP
Watch #Huemans: A Guide To Get Home
More about Chief Henry King
Chief Henry King Jr started his employment at the Rocky Mount Police Department in December 2000 as a patrol officer. Serving in this capacity, he worked as a uniform patrol officer, answering calls for service, serving warrants, and traffic control. He also worked as a bicycle officer. Henry was transferred to the Administrative Services Division in 2003 as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and was assigned to Edwards Middle School. In July 2005, Henry was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In July 2006, he was promoted to Sergeant assigned to the Uniformed Operations Division. In February 2010, Henry was transferred to the Professional Standards Division. In August 2013, he was promoted to Lieutenant. In August of 2017, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. On May 7, 2018, he was named Chief of Police for the Town of Edenton. Chief Henry King Jr is also assigned to the North Carolina Secretary State Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Task Force.
Chief Henry King is a native of Durham, NC. He has served in the military (United States Marine Corps) and is a graduate of North Carolina Central University. He is also a graduate of the North Carolina State University, Administrative Officers Management Program, Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy Session 283. Chief King serves as an Executive Board member on the North Carolina Internal Affairs Investigation Association. He also serves as a Commissioner for the North Carolina Sentencing Commission and the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Henry also serves as an Executive Board member for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Episode 48: Role Models for Policing with Guests Rob Mewborn and Di’Nesha RouseOn our newest podcast episode, we welcome two officers from the police department in Kinston, NC: Rob Mewborn and Di’Nesha Rouse. You & Five-O has partnered with the Kinston PD for many years - they have a predominantly African American population, with a mostly white police department - because of their desire to improve community-police relations by spreading awareness and educating the community on how to safely interact with law enforcement.
After introducing themselves, Officers Mewborn and Rouse discuss the challenges of pursuing a career in law enforcement in the Black community. They talk about how there weren’t any Black role models as police officers when they were younger, and how the Black community tends to prioritize sports as a career over other paths. They also discuss how the opinions and attitudes of their family, friends, and community vilify becoming a police officer, and ideas they have for how to change that.
BJ highlights the importance of hiring from the local level - both Rouse and Mewborn were born and raised in Kinston - and the difference it makes as an officer when you’re connected with your community. Mewborn and Rouse also share their experiences as school resource officers - what they see on the ground level, working with youth, and the daily struggles they encounter. They approach their work with a mindset of being the change they want to see and actively explore ways to help young people succeed and stay out of trouble.
More about Di’Nesha Rouse:
Di’Nesha Rouse was hired by the Kinston Police Department in 2019. Prior to her service in Kinston, she attended college at Winston Salem State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. Officer Rouse started her career in law enforcement on the patrol division. Due to Officer Rouse’s involvement in and with the community, she has received awards ranging from Officer of the Month to Life Saving awards. Officer Rouse has furthered her knowledge by attending the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, located in Forsyth Georgia, in an effort to combat delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership for children/teens. Officer Rouse transitioned from patrol to working as the school resource officer for Rochelle Middle School in January 2023.
More about Rob Mewborn:
Officer Rob Mewborn is a lifetime resident of Kinston, NC - born in east Kinston and educated in the public school system. Officer Mewborn has served the citizens of Kinston for over 18 years, in many different capacities throughout the city. He started his career with the City of Kinston in 2004 and later transferred to the Police Division in 2010. After serving for a short while as a police officer, he returned to environmental services and worked for seven more years. In 2017 Officer Mewborn was asked by the former Chief of Police Alonzo Jaynes if he would be interested in returning to the Police Division and serving as Kinston High’s School Resource Officer, which he readily accepted. With over 15 years of experience dealing with young people, Officer Mewborn has managed to usher in a new wave of experience and make lasting relationships with the young students at KHS, as well as the community in which he serves. Officer Mewborn is a true example of community policing, and enjoys serving the students and citizens of Kinston NC.
We’re back with the first episode of 2023 and this time we’re joined by two amazing, data-driven women: Finesse Moreno-Rivera and Kelly Childress. After hearing more about each of their backgrounds, they dive into discussing Finesse’s USA Today article and the importance of learning how to interact with law enforcement. Finesse and Kelly focus on analyzing data when it comes to policing - looking at minor violations, traffic stops, etc. - and emphasize the lack of complete data available because police agencies are not required to report it. Community members need to know that they can and should ask their police agencies what they’re currently tracking, as well as ask them to track data they aren’t. This is an important aspect of holding police accountable!BJ, Kelly, and Finesse discuss the amount of people leaving the police force, the next generation of law enforcement that will provide the change communities want to see in the system, and moving past the “tough on crime” rhetoric to focus on serving people. They also share their thoughts on how the media impacts the way people view crime/police - there’s always more to the story and data than is shared in the media’s short sound-bites.Finesse and Kelly also emphasize the importance of making data more accessible to the community so they can easily view and understand it, which helps them make informed decisions and push for change. They end the show by discussing a variety of topics, from the importance of education and getting out of the school-to-prison pipeline, to the push-back they get on their work regarding policing, to what we can do to change the community’s perspective on policing, and what makes citizens noncompliant.Read Finesse’s USA Today articleMore about Finesse Moreno-Rivera:Finesse received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky and a M.A. in Forensic Psychology from Roger Williams University. Throughout graduate school and post academia, Finesse has worked at the state and federal level conducting research, criminal investigations and serving the forensic population through various phases of criminal proceedings such as supervision, court room representation and assisting prisoners with reentry programs. Her previous work has focused on data analysis examining opioid replacement programs, criminal profiling, sentencing guidelines, data transparency efforts for law enforcement entities and legislation analysis. For example, during her time at the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, her review of the Pennsylvania Probation and Parole board data was to ensure that their assessment was validated and scientifically sound when assessing the release of inmates. In addition, Finesse’s work with the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, has been utilized in many congressional hearings for talking points in assessing and developing policies for programs such as the Second Chance Act. In previous hearings, former Attorney General William Barr utilized her analysis to determine funding needed, impact and progress of the policy. Her passions continue to be criminal justice reform and the utilization of data and policy analysis in the criminal justice field.More about Kelly Childress:Kelly Childress received her Master’s of Sociology with a concentration in criminology from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). While at UNCG, she worked on numerous projects examining topics such as the prison-to-school pipeline, racial bias policing, and reentry programming for formerly incarcerated women.Her graduate thesis, “Life Histories of Formerly Incarcerated Black Women” examined the lives of six formerly incarcerated women to identify familial and personal relationships, trauma, and other experiences linked to incarceration for women. It became apparent that lack of access to resources and trauma created pathways into the criminal justice system for Black women.In addition, she has worked in the school system and social services. Currently, she is working as a program coordinator for the homeless. Kelly is passionate about advocating for trauma-informed policing and criminal justice reform. She also has a passion for data. Through her work with You and Five-O, she has helped to provide insight into systemic issues with the criminal justice system and the effects of generational trauma within Black and Brown communities as it pertains to the criminal justice system.
Welcome back to the YFO podcast! Today, we have Margaret Cowan joining us to talk about her organization: I Am My Sister’s Keeper, which helps single mothers in the Memphis area that need a village and support system, through weekly meetings, monthly outings, quarterly events, and more! Margaret tells us about her experience as a single mom and how you just need the space to exhale, talk to other moms, and take care of yourself. She believes that when you’re better as a mom, you can raise better kids and parent better, which then expands to improving your community.
BJ and Margaret talk about single Black & Brown mothers during this moment, specifically when navigating interactions with police and figuring out how to keep their kids safe from gun violence and out of the judicial system. They share their personal experiences with the police and how treating each other with respect can improve the situation and emotions on both sides of the interaction.
Margaret tells us more about the expectations of the participants in her organization and how she holds them accountable to show up, be responsible, and do the internal work. Not everyone is ready - some just want the tangible, free stuff - so they have guidelines to manage that, especially for those receiving financial support. She also shares her “why” for doing this work, what motivates her to keep going, and a success story from women she’s worked with in her organization. Learn more & donate to I Am My Sisters Keeper Instagram, Facebook More about Margaret Cowan: Margaret Cowan is the Founding Keeper of I Am My Sister's Keeper (IAMSK), which originated in 2018. She is the single mother of three amazing young ladies, Cayden Danae (22), Camryn Dechele (19), and Camaya Denyce (18). Margaret completed her Associate's degree in 2020 and is currently pursuing her Bachelor's in Sociology with a minor in Nonprofit Management at the University of Memphis. She graduates on December 11, 2022. Margaret recognizes the importance of community in the life of a single mom. Her mission is to create a village in which single moms live and support each other. It is her desire to use her God-given gifts and abilities, along with her lifelong lessons, to own a neighborhood full of homes occupied by single moms. In order to obtain a paid position and prepare for a successful future for IAMSK, Margaret has completed a variety of training events and classes. She is most proud of her completion of the Executive Director Bootcamp led by Momentum Nonprofit Partners, "Before You Ask" by the Assisi Foundation, and Fundraising-Continuing Education Program led by the University of Memphis. Margaret enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She understands people, never meets a stranger, and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Episode 45: “It’s Easier for Institutions to Pivot” with Guest Aminah Thompson We’re excited to welcome you back to the podcast! This time we are joined by Aminah Thompson - who will become the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court in December - to have a conversation around the institution of the judicial system and those who work within it. Aminah tells us about her family background, the importance of education and civil rights to her parents, and how she hopes to carry on that legacy as she starts her new journey in the courts.
Aminah joined us for our webinar in June, where she made a key point about police sending people to the magistrate to take out warrants on other people. In this podcast episode, she expands on that idea, explains the new process for it, and discusses with BJ how to get the Black community to stop calling the police into their homes. She also talks about what’s pushing people into the judicial system - namely the community not knowing what to do in crisis situations due to a lack of education and resources (something she hopes to improve as Durham County Clerk).
We also get to hear about some of Aminah’s plans once she becomes the Clerk of Superior Court and how she aims to better serve the public. BJ and Aminah finish the show by discussing how to keep the judicial system out of people’s homes; including teaching people how to problem solve through education and resources, and the need for more training across the board in all of the judicial system. As Aminah says, “it’s easier for institutions to pivot” than it is for an individual trying do it on their own during a crisis. And, as always, it comes down to respect - on all sides of the system.
More about Aminah Thompson: Aminah Thompson, a long-time resident of Durham, has served as a Magistrate for 13 years, presiding over civil, criminal, and administrative traffic courts. Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University and Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. Since law school, she has dedicated her career to public service. She is the proud mother of an amazing 2 year old boy, a member of Union Baptist Church, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter. In addition, many professional, educational, and civic associations have been recipients of her leadership, guidance, and stewardship.
During the May primary election, Thompson earned the Democratic nomination for Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. With no challenger on the November ballot, she is the presumptive winner and will take office in early December. Thompson is committed to being deliberate, compassionate, respectful, and fair as she continues serving the citizens of Durham. She will be the first African American and the first woman to serve as Durham’s elected Clerk of Superior Court.
Episode 26 Re-Release: “It's a legal system not a justice system” with Guest Dr. Craig Waleed Dr. Craig Waleed helped facilitate our “Voices of Passion” event on June 18th, which focused on addressing the issues that push Black and Brown people into the judicial system - specifically education, police brutality, housing, and employment. We wanted to re-share his podcast episode so you can learn more about his experience in and out of the justice system and the impact it had on his life.
In this episode, Dr. Waleed tells us about his background, the community he grew up in and circumstances that led to him being incarcerated, as well as the path he followed through higher education after getting out, and the book he wrote about it all. He discusses ideas for how to address violent behavior in young people and what changes need to be made in policing, including adjusting what all police are responsible for as they are often asked to do too much. Dr. Waleed explains what he thinks a compassionate judicial system could look like, including utilizing education and encouraging incarcerated people to find their path so they can go back to their communities to build them back up.
More about Dr. Waleed: At the age of nineteen, Dr. Waleed was incarcerated for eight years in New York State prisons. During his term of incarceration, Dr. Waleed earned an Associate of Arts degree from Canisius College. Following his release from prison in 1997, Dr. Waleed continued pursuing higher education. He eventually earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling and a Master’s of Science in Mental Health Counseling from the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport College. In 2017, Dr. Waleed completed a Doctorate of Education from St. John Fisher College. His Dissertation focused on What Aspects of Emotional Intelligence Help Former Prisoners Make Decisions to Desist Crime?
Dr. Waleed previously served as a Substance Abuse Counselor and as a Reentry Case Manager for post-incarcerated citizens. He has engaged with various student bodies on several college campuses in New York State and sat on community panels exploring carceral matters. Dr. Waleed was also a guest speaker at TEDx SingSing 2020. He has created and facilitated Emotional Intelligence training, taught Counseling and Communication courses in Higher Education and is the author of his autobiography entitled “Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation.” Dr. Waleed is dedicated to excellence in teaching and scholarship, disrupting the community to prison pipeline, and reducing post-incarceration recidivism. He aims to educate and motivate others impacted by the criminal legal system to challenge and overcome life’s impediments and live a more rewarding life.
Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation, written by Dr. Waleed Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation: Waleed, Dr. Craig: 9798671941111: Amazon.com: Books
Episode 44: Justice Movement with Guest Lisa “L.A.” Jones We welcome another one of our Voices of Passion panelists to the show this week - Lisa “L.A.” Jones - to discuss her experience as a Black female prison warden, what she thinks is sending Black and Brown people into the justice system, and her current work with Hayti Reborn - Justice Movement, an organization she founded with retired Durham Police Chief Steven Chalmers with the intention of bridging the gap between community and law enforcement to create a system that supports justice-served individuals.
After detailing her past - including the poverty and trauma that impacted her life - L.A. explains how she got into working in the prison system and the challenges she faced as a Black female warden. She knew the best way to learn was from inside the system - to find out why the law is enforced so differently for Black and Brown vs. white people, as well as why the same people keep coming back to prison, specifically focusing on the lack of re-entry programs that are available. L.A. believes getting to the root cause of “why” something is happening is essential in understanding each issue and healing the community. She explains that it’s not just the incarcerated person that’s impacted - it’s the entire family that ends up being justice involved, especially the kids. BJ and L.A. discuss how Black and Brown communities blame each other (and kill each other) for these kinds of issues, rather than address them and the system that created them directly. This comes back to the importance of education and voting - now is the time for Black and Brown folks to make a change, and BJ and L.A. discuss what they believe is possible. More about Hayti Reborn - Justice Movement: Justice Movement | Haytireborn
More about Lisa “L.A.” Jones Lisa A. “L.A.” Jones (a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina) is a retired corrections administrator in the federal corrections system. L.A. spent her 30-year career in a variety of correctional positions and environments, becoming among the highest ranking African-American women in the federal prison. Her education consists of attendance at Southern Nazarene University, in Bethany, Oklahoma where she received a BS in Family Studies & Gerontology (Counseling Psychology specialization) and Saint Leo University, where she received a MS in Criminal Justice (dual specialization of Corrections & Behavioral Studies). She is currently a seminary student at Meadville Lombard Seminary School in Chicago, IL.
At the height of her career, L.A. decided to take her education, experience, and understanding of systems of incarceration and reassign those talents to the area of holistic re-entry programs and practices that create systemic change for justice-involved individuals, their families, and the communities in which they live. Her passion lies at the intersection of Criminal and Social Justice, where she works hard to bridge the two. All her work is done through a spiritually holistic lens. As a retiree, L.A. returned to Durham, NC where she is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Movement Operations for the Hayti Reborn – Justice Movement. She serves as a member of the Durham Sheriff’s Community Advisory Board and Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Southern Coalition of Social Justice. She is a poet, genealogist, and member of the William C Friday Fellowship for Human Relations in North Carolina.
Episode 43: How to Call 9-1-1, Part 2 with Guest Jeryl Anderson We are excited to welcome Jeryl Anderson back to the podcast - especially after she was on our Voices of Passion panel on June 18th! She always has great educational information to share about how to properly utilize 9-1-1 (listen to her first episode on the podcast for more!), specifically the importance of “don’t hang up”, even if you call by accident.
After explaining her emergency communications work - including the new telecommunicating training system that was launched this year - Jeryl talks about her perspective as a Black woman 9-1-1 telecommunicator. She explains the Black and Brown experience using 9-1-1 and emergency services; the fear associated with it, as well as how they invite law enforcement/responders into their homes for a variety of reasons (domestic violence, mistrust in healthcare, reporting each other, etc.), and what can be done to change that. Jeryl gives an overview of the 9-1-1 system in NC, how training is shifting to community colleges, and details about her outreach coordinator job. She goes into the community to teach people how to properly use 9-1-1, what a real emergency is, and what to call if it’s not an emergency so you don’t clog the system. Jeryl believes making a change starts with educating children and sending information home to their families so they can learn too.
Listen to Jeryl’s first episode on the podcast! Episode 30: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zsWNuM2n3KsWUBUwdNNFE?si=zF7TKdesS8GdK0YsovSR8Q New Mental Health Hotline: The Lifeline and 988 : Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
More about Jeryl Anderson Jeryl Anderson has worked in public safety emergency communications for over thirty years. She is currently employed at Orange County Emergency Services, as the Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, and recently accepted a position with Durham Technical Community College, as their Coordinator for 9-1-1 Training. Jeryl has been a certified instructor since the 1990’s and has vast experience in classroom presentation, including curriculum and testing development, online course development and implementation. She is proud to have been at the beginning of the Telecommunicator Certification Course for North Carolina Telecommunicators, during her time as a Criminal Justice Instructor Coordinator with the NC Justice Academy, where for eleven years, she taught, edited, and implemented the curriculum across the state of North Carolina. Jeryl is an experienced online instructor, conference speaker and event coordinator. She is an RPL (Registered Professional Leader) and CPE (Certified Public Safety Executive) through National APCO and an ENP (Emergency Number Professional) through NENA.
Episode 27 Re-Release: Holistic Education with Guest LaManda Chestnut-Pryor
After our “Voices of Passion” event on Saturday, we wanted to re-release this episode with LaManda Chestnut-Pryor to bring the importance of education to the forefront of our discussion on how to make lasting societal changes, especially for Black and Brown communities. LaManda shared a lot of wisdom with us at our event, especially this gem: “Until we strengthen the family, we cannot strengthen the child.” As an advocate for holistic education, LaManda believes the success of her students relies on helping the whole family - not just the child.
In this episode, LaManda talks about her work as a principal and transformational educator, especially in schools with predominantly Black and Brown students. She tells us about her holistic approach to teaching that involves tending to the mind, body, and soul of not just her students, but the entire family. She describes the importance of addressing violence and trauma in our communities, how that affects kids in school, and creates the need to include social and emotional learning in everyday instruction. LaManda also explains how some schools are so focused on testing that they lose the essence of the kids - her school measures their success in other ways. It is also one of a handful, and the only minority school, participating in Peaceful Schools in North Carolina - a program that works to create a healthy school climate.
More about Lamanda Chestnut-Pryor
LaManda Chestnut-Pryor thrives as a transformational educator, leader, and children’s advocate serving the North Carolina and New York communities for over 20 years. Her current role as the principal at a charter school in Durham, NC has expanded her expertise as a passionate and innovative leader. Combining her educational background, years of being an administrator and teacher inside of inner city schools with her practical community, family and parental experiences, LaManda has created real life steps to address the disparity in school discipline. She is relentless in her pursuit of establishing a safe, caring and nurturing learning environment that promotes acceptance of the individual and puts the kid’s needs first. By focusing on continuous improvements to the processes of conflict resolutions and developing the child’s self-esteem, LaManda feels that as far as our children’s learning potential is concerned; the best is yet to come.
More about Peaceful Schools NC: Peaceful Schools NC
Episode 42: Restoring Trust & Respect with Guest Dr. Jonathan Wender We are joined this week by Dr. Jonathan Wender, co-founder of POLIS Solutions - an organization created to improve safety and restore trust in communities through its officer training program. Dr. Wender explains how police go most often into disenfranchised neighborhoods, typically those with people of color - “Police touch society where it already hurts the most” - and how this impacts the officers and community. POLIS’ goal is to improve the interactions between police and citizens by training officers to treat each person with dignity and respect through their T3 training. BJ and Dr. Wender discuss the development of BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) over the past few decades, as well as the trouble departments are having hiring new officers and how they can get people to serve again. They debate whether education should be required for policing, what departments should be looking for in officers, and how to improve the effectiveness of police training. They end the conversation by discussing the way both policing and community view each other and how to change that to improve trust and relationships moving forward. YFO is an advocate for the work POLIS is doing to improve police training and rebuild relationships, trust, and respect with the community. These are essential steps toward reimagining policing, and directly connect with our previous episode about Jacques Gilbert’s Blue Lights College, where they are preparing the next generation for this moment. Blue Lights College instills in its students "community before policing", building trust, service, and humanity. POLIS is instilling the same thing in current officers through its training and we are big supporters of that work! Listen to Episode 41 - Community Before Policing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7G5Lo3uu2jInLyKx5kqnjA?si=ERGl8t7gQyy5gF1h8J6VJA
More about Dr. Jonathan Wender Jonathan Wender is a twenty-year police veteran and interdisciplinary social scientist. His area of expertise is face-to-face social interactions in critical situations where risk is high and trust is low. Jonathan has broad experience developing and implementing training programs that integrate social and tactical skills, and is lead developer of Polis Solutions' T3 - Tact, Tactics, and Trust training system. Prior to co-founding Polis, Jonathan helped develop and launch the Strategic Social Interaction Modules (SSIM) Program at DARPA, and served with the program as senior advisor. Jonathan previously served on the faculty at the University of Washington in the Department of Sociology and Law, Societies, and Justice Program. Jonathan is widely recognized as a subject-matter expert on police-community interactions, police use of force, officer decision-making, police training, and other related topics. He holds a Ph.D. in criminology from Simon Fraser University (2004). Jonathan is the author of Policing and the Poetics of Everyday Life, a multidisciplinary analysis of police-community encounters. More about POLIS: Polis Solutions | T3 -Tact Tactics & Trust and Patrol Expert (polis-solutions.net)
Episode 41: Community Before Policing with Guest Jacques Gilbert We are excited to welcome Jacques Gilbert to the show this week! Former Captain of the Apex Police Department, current Mayor of Apex, and founder of Blue Lights College - a police preparatory college in Apex, NC. After hearing about his background and current work (and success stories!) with Blue Lights College, Jacques and BJ discuss the next generation of law enforcement and how to instill in them important concepts like humanity, building trust, service, and “community before policing.” They discuss the stigma attached to policing in Black culture and ideas for how to change that, as well as how current officers can handle that when they go into the community. They end by discussing how the community needs to hold their agencies accountable by filing complaints and getting involved. It’s essential to get as many people as possible in the room to make lasting, effective change for the future of law enforcement. Everyone can be a part of the change.
More about Jacques Gilbert Jacques Gilbert is a native of Apex, North Carolina where he currently resides. In April 2019, he retired from the Apex Police Department at the rank of Captain with 29 years of service. In addition to graduating in the 220th FBI National Academy, he has written three books, is a certified personal trainer, and is the founder of TheVine919. In 2015, Jacques was invited to the White House and recognized by President Obama and awarded "Champion of Change" due to his work with youth to build the Rodgers Family Skate Plaza in downtown Apex, and he was also recognized by the city with the Community Service Award. In 2016, Jacques was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Apex Chamber of Commerce.
In 2017, Jacques launched Blue Lights College, a community college in Apex with the mission to bridge the gap between community and police by attracting and training a new generation of youth and police to approach conflict with compassion through the pillars of Faith, Purpose and Trust.
In November 2017 he was awarded Tarheel of the Week by News & Observer. He also received several other community service awards, and in 2018, Jacques was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper.
In November 2019 Jacques was elected the 32nd Mayor of Apex, North Carolina and was sworn in on December 3rd 2019 making him the first black mayor to be elected in the 149 year history of Apex. Jacques is married to his wife Meshara and his children include Logan, Kalabria and son-in-law Joshua. Blue Lights College: Blue Lights College – North Carolina's First Police Prep College
Episode 40: Emotional Regulation with Guest Sam Peterson In this episode, we welcome Sam Peterson from the Durham Crisis Response Center to discuss his work in schools and the impact his programs have on improving kids’ emotional regulation. After telling us about his background and how he got started at DCRC, Sam talks about the important topics he teaches, including how to handle relationships and identify toxic/abusive ones, understanding toxic masculinity, as well as how to sit with their anger and learn coping mechanisms to deal with their emotions. Harmony chimes in to discuss learning consent about touch and understanding love, especially when coming from the point of view of a survivor of trauma. Sam also emphasizes the importance of mental health and how to “start with yourself” in terms of assessing your own biases, especially when related to trauma and helping kids understand emotional regulation.
More about Sam Peterson Sam Peterson is the Rape Prevention Education Coordinator for Durham Crisis Response Center. This role serves the community by teaching youth, hosting roundtables, educating people about sexual assualt and domestic violence prevention, and more. Currently, he's teaching middle schools about Healthy Masculinity. He is also a writer and an artist, and lives in Durham with his cat, Walter.
Contact Sam: sam@durhamcrisisresponse.org 919-909-6077
We are excited to welcome Sergeant Isaiah Ruffin of Clayton PD to the show! At YFO, we believe that the future of police reform and the change the community and industry are seeking will be led by the leaders in the building now that are working toward building mutual trust. We believe in Officer Millennial, Officer Gen Z and Officer Future. Change is happening, and Sgt. Ruffin is a great example of current leadership in organizations that understand this moment and know their work is about customer service and building trust. We welcome you to listen to this important conversation about creating change and training the next generation of police officers.
After telling us about his background and the unique story of how he became a police officer, we dive into a discussion about how Sgt. Ruffin feels as a Black male police officer and the changes he wants to make for the future of law enforcement. He emphasizes the importance of active listening, patience, and effective communication for other officers trying to navigate this moment, especially when dealing with defensive or reactive people in the field. Sgt. Ruffin explains how he works to “be the change I want to see” as he sets an example to mend the relationship between law enforcement and the community, while also training the next generation of police officers. We close out the show by discussing the complaint process, and encouraging all community members to file complaints when necessary and to have the tough conversations about policing with all people.
More about Isaiah Ruffin Isaiah Ruffin has been in law enforcement for 21 years, and is currently a Police Officer for the Town of Clayton, NC. He started his career in 2000 as a Patrol Officer at Crabtree Valley Mall. Crabtree sponsored Isaiah to go through Basic Law Enforcement Training to become a police officer while still employed with them. He was later hired by Selma Police Department in Johnston County, NC, and assigned to the Patrol Division, where he worked for 5 years. He then moved to the Clayton Police Department where he has been for the last 16 years. While with Clayton he has worked in Patrol, Community Policing, Narcotics, K9, and Swat, before getting promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As Sergeant, he has been in charge of a patrol squad and is currently assigned to the Traffic Unit and Park Police. Isaiah holds numerous law enforcement certificates, including Field Training Officer, First Line Supervision and an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.
Episode 38: Team Five-O Our final podcast of 2021! Thank you for joining us for another year of amazing conversations and even better guests. In this episode, hosts BJ and Drew discuss the last year of podcasts - including some of their favorite episodes and guests, like Tony Godwin, Glenda Beard, John Williams, and more! They also discuss plans for the next year of our podcast - how it might happen less often, and the kinds of guests they want to have on. BJ hopes to address police reform even more head-on by interviewing up-and-coming police officers. She believes it’s the Millenials and Gen Z’s becoming police officers now that will be the ones to make a change. To finish out the show, we bring on the rest of the Five-O team to talk about the work they do and services they provide, how they got started with YFO, and what keeps them dedicated to its success. Join us in learning more about Chris Downey - producer; Abby Bradetich - graphic/web design, social media & marketing; and Crystal Kimpson Roberts - public relations & media. If you need help in any of those areas, check them out! And - if there’s something you want to hear on our show next year, let us know! Email youandfiveo@gmail.com with thoughts and suggestions.
More From the Five-O Team:
Downey Digital with Chris: Digital Content Producer | Downey Digital (chrisdowneydigital.com)
IlluminEssence Creations with Abby: Abby Bradetich | LinkedIn
Mountaintop Productions Public Relations with Crystal: Crystal Kimpson Roberts | LinkedIn
Episode 37: Alternative to Violence with Guests Deborah Bromiley & John Shuford
We are excited and humbled to have John and Deborah join us this week to discuss AVP - the Alternative to Violence Project. They start by explaining what AVP is, its history, how it’s used now - as a preventative tool - and why it’s effective. Often, we forget that in all types of conflict there is a possibility for a non-violent solution. AVP gives you the tools to do that, and allows you to practice them during their training. Deborah then dives into the AVP view that there is something good in every person, and how AVP works to separate the action from the person. She also explains a key concept of AVP called Transforming Power, which allows each person to tap into who they are meant to be. John jumps in to explain innate health and how they bring play into the AVP training, to create community and a safe space. He also touches on the impact AVP has had in schools, sharing statistics and a testimonial from a participant. A major step in AVP is realizing that it's an inside job. If you change how you see yourself, you can change how you see everybody else and the world. We end with BJ explaining why AVP is important to her and You & Five-O, and why we are advocating it as a part of our presentations. AVP gives everyone an opportunity to do good - we hope you’ll learn more about this incredible program and help spread their information!
Learn More About AVP: AVP North Carolina (avpnc.org)
AVP Training: Basic AVP Online – December 3-5, 2021 (avpnc.org)
AVP Criminogenic Factors: Article by John Shuford
More about Deborah Bromiley & John Shuford:
Deborah Bromiley is an experienced (volunteer) AVP Facilitator for over 14 years, having been the past coordinator of the AVP Program at the Baylor Correctional Women’s Institution in Wilmington DE. While in this role, Deborah coordinated the program with the prison officials, and acted as co-lead facilitator in monthly AVP workshops for eight years. Deborah was also active on both AVP USA as the Board Secretary and with AVP International as chair of the Communications/Information Committee.
John Shuford has volunteered for over 30 years with the Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] as a facilitator of nonviolence prison inmate workshops. He has also held positions of Vice President of AVP International, President, Vice President and Treasurer of AVP USA, and Coordinator of AVP Delaware.
John has led Conflict Resolution Professional Delegations to South Africa, Russia and China and has facilitated AVP workshops in South Africa, Russia, Israel, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. John has had numerous articles published in national journals about his work with corrections staff in a spin-off model based on AVP.
Together, Deborah and John established AVP in North Carolina, first getting into the Butner Federal Corrections Facility where they led numerous workshops and grew a team of inside facilitators. They also brought AVP to the community and grew the program with more outside volunteer facilitators. AVP has also now been active in two state prisons.
Letter of Support: From Santa Barbara Unified
Episode 36: “The Power of Pause” with Guests La-toya McNair & Durham Crisis Response Center Staff October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is an important issue to You & Five-O, so to recognize that, we’ve invited La-toya McNair - Shelter Services Manager for Durham Crisis Response Center - and her team to our show this week. We start by hearing from La-toya, who explains the work they do at the shelter, who they help, and the services they offer. She talks about her own personal experience with domestic abuse; how that inspired her to do this work; and how this work helped her heal from those traumas. She debunks some of the myths regarding domestic violence, including thoughts like “why don’t you just leave” and “men don’t get abused”. She explains why victims stay with their abusers, why families stop supporting people that are abused, and details the services their shelter offers for men. Her DCRC team jumps in to help discuss other services the shelter provides, including counseling, their crisis line, education about domestic violence (and learning the power of pause in a stressful situation), human trafficking services, navigating the court system, and allowing pets into their shelter so they aren't left with the abuser. The shelter’s main goal is education and awareness - educating the public about domestic violence and increasing awareness of the shelter’s presence in Durham and the services they offer. Crisis Line Number: 919-403-6562 Spanish Crisis Line Number: 919-519-3735 Learn more about DCRC: Durham Crisis Response Center (thedcrc.org) Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events: View DCRC Calendar If you want to donate something other than money to the shelter, they need: paper towels, toilet tissue, lysol wipes, soap (men and women), deodorant (men and women), Swiffer mop, tooth paste, tooth brush, air fresheners, scented candles, plug ins You can also volunteer your time at the shelter More about La-toya McNair: La-toya McNair is the Manager of Shelter Services for the Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC). She oversees day-to-day operations of all staff and shelter services, which include Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, Rape Prevention and Education, LGBTQ, and Counseling. They also have a Thrift Store, where shelter clients can shop for free, and all profits go toward DCRC operations.
Prior to becoming the Shelter Manager, La-toya was the Senior Case Manager - she has been with DCRC for over 15 years. After experiencing molestation multiple times as a child, and watching her mom be abused by multiple men, La-toya vowed to be a help to kids that can't help themselves. She had no idea safe havens like DCRC existed until she stumbled across the job by accident. La-toya aims to ensure that every client knows they are loved and how to love themselves. She says most clients come in broken and are used to depending on their partners, so the shelter teaches them how to make their own choices. As a survivor of abuse, La-toya feels it is easy to work with this population because she can relate on many levels. Her clients are very comfortable with her because she can meet them where they are.
La-toya has many certifications through the State of NC, including Advocacy, Mental Health, First Aid, Address Confidentiality, Leading Support Groups for Victims, Crisis Intervention, Crisis Line, Hospital Response Team, Rape Prevention and Education, Food Administration, Protection Orders, Drug Education, Gangs Intervention, and more.
Episode 35: We R Allies with Guests Jesse Burwell & Terrence Sembly We’re back with another episode of our We R Allies series, with guests Terrence Sembly and Jesse Burwell. They join us to discuss their lived experience as Black police employees through the lens of community policing at the Durham Police Department. They explain the challenge that comes with trying to get community members involved - especially to attend meetings on a regular basis. In order to improve the “community” part of community policing, ALL people need to be at the table with an open mind. There are many ways community members can get involved! Attend Partners Against Crime (PAC) meetings, participate in the police department’s budget process, join the Citizen’s Police Academy, and attend any community events sponsored by your local police department. And, of course, you need to vote! If you want changes to happen, you have to participate in the process of making those changes. Our guests and hosts share a lot of ideas for how to improve community policing, and end by discussing ways to better recruit for the police department so their employees reflect the current times and communities they’re in. There’s a lot of work to do on both sides of the issue, but we encourage everyone to get involved in their community! Episode 15: Defund Police - Episode 15 Re-Release: Defund Durham Police: The Exercise
Durham PD Community Programs & PAC: Community Services Division | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov)
Episode 34: “Make Our Enemy into our Asset” with Guest Tyrone Baker
We are excited and humbled to have Tyrone Baker join us on the show this week to discuss his lived experience as a justice-served individual. After telling us his story, including how he ended up incarcerated, he gives us his unique perspective on how to help people that might be headed down the path to incarceration. He stresses the importance of empowering the Black community to strive for economic self-sufficiency, which reduces the need to do illegal things to survive. Drew joins in to discuss the positives and negatives of being a Black man in America, and Tyrone continues on to explain how he aims to be a role model in the community, especially for justice-served individuals, showing how they can achieve their goals, despite their past. Tyrone also tells us about his book, based on the incarcerated experience, that critiques the work of other experts in the field. He explains how he wrote it while incarcerated and his unique way of marketing it. We end with BJ and Tyrone discussing how to get the police out of Black people’s homes - the need for them to learn how to solve issues on their own - and Tyrone’s view of how law enforcement can be used as a tool to benefit the Black community - "making our enemy into our asset" - through recruiting locally for the police department.
Tyrone’s Book on Amazon: A Convict's Perspective: Critiquing Penology and Inmate Rehabilitation: Baker, T. Lamont North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence: North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence (nccai.org) NCCAI Fundraiser: October 7th at City Barbeque Durham (208 West N Carolina 54)
If ordering online, use code FundA to donate to NCCAI; if ordering in-person, mention the fundraiser! City Barbeque and Catering (citybbq.com)
More about Tyrone Baker: Tyrone Baker was born and raised in Durham. He graduated from Riverside High School in 2005 just before making a series of life-altering decisions as a teenager that resulted in a murder charge and a 22 year prison sentence. However, he dedicated himself to personal betterment during that dark season of his life. Baker has read over 600 nonfiction books, he has administered business classes to incarcerated individuals, he has worked with other community-centric nonprofit groups on issues ranging from voter security to climate change awareness, he’s active on the motivational speaker circuit, he has acquired skills in various trades, and he’s also a published author and essayist. His book, A Convict’s Perspective: Critiquing Penology and Inmate Rehabilitation, has been used to educate students in collegiate level criminal justice and criminology classes at universities across the state. Baker is passionate about dismantling the carceral state by increasing the variety of economic opportunities that are available to disenfranchised people in the Triangle. When he isn’t spreading the message that economic empowerment is a potent weapon against mass imprisonment, Baker enjoys traveling, motorsports, and spending time with his family.
Episode 33: Boss Locks with Guest Walter Gainer II We are excited to welcome the Founder of the Boss Locks Podcast, Walter Gainer II, to the show this week! He explains his background and what led him to create his podcast, which highlights Black leaders with natural hair. He discusses the history, beauty, and power of hairstyles, while giving tips for the younger generation and other entrepreneurs wanting to wear their natural hair. Walt also gives us insight on his “I See Color” podcast episode that talks about how to have the race conversation with white people, especially during these times. He ends up by explaining the future of his podcast and the stories of new growth he hopes to share. About Boss Locks: About Us — Boss Locks (bosslocksmedia.com) “I See Color” Podcast: #30 More Walt: I See Color (spreaker.com) More about Walter Gainer II: Walt is a young creative whose curiosity and insecurities led him to start a podcast, Boss Locks, that is leading the world to new growth. On his platform, you'll see him speaking to Black leaders with natural hair, from all walks of life, who are redefining professionalism. "My goal is to create a more equitable world where Black people can exist safely and grow their hair naturally without repercussion" -Walter Gainer II
Episode 32: Policing WITH the Community with Guest Tony Godwin, Retired Chief of Cary PD We are excited to welcome Retired Cary PD Chief Tony Godwin to the show this week! He joins us to share his perspective as a white male police officer during this moment, specifically explaining his experience connecting with the Black community by meeting them where they are. He tells us how that came to be - from meeting Tru Pettigrew right after the Michael Brown incident to developing a relationship with him and starting a community conversation series on the 1st Saturday of each month at a barbershop in Cary. The Cary PD continues to hold these "Barbershop Rap Sessions" to this day, even through COVID (virtually). Tony also talks about the importance of communication and helping the community understand how best to use their police department and hold them accountable. He says it’s about engaging in policing WITH the community - by meeting them where they are. Tru Access: More Info Barbershop Rap Sessions: Get Connected More about Tony Godwin: Tony retired in January 2019 as the Chief of Police for the Town of Cary. His 30-year career with the Cary Police Department began as an intern when he was a Senior at NC State University. Following graduation, he began as a patrol officer and went on to work nearly every assignment in the department over the next 3 decades. He also served as the Interim Chief of Police for the Town of Apex in 2020-2021. During his time there he had the opportunity to lead the department through a transition in senior leadership and continue his efforts to bring the community and the police department closer together. Tony served as the Region VII Director for the NC Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, The Chairman of the Carolinas Region for the Atlanta/Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area through the US Drug Enforcement Agency and finally, he was appointed by the Governor of North Carolina as a state commissioner for the Industrial Hemp Commission. During the last 5 years of his career Tony found his passion for building bridges between law enforcement and communities of color, which is the work he continues today through his partnership with Tru Pettigrew at Tru Access. Tony has been married for 22 years to a former law enforcement officer, Shannon, and they have two sons, Wyatt (19) and Colton (10).
Episode 31: “To Be Young, Gifted, & Black” BJ and Drew go solo on the podcast this week! They focus on the Hulu documentary about the Summer of Soul music festival in Harlem in 1969. BJ points out that people at the festival were having the same conversations about police brutality, homelessness, and drugs that we’re having today. There were other similarities between then and now, including the moon landing during the Summer of Soul concert and Bezos going up to space recently (around the same time that the documentary was released on Hulu), both done despite the issues still happening at home. And, this documentary is another example of how the history of Black culture has been hidden – the recordings of this documentary were lost in someone’s basement for 50 years before they were uncovered. BJ’s favorite quote from the documentary was from Stevie Wonder – “I never want my fear to put my dreams to sleep” – and she explains how that relates to the work we’re doing with the community through You & Five-O. Drew also brings up thought-provoking questions about segregation and recommends another great movie on Netflix, called "The Best of Enemies". Learn more about Summer of Soul Nina Simone’s “To Be Young, Gifted, & Black” The Best of Enemies Movie on Netflix
Episode 30: How to Call 911 with Guest Jeryl Anderson We are honored to be joined by Telecommunicator Jeryl Anderson this week to talk about 911 calls, especially as they relate to Black and marginalized communities. She tells us about her experience as a telecommunicator, explaining how they are the true first responders - they are #3 on the list of most stressful jobs. She touches on how to handle the stress of the job, especially with no closure after each call, and the coping mechanisms she utilizes. She discusses the advancements in technology we’ll be seeing for 911 calls - right now you can text 911, soon you’ll be able to send photos and videos - and how to train telecommunicators psychologically to handle that. Jeryl gives a detailed explanation of how to effectively use the 911 system to get help in an emergency - what happens when you call 911 and how to answer their questions to get the best response. She places an emphasis on using non-emergency numbers for things that aren’t “true” emergencies so you don't clog up the lines. Our hosts join in to discuss the situation of a recent 911 Call in Windsor, VA and the adjustments made by the telecommunicator once they heard the word “gun.” Jeryl finishes up by leaving us with an important bit of information: Stay on the line if you don’t mean to call 911 or decide you don’t need it so you can tell them they don’t need to send a police officer. Otherwise, they’ll send one automatically. 911 Call in Windsor, VA Article: Va. Officer Charged in Shooting After Allegedly Mistaking Man's Phone For Gun Video: Sheriff Roger Harris statement on Officer Involved Shooting More about Jeryl Anderson: Jeryl Anderson has been a Telecommunicator for over thirty years. She is currently employed at Orange County Emergency Services, as the Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator. Jeryl has been a certified instructor since the 1990’s and has vast experience in class room presentation to include, but not limited to, curriculum and testing development and on-line course development and implementation. Jeryl is proud to have been at the beginning of the Telecommunicator Certification Course for North Carolina Telecommunicators, during her time as a Criminal Justice Instructor Coordinator with the NC Justice Academy, where for eleven years, she taught, edited, and implemented the curriculum across the state of North Carolina.
Jeryl is an experienced online instructor, conference speaker and event coordinator. Jeryl is an RPL (Registered Professional Leader) and CPE (Certified Public Safety Executive) through National APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Official’s) and an ENP (Emergency Number Professional) through National NENA (National Emergency Number Association). Jeryl serves the APCO Institute by being one of their Adjunct Instructors. She is currently serving on the NC Chapter of APCO’s Board as their Educational Advisory Member.
On a personal note, Jeryl enjoys spending time with her spouse, Kevin Anderson. She is an active member of the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Jeryl is also a dedicated Girl Scout volunteer and serves as a Troop leader and as the Durham Central Service Unit 215, Area 11 Manager for NC Coastal Pines Girl Scout Council.
Episode 29: "They aren't problem children; they're children with problems." with Guest Principal John Williams This week, we are joined by Principal John Williams from Phoenix Academy, an alternative high school in Chapel Hill, where he focuses on the idea that “I don’t have problem children. I have children with problems.” He joins our hosts to discuss how he changed the model of alternative schools, by adjusting the culture of the school, addressing systemic issues facing the kids there, and acting as a trauma-informed school. The core of what he does is based on the philosophy: If you want to be successful in life, spend your life trying to make sure others are successful. He gives details about how the kids come to their school - by referral or choice - and how they work to help them through high school, to be successful in life. Mr. Williams explains that in order to close the achievement gap, you have to be purposeful and it can't be done in isolation - schools can't fix it by themselves, it's a community issue. He says, “A school's success should be measured by the help given to the weakest child in the building.” And he’s created a Resource Allocation Collaboration for Equity Task Force to address these issues. More about John Williams: John A. Williams is the principal of Phoenix Academy High School in Chapel Hill, NC. He is a retired United States Air Force veteran and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Mr. Williams entered into the field of education in 2003. He has been a school administrator for 17 years and a principal for the past 10 years. Prior to entering into the field of education Mr. Williams was Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator for the 14th Judicial Circuit in Panama City, Florida. He left that position and started his private counseling practice. Mr. Williams has worked with both adults and students involved in the criminal justice system. Currently, as the principal of the only alternative school in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system he works with some of the most fragile students in the community. His area of focus is ensuring the students he serves receive the skills necessary to navigate through life in a manner that ensures they are successful. Mr. Williams was voted the winner of the 2017-2018 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Principal of the Year. In 2019 he was recognized and received the Duke Energy Citizenship Service Award and was voted Chapel Hill’s Hometown Hero in 2019 as well. Mr. Williams is married to Nederal and they have three absolutely gorgeous daughters. Phoenix Academy High School: Phoenix Academy High School (chccs.org)
Episode 28: One Year Anniversary We made it to one year with our podcast! We can’t thank you all enough for joining us on this journey and listening to the show. In this week’s episode, our hosts talk about the last year - how they felt it went, what inspired them to join BJ on the podcast, and the guests that they’ve enjoyed. They discuss the growth they’ve seen in YFO over the course of this year and how it has allowed BJ to speak her own truth more, both as a Black female and a retired police officer. They round out the show by talking about what the future looks like for YFO - including community events, new conversations with past guests, and the Alternative to Violence Project - as well as get new ideas from Harmony and Drew. We want to hear from you as well! What do YOU need to feel engaged? What topics do you want to hear more about? What kind of guests do you want to see on the show? Let us know! Feel free to email any feedback or thoughts to youandfiveo@gmail.com. BJ’s Medium Articles: George Floyd: Law Enforcement’s MasterClass | by BJ Council (last year) George Floyd Act II. On April 19, 2021 in Alameda… | by BJ Council (this year) Alternative to Violence Project: AVP North Carolina | Alternatives to Violence Project in North Carolina
Defund Durham Police: The Exercise with Guests Jesse Burwell, Terrence Sembly, & Winslow Forbes Due to current local discussion about reallocation of funds from Durham PD, we've decided to re-release Episode 15 of our podcast - Defund Durham Police: The Exercise. In this episode, our hosts and guests discuss what defunding the police would look like at a local level, by looking at the 2020-2021 approved budget for the Durham Police Department. This discussion will give listeners some insight as to what defunding could look like for DPD, and offer insight on how budget reductions could have an impact on the services the police provide. In the episode, Jesse takes time to break down the budget to explain what each section means and what can or can’t be cut if you had to reduce the budget by ten percent. Terrence, Winslow and BJ then discuss what they would consider cutting from the budget if they were still executives in the police department. They explain how defunding a police department would actually cut the programs and services that communities ask for and need to improve policing. The final decision will, of course, be made by the leaders of the community. But, instead of defunding the police, we suggest increasing funding for other programs that address social issues like homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse. More info about defunding the police & the Durham Police Department: DPD 2020-2021 Approved Budget: The approved budget for Durham PD that our hosts & guests look at and discuss. Defund DPD: The Exercise for You & Five-O: Jesse Burwell’s explanation of the budget and the cuts they discussed making. Durham Beyond Policing: Proposed Task Force for Durham PD to address community safety and wellness concerns that go beyond policing. Boston Police Reform Task Force: The Task Force is composed of community leaders, advocates, members from the legal profession, and members of law enforcement. More info about Jesse Burwell: Jesse Burwell, originally from Morrisville, NC, has lived in Durham for the past 47 years. He graduated from N.C. Central University in 1975 before joining the American Tobacco Company as an accountant and internal auditor. Burwell also worked for the City of Durham’s City/County Planning Department as an accountant in charge of general fund and grants, before joining the Durham Police Department as Accountant III in 1990. He spent 27 years with the DPD before retiring in 2017 as a Non-Sworn Assistant Chief. While with Durham PD, Burwell was responsible for overseeing budget development and budget administration, as well as overseeing the Community Services Division, Training, recruiting, Personnel Services, Planning & Research, Technology, Crime Analysis, Police Records Division, and the Supply Room. More info about Terrence Sembly: Terrence Sembly was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of the Durham Police Department on January 14 and was assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau. Deputy Chief Sembly, who joined the Police Department in 1997 after working for the Duke University and Carrboro police departments, was serving as the Assistant Chief of Patrol Services when he was promoted. Deputy Chief Sembly has served as commander of the Organized Crime Division and District 4. He also served in the Patrol Bureau, GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Unit, the Recruiting Unit and the Professional Standards Division. Deputy Chief Sembly earned his B.A degree from N.C. Central University and earned a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Change from Pfeiffer University. Deputy Chief Sembly is a graduate of Session 66 of the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and the Administrative Officers Management Program from North Carolina State University. More info about Winslow Forbes: Minister Winslow Forbes resides in Durham NC, with his wife and family. He is a man that stands strong in his faith and truly loves God. Winslow is a 1987 graduate of N. C. Central University, with a BA Degree in Public Administration. He graduated from PERF (Police Executive Research Forum), an Executive Management Leadership Course, in 2010. He retired in 2016 from the Durham Police Department, as an Assistant Chief of Police with thirty years of service. Winslow received his Bachelor of Ministry and Master of Divinity from International Bible College; and is currently attending International Bible College to receive his Doctorate of Ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Youth & Young Adults of New Home & Durham Missionary Baptist Association. Winslow founded the D.L. Forbes Youth Foundation in 2002 and currently serves as the Chairman. D.L. Forbes Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on mentoring youth in leadership skills and academic enrichment. Winslow has a passion for helping young people and is a positive advocate for young people who face economic and academic challenges. He continues to speak throughout the communities teaching youth how to be productive citizens. Winslow firmly believes we (the community) can turn youth crime around by working together.
Episode 27: Holistic Education with Guest LaManda Chestnut-Pryor This week we welcome LaManda Chestnut-Pryor to the show to talk about her work as a principal and transformational educator, especially in schools with predominantly Black and Brown students. She tells us about her 22 years in education, which includes a holistic approach to teaching that involves tending to the mind, body, and soul of not just her students, but the entire family. She describes the importance of addressing violence and trauma in our communities, how that affects kids in school, and creates the need to include social and emotional learning in everyday instruction. BJ and LaManda discuss the Makiah Bryant situation and how that again emphasizes how crucial it is for schools to focus on mental health and teach kids how to cope with their feelings and how to react - it starts at a young age and should be taught in schools since some kids don’t learn it at home. LaManda also explains how some schools are so focused on testing that they lose the essence of the kids - her school measures their success in other ways. It is also one of a handful, and the only minority school, participating in Peaceful Schools in North Carolina - a program that works to create a healthy school climate. More about LaManda Chestnut-Pryor: LaManda Chestnut-Pryor thrives as a transformational educator, leader, and children’s advocate serving the North Carolina and New York communities for over 20 years. Her current role as the principal at a charter school in Durham, NC has expanded her expertise as a passionate and innovative leader. Combining her educational background, years of being an administrator and teacher inside of inner city schools with her practical community, family and parental experiences, LaManda has created real life steps to address the disparity in school discipline. She is relentless in her pursuit of establishing a safe, caring and nurturing learning environment that promotes acceptance of the individual and puts the kid’s needs first. By focusing on continuous improvements to the processes of conflict resolutions and developing the child’s self-esteem, LaManda feels that as far as our children’s learning potential is concerned; the best is yet to come. More about Peaceful Schools NC: Peaceful Schools works to support a healthy school climate in which all students can thrive socially and academically; the effects of which will positively impact families, local communities, society, and the world. Peaceful Schools NC
Episode 26: “It's a legal system not a justice system” with Guest Dr. Craig Waleed We are excited to have Dr. Craig Waleed join us on the show this week to discuss his experiences in and out of the justice system, and the impact it had on his life, as well as the book he wrote about it. Before diving in, Dr. Waleed tells us about his background, the community he grew up in and the circumstances that led to him being incarcerated, as well as the path he followed through higher education after getting out. He goes on to discuss ideas for how to address violent behavior in young people - how the community needs to adjust by looking at what trauma has caused that behavior and how to address that. Additionally, Dr. Waleed and BJ discuss what changes need to be made in policing, including adjusting what all police are responsible for as they are asked to do too much, often outside of their training and expertise. To round out the show, Dr. Waleed explains what he thinks a compassionate judicial system could look like, including utilizing education and encouraging incarcerated people to find their path so they can go back to their communities to build them back up.
Twitter: @craigwaleed Book: Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation: Waleed, Dr. Craig: 9798671941111: Amazon.com: Books
In the News: Prison to Promise: How Higher Education Transformed a Life: SUNY Brockport Prison to Promise: A Conversation with Dr. Craig Waleed (Part 1) - Education Reimagined - Education Reimagined (education-reimagined.org)
More about Dr. Waleed: At the age of nineteen, Dr. Waleed was incarcerated for eight years in New York State prisons. During his term of incarceration, Dr. Waleed earned an Associate of Arts degree from Canisius College (Buffalo, New York). Following his release from prison in 1997, Dr. Waleed continued pursuing Higher Education. He eventually earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health Science with a concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling and a Master’s of Science Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport College. In 2017, Dr. Waleed completed a Doctorate of Education degree From St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. His Dissertation focused on What Aspects of Emotional Intelligence Help Former Prisoners Make Decisions to Desist Crime?
Dr. Waleed previously served as a Substance Abuse Counselor and as a Reentry Case Manager for post-incarcerated citizens. He has also engaged with various student bodies on several college campuses in New York State and sat on several community panels exploring carceral matters. Dr. Waleed was also a guest speaker at TEDx SingSing 2020. He also created and facilitated Emotional Intelligence training, has taught Counseling and Communication courses in Higher Education and is the author of his recently released [August 2020] autobiography entitled “Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation.”
Dr. Waleed is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Re-Envisioning Health and Justice Lab at the UNC-CH School of Social Medicine. He is dedicated to excellence in teaching and scholarship, disrupting the community to prison pipeline, and reducing post-incarceration recidivism. He aims to educate and motivate others impacted by the criminal legal system to challenge and overcome life’s impediments and live a more rewarding life.
Episode 25: Unapologetic with Guest DeWarren K. Langley We are grateful to be joined this week by DeWarren K. Langley - Chair of the Civilian Police Review Board for the City of Durham. Before diving in to discuss the board, DeWarren gives us a little background about the work he does with young Black males through his organization, The Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, where he serves as Executive Director. This organization supports young men of color and helps them secure socioeconomic success, while also looking at the systems that affect them and how they can create change on both sides of the issue. DeWarren then explains what the Civilian Police Review Board is, what it looks like for the Durham community, and why it’s important for communities to have one in place. He and BJ go through the complaint process, explaining how it works with the Review Board, and discuss ideas for how to make filing complaints easier for the community. They also talk about how the work that needs to be done regarding policing is a national conversation, but needs to be dealt with and discussed at a local level. Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, Inc. Civilian Police Review Board | Durham, NC More about DeWarren K. Langley: DeWarren K. Langley, JD, MPA, MHFA, is the Chair of the Civilian Police Review Board for the City of Durham. He is responsible for providing the overall leadership & management of the nine-member CPRB in evaluating requests for hearing appeals of complaints submitted by citizens claiming to be aggrieved by the results of an investigation of one or more officers and/or employees of the Police Department conducted by the Professional Standards Division of the Police Department. The Professional Standards Division of the Police Department initially investigates these complaints. If a complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, he or she may file a request for a hearing with the Board. The CPRB’s mandate is to determine whether or not the investigation was conducted in an appropriate manner, specifically, whether the Police Department abused its discretion in how the investigation was conducted.
DeWarren recognizes and respects the bravery and great sacrifice police officers make to ensure the safety of our community He is committed to making sure all complaints regarding police services are thoroughly and impartially investigated and when necessary, make corrective recommendations on police policy and procedure to the City Manager in each case based on well-reasoned evaluations of allegations. DeWarren works to build a sense of trust and confidence in the community that police services in the City of Durham are professional, honest, transparent, and free of bias. He believes citizen confidence in and respect for the Police Department is vital in the Department carrying out it’s mission to minimize crime, promote safety, and enhance the quality of life in partnership with our community.
Under DeWarren’s leadership, the Complaint Form can be completed and submitted online, the most recent general orders, policies and procedures of the Police Department are accessible online, the complainant has 30 days from receipt of the determination letter from the Professional Standards Division of the Police Department to file an appeal with the Board; the Board receives quarterly Performance Review Reports from the Professional Standards Division of the Police Department; the Annual Report of the Board is posted on the City Manager’s website. In addition, the CPRB Procedure Manual was amended to require the Board to host one community forum per year to receive feedback from the public on the Durham Police Department complaint process and community-police relations. He also led the effort to eliminate all criteria that prohibited citizens with felony convictions and convictions of class A1, 1 or 2 misdemeanors for serving on the Board which was approved by the City Council.
DeWarren is also the Visionary & Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, Inc. which is an academic, leadership and professional development 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization which provides a continuum of programs, service, and coaching to educate, engage, empower and equip boys and young men of color with the strategies they need to secure socioeconomic success by transforming academic policies and connecting them with professional opportunities to become high-results leaders in corporations, government, nonprofits and entrepreneurial ventures.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Economics with a minor in Leadership Studies from Hampton University, Juris Doctor with a concentration in Civil Rights & Constitutional Law from North Carolina Central University School of Law, Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Government Administration and Public Policy from North Carolina Central University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. He earned a Certificate in Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Behavioral Health.
DeWarren was first appointed to the CPRB by then-City Manager Thomas Bonfield on October 27, 2009 and reappointed August 29, 2011, June 24, 2015 and September 3, 2019. Prior to being elected Chair, Langley served two one-year terms as Vice Chair.
Episode 24: We R Allies LIVE with Guests Winslow Forbes, Jesse Burwell, & Terrence Sembly Thanks to those of you that joined us for our first live podcast recording! We truly enjoyed your questions, comments, and thoughts throughout the conversation. We were grateful to be joined by retired Durham PD executives Winslow Forbes, Jesse Burwell and Terrence Sembly for our newest series: We R Allies. During the show, our hosts and guests touch on the history of policing and the way Black officers have been treated over the years. Each retired police executive explains what got them into law enforcement and their experience as a Black officer, before discussing the circumstances around the death of George Floyd, and how the system should hold officers more accountable. They also discuss how complaints are handled or investigated within the police department, and the shifts that can be made in addressing those as well as the way officers are trained.
Winslow Forbes' youth organization: D.L. Forbes Youth Foundation North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice
For more resources about community policing, officer involved fatalities, and reimagining the current system, visit the Resources Page of our website.
Episode 23: “They Called Me a Radical”with Guest Glenda Beard
We are excited and humbled to welcome Retired Major Glenda Beard to the show this week! She was the first female investigator, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and major for the Durham City Police Department, as well as BJ’s mentor when she joined the force. We hear about Glenda’s background in the police department as well as her work with juveniles as a middle school teacher, and what she’s doing to work with youth now. She talks about law enforcement, comparing how it was when she was on the force versus now, especially in Black communities, and how officers aren’t connecting with their community anymore. Our hosts join in to discuss how to make the law enforcement and jail systems more compassionate, before Glenda finishes the show by dropping some wisdom about what she learned by living through 2020.
Episode 22: The Team’s Back Together! We’re thrilled to have our third host, Drew, back on the show this week! Listen in as we catch up with him and hear about his new internship before diving into a variety of topics regarding the Black community interacting with law enforcement. Our hosts discuss a recent interaction the Fuquay-Varina police had with Malcolm Ziglar, a young Black male that was detained for purchasing a stolen dirt bike, while letting his young white male companion leave the scene. They look at the difference in how the two young men were treated, while also pointing out the positive - the officer’s supervisor corrected him at the scene and the family filed a complaint after the interaction. Two important steps in changing these kinds of interactions. Our hosts continue on to talk about the history of why Black police officers are seen as the enemy by the Black community; including Jim Crow laws and the way the police were in charge of enforcing those kinds of societal norms. Our hosts end the show by discussing personal interactions with police, and how they appreciate the hard (and sometimes traumatizing) work police officers do while also pointing out the improvements that still need to be made in the system.
Episode 21: with Guests Dr. Ralph Barrett & Dr. Russell Robinson from NCCU
We’re excited to welcome two professors from North Carolina Central University to our show this week - Dr. Ralph Barrett & Dr. Russell Robinson. Join our hosts as they hear about the professors’ backgrounds before jumping in to discuss a wide range of topics facing students and the Black community. They start with protests around the Black Lives Matter movement - both in the nation and what they see their role is in helping students on the NCCU campus. They discuss the mishandling of the capital insurrection and the comparison between Black and white “protests” in the media and the terms used for each. The professors also bring up the importance of voting, and the effect Black voters can have on elections; as well as the way youth, especially young men of color, react to the police differently when in a group versus on their own. They end by discussing how essential it is to break the cycle of psychological trauma and abuse in the Black culture, and to focus on self care and mental health. More about Dr. Barrett: Ralph G. Barrett is Assistant Professor of Music at North Carolina Central University. A native of the Philadelphia, PA area, Dr. Barrett holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from The University of South Carolina, a Master of Music in conducting from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Millersville University, Millersville, PA. Dr. Barrett is a retired U.S. Navy Musician and Band Officer, and a veteran of 28 years of enlisted and officer service. Dr. Barrett's performing and recording credits include; principal percussionist and tympanist with Gateways Festival Orchestra and Colour of Music Orchestra; the Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Honolulu Symphony Orchestra; Natalie Cole, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Jim Nabors; and The Washington Winds. He has guest conducted instrumental ensembles nationally, and has been a featured adjudicator for North American Music Festivals. Dr. Barrett's military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda music honors society, and was elected to the Upper Moreland High School, Willow Grove, PA, Alumni Hall of Fame. He has been an active lay leader with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Prior to arriving at NCCU, Dr. Barrett served as an adjunct professor of music at Benedict College, Columbia, SC More about Dr. Robinson: Dr. W. Russell Robinson is an assistant professor in the Media Studies curriculum housed in the Department of Mass Communication. His teaching interests include mass media and popular culture, gender and sexuality, Black masculinity, critical race theory, new media, media advocacy, and the politics of media representation. Dr. Robinson served as the chair of the NCCU Faculty Senate from 2018-2020. Additionally, Dr. Robinson currently serves as the parliamentarian for the University Of North Carolina Faculty Assembly for the 2020-2021 academic year. Dr. Robinson's research concentrates on intersectionality, specifically along the lines of race, gender, class and media representation. His current research examines hash tag activism and has generated a book chapter (co-author), The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: The American Civil Rights Movement Goes Online in From Tahir Square to Ferguson: Social Networks as Facilitators of Social Justice Movements (Peter Lang Publishing, 2018). Additionally Dr. Robinson is the co-editor of a special Howard Journal of Communications Prince in/as Blackness: Explorations of a music icon and racial politics (2019). Additionally he has presented papers nationally and internationally. Further, Dr. Robinson is a Digital Humanities Fellow, a collaboration between NCCU and the Franklin Humanities Institute of Duke University. From this involvement, he has a forthcoming book chapter which looks at DH from the HBCU perspective. In the Digital Humanities space, Dr. Robinson was invited co-facilitate an international workshop at the Lahore University of Management Sciences which was sponsored by the American Institute of Pakistani Studies in 2019. Further, Dr. Robinson serves as the founding faculty member of the Intellectual Soul Food Lunch Buffet, a student run classroom project/podcast that probes issues of African American popular culture while promoting student media entrepreneurship by way of new media. Dr. Robinson often is sought locally for his professional opinion on matters of social media, Black masculinity and popular culture. He has appeared in The Durham Herald Sun, Ebony, Al Jazeera English, Diverse Issues in Higher Education and The Wall Street Journal.
Episode 20: Say it: I AM Brilliant! with Guests Shemekka Ebony & Michael Stewart-Isaacs We are so excited to welcome two inspiring guests to our show this week: Shemekka Ebony and Michael Stewart-Isaacs. They explain their backgrounds and work as community activists, public speakers and parents, before discussing their #IAmBrilliant program and the impact that it has on the people it reaches; this program works to validate each person and their gifts to help them ignite their spark. We also learn about their work in community engagement, including their journey with the Asheville Public Safety project. They discuss how community engagement relates to law enforcement and changing the systems in place; explaining how “change comes at the speed of trust.” Shemekka and Michael's gifts allow them to meet humans wherever they are. It is at that moment that they pour positive energy into a tired soul. They validate your Brilliance, so you can see your gifts. Website: I Am Brilliant More about Shemekka Ebony: Inspirational, Gracious, Natural Born Leader and Dedicated. These are a few of the words that come to mind when you are in the presence of women and children advocate, community activist and public speaker Shemekka Ebony. As a highly sought after influencer in community engagement, Shemekka has been engaging and inspiring business owners, non-profits, and community leaders from all segments of the world for over two decades. Growing up in poverty in a small town in Kinston, NC where the crime rate is high, unsolved murder rate is high and the education scores are low would be a deterrent for so many; yet, Shemekka used what many deem a glass half empty childhood as an avenue to empower others and restore love into their community. Being the first to go away to college in her family was one of the most impactful catalysts that spearheaded her desire to connect, engage and inspire those whose voices are often left on the backburner. As a community outreach organizer and program developer Shemekka understands that there is no single approach in gauging the needs of those who want to develop a system of impactful wins in their respective communities. Her calling to “Speak for those who can’t speak for themselves” is manifested by the plethora of platforms she anchors today such as her ongoing work with 100 Million Healthier Lives, the North Carolina Black Women’s Roundtable, her radio platform Sunday Stacks, and her captivating work as the director of #IAmBrilliant which has made its way to NBC’s TODAY Show. Shemekka’s transparency is as engaging as it is effective in changing the hearts and minds of those within an earshot. With her relatable universal message of inclusion and team building, she breaks down barriers that stifle progress by digging deep into commonalities that tend to be overlooked. More about Michael Stewart-Isaacs: Michael is a collaborative influencer who knows how to speak to the heart of an audience and he enables people to tap into higher levels of leadership. He continues to give his story in order to inspire and help others just as people have helped him in life. Raised by the Diamond of Sierra Leone, his mother, who instilled in him a sense of artistic passion and his Jamaican father who instilled pride and dignity, Michael lives up to the standards by which they raised him. Michael invites everyone around him to incorporate those same values in their family, company, and community. With his confidence and all-embracing energy, Michael has an ability to charge the atmosphere whether it be in the streets, classroom, or the boardroom. A prime example of leadership in action, Michael has been involved in the world of entrepreneurship for over two decades. His appeal is limitless and breaks the boundaries of all professions, ages, and cultures. Facing troubled beginnings in New York, it was the echo of his grandmother’s teaching of Luke 14:11 that recalibrated the way he used his gifts to serve the world. At the young age of thirteen, Michael’s keen understanding about the lack of economic development within his community set in motion the concept for his very first company MOSAYK, which was featured in Black Enterprise. Leveraging his experience as a serial entrepreneur and his belief in his own Motivation, Success, and Knowledge, Michael developed innovative programs to instruct others in becoming masters of their own fate as well. He continues challenging today’s leaders to be lifelong business achievers providing signature training programs, motivational speeches, and coaching. The culmination of his mission has resulted in the co-founding of the #IAMBRILLIANT campaign which has been featured on NBC’s TODAY Show. This campaign has traveled the country helping citizens identify their skills and applying it to better their communities. Michael continues to challenge his audiences by motivating them to see their brilliance within and spread it abroad.
Read more about Shemekka & Michael here.
Episode 19: We R Allies with Guests Jesse Burwell & Winslow Forbes To begin our new series - We R Allies - we welcome back retired Durham Police Executives Jesse Burwell and Winslow Forbes. They join our hosts to discuss the “defunding the police” episode we recorded with them, and any feedback they received after it was released; as well as other topics including the capitol police incident at the beginning of January and the release of the audio/interview with Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. The series title counters the belief that Black officers are often not seen as allies in Black communities. We R Allies is our way of saying we see our community, we know our community and we are the community. We will discuss various topics and offer perspectives through the lens of Black officers. Join us for our LIVE show on Facebook on Tuesday, March 30th at 7 p.m.!
We’re excited to welcome you back to our You & Five-O Podcast for 2021! Our hosts, BJ and Harmony, catch up since our last recording and talk about how 2021 is going so far. They discuss our goals for the podcast this year, including topics like police reform, being both Black and a police officer, as well as the defunding the police narrative. They encourage our listeners to be open to these tough conversations and find a way to approach it from a place of love. They also briefly discuss the events at the Capital earlier in the month, as well as the idea of policing and the way the system could be reformed; which includes approaching policing from a place of compassion and humanity; ideally dictated by the community and their needs.
Episode 17: Team Five-O - Recap of 2020 Our last podcast of the year! Our You & Five-O team gets together to recap this past year of recording podcasts, and discuss what they’ve learned and enjoyed from this experience. After our hosts talk together, they bring in the other two members of You & Five-O’s team that work behind the scenes: Chris Downey, our podcast producer, and Abby Bradetich, our digital marketing consultant, to talk about their experience working with BJ and the other hosts. We hope you enjoy our last podcast of the year and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
Episode 16: Real Talk - “Y’all Don’t Wanna Hear This!” with Guests Quillie Coath & Martina "Coach D" Dunford We’re excited to welcome our last guests of the year to the show this week! Martina “Coach D” Dunford and Quillie Coath join us to discuss trauma informed community building and their work with disenfranchised kids and families in our community. After meeting our guests and learning about their backgrounds, they discuss ideas for how things could change to help law enforcement and communities work together; not to defund the police, but to increase social services and improve their relationship within the community. Our guests also touch on their new project, Parents Matter, that addresses the issues of generational trauma that affect the kids in our community, and how to break that cycle, starting with the parents. Among other issues, they touch on the importance of addressing mental health in kids and parents, as well as ideas for how to reform the community while simultaneously reforming law enforcement. PROUD Program: Quillie’s nonprofit organization Parents Matter: more information coming soon for the launch in 2021! We also added an extra section to the end of this episode so BJ could discuss a recent incident involving police use of force on a young Black male in Texas on Nov. 5th. Since You & Five-O emphasizes Comply Then Complain and the importance of getting home safely, BJ felt the need to address the actions of this teen’s instinct to run, as well as the police’s handling of the situation. She shares her opinion about what happened, as well as suggestions for how others can avoid situations like that and increase the chance of everyone getting home. KENS 5 News Video More info about Quillie Coath: Quillie Coath, Jr. was born in Kansas, the fourth of four boys to a Military Father. He grew up and got his education in South Carolina before attending college at St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC. While there, he received a BS in Criminal Justice in 1991, and was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He started working in the field while at St. Augustine with the Partners Mentor Program in Raleigh as a volunteer mentor. After graduation, he was employed at Haven House Inc. He also worked at Wrenn House (a runaway crisis shelter for youth) as a counselor. While at Wrenn House he was trained in Reality Therapy by Mrs. E. Perry Goode and Dr. William Glasser. During his professional career Quillie has worked for Family Services of Raleigh as a Domestic Violence Counselor and court screener, The Durham Service Corp, a work-education program for young people 18-21 as an Intake Counselor, and ReEntry Juvenile Restitutions program as the Life Skills Coordinator. In January 1996, he returned to Durham to help start The Durham PROUD Program where he is currently The ED to this very day. More info about Martina “Coach D” Dunford: Coach D grew up in Virginia Beach, before moving to Durham in 1991 to attend college at Norfolk State University, where she received a degree in Health and Physical Education. Although she intended to return to Virginia Beach after graduation, she stuck around Durham and has been here for 24 years. Coach D holds two Masters from North Carolina Central University - in Family and Childhood Development, and in Adaptive Physical Education for Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities. In 1996, she created New Horizons Character and Leadership Academy, serving long term and 365 day suspended students who were not allowed on any of Durham Public Schools property. She served the gang affiliated students, suspended students, court involved students, and more in a one room building called the REC in Few Gardens Housing Development. From the time the doors opened until it's recent closure for lack of support, the number of young people assigned and/or requested to enroll increased 100% every year. In addition to creating New Horizons, some of Coach D’s accolades include Spectacular Woman of the Year, Women Leading from the Heart, Campaign for Change Lifetime Mentor Award, Faith Assembly Christian Church Woman of the Year, and the Ebonette Club, Inc. Making a Difference Award. For 24 years, she has served some of Durham’s most disenfranchised youth and families. She has been able to move many from a life of despair to a life of hope, and opportunity, with the philosophy "We can't fix the outer; until we fix the broken inner".
Episode 15: Defund Durham Police: The Exercise with Guests Jesse Burwell, Terrence Sembly, & Winslow Forbes We are excited to welcome three guests to the show today – Jesse Burwell, Terrence Sembly, and Winslow Forbes, all retired executives from the Durham Police Department. After meeting each guest and learning their backgrounds, our hosts work with them to discuss what defunding the police would look like at a local level, by looking at the 2020-2021 approved budget for the Durham Police Department. Jesse takes time to break down the budget to explain what each section means and what can or can’t be cut if you had to reduce the budget by ten percent. Terrence, Winslow and BJ then discuss what they would consider cutting from the budget if they were still executives in the police department. They explain how defunding a police department would actually cut the programs and services that communities ask for and need to improve policing. Instead of defunding the police, we suggest increasing funding for other programs that address social issues like homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse. More info about defunding the police & the Durham Police Department: DPD 2020-2021 Approved Budget: The approved budget for Durham PD that our hosts & guests look at and discuss. Defund DPD: The Exercise for You & Five-O: Jesse Burwell’s explanation of the budget and the cuts they discuss making in this episode. Durham Beyond Policing: Proposed Task Force for Durham PD to address community safety and wellness concerns that go beyond policing. Boston Police Reform Task Force: The Task Force is composed of community leaders, advocates, members from the legal profession, and members of law enforcement. More info about Jesse Burwell: Jesse Burwell, originally from Morrisville, NC, has lived in Durham for the past 47 years. He graduated from N.C. Central University in 1975 before joining the American Tobacco Company as an accountant and internal auditor. Burwell also worked for the City of Durham’s City/County Planning Department as an accountant in charge of general fund and grants, before joining the Durham Police Department as Accountant III in 1990. He spent 27 years with the DPD before retiring in 2017 as a Non-Sworn Assistant Chief. While with Durham PD, Burwell was responsible for overseeing budget development and budget administration, as well as overseeing the Community Services Division, Training, recruiting, Personnel Services, Planning & Research, Technology, Crime Analysis, Police Records Division, and the Supply Room. More info about Terrence Sembly: Terrence Sembly was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of the Durham Police Department on January 14 and was assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau. Deputy Chief Sembly, who joined the Police Department in 1997 after working for the Duke University and Carrboro police departments, was serving as the Assistant Chief of Patrol Services when he was promoted. Deputy Chief Sembly has served as commander of the Organized Crime Division and District 4. He also served in the Patrol Bureau, GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Unit, the Recruiting Unit and the Professional Standards Division. Deputy Chief Sembly earned his B.A degree from N.C. Central University and earned a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Change from Pfeiffer University. Deputy Chief Sembly is a graduate of Session 66 of the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and the Administrative Officers Management Program from North Carolina State University. More info about Winslow Forbes: Minister Winslow Forbes resides in Durham NC, with his wife and family. He is a man that stands strong in his faith and truly loves God. Winslow is a 1987 graduate of N. C. Central University, with a BA Degree in Public Administration. He graduated from PERF (Police Executive Research Forum), an Executive Management Leadership Course, in 2010. He retired in 2016 from the Durham Police Department, as an Assistant Chief of Police with thirty years of service. Winslow received his Bachelor of Ministry and Master of Divinity from International Bible College; and is currently attending International Bible College to receive his Doctorate of Ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Youth & Young Adults of New Home & Durham Missionary Baptist Association. Winslow founded the D.L. Forbes Youth Foundation in 2002 and currently serves as the Chairman. D.L. Forbes Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on mentoring youth in leadership skills and academic enrichment. Winslow has a passion for helping young people and is a positive advocate for young people who face economic and academic challenges. He continues to speak throughout the communities teaching youth how to be productive citizens. Winslow firmly believes we (the community) can turn youth crime around by working together.
Episode 14: Police Uses of Force with Guest Seth Stoughton We are thrilled to have Seth Stoughton join us on the show this week! As an author, Assoc. Professor at the University of South Carolina of Law, and former police officer, Seth gives us a little background on his life and experience before jumping in to discuss his book Evaluating Police Uses of Force and the concepts in it. Our hosts ask questions and talk with Seth about changes that could be made to improve policing and the systems that impact it. They discuss the way policing and use of force is perceived by communities, the laws that govern them, and how that affects the decisions made in this country. Seth also offers options for what people can do to make changes in their own community regarding these issues - vote, attend meetings, write letters to people in charge, and connect with your neighbors. Seth & his co-authors’ Book: Evaluating Police Uses of Force Articles from The Atlantic: Seth is a regular contributor to The Atlantic, with a multitude of interesting articles to read (check them out here). The two that most relate to what we discussed on the show are: How to Actually Fix America’s Police Why Police Need Criticism More info about Seth Stoughton: Seth Stoughton is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he is affiliated with the Rule of Law Collaborative. He studies policing and how it is regulated, and his scholarship has appeared in the Minnesota Law Review, the North Carolina Law Review, the Virginia Law Review, and other top journals. He has written multiple book chapters and is the principal co-author of Evaluating Police Uses of Force (forthcoming from NYU Press in spring 2020). He is a frequent lecturer on policing issues, regularly appears on national and international media, and has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, TIME, and other news publications. He teaches Police Law & Policy, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, and the Regulation of Vice. Seth served as an officer with the Tallahassee Police Department for five years. In that time, he trained other officers, helped write policies to govern the use of new technologies, earned multiple instructor and operator certifications, and taught personal safety and self-defense courses in the community. In 2004, he received a Formal Achievement Award for his role as a founding member of the Special Response Team. After leaving the police department, Seth spent three years as an Investigator in the Florida Department of Education's Office of Inspector General, where he handled a variety of criminal and administrative investigations. In 2008, he received a statewide award for his work combating private school tuition voucher fraud. Seth earned his B.A. in English from Florida State University. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was an Articles Editor on the Virginia Law Review, an Elsie Hughes Cabell Scholar, and the recipient of the Thomas Marshall Miller Prize. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Kenneth F. Ripple of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Prior to joining the faculty at South Carolina, Seth was a Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he taught legal writing and a Regulation of Vice seminar.
Episode 13: “Slavery By Another Name” with Guest Dr. Charles Johnson We are grateful to welcome Dr. Charles Johnson to our show this week! He is the Director of the Public History Program at NCCU and provided our hosts with the Slave Patrols information used in our very first podcast episode. We are excited to have him join us to discuss convict leasing and the peonage system. Dr. Johnson tells us its history from slavery through the Civil War and 80 years after the war ended, specifically focusing on the Deep South. He explains the development of the peonage system, the conditions for people within it, and how it’s considered “slavery by another name.” Our hosts join in to discuss how this other form of slavery has affected the view of African Americans, how they are treated within the criminal system, and how it has impacted the psychology of the culture in this country. Black Psychologists & Psychiatrists that Dr. Johnson mentioned reading more about: Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Na’im Akbar, Dr. Thomas Parham, Dr. Amos Wilson, Reginald Jones, Dr. Jonathan Livingston More info about Charles Denton “Chaz” Johnson: Charles Denton Johnson is an oral historian, digital humanist, and raconteur who studies 20th Century African American and Global African Diaspora History. He is an Assistant Professor of History and the Director of the Public History Program at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Dr. Johnson earned his Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, his Master of Arts from North Carolina Central University, and his Ph.D. from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He has co-authored a book on African Diaspora History (2016) and written several book chapters on the Black experience. He has given lectures, presentations and held fireside chats on three continents. Dr. Johnson’s research interests include Blacks in Durham, Blacks in Chatham County, North Carolina, and a biography of his father Charles Johnson, MD, a former fighter pilot and pioneer physician at Duke Hospital. In collaboration with colleagues and community historians, he is developing exhibits on Blacks in Agriculture in North Carolina for the North Carolina Museum of History and the football rivalry between North Carolina Central University and North Carolina A&T State University for the Museum of Durham History. He holds leadership positions and membership in several organizations. He is on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Durham History and sits on its Exhibits Committee. He is a member of the Friends of Geer Cemetery, and he is the official Community Historian for the Emorywood community. He is the current Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate (2020-2022). He has previously held faculty positions at Lane College in Jackson, TN and Howard University in Washington, DC. At Howard, he directed the South African Research and Archival Project (SARAP), a digital humanities archival and research project on African American and South African relations. He is a Prince Hall Mason and a member of the Durham (NC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Johnson was born and raised in Durham and educated in the Durham Public School System. He is married to the former LaShonda Davis of Hodge, LA, and they have a son Xavier, who is in high school in Durham. His parents are Charles Johnson, MD and the Hon. Carolyn Denton Johnson, a former District Court Judge in Durham, now deceased. His sister Carla Johnson is retired and lives in Virginia. She has a daughter Christina Landrum who is in graduate school in Texas.
Episode 12: Durham C.A.N. with Guests Tinu Diver & Tim Conder We are excited to have two guests on the show today from Durham Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods (locally known as Durham CAN). Tinu Diver and Reverend Tim Conder join our hosts to discuss the work they do with CAN to help our local community with housing, criminal justice, and broad-based organizing. They talk about the importance of relational meetings to build connections, trust and relational power; as well as ideas for how to best get our communities to organize around getting the policing culture they want in their community. Durham CAN’s website: www.durhamcan.org We also added an extra section to the end of this episode so our hosts BJ and Drew can share their thoughts on the Breonna Taylor verdict that was announced last week. They discuss their hopes for police reform and accountability that will hopefully come as a way to honor Breonna’s life. Article from The Marshall Project about the legal reasoning behind the Breonna Taylor Verdict: www.themarshallproject.org/2020/08/08/why-it-s-not-so-simple-to-arrest-the-cops-who-shot-breonna-taylor More info about Atinuke "Tinu" Akintola Diver: Grounded in the spirit of Charles Hamilton Houston’s adage that a lawyer is either a social engineer or a social parasite, Atinuke “Tinu” Akintola Diver grounds her creative, legal, and community practices in ways that seek to build and regenerate, rather than to purely extract and exploit. A first-generation American and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Tinu was born in Boston, Massachusetts, raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland and currently resides with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the Creative Writing Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earned her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law, a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, and a Certificate in Documentary Arts from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Tinu serves as Lead Organizer and Executive Director of Durham CAN and a documentarian working on a number of film and audio projects. More info about Tim Conder: Tim Conder is the founding pastor of Emmaus Way, an activist and progressive faith community in Durham, NC. He has been organizing with Durham CAN for over 15 years and currently serves as the co-Chair of the Strategy Team. Tim has a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of North Carolina. His research includes an ethnography of the Moral Movement in NC and he writes on the key differences between social movement/protest based organizing and the broad based organizing, social justice pedagogies, and critical whiteness. Tim was a co-founder of EmergentVillage and is currently a co-founder of the Black Mountain School Theology & Community. He is the author of three trade books including Organizing Church and the co-editor/author of an academic book, Mentoring Students of Color: Naming the Politics of Race, Social Class, Gender, and Power.
Episode 11: The Rest of the Story - Breonna Taylor In our latest episode, we start a new series of discussions called “The Rest of the Story,” based on what the media doesn’t tell you about important cases in the Black Lives Matter movement, especially once they leave the news spotlight. We chose to start with Breonna Taylor since it is close to the hearts of so many and has yet to be resolved. Harmony gives us more information about Breonna’s life and history before going through the timeline of the night that she died. Our hosts discuss these events and the importance of accountability in policing. We want to encourage our listeners to work with their local police departments and community stakeholders to create a police department that supports and reflects the culture and philosophy of their local communities. Please reach out to You & Five-O if you have any questions. We are here to help: youandfiveo@gmail.com. News & Informational Resources about Breonna Taylor: WDRB 9 News Spring Valley Funeral - Obituary for Breonna Taylor ABC News Courier Journal Daily Mail New York Times Cornell Law - No Knock Warrant
Episode 10: Mental Health with guest Brionna Harpe We are excited to have a mental health clinician as our guest on the show today - Brionna Harpe. She works with underinsured and uninsured populations in Greensboro, NC, with a focus on those dealing with substance abuse. Our hosts talk with her about mental health and addressing trauma in the Black community during this time. Bri promotes mindfulness and reducing the stigma around seeking help for mental health. She explains how normalizing the conversation about trauma can help people, especially in the Black community, seek counseling more often. More About Bri: Brionna Harpe is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate who works at a community mental health agency providing individual and group therapy. Brionna graduated with her Master of Social Work Degree from the Joint Master of Social Work Program (JMSW) in May of 2019 and currently resides in Greensboro, NC. Contact Info: brionna.harpe@outlook.com
Episode 9: Comply Then Complain You & Five-O’s mantra is “comply then complain” - our hosts explain what that means and how YFO works to share this through its presentations. BJ explains her work with young Black and brown males, and how she struggles with their desire to still run/not comply with police, even after learning about the potential outcome. Our hosts discuss this from their generational stand points and personal experiences. They also talk about the importance of filing complaints in the police department, and explain how that works within the agency. We at You & Five-O are here to help! If you have questions about filing a complaint, or don’t know if you should file one, we are happy to answer any questions and help you find where to start. Contact us at youandfiveo@gmail.com.
Episode 8: How Do WE “Wear the Mask”? Part 2 - Interactions with Police In this episode, our hosts return to the discussion from episode 6 about How Do WE “Wear the Mask” and how it relates to law enforcement, based on Maya Angelou’s poem “We Wear the Mask”. They take time to discuss their personal experiences with law enforcement, including BJ’s experience with non-compliance from civilians as a police officer. They also talk about a recent video released of an incident with a Virginia State Trooper from 2019, and the two sides of that situation. Toward the end, our hosts again discuss mental health and the importance of seeking help when needed, especially during these unprecedented times, and we’ve included those links again below. Listen to Maya Angelou’s poem “We Wear the Mask”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLol9InMlc Below are links to the Mental Health resources we included in Episode 4 and mentioned again here: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rorgjdvphek Suicide Helpline: 1-800-273-8255 Open Path: reduced cost therapy for uninsured/underinsured people - https://www.openpath.com/ Harmony’s blog - www.followingharmony.com VA State Trooper stops Black driver: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-troopers-conduct-in-stop-of-black-driver-on-beltway-is-under-investigation/2362938/ More info on VA State Trooper Incident: https://dailycaller.com/2020/07/17/officials-investigating-video-altercation-between-virginia-state-trooper-black-motorist-charles-hewitt/
Episode 7: Facing This Moment As A Bi-Racial Couple We have two new guests on the show today - Leslie and Mayowa Alabi, a bi-racial couple from BJ’s neighborhood. They join us to discuss what it’s like to be a bi-racial couple during this movement, as well as the effect it’s had on their thirteen year-old daughter, and how they handle addressing race as a family. Our hosts also take a little time to touch back on the idea of defunding the police with our guests to see how they view it. We are thankful Leslie & Mayowa could join us for the show and share their experience with our listeners. More info about Leslie & Mayowa: Leslie and Mayowa are Durham residents who met as students at the University of Virginia over twenty-five years ago. Leslie grew up in New Jersey and Mayowa in Nigeria. For the last seventeen years, Durham has been home, and it is where they have raised their child. Mayowa is an architect and Leslie's professional background includes program development in the non-profit, higher education and healthcare sectors. They are both advocates of the diversity and community orientation that they believe to be an intrinsic aspect of Durham's character. With a critical view towards communal cohesion, they believe in a Durham that should strive towards - and advocate for - social and economic equity.
Episode 6: How do WE “Wear the Mask”? After the recent loss of two important icons - C.T. Vivian and John Lewis - our hosts take the discussion of this current movement to a personal level. As a Boomer, Millennial, and Gen Z, they explain how they see their role in this moment through their generational upbringing lens, including how they were raised, their values, their life journeys, and more. We share Maya Angelou’s full poem “We Wear the Mask” at the beginning of the episode to set the tone for this discussion, before our hosts take time to talk about what it’s like for them to “wear the mask” personally and as a community. Listen to Maya Angelou’s poem “We Wear the Mask”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLol9InMlc
Episode 5: “Who You Callin’ Uncle Tom?” with Guest Kerry Watson We are excited to welcome our second guest to the show – retired Prince George County Police Officer, Kerry Watson. After our hosts discuss recent events, Kerry dives into explaining his journey becoming a police officer, and what it was like to be considered Uncle Tom by his own community. Kerry and BJ talk about their experiences in having to navigate being both Black and blue, and give ideas for how to move forward with these communities. We are grateful Kerry could join us to share a different perspective of what it's like to be a Black police officer. You can ready Kerry’s article on Medium here: https://medium.com/@krwatsonphotography/black-blue-bcd08fafacfe More info about Kerry: Kerry is a retired 20-year veteran of the Prince George’s County Police Department, where he served in several roles, including K9 handler, six years as an instructor in the agency’s Advanced Officer Training Section, and Vice-President of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89. He was a well-respected and highly-decorated officer including the 2002 Police Chiefs’ Association of Prince George’s County’s, “Prince George’s County Police Officer of the Year” award. Beginning in 2010, Kerry served Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker in roles including, Senior Advisor for Public Safety, Council Liaison and Liaison to Organized Labor, where he assisted in the development of polices for public safety, economic development, and labor relations. Since leaving the Baker Administration, Kerry has worked in the field of government affairs for Fortune 500 companies in states across the Northeast Region. Kerry also serves on a number of non-profit boards and commissions in Maryland. He is currently chair of the Employ Prince George’s Board of Directors, Vice-Chair of the MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Board, a member of the Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation Board, to name a few. Kerry was raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and is a proud graduate of Largo High School. Kerry holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland, University College. Kerry is a married father of two lovely children. His daughter Sydney who plays lacrosse for the University of Connecticut and his son Corey who plays lacrosse at Stevenson University. Kerry is also a photographer, specializing in travel photography and portraiture.
Episode 4: #DefundThePolice In this episode, our hosts address the concept of #DefundThePolice, what that means, and what it would look like for our future. They also take some time to dive more into the background and personal experiences of You & Five-O’s founder, BJ Council, specifically focusing on her police experience and inspiration to start You & Five-O. As mentioned at the start of the podcast, we want to share mental health resources for anyone needing help during these trying times. Below are links to the resources Harmony listed: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rorgjdvphek Suicide Helpline: 1-800-273-8255 Open Path: reduced cost therapy for uninsured/underinsured people - www.openpath.com/ Harmony’s Blog - www.followingharmony.com
We are excited to welcome our first guest on the show for this third episode – retired Police Chief for the Durham PD, Steven Chalmers. He talks with our hosts about what it was like to be a black police officer in Durham and getting to work with the first black officers of the police department who laid the groundwork for him and other black officers after him. He also touches on his time as Police Chief and incorporating community policing into the department, as well as what the future of this current civil rights movement looks like, saying it requires not just a reforming of law enforcement, but a transforming of law enforcement. Listen in to hear more!
In this second episode, our hosts discuss if this is the Civil Rights Movement for the younger generation (Millennials & Generation Z), in regards to protests, how to support the Black Lives Matter movement, and what it looks like moving forward. Each host also takes a little time to explain their first encounter with racism directed at them at a young age. We want to say another special thanks to Dr. Charles Johnson from NCCU for providing us with reading materials and historical information for these episodes! The image of the protestor that BJ mentioned in this episode can be found here. And the video of Kimberly Jones explaining “How Can We Win” using a fixed game of Monopoly reference can be found here.
Announcing You & Five-O's new podcast, with hosts BJ Council (Owner/Founder of You & Five-O), Harmony Chavis, and Drew Council. With this podcast, we aim to discuss current events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, while connecting back to You & Five-O's mission to educate people on safe and lawful interactions with law enforcement. In this first episode, you'll meet the hosts and hear a little about what brings them to our podcast. Then we dive into discussing current events and take a look at historical information surrounding the roots of policing, and how it relates to slave patrols. Special thanks to Dr. Charles Johnson from NCCU for providing us with reading materials for our first podcast episode! All three articles are available on our Google Drive, here! The two encyclopedia entries are from The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Volume 10: Law and Politics; Book Editors: JAMES W. ELY JR. and BRADLEY G. BOND Published by: University of North Carolina Press Slave Codes Chapter was written by John R. Wunder; Slave Patrols Chapter was written by Sally Hadden. The article Slave Patrols, “Packs of Negro Dogs” and Policing Black Communities was written by Larry H. Spruill; Source: Phylon (1960-) , Vol. 53, No. 1 (Summer 2016), pp. 42-66; Published by Clark Atlanta University. Another great book to check out on this subject is Slave Patrols written by Sally Hadden.