The Broad Cast

On the latest episode of The Broad Cast, hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek sit down with Kelly Powers Baria, Executive Vice President of Powers & Sons Construction and a leader of Lakeside Alliance, the joint venture that built the newly-opened Obama Presidential Center. Kelly shares how her father sparked the idea for a Black-led construction partnership in 2016, ultimately forming a first of its kind 51/49 minority-led joint venture with Turner Construction. Looking back on nearly a decade of work, Kelly talks about what went into ensuring the project reflected Chicago's diverse communities and her own path as a woman of color in a male-dominated industry — plus the powerful moment when she sat between her father and daughter at the OPC dedication ceremony, representing three generations of Powers celebrating this historic opening.

Precious Brady-Davis is a lifelong social justice advocate and environmentalist. She currently serves as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Cook County, and on March 19, she’ll be the first Black trans woman ever elected to Cook County office. Precious also released a memoir, “I Have Always Been Me,” in 2021, exploring her Midwestern upbringing and finding identity and community in Chicago. She joins The Broad Cast to discuss her environmental advocacy, how she and her husband made Illinois history when their first child was born — and more! _______________________________________________________________________ Keep up with The Broad Cast on socials: Instagram: @cstrategieschi Twitter: @cstrategieschi Facebook: C-Strategies Inc. LinkedIn: C-Strategies Inc.

Chicago artist and creator of the Folded Map Project Tonika Lewis Johnson joins hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek on this episode of The Broad Cast! In Part 1, she discusses her work, from the origins of The Folded Map Project to newer works addressing social inequities in Chicago, and how art can be used to move the needle on social justice movements. Subscribe to The Broad Cast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Soundcloud. Keep up with us on socials: Instagram: @CStrategiesChi Twitter: @CStrategiesChi Facebook: C-Strategies Inc. LinkedIn: C-Strategies Inc.

According to CDC data, 1 in 4 American adults lives with a disability. However, many of our systems that are set up — from health care to education to wages and more — fall far short of meeting their needs. On this episode of The Broad Cast, Access Living President and CEO Karen Tamley joins co-hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek for a conversation about creating an equitable world for those living with disabilities, and how the disability community continues to become more inclusive of those with neurodiverse conditions. Plus, Becky shares her own experiences taking care of her mother who had a disability and raising her daughter who has a rare disease and is on the autism spectrum.

Experts agree: mental health in the U.S. has reached a crisis point. We’ve seen reports over the last year showing that our young adults, teenage girls, first responders, and more, are struggling more than ever when it comes to mental health. On this episode of The Broad Cast, co-hosts Becky and Eileen examine what led to this, and what is being done in our city and state to provide support and healing for those who need it. Becky and Eileen are joined by Alexa James, social worker and CEO of NAMI Chicago, and Angela Sedeño, a clinical psychologist and executive director of the Kedzie Center.

School and library boards have become frontlines in the conflict between left and right in American politics. Co-hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek are joined by women who find themselves on the forefront of defending these institutions in the Chicagoland area. Guests are Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association, Sheri Doniger of the Lincolnwood Library Board, and Tracy Katz Muhl of Northbrook School District 28.

For the 32nd Episode of The Broad Cast, host and C-Strategies CEO Becky Carroll joins Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Tiffany Hightower, for a conversation on how the Foundation is adapting, and even expanding their efforts to support, uplift, and advance Black Illinoisans during the pandemic and beyond. Tiffany also discusses the leadership lessons she’s learned over the years, why integrity always wins, and the importance of taking a moment for yourself. This marks the fifth episode of our six-month series dedicated to the themes of systemic racism and building an anti-racist society.

For the 30th Episode of The Broad Cast, host and C-Strategies CEO Becky Carroll spoke with journalist, author, educator, and traveler Deborah Douglas to discuss her journey following the Civil Rights Trail across the southern United States, from the Mississippi Delta to Washington, D.C. Deborah drew on this experience to write her new book, “U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events That Made the Movement", which discusses notable people, places, and moments from the movement as well as offers tangible pieces of advice for readers looking to take the same journey through our nation’s history. This marks the third episode of our six-month series of conversations around systemic racism and building an anti-racist society. http://bit.ly/3i4Yavs