In this episode, Diane Little and Dr. Rita interview a pioneer of public service in North Carolina Surluta Anthony was the first Black woman elected to Monroe City Council—despite Monroe has a majority Black population. Now elected for the third turn, Ms. Anthony provides valuable insights and advice on what it means to be in public service and how to do it well. Miss Anthony shares how she ran for office to “be at the table” of decision-making and how she stayed through her principles of “Service before self’ along with a great dose of courage and political savviness. She was influenced by Robert F. Williams’ activism, also a local to Monroe. She speaks about how she thrived in public service, how it’s her purpose, how she found that out and how she brought DEI work to Monroe.

A personal favorite: she shared what is missing from our current discourse on public service: feeling valued and capable of making a difference.

Surluta Belton Anthony was born October 4, 1947 at home on Winchester Ave to educators Dr. Edward and Mrs. Christine Belton. She had a happy nurturing childhood in a Christian, socially and civic aware household. She talked early and read well at four. She had an early love of community fostered by her parents. She attended the segregated Winchester Ave School from first to twelfth grades , serving as class President in the sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth grades. Her leadership skills extended to North Carolina Central University where she was president of the Annie Day Shepherd Freshman Women’s Dorm and representative to student government. Surluta is a graduate of Anson Community College, Pfeiffer University and the Sure Theological Institute.

Taking office in 2013, Surluta was the first Black woman elected to Monroe City Council; she is currently serving her third term.

Resources:
Surluta Anthony's email: sulutaanthony@gmail.com

Originally recorded on June 25, 2024.

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My co-host Diane Little and I interview our guest who speaks about how his large-scale activism started from small acts of kindness: first as a seed investor for a expungement firm and then as a resident of a changing neighborhood in North Carolina. As a white resident of a predominantly Black neighborhood he used his professional and investment skills to counter the gentrification process across two communities.

Jason Groenewold joined the Board of Directors of ARISE (All Redeeming Incarcerated Souls of Esteem) because he is committed to a world that is harmonious and just, where all delight in the wonder and miracle of life.

For returning citizens, the transition home is often filled with challenges and adversity. Jason was inspired by the mission of ARISE to support men in successfully reintegrating to society and restoring relationships with their family and community.

Jason currently lives in Charlotte, NC and is a commercial real estate developer and entrepreneur. He previously led solar development for one of the largest Investor Owned Utilities in the United States. During his time in renewable energy development, he was directly responsible for over $1B of capital being invested in wind and solar projects.

Earlier in his career, Jason co-founded the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah and served as its Executive Director for eight years. Among other accomplishments, HEAL Utah prevented the nation's nuclear waste from being disposed of on a small, impoverished Native American reservation outside of Salt Lake City. Afterward, Jason enrolled at the University of Utah where he obtained his law degree and M.B.A.

Resources:

Jason's Email: jason.groenewold@gmail.com
Countries who remove right to vote list.

States who remove right to vote list.

Article about nuclear testing:

Rasa's website

ARISE All Redeeming Incarcerated Souls of Esteem website

Originally recorded on May 20, 2024.

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In this episode, Co-host Diane Little and Dr. Rita interview Robert Dawkins political director and organizer and Robert Dawkins of Action NC. Robert sheds tremendous insight on why the solutions we find to social issues seem to always miss the mark: there is the disconnect between people in communities, academics, donors, and legislators that results in ineffective solutions birthed from bad research. In a refreshing conversation about real lives, data, and laws, Robert puts in lay terms the importance of trauma-informed research (stop asking us to tell the same traumatizing stories), the importance of lived experience (no parachuting researchers and donors), and mixed-method approaches (we need experiences and stories). He also offers up the disconnect that many Black men feel with the Democratic party: its fixation on incarceration alienates everyday Black men who would like to focus on something else.

Our political moment: Robert also shares some of the good things about Preemption and Dillon law--State standards that are generally wielded by conservatives to constrain progressive cities but that have some perks for progressives as well.

Robert Dawkins is the founder & State Organizer for SAFE Coalition NC which is a project of Action NC and made up of over 15 community-based advocacy groups working to end discriminatory profiling and promote civil liberty protections for all North Carolina residents. Before starting SAFE Coalition NC, Robert worked for 7 year with Democracy North Carolina as the Western NC Field Organizer where his work centered on organizing communities of color on the issues of voter rights, voter access and ending voter disenfranchisement. Robert was the Head Organizer for the Charlotte chapter of ACORN for 3 years where he worked in low to moderate income neighborhoods building neighborhood capacity, neighborhood power and on leadership development. Robert has a B.A in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Robert was a selected as a Charlottean of the Year in 2019 by Charlotte Magazine.

Resources
Dillon law and preemption
Robert Dawkins and Defund the police podcast
Podcast with Rep Autry
Robert's organization Action NC

Originally recorded on April 23, 2024.

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In this episode, my co-Host Diane Little and I interview PA State House Representative Chris Rabb (called Rep Rabb). This episode is a provides profound insight into the ethic of public service--for Rep Rabb insists on not being called a politician--because it's service, not a profession. His service spans, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Commerce, Finance, Veterans affairs, and the Judiciary. Join us as we take a walk in his world of advocacy through, agrivoltaics, sustainability, electoral reform, innovation, and some political successes. Through it all Rep Rabb tells us he draws strength from his ancestors for his successes: renaming landmarks, prohibition from police officers assaulting people in custody, and a state interdepartmental interstate database that makes it harder for suspended police in one district to serve in another (among others).

PA House Representative Christopher Rabb (known as Rep Rabb) is the most senior progressive state legislator in Pennsylvania, State Rep. Chris Rabb, the four-term incumbent for northwest Philadelphia’s 200th legislative district, has dedicated his tenure to public service.

His legislative priorities include taxing the excessively wealthy, repealing the death penalty, full and fair funding of public education, climate action, safer communities and raising the minimum wage to a true living wage.

He has authored over 100 bills and resolutions, centering the most-impacted populations in his legislative work. Some of his boldest bills include his Fair Share Tax Plan, and a bill to transition Pennsylvania to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

RepRabb is a co-founder of the Progressive Legislators Working Group, the antecedent to the PA Progressive Caucus on whose founding board he serves.

Resources
Rep Rabb's website
Rep Rabb's track record accomplishments
Rep Rabb's instagram
Rep Rabb's twitter
More on Agrivoltaics

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In this episode our Hosts Dr. Rita and Diane Little welcome our guest, Michael posits that the Democratic Party is always in crises, by its inclusive nature, because it tends to fold within it, the crises of the communities it attempts to represent. We review the variety and intent of Caucuses: their history, purpose and relevance: the Black caucus, African American Caucus, Women's Caucus, Young Dem's Caucus, Rural Caucus, County caucuses, and district caucuses, etc.

We identify a breakdown in the intent and the trust in the relationship between caucuses and the Democratic party. Caucuses were born to inform the party of the issues among voters in exchange for the party's commitment to addressing these issues. Bringing issues to the party would strengthen the party because the solutions would strengthen the communities. Instead, today, it seems that identity politics has proliferated the diversity of caucuses who pull the party in multiple directions--weakening it, not strengthening it. What's missing is a building of collective will beyond the individual agendas--so the party can move beyond priority-setting to building collective will.

Today's guest is Michael Lawson. Michael is Originally from Brooklyn New York. He moved to Queens some years later. For the last 33 years Michael has lived in Charlotte NC. And has been a true leader and innovator in Charlotte Democratic politics. He has served as: The President of the Democratic Party's African American Caucus for Mecklenburg county. The 8th district Dem chairperson, a former State Executive Committee member for 10 years, and currently serves in his favorite role as the Democratic Chairman for Precinct 4 in Charlotte NC.

Michael has taught media literacy at the North West school of the
Arts for nine years and at Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, NC. For the last 13 years, Michael has Hosted a blog Talk Radio Show called "The Last Word" (pre-dating the show on MSNBC) a weekly Political Talk Radio Show on Fridays, 3-6 pm on www.blogtalkradio.com. The show covers more than Political Talk it covers the gambit, from Politics, Education, Health Care, Sports, Music and the Movies, most any and everything.

Michael is married to Penny a wonderful lady. for 44 yrs. He has 2 daughters who have given him 3 grandsons. Michael Lawson is considered a Fierce advocate for democracy.

Resources:
Black Caucus website
African American Caucus, North Carolina Democratic Party website
Michael Lawson's podcast

Episode Originally recorded on March 19, 2024.

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In this episode, current town manager and former Mayor of Marshville, NC of 14 years Franklin Deese discusses with our co-hosts Dr. Rita and Diane Little tells the riveting experience from incarceration to become his town's mayor. He talks passionately about the importance of public service and how truth and trust led his journey. Even if things don't turn out quite as we expect them to, public service, Franklin says, is always worth it!

Franklin D. Deese is presently serving his fifth year as city manager, after serving fourteen years as Mayor to the town of Marshville, NC. He is the first and only African American elected to serve any Union County Municipality in that capacity Mayor or Manager in the County’s 150+ years history. He was first elected to the office of Mayor in 2005. By applying the powerful lessons of faith, focus and perseverance that he outlines in his best-selling book “From Inmate To Mayor,” Franklin Deese has proven that there is no mountain too high to overcome. Today he is the only African American in the Nation to serve over 10 years in the prison system and then be elected mayor in the same city. Mayor Deese is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award. He received the Union County Minority Entrepreneur of the Year and was nomination for the WSOC Nine Who Care Award. He was chosen as the 2012 citizen of the year in Union County and is the recipient of the History Maker Award. Former Mayor Deese speaks all over the nation, sharing his message of achievement and helping people overcome their own personal prisons.

Resources:
Franklin Deese's website
Franklin's Memoire: From Inmate to Mayor
City Manager Position description in Marshville, NC.
Franklin's Twitter Account
Franklin Deese's Linkedin Account

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In this episode, Hosts Dr. Rita and Diane Little interview interview Joel Ford, former North Carolina State Senator. We talk about his disappointment with the Democrat party and his concerns with progressive approaches to change. With economic freedom as his primary goal, he unpacks his approach to questions about school choice, vouchers, education, and voting rights. He also explains his major concern: too many elected officials are more concerned with fighting than working; and our liberal/progression expectations set the bar too low.

Joel joined the Sentinel team in 2022 as a Client Executive and is responsible for the
oversight, management, and implementation of all strategies as they relate to the
management and servicing of an account.
Originally from Belmont, NC, Joel is a former North Carolina State Senator who represented Mecklenburg County for six years. In March of 2021, Joel was appointed by the Senate to the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. A self-described “serial entrepreneur”, Joel began his professional career with Waste Management of Atlanta, GA, and later launched his own waste management services company in Charlotte. Joel has owned several businesses including a restaurant (Juniors Chicken & Waffles) and a barbershop and salon (Premier Barbershop & Salon).
Joel’s background as a business owner provides an understanding of risk management from a client’s perspective. His knowledge and experience enable him to serve as a true advisor to his clients, safeguarding their success in an ever-changing business environment.

Resources:
Research on the added economic value of a college education.

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In this episode, Dr. Rita and Diane Little we talk with NC House Rep. John Autry. We talk about the difference between governing and ruling and share examples of how polarization in government and opposition towards anything the other party does gets the democratic process stuck and frustrates legislators themselves. In the face of the challenges of voting rights and redistricting, the House Rep. offers glimmers of hope in his ability to work across the aisle, still leveraging the basic fundamentals of negotiation: humanity and understanding. He draws his strength from common folk and sees public service as sometimes rewarding, if challenging, work.

Our guest, Johnnie Newton Autry (born March 16, 1953) is an American politician. He was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2016. A Democrat, he serves the 100th district. He previously served on the Charlotte City Council.

Born in Fayetteville, Autry studied theatre at California State University-Fullerton. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1976 and has been the chief technology officer and partner at eMitigate, an organization focused on legal, financial and operating risk mitigation.

Resources:
John Autry's Linkedin page
Diane Little's LinkedIn page
Bipartisan Psychedelica NC legislation

Originally recorded on February 6, 2024.

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