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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To recomend a guest contact us at: media@FierroConsultingllc.com
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