Webster Speaks

Special Guests: Rev. Wendy Bruner, Rob Good, Jackson Hotaling,  Hannah Verity

What role should white people take in advocating for racial and social justice? How does one go from being nonracist to antiracist? Vincent C. Flewellen discussed this with four white St. Louis social justice activists: The Rev. Wendy Bruner, pastor of Peace United Church of Christ in Webster Groves; Rob Good, a UMSL adjunct assistant professor and member of the Witnessing Whiteness facilitation team; Jackson Hotaling, a volunteer with Faith for the Sake of All; and Hannah Verity, a Witnessing Whiteness 2019 participant and director of Webster’s Global Program Development office.

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Special Guests: Dail Chambers and Cbabi Bayoc

Activism and the arts have long been interwoven into the fabric of the Black experience in America. Artists continue harnessing their talents as a form of activism as well as self-expression during this time of racial reflection. Join Vincent C. Flewellen, Webster’s chief diversity officer, as he sits down with two St. Louis artists: Cbabi Bayoc, an internationally known visual artist and illustrator who celebrates family, children, music and more in signature bold, joyful colors; and Dail Chambers, an award-winning multimedia artist, Reiki master and community educator.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Special Guests: Marvin Anderson, Mark Darrell, Jovita Foster, Sumit Verma and Atul Sharma

How do companies make diversity a meaningful core value? What is the best way to recruit and retain diverse talent? Vincent C. Flewellen, Webster’s chief diversity officer, discussed these topics with corporate leaders and Webster trustees Marvin Anderson, senior vice president and private client advisor at Bank of America; Mark Darrell, senior vice president and chief legal and compliance officer at Spire Inc.; Jovita Foster, vice president and general counsel at Drury Hotels; Atul Sharma, chief human resources officer at EthosEnergy; and Sumit Verma, senior vice president, Commercial Manufacturing, at Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, October 14, 2020

 

Resources related to this episode:

• FOCUS St. Louis
• International Institute of St. Louis
• St. Louis Mosaic Project
• St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative
• Verna Myers TED Talk on overcoming bias

Special Guests: Alexis Templeton, Tory Russell, and Alisha Sonnier

The 2014 Ferguson protests united bodies and voices against racism and ignited a movement that continues across the world. Join Vincent C. Flewellen, Webster University Chief Diversity Officer and host, for “The Power of Street Activism,” the seventh episode of Webster Speaks. Hear from key local organizers Alexis Templeton, co-founder of Millennial Activists United; Tory Russell, mission director of the International Black Freedom Alliance; and Alisha Sonnier, president of the activist group Tribe X.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Special Guests: Webster University Suggs Scholars - Student Panel

Special Guest: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six-time Olympic medalist and founder, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is considered one of the greatest female athletes of all time and one of the greatest philanthropists in the St. Louis metro region. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation creates a haven and learning-rich environment for young people in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. Listen as she discusses Black athletes and different paths of activism with Vincent C. Flewellen, Webster’s chief diversity officer.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Special Guest: Carol Daniel, and Eric Deggans

Are the media portraying protests against police brutality fairly? Are Black voices being amplified in news and entertainment? Carol Daniel, KMOX news anchor, columnist and author will discuss this important topic along with Eric Deggans, NPR TV critic and author of “Race Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.”

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Special Guest: Jameca Woody Cooper, PhD, psychologist

From racial profiling to police brutality and lack of opportunities, institutional racism is impacting the mental health of African Americans. Join counseling psychologist and Webster faculty member Jameca Woody Cooper, PhD, MA, as she sits down with Webster Chief Diversity Officer Vincent C. Flewellen to discuss "Racism and Mental Health."

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, August 5, 2020

 

Resources related to this episode:

• Mental Health Resources in Metro St. Louis
• Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper – 1-833-8CALLDR or www.drjameca.com
• Dr. Jameca’s Facebook Page
• Provident Counseling & Mental Health – 314-533-8200
• Affinia – 314-898-1700 (Nonprofit health and counseling services)
• Ayana Therapy – https://www.ayanatherapy.com (focusing on diverse, underserved populations nationwide)
• Psychology Today verified therapists – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-8255

 

Special Guests: Hon. Ella Jones and Michael P. McMillan

The Hon. Ella Jones, the first Black and first female mayor of Ferguson, discussed her city as a symbol of both injustice and hope. Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, talked about the Urban League’s local programs and progress in bridging St. Louis’ racial divide.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Special Guest: Dr. Donald M. Suggs

The first episode, “What is the Meaning of Freedom Right Now?”, followed the Fourth of July holiday. Flewellen interviewed Dr. Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, Missouri’s largest weekly newspaper and a leading voice of the region’s African American community since 1928.

 

Originally Broadcast: Wednesday, July 8, 2020