This two-part episode of the Blackbelt podcast explores how Urban Patchwork, a Little Rock-based nonprofit network of farmers and backyard gardeners, aims to build a sustainable local food economy and promote interdependence among residents. In part one, we hear from LeRoi Emerson, a board member for Urban Patchwork. He joins host Adena White to discuss the organization's efforts to increase access to fresh food in low-income neighborhoods and foster community collaboration to enhance health...

We're back in the saddle! In this episode, Adena and Kara discuss the relaunch of Blackbelt Voices as a platform for authentic storytelling. After completing a Social Impact Storytelling program at Georgetown University and a fellowship with Solutions Journalism Network, Adena has come back with fresh ideas of how Blackbelt Voices can emphasize the importance of authenticity, belonging, and connection in storytelling.

Adena and Kara talk to writer and self-proclaimed Wypipologist Michael Harriot. The South Carolina native is well known for his wit, cultural commentary, and gift of mixing humor and historical context. In this episode, Michael breaks down the discipline of Wypipology, Black humor, and the story behind his coining of the phrase "invited to the cookout." (Yes, he's the one who came up with it.)

Latwana Scott, the owner of Sweet Mama T's in El Dorado, Arkansas, developed a reputation as a great cook at an early age. The El Dorado native enjoys cooking for people and got her start from helping her mom as a child.

On episode 37 of Blackbelt Voices, we continue our conversation about Black food, this time focusing on barbecue. Guest Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos of North Carolina walks us through his journey of becoming an expert on the topic, which eventually led to him creating his own sauces and rubs and selling through his company, Mike D’s. Mike’s journey to becoming a small business owner has uplifting and heartbreaking turns, including the loss of his infant son Aaron, which he wrote about in...

In episode 36 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara continue the conversation about Black food culture – this time from an agricultural angle. Our guest, Gerald Harris along with his partners Derek Beasley and Gabrielle E.W. Carter (who was featured in the Netflix series High on the Hog, New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal started Tall Grass Food Box, a community-supported agricultural model also known as a CSA.

We’re starting a new series of episodes about Black Food Culture, which is a very broad topic to tackle. It can be fun, but it is also deep. Ashante Reese, Ph.D. is a writer, teacher, and anthropologist who works at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies. Her latest book, “Black Food Matters: Racial Justice in the Wake of Food Justice, enters two conversations at once: one that concerns the persistent threats to Black life and another that concerns problems produced...

Jennifer Williams of Cleveland, Mississippi always knew she wanted to be a teacher. When she was a girl, her favorite game was playing school. Though she chose to study computer information systems in college, she remembers eagerly wanting to help her friends majoring in education.

On episode 33 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast, we are continuing our discussion on the Cost of Racism. This week we’re focused on building community wealth with Tim Lampkin, the CEO and founder of Higher Purpose Co., which is a 501(c)(3) economic justice nonprofit that supports and encourages ownership of financial, cultural, and political power in Black communities. Tim Lampkin, for about as long as he could remember, always had a passion for helping others and being a part of something...

Cheryl Hampton grew up on a farm in Marianna on the same property where her great-great-grandfather lived. He grew lots of vegetables in his garden including sweet potatoes, greens, and okra. Cheryl still lives and gardens on the property today. When her nieces and nephews come to visit she shows them everything she knows, and they’re always excited to learn. https://blackbeltvoices.com/2021/12/28/turn-to-your-neighbor-cheryl-hampton

Episode 31 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast begins a new series of episodes called the Cost of Racism. During the next month, we’ll dive into the ideas of economic equity and building wealth for Black communities. Today’s guest is Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp.

This Turn to Your Neighbor segment features Amanda Hunter, a registered nurse who lives in Central Arkansas. Amanda is very interested in exploring her family tree. She wanted to see how far she could go back into her family’s history and found through her journey a valuable perspective she applies directly to her own life.

Happy Thanksgiving, Blackbelt Voices fam. In this week’s episode we’re talking about genealogy. It is part of the “Preserving our History” series. For Nicka Sewell-Smith, learning about her family history is much more than a hobby. She has more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist and has learned so much about not only her own family, but also American History. We think you’ll enjoy listening to our conversation with Nicka, and when you’re done check out her web series, BlackProGen...

The Ozark Foothills African-American History Museum would not have been possible without the work of Albessie Thompson. Born and raised in Twin Groves, Arkansas, Thompson has worked tirelessly for the past 30 years to preserve the history of her hometown. 

Blackbelt Voices continues its focus on “Preserving our History” with a closer look at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art museum on 9th Street in Little Rock. The museum, which is a part of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, became accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in April 2020. Quantia Fletcher was recently named director of the museum. She told us how she found her passion for telling stories of our ancestors and her role in creating...

American Reckoning is a component of PBS FRONTLINE's Un(re)solved multi-platform initiative investigating unsolved murders that happened in the Civil Rights Era. We sat down with filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Brad Lichtenstein who are working on a documentary about the events surrounding the 1967 murder of Wharlest Jackson Sr. in Natchez, Mississippi. Jackson is one of 150 cold case killings brought to light because of Congressman John Lewis’ Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. The...

Blackbelt Voices is coming back for our third season in mid-October. We can’t wait for you to hear from our fantastic guests. They’re telling stories from and about Black folks down South that honor our history; celebrate our culture; and shape our future.

In this episode, Adena and Kara talk to Kristy Carter, author and principal investigator of a newly released study about women of color business owners and entrepreneurs in Arkansas. The research was conducted by the University of Central Arkansas and the report commissioned by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. Women of color open businesses at extraordinary rates. The qualitative study explores why. This episode’s Turn to Your Neighbor feature is Shunqetta Cunningham, the CEO and Lead...

On Episode 22 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara have a conversation with Candace Barnes, Ed.D, an associate professor and distinguished equity fellow at the University of Central Arkansas College of Education. They talked about moving closer to diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion in education and what steps educational systems, teachers and future teachers can make to move towards that goal. They discussed the importance of having Black teachers in classrooms and a group of...

Three people, from three backgrounds and generations, take a road trip using The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. Adena and Kara have a conversation with Alvin Hall and Janee Woods Weber about their living history podcast called Driving the Green Book. They talk about their podcast, their journey, life lessons, and behind-the-scenes adventures.

Happy Black History Month. February 1 marks the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln signing a resolution that would later become the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On this episode, Adena and Kara address some eyebrow-raising legislation aimed at restricting teaching on social justice and diversity. We ask Stacey McAdoo, longtime educator and 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year to weigh in.

Blackbelt Voices wraps up 2020 with tips on setting goals, job hunting, and protecting your piece. Kara and Adena talked to Lee Oliver, a talent acquisition coordinator in Nashville who gave us a glimpse into the mind of a job recruiter. This episode’s Turn to Your Neighbor segment features Tenethrea Buffington, a licensed professional counselor in Georgia.

COVID-19 ‌has‌ ‌dominated‌ ‌headlines‌ ‌nearly‌ ‌the‌ ‌entire‌ ‌year‌ ‌-‌ ‌and‌ ‌affected‌ ‌life‌ ‌for‌ ‌every‌ ‌single‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌us.‌ ‌ ‌And‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌images‌ ‌of‌ ‌people‌ ‌receiving‌ ‌much-anticipated‌ ‌vaccinations‌ ‌last‌ ‌week,‌ ‌there‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌glimmer‌ ‌of‌ ‌hope‌ ‌for‌ ‌some‌ ‌return‌ ‌to‌ ‌some‌ ‌sort‌ ‌of‌ ‌normalcy‌ ‌--‌ ‌though‌ ‌we‌ ‌still‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌while.‌ ‌In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ Adena and Kara ‌talk‌ ‌to‌ ‌Jerrilyn‌ ‌Jones,‌ M.D., MPH, the‌ ‌medical‌...

Adena and Kara talk to two broadcast journalists, Brittany Noble and Lisa Benson, who share their experiences with racism in the newsroom. This episode's Turn to Your Neighbor segment features newspaper reporter Stephen Simpson.