26 FEB 2020 · We've heard #MeToo stories from Hollywood to Springfield, but some of the most abusive and toxic behavior at the center of these stories is still experienced every day by women in the bar and restaurant industries. Our guests this month are legends in Chicago and beyond, not only for their abilities behind the bar, but for creating networks of talented, fierce women who mentor younger servers and focus on giving back to their communities. SHELBY ALLISON Shelby Allison co-owns Lost Lake, a tropical cocktail bar in Chicago that opened in 2015 and was named Best American Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s 2018 Spirited Awards, is a three-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program (2016, 2017, 2018) and a finalist in 2019, and earned a spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list (2018). Shelby is a co-founder of Chicago Style, a yearly conference focused on increasing inclusivity, safety, and sustainability within the cocktail community, and was featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and Food and Wine. She also co-founded Shift-Ease, a monthly charitable party at Lost Lake that supports local Chicago organizations working for progressive racial, economic and gender justice, and is a founding board member of the Chicago Period Project, an aspiring non-profit that helps Chicago’s homeless and in-need people experience their periods with dignity. Shelby was one of Chicago Woman’s 10 Most Influential Women in Chicago’s food and beverage community (2018), and one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 Tastemakers (2018). NANDINI KHAUND Nandini Khaund was part of the opening team at one of the city’s most groundbreaking cocktail bars, the Violet Hour, which has had a tremendous impact on the industry in Chicago and beyond for more than a decade. Since then, Nandini has done everything from tend bar at Big Star to create an independent cocktail app to open and operate Cindy’s, the beautiful rooftop bar you definitely know if you’ve ever visited the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. She’s now the founder of Grimoire, a consulting company that works with hospitality groups, bars, and restaurants to facilitate positive work environments, and sits on the grants committee for the nonprofit Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. ALEXIS BROWN Multi-certified mixologist, philanthropist and industry educator Alexis Brown, is the founder and executive director of Causing A Stir, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering underrepresented individuals in the bar and beverage industry. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Alexis worked her way up in the hospitality industry from a coat-check and nightclub “shot girl” to a skilled beverage consultant and cocktail connoisseur. In her nearly 10 years of experience in the field, Alexis honed her skills at some of Chicago’s most renowned bars and restaurants including The Drifter, The Dearborn and The Aviary. Throughout her bartending career Alexis witnessed the disparaging way underrepresented individuals were treated in the beverage industry and decided to create a safe space where they could develop the skills to thrive among their peers. In 2016, she developed Causing A Stir to uplift and empower marginalized individuals in the hospitality industry. Since its inception the group has gained nearly 3,000 members worldwide and hosts monthly events to educate individuals from underserved communities. Since 2011 Alexis has also served as the chief curator of her personal brand, Serving Life Behind Bars, where she develops custom cocktail creations for private events. She has received several accolades in the beverage industry including Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (2019), Drinks International Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Figures (2019), World Class Competition Top 100 Bartenders (2019), Old Forester Old Fashioned Competition Winner (2018), Most Imaginative Bartender Regional Finalist Award (2017) and Semi-Finalist of the Bacardi Legacy Competition (2017 & 2018). Alexis has spread her mission of educating minorities in the beverage industry across the country. She has been featured on The Chicago Tribune, Food & Wine and Eater. Like the show? Join us LIVE monthly at The Hideout in Chicago!

26 NOV 2019 · This month, we’re talking to two Latinx Chicago women fighting hard for progressive values in Springfield — and already seeing results from some groundbreaking legislation and widely earning the respect of their colleagues. State Reps. Delia Ramirez and Celina Villanueva have been showing up in a big way downstate, fighting for education equity, immigrant rights, voting access and empowering young people of color. Both women started off as organizers so we are putting them on stage together to learn from their experience and help us understand their work on a deeper level. --- OUR GUESTS --- DELIA RAMIERZ Delia Ramirez is an accomplished social service director, community leader, and coalition builder who has dedicated much of her life and career to the Humboldt Park and Logan Square communities. On March 2018, as a first-time candidate, Delia was elected the Democratic nominee of Illinois’ 4th house district and is the first Guatemalan American in the state legislature. A daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Delia resides on the same block where she grew up. As a graduate of Sabin Magnet Elementary school in the eastern part of the 4th district and Northeastern University, Delia recognizes the importance of public education and is committed to fighting for high quality, equitable education for all our children. In 2004, at only 21 years old, Delia became the Executive Director of Humboldt Park Social Services, now the Center for Changing Lives. During Delia’s tenure, the agency served more than 4,500 households and quadrupled the budget expanding its supportive services to become a city-wide organization nationally recognized for its innovative work on housing and financial stability programs. Delia has served as the Board president of Logan Square Neighborhood Association, District Advisory Chair of the 14th District Police Department, Co-founder of the Chicago Justice for our Neighbors Free Immigration Clinic, and currently serves as the President of LUCHA, a community development and affordable housing organization in the district. Delia has been a leader in neighborhood and city-wide coalitions for balanced neighborhood development, an elected school board, the Fight for 15, and Automatic Voter Registration. Her work has been recognized through several awards including the 2007 Community Renewal Society 35 under 35 leadership award, The National Hispanic Plan’s 2011 Leader for Change Award, an Emerging Fellow of The Chicago Community Trust in 2013, and La Raza’s Community Leader award in 2013. Up until December 2017, Delia served as Deputy Director of the Community Renewal Society, Chicago’s oldest faith-based social justice organization, where she oversaw the development, organizing and policy units. Under her leadership, CRS helped pass several bills that remove barriers to employment for people with records. Additionally, she led a process that culminated in a three-year strategic plan for the Chicago area faith-based organization. In her first year as a state legislator she passed seven pieces of legislation ranging from expansion of homeless prevention to legislation reforming the department of children and family services and removing barriers to licensing for immigrant communities. As a leader in the progressive caucus in the House of Representatives, she is leading the housing taskforce looking at comprehensive state policy to housing stability. Delia has demonstrated throughout her life both personally and professionally, the ability to build relationships across broad demographics and unite diverse stakeholders for a common good. She is a proven leader with deep roots in her community. CELINA VILLANUEVA Born in Chicago and raised in Little Village, Celina Villanueva is currently the State Representative of the 21st district. Formerly Civic and Youth Engagement Manager at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. With a focus on building immigrant power, developing leaders and expanding voting rights, Celina tied in her background in organizing, civic engagement and youth development to engage immigrant communities and allies throughout Illinois into the various campaigns at ICIRR. With various wins under her belt, Celina has helped to expand voting rights through her efforts on Online Voter Registration, Election Day Registration, and most recently Automatic Voter Registration, all of which are now the law in the land of Lincoln. Additionally, Celina lead the largest immigrant civic engagement program in Illinois that has registered over 200,000 new American voters and mobilized hundreds of thousands more to get out to vote. Prior to joining ICIRR, Celina served as the Director of Organizing at Chicago Votes, as well as working on various issue-based campaigns including the fight for Marriage Equality in Illinois. She also previously served as Outreach Coordinator for Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a role that superseded her work on various state and local electoral campaigns. When she’s not busy trying to change the world into a place where we can all live openly and safely, Celina is an avid reader, lover of musicals, shopping, dancing and a great brunch. Celina a born and bred Chicago girl, graduated with a B.A in Latina/Latino Studies with minors in African-American Studies and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

10 SEP 2019 · On an earlier show, we heard from experts about the problems for legal weed in Illinois. Fast forward to just one month later, and it’s become a reality, thanks, in large part, to Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who will be joining us this month along with one of her partners in badass legislative action, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth. Kelly, by all accounts, was a force of nature this year in Springfield, leading the way in groundbreaking legislative progress on legalization, the Reproductive Health Act, sexual harassment, a fair income tax that actually makes rich people pay their fair share, and more. Representatives Cassidy and Gordon-Booth will join us for the real story behind how they and their fellow legislators made it all happen after so many years of zero good things happening in the Capitol. ABOUT OUR GUESTS: REP. KELLY CASSIDY Kelly Cassidy is currently serving her fourth term as the State Representative for Illinois’ 14th House district. She currently serves as Chair of the Appropriations Public Safety Committee. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Criminal Committee, Vice Chair of the Restorative Justice Committee and is a member of the Labor & Commerce, Economic Opportunity, Human Services and Tourism & Craft Industries committees as well as serving on the House Sexual Discrimination & Harassment Task Force. Prior to her appointment in 2011 Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy was a community activist and organizer. She served as district office director to Senator John Cullerton and worked in the office of the Cook County State’s Attorney working towards a smarter criminal justice system. Over the past 20 years Representative Cassidy has worked on behalf of the community in the non-profit and government sectors. As one of three openly gay members of the General Assembly, she has helped passed progressive legislation involving criminal justice reform, the rights of women and the LGBTQ community and more. This includes the Youth Mental Health Protection Act which bans conversion therapy to change youth sexual orientation and HB 1464 which ensures pregnant women being detained pre-trial, are not forced to give birth in detention centers. Cassidy’s work on criminal justice reform has resulted in significant changes to our criminal justice system, including the Uniform Civil Enforcement of Cannabis law that eliminates arrest for possession of small amounts of cannabis and significant reentry reforms including removal of permanent barriers to employment for those with felony records. Representative Cassidy has devoted the last two decades to making government more accessible, efficient and effective. Her combination of non-profit sector, state, and local government experience provides her with a unique perspective, expertise and understanding that empowers her to serve as an outstanding representative for the 14th district. Representative Cassidy lives in Rogers Park with her spouse, Candace Gingrich and three sons. REP. JEHAN GORDON-BOOTH Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth is a community activist, mother and full-time legislator serving the people of Illinois’ 92nd district. She is a proud daughter of Peoria and the first African-American woman ever to be elected to represent the central region of the state in the Illinois General Assembly.. Rep. Gordon-Booth is still a proud resident of Peoria where she lives today with her best friend and husband Coach Derrick Booth and their two year old daughter, Jianna. Among her colleagues Rep. Gordon Booth is regarded as kind, level-headed, and they even dare say “bipartisan.” Before she ever served in the House, Rep. Gordon-Booth lived out her platform of making quality education real and accessible through her work. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she served as one of District 69's youngest school board members. It’s because she truly understands that communities are willing to work for them. So, she has. In the General Assembly, she’s been working to pass legislation aimed at advancing educational opportunity for kids across the entire state of Illinois with a host of bills that have been signed into law. Fully understanding the work needed to effectively deal with the issue of safety and mass incarceration Rep. Gordon-Booth passed the largest and most comprehensive criminal justice reform bill, SB 2872--The Neighborhood Safety Act in 2017. While she always had the goal of making communities stronger and safer, her work extends far beyond education and criminal justice reform. Understanding the importance of industry, production and public-private partnerships, Rep. Gordon-Booth negotiated the first Historic Tax Credit in the state of Illinois’ history. The credit has already created hundreds of jobs and spurred development projects to revitalize parts of Peoria's community. Currently, pushing for a state budget and reforming and revitalizing our state’s outdated criminal justice system is Rep. Gordon-Booth’s primary focus. It is her commitment, as a legislator, to people's dignity and their ability to contribute to their communities which have kept her motivated and pushing for reform in areas of: education, tax code, sentencing regulation, re-entry programming, and economic opportunity. In the past, Rep. Gordon-Booth has crafted state legislation that served as a nationwide model for public policy. With the folks of Illinois in mind, this time, she hopes to do it again. Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago. Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

3 SEP 2019 · The power is in the person who is trying, regardless of the success. If you’re trying, you’ve got all the power, you’re driving the agenda.” -Alexandria Ocasio Cortez What is it like to be a woman running for political office? The stories women collect on the campaign trail of misogyny and sexism are often kept out of the public eye for fear of appearing weak. Not anymore. This month, we are going to hear from women who ran for office in a very male dominated political environment. About Our Guests: MARIA HADDEN Maria Hadden is Alderwoman-Elect of the 49th Ward. In February 2019, she defeated Joe Moore, who had held the seat for 28 years. Once sworn in, she will be the first black queer woman on City Council and the first black alderman from a North Side ward. Maria is the Executive Director of Our City Our Voice, a national nonprofit organization she founded to empower communities and governments to redesign democracy to be more collaborative and transparent. SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA Susan Sadlowski Garza is the first ever active Chicago Teachers Union member to be elected to City Council and the first ever woman to represent the 10th Ward in City Council. Susan’s priorities include keeping schools public, increasing wages and creating long lasting economic development in the 10th Ward.Susan is constantly working to protect public interests, increase equality for women and the LGBTQ community, foster business relationships and protect air, land, and water resources for residents. ANNA VALENCIA Anna Valencia was sworn-in as City Clerk of Chicago on January 25, 2017 overseeing one of the largest offices in the City serving 1.2 million Chicagoans and generating more than $130 million annually. Prior to becoming Clerk, Valencia served as the second woman and first Latina to run Mayor Emanuel’s Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs (LCGA) where she spearheaded the passage of police accountability reform, the modernization of the CTA’s Red and Purple lines, the stabilization of pension funds and creation of the City’s legal fund that assists immigrants and refugees threatened with deportation. Plus, our very own Erika Wozniak Francis will be telling her own tales from her recent aldermanic run in the 46th Ward! (Trust us, she’s got some!) Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

27 AUG 2019 · 05/28/19 FREE THE WEED Edition at The Hideout Description: Illinois has just joined the ranks of the states who have legalized recreational cannabis. This episode we have two guests who bring us the straight dope ABOUT OUR GUESTS EDIE MOORE is one of the original owners of the only minority-owned firm, Illinois Grown Medicine, to receive cannabis licensure in Illinois in 2014. Working primarily on the compliance and community engagement teams, she has since expanded to advise firms locally and beyond who are seeking licensure. Recognizing that opportunities for success in the national cannabis community were overwhelming to many of her friends and colleagues, she looked for a way to break down the content and entry points into more manageable opportunities. In 2017 she, along with her filmmaker son, received a Chicago Community Trust Acting up Grant to produce their Cannabis on the Table microfilm series, Humans of Cannabis, which features people of color who are medical cannabis patients and caregivers. Edie is passionate about educating and reforming cannabis policies in her communities. To that end, she is a founding board member and Executive Director of Chicago NORML, a local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The chapter, which was organized in 2017, has a mission to educate and motivate communities of color to destigmatize and accept the cannabis plant as a vehicle for political, economic, and health and wellness empowerment. Edie and Chicago NORML have been actively working with Illinois legislators to create the social equity provisions of the pending adult-use cannabis bill. They frequently lobby at state capitols across the country and in Washington DC for the reformation of cannabis laws. RITA J. MCGUIRE, M.D. affectionately known as Dr. Rita, is a globally recognized OB/GYN with over eight thousand deliveries throughout a 30-year career within the United States, Virgin Islands and Caribbean. She is a well-established medical professional serving as Medical Director and Attending Physician for prominent academic and community hospitals throughout the Midwest and Caribbean, providing effective patient care and innovative training techniques to medical students. As a compassionate and people-oriented motivational speaker, Holistic Health, Wellness & Fitness expert, Dr. Rita used her gifts to educate and empower women to pursue and maintain healthy lifestyles through proper nutrition, physical fitness and natural alternative medicine in South Africa, Mexico, Bahamas and across the United States. Dr. Rita, a four-time medical cannabis radio show spotlight guest (WVON Chicago and Bermuda radio) is a strong and dedicated advocate for the education and legalization of medical cannabis. Her pursuit of holistic and alternative medicine led her to become Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the only African American female owned Hemp company in Illinois and as a certifying Medical Marijuana physician, where she has presented educational information to medical professionals and the general public on the use of cannabis for various health issues: Glaucoma, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Cancer. Dr. Rita’s passion, drive and dedication is evident in her extensive research and application of knowledge throughout her medical and wellness practices. Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago. Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

25 SEP 2018 · The Girl Talk: #METOO Edition This episode was recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago on November 28, 2017. In recent months, it been hard to go five minutes without hearing a new, horrifying story about sexual assault or harassment. After years of silently suffering, it seems that women are finally being heard -- and the men who have been getting away with their egregious behavior for decades are facing the consequences. This show, The Girl Talk will tackle how women in Illinois are working to stop rampant sexual abuse and support victims who have long-endured the gropes, date rape drugs and assaults from powerful men. Our guests: MEGAN BLOMQUIST Megan Blomquist began fighting gender-based violence in college and started working with Rape Victim Advocates in 2009. She is currently the Director of Education and Training with Rape Victim Advocates. Megan graduated from University of Illinois-Chicago with a degree in Applied Psychology, focusing in Gender and Women’s Studies. She is 40-hour certified in both Sexual Violence (2009) and Domestic Violence work (2011) in the state of Illinois. Through the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Megan has also completed the 40-hour Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training (2012). She is an active rape crisis counselor and community educator. Megan is passionate about ending sexual violence within our communities. EMILY MILLER Emily Miller is a political consultant living in Chicago. Over the last decade, she has developed and fought for policy and legislative agendas that give Illinois children and families the tools they need to build better lives. After graduating from DePaul University College of Law in 2006, Miller began her career as a staff attorney and health care advocate with the Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Miller also coordinated government affairs for the Better Government Association and directed policy and advocacy at Voices for Illinois Children before launching her own consulting practice in January, 2017. LITESA WALLACE State Representative Litesa E. Wallace has spent her career fighting for working families like her own. As an educator and psychologist, as a single mother, and as the State Representative for Illinois’ 67th District, Litesa understands the impact that decisions in Springfield have on people across the state. Litesa began her career as a counselor, working with children and adults experiencing mental health issues as well as child abuse victims, families in crisis, and people with histories of substance abuse. After completing a master’s degree and doctorate at Northern Illinois University while raising a son on her own, Litesa worked as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Litesa’s experiences as a counselor and educator drew her to become more involved in local government. She began volunteering, and working directly with policy-makers on the issues most important to her. Litesa won her first election for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2014, after serving as chief-of- staff to State Representative Charles E. Jefferson. She was re-elected in 2016. In the House, Litesa has proven herself an ally of working families and an adept policy-maker able to lead her fellow legislators to support causes she believes in. A progressive advocate for economic justice, she has protected Illinois’ most vulnerable populations by expanding access to crucial services such as affordable childcare, healthcare, and SNAP benefits while also working to raise wages and create innovative economic development tools in cities across the state. Born on the Southside of Chicago and raised in the south suburbs and the daughter of a law enforcement agent and postal worker, Litesa grew up in a union household and was the first member of her family to complete a college degree. Litesa is raising her son in Rockford. Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

2 SEP 2018 · The Girl Talk: 1968 Edition This episode was recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago on August 28, 2018. 50 years ago this month, the streets of Chicago were packed with protesters demonstrating outside of the Democratic National Convention against the war in Vietnam and demanding civil rights and equality for African Americans. On the anniversary of those historic protests and the civil rights and student movements of 1968 in general, we’ll be chatting with two women who were in the middle of it all, Mary Scott-Boria, a former member of the Black Panther Party, and Susan Klonsky, a former member of Students for a Democratic Society, which was the nation’s largest student-led anti-war organization in the 1960s. Join us as Susan and Mary take us back to the heat of 1968, and shed some light on the lessons from that time for today’s resistance movement. MARY SCOTT-BORIA is a lifelong resident of Chicago, arriving to Chicago at 15 where she was immediately immersed in the Chicago Freedom Movement as a young activist. Immediately upon graduating from high school she joined the Black Panther Party where her activities led her to working with the Puerto Rican Socialist Party. Mary has over 50 years of experience and knowledge of Chicago's communities, having worked as a professional social worker and human services administrator in several not for profit organizations. Her work and interests have been in women and youth issues and in community organizing and politics. She served as the founding executive director of the Chicago Sexual Assault Services Network, director of Youth Services Project (YSP), a founding executive member of the Cook County Democratic Women, and most recently as director of the Urban Studies Program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. As director of Women’s Services for the Metropolitan YWCA, she became interested in global issues of violence against women and visited women’s anti-violence projects in Ghana and South Africa. She was also active in anti-apartheid organizing and visited South Africa soon after the release of Nelson Mandela. Her involvement with the Christian Peacemaker Teams afforded her the opportunity to travel and lead a delegation of activists to Palestine. Her background in anti-racism education and organizing has kept her involved in issues of racial justice since the late 60s and involved membership in the Chicago Black Panther Party. Mary holds a master's degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her leadership in the Anti-Racism Institute of Clergy and Laity Concerned led her to seminary where she completed her Master of Divinity degree from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She served on the training team of the Christian Peacemakers Teams and was most recently active with the Mikva Challenge Foundation and CLAIM (Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers). She lives in the Humboldt Park community in Chicago with her husband Rafael. Her passion involves engaging herself, her children and grandchildren in social justice issues that are both local and global. SUSAN KLONSKY is a Chicago-based writer and activist, is interested in preserving and improving public education, especially through the arts and through the creation of smaller and more personalized public schools. In 1968 Susan was a 21-year-old member of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), the largest youth activist organization in the U.S. SDS actively supported various liberation movements both at home and internationally, and was deeply engaged in Its militant opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam. The national headquarters of SDS was in the West Side of Chicago. Susan was a member of the national staff which offered support to students interested in starting SDS chapters on their campuses in every state. Susan's personal activism was focused on organizing women, creating a more democratic and egalitarian culture within the student movement, and in finding concrete ways to organize in solidarity with the movements for civil rights and Black liberation in the U.S. The focus of her work over the years has been the creation of community based organizations, public schools and arts companies that can carry on those early goals of peace, nonviolence and freedom for all people. Let us know what you think! Visit us at https://www.girltalkchi.com/ Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

30 JUN 2018 · This episode was recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago on September 27, 2016. As contract negotiations reach a fever pitch between the Emanuel administration and the Chicago Teachers Union, fierce and fearless CTU President Karen Lewis will join Jen Sabella (founder and editor at Block Club Chicago) and Erika Wozniak (teacher and activist) of The Girl Talk this episode! Assume President Lewis will deliver plenty of her signature bluntness and real talk about the Mayor and the future of our public schools and celebrity crushes. Plus, need life advice? Let President Lewis set your ass straight! Suggested advice topics include: best practices in red-oriented fashion accessorizing, exposing corruption, and making powerful dudes pee themselves in fear. Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

18 JUN 2018 · The Girl Talk podcast is back! This episode was recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago on August 23, 2016. This show Jen & Erika of #TheGirlTalk will be chatting with Chair of the Chicago Police Board Lori Lightfoot and public policy expert/triathlete Amara Enyia. Lightfoot, a partner with the law firm Mayer Brown, has served in numerous key governmental roles, including as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Northern District of Illinois, as General Counsel and Chief of Staff at the Chicago Office of Emergency Management, and as Chief Administrator at the Office of Professional Standards – the internal Police Department organization that investigated allegations of excessive force and misconduct prior to 2007 when the City created the independent investigative agency – the Independent Police Review Authority. Her current role is leading the civilian body that gives residents a voice in the police disciplinary process. And Amara Enyia is a municipal policy consultant who took on Rahm Emanuel when she ran for Mayor of the City of Chicago in the 2015 municipal election at just 30 years old. We’re throwing them together on ONE stage to talk about all the incredible things they’re working on, the struggles facing our city, and the path forward Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/

17 APR 2018 · The Girl Talk: Self Care Is An Act of Political Warfare Edition This episode was recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago on January 23, 2018. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” - Audre Lorde One year into Trump's presidency feels like 1,000 years, but a new year brings new hope, as difficult as that is to muster at times. This month on The Girl Talk, we'll speak to women who can help give us that hope by reflecting on what we've accomplished in the last year, how to care for ourselves even at our darkest moments, and how we can avoid fatigue and keep striving to make the world less awful. It’s easy to be a dick to yourself a few weeks into the new year if you missed the gym or broke your resolutions in some other ways, but that’s no way to love yourself! Let’s surround ourselves with some positive femme-rgy and get ready to slay 2018. What is The Girl Talk, you ask? It's a monthly show on the fourth Tuesday of the month hosted by journalist Jen Sabella and public education warrior/CPS teacher Erika Wozniak Francis and co-produced by Chicago media strategist Joanna Klonsky. We feature influential Chicago women and gender nonconforming individuals fighting for social justice. All are welcome to take part in these important conversations. THIS MONTH'S GUESTS Khadijah Kysia is a licensed acupuncturist and board-certified herbalist, and poet with a Bachelor Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (Chicago). She is currently enrolled in the DAOM/Ph.d program at Five Branches University in San Jose. Khadijah is a momentum strategist specializing in resolving pain internally and externally, accessing joy to transform challenges into health and stability. Alexa James is a licensed clinical social worker and has devoted her professional life to serving people living with mental illnesses. In 2013, Alexa assumed the leadership of NAMI Chicago as Executive Director. In the 10 years preceding her appointment as Executive Director, Alexa worked with children and adults living with mental illness as well as those impacted by poverty and trauma. She earned her Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Loyola University and in Child Development from Erickson Institute. Alexa’s passion is to see that our community is equipped to support those in need of mental health support and to end the crippling stigma that attaches to those living with mental illness. Alexa’s mission is to support the creation of a system of care that is compassionate, trauma informed and comprehensive so that individuals affected by mental health conditions get better, not worse. A lifelong Chicagoan, Alexa lives in Lincoln Square with her husband and two young children. The mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those whose lives are affected by mental illness, by providing information and referrals, education, support, advocacy, and active community outreach. Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/