The Minority Leaders with Algene Sajery Algene Sajery

Dear Minority Leaders,

Today I am excited and honored to speak with my good friend Hope E. Goins, Minority Staff Director of the House  Committee on Homeland Security and bestselling children’s author.

Hope is the top advisor to Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson on all matters related to the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and national security related matters throughout the Executive Branch, including counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, intelligence, cybersecurity, natural disasters and civil rights and civil liberties. 

Hope has been recognized by Roll Call and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies for leading the most diverse staff in the United States Congress.

With over 15 years of Capitol Hill experience, Hope has supervised the negotiation of key homeland security legislation. In 2021, Hope was tapped to be a senior advisor on the Select Committee on the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

During our conversation, Hope discusses her experience being named staff director of her committee shortly after former president Trump was inaugurated and implemented his infamous Muslim ban. We discuss the challenges of bringing together a diverse staff during such a challenging and divisive time, as well as how the recent Speaker race results may further impact Congress, and why representation matters in our national security landscape.

Hope is a powerful voice for people of color at the highest levels of U.S. policy making, always bringing our perspectives with her to the decision making table. As if that isn’t enough, Hope somehow found time to author a best selling children’s book, The Adventures of Chloe and Chris: The Three Branches of Government, that demystifies the United States Government for children. My son Asa has a copy, so I can attest first hand to the powerful teaching tool the book offers. It can even teach us adults a few things! 

Hope is a board member of Our Village United, Black Women’s Congressional Alliance, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated. 

I am honored to have Hope share her experience and wisdom with us today. 


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Dear Minority Leaders,Today my guest is Ramona Oliver, senior director of the National Education Association’s Center for Communications. Prior to her senior director position, Oliver worked for Emily’s List, the Democratic Governors Association, the Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org, and numerous political campaigns.Oliver’s career came to focus on communication and education after working with Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania. A seasoned political communications expert, Oliver’s work today is increasingly dedicated to advocating for children and students at the national level.Our conversation covers how Oliver discovered her passion for communications, and how her family history influenced her view of education. We also cover the current, difficult issues facing parents, teachers and schools in our charged political atmosphere. This is an illuminating interview for parents, educators, students, or anyone interested in communications or education policy.To find out more about Ramona Oliver and her work with the National Education Association’s Center for Communications, please check out these links below:National Education Association: www.nea.orgTwitter: twitter.com/RamonaOliverLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ramonaoliverMore from Algene SajeryIG: theminorityleadersWebsite: algenesajery.comLinkedIn: Algene-SajeryThis is a Redd Rock Music PodcastIG: @reddrockmusicwww.reddrockmusic.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support the showPlease remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here:
Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders

Dear Minority Leaders,Today I’m joined by my Delta Sigma Theta soror and former Capitol Hill colleague, Dr. Kwamme Anderson. Kwamme and I both worked for our soror Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), albeit at different times. She has worked as a congressional staffer to Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), all powerful black women policymakers. Kwamme also counts the late civil rights leader and famous (and some would say infamous) “Mayor for Life” of DC one of her best friends and career sponsors. In addition to her work as a congressional staffer, Kwamme has done an amazing job training and mentoring the new generation of young minority leaders through her work with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Internship and Leadership Institute. Recently, she founded Carey Consulting Firm, LLC, based in Washington, D.C.Our conversation focuses on how to discover and pursue your true purpose in life, and how to excel in the public policy space. Kwamme explains how to keep purpose at the center of your career, and how to prevent what you want in life from eclipsing what you truly need. This is an invaluable interview, full of advice I wish I’d heard at the start of my career. She also shares her riveting account of her experience while working on Capitol Hill during the January 6th, 2021 insurrection, and how the trauma of that historic event forever changed her career path. I am deeply grateful to Kwamme for sharing her lived experiences, wisdom, and sage advice with us today. To find out more about Dr. Kwamme Anderson and Carey Consulting Firm, LLC, please check out these links below:Carey Consulting Firm, LLC: careyconsultingfirm.comLinkedIn: Dr. Kwamme A.More from Algene SajeryIG: theminorityleaders and @algene_1913Websites: algenesajery.com and catalystglobaldc.comLinkedIn: Algene-SajeryThis is a Redd Rock Music PodcastIG: @reddrockmusicwww.reddrockmusic.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support the showPlease remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here:
Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders

Dear Minority Leaders,Today we are continuing our expansion of discussion topics and welcoming my new friend, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister, Rachel Lauren. Our conversation today focuses on Rachel’s work at the intersection of racial equity, criminal justice reform, climate advocacy, and most especially foster care and adoption. By profession Rachel is the Chief People Officer at Dream.Org and also a founding partner and Chief Programming Officer for Diversified, a boutique DEI consulting firm. Through her popular social platforms and various contributor positions, Rachel speaks out against racial injustice and advocates for the lives of all Black people. With focus on justice innovation and the importance of getting black and brown talent trained and integrated into the technology workspace, Rachel has been a leading voice and advocate for equality and representation.We also dive into the adoption and foster case systems with Rachel being a proud adoptive mom of 3. She is no stranger to foster care and adoption, and more specifically how this industry affects Black and Brown children and families. Rachel advocates to protect and support the needs of children in the foster care system. She also shares her stories and advice for new foster parents.I ask Rachel her thoughts on why she feels that so many children in the foster care system age out and if there is a way to address this issue on the policy level and you won’t want to miss the impactful insights Rachel shares on the matter. To find out more about Rachel Lauren, Dream.Org and DiversifiedNow.Org check out the links below:IG : @theonlyrachelWebsite : rachellauren.meDiversified Now : DiversifiedNow.OrgDream.Org : Dream.OrgMore from Algene SajeryIG: theminorityleadersAnd @algene_1913Website: algenesajery.comLinkedIn: Algene-SajeryThis is a Redd Rock Music PodcastIG: @reddrockmusicwww.reddrockmusic.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support the showPlease remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here:
Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders

Dear Minority Leaders,Before we jump into this episode, let me thank you all for your positive feedback on the reboot of this podcast. I appreciate all your kind words of encouragement. Please take a few seconds to show your support for this incredible platform by giving us a 5 star rating, subscribing,writing a quick review, and by sharing this podcast with the future minority leaders in your life. I want to keep bringing this community wonderful words of wisdom and dynamic conversations, and your quick show of support will go a long way towards ensuring I can keep sharing this little passion project of mine with you all.Speaking of passion, if you know me, you know I am passionate about parenting. So today I am proud to be kicking off a series of episodes featuring women of color advocates on parenting, caregiving, and educating children in different abilities.  I am elated to be joined by one of my oldest and dearest friends- and fellow Howard University alum, Dawn Allen - co-founder of The Autism Grind. Dawn and I discuss her journey from a young mom of a child on the autism spectrum to leading advocate and educator for parents of kids with different abilities, especially kids of color.Dawn is an accomplished autism advocate, skilled instructional designer, and former educator. With a Masters of Education in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Howard University, her academic journey underscores her proficiency and commitment. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dawn’s role as a mother of three, including a non-verbal autistic son, significantly influences her mission, driving her unwavering commitment to fostering understanding and inclusivity within the autism community.Our conversation today explores our journeys as parents of children on the spectrum, her work with the education system to help teachers have the necessary tools to adequately support children on the spectrum, and the importance of assistive communication devices. We discuss her YouTube program, Friday Night Grind, which I’ve had the privilege of joining, and how Dawn has traversed the developing landscape of providing community to all parents of children with special needs. Please stick around to the end to hear Dawn’s insightful answer to the very important question of “What is the biggest myth in the autism community?” Her response is both informative and enlightening. It was the perfect way to cap off such an important conversation. To find out more about Dawn Allen & The Autism Grind check out the links below.The Autism Grind : theautismgrind.orgIG : @theautismgrindFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheAutismGrindFollow me at Algene Sajery and The Minority Leaders Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn: and again, please remember to subscribe, rate, share, and review us here or wherever you get your podcasts!This is a Redd Rock Music PodcastIG: @reddrockmusicwww.reddrockmusic.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support the showPlease remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here:
Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders

Dear Minority Leaders,Today we wrap our three part series on diversity in the U.S. Department of State and diplomacy with the preeminent expert on the topic: Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, State’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Amb. Abercrombie-Winstanley became the first woman to head a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia in 2002 and was the longest serving Ambassador to Malta. She speaks Arabic, Hebrew, and Maltese. Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley is a living legend and role model to me and an entire generation of women of color in diplomacy and national security. A trailblazing distinguished diplomat with decades of leadership under her belt, the Ambassador has also held senior positions at the Defense Department and the National Security Council of the White House. She is a co-founder of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security, where I currently serve as a board member. She is currently serving as the first woman and African American to serve as president of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC).I am honored to welcome Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley to the show to discuss her illustrious career, offer sage advice to women of color interested in a career in diplomacy, and share an honest, no-nonsense critique of the Biden-Harris Administration's work to advance diversity and inclusion in the U.S. foreign policy and national security workforce. The Ambassador also discusses her goals for expanding the breadth and scope of MEPC’s programs and initiatives. We discuss how to hold ‘toxic rockstars’ accountable in the workplace, why black and brown foreign policy experts should not be pigeonholed to only work on Africa and the Caribbean, foreign service fellowship programs and the entrance exam, the importance of remembering to have fun while climbing the career ladder, and why choosing the right life partner or spouse is critical for women in leadership careers. Tune in for a truly illuminating, frank, and fun conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.For Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley’s full bio please check out the link below www.state.gov/biographies/gina-abercrombie-winstanley/For more on the Middle East Policy Council’s programs and LCWINS, see belowhttps://mepc.org/https://mepc.org/events/capitol-hill-conferenceshttps://teachmideast.org/https://www.lcwins.org/Follow host Algene Sajery and The Minority Leaders Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn:. Please remember rate ,share, and review us here or wherever you get your podcasts!This is a Redd Rock Music PodcastIG: @reddrockmusicwww.reddrockmusic.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the showPlease remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here:
Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders