Village Talks

Damien Howard
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Education for Kids
  • Updated Weekly

Village Talks is a podcast hosted by Damien Howard, founder of SEL Plus and Director of Education Initiatives at Together Chicago. Each episode brings together educators, mentors, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who believe in the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” From the South Side of Chicago to cities across the nation, Village Talks explores how purpose, mentorship, and collaboration can transform the lives of young people. Guests share stories, strategies, and hard-won wisdom on building systems that reflect the brilliance of our youth and strengthen the communities around them. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, mentor, or leader, Village Talks will inspire you to join the movement—assembling like the Avengers to ensure every child thrives in education, safety, and purpose.

Episodes

  1. Village Talks Ep. 4 — Cliff Goins on Wealth, Nonprofits, and Building a Real Village

    10/10/2025

    Village Talks Ep. 4 — Cliff Goins on Wealth, Nonprofits, and Building a Real Village

    Episode 4: Cliff Goins IV — Wealth, Nonprofits, and Building a Real Village In this episode, Damien Howard sits down with investor, author, and South Side native Cliff Goins IV to talk about closing the racial wealth gap and rethinking how we build economic power within our communities. Cliff shares insights from his book Minding the Wealth Gap and offers practical advice for both individuals and nonprofit leaders — from stacking your savings to running your organization like a business. Together, they explore why true success is impossible without village, and how each of us can play a role in creating financial freedom and collective strength. 🎧 Tune in and get ready to rethink wealth, purpose, and community.

    33 min
  2. Village Talks Ep. 3 — “Be who you’re here to be.” A Conversation with Youth Strategist Patricia Wicks

    09/14/2025

    Village Talks Ep. 3 — “Be who you’re here to be.” A Conversation with Youth Strategist Patricia Wicks

    What’s up, fam—Damien here. If you’ve been rocking with Village Talks, you already know the heart: bring the village together so our young people don’t just survive—they thrive. The more we connect, share tools, and tell the truth about what’s working, the faster we move from talk to traction. Today’s guest lives that ethic every day: my friend, sister, and accountability partner, Patricia Wicks, a youth development strategist and founder of PathWorks (Purpose, Attitude, Tenacity, Hope). She’s been building tools for students, families, schools, nonprofits—and the systems that shape them—for decades. This episode is a masterclass in centering purpose, aligning systems, and refusing to let the noise redefine who our kids are or what they can do.

    27 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

Village Talks is a podcast hosted by Damien Howard, founder of SEL Plus and Director of Education Initiatives at Together Chicago. Each episode brings together educators, mentors, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who believe in the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” From the South Side of Chicago to cities across the nation, Village Talks explores how purpose, mentorship, and collaboration can transform the lives of young people. Guests share stories, strategies, and hard-won wisdom on building systems that reflect the brilliance of our youth and strengthen the communities around them. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, mentor, or leader, Village Talks will inspire you to join the movement—assembling like the Avengers to ensure every child thrives in education, safety, and purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Damien Howard
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Show Website
    Village Talks