Chanda Smith Baker

As one of the Central Park Five, Dr. Yusef Salaam spent nearly seven years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. His story has re-entered national conversation as Ava DuVernay’s new Netflix miniseries tells the story of this important and controversial case. At this live event, Chanda and Yusef talk about his story, his thoughts about the criminal justice system, and his hopes for the future.

Acooa Ellis took on the role of Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Greater Twin Cities United Way in May 2018. In this episode, Acooa and Chanda talk about recent changes at the United Way, the challenges and pressures they face as African American women of color, and their hopes for the future of philanthropy.

Valerie Castile was thrown into the national spotlight after her son, Philando Castile, was shot and killed by a police officer. Now the CEO and President of the Philando Castile Relief Foundation, Valerie talks to Chanda about how she’s channeling her grief into good, her approach to philanthropy, and keeping her son’s legacy alive.

Van Jones is a well-known U.S. media personality who has founded and led many social enterprises, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, and the Dream Corps. He sat down with Chanda to talk about his relationship with Prince, how he uses his voice for good, and why the broader community should care about criminal justice reform.

Patrick Troska is the President of the Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota. Chanda connected with Patrick to talk about the shifting landscape of philanthropy, the personal business of building relationships, and the internal work it takes to show up well in community.

Anil Hurkadli is the Learning and Strategy Officer at the Thrivent Foundation. Together, Chanda and Anil talk about their role as funders and how they’ve navigated the world of philanthropy as people of color. They also discuss Anil’s perspective on anti-racism and his belief that complexity and diversity should be treated as an asset.

Valerie Jarrett was the longest-serving senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Her new book, “Finding My Voice,” illustrates how she went from being a painfully shy kid to one of the top leaders in the White House. Chanda sat down with Valerie to talk about her book, the importance of listening to people’s stories, and how she advocates for herself and others.

Caroline Wanga is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources at the Target Corporation. In this episode, Chanda and Caroline explore how their stories have intertwined in the past 20 years. They also discuss how Caroline developed grit and resilience as a young mother, her journey to self-acceptance, and how who you are is non-negotiable.

Edgar Villanueva is the author of “Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance.” At this live event, Chanda and Edgar talked about their personal experiences in philanthropy, the power structures that surround wealth, and the steps needed to bring compassion and healing to the institution of philanthropy.

Dr. Robin DiAngelo is the author of “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.” At our first-ever Conversations with Chanda event, Chanda and Robin discussed her book, the counterproductive reactions white people can have when talking about race, and the steps white people need to take to challenge racial inequities.