Chanda Smith Baker

Jesse Leon's recent memoir, "I'm Not Broken," shares his story of resilience. Jesse survived devastating childhood abuse and years of addiction to become the leader he is today. His experiences have informed his perspective on philanthropy, affordable housing, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and more. In this heartfelt conversation, Chanda and Jesse discuss the importance of sharing his story and investing in mental health.

As an author, leader, and consultant, Trista Harris helps mission-driven organizations plan for the future. Chanda sat down with Trista to talk about current trends in the philanthropic sector, the tools of futurism, and her experiences working in nonprofits and foundations.

Amanda Brinkman is a producer, branding expert, and public speaker who shares her "Do Well By Doing Good" philosophy around the country. Amanda joined Chanda for a live conversation at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' 2022 Annual Conference. Together, they explored the current state of the nonprofit sector and the power of authentic leadership.

The Innocence Project works to create fair, compassionate, and equitable justice systems. Chanda sat down with two leaders in this work, Peter Neufeld and Sara Jones, to discuss wrongful convictions, the hurdles to exonerating the innocent, and the new approach prosecutors are taking to shift the culture of the criminal legal system.

Susan Taylor is an author, activist, and the Founder & CEO of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Chanda sat down with Susan to discuss the importance of healing from trauma, the barriers we need to break down, and Susan's time as Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine.

Dr. Sylvia Bartley is the author of "Turning the Tide: Neuroscience, Spirituality and My Path Toward Emotional Health." In this episode, Chanda and Sylvia discuss the complexities of community engagement work and holistic approaches to mental health.

In this episode, Chanda sits down with Sue Abderholden, the executive director for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Chanda and Sue have a meaningful discussion about mental health in the workplace, schools, and the criminal justice system. They cover what’s working now and what still needs to happen to put wellness at the forefront of our collective focus and what people can do individually to improve their mental health.

Uzoma Obasi is a creative entrepreneur, producer, and photographer from Minneapolis. After George Floyd's murder, he traveled with George's family and their attorney Ben Crump -- capturing powerful moments along the way. He sat down with Chanda to talk about using his skills to document history, his advice to creatives, and the evolution of his storytelling.

In this special episode, Chanda connects with her son Malik Rucker, the Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for V3 Sports. V3 is a North Minneapolis nonprofit that combats health and wellness inequities. Chanda and Malik talk about their love of North Minneapolis, dangerous narratives that need disruption, and bold strategies that lead to community change.

Sasha Cotton has spent the last three years leading Minneapolis' Office of Violence Prevention. In July, she will start a new role as the deputy director for the National Network for Safe Communities with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Chanda connected with Sasha to talk about the highs and lows of her career, evidence-based violence prevention strategies, and the community-centered approach needed in all areas of public safety.

In light of the recent mass shootings in America, including those in Uvalde and Buffalo, we are resharing this episode with Jillian Peterson, the Co-founder of the Violence Project. Chanda and Jillian sat down together in 2020 to talk about the psychology of mass shootings, the best ways to prevent this violence, and the power of human connection during times of crisis.

Adair Mosley is the president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities—a community impact agency working to co-create enduring change toward a just society. Chanda and Adair share their thoughts on the ins and outs of leadership, why community engagement never stops, and what it means to meet the moment.

Dr. Robert Ashcraft is the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation Executive Director at Arizona State University. Chanda connected with Robert to talk about nonprofit leadership, community building, and the direction of philanthropy.

Heather McGhee is the author of the New York Times bestseller "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together." Chanda sat down with Heather to unpack the effects of segregation and how we can work together to combat inequality in America.

Cara Deanes is the owner and CEO of the ROHO Collective, an arts organization that strives to embrace, support, and nurture artists of color. Chanda and Cara explore the importance of authentic representation and true diversity in the arts. They also examine why art and revolution go hand in hand.

Minneapolis is hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four next weekend, and we can’t wait to celebrate women’s sports and be part of some seriously joyful energy in downtown Minneapolis. We are also excited that Essence Magazine will be in town for the Final Four, joining our whole community as we showcase the best of Minneapolis for a national audience. To celebrate, this week we’re revisiting an oldie-but-goodie from our podcast archives: Chanda’s conversation with Caroline Wanga, a charismatic powerhouse who served as Target’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer before assuming her current role as CEO of Essence. In this August 2019 episode, Caroline shares how she developed grit and resilience as a young mother, her journey to self-acceptance, and how who you are is non-negotiable.

This episode of Conversations with Chanda dives deep into policing with Tracey L. Meares, the Walton Hale Hamilton Professor and Founding Director of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School. Chanda and Tracey discuss the challenges police departments face as they work to ensure public safety while also building public trust.

Bo Thao-Urabe founded the Coalition of Asian American Leaders in 2013. After almost a decade of leading the organization, she's taking a step back to find a new path. Chanda sat down with Bo to talk about moments of transition, the keys to measuring impact work, and the systematic approach needed in anti-racism work.

Repa Mekha has more than 30 years of experience in community building and systems change work. Currently, he is the President & CEO of Nexus Community Partners. In this episode, Chanda talks with Repa about the weight of leadership, the critical moments in his life, and their work together on the Philanthropic Collective to Combat Anti-Blackness & Realize Racial Justice.

We are flipping the script for this episode of Conversations with Chanda. Instead of hosting, Chanda answers questions from the Minneapolis Foundation’s Senior Director of Impact and Collective Giving, Patrice Relerford. Chanda opens up about her personal story, approach to philanthropy, and what the podcast has meant to her.