Chanda Smith Baker

Kareem Farah is an educator and Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms Project – a nonprofit that empowers educators to meet student needs through blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction. In this episode, Chanda and Kareem talk about the 21st-century skills that need to be taught in the classroom, the importance of trauma-informed teaching, and how COVID-19 has affected education.

Elizer Darris is the Co-Executive Director of the Minnesota Freedom Fund – an organization that disrupts the predatory practices of criminal bail and immigration bonds. Chanda sat down with Elizer to talk about the trappings of the criminal justice system and what it takes to be a changemaker.

Jim Bear Jacobs is dedicated to bringing to light the Indigenous stories of Minnesota. This includes his “Healing Minnesota Stories” work at the Minnesota Council of Churches. In this episode, Chanda and Jim discuss how storytelling can spark consciousness, the ways philanthropy has shifted strategies over the past decade, and how trauma can resurface in unexpected ways.

Drew Evans is the Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Chanda met Drew in 2019 when she was a part of a state-led working group on police-involved deadly force encounters. In this episode, Drew and Chanda talk about the BCA’s role in the criminal justice system, the laws and circumstances that can prevent justice, and how the BCA is trying to build community trust and transparency in its work.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is an award-winning author and anti-racist scholar. His latest book, “Four Hundred Souls,” is a collaborative effort that showcases the history of African Americans from 1619 to 2019. Chanda and Dr. Kendi connected to talk about the importance of anti-racist education, the struggles of reimagining public safety, and why we need to invest in narrative change work.

As President of North Central University in Minneapolis, Scott Hagan found himself propelled into the national spotlight last year when the university was asked to host George Floyd’s memorial. Chanda sat down to talk to Scott about that experience, his journey to understanding racism on a systemic level, and how he’s trying to use his platform for good.

As a scholar and author, Eddie S. Glaude Jr. writes about the complexities of race and the American experience. His latest book is “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.” Chanda and Eddie connected to talk about the intersection of greed and racism, the pitfalls of symbolic representation, and how to prevent burnout while working toward justice.

For nine years of his life, Christian Picciolini was part of the neo-Nazi movement. Now, the former extremist runs the Free Radicals Project where he helps individuals, families, and communities disengage from hate- and violence-based extremism. Christian was in Minnesota in late 2019 for a community listening session on hate crimes with local faith and political leaders, including Attorney General Keith Ellison. Before the event, Chanda, Keith, and Christian sat down to talk about the rise of hate and intolerance, how trauma can lead to hate, and how we can best prevent extremism.

Isaiah Oliver is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. In this conversation, Chanda and Isaiah discover that they share similar paths to their roles in philanthropy. They discuss the support systems that help them lead, the national and local issues affecting the work, and how philanthropy needs to evolve to stay relevant and effective.

Dr. Christopher Emdin is an associate professor of science education at Teachers College, Columbia University and the author of the New York Times bestseller, “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too.” Chanda and Chris took time to discuss the major challenges in our education system – especially for brown and black students, the positive and negative effects of narratives, and why we need to activate the imagination of our youth.

Michael Vick’s career has gone through a tremendous rise, fall, and redemption. Today, the former NFL quarterback works hard to show up for his community. Chanda and Michael talk about what it was like for Michael to grow up in Newport News, the importance of a strong support system, and the actions he’s taking to strengthen prison reform and youth development.

From 1994 to 2001, Sharon Sayles Belton served as mayor of Minneapolis. She was the first woman and first African American to hold that position. Sharon and Chanda connected to talk about the importance of relationships in community building work, philanthropy’s role in bringing people together, and why complicated problems need complex solutions.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx partnered with the Minneapolis Foundation to pursue justice, equity, and healing in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders and player Josh Okogie connected with Chanda to discuss how sports have shaped their perspectives on racial justice, how they’re using their leadership and platforms for good, and why silence is not an option.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, the Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves partnered with The Minneapolis Foundation to pursue justice, equity, and healing through our Fund for Safe Communities. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and player Napheesa Collier sat down with Chanda to talk about how they weave social justice into their games, how they approach making meaningful change, and why it’s important to speak up for those who don’t have a platform.

As a pastor, activist, and philanthropist, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson has a wide range of experience fighting for racial justice. In this episode, Chanda and Starsky process the recent grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case. They also discuss the lessons Starsky learned during the Ferguson protests, philanthropy’s role in this moment, and the responsibility we all have to the next generation.

Ron Heifetz is a world-renown professor, author, and authority on the topic of leadership. One of his books, “Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Change,” has been instrumental to Chanda’s approach to leadership. Chanda connected with Ron to talk about the self-care practices leaders need to establish, the disparities and opportunities that crises reveal, and the work white people need to do in order to pursue racial justice.

Vu Le returns! The creator of Nonprofit AF is back to tackle questions that attendees sent to Chanda and Vu during our first-ever virtual Conversations with Chanda. Together, they discuss how fundraising needs to be grounded in justice, the difficulties of navigating racist systems as people of color, and how they’re finding joy and levity during this heavy time.

Our first-ever virtual Conversations with Chanda event guest was Vu Le, the creator of Nonprofit AF. Vu and Chanda talk about what community-centric philanthropy looks like, how philanthropy can be responsive during times of crisis, and the many pressing challenges facing the nonprofit sector.

Tom Weber is an award-winning journalist, a former host for Minnesota Public Radio news, and the author of “Minneapolis: An Urban Biography.” Chanda and Tom got together to discuss the importance of bringing historical context into tough conversations, the untold stories of Minneapolis, and the laws and structures that have shaped the city.

Nicholas Buccola’s background in American political thought led him to write his book, “The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America.” Nicholas connected with Chanda to talk about how James Baldwin and William Buckley’s infamous debate came to fruition, the fortress of white supremacy, and why we need to come to terms with our history in order to move forward with justice.