Get ready for an electrifying June episode of RACE TALKS® on WGXC-90.7FM with your host Kimberly Y. Erwin, featuring the theme "Each 1 Reach One" in honor of Father's Day and Juneteenth! This special show kicks off with an oldie but goodie tune from the legendary Stevie Wonder, setting the stage for an unforgettable discussion on resilience, transformation, and the power of fatherhood.

Host Kimberly invites Ray Warren, a former professional athlete who found healing through scuba diving after facing depression to be her first guest TALKer. Ray's journey led him to establish the 1 Step Away Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping at-risk youth discover the therapeutic and career opportunities in the underwater world. Ray also owns a thriving scuba shop and is a proud father with a son heading to college this fall.

Welcome back to the show Eric Thompson, Outreach Supervisor at 518 SNUG!  Eric, who actively combats the rising tide of gun violence in our State's capital of Albany, NY, specializing in mediating conflicts among high-risk individuals to prevent shootings and promote community safety, is also a dedicated father, accomplished writer, and urban youth specialist whose multifaceted background equips him with a unique perspective on addressing diversity issues and fostering understanding among diverse communities. He'll help connect us with the insight from the one informed by special guest TALKer and avid show supporter, J. Froebel-Parker.

Froebel-Parker will captivate us with the tragic yet powerful story of Anastasia, the descendant of the last Tsar of Russia's family, whose entire family was murdered (by guns!). As Froebel-Parker marks this Romanov's 123rd anniversary, he shares profound insights into Anastasia's journey, highlighting the enduring bond between fathers and their children.  Might European history and culture still be relevant in understanding our plight as Americans of various cultures and ethnic identities?

The roundtable discussion at the end of the show, where call-ins from listeners will be taken may help to answer this question! Don’t miss this inspiring and dynamic episode of RACE TALKS® on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 7:00pm on WGXC-90.7 FM. Celebrate Father's Day, Juneteenth, and the power of history and community with us!

"Race Talks," hosted by intercultural communicator and author Kimberly Y. Erwin, provides expertise on the topic of race and ethnicity. With the national conversation in the media over racial inequity, ignorance or indifference is not a proper retreat. Erwin enjoys speaking with people from every walk of life, ethnic make-up, and varied perspectives to better instruct, engage, and inform listeners with positive and constructive conversations on all things race and ethnicity — which is very necessary to break down structural and societal racism. No topic is taboo. Here, listeners engage with the host, other expert guest educators, activists, organizers, and community members as they disseminate their knowledge (ie. varying terminologies, historical realities, and current opportunities for engagement) for a better informed, appreciative, and active local citizenry.

About the Host
An educator, writer, and entrepreneur, Erwin enjoyed her studies as a Hudson High School graduate (attending her senior year at Columbia-Greene Community College) and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta (noted the #1 Historical Black College and University by "U.S. News") where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French. Upon receiving a Masters in Science degree from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Intercultural Communication, Erwin ventured into the areas of international administration, multicultural leadership, and various teaching positions within the U.S. and globally.

Upon returning to Hudson Valley, Kimberly started a media company (OneUniversal Media) endeavoring to give voice to members in communities experiencing gross inequities who yearn to create common means of communicating and celebrating their identity while still challenging societal norms. Erwin is a founding member of Africa's Daughters of the Diaspora (ADD), she holds volunteer positions as a Hudson Area Library Trustee, an on-air programmer at WGXC-FM, and with the Hudson City School District (where her children's book was informed).