The Silk Stocking Sisters

From Classroom to Community: How Technology Access and Teacher Support Shape Student Success with Brenda Powell

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we are joined by special guest Brenda Powell. From her early years growing up in Gary, Indiana, a city built on Black culture and community, to navigating higher education as one of the few Black students at University of Rochester during the 1970s, Mrs. Powell shares the experiences that shaped her personal and professional journey. She began her career in corporate sales with Xerox and Honeywell, then transitioned into education, serving as a high school guidance counselor for eight years before leading Laptops for Learning as Executive Director for seven years. Her work has focused on closing technology and opportunity gaps for low-income students. She understands the importance of scholarships, community-based support systems, and nonprofit education initiatives to expand access and opportunity for all students.  Mrs. Powell reflects on the educators who changed the course of her life and influenced her educational pursuits, including a guidance counselor and French teacher who made her feel seen, supported, and capable of achieving more. She discusses the power of meaningful teacher-student relationships and emphasizes the critical role community plays in educational success. As Mrs. Powell reflects on her experience attending the University of Rochester, she expresses gratitude for the exposure it offered. She shares how her upbringing in Gary helped her feel grounded and comfortable in her own skin as she navigated new academic and social environments. Join us for a conversation that highlights how, when students are given the right tools, encouragement, and opportunities, they can thrive beyond circumstance. Remember to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!

Sports, Academics & Mentorship: Empowering the Next Generation with Charles “Chuck” Hughes

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In todays episode, we continue Part 2 of our conversation with Charles Chuck Hughes, President and CEO of the Gary Chamber of Commerce, former City Councilman, mentor, and community leader. Based on his experiences as a former athlete, Mr. Hughes shares his perspective on sports versus academics and explains why the two should work in partnership rather than competition. He emphasizes the importance of being a true student-athlete, highlighting the valuable lessons, discipline, leadership, and personal growth that come from both education and athletics. This conversation emphasizes the impact and importance of mentorship, especially for young adults navigating the transition into adulthood. Mr. Hughes reflects on nearly two decades leading the Midnight Basketball Program in Gary, Indiana, a community-based initiative designed to provide structured late-night basketball leagues for at-risk youth and young adults during high-risk hours. Midnight Basketball wasnt simply a sports program. It combined mentorship, life-skills training, and community engagement to create spaces that encouraged accountability and personal growth.  Mr. Hughes also speaks about the negative stigma often placed on Gary because it is a predominantly Black city, while highlighting the citys strong foundation of excellence and achievement. He highlights the many influential leaders, athletes, astronauts, and more who have come from Gary.  Join us for a conversation about sports, academics, mentorship and the importance of investing in young people. Be sure to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!

The Reality of Segregated Schools in the Midwest and Their Legacy of Excellence with Charles “Chuck” Hughes

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In todays episode, were joined by Charles Chuck Hughes, President and CEO of the Gary, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and former City Councilman, for a candid discussion on the realities of segregated schooling, the role of funding in education, and how community values shape student success. Mr. Hughes reflects on his experience growing up in Gary, Indiana, where he attended Gary Roosevelt High School, a segregated school he describes as the mecca of educational learning. Built during a time when discriminatory housing patterns restricted Black families to certain neighborhoods, the school became a center of excellence. Despite segregation, Gary Roosevelt fostered a culture of high academic standards, pride, and achievement. Mr. Hughes expresses gratitude for his time there, highlighting that its educators, many highly educated and experienced, were committed to student success and created an environment where young people were challenged, supported, and inspired to excel. We also explore how school funding directly influences student outcomes. We offer a fresh perspective that challenges the belief that integration consistently resulted in better opportunities for Black students and communities, recognizing that in some cases, it did not. Mr. Hughes highlights that in Gary, economic decline and a lack of job opportunities contributed to population loss, ultimately leading Black families to leave the city in pursuit of better economic and educational opportunities for their children, which in turn contributed to the closure of Gary Roosevelt High School. This episode invites listeners to reconsider common narratives and reflect on what truly creates strong learning environments and drives educational success. Remember to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!

Food Addiction, Trauma, and Emotional Eating: Michelle Petties on Healing, Mental Health, and Nutrition

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we are joined by special guest Michelle Petties, TEDx speaker and bestselling author of Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict. Using both research and personal experience, Ms. Petties explores the connections between food addiction, trauma, emotional eating, and education. In this conversation, we discuss how patterns around food begin early in life, often shaped by childhood experiences and emotional environments. Ms. Petties challenges us to rethink the way we view food, urging students and educators to consider what it truly means to nourish both the  body and mind. She states, We think were fighting food, but were fighting emotions.  We focus on how eating behaviors are often influenced by emotional experiences and past trauma, with food frequently becoming a way of managing stress and unresolved feelings. She addresses how obesity can be understood as a manifestation of things people did not know how to deal with. This episode highlights the disproportionate impact these experiences have within the Black community, especially among Black women, while emphasizing the importance of understanding both your mental and emotional states, and recognizing how they directly influence and are reflected in the body.  We also examine how food environments and the consumption of highly processed foods can influence cognitive function, affecting attention, memory, and students ability to learn and perform academically.  Join us for an important and timely conversation that expands our understanding of the emotional and psychological factors that shape our relationship with food. Remember to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!

The Legacy of the Modern School of Harlem: Black Women’s Education Activism with Dr. Deidre B. Flowers

In this episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast, we are honored to welcome special guest Dr. Deidre B. Flowers, an education historian whose work centers on Black womens education activism and their impact on American schooling. Dr. Flowers brings both research-based insight and personal experience to the conversation as we explore one of her publications, The School for Modern Times: Mildred Louise Johnson and the Founding of the Modern School of Harlem. Together, we uncover the story behind the Modern School of Harlem and the visionary leadership of Mildred Louise Johnson, whose commitment to academic excellence, Black identity, and community empowerment shaped generations of students. Dr. Flowers reflects on her own journey, growing up as a student at the Modern School of Harlem and continuing her education at historically Black institutions. She shares the story of her mothers migration from the South in search of greater opportunity and her intentional decision to provide her daughter with access to an education that could offer the opportunities she herself was denied. Throughout this episode, she highlights the vital role of family support in shaping educational success. We discuss the historical significance and systemic barriers Black educators faced in the 20th century that led to the founding of independent institutions like the Modern School of Harlem in 1934. Dr. Flowers offers perspective on public versus private education, emphasizing how smaller class sizes and individualized attention can better support student growth. This episode highlights the importance of meeting students where they are while honoring the history and impact of Black educators. Tune in and subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!