This week, though Black History Month in the Americas is winding down, here on the podcast we’re consistently aiming to learn, grow and inspire our sustained consciouness around #PanAfricanProgress and we’re deep diving with a son of the country that is at the foundation of liberation across the global Black Diaspora - Haiti.

Marc Alain Boucicault is a social entrepreneur and ecosystem builder with over 15 years of experience working in international development and entrepreneurship with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, at MIT and with grassroots organizations focused on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. He is passionate about leveraging the power of entrepreneurship, technology and communication to reshape socioeconomic dynamics. As the founder of Banj, Haiti’s largest coworking space and entrepreneurship hub connecting various communities to promote innovation in Haiti and the Caribbean he also supports change-makers globally. Marc Alain extends this work in service on the board of the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP) addressing access to higher education in Haiti. He is a Fulbright scholar, a social media influencer and a fellow podcaster.

Where to find Marc Alain?
On the Executive Talk Podcast
On [LinkedIn](linkedin.com/in/marcalainb)
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube

What’s Marc Alain watching?
Banj 4.0

Other topics of interest:
On Hispaniola and how the Haitian Revolution stirred colonialism
Haiti Tech Summit
Africa Tech Summit - Nairobi
On The Five Stakeholder Model
What’s GDP really all about?
The Assassination of Jovenel Moïse: What happened on July 7, 2021 in Haiti?
The IDB Case Study: Seeking a Recipe to Support Entrepreneurs in a Fragile Country: Banj's Approach through the Mobilization of the Innovation Ecosystem in Haiti
Haitians at Harvard
On Barbados' Inspriational Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

Special Guest: Marc Alain Boucicault.

This week on the podcast it’s flashback February. Inspired by last year’s Black History Month compilation episode, for this week, also dedicated to Black History Month, I’ve selected glocally speaking, mindset hacking and solution-scaping excerpts from conversations over the past year. Starting with the Science Mercenary, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi on how reconceptualizing our ideas on time and how the evolutionary continuum of human intelligence need not be as complicated as we think. Cognitive-Behavioral Research Scientist, Dr. Juleen Christopher reinforces his thoughts by introducing us to her mindset hack, a technique called positive intelligence and how a commitment to telling ourselves and living a story contrary to those embedded in social injustice are at the bedrock of her activism. Cultural practitioner, Kobby Graham furthers the story as he elaborates on his mindset hack - collaboration and how its revival in the African psyche is critical to progress. Communication specialist and cultural curator, Samba Yonga then illustrates how our African histories reinforce this collaborative ethic and is using her museum as the narrative activism necessary to reinform a new now. Finally, glocally speaking, the Money Maker, Eric Collins, puts his money where his mouth is investing in the change that he and his partners at Impact X Capital intend to see in black communities across Europe.

The common thread in my selections is activism which is the why of Black History Month. Waking each morning in parts of the world rife with injustice is itself an act of courageous resistance. We must challenge ourselves to uplift untold stories and unheard voices, so that by valuing global Black histories, we can collectively build, simply put, a better today. That is the definition of Glocal Citizenship.

Visit the links above for full episodes and extended show notes.

Special Guests: Eric Collins, Hakeem Oluseyi , Juleen Christopher, Kobina Ankomah Graham, and Samba Yonga.

As February comes to a close, and with it the annual call to attention, remembrance, and action that is Black History Month in North America, I decided to curate a Black Progress episode drawing on the research of Dr. T.J Desch-Obi in the historical ethnography of pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora and Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo in African Philanthropy, snapshots of pre- and post-colonial Senegal with Bara Diokhane, evolving systems and training leaders with Mustapha Njie and the lived experience of Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz, as a creative, as a woman, as Black American navigating career, marriage, and self-discovery in parallel with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Each week here on the podcast we’re doing our part to share stories of Black presence that are indeed manifesting a new world so I hope this compilation of Dynamic Diasporans making local and global impact will inspire you, your presence, your progress, and your passion.

Where to find this week's guests?
Dr. T.J Desch-Obi
Bara Diokhane
Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo
Mustapha Njie
Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz

Cover art:
https://akoncity.com/

Special Guests: Bara Diokhané , Bhekinkosi Moyo, Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz, Mustapha Njie, and T.J. Desch-Obi.

In response the tragic murder of George Floyd and national upheaval that followed, Jon found himself wanting to do more than simply protest. He wanted to do something that would directly impact and improve Black lives. Targeting Black businesses in particular, Jon recently ticked a new box on his resume becoming a tech CEO, with the launch of the Blapp app.
Blapp connects is communities to local Black businesses across an array of sectors--bars and restaurants, boutiques and markets, professional services and much, much more. With nearly 20,000 downloads since launching in October 2021, Blapp is well on it's way to becoming a game changer in both the brick and mortar and online shopping spaces!

Where to find Jon?
Blapp App
Comedy Cellar
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Twitter
On YouTube

What's Jon watching?
Valley of the Damned on Discovery ID
Disney+'s Mandalorian

Other topics of interest:
Former CSU President, Albert C. Yates
About Leslie Jones
One Bedroom Film
About Margot Merrill Fernandez
Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Venmo co-founder

Special Guest: Jon Laster.