COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> OVER THE COURSE OF SEASON 3, WE HAVE DOVED INTO THE LIVES OF WOMEN DOING AMAZING AND NECESSARY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE THOSE WOMEN.

WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME POWERFUL PERFORMERS AND GET TO KNOW THREE MORE WOMEN DESERVING OF A SPOTLIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO GATHER YOUR FAMILY.

THEY WON'T WANT TO MISS TONIGHT'S EPISODE.

THE THIRD SEASON FINALE OF BEHIND THE WOMAN.

♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEELING.

♪ I'M UP ON A CLOUD, AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN.

♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEELING, YEAH ♪ ♪ YEAH I'M UP ON A CLOUD, AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY IN THE STUDIO AND AT HOME AND WELCOME TO THIS SEASON'S SEASON 3 FINALE EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I AM YOUR HOST, Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

OVER THE COURSE OF SEASON THREE OR EVEN THREE SEASONS OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN," WE HAVE DOVED IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN DOING AMAZING AND NECESSARY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE THOSE WOMEN.

WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME POWERFUL PERFORMERS, SEE WHERE SOME FAMILIAR FACES ARE NOW, FROM PREVIOUS EPISODES AND GET TO KNOW THREE MORE WOMEN DESERVING OF A SPOTLIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO GATHER YOUR FAMILY, I WANT YOU TO SEND A TEXT TO YOUR DEAREST FRIENDS.

THEY WON'T WANT TO MISS TONIGHT'S EPISODE, THE THIRD SEASON FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

[ APPLAUSE ] BEFORE WE BRING OUR GUESTS TO THE STAGE, I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST PERFORMER MUCH SHE IS AN ARTIST, ACTIVIST, EDUTAINER AND SEASON 3 GUEST.

I HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME WITH HER, I INVITED HER BACK TO THE FINALE, KARIN FRANKLIN KINGS, KARIN HAS BEEN A LIFE LONG PERFORMER AND CURRENTLY SHOWCASING HER STORIES THROUGH THE PAUL ROBE SON PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY.

TONIGHT SHE WILL BE READING "SHE WEARS RED" A POEM BY JACKIE BORER IN MOORE.

>> Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS, THANK YOU FOR CREATING, HOSTING THE PHENOMENAL "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] WE WOMEN STAND ON THE SHOULDER OF OUR SHEROES, DEFINE THEM AS OUR ANCESTORS, PEOPLE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW AND PEOPLE WE ADMIRE, OUR SHEROES, FRIEND AND PLOOD RELATIVES AND THE WOMEN WHO SIT ON THAT COUCH FOR "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

WE LEARN FROM THEM, WE GROW WITH THEM.

WE EVOLVE WITH THEM.

JUST ASK SERENA WILLIAMS ABOUT EVOLVING.

SHE DOESN'T RETIRE.

SHE EVOLVES.

SO WE ALL EVOLVE AND WE NEED EACH OTHER TO EVOLVE.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO READ A POEM.

AND WHEN YOU ASKED ME, I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF JACKIE MOORE, A MAIN STAY, A HEART OF THE PAUL ROBE SON PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY.

THE FIRST WOMAN POET LAUREATE OF ONONDAGA COUNTY.

THE POEM IS CALLED SHE WEARS RED.

SHE BANGS HARD ON THE DOOR JUST OUTSIDE MY CONSCIOUSNESS THIS WILD WOMAN I AM BECOMING “LET ME IN, OPEN UP!

” SHE SCREAMS WEARING A LONG BLUE DRESS OF DREAMS I DISCARDED.

I TRY TO IGNORE HER GO ABOUT EVERYDAY DUTIES A LIST THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED SHE KEEPS SHOWING ME NEW WAYS TO BE ME LESSONS I FORGOT SHE WEARS RED AND SAYS SHE IS STAKING A CLAIM TO BE BEAUTIFUL DROPS PEOPLE LIKE BAD HABITS CUTTING HURT FROM HER BODY CARVING A NEW SWITCH TO HER STEP “MORE BOUNCE TO THE OUNCE ” SHE SAYS “MORE CUSHIN' FOR THE PUSHIN ” SHE IS A VULGAR GIRL KNOWS JUST WHAT SHE WANTS THROWS HER HEAD BACK AND LAUGHS OUT LOUD SHE IS SOMETHING THIS NEW GIRL I ALMOST WAS “OPEN UP ” SHE SAYS “BE ME AGAIN BE THE GIRL YOU WERE AFRAID OF WEAR RED AGAIN WEAR YOUR HAIR DOWN BLACK AND GREY HAIR YOU EARNED WITH ALL THE PASSION YOU STORED INSIDE OPEN UP ” SHE SAYS THIS WILD WOMAN I AM BECOMING “OPEN UP AND WELCOME THIS WOMAN WE ARE ” [ APPLAUSE ] >> THIS WOMAN, WE ARE...

SPEAKING OF A WOMAN THAT IS WEARING ALL OF HER RED, AND BLESSING SO MANY OF US WITH HER TALENTS.

NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP DANI MITCHEL.

DANI WAS BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

SHE HAS BEEN SINGING AT THE GREATER NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH SINCE SHE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

AND IT WAS AT THE PAUL ROBESON PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY,-- TALK ABOUT EVOLVING, KARIN, SHE LEARNED STAGE PRESENCE, LIGHTING AND ACTING.

DANI NOW IS A MEMBER OF THE BROWN SKIN BAND AND HAS BEEN PERFORMING WITH THEM FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

SHE BELIEVES THAT MUSIC CAN HEAL THE WORLD AND HER DREAM IS TO OPEN UP A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL HERE IN SYRACUSE SOME DAY.

TONIGHT, DANI IS PERFORMING A SONG, MYSELF AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ARTISTS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON ON A PROJECT KNOWN AS QUEENDOM.

DANI IS PERFORMING AN ORIGINAL SONG SHE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT.

HERE IS DANI MITCHEL.

THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM.

WE LEARN NEW WAYS, FOR WRITER BRIGHTER DAYS.

♪ STRUGGLING EVERY DAY.

♪ WE CAN'T GET A BREAK.

♪ STRIVING FOR LIVING LIFE IN A NEW FOUND PURPOSE, HONORING OUR ANCESTOR SORRIES STORIES, WALKING OUR DESTIN THE PAST.

♪ WHILE WE SEARCH FOR FREE AT LAST, WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY ♪ SEE THE WORK AND GIVING ADVANTAGE, PLOW THE FIELDS.

♪ AND STILL WE ARE STRUGGLING.

♪ THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM.

♪ THIS IS FOR, THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM.

♪ WE'VE LEARNED NEW WAYS, WAITING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS.

♪ TEACHING THEM OUR CULTURE, COOKING YOU YOUR FOOT.

♪ AND BORN TO TEACH THE LITTLE ONES.

♪ FIRST TO NURTURE IN MY BONES.

♪ PLOW THE FIELDS.

♪ AND PICKING ALL YOUR COTTON.

♪ WASHING YOUR CLOTHES AND FIXING YOUR BUTTONS.

♪ ALL WE ASK FOR IN RETURN.

♪ IS 40 ACRES STILL NO GOAL ♪ YES, THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM, BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED NEW WAYS, PRAYING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS.

♪ STRUGGLING EVERY DAY.

♪ STILL WE CAN'T GET A BREAK.

♪ THIS IS FOR MY QUEENDOM, STRIVING AND FIGHTING FOR MY QUEENDOM.

♪ THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM.

♪ WE'VE LEARNED NEW WAYS.

♪ PRAYING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS.

♪ YEAH AND STILL WE CAN'T GET A BREAK.

♪ WE HONOR OUR ANCESTORS BY CARING FOR THE LAND AND LEGACY THEY FOUGHT FOR.

WE HONOR THE SPACE, THE JOURNEY AND THE PRESENCE OF BLACKNESS.

FINDING OUR QUEENDOM - OUR SPACE EVERY DAY AMIDST THE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR OUR QUEENDOM EVERY DAY AMONG PLAQUENESS AND WOMANHOOD AND SPACE THAT DOESN'T CREDIT OUR WORTH.

OUR GIFT TO THE WORLD AND THE VILLAGES FORMED, IS TO ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE THE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE.

WE WERE PROMISED 40 ACRES AND A MULE.

EVEN THOUGH FREEDOM BELLS RUNG, WE ARE STILL STRIVING FOR OUR QUEENDOM COME.

♪ THIS IS FOR QUEENDOM, THIS IS FOR MY QUEENDOM, QUEENDOM ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE HAVE-- THANK YOU, DANI.

THIS IS JUST WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE SPOKES THE SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE.

THANK YOU, DANI AND SO MANY OTHER ART ARTISTS, SO MANY ARTISTS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO BRING THAT ORIGINAL PIECE TO LIFE: OUR NEXT PERFORMER OF THE EVENING IS SIMON SYMPHONIE OWENS.

I'M SO EXCITED SHE IS HERE.

I'M A HUGE FAN SHE IS A VOCALIST, SPOKEN WORD ARTIST AND VISUAL ARTIST AGAIN FROM SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

HER STAGE NAME WAS GIVEN TO HER BY HER PEERS WHO OBSERVED HER ABILITY TO CONNECT, HER LOVE OF MUSIC WITH EVERYDAY SITUATIONS AND HER EARLY DAYS AS A POET, SHE WAS A MEMBER OF SYRACUSE'S FIRST POETRY GROUP, THE UNDERGROUND POETS.

: SHE USES HER VARIOUS ART MEDIUMS TO EXPRESS HER INNER MOST THOUGHTS AND CAPTIVATE AUDIENCES WHILE ALSO CREATING SAFE SPACES, FREEDOM AND LOVE MUCH TONIGHT SHE IS READING AN ORIGINAL PIECE ENTITLED RESILIENT.

♪ HOLD ON, JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER ♪ ♪ HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

♪ HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER ♪ AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT ♪ WITH EVERY STEP TAKEN, LAST STEP WORSE THAN THE PREVIOUS, SHE HAS WALKED MILES IN OTHER SHOES AND NEVER UTTERS HER UTTER EXHAUSTION.

THE POWER IN THE TONG OF HERS AND SHE KNOWS IT, VOICE QUIVERS WITH EVERY PHRASE SPOKEN.

SHE HAS STANZAS IN HER BREATH, HARM HARMONY IN EACH NOTE.

SHE HAS A STORY TO TELL.

BURIED IN THE HEARTBREAK, READ IN BETWEEN THE LINES.

SHE IS STRONG.

SHE NEVER ASKED FOR THE SUPER POWER, WANTS TO RELAX LIKE THE OTHERS BUT SHE HAS TOO MANY DEPENDENT ON HER.

TOO MANY TO BE THEIR BACKBONE FOR.

TOO MANY PROMISES MADE THAT SHE CANNOT BEAR TO STOMACH, TO BREAK.

SHE CONTINUES TO PRESS ON LIKE EACH MATRIARCH DID BEFORE HER, MUMBLING THESE WORDS, SHOEY REMEMBERS AS A CHILD, GRANDMA USED TO SING JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

AS IF A MOMENT OF SUDDENLY WOULD REIGNITE THE SPIRIT INSIDE HER.

AWAKENING HER ANCESTORS WITH THE PROMISE OF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

SHE REALIZES SHE IS THE HOPE THAT THEY PRAYED FOR, THE CHANGE THAT THEY SOUGHT, THE FANTASY THAT SEEMED UNREACHABLE.

THEY COULDN'T SEE IT BUT THEY KNEW IT WOULD COME.

BLACK WOMAN, SHE COMES FROM POWER AND DIVINITY PRESENCE IS FELT BEFORE SHE ENTERS A ROOM.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM AND THE SILENCE THEREAFTER SHE IS CHOSEN.

IN BEAUTY PAST MERE SKIN.

STRENGTH DEEPER THAN MUSCLE AND BONE.

SHE IS THE FAITH AND THE JOURNEY.

COMFORT IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE.

WILL IN THE VOID.

SHE IS RESILIENT.

AND SHE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

♪ HOLD ON, JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

♪ HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

♪ HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

♪ AND EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUR PANELISTS TONIGHT, WE COULDN'T END OUR SEASON 3 WITHOUT GOING BACK AND BRINGING IN SOME OF THE MESSAGES OR FACES FROM PREVIOUS EPISODES.

AND TONIGHT WE HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM A FAMILIAR FACE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JENNIFER SANDERS.

JENNIFER WAS A SEASON 1 GUEST ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

AT THAT TIME, SHE SPOKE ABOUT USING HER POSITION AS A LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR AND REPORTER TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THOSE HISTORICALLY SILENT.

LET'S SEE WHERE JENNIFER IS NOW AND WHAT SHE IS UP TO.

>> Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS, IT IS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR TEXAS FAN CLUB, GIRL.

I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU AND I KNOW THAT I TELL YOU THAT ALL THE TIME BUT I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU CREATED THIS SAFE SPACE WHERE WOMEN CAN COME AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES.

THEY CAN COME AND SHARE THOSE MOUNTAIN HIGHS AND THOSE VALLEY LOWS.

WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THESE CONVERSATIONS AND I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT YOU REALIZE THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS MOVEMENT THAT YOU CREATED, NOT JUST IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, BUT IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND HARLEM, IN CALIFORNIA AND ARKANSAS, NAMING THOSE PLACES BECAUSE I'VE SHARED EPISODES WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO LIVE IN THOSE PLACES.

AND I'M IN AWE OF THE NUGGETS THAT THEY TOOK AWAY PRODUCE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HOW THOSE NUGGETS REALLY HAVE HELPED THEM FORGE AHEAD IN THE CHALLENGES AND THIS BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY THAT WE CALL LIFE.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE MY EPISODE.

I'M BACK IN MY HOME STATE.

I'M IN TEXAS.

I'M IN THE CAPITOL CITY, IN AUSTIN.

AND I ANCHOR MONDAY-FRIDAY A NOON SHOW AND ALSO WE JUST LAUNCHED A FEW MONTHS AGO, A 4 P.M. SHOW AND IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE.

SO WE DO IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH CHANGE MAKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO IT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING SEASONS IN MY LIFE WAS WHEN I MOVED BACK TO TEXAS.

WE WERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO MUCH HAD CHANGED.

BUT I REALLY RELIED ON THE WORDS, THE WISDOM THAT WAS IMPARTED INTO ME BY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, MENTORS, FRIENDS, SORORITY SISTERS, PEOPLE WHO REALLY PRAYED OVER ME AND JUST SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN LIFE AND THAT'S REALLY SHIFTED HOW I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH, NOT JUST THIS SEASON, NOT JUST LAST SEASON, BUT REALLY GET THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, LIKE I SAID, THAT WE CALL LIFE.

SO I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE CREATING.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON.

LADIES I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

I MISS ALL OF YOU.

I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND YOU KNOW I'M A HUGGER SO WHEN I'M BACK IN SYRACUSE IN A SPACE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS, I WILL BE HUGGING ALL OF YOU ALL AND THANKING YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND HOW YOU HAVE IMPACTED MY LIFE.

JUHANNA, I'M PROUD OF YOU GIRL.

I LOVE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WE LOVE YOU, TOO, JENNIFER!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT MESSAGE.

OKAY CHT, SO HERE WE ARE.

TONIGHT, I'M THRILLED TO AND HONORED TO BE JOINED BY THREE POWERFUL DYNAMIC GAME CHANGING WOMEN.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO SOME OR GREET FOR OTHERS, JACKIE NELSON, PRESIDENT OF THE ROME, NEW YORK NAACP CHAPTER.

MONICA WILLIAMS, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, SOMEONE I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF FOR A LONG TIME, MONIQUE-WRIGHT WILLIAMS, THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NOW, BEFORE I GET INTO CONVERSATION WITH THESE THREE WIN, I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THEM.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMAZING WORK THAT THESE WOMEN ARE DOING FOR AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

TODAY WE ARE IN ROME, NEW YORK, AT THE KINGS OF CUTS BARBER SHOP WHERE WE ARE OFFERING SCHOOL AGED BOYS, A FREE BACK-TO-SCHOOL HAIR CUT AND HANDING OUT BACKPACKS AND HOT DOGS AND WATER TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL.

WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA BECAUSE WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE IN ROME THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.

AND WE KIND OF THOUGHT, WHAT DO CHILDREN NEED BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE THOUGHT OF WAS THE LITTLE BOYS AND THE HAIR CUTS.

SOME FAMILIES HAVE TWO, THREE AND EVEN FOUR CHILDREN AND TO HAVE TO PAY FOR EACH ONE TO GET A HAIR CUT CAN BE A BIT OF A HARDSHIP, PLUS HAVE TO BUY ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

JERRY HOWARD, WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE BUILDING, RALLIED HIS BARBERS TO HELP US.

ACROSS THE STREET WE HAVE DESALVO'S RESTAURANT AND RICH DESALVO WHO IS THE PROPRIETOR THERE IS PREPARING HOT DOGS AND GIVING OUT WATER TO THE CHILDREN.

WE HAVE GOTTEN DONATIONS FROM MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS, CONNECTED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, THE CENTER IS SENDING A TRANSLATOR SO THAT WE WERE PREDICTING THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME SPANISH SPEAKING CHILDREN THAT WILL BE HERE SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL FEEL IMPORTANT AND RESPECTED HERE TODAY.

PROGRAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE CHALLENGED AND ARE IN NEED BECAUSE WE ALL TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED.

IT'S JUST PART OF THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROCESS.

AND THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT DON'T GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING NEW THINGS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL, GETTING THEIR HAIR CUT, GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION AND THE EXCITEMENT OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO WE THOUGHT IF WE COULD DO THIS LITTLE BIT JUST TO HELP THEM OUT, THEN WE SHOULD DO IT.

IT'S SO NICE TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT I CALL THE FUN STUFF.

THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE SEEING THE RESULTS AS WELL.

SO, YEAH, THIS MAKES ALL OF US INVOLVED FEEL REALLY GOOD.

A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT THE LIBRARY ON SALINA STREET.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO HEAD INTO OUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MONTHLY MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

I AM THE CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY.

MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR WORKFORCE AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.

SO UNDER MY SUPERVISION IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

SO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS FORMED OF 24 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

AND THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT AND PRESSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ANYWHERE FROM I-81 TO LEAD PAINT TO A HOST OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE.

WE TRY TO TOUCH ON EVERY TOPIC.

AND THERE MAY BE SOME TIMES WHERE THERE MAY HAVE TO BE SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO ISSUES.

THIS IS WHAT THIS COMMISSION DOES.

I THINK THE POSITION OF CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO REALLY GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND BEGIN TO BRING THAT DIVERSE POOL INTO THE WORKFORCE, WHICH, WHEN YOU HAVE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE, IT MAKES IT MORE POWERFUL.

YOU GET MORE WORK DONE AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE JOB THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.

AND IT JUST MAKES-- IT STRENGTHENS THE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WHEN WE GO BACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE ARE ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN ENTERTAIN TOGETHER.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND BEING THE FIRST, IT GIVES ME THE FOUNDATION TO START TO LAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE; WHAT CHALLENGES I HAVE HAD AS A BLACK WOMAN GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY TRYING TO COME INTO A WORKFORCE.

AND IT JUST BEGINS TO OPEN THAT DOOR, TO GIVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND DIFFERENT MINORITY GROUPS THAT WE REPRESENT IN THIS COUNTY.

SO I AM VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

I DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

>> TODAY WE HAD A LITERACY PARADE AND BOOK FESTIVAL.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO BOOKS, BOOK CHARACTERS, AUTHORS AND JUST, IN GENERAL, THE JOY OF READING.

THE CHILDREN HAVE A MAGIC SHOW, A BUBBLE SHOW, THEIR BOOKS, NOT A LENDING LIBRARY.

YOU CAN SECURE A BOOK TO TAKE HOME WITH YOU.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BOOK SIGNED BY AN AUTHOR.

WE EVEN HAVE PRINCESS TIANA HERE TO TAKE PICTURES WITH AND OUTSIDE WE HAD A SHOWCASE OF SOME LOCAL GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE PERFORMING SO THAT THERE WAS SOME ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ADULTS AND FAMILIES AS WELL.

AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSON, I'M OF COURSE IN THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYWHERE HOSTING SOMETHING BUT ALSO MY ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTNERS, THAT WALKS THE PARADE AND THAT PERFORMS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT.

I AM A MEMBER OF SORORITY INCORPORATED, FOUNDED IN 1920 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE A CHAPTER HERE.

AND WE HAVE FOUR MAIN PRINCIPLES, FOUR THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ORGANIZATION.

SISTERHOOD, FIND A WOMANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE.

EVENTS SUCH AS THE LITERACY PARADE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, NOT JUST THE FAMILIES, BUT ALSO THE CHILDREN.

IT BRINGS US TOGETHER.

ANY TIME WE CAN COME TOGETHER FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT'S VERY WORTHWHILE.

AND IT ALSO SHIFTS YOUNG PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING AT EDUCATION AS SOMETHING OF A DRUDGERY OR I HAVE TO READ A BOOK.

WE BRING THE BOOKS TO LIFE.

AUTHORS ARE THERE TO SIGN IT, AND TAKE PICTURE WITH TIANA., YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH A DISNEY PRINCESS.

IT SHIFTS THE NOTION OF SCHOOLING FROM JUST PURE WORK AND INTRODUCES THE FUN ASPECTS OF LEARNING.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY RIGHT.

I AM-- FIRST OF ALL, BETWEEN THE LITERACY PARADE, THE BARBER SHOPS, THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW MANY OTHERS OUT THERE HAVE PROBABLY SAID THE SAME THING BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT YOU ALL SITTING UP HERE, KNOWING YOU ARE OUT THERE DOING SUCH AMAZING WORK, THE SEEDS THAT ARE BEING PLANTED.

I'M IMAGINING THE OPPORTUNITIES, THE SMILES ON THE FACES, THE WORRIES THAT MAYBE SOME PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS OR AUNTIE OR UNCLE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE YOU ALL WERE THERE IN A SPACE AND LEADING WORK THAT IS TRANSFORMING AND LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITY AND GRANTING ACCESS TO SO MANY FOLKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE IT.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

[ APPLAUSE ] I ALWAYS ASK AFTER THIS QUESTION AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT TONIGHT.

HOW DID YOU ALL GET TO WHERE YOU ARE?

I WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN LOOKING AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, I'M JUST IMAGINING LIKE WHERE DID YOU START?

RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE MY QUESTION FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, AS PRESIDENT, CHIEF OF STAFF, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, THAT'S WHO YOU ARE NOW.

BUT WHERE DID YOU START?

AND WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST?

>> WELL, WHERE I STARTED FROM IN REGARDS TO THE NAACP, WAS 22 YEARS AGO WHEN I JOINED THE ROME BRANCH.

OUT OF NEED, I HAD SOME PROBLEMS AT WORK AND I WENT TO THE NAACP FOR HELP.

AND THEY WERE PHENOMENAL.

AND AS I GOT MORE INVOLVED WITH THE NAACP AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT THEIR MISSION AND THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR, IT WAS UNDENIABLE.

I COULD NOT NOT BE THERE.

I COULDN'T BE IN THE CENTER OF IT.

I COULDN'T BE PART OF THE SOLUTIONS, PART OF MAKING THINGS FAIR FOR FOLKS.

IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE.

AND THE STUFF LIKE WITH THE BARBER SHOP, LIKE I SAY, THAT'S THE FUN PART OF IT.

THE OTHER PART OF THE NAACP IS ENSURING FOLKS' RIGHTS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, HEALTH RIGHTS, I MEAN WE DO SO MUCH IN ROME AND ROME HAS COME SO FAR THAT IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE TO BE ABLE TO BRING SERVICES AND TO BRING KNOWLEDGE TO PEOPLE AND TO HELP THEM.

THOSE CHILDREN THAT DAY JUST STOLE OUR HEARTS, YOU KNOW.

AND IT'S JUST A SIMPLE THING OF GETTING A HAIR CUT AND BEING SPECIAL IN THAT CHAIR FOR THOSE MOMENTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS POWERFUL THAT YOU SAID YOU STARTED BECAUSE YOU NEEDED THE NAACP.

>> EXACTLY.

>> MONIQUE, HOW ABOUT YOU, NOW YOU ARE CHIEF OF STAFF.

>> YEAH.

AND.

>> I THINK I FOLLOWED YOUR TRAIL A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WHERE DID YOU START?

>> WHERE DID I START?

THE REALITY IS I STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM.

I STARTED IN NEW YORK CITY QUITE HONESTLY, AND AS A RESULT OF THE THINGS I WAS EXPOSED TO, THE THINGS THAT EITHER HAPPENED AROUND OR TO ME, THAT PROPELLED ME TO WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE WERE LITTLE GIRLS THAT LOOKED LIKE ME WHO MAY BE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS I WENT THROUGH OR MAYBE I COULD PREVENT THEM FROM GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE GONE THROUGH.

SO I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT TO DO SOMETHING TO EARN A LIVING THAT CONTRIBUTED BACK, SOMING THAT GAVE BACK TO CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I HAVE A HEART FOR CHILDREN BUT ALSO TO FAMILIES.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK INITIALLY AT THE SOUTHWEST CENTER AND THEN TO MOVE ON TO BE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER IN AUBURN.

ALL OF THIS TIME STILL DOING WORK IN THE ORGANIZATION, BUT THEN WHEN I WAS IS IN AUBURN, I DECIDED I WANTED A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND I RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION FOR THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THAT SIDE OF THE TABLE, I COULD SEE SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE THAT FAMILIES COULDN'T GET AND I THOUGHT, I WANT TO BE DOING STUFF, NOT JUST REGULATING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

AND SO I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH AT THAT TIME TO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT ALLOW ME TO START SOMETHING CALLED PARENT UNIVERSITY, WHICH WAS A JOY AND IS CONTINUING TODAY, BUT THAT MORPHED INTO HER PULLING ME INTO DOWNTOWN.

I NEED YOU DOWN HERE TO HELP ME DO THINGS FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS.

SO THAT MOVED ME RIGHT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF OFFICE.

THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO.

AND I'M STILL SITTING THERE TODAY.

>> OH WOW.

I'M EXCITED WHEN I SAID I FOLLOWED YOUR PATH.

I ALSO STARTED AT THE SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER AND WHEN I GOT THERE, YOUR NAME JUST RANG OUT.

MONIQUE WRIGHT WILLIAMS.

I THOUGHT ONE DAY I'LL GET TO MEET HER AND HERE YOU ARE.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

START FROM THE BOTTOM.

NOW WE ARE HERE.

MONICA.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE I STARTED, FROM THE BOTTOM AND NOW I'M HERE.

SO I STARTED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY, 17 YEARS OLD.

STARTED-- I HAD MY FIRST CHILD ON THE SYSTEM, WOULD GO DOWN LIKE EVERY YOUNG MOTHER DID BACK THEN, AND THE WAY I WAS SPOKEN TO AND THE RESOURCES THAT WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO ME, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE LOOK LIKE ME.

AND I'M A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO MAKE CHANGE.

SO I BEGAN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND TO REALLY START ASKING QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT THAT I WASN'T BEING ACCEPTED.

I WASN'T BEING ACCEPTED BECAUSE AT A TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE SYSTEM, AS THEY SAID BACK THERE AND BACK THEN, I WASN'T WANTED, RIGHT?

SO I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON I'M GOING TO BRING MY OWN CHAIR AND IF I HAVE TO SIT OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM, I'M GOING TO GET THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ME.

I WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON THAT EVERYONE COULD LOOK UP TO IN MY COMMUNITY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, MONICA DID IT.

SHE MADE IT.

YOU KNOW AND HELP OTHERS AND BRING THEM ALONG BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE PRODUCT OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

WE ARE A PERSON THAT CAN MAKE CHANGE AND BE THAT CHANGE.

I DIDN'T SEE THE CHANGE IN OTHERS SO I BECAME THE CHANGE.

>> YOU BECAME THE CHANGE.

>> AS YOU WERE SITTING THERE, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS RUN AGO CROSS HERE BUT I ALSO STARTED HERE ON THE SYSTEM AND THAT MEANS YOU WERE UTILIZING PUBLIC SERVICES TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR FAMILY AND IT IS, EACH OF YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, YOUR PASSION WHERE YOU STARTED WITH THIS WORK WAS OUT OF NEED.

AND YOU DON'T OFTEN GET, YOU KNOW, THREE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IN AND AROUND THE IDEA OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND WHO THEY ARE AND SO YOU TALKED ABOUT NEED.

WHO IS A PERSON OR FIGURE THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU TO KEEP SHOWING UP OR DRAGGING YOUR CHAIR TO THE TABLE.

>> FOR ME, MY CHILDREN INSPIRE ME DAILY TO KEEP GOING BUT I ALSO SURROUND MYSELF AROUND, EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS WHO ARE LIKE MY SISTERS, DEPUTY MAYOR SHARON OWENS AND CITY CLERK KATY McBRIDE.

AND THEY KEEP ME GROUNDED.

WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN I CAN'T CARRY ANOTHER LOAD AND THIS IS WHY YOU CAN.

SO I CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR OTHERS BECAUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THOSE ROLE MODELS.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY YOUNG PEEP, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE MY ROLE MODEL.

AND I OFTEN SAY TO THEM, NO, YOU ARE MY ROLE MODEL.

AND THE REASON YOU ARE MY ROLE MODEL IS BECAUSE THE AMBITION THAT YOU HAVE IN YOU, THE DRIVE YOU HAVE IN YOU.

ALL SOMEONE NEEDS IS TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT?

SO THAT THEY CAN PERSEVERE FORWARD.

AND SO IN THE ROLE THAT I SIT IN, I AM ABLE TO DO THAT.

WHEN YOU TALK INTO MY OFFICE, THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND SOME OF THEM COME FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.

SOME HAVE NOTHING BUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

BUT THEY HAD A DRIVE, AND THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES AND SO IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THROUGH MY CAREER, I OFTEN GET CALLED MONIQUE ALL THE TIME, AND I SAID IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A MISTAKE ON MY NAME, THAT'S THE NAME I WANT TO YOU MAKE A MISTAKE WITH.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A GREAT HONOR TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVED IN AND THAT I COME FROM.

>> SHE CALLED ON YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU TO MOVE BEYOND NEEDING THE SPACES THAT YOU LEAD IN?

>> THE REALITY IS THAT DEEP DOWN INSIDES IT'S THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD ME THAT PUSHES ME TO CONTINUE DOING THINGS.

IT'S-- IT REALLY IS THAT INDIVIDUAL.

BUT MY OWN CHILDREN REMIND ME OF WHO I AM WHEN I FORGET.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU GET SO DOWN ON YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS AND SOLVE THAT AND SAVE THE WORLD AND THE REALITY IS NO ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN, BUT THE PRESSURE SOMETIMES, I THINK WE PUT ON OURSELVES TO SAVE OR SOLVE OR DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE, I THINK ABOUT THAT LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS JUST GOING THROUGH, WHO REALLY-- I DON'T WANT TO NEGATE HER BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT I AM WHO I AM.

BUT I USED TO WONDER WOW, WHO MIGHT I HAVE BEEN IF I WASN'T ABUSED IN LIKE WHO MIGHT I-- WHAT MIGHT I HAVE DONE?

WHAT WOULD MY LIFE HAVE BEEN LIKE?

AND THEN I HAVE TO COME TO THE REALIZATION, MY LIFE IS PHENOMENAL.

MY LIFE IS FANTASTIC.

I'M ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND I PRAY THAT IN SOME OF MY TOUCHES, I'VE PREVENTED THEM GOING THROUGH BAD TIMES, HARD TILES OR BAD TIMES OR HARD TIMES OR JUST NOT BEING ALL THEY WANTED TO BE WHICH IS WHY MY COLLEGE TOUR IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

EVERY YEAR I COME BACK, I SAY I'M NOT DOING IT AGAIN.

THAT WAS IT.

BIG CELEBRATION.

20 YEARS, I'M DONE AND THEN I HAD A MEETING LAST MONTH, OKAY, WHO IS GOING ON THE COLLEGE TOUR?

SO IT'S JUST BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO AN HBCU BUT THEY HAVE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN AN VICE MAYOR THAT SAYS YES, I CAN.

SO IT'S EVERYBODY AROUND ME MOTIVATES ME BUT THAT LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT PUSHES ME TO KEEP GOING WHEN I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T GO ANYMORE, HER AND MY TWO YOUNGEST KIDS WHO JUST WON'T LET ME NOT DO.

>> JACKIE, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> CAN I TOTALLY RELATE TO WHAT BOTH THESE LADIES HAVE SAID IN REGARDS TO MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD SELF AS WELL.

I GREW UP IN THE EARLY 60s BIRACIAL WHICH WAS NOT-- IN ROME, NEW YORK WHICH WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY AND I KNOW HOW OFTEN TIMES I FELT OVERLOOKED, MISUNDERSTOOD, EVEN MADE FUN OF, YOU KNOW.

SO I MUSTER THAT UP TO DO WHAT I DO, BUT I ALSO HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD THAT GETS ME UP OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING TO FACE WHATEVER COMES.

AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAY DEFINITELY MY FAMILY AND I MIGHT GET CHOKED UP HERE.

MY HUSBAND, TOM, HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW.

AND THERE IS OFTEN TIMES YOU GET CALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, PEOPLE WILL STOP YOU ON THE STREET WITH PROBLEMS AND STUFF.

AND HIS PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT AND OUR TWO DAUGHTERS, HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING AND ENCOURAGING ME AND CHEERING ME ON TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO FOR PEOPLE IS DEFINITELY AN INSPIRATION AND A REASON TO KEEP GOING.

SO I THINK THAT IS MOSTLY WHAT IT IS.

>> THAT'S POWERFUL.

EACH OF YOU WITH THE INSPIRATION OF YOUTH OR THAT EXPERIENCE AT 17, OR 5 AS A YOUNG BIRACIAL GIRL GROWING UP IN ROME.

I THINK THERE IS SOME PERCEPTION OF WHO DOES THIS ADVOCACY WORK AND WHY, RIGHT?

SITTING HERE JUST LISTENING TO YOU, I THINK WE ARE REMINDED, RIGHT?

LIKE THIS COMES OUT OF THE TIMES WHEN YOU WERE PUT UPON, OR YOUR VOICE OR YOUR POWER WAS TAKEN AWAY, RIGHT?

UNTIL-- WHAT'S ONE THING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF DOING THE WORK, IF YOU HAD LIKE A SENTENCE TO PUT IT IN, WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR YOU?

AND I KNOW I ASKED CHALLENGES IN A SENTENCE, BUT... >> FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH.

I WATCHED PEOPLE COME INTO MY OFFICE WHO REALLY WERE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND JUST THE PANDEMIC REALLY DID A, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A TOLL ON THEM.

AND IT RESONATES WITH YOU THAT WITH THE WORK THAT I DO, TRYING TO FIND TIME TO REALLY SIT DOWN, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO IS JUST NOT ABOUT BEING THE FIRST CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER FOR ME.

IT'S ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME IN MY OFFICE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND TO BE SEEN.

SO I TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO LISTEN.

AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR ME IS KNOWING THAT WHEN THEY COME IN BROKEN A LOT OF THE TIMES, IT PULLS AT YOUR HEART STRINGS AND YOU JUST SOMETIMES DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

>> MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.

SETTING TIME ASIDE AND SAYING, YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL.

YOU'VE DONE A LOT.

IT'S OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK.

IT'S OKAY TO TAKE A REST.

IT'S OKAY, YOU KNOW, TO JUST SIGN OFF, TO LEAVE AT A DECENT HOUR, TO NOT BRING WORK HOME.

THAT'S THE HARDEST THING FOR ME IS REALLY FEELING LIKE I DESERVE TIME TO REST WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE DONE.

IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, IT'S LIKE YOU CAN'T STOP.

THESE KIDS NEED THIS OR THIS FAMILY NEEDS THAT.

SO STOPPING AND TAKING TIME FOR MYSELF, TAKING INVENTORY OF MYSELF, THAT'S BEEN MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

>> I THINK ONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US HAS BEEN THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND COVID BECAUSE THAT EXPOSED SO MUCH.

THERE WAS SO MUCH COMING AT US WITH ALL OF THAT, THAT YOU COULDN'T DENY THAT THERE WAS INEQUITIES, THAT THINGS NEEDED TO BE MADE BETTER, THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO WORK TOGETHER, THAT NEEDED TO HAVE THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND BRING THINGS TO THE TABLE TO SEE WHERE WE ALL COULD COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THINGS BETTER.

SO THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

AND VERY CHALLENGING FOR US.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY, WE GOT THROUGH IT AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THERE IS A WAYS TO GO, BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS COULD GET BETTER WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER.

>> AND SPEAKING OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, WE HAVE A LIVE AUDIENCE HERE TONIGHT AND I ASK THAT QUESTION ABOUT CHALLENGE BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES, AS WOMEN LEADING THIS WORK, I OFTEN SAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M WALKING AROUND LIKE A COUNTLESS TO DO LIST.

LIKE LETTING GO AND SAYING, TIME SOME TIME OFF, TAKE A VACATION, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS SO HARD FOR OTHERS.

AND SO FOR OUR LIVE AUDIENCE TODAY, WE SET UP A MICROPHONE, AND WE WANTED YOU ALL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

AND SO I COULD KEEP GOING ON AND ON AND ON, BUT IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT THAT HAS A QUESTION, THAT WANTS TO DIG DEEPER INTO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT OUR GUESTS HAVE BROUGHT UP, DON'T BE SHY, AND STEP TOWARDS THE MICROPHONE.

OKAY?

HERE ARE MY GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE,.

>> SO INSPIRED BY ALL OF YOU AND TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

MONIQUE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE WITH US IN THE AUDIENCE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR YOUR SELF CARE.

>> I'M SUPPOSED TO NOW PRETEND LIKE I'VE REALLY FIGURED IT OUT.

[LAUGHTER] SO PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I DO FOR MYSELF CARE-- FOR MY SELF CARE IS I HAVE A THERAPIST AND I MAKE SURE I CONNECT WITH HER BIWEEKLY BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE BETTER AT MANAGING SOME OF MY THINGS THAT I NEED TO MANAGE.

SO THAT'S THE THING I DO THE MOST FOR MYSELF, IS HAVE A THERAPIST.

>> WE HAD AN EPISODE, MONICA YOU MENTIONED IT, TOO, LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT?

THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND... >> ALSO OF OURSELVES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I HAVE MY WEEKLY APPOINTMENT WITH MY THERAPIST, TOO.

AND YOU KNOW, FINALLY IT'S OKAY TO SAY THAT.

>> AND I JUST SAID THAT ON TELEVISION.

>> THANK YOU, MONIQUE, BECAUSE I THINK AS BLACK WOMEN, I THINK, ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I SEE A THERAPIST.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TABOO.

>> BUT IT'S OKAY.

>> AND IT BREAKS DOWN, BREAKS DOWN THE BARRIERS.

>> THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR SEASON 3 GUESTS, ONE OF MY FAVS.

HI MICHELLE.

>> HI, JUHANNA.

THANK YOU ALL.

YOU ARE JUST AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL AND I JUST SAW MYSELF SO CHOKED UP, I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE WHAT CAME TO MIND FOR ME IS BEING REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THOSE DARK NIGHTS OR THOSE MOMENTS OF SOUL WHEN YOU JUST HAD TO LIGHT A CANDLE OR SAY LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CONTINUE ON.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED DARK NIGHTS.

LET ME JUST AREY THINK THAT.

LET ME JUST SAY THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU STAY UP REALLY LATE AT NIGHT AND YOU THINK HOW AM I GOING TO PERSEVERE?

AND I WONDER WHAT WAS THE THING THAT GOT YOU UP THE NEXT DAY TO CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY FOR HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE WITH YOUR LIGHT?

>> HOLD ON ♪ >> SAYING A PRAYER DEFINITELY AND ASKING FOR GUIDANCE, YOU KNOW, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE MENTORS THAT CAN GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE HARD TIMES, THE CHALLENGING TIMES, IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME.

>> IT'S JUST PURE GRACE FOR ME BECAUSE I DON'T GO TO OTHER PEOPLE.

I DON'T TELL ANYONE WHEN I'M REALLY STRUGGLING ORDEALING WITH SOMETHING-- OR DEALING WITH SOMETHING EXCEPT MY THERAPIST.

IT JUST HAS BEEN GRACE THAT HAS GOTTEN ME UP AND GOING THE NEXT DAY.

>> AND FOR ME, I HAVE TWO FRIENDS THAT I DON'T CARE IF IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING, THEY GET THE UGLY CRY.

AND I NEED YOU.

I MEAN THEY CAN HEAR IN MY VOICE.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I'M IN THE HOUSE, IN MY DARK MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS IN THE IN THE DAY AND THERE IS A KNOCK AT MY DOOR AND HERE THEY ARE BECAUSE WE ARE JUST THAT CLOSE, THEY KNOW.

AND SO I DO A LOT OF PRAYING BECAUSE THIS WORK THAT WE ALL DO, WE TAKE ON THE WORK OF SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEIR ISSUES, THEIR, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO TRY TO SOLVE EVERYTHING, AND AS MONIQUE SAID, IT'S OKAY TO PUT THAT AWAY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T DO EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY.

IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST ONE PERSON TO DO THIS WORK THAT WE DO.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE PERSON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE PERSON AT TIMES, YOU KNOW YOU ARE FEELING LIKE WHERE IS MY EXTENDED STAFF... [LAUGHTER] WHERE IS THE STAFF MEMBER THAT CAN HELP US THINK THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS.

AS YOU ALL ARE LEADING, IT'S MAKING ME THINK, WITHOUT THAT EXTENDED STAFF-- HOPEFULLY IT'S COMING, BUT WHAT IS IT THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF WATCH "BEHIND THE WOMAN," WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE LEADING?

>> FOR ME, GET INVOLVED.

GET INVOLVED WITH OUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

GET INVOLVED WITH, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT IS YOUR LOCAL CHURCH, YOUR LOCAL CENTERS, GET INVOLVED, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING DONE WRONG TO ONE OF US IS DONE WRONG TO ALL OF US.

AND IT'S TIME THAT WE STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT IF YOU CUT ME AND I CUT YOU, WE WILL BLEED THE SAME.

AND THAT WE ALL NEED THE SAME.

WE NEED LOVE, YOU KNOW, STOP RIDING PAST PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

OFFER A HELPING HAND.

I THINK, AS A COMMUNITY, IF WE BEGAN TO START TO HELP ONE ANOTHER AND SEE ONE ANOTHER, FOR ME, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THE WORK THAT I DO AND MAKE IT MUCH EASIER.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY ADD, GET KIDS TO SCHOOL, WAKE THEM UP, KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS DOOR.

EDUCATION IS THE THING THAT SAVED MY LIFE.

AND IT HAS SUCH POSSIBILITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IF THEY'RE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL, IF WE CAN GET THEM TO AT LEAST SHOW UP, WE CAN TEACH THEM.

WE CAN'T TEACH THEM WHEN THEY'RE HOME.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER AUDIENCE QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR OTHER SEASON 3 GUESTS.

HI VICKIE.

>> HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

I THINK I MET YOU.

I KNOW I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE BUT MY NAME IS VICKIE BRACKENS AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND FORMULATE THIS QUESTION IN A WAY THAT I HOPE WILL BE WELL UNDERSTOOD.

THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CHANGE THAT'S ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE IN SYRACUSE WILL BE LONG LASTING FOR GENERATIONS IF TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE NET WORTH AND FUTURE ECONOMY FOR EVERYONE, BUT IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE ARE GOING TO NEED EVERYONE TO NOT ONLY LOOK BACK BUT LOOK FORWARD.

WHAT STRATEGIES ARE YOU PUTTING IN PLACE IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT?

>> THAT'S DEFINITELY A TOUGH QUESTION FOR ME SINCE I'M FROM ROME.

>> THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE THE THING THAT IS HAPPENING WILL HAVE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT.

SO GET READY, RIGHT?

GET READY.

THIS WON'T JUST BE FOR SYRACUSE.

THAT WAS A VERY, VERY-- IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, A VERY CHALLENGING QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE SERVICES AND STUFF THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO KIND OF GUIDE THEM THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO ROME, THAT WHEN WOE GET TO THAT POINT, WE WILL SEE WHAT IS DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, THE POSITIVE THINGS DONE AND BRING IT INTO OUR OWN.

SO THAT'S-- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS OR NOT BUT THAT'S WHAT I... >> IT SOUND LIKE, YOU ARE SITTING HERE AND I'M THINKING OF LINDA BROWN ROBINSON.

I'M NOT FROM THIS AREA BUT ROME IS THERE AND SYRACUSE IS HERE AND I THINK WITH VICKIE, YOUR QUESTION IS IF YOU ARE SITTING ON THE COUCH WITH US IN ONONDAGA COUNTY TODAY AND WE ARE GOING DO BREAK DOWN THE SILOS, RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SHARING.

MONIQUE GO AHEAD.

>> FINANCE WIZARD...

I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY MAIN THRUST, WHICH IS EDUCATION.

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

WE HAVE GOT TO START EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN BETTER.

AND THAT'S OUR CHILDREN FROM 3, AND I'M JUST SAYING 3 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE LET YOU IN PRE-K STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE COLLEGE YEARS.

WE HAVE TO START PUSHING OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

THERE IS MORE OUT THERE.

BUT IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, IF YOU CAN'T READ, IF YOU CAN'T WRITE, YOU CAN'T ADD, IT'S ALL GOING TO ESCAPE YOU.

>> SO FOR ME, IN ONE OF MY DEPARTMENTS, COLLABORATION IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS.

SO MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IS HOUSED.

I SUPERVISE THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MINORITY WOMEN IN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED AND READY.

WHAT IS THE NEED THAT YOU NEED.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE READY AND PREPARED.

ALSO OFFERING TOO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT IF THEY WANT TO WORK FOR THIS COMPANY THAT'S COMING, MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT TOOLS THEY NEED.

IS IT THAT YOU NEED TO MAYBE GET INVOLVED WITH EOW, OOW AND PROGRAMS THAT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE NOW PUTTING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET ONE OF THESE JOBS WITH THE OEC AND OOC, COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS IS THE KEY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE READY AND OUR COMMUNITY IS READY TO PROPEL BECAUSE AS SHE SAID YOU CANS-- AS SHE SAID, THIS IS LIFE CHANGING FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

I'M EXCITED.

>> IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AT WCNY ON THE STAGE WITH THE THREE OF YOU FOR THIS FINALE EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SINCERELY THANK OUR GUESTS, PERFORMERS, AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS FROM THE SEASON 3 AND ENTIRE PRODUCTION TEAM FOR MAKING THIS SHOW A SUCCESS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WATCHING.

I WANT TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REWATCH THE EPISODE OR THE ENTIRE SEASON OR SUPPORT "BEHIND THE WOMAN," PLEASE VISIT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN".

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU, HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ >> IT'S OKAY TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

CHANGE IS GOOD.

IT MEANS YOU ARE GROWING.

WOMEN POUR, WOMEN INCUBATE, WOMEN CREATE.

WE GIVE OF OURSELVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHO WE ARE OR WHAT WE ARE DOING BECOMES WHO WE ARE.

I WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MATTER IN THE WORLD.

I TRY TO TAKE THE WORK THAT I DO AND BRING IT PLACES, WHETHER IT'S POLICY MAKERS OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST SITTING THERE.

>> ASKING IS OKAY.

PRIORITIZING YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH IS OKAY.

>> BE FOCUSED AND UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I'M STILL LEARNING AS AN ADULT AND AS I GO BUT AS I LEARN, I'M POURING IT INTO OUR YOUTH SO THEY CAN BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

>> WE SEE IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY WHERE THERE IS A SENSE-- A GREAT AMOUNT OF WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR BUT THERE COULD BE MORE AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING AND UPLIFTING SO THAT THERE CAN BE MORE.

♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD FEELING.

♪ YEAH, I'M UP ON A CLOUD, AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ ♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEELING.

♪ YEAH,.

♪ YEAH, I'M UP ON A CLOUD AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪