He Say She Say..Now What Do You Say

It is estimated that over 60 million families are caring for an aging or disabled person at home.  At least 80-90% of caregivers are women.  There is no question that most of the burden falls on women for the physical and financial impacts of caregiving.  As parents live longer, more women are feeling the crunch. What does it cost women caregivers to take care of their aging parents? On a very special CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle E. Brown share their personal experiences caring for aging loved ones. They will be sharing the joys, challenges, stresses and supports (or lack of support) they have received as well as the unique situations they have encountered being lesbians in their caregiver roles. Joining Terry Boi and Michelle in this important discussion is Jacqueline Boyd is the owner of The Care Plan, the country's first health care management company devoted to LGBTQ individuals and communities. She is passionate about identifying personalized solutions to health

The National Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards Gala (BTAC) is a distinct educational and empowerment program event, home to nearly 300 plus trans and gender non-conforming individuals, our family, friends, community allies and corporate partners from across the country who are focused on advancing black trans equality. BTAC is a unique life changing (5) day program that furthers education, provides linkage to resources, community building and organizing, leadership development and celebration of diverse identities. 5th Annual National Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards Gala takes place in Dallas, Texas April 25 - May 1, 2016.   Joining CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle Brown on Wednesday, February 24th is Carter Brown, Executive Director of Black Transmen, Inc. (BTMI). BTMI along with Black Transwomen, Inc. work together to bring the conference and gala to the community each year.   Besides discussing the challenges and threats facing trans women

On, Wednesday February 17, 2016 CAN WE TALK FOR REAL cohosts Teresa Jackson and Michelle Brown are joined by Marcus Dargan and Zachary Frater. Both men are participating on a panel for “Shout, Sister, Shout: Seeing and Hearing African American LGBT People in Fine Art and Music” at the Center of the city College of New York on February 25, 2016. The panel complements an exhibition of artifacts, print, fine art and photographs related to the subject matter of African American LGBT writers, musicians, performers and fine artists that has been on view for the entire month of February. Free and open to the public.  Marcus Dargan is an Adjunct Lecturer of the Communication Studies Department at Baruch and Department of Speech, Communications, and Theatre Arts at Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he received an A.S. in Theatre. He also holds a B.A. in Theatre and a M.S.Ed. in Educational Theatre from City College of New York. He is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of NuAFrikan Theatre, and Editor and

Joining CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa M. Jackson and Michelle E. Brown on Wednesday, February 10th to talk about the Obama Presidency – its place in Black history, its impact on LGBTQ rights and preserving its legacy for equal rights – is Earl Fowlkes. President/CEO of the Center For Black Equity, Inc. (formerly the International Federation of Black Pride (IFBP). Fowlkes founded the IFBP in 1999 ago as a coalition of Black Pride organizers the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and South Africa formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT Pride and community- based organizations. Earl previously served fifteen years as the Executive Director of the DC Comprehensive AIDS Resources and Education Consortium (DC CARE Consortium) and Damien Ministries, organizations that provided services to person living with HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC. Earl attended Rutgers University with degrees in history/business. Earl resides in Washington, DC however remains a devoted to his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, E

Joining “CAN WE TALK FOR REAL”, cohosts Teresa Jackson and Michelle E. Brown on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 to address the Asian/Pacific HIV/AIDS awareness strategy and [Prep] will be Jens Tamang from the Minnesota Aids Project who before joining MAP he provided care coordination for individuals living with HIV in adult foster care and served as a Projects Administrator for several LGBTQ youth programs funded by the Minnesota Regional Arts Council. Joining him will be also be Kayden Hoang Bui he will discuss his vision on how to expand the MAP’s work into hard-to-reach populations to promote HIV/STI education, awareness, and testing through increased outreach and media presence.In recognition of Feb.7th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, joining CWT4R, will be Pastor Anthony Sullivan Jr. a Pastor-Leader, Preacher, Challenger, Trainer, Teacher, Resource, Initiator, Counselor, Guide and a justice advocate committed to the liberation of persons and groups who suffer from all forms of oppression. He is a grad

Have you been to a workshop or conference lately and been asked what was your “preferred pronoun?” Conveners aren’t just being politically correct but acknowledging the diverse gender identities within our community. As more and more LGBTQ individuals come out and take their place at work, schools and in their communities, society is learning that the old rules simply just don’t apply anymore. Some even suggest a Gender neutrality  -  the idea that policies, language, and other social institutions should avoid distinguishing roles according to people's sex or gender, in order to avoid discrimination arising from the impression that there are social roles for which one gender is more suited than the other. Willy Wilkinson an award-winning Asian American transgender writer, public health consultant, cultural competency trainer, public speaker, and spoken word performer Willy Wilkinson. He is the author of the book Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice for Cultural Competency. We will talk about Wilkinson

At the top of many New Year's Resolution lists each year is getting control of our finances. It can be expressed in many ways - getting a better job, making/keeping a budget, saving more, etc. Joining CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa Jackson and Michelle E. Brown on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 is Karen Green Reynolds a regular contributor to the blog HOLLA IF YOU HEAR ME! Reynolds began her involvement in the financial industry as a quest for personal knowledge. Now she has a securities license and works as an independent representative of an international company. She believes in people being equipped to take control of their lives. Adding in a recent blog post that "Nothing worse exists than feeling defeated, consistently, when it's your finances." 61% of adults do not keep track of their money. The median retirement savings for 55-64 years old is small. 29% of households with members 55 or older don't have retirement or pensions. Is this you? Join us on CAN WE TALK FOR REAL for this important d

Russell D. Roybal, National LGBTQ Task Force Deputy Executive Director and Mary Morton  President of Morten Group, a consulting firm specializing in social change through skills development, public policy and advocacy, will join CWT4R. This year marks the 28th year that the National LGBTQ Task Force will present Creating Change, the pre-eminent political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement. The event will be held in Chicago, Illinois, January 20-24, 2016. Taken from the website, “The Task Force is building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you”. The conference is

In the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 8, Amber Monroe of Detroit became the 12th transgender woman of color to be killed in 2015 Amber was only 20 years old and a student at Michigan's Wayne State University.  She was also a good friend of Bre Campbell a Detroit and national activists for Transgender rights. She knew Monroe from the Horizons Project, which specializes in HIV/AIDS prevention and care for adolescents at Wayne State University. The loss of Amber and the other transgender woman murdered in 2015 (22 as of October,2015 most under age 37) moved Campbell beyond grief to action with the Trans Sistas of Color Project. Continuing to recognize leaders under 30, CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa “TerryBoi” Jackson and Michelle E. Brown welcome on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Bre Campbell Executive Director and Ahya “Yah-Yah” Nicole and John Campbell founding members of the Trans Sistas of Color Project (TSOCP). TSOCP was established in 2015, in response to the growing numbers of Trans murders. This gr

It has become the norm that when you turn on the news before the month is over another young black person has been killed at the hands of a police officer somewhere in the country. Recently Chicago has been in the news and something different happened. Out of this a new civil rights movement has emerged and it is organized and its membership is all young people between the ages of 18-35. They have strategically gathered together and collaborated across the country showing support in states where violence has emerged against a community for years. They have been there right under our very noses. The news coming out of major cities have awaken Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100)  an activist member-based organization of Black 18-35 year olds, dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. We do this through building a collective focused on transformative leadership development, non-violent direct action organizing, advocacy and education. BYP per their has trained young black activists in direct

Every day from 1981 people have lived and died from AIDS. But for the same number of years communities have gone without the proper education to understand the disease and prevent the spread of it. Over the course of the past 30 years, facts have emerged that have put the AIDS myths to bed. Treatments have been developed to allow people to live full lives. It is important to know who can catch it, how it is passed on and what you can do to help stop the spread of AIDS. GET TESTED!!! PROTECT YOURSELF!!! Joining CWT4R co –host Michelle and Terry Boi will be Maximillian Mathis Boykin, Community Organizer for the Chicago Ads Foundation. Maxx a Veteran of the US Navy during his young life has been on the political scene as a volunteer to educate and help people better understand laws and issues that affect them from voting to the importance of testing for HIV/AIDS. Per the Aids Foundation of Chicago’s Facebook page part of their new mission is to mobilize communities to create equity and justice for people living

Joining CWT4R co –host Michelle and Terry Boi will be Tracy Baim, Editor of Windy City Times and partner with the newly formed Pride Action Tank, AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Tracy has been pushing Youth Homeless Awareness for over 5 years and now she is working tirelessly with community leaders and organizations to address this issue that is leading the devastation of youth and especially LGBTQ youth. Tracy will give facts about homeless youth, the plight they face, the programs and resources that are available to them. Lastly how we as a country, community, and individual can attack this issue.  Also joining us will be Angeline White (Kasey) who as a teen came out to her mother and was put out of her home. Kasey’s struggles to make it was documented in 2010 as part of a documentary entitled “The Homestretch” a co- production of Kartemquin Films and Spargel Productions. The documentary examines the struggles of three youth face in obtaining a high school level education, and then follows them beyond graduat

On Wednesday November 11th we celebrate Veterans Day in the USA. It is a holiday to honor all who have served in the United States Military Services. We would like to thank each and every one of you for your service. Many times we don’t show the appreciation we should for them protecting and defending this country.  We just casually mention it. Call in and let everyone know who you appreciate and what branch they are from. Join CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Teresa (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle E. Brown and special guests to salute and thank our veterans. Joining us also will be Anna Cogette who works as a clinical social worker in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program at the VA Hudson Valley in Montrose, NY. She works with vets who are struggling with substance use and often a co- occurring mental health disorder. Call in to listen and with your special tributes (347)215-8985 then press "1" to talk 7:30PM CST/8:30PM EST

Our very special guest Wednesday, November 4, 2015 on CAN WE TALK FOR REAL is the TransGrio herself - Ms. Monica Roberts. Monica just became the first African-American transperson to be honored with the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award at the 2015 Fantasia Fair in Provincetown, MA. The award honors those who have sacrificed their careers, their families, their fortunes to change the world so transgendered people could begin to come together in safety and comfort. Wi...thout them, we would not be here; we would be at home, hiding in our closets. Monica has been working tirelessly on Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) on the November 3rd ballot while speaking across the country on Transgender and Equal Rights Issues. Monica always inspires and educates. Join us at 8:30PM EST/7:30PM CST. CAN WE TALK FOR REAL - your award winning blog talk radio show with your hosts Teresa (TerryBoi) Jackson and Michelle Elizabeth Brown

So many times a disaster will happen and we watch, we talk, we listen, we mourn then we move on to the next disaster. August 29, 2005, we watched in horror as levees broke and men, women, children, families, the homeless and animals perished one after another leaving a total of close to 2000 dead. Katrina affected many lives and we can only image the hurt, lost and misplaced feelings of the thousands of people affected that day. The African-American Community was really affected by this disaster and to this day are affected with memories, lost and emotions that only they can feel. However, that community has proven to be a strong one with rebuilding, relocating and putting their lives in order. Do not get it wrong this ghost will follow them and will raise its ugly head from time to time but it will not define who they are and what they will become. The stories told are not for you to feel sorry for them but for you to understand the journey they had to take in order to be where they are today. Ten years late

Now that marriage is the law of the land it's time to get focused on the other challenges facing the LGBTQ community including youth homelessness, economic disparity, discrimination in the workplace, etc. The African-American LGBTQ Community has been affected disproportionately by these and other social and equities.  Joining Can We Talk For Real cohosts Teresa (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle Brown on Wednesday October 21 are Rev. Anthony W. Sullivan Jr., Pastor of Community Outreach & Development at God CAN Ministries United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, Imam Daayiee Abdullah from Washington, DC, Imam of Masjid Nural Islah and Atty. Leslye M. Huff of Cleveland, OH, a practitioner of the Yoruba Faith.  We will be talking about the spiritual/religious diversity in the Black LGBTQ community and how leaders can work across religious boundaries to uplift community and our continued fight for equality. Black lives matter! Trans lives matter! Our lives matter! Together let's talk about how to put action

Joining Can We Talk for REAL, co-host Terry and Michelle, Wednesday Night, October 14, 2015 will be Kim Hunt out- going Executive Director for Affinity in Chicago. Kim held the position for over 6 years and has many memories, good and bad. She has lead groups in celebration and protest never afraid to say what she knew had to be said. We will have that candid conversation about Social Justice, Family, Laws, Youth and the Future. During this conversation we will get to know a little about the woman that had a vision of where the LGBTQ community should be heading on various Social Justice Topics. Join us as she leads us through the many faces of Kim over the past 10 years. Including where she has been and where she is going. Many that know Kim, knows how passionate she is in her work and personal life. So join us so you can hear first -hand what drove her day after day to leave a legacy for a community that is still growing and moving in so many positive directions in part due to Kim’s determination. What is ne

Joining CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Terry (Terry Boi) Jackson and Michelle Brown on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 is MARY EATMON author of “NINE HOUSES: Chronicles of One Woman’s Triumph Over Abuse, Shame and Neglect.” Mrs. Eatmon was born in 1931 in Boligee City in Green County, Alabama. At age 15 she was raped and out of fear for her family she ended up marrying her assailant. For 30 years, Mary endured the dysfunctional marriage enduring years of abuse and remaining silent not only out of fear but also due to the shame and stigma many victims of abuse suffer. Mrs. Eatmon will share her story in hopes of letting other women, in similar circumstances; know that they are not alone. She will share resources and insights into how to recognize and break the cycle of abuse. Now 83 years young, Mrs. Eatmon wrote “NINE HOUSES” to reach out to others and let them know how she no longer accepts mistreatments and attacks; how she realized that her being abused was not her fault; and how she mastered the art of fo

Sometimes the truth in your face is what you need. HERE IS THE TRUTH: More than 20 states are in financial trouble along with the federal government and other countries. Agencies such as the Department of Aging, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Public Aid, and Department of Human Services are working for the people but are in jeopardy of budget cuts and cuts in services, can we afford that? Joining CWT4R co-host Michelle and Terry will be Michael Holmes who is currently the Executive Director of the Illinois African American Family Commission were he has strategically planned to move the Commission in a new direction which focuses more on developing partnerships with all state agencies throughout the state of Illinois that provide services to African American’s.  Michael’s favorite hobby is coaching.  Michael is married with four wonderful kids.  Regardless of what role he has he believes that the work that we do is mostly important when it is about helping others.  The health of the

Jillian’s Peak is a ground breaking web-series based on a true story of a young African American woman from Detroit dealing with her hidden inner conflicts about her sexuality and her life.  Wednesday night, August 19th, joining CAN WE TALK FOR REAL co-hosts Terry and Michelle are series CEO/Creator/Executive Producer and Writer Charzette Torrance and cast members Kelley Young, Candice Meyers and Sherrick White. They will share their experiences on creating, producing and starring in this series that promises to bring in a new era for web series. Are you Jillian?? Do you see your life mirrored in the web-series? Have questions about the business behind developing the web series? Want to talk to the actresses about their experience in the profession and on this project? Then you want to dial (347)215-8985 and press “1” to join in the conversation. (You might be the winner of Jillian’s Peak merchandise with your question)