Strawberry Letter

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Christina Dukes Brown.
CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic, NJ
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aimed to:
Raise awareness about the Boys & Girls Club’s impact on underserved communities in Paterson and Passaic, NJ.
Issue a call to action for volunteers, mentors, corporations, and donors to support youth programs.
Highlight challenges faced by marginalized communities and how the Club addresses them through education, nutrition, and character-building programs.
Key Takeaways
Community Impact
The Club serves 1,400 children and teens daily across two main clubhouses and 11 satellite sites.
Programs include academic support, tutoring, arts, athletics, and life skills development.

Challenges in the Community
High rates of homelessness, food deserts, and low literacy and math proficiency (only ~20% literate and ~15% proficient in math in Paterson).
Stereotypes and “deficit ideology” that assume poor or minority youth lack capacity for success.

Programs and Initiatives
Academic Support: Homework help, tutoring, and Saturday sessions.
Creative Outlets: Dance, musicals, and arts.
Sports & Aquatics: Swimming program praised for breaking stereotypes.
Young Adult Support (18–24): Internships, skill-building, and career readiness for those not pursuing college.

Call to Action
Volunteers and mentors needed to inspire youth.
Corporations and entrepreneurs encouraged to provide internships and teach business skills.
Donations critical—$4M annual fundraising goal to sustain programs.

Dr. Brown’s Motivation
Rooted in her upbringing in Jersey City during the crack era.
Believes in being part of the solution, not just complaining about systemic issues.
Emphasizes building “efficacious spirits” and affirming unique skills in youth.

Notable Quotes
On Motivation:
“I can’t complain about the position of Black and Brown people in society if I’m not going to do the work necessary to support its elevation.”

On Stereotypes:
“Deficit ideology assumes that if you are poor or minority, you do not have the capacity to be successful. We fight that every day.”

On Community Support:
“My community got me where I am today… I’m calling on the village to support what we’re trying to do.”

On Youth Potential:
“No matter where you come from, and no matter what you look like, you have the capacity to become great.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Shelli-Ann McKenzie.
Purpose of the Interview
The interview focuses on advocating for healthcare professionals, addressing the challenges they face, and introducing Shelli-Ann McKenzie’s nonprofit organization, Help for Healthcare Professionals (HCPP). The goal is to highlight burnout, financial struggles, and systemic issues in healthcare while promoting programs that support mental wellness, financial literacy, and career development.
Key Takeaways
Healthcare Workforce Challenges
Nurses and healthcare professionals face high stress, burnout, and long hours, leading to workforce shortages.
Many professionals struggle financially—24% live in poverty.
Lack of professors in nursing schools limits the number of students entering the profession.

Understanding Nursing Roles
Nursing includes multiple levels: Registered Nurse (RN): Associate or bachelor’s degree.
Advanced Practice Nurses: Master’s level (e.g., Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator).
Doctorate Level: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD.

Nurse practitioners often function as an extension of physicians, providing quality care.

Respect and Recognition
Nurses provide more direct care than any other health profession but often lack recognition.
Advocacy is key to ensuring nurses can practice at the highest level and improve access to care.

Why HCPP Was Founded
Born out of COVID-19 crisis and Shelli-Ann’s personal experience with burnout.
Mission: Provide mental health referrals, financial assistance (gift cards, gas), and professional development.
Programs include: Financial literacy workshops
Entrepreneurship training for healthcare professionals
Scholarships and internships for aspiring professionals


Youth Med Program
Targets ages 13–20 to build a healthcare workforce pipeline.
Offers hands-on training, CPR certification, exposure to neurosurgeons, and mentorship.
Tuition-free and designed to scale nationally.

Funding and Community Support
HCPP is a nurse-owned nonprofit, funded by federal grants and donations.
Annual event: Night of Grand and Gratitude—a charity awards dinner to raise funds for programs.

Notable Quotes
“No one else was coming to save us—so I created HCPP.”
“24% of healthcare professionals live in poverty.”
“If we don’t have enough professors, we cap nursing students—it’s cyclical.”
“The most rewarding part of nursing is showing up for people in their most vulnerable moments.”
“Every dollar we raise fuels education programs like Youth Med—strategic investment in the future of healthcare.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. Subject: "I Want Him To Talk To Me"
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Cameka Smith.
Founder of The BOSS Network, from Money Making Conversations Masterclass:
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aimed to:
Highlight The BOSS Network’s mission to empower women of color through entrepreneurship, career development, and community support.
Share Dr. Smith’s personal journey from layoff to leadership, inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurship.
Discuss strategies for business success, funding opportunities, and mentorship for Black female founders.
Key Takeaways
Origin of The BOSS Network
Founded in 2009 during the recession after Dr. Smith was laid off from Chicago Public Schools.
Initially started as local events in Chicago; now a digital community reaching 200,000 women nationwide.
Mission: Bringing Out Successful Sisters (BOSS)—promoting small business spirit and career growth.

Impact & Achievements
Invested in 100 Black female founders through grants.
Trained 50,000 women on business strategies.
Coached 10,000 women on starting businesses.
Created Boss Business University, offering mentorship and digital programs.

Pivot During COVID
Shifted from 35% event-based revenue to 75% digital.
Launched Boss Impact Fund and Invest in Progress Grant: $10,000 grants + 4-year scholarships for recipients.
Combined funding, mentorship, and marketing support for sustainability.


Challenges & Mindset
Entrepreneurship requires planning, resilience, and community support.
Dr. Smith saved money before leaving her job and leveraged relationships for growth.
Quote: “Entrepreneurs will work 80 hours for themselves but don’t want to work 40 hours for someone else.”

Top 3 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make
Lack of research: Understand your industry, competitors, and market.
No revenue model: If you’re not making money, it’s a hobby, not a business.
Ignoring relationships: Networking and partnerships are key to success.

Unique Marketing & Partnerships
Dr. Smith built direct relationships with brands, bypassing agencies that offered “pennies on the dollar.”
Created a dual revenue model: B2B (corporate partnerships) + B2C (community engagement).

Core Philosophy
Motto: Believe, Plan, Win.
Quote: “Those that show up, go up.”
Success is rooted in faith, persistence, and leveraging community.

Notable Quotes
“I was born to be an entrepreneur. My mother told me, until you become your own boss, you have to follow the rules.”
“Less than 1% of Black women get VC funding—so we created our own fund.”
“Relationships are your key to success. When social media goes away, your audience remains.”
“If you have a business and you don’t have money, you’ve got a hobby.”
“God will not birth anything inside of you that He will not give you the tools to deliver.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dave Charest.
Summary of the Dave Charest Interview
In this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald interviews Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, a leading digital marketing platform. Charest discusses the rising wave of entrepreneurship, the foundational importance of email and direct‑to‑customer channels, common mistakes new business owners make, and how AI is reshaping small‑business marketing. He provides practical guidance on marketing consistency, channel selection, building community relationships, and using technology to scale.
Throughout the conversation, Charest emphasizes that while small businesses often lack marketing expertise, they possess a valuable advantage: real, human relationships that can be strengthened through consistent communication.

Purpose of the Interview
The purpose of Rushion McDonald’s conversation with Dave Charest is to:
1. Educate new and aspiring entrepreneurs
Charest breaks down the basics of digital marketing—email, social, SMS—and how to begin building a strong marketing foundation.
2. Highlight the key trends driving the entrepreneurship boom
He explains motivations like work–life balance, independence, and financial potential that inspire people to launch businesses.
3. Provide practical, actionable marketing advice
Especially around consistency, choosing marketing channels, and building direct customer relationships.
4. Introduce how AI can simplify and amplify marketing
Charest showcases tools that help business owners quickly generate content, develop campaigns, and analyze customer behavior.
Key Takeaways 1. Direct relationships (email/SMS) outperform social media
Email offers ownership, stability, and higher ROI—unlike social platforms that can change algorithms or visibility overnight. Charest stresses that “the money is in the list.”
2. You don’t need huge numbers to be effective
Small businesses often see high open and engagement rates because followers know and trust them.
3. Consistency matters more than platform choice
Whether you choose Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or email, the biggest driver of marketing success is showing up regularly.
4. Start small—don’t overwhelm yourself
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is trying to do everything at once. Begin with the basics and grow steadily.
5. Community is a crucial marketing asset
Local businesses thrive when they maintain strong connections with nearby businesses, customers, and community networks.
6. Entrepreneurs face challenges—but resilience wins
Charest notes that small business owners rarely have a “Plan B,” which pushes them to adapt and continue learning.
7. AI is transforming small‑business marketing
Constant Contact offers tools to:
Generate emails and content
Summarize content for social
Build full marketing campaigns
Analyze behavior from large email lists to recommend actions
Notable Quotes (from the transcript)
Here are direct paraphrases and key phrases—not copyrighted material but drawn from the transcript:
On email vs. social
“There’s a $36 return for every $1 invested in email—but what matters is that you own the relationship.”

“If a social platform goes away, so does your following. Email is a direct line.”

On audience size
“Big numbers aren’t necessary—small lists can see 50% open rates and strong engagement because those people actually care.”
On entrepreneurship motivations
“People want better work‑life balance, independence, and financial potential.”
On mistakes
“A big mistake is trying to do too much at once. Start small and stay consistent.”
On community
“Digital marketing should extend real relationships—not replace them.”
On choosing platforms
“Where your audience spends time matters, but so does where you can show up consistently.”
On AI’s role
“AI can generate emails, build campaigns, and analyze audience data—saving you time for what you’d rather be doing.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.