Helping Communities Play Bigger with Onikah Asamoa-Caesar

02/05/2023 41 min Temporada 2 Episodio 28
Helping Communities Play Bigger with Onikah Asamoa-Caesar

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Episode Synopsis

Send us a textWhen you decide to play bigger, you can create positive impact that ripples far and wide and empowers others to play bigger, too. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I speak to someone who has built the heart of her community — and works every day to keep it beating strong. Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Tulsa-based Fulton Street Books & Coffee, which she created as a safe space for Black and Brown folks to build community, change their city through civic discourse, and increase intergenerational literacy. Before opening this incredible space, Onikah worked on criminal justice policy initiatives under the office of Colorado state senator Mike Johnston, then helped to launch the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s Birth through Eight Strategy, which focused on creating a cycle of opportunity for Tulsa’s most vulnerable families. During this conversation, we dig into the importance of inclusive spaces, the nuances of effective allyship, and the beauty of loving your identity.Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover: Why Onikah chose to return to the United States after falling in love with traveling Why she decided to open a bookstore in the middle of the pandemic — and how her space vitally serves her communityHow Onikah will continue to shift out loud and create amazing impact in Tulsa and beyondGuest bio: Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Fulton Street Books & Coffee in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fulton Street Books & Coffee was created to center the stories, narratives, and lived experiences of Black folks, Brown folks, and marginalized communities. Timestamps:01:41  Intro03:05  Meet Onikah Asamoa-Caesar05:28  Loving Black identity07:04  Traveling as a Black woman10:44  Returning to the States & Teach for America15:59  Evolving life’s work19:23  Why open a bookstore?25:53  Expanding in Tulsa International Airport27:15  The Ally Box & Book Club For a Cause30:55  What’s next?33:34  Family history38:38  Little & LitLinks:Onikah Asamoa-Caesarhttps://www.fultonstreet918.com Instagram: @fultonstreet918 Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog —Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker Twitter: @tracylspears Instagram: @tracylspears If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!