Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Meet Tamra Ryan, CEO of the Women's Bean Project.  Founded in 1989, this Denver-based non profit is dedicated to helping women break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty through on-the-job-training and life skills coaching. Tamra defines her role as the visionary leader and organization's spokeswoman, a position she's eminently qualified for with more than 20 years of marketing and sales experience.  Products made by Women's Bean Project include mixes for bean soup, chilli, corn bread, cookies and brownies and are sold at womensbeanproject.com, amazon.com, walmart.com and nearly 1,000 retail stores across the U.S.  Here's yet another conversation you won't want to miss!

Founded in 1992, The Innocence Project is the #1 organization working for criminal justice reform in the United States. To date, 344 people have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 20 who served time on death row. Deputy Director Meryl Schwartz leads the work of the legal team, policy advocates and research staff. It's a perfect match. Meryl has always focused on issues rooted in income inequality, criminal and juvenile justice, education reform and youth and workforce development. Tune in to this not-to-be-missed conversation.

Jane Golden is a powerhouse. An artist, visionary, activist, educator, author and expert on urban transformation through art, she is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. It began in 1984 as an anti-graffiti initiative and under Jane's direction has created more than 38-hundred landmark works of art. It is the country's largest mural program. We couldn't be more thrilled that she shares her story with us!

Get up close and personal with EMME, the world's first curvy supermodel, whose career spans more than 2 decades. She's a recognized advocate for positive female body image, giving women a platform to feel beautiful and empowered. A tv personality, author, businesswoman and creator of her own clothing lines, EMME was the first model invited to appear before a Congressional subcommittee looking into how to increase public awareness of eating and body disorders. Needless to say, there's plenty to talk about!

Barb Collins and Marsha Wallace, two amazing, inspirational and committed women. They are the co-founders of Dining for Women, the largest educational giving circle that connects people in the West with projects supporting women and girls living in extreme poverty in the developing world. Thanks to their tireless efforts and drive to make the world a better place, Dining for Women has 8,000 grassroots members in just about every state and 6 countries, who meet in home and community-based chapters. Members donate what they would have spent dining out. Since it's founding in 2003, DFW has raised more than 5 million dollars. Marsha and Barb will 'blow you away!'

What's it like working as a foreign correspondent? You're about to find out. Alexis Okeowo spent a good part of her career in Nigeria, Uganda and Mexico freelancing for various publications/organizations, including the New York Times Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Financial Times and the international news agency, Agence France-Press. Alexis, who joined the New Yorker as a staff writer in 2015, is working on a book: A Moonless, Starless Sky: Womoen and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa. She shares the challenges and rewards of global reporting as a woman in what's typically thought of as a man's world.

Born in Nairobi and raised in both Kenya and New York City, Agunda Okeyo describes herself as a Pan-African New Yorker. A writer, producer, filmmaker and activist, Agunda is the creator and force behind the monthly production of "Sisters of Comedy: at Caroline's on Broadway. It's a 'who's who' of black women in stand-up. Agunda's written about race, gender, politics, culture and film for numerous publications including Salon, The Daily Beast, Indiewire's Women and Hollywood blog. This year she produced a benefit show supporting an Equal Rights Amendment aimed at assuring gender equality and also in 2016, was named a Progressive Women's Voices Fellow with the Women's Media Center.

Ana Castillo, a poet, award-winning novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor and playwright, is one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary Chicana literature. In her most recent book, Black Dove: Mama, Mi'jo and Me, she details her life as a single, brown, feminist parent, while at the same time, describes her against-all-odds career as a writer and activist. Join us for an enlightening, eye-opening and fascinating conversation.

Meet and get to know Anastasia Higginbotham, writer, illustrator and creator of the children's book series, "Ordinary Terrible Things." It tells the stories of youngsters who navigate trouble with "their senses sharp and souls intact. Help may come from family, counselors, teachers and dreams, but it's the children who find their own way." Anastasia's first book, "Divorce is the Worst," published by the Feminist Press was followed by "Death is Stupid." Both books tackle very critical, sensitive topics and are must reads for both children and adults.

Amy Newmark spent 30 years working in finance and telecommunications. In 2008 she made a major career change. That's when Amy and her husband Bill Rouhana, bought the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series from the company's co-founders. Bill's the Chairman and CEO, Amy's the Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Author. With more than 250 titles - 110 million copies sold in the U.S. and Canada, and 500 million worldwide, Chicken Soup for the Soul is the best selling trade paperback book series of all time. Tune in - Amy's got plenty to share.