King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

EP 43 DR JOHN W SPENCER

John W. Spencer is a lifelong Philadelphian who believes that businesses have the responsibility to impact people, the planet, and profit positively. Currently, John a public school Principal and CEO of TEACH IT Labs, Inc. He has over 25 years of service as an educator. With that in mind, he formed TEACH IT Labs, Inc. [TEACH IT]. TEACH IT’s mission is to provide information technology that imparts skill and provides knowledge for social change and the advancement of humanity. John holds a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, along with Master's Degrees from Lehigh University and Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Morgan State University.
Check out the video of this interview HERE!

EP 44 SIDNEY HARGRO

Sidney Hargro is a philanthropy executive, advisor, and speaker who is on a quest to transform philanthropy by advocating for funders, philanthropists, and social investors to embed a full commitment to intersectional racial equity in their practices in in pursuit of liberation for Black, Indigenous, and People Color. He currently serves as the president of Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia.  Philanthropy Network supports funders and social investors in greater Philadelphia as a hub for learning, knowledge-sharing, and partnership. Philanthropy Network works to integrate policy, equity, and social innovation in philanthropy to help to increase regional impact.
 
Hargro is also a Lecturer in the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, teaching equity-informed social impact measurement. Previously, he led the Community Foundation of South Jersey, a startup foundation which grew from $400,000 to over $20 million in assets in seven years. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Officer at The Columbus Foundation, the nation’s 7th largest community foundation.
Hargro currently serves on boards of international, national and regional organizations. He earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University, Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, summa cum laude, from North Carolina A&T State University. Follow Sidney on Twitter @sidneyrhargro and on LinkedIn.
Check out the video of this interview HERE!

EP 45 DR DAMONE B JONES SR

Dr. Damone B. Jones, Sr., is the youngest of three children born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Boykin Jones of West Philadelphia.  Dr. Jones is a deeply devoted husband having been united to his very lovely wife Melissa in October of 1991.  They are the very proud parents of four wonderful children:  Aleah, Damone, Jr., Alyssa and Dominic.
Dr. Jones received Christ as Savior and Lord at the young age of sixteen years old.  Being led by the Holy Spirit, he answered the call to the Gospel Ministry at eighteen years of age.  On November 5, 1986, Dr. Jones was licensed to preach the Gospel by his beloved father in the ministry the late Dr. Hiawatha Coleman, former Pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia.  
Dr. Jones graduated from the Lamberton High School in June of 1984 and the RETS Electronic School in May of 1986.  Dr. Jones’ early theological training includes Manna Bible Institute and The Center for Urban Theological Studies.  Dr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree from Philadelphia Biblical University (Now Cairn University) in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.  Dr. Jones also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Palmer Theological Seminary, the Seminary of Eastern University.
Having a tremendous burden for at-risk youth, Dr. Jones served at the Philadelphia Youth Center (now the Juvenile Justice Services center), as Coordinating Chaplain during the late eighties.  Dr. Jones also served as a panelist for the District Attorney’s Youth Aid Panel and as President of the Police Clergy Program in the 19th Police District.  Dr. Jones also served his community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Carroll Park Community Council.  In 2001, Dr. Jones was appointed by Mayor John F. Street to the City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics and in 2006 appointed by Mayor Street to a Blue Ribbon Commission on Children’s Behavioral Health in the City of Philadelphia.  In 2008, Dr. Jones was appointed by Mayor Michael Nutter to the Advisory Board of the Mayor’s Office of Community Services and appointed again by Mayor Nutter to the Philadelphia Board of Ethics in 2009.  Dr. Jones was appointed in 2010 by Mayor Michael Nutter to the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Prison System and appointed Board Chairman in 2015.  Under Mayor Jim Kenney, Dr. Jones was re-appointed to the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.  In 2014, Dr. Jones was appointed to Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s Transition Team Co-Chairing the Review Committee on the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.  Dr. Jones currently serves on the Governor's Advisory Commission For African American Affairs. 
Deeply concerned for the reduction of crime in the community, Dr. Jones was the first President of the Organized Anti-Crime Community Network, which brought the first National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community to Philadelphia.  Dr. Jones spends significant time collaborating with the Police and the District Attorney advocating for young people in court.  As a trusted community leader, Dr. Jones has assisted and accompanied four homicide fugitives in turning themselves in to the authorities. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Bible Way Baptist Church became an approved Community Service Site for the Philadelphia Departments of Adult and Juvenile Probation.  Dr. Jones has mentored many young men over the years, including serving as a spiritual advisor to Philadelphia Rapper Meek Mill.  Because of his passion for working with incarcerated youth, Dr. Jones formed The BrothaHood Foundation, a non-profit, basketball/mentoring program for incarcerated youth who are charged as adults and in custody within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.
 Dr. Jones has worked diligently to bring educational resources to the community by serving on the Boards of Carson Valley School, Raising Horizons Quest Charter School, The West Philadelphia Regional Branch of Community College of Philadelphia and The Christian Academy in Brookhaven, PA.  Dr. Jones has served as Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Bible College at the Center for Urban Theological Studies (C.U.T.S) in Philadelphia and at the Eastern School of Christian Ministry at Palmer Theological Seminary in St. David's, PA and currently serves as Member of the Board of Trustees and Adjunct Professor at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA.
After obediently heeding God’s call to the Pastorate of the Bible Way Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, Dr. Jones was ordained on November 5, 1993 at the Mount Zion Baptist Church.  Dr. Jones is a much sought after preacher, lecturer and teacher.  Dr. Jones has trained Deacons at a number of local churches and conducted numerous workshops and seminars in the areas of Leadership, Men’s Ministries, Youth Ministries, and his personal favorite: How to Connect with At-Risk Youth.  Dr. Jones has guest lectured at Eastern University, Temple University, Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University) and Palmer Theological Seminary.   
Dr. Jones has held membership with The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., The Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention; The Black Clergy of Philadelphia; and he is Past Moderator of the Pennsylvania Eastern Keystone Baptist Association.
The Bible Way Baptist Church @biblewayphilly membership has more than tripled under Dr. Jones’ leadership and more than forty-one active ministries have been implemented to serve the diverse needs of the church and community. Bible Way continues on a steady path of substantive growth.  Dr. Jones is also very proud of his spiritual sons in the ministry who began pastoring their own churches under his leadership. (Pastor Clarence Washington/Haven Peniel United Methodist Church; Pastor Raymond Harris/Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church; Pastor Robert J. Fontell, Jr./Calvary Christian Church; Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, Greater St. Matthew’s Independent Church; Pastor John C. Gblah/International Baptist Church; Pastor Joe Nock/Second Antioch Baptist Church, Pastor Michael Robinson/Greater Enon Baptist Church, Pastor Khalil B. Rogers/Peniel Baptist Church, Reverend William A. Davis, Assistant Pastor at the Service Baptist Church; and Pastor Vernal E. Simms, Jr./Millcreek Baptist Church.
Check out the video of this interview HERE!

EP 46 DR. J. STEVEN BLAKE

Dr. J. Steven Blake was born in Mississippi and educated there; graduating from the University of Mississippi with dual degrees in chemistry and zoology (1980). He’s the 2nd youngest of 4 children by his mother and father, with one sister by his father. 
Dr. Steve was a medical technologist (laboratory medicine specialist) before being accepted to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985. He was fortunate enough to be awarded a fellowship in gastroenterology (1994), directly after completing his residency in Internal Medicine (1992).
In 12/1996, he took a leap of faith and quit my job and followed the urging of his parents and started his own medical practice. In 2005, Dr. Steve and his team completed the new construction of their state of the art medical building that housed both their consultative practice as well as their ambulatory endoscopy surgery center.
Dr. Steve's goal for his practice is to be creative to sustain, thrive, and remain in the community in the fight to prevent and cure colon cancer.
Check out the video of this interview HERE!

EP 138 KEITH MCLEOD

Keith McLeod is a Philadelphia native born and raised.  Received a BS & AS in accounting in ‘92.  As a hard working black male, the majority of his career has been in Business, Accounting, Administration and Customer Service.  In his own words, "I like to think of myself as The Business Administration Professional Problem Solver.  I’m married to my high school sweetheart for 29yrs and have 4 adult children.  I serve an Elder in my local church.  I love family, fitness and planning events especially my Summer Travel Getaway.  I also act on the side and were involved in several productions.  I would love to be on the big screen and be an animated voice, as well as do voiceovers.  I love life, people and to be an encourager to all."  
Watch the interview on VIDEO

EP 39 ALEXANDER DAWSON

Alexander Dawson IV is from Haw River, North Carolina. He played Division 1 football at Elon University, where he ultimately earned his MBA. An avid traveler, he taught English in Costa Rica, before going to law school at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating in May 2020, Dawson studied for, and passed the bar exam in advance of beginning his employment at a top New York law firm. He then moved to Colombia to study Spanish and work on his mixtape. 
During his free time, Dawson enjoys boxing, traveling, Connect4, and spending time with his friends and family, including his 3 younger siblings.

EP 40 JAY REED

Jay Reed was born and raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School where he was an Art major. He graduated in 1991, and shortly after, served in the United States Marine Corps as a Food service Specialist until 1995. Jay came home and started to work in Food service as an Executive Chef, for about a year. He decided to explore another one of his God-given talents as a Barber. Jay went to Tri-City Barber School, graduated and received his Barber's license. Shortly after, he opened up several Barber Shops where he employed other Barbers. Jay has serviced several different communities throughout the Philadelphia area for over 25 years and counting. He is currently working on an LLC for his Food business @Castiron_Kitchen1.He will be starting out with a Food truck first then maybe in the near future move to a brick and mortar location. Jay’s favorite Bible verse is Phil. 4:13, “I can do ALL things thru Christ who gives me strength!”  And yes, he is a Man of GOD.

EP 41 KENNETH YORK

Kenneth York is the Proud father of 2: a handsome 8 year old son and a beautiful 3 year old daughter. He’s been married to his beautiful high school sweetheart for 9 years. He is a proud Air Force veteran, and served for 6 years at Barksdale Air Force base. During that enlistment Kenneth had the honor to serve in the honor guard. It was during his service in the honor guard where he began his advocacy for suicide awareness. Kenneth’s message to you: “I love all people, and I’m always willing to be an ear for anyone that needs it. You are loved, and you deserve  a wonderful, magical, and positive experience in your life.”