Stephanie Hightower's guest appearances

Stephanie Hightower

Women Of Influence

Gravity

CBF Archives

Claire Coder

Elizabeth Martinez

Rachel Friedman

Joe Deloss

Lisa Ingram

Debbie Penzone

Doug Ulman

Kenny McDonald

Nick Nanton

Jeni Britton Bauer

Scott Simon

Bob Roth

Josh Trent

Kary Oberbrunner

Amy Landino

OwlTail

Stephanie Hightower is the former president of USA Track &amp; Field, and current president and CEO of the Columbus Urban League, a community‐based, non‐profit advocacy organization. She is a four-time US champion in the 100 meter hurdles, a five-time US indoor champion in the 60 meter hurdles, and earned a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. In 1980, she qualified to represent the United States at the Moscow Olympics, but was unable to take part due to a nationwide boycott of the games. Instead of letting this setback define her, she continued onwards and became President of USA Track &amp; Field, a member of the IAAF council, and she is currently President of Columbus Urban League, an organization dedicated to empowering African Americans and disenfranchised groups through economic, educational, and social progress. Life wasn’t always so distinguished for Stephanie, though. A military child, she lived in a variety of places growing up, and frequently  experienced the different forms of racism that came with each one. Just like the hurdles she built an athletic career jumping over, she didn’t let adversity stand in her way and proved herself through her action and courage off the field, too.As a person of color, Stephanie brings a unique perspective to this week’s edition of Gravity, where we go deep on the complex issue of racism in America, her personal experiences with it as a child, checking privilege, and code switching in the workplace.We take time to champion Stephanie’s many achievements, illustrating how she’s used her story and experiences to impact others, and exploring ways we can all become better people while living as our truest selves. What Brett asks:[02:30] We’re going to start at the very beginning. Tell me about your childhood.[06:20] What were your parents like?[14:55] Tell me about how you realized you were fast enough to become an athlete.[17:25] Did you love being a hurdler?[18:35] What happened after you realized you could become an athlete?[25:10] What were your college years like, outside of sport?[32:25] What was it like being given such an incredible opportunity to travel the world and experience different cultures?[40:00] Is becoming an Olympian an amazing feeling?[42:45] How did it feel to have to boycott The Olympics in 1980?[44:20] What did you do after sports?[50:00] What’s leadership like today?[57:45] Is it useful to be a scrappy outsider?[1:02:30] What do you tell people about how we can all come together as a society?To learn more about intentional living, and for the complete show notes, visit: gravityproject.comResources:Columbus Urban LeagueStephanie Hightower on LinkedInStephanie Hightower on WikipediaGravity is a production of Crate Media.

Stephanie Hightower is the former president of USA Track &amp; Field, and current president and CEO of the Columbus Urban League, a community‐based, non‐profit advocacy organization. She is a four-time US champion in the 100 meter hurdles, a five-time US indoor champion in the 60 meter hurdles, and earned a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. In 1980, she qualified to represent the United States at the Moscow Olympics, but was unable to take part due to a nationwide boycott of the games. Instead of letting this setback define her, she continued onwards and became President of USA Track &amp; Field, a member of the IAAF council, and she is currently President of Columbus Urban League, an organization dedicated to empowering African Americans and disenfranchised groups through economic, educational, and social progress. Life wasn’t always so distinguished for Stephanie, though. A military child, she lived in a variety of places growing up, and frequently  experienced the different forms of racism that came with each one. Just like the hurdles she built an athletic career jumping over, she didn’t let adversity stand in her way and proved herself through her action and courage off the field, too.As a person of color, Stephanie brings a unique perspective to this week’s edition of Gravity, where we go deep on the complex issue of racism in America, her personal experiences with it as a child, checking privilege, and code switching in the workplace.We take time to champion Stephanie’s many achievements, illustrating how she’s used her story and experiences to impact others, and exploring ways we can all become better people while living as our truest selves. What Brett asks:<ul><li>[02:30] We’re going to start at the very beginning. Tell me about your childhood.</li><li>[06:20] What were your parents like?</li><li>[14:55] Tell me about how you realized you were fast enough to become an athlete.</li><li>[17:25] Did you love being a hurdler?</li><li>[18:35] What happened after you realized you could become an athlete?</li><li>[25:10] What were your college years like, outside of sport?</li><li>[32:25] What was it like being given such an incredible opportunity to travel the world and experience different cultures?</li><li>[40:00] Is becoming an Olympian an amazing feeling?</li><li>[42:45] How did it feel to have to boycott The Olympics in 1980?</li><li>[44:20] What did you do after sports?</li><li>[50:00] What’s leadership like today?</li><li>[57:45] Is it useful to be a scrappy outsider?</li><li>[1:02:30] What do you tell people about how we can all come together as a society?</li></ul>To learn more about intentional living, and for the complete show notes, visit: <a href="https://gravityproject.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gravityproject.com</a>Resources:<ul><li><a href="https://www.cul.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Columbus Urban League</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hightower-2b0265146/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephanie Hightower on LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Hightower" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephanie Hightower on Wikipedia</a></li></ul> Gravity is a production of <a href="http://crate.media" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crate Media</a>.

71. Clearing Life’s Hurdles: Both Metaphorical & Literal with Stephanie Hightower

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on small businesses from across the Columbus community – but Columbus Urban League CEO Stephanie Hightower says that “We may be in the same storm, but we’re not in the same boat.”Minority-owned businesses have been disproportionately impacted, Hightower said in Columbus Business First’s latest episode of our new Crisis Management podcast.“We all know that this pandemic particularly is disproportionately going to impact minorities and communities of color,” Hightower said.That’s apparent looking at data from those who are being laid off and furloughed, to the access by business owners to needed capital to keep their businesses afloat, Hightower said.A May report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that while the white unemployment rate was 14.2% in April, but it was 18.9% for Latinos and 16.7% for African Americans. In addition, a report from the Center for Responsible Lending estimated that more than 90% of African American-owned businesses did not receive Paycheck Protection Program loans.Part of the reason, Hightower said, is that many don’t have deep relationships with traditional financial institutions that were working on loan applications.“When it was time to apply for those PPP dollars they didn’t really have anybody to call, and weren’t comfortable calling anybody,” Hightower said.That is why the Columbus Urban League recently launched a Minority Small Business Resiliency Initiative. This initiative “provides technical, financial, and strategic advice to minority and women-owned businesses,” according to the Urban League.So far, about 325 inquiries have come in for assistance, Hightower said, and about 50 companies have been approved for more than $3.7 million in loans.“What’s really great is that we’ve been able to save 895 jobs ... because of our efforts,” Hightower said.

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on small businesses from across the Columbus community – but Columbus Urban League CEO Stephanie Hightower says that “We may be in the same storm, but we’re not in the same boat.”Minority-owned businesses have been disproportionately impacted, Hightower said in Columbus Business First’s latest episode of our new Crisis Management podcast.“We all know that this pandemic particularly is disproportionately going to impact minorities and communities of color,” Hightower said.That’s apparent looking at data from those who are being laid off and furloughed, to the access by business owners to needed capital to keep their businesses afloat, Hightower said.A May report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that while the white unemployment rate was 14.2% in April, but it was 18.9% for Latinos and 16.7% for African Americans. In addition, a report from the Center for Responsible Lending estimated that more than 90% of African American-owned businesses did not receive Paycheck Protection Program loans.Part of the reason, Hightower said, is that many don’t have deep relationships with traditional financial institutions that were working on loan applications.“When it was time to apply for those PPP dollars they didn’t really have anybody to call, and weren’t comfortable calling anybody,” Hightower said.That is why the Columbus Urban League recently launched a Minority Small Business Resiliency Initiative. This initiative “provides technical, financial, and strategic advice to minority and women-owned businesses,” according to the Urban League.So far, about 325 inquiries have come in for assistance, Hightower said, and about 50 companies have been approved for more than $3.7 million in loans.“What’s really great is that we’ve been able to save 895 jobs ... because of our efforts,” Hightower said.

Crisis Management #26: Stephanie Hightower on Covid-19's impact on minority-owned businesses