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The Alma Film Festival, happening March 17-22, 2026 in the Dominican Republic, is unlike any other film festival in existence. Pt 2 of a 2-part episode features guests in Finland, Lesotho, and Atlanta; one of the Atlanta guests being one who's the backbone behind the festival and the other being one who is directing a conversation unpacking a powerful documentary by a Swiss woman who traveled globally for her film on what it means to be a Black/biracial woman. Learn more about these insanely talented people below. What is this episode? A Global Dialogue on Storytelling, Identity, and “The Necessity of Something New”The brainchild of Festival Founder and Director Anthony Page -- whose sincere humility causes him to credit many others -- Alma (Spanish for "soul") is an international film festival specifically focused on people and works from the Global South and the diaspora. This festival is crossing borders and crossing barriers -- and has connected collaborators across 52 cities in 35 countries! You heard that right. For an inaugural film festival? Talk about impressive. I, Samantha Fletcher, sat down with Anthony and just a handful of the many creatives making this festival all possible in the Caribbean in just a few weeks. March 17-22, 2026 to be exact. Read up on all of my amazing esteemed guests, a diverse group of filmmakers, cultural leaders, and creative voices from across the global film community:Sydney Bryant – An award-winning filmmaker and founder of the production company Shades of Cinema. Sydney is directing a major collaborative project connected to Swiss filmmaker Rachel M’Bon’s film J’Suis Noire (French), subtitled in English as Becoming a Black Woman. The project will expand the film’s themes into a global community conversation, with filmed discussions in multiple cities around the world where women will share their perspectives on what it means to be Black, Brown, or a woman of color within their own cultural environments.Diana Lynch-Grissett – Founder and CEO of Soule Resort (S-O-U-L-E) and developer of Grand Cay in El Limón, Dominican Republic, a multi-use beachfront golf resort community scheduled to break ground later this year. Her company is a cornerstone partner and one of the most trusted strategic collaborators of the Alma Film Festival, playing an important role in the festival’s long-term development and presence in the region.Chike Ohanwe – A celebrated actor based in Helsinki, Finland, Chike is the first Black actor to receive Finland’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Jussi Award. He is also a member of the Actique Global Performance Circle and serves on its board, contributing to the initiative’s mission to expand global acting approaches and performance traditions across the diaspora.Khotso Maphathe – A filmmaker and arts advocate from Lesotho working across documentary and narrative film throughout Southern Africa. He is also the founder of Space Agency, a multimedia production company that develops creative and storytelling projects for businesses and organizations across the region.Anthony Page -- Founder and Director, Alma Film Festivalhttps://www.almafilmfestival.com/

The Alma Film Festival, happening March 17-22, 2026 in the Dominican Republic, is unlike any other film festival in existence. Pt 1 of a 2-part episode features guests in Fiji, Jamaica, the Gambia and the DR. Learn more about these insanely talented people below. What is this episode? A Global Dialogue on Storytelling, Identity, and “The Necessity of Something New”The brainchild of Festival Founder and Director Anthony Page -- whose sincere humility causes him to credit many others -- Alma (Spanish for "soul") is an international film festival specifically focused on people and works from the Global South and the diaspora. This festival is crossing borders and crossing barriers -- and has connected collaborators across 52 cities in 35 countries! You heard that right. For an inaugural film festival? Talk about impressive. I, Samantha Fletcher, sat down with Anthony and just a handful of the many creatives making this festival all possible in the Carribbean in just a few weeks. March 17-22, 2026 to be exact. Read up on all of my amazing esteemed guests:Tumeli Tuqota – A filmmaker from Suva, Fiji, Tumeli is an advocate for the Fijian film community and serves as President of the Fiji Film Collective. His work is closely connected to strengthening opportunities for filmmakers across the South Pacific and supporting the growth of Fiji’s emerging film ecosystem.Kurt Wright – A writer, director, and cinematographer from Kingston, Jamaica whose work reflects Caribbean storytelling traditions and cinematic perspectives rooted in the region’s cultural experience.Katrin Kocsis – Originally from Toronto, Canada, Katrin has been living in Las Terrenas for the past seven years. She is a documentary filmmaker and photographer who will be producing a community walking tour during the festival, offering attendees an opportunity to connect more deeply with the culture and daily life of Las Terrenas.Ohemma Divine – Originally from Augusta, Georgia, and now living in The Gambia, Ohemma serves as a trusted executive assistant and organizational lead for the Alma Film Festival and the Afro-Mosaic Cinema Journal, supporting communications, coordination, and key initiatives across the festival’s global network.Anthony Page -- Founder and Director, Alma Film Festivalhttps://www.almafilmfestival.com/

Daily Border Crossings partnered with The Siena School for this special edition episode on Transracial Adoption: A Conversation about Parenthood and Family when Love Race and Identity Intersect where panelists give relevant, thoughtful, necessary tips and pointers for navigating successfully across cultures and difference. Host Samantha Fletcher has an insightful, must-hear conversation with esteemed panelists Beverly Clarke and Christopher Brown on transracial adoption and how the experiences and needs are not unlike other adoptive families in many ways…and also are unique in certain ways. Guests explore complexities via first person lived experience and professional expertise. Our panelists will discuss the opportunities and challenges of raising and supporting children across racial and cultural lines, supporting parents and offering insight for educators and community members seeking to foster inclusive and affirming environments. Panelists are: Beverly Clarke, a former Siena parent, currently serves as the Senior Director of Clinical & Support Services at The Barker Adoption Foundation.  In her role with Barker, Bev is responsible for managing, developing, implementing, and providing oversight and quality assurance for the clinical aspects of the work provided by the agency’s adoption and support programs.  Christopher Brown is the Dean of Equity and Belonging at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire; prior to Brewster, Christopher worked as an Academic Support teacher, Diversity Coordinator, coach, and advisor. He is a transracial adoptee, having been adopted by white parents, and he shares his story to impact the narrative on transracial adoption. Find Daily Border Crossings podcast at: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-border-crossings/id1517113315 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailybordercrossingspodcas3258 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U9ZjlsMZiE2dnRrdlP1BG Reach Samantha Fletcher at [email protected] www.SamanthaFletcher.com

Revealing, insightful, necessary, candid conversation with the incomparable Jerry Craft, NYT bestselling author of the groundbreaking book New Kid.* Craft is the ONLY PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF EVER to have a book win the:Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature* New Kid was the FIRST graphic novel to receive the prestigious Newbery Medal* New Kid is billed as a book for middle grade readers (ages 8 - 12, grades 3 - 7) however it is just as riveting and important a read FOR ADULTS An actual middle schooler, KJ Fletcher got to join his mom, host and producer Samantha Fletcher for this one of a kind opportunity. They caught up with the multi-talented and in-demand busy author, illustrator and all around wise guy – literally for his wisdom as well as his wit – Jerry Craft.Craft graciously answers 10 questions -- plus a few more because the host Samantha can't allow a good dig-in or follow up question to pass -- and shares why he wrote the book, why it's great for young people, AND why it is an ASSET and a MUST-READ for GROWNUPS, too.WHAT IS NEW KID ABOUT? Described as "heartbreakingly accurate" by Kirkus, here is an AI overview summary: "New Kid is a graphic novel by Jerry Craft about a Black seventh grader named Jordan Banks who is one of the few students of color at a prestigious, mostly-white private school. The book follows Jordan as he navigates this new environment, torn between his familiar Washington Heights neighborhood and the new school's culture, exploring themes like microaggressions, racism, and socioeconomic disparity. It's a coming-of-age story about making friends, fitting in, and staying true to himself while dealing with the challenges of being a new student from a different background."WHY KIRKUS CHOSE THIS AS ITS WINNER: "Kirkus chose Jerry Craft's New Kid for its honest portrayal of being a Black student in a predominantly white private school, handling race, class, and microaggressions with humor and a relatable protagonist. The graphic novel was praised for its "heartbreakingly accurate" and "funny, sharp, and totally real" story that allows readers to see themselves in a narrative that isn't based on "misery" or historical hardship, but instead on the everyday experiences of a young person navigating identity and belonging. Kirkus specifically highlighted how the book combined a middle-grade narrative with important social commentary, using the protagonist's art to visualize his dual worlds."www.samanthafletcher.comhttps://jerrycraft.com/https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/dailybordercrossings/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-border-crossings/id1517113315

Dr. Anthony Jack -- author of the critically acclaimed, award-winning book The Privileged Poor -- is back with a new book. Class Dismissed is out on Aug. 13, 2024. The follow up to his breakout success first book, he continues to shed light on a subject area that litte research had existed for: how elite colleges, with all their promises of support and their huge endowments, were failing disadvantaged students. He didn't just focus on financial reasons, though; Dr. Jack's work goes deeper, looking at many social, cultural, and structural aspects, some of which, from the perspective of the institutions, are obliviously gatekeeping. This time he discusses matters from a class perspective as well. "It's like inviting a vegan to a southern BBQ," Dr. Jack said, making an incredibly poignant analogy to illustrate just how welcoming these institutions claim to be, yet just how ill-prepared they actually are for those whom they are welcoming. If you are: *Sending a child to college this summer/fall *Doing DEI work and wondering what can make and not make a sense of BELONGING *Living life or thinking about life at an elite university or an elite independent/private K-12 school *A teacher/educator who wants to better know your students *A education administrator who wants to better lead *A student yourself entering college who wants to not only survive but thrive *Someone not filthy rich who wants to learn some tips and advantages *Someone who IS filthy rich and likes learning about college life for everyone *A compassionate citizen who seeks to expand knowledge then this episode is for you! Reach me at [email protected] www.SamanthaFletcher.com Dr. Anthony Jack, professor at Boston University, former Harvard professor https://anthonyabrahamjack.com/

Final day of Black History Month, phenomenal episode w/ phenomenal guests!! Research told Black students long ago that they lacked reading proficiency and were below reading level. Decades later, research is telling the same story that they're still woefully behind. What is going on with research? With teaching practices? What should parents or teachers be watching for or doing differently? What should you do if the way your child/student reads, writes, or learns doesn’t match what’s widely considered “the norm”? And what about a learning difference or a dyslexia diagnosis? Then what? Guess what? There's good news on the other side, and value in realizing that not all learning looks the same...so how do you navigate that? Join the conversation and learn from THRIVING adults who learn differently or are parenting children who are. Bring your questions! Daily Border Crossings' 3 esteemed guests: Marcia Brissett-Bailey – UK-based author of Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic, one of the Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women of 2022, Forbes featured dyslexia advocate and champion LeDerick Horne – poet, spoken word artist, advocate, co-author of Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities, and a "voice for people who learn differently" Resha Conroy – founder of Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (DABC), a national non-profit created by parents, educators, and advocates driven by the urgent need to alleviate the double disparity of unaddressed Dyslexia and racism For more info, contact Samantha Fletcher, moderator and host of Daily Border Crossings, at [email protected].

Black geeks, Blerds, Cosplayers they affectionately & proudly call themselves. Just in time for Black History Month, #28daysofcosplay Think dressing up in costumes, Marvel, superheroes, TV & movie characters, loving sci-fi, fantasy & space shows, talking science and technology -- think all that is only for white people? THINK AGAIN. Meet this panel of only a handful of the thousands of Black folks who live this Black geek, blerd, cosplay life. Who are they? What goes on in this world? Are they regular folks like everyone else...who just happen to become their favorite characters from time to time? Meet Montel Thompson aka navymontel https://www.instagram.com/navymontel/ Biggest misconception about Black geeks/blerds/cosplayers: "Honestly, one of the biggest misconceptions that I have encountered is because we're fans of certain things that we don’t know how to function in society. There’s a certain level of observed immaturity that goes along with that accusation. On the contrary, we are just as productive and contributed to society as anybody else. The thing that sets us apart from the rest of the crowd is that when the day is done, we don’t have to go to clubs, get drunk and cause any kind of trouble or drama. we hang out with our own tribe and we create things that make ourselves and others happy." Teresa Kennedy, a Sales Administrator, Geek, blerd & aspiring cosplayer ready to dip her toe and ankle into big time cosplay Biggest misconception about Black geeks/blerds/cosplayers: "I think outside people would probably be surprised at who considers themselves to be Blerds/Black geeks and who the cosplayers are. There may be coworkers or acquaintances who are cosplayers and they have no idea." Allison Joyner, Freelance Journalist and Content Strategist for Allison Joyner Enterprises Biggest misconception about Black geeks/blerds/cosplayers: "the love of their fanverse is obsession" Channing Scott Sherman, Co-Founder Black Geeks of DragonCon Biggest misconception about Black geeks/blerds/cosplayers: "We are all the same. There are MANY ways to be a blerd."

Guests: Kendra Shae-Marie Mullings and Victoria Ennis @blacksaturdayschool on Instagram We're talking about Black Saturday School. Yep, you heard me right. Saturday School. Based in Canada, it’s something that Kendra started a few years ago that is still going strong. And you might be thinking “My kids don't want to go to school during the week, no way would they go to school on Saturday!” but as it turns out, the kids who attend can’t wait for Saturdays because they are so in love with what is happening there. They get things they don’t get during typical weekday school at Black Saturday School. It is open to students of all races and backgrounds ages 9 - 13. Do your children need something like this? Is this a model or perhaps is her specific program something more areas and school districts should be considering? Daily Border Crossings is hosted and produced by Samantha Fletcher. https://www.samanthafletcher.com/

The new The Color Purple movie is OUT -- and broke box office records on day 1 when it was released on Christmas day 2023! One of my favorite moves of ALL TIME – we’re talking about THE COLOR PURPLE! Why do you, your grandma, your auntie, cousin, niece and nephew ALL know lines from this movie? Why is it so timeless? What's the magic that makes it connect people across regions, generations, genders, etc.? We laugh, agree, disagree, and connect -- and you will too! My guests -- aka TCP experts by the sheer experience of being a part of Black culture and loving the book, movie, play or new movie: Anthony Page, film director & producer, Atlanta April Dobbins, writer & filmmaker, Iceland (from Alabama then Miami) Kamille Bostick, PhD student, educator, activist, Charlotte (from SC) Rosa Clemons, Black history museum board president, historian, activist, Georgia/SC Terri A. Johnson, acclaimed author, D.C. Dr. Shahara Jackson, educator, activist, Brooklyn/Boston Tina Seales, business analyst, Maryland/Boston/NYC And I get to do so with this whole panel of esteemed intellectual guests who also go by just regular everyday folks who pay attention. Oprah and the cast of the new TCP have been all over the country and beyond promoting this new version.  And I got to thinking - why am I excited all over again? Why are so many ppl excited? Wow it’s doing numbers so big it’s breaking box office records! Clearly it is connecting w/ many people – across generations and time. WHY IS THAT?  And here we are with this wonderful crew and we will talk about past, present, and what TCP meant to us individually, personally, what it means to society, why people can relate and keep coming back.  We’ll also talk about its cultural significance and Black cinema, Black media, Black folks, current events and much much more.

We’re talking Palestinians, Israel and Gaza on this episode of Daily Border Crossings (DBC) and an expert on the region, author and law professor Khaled Beydoun is here to help us break things down and understand what’s really going on. Israel, Gaza, Hamas, IDF, genocide, cease fire, occupation...the places, the people, the events, the terminology– If you’re like many Americans, myself included, you’ve seen the horrific videos and images and heard heart- and gut-wrenching stories of the very real, very current war in the Middle East. And if you’re like me and many Americans, you’ve wondered just what is going on?  Khaled, an activist with a very active social media presence (his Instagram) for bringing awareness who’s also very busy traveling, speaking and writing on CNN or in the Washington Post, a frontline humanitarian made time for us to talk on day 69 of the war. Years before writing his 2 books, American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear and the follow up The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims, he spent over a decade researching the area. He’ll discuss the history, the present and how he thinks this will end. Also, hear his take on famous Palestinian DJ Khaled’s silence, his thoughts on Beyoncé, Taylor Swift & celebs in general in relation to the crisis, and what all of us should know, what we should do. Get ready to sit back, listen and learn. It’s DBC. DBC is hosted and produced by Samantha Fletcher. www.samanthafletcher.com

Thrilled and honored to have author, attorney, law professor, public speaker, activist, Harvard scholar, critical race theorist, I’m sure I could go on and on with titles. Khaled Beydoun! His new book, The New Crusades Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims, is a global follow up to his U.S.-centric first book, American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear and has garnered awesome and impressive reviews. In this interview, Khaled's likability easily shines through, as he talks about serious subjects while weaving in wit and humor. We discuss: Islamophobia, from book 1 to 2 life as a Muslim, US & globally truths about Islam unimaginable global atrocities + burden to honarably tell stories why he fights (& without fear) trump administration & beyond Ramadan critical race theory 9/11, law school & decisions Politics of banning Black history mentor kimberle crenshaw much more Learn more about me -- producer, host, visionary and DEI technologist -- at www.samanthafletcher.com/.

Special guests: AMEER BARAKA and RESHA CONROY on the often not discussed but highly impactful DYSLEXIA. It's more common than you think, and it's impacting adults and our children. NOTE: Their audio is great. My (host) audio is off. DON'T LET THAT MAKE YOU MISS THE MESSAGE! Welcome to Season 3 of Daily Border Crossings. TRIED UPLOADING ON FEB. 28, 2023. On this last day of Black History Month, I have one of the most powerful, intriguing shows – one you don’t want to miss. Today I speak with the brilliant Emmy nominated actor and critically acclaimed author AMEER BARAKA (check out his IMDb), with roles in Bronx SIU, Zatima, A House Divided and more. And the amazing and equally brilliant Resha Conroy, founder and executive director of DABC, the Disability Alliance for Black Children. Resha has a son with severe dyslexia. Ameer has dyslexia, which wasn’t discovered until he was frustrated w/ not being able to read at school, no one helping to find out why, his frustration turned into behavior issues, then a life of crime which led him to prison where his D was discovered and it opened up doors that took him to Hollywood and even to Congress. They complement each other well in this discussion. They both are dropping some SERIOUS knowledge we ALL need and especially if you or someone you know has ever had challenges with reading. NOTE: MY AUDIO IS MESSED UP!! Please note that. Ameer and Resha – their audio is superb. Mine is echo-y and was not fixable. DON'T LET THAT MAKE YOU MISS THE MESSAGE. THIS SHOW IS DONE IN CONJUCTION WITH THE SIENA SCHOOL AND AIMS. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE IS OUR UNDIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA EPISODE ON SEASON 3. IT’S DBC

The 1st of 30 episodes in 30 days. 30 shorts, these are highlights of the most thought-provoking, talked-about Daily Border Crossing episodes.

Meet Ian Solomon of Amplify Outside – a Black man who, get this, HIKES & CAMPS & KAYAKS! Gasp! Yep, a popular stereotype and misconception is that Black folks don't really "do" the outdoors, staying away from woods and mountains and stray or woodsy animals. Out to debunk such myths, Ian -- whose motto is "Black Recreation is Black Liberation" -- takes every chance he gets to be outside. He’ll talk about ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING, a topic that is othered, especially one not discussed a lot in the Black community. And what are Sound Baths? How can we get healing from sound? From the night sky? So much to learn!  While we're outside celebrating Juneteenth, listen up for reasons to keep being out there. It will benefit your overall health more than you might think. When there is so much mental health talk and so many of us are thinking about how to do better, live better, stress less – TRUST ME! You don’t want to miss this episode. Find out some things we've been missing out on! (Some of us, anyway.)  Find Ian Solomon at @amplifyoutside on all the socials.

On this ep of DBC, we're talking career and tech schools and the fact that they lead to so many lucrative lifetime professional experiences and opportunities that many people miss out on because of overlooking and "othering" them thanks to stigmas. Our guests are Shelette Pleat, principal of a career and tech high school, Nikasha dicks, PR and marketing director for a community/technical college, and Katie Sievers, from credentialing organization Credly What comes to mind when you think of career and technical schools?  Community colleges? Career and tech schools at the high school level? Some of you may refer to them as vocational and tech, many are changing names from voc to career to highlight that they lead to lasting careers. Are you considering attending? Or did you attend? And if you didn’t, why not? Voc tech, career and tech are often looked at as the step brother to 4-year colleges and universities, but my guests today would say not so fast. You may recall Pres. Joe Biden giving praise to community colleges, where his wife has spent her career teaching. My guests are all weighing in and showing us that these schools, though often overlooked, also often lead to some quite lucrative careers – all while saving thousands of dollars spent at 4-year universities. You don’t want to miss this discussion on DBC.