Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room has been a fixture on historic and beautiful Jones Street in Savannah, Georgia since 1943. Open Monday-Friday from 11:00am-2:00pm, diners wait in line for seats at one of the large tables-for-ten shared by strangers. Once inside, they're greeted by an assortment of delicious home-cooked Southern dishes. You're about to meet Marcia Thompson, whose late grandmother, Sema, is Mrs. Wilkes, considered a pioneer for women in the restaurant business. This is a fascinating and mouth watering conversation about love, family and history.

Khuraira Musa's career as a successful make up artist and creator of a cosmetics line that bears her name is a far cry from her humble beginnings in a small village in Northern Nigeria. Life began in an orphanage after her mother died in childbirth. She was later adopted by an aunt, who had very little. They lived in a mud hut with no electricity or running water. What Khuraira says she didn't lack, was a tremendous amount of love. Listen in as she shares the details of her life in Nigeria and here in the States in this riveting, no-holds barred conversation.

Khuraira Musa's career as a successful make up artist and creator of a cosmetics line that bears her name is a far cry from her humble beginnings in a small village in Northern Nigeria. Life began in an orphanage after her mother died in childbirth. She was later adopted by an aunt, who had very little. They lived in a mud hut with no electricity or running water. What Khuraira says she didn't lack, was a tremendous amount of love. Listen in as she shares the details of her life in Nigeria and here in the States in this riveting, no-holds barred conversation.

Veteran award winning television reporter Pat Battle is a human dynamo. WNBC-TV's senior New Jersey correspondent, she's been covering numerous breaking news stories with her uniquely personal touch since joining the station in 1996. Pat won a national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award as part of Channel 4's team coverage of Hurricane Sandy in 2102. She also co-anchors WNBC's Weekend Today. Pat has been recognized for lending both her voice and support to numerous public service organizations across the tri-state. This is one engaging, frank, funny and fascinating conversation.

Veteran award winning television reporter Pat Battle is a human dynamo. WNBC-TV's senior New Jersey correspondent, she's been covering numerous breaking news stories with her uniquely personal touch since joining the station in 1996. Pat won a national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award as part of Channel 4's team coverage of Hurricane Sandy in 2102. She also co-anchors WNBC's Weekend Today. Pat has been recognized for lending both her voice and support to numerous public service organizations across the tri-state. This is one engaging, frank, funny and fascinating conversation.

Kristin McCarthy Parker is one busy, creative woman. She's a freelance director in New York City and a founding member of the theater group, Recent Cutbacks. Her niche? Directing top-notch theatrical parodies of blockbuster films. They include, in no particular order: KEVIN!!! (Home Alone), Fly You Fools (Lord of the Rings) and Hold On To Your Butts (you may recall that was the line Samuel Jackson spoke not once, but twice in Jurassic Park). It was named the #3 Comedy of 2014 by Time Out New York Magazine. Kristin is smart, funny and breath of fresh air.

Kristin McCarthy Parker is one busy, creative woman. She's a freelance director in New York City and a founding member of the theater group, Recent Cutbacks. Her niche? Directing top-notch theatrical parodies of blockbuster films. They include, in no particular order: KEVIN!!! (Home Alone), Fly You Fools (Lord of the Rings) and Hold On To Your Butts (you may recall that was the line Samuel Jackson spoke not once, but twice in Jurassic Park). It was named the #3 Comedy of 2014 by Time Out New York Magazine. Kristin is smart, funny and breath of fresh air.

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!

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!

Horticulturist/gardener Hannah Cortazzo is a transplanted New Yorker (no pun intended!). Growing up on a rare private property within the preserved lands and river system of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri, Hannah says she never took nature for granted. Her love of plants, flowers and trees is on display in her workplace - the magnificent Conservatory Garden at New York City's Central Park. Its 6-acre Italian, French and English gardens are filled with 27 flowering plants, shrubs and trees. Spend the next half hour as Hannah shares the transformative effect a garden can have in our everyday lives.

Horticulturist/gardener Hannah Cortazzo is a transplanted New Yorker (no pun intended!). Growing up on a rare private property within the preserved lands and river system of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri, Hannah says she never took nature for granted. Her love of plants, flowers and trees is on display in her workplace - the magnificent Conservatory Garden at New York City's Central Park. Its 6-acre Italian, French and English gardens are filled with 27 flowering plants, shrubs and trees. Spend the next half hour as Hannah shares the transformative effect a garden can have in our everyday lives.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, D.C. is the only major museum dedicated solely to celebrating the creative contributions of women. Founded in 1987, NMWA not only champions women artists, it also directly addresses the gender imbalance in presenting art worldwide. Susan Fisher Sterling has been with the NMWA since 1988 when she was hired as an associate curator. In 2008, she was named Director. Susan has built her career and the stature of the museum around the message of equity for women through the example of excellence in the arts. Tune in as she shares what that's been like and what's in store as NMWA prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, D.C. is the only major museum dedicated solely to celebrating the creative contributions of women. Founded in 1987, NMWA not only champions women artists, it also directly addresses the gender imbalance in presenting art worldwide. Susan Fisher Sterling has been with the NMWA since 1988 when she was hired as an associate curator. In 2008, she was named Director. Susan has built her career and the stature of the museum around the message of equity for women through the example of excellence in the arts. Tune in as she shares what that's been like and what's in store as NMWA prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

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.

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.