Dr. Abeni El-Amin

Joey Truax (Yusef) made his mark in Hip Hop and Islamic culture, starting in 1986 in Lexington Kentucky. Joey also serves as a member of the WUKY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging Community Advisory Board (WUKY DEIB CAB). Over the years, Joey has produced many different artists locally and nationally and has also worked with Platinum Producer 7 Aurelius (also from Lex KY). Joey is a local radio personality with RADIOLEX WLXU 93.9 FM. Joey proudly carries the torch for Hip Hop culture and diversity and inclusion.

Jennifer Reynolds loves meeting new people and working with diverse populations. She was elected to the 11th District’s Urban County Council in November 2018. She was the outreach director with Bluegrass Youth Ballet after starting a bilingual outreach program in the 11th District’s Valley Park in 2013. Jennifer is also fluent in Spanish and a qualified medical interpreter.

Karyn Czar is an award-winning news reporter for WUKY. Karyn Czar received a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment for multiple myeloma. Karyn has openly shared details of her story. She has talked about how the mental and emotional challenges too often obscured by the physical recovery process. She shares her story in hopes of ending the stigma associated with talking openly about physical and mental health issues related to healing.

Angela C. Evans made history in 2022 when she was sworn in as the first African American county attorney in Kentucky. A native of Lexington, Evans is the Fayette County Attorney. With a heart for service and justice, Angela works to ensure political candidates, businesses and individuals abide by the same rules and are treated fairly by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Claudia Love Mair is the author of 13 books, including the upcoming, Mourning Pages, from Broadleaf Books (2025). She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University and is the Coordinator for the Carnegie Center's Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative (KBWC). Claudia Love is also the co-host of the Abbey of the Arts Lift Every Voice Book Club, which features books in the Christian contemplative tradition by BIPOC authors.

Marilyn Clark is the Economic Inclusion Manager for the University of Kentucky where she works across the enterprise to increase spending with diverse suppliers.

Dr. Abeni El-Amin and Renee Collins Cobb, M.Ed. present the next special edition episode. This special edition of the Ricochet Effect features Ian Castillo of Project Ricochet’s Urban Art Collective.

Dr. Abeni El-Amin and Renee Collins Cobb, M.Ed. present the next special edition episode. This special edition of the Ricochet Effect features Lafe Taylor of Project Ricochet’s Urban Art Collective. Lafe is a creative professional with a diverse skill set in storytelling, character design, technology and entrepreneurship. Lafe is passionate about creating impactful content for audiences through animation, education and books. Lafe creates purposeful joy.

Dr. Abeni El-Amin and Renee Collins Cobb, M.Ed. present the next special edition episode. This special edition of the Ricochet Effect features David Napier. He joined the Ricochet Effect Team in the studio at Public Radio Music Day on October 25, 2023. Public Radio Music Day celebrates the impact of public music stations on artists and fans. Public radio stations provide an important platform for local artists in Kentucky and across the country.David is a singer, songwriter, musician and educator. He started singing live and in competitions at the state level at the age of eight. He has studied under the instruction and influence of Beth Pope through Western Kentucky University and Nashville’s and former Kentuckian “Voices to the Stars” Ron Browning, international vocal instructor with the jazz workshop of Nashville.For more than ten years, David has been teaching voice to those in early childhood to adulthood. His emphasis is in teaching stage presence as well as applied music theory in helping others “find” their own voice by reaching DEEP into the song and bringing each NOTE one sings while enjoying the learning process of finding the voice.David plays both solo and with bands at music festivals, weddings and venues across the country. He is also the owner of “Happy Spooning - Stirring Up Love”, a local business that crafts hand carved wooden spoons with various themes and styles. They are true works of art.

In this episode of The Ricochet Effect, hosts two guests that speak to DEIB and Humanity as we discuss the difficult and challenging social issue of domestic violence and abuse. Dr. Abeni El-Amin and Renee Collins Cobb welcome two voices of great authority on this subject with Tanesha Ash-Shakoor, JD and Darlene Thomas MSSW.Tanesha Ash Shakoor, J.D, is an advocate, survivor, a expert witness, community leader Founder and CEO of the non-profit organization Voices of Color in Lansing, Michigan.Darlene Thomas, MSSW is Executive Director of Greenhouse 17 in Lexington, KY and leads a management team that brings more than a hundred years of combined experience in its mission to end intimate partner abuse. She also works with and educates community leaders, health care workers, lawyers, judges, legislators and police departments on the topic of domestic violence and abuse and how to move those from victim to survivor.These two guests speak to 1) what DV really is versus what a lot of people think it is, 2) sharing of their experience and backstories, 3) the difference between being a victim and a survivor, 4) Michigan and Kentucky state legislation that protects those affected, how this issue affects humanity, 5) what happens if it is not addressed, 6) PTSD and therapies and 7) legal issues that have to be navigated to escape DV and 8) strategies to help anyone who is living in an abusive situation for advocates who are working to move victims to inner, mental, spiritual and physical peace.