Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.

Angela Pace powerful story weaves through the nurturing community of Columbus's historic Poindexter Village (the "Blackberry Patch") where three generations of women taught her about determination and sacrifice. With candid warmth and infectious humor, she shares how her grandmother and mother instilled in her a love of learning, proper English, and unwavering faith that would become the foundation of her broadcasting career.

One teacher's belief changed everything. When Angela Pace's sixth-grade teacher drove her home and told her mother, "This girl needs to go to college," a new path opened for a young girl from Poindexter Village who had never imagined higher education as part of her future.

The journey wasn't smooth. Angela reveals the heartbreaking challenges she faced – from her mother's death during her high school years to experiencing blatant racism as a young reporter in Newark, where police officials deliberately withheld stories from the "little Black girl with a teeny weeny 'fro." Yet for every obstacle, Angela encountered champions who recognized her talent and created opportunities, including former teachers who literally drove her to Capital University to help her re-enroll after she had to drop out to support her siblings.

Her broadcasting career brought extraordinary experiences – covering Princess Diana's funeral, reporting from the Nagano Olympics, and even meeting Nelson Mandela. But Angela's greatest pride comes from connecting with the Columbus community and inspiring younger journalists who tell her, "I want to be Angela Pace." Now honored as one of Columbus's Top 50 Icons, Angela doesn't see herself as a trailblazer but as "encouragement and maybe hope" for all the other kids from neighborhoods like hers.

What does legacy mean to Angela Pace? It's "doing something that somebody will remember, hopefully for all the right reasons." Listen now to discover how faith, mentorship, and perseverance shaped a broadcasting legend whose grandmother "prayed her through college" and whose story continues to inspire generations.

Support the show

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.

As President and CEO of the Ohio Black Expo, Sherri Hamilton brings a fascinating blend of technical expertise and community vision that's reshaping how we think about empowerment. Want to experience the Ohio Black Expo's impact firsthand? Join thousands at the Riverfront Culture Fest on May 24-25, featuring everything from health screenings and youth activities to cultural performances and business showcases. Visit OhioBlackExpo.com to learn more about getting involved.

From her early days taking apart electronics as a curious child to her groundbreaking work as a programmer analyst in the Air Force during Desert Storm, Sherri's journey reveals how STEM skills can become powerful tools for community transformation. Enjoy this powerful episode.

The conversation takes us through Sherri's upbringing in Columbus during the 70s and 80s, where a strong "village" of family, church, and community members shaped her values. She candidly shares what it was like being often the only Black woman in technological spaces, and how that experience drives her passion for creating pathways for the next generation through initiatives like youth STEM programs and partnerships with COSI.

What's truly inspiring is how Sherri approaches community building - rejecting competition in favor of collaboration, focusing on amplifying rather than overshadowing others' work. Under her leadership, the Ohio Black Expo has become far more than an annual event; it's a comprehensive platform addressing critical challenges facing Black businesses and providing youth with transformative opportunities.

The wisdom Sherri shares about legacy-building resonates deeply: "When I think about legacy, I think about my parents. Is what I'm doing making them proud? Is what I'm doing walking in God's will? Am I doing things that help people or am I doing things that hurt people?" Her powerful mantra - "The best way to predict your future is to create it" - serves as both challenge and inspiration.

Want to experience the Ohio Black Expo's impact firsthand? Join thousands at the Riverfront Culture Fest on May 24-25, featuring everything from health screenings and youth activities to cultural performances and business showcases. Visit OhioBlackExpo.com to learn more about getting involved.

Support the show

Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.

Commissioner Kevin Boyce's remarkable journey from childhood tragedy to trailblazing public service offers a masterclass in resilience and purposeful living. When his father was murdered at age seven, Boyce found himself navigating life with a single mother working multiple jobs to make ends meet. What could have been a story of limitation instead became one of extraordinary possibility through what Boyce calls his "village" - recreation leaders who ensured he had lunch when food was scarce at home, teachers who advocated for him during troubled times, and coaches who nurtured his natural abilities.

The conversation reveals how Boyce's athletic background shaped his life philosophy: "It's not about how you start off in life, it's how you finish, and you can determine how you finish." This mindset carried him through becoming the first Black commissioner in Franklin County's history and co-founding Adelphi Bank - a modern iteration of a historic Black-owned financial institution that once catalyzed business development in Columbus's King Lincoln neighborhood.

Perhaps most compelling is Boyce's creation of RISE, an organization exclusively focused on addressing poverty and racism through innovative approaches. His story about a county employee who couldn't accept a promotion because it would cause her to lose childcare subsidies illuminates the complex barriers facing working families - and his determination to create real solutions. Through it all, faith remains his centering force, offering grace during struggles and guidance during successes. When asked about his legacy, Boyce looks not to professional accomplishments but to raising sons who embody compassion and service - a powerful reminder that our most meaningful impact often comes through the lives we touch most directly. Join us to discover how your own journey, regardless of its starting point, can become a legacy that transforms communities for generations to come.

Support the show