ABOUT

Brooklyn Savvy TV is a social justice digital talk show network that seeks to inform, inspire, look at and unpack long-standing societal habits, behaviors, stigmas, policies and structures in marginalized communities through invigorating conversations with guests who are diverse bootstrappers, activists, educators, and leaders. Knowledge and communication is the root of attaining social and economic justice across all sectors of life.

Savvy Panelistas

Jennifer Jones Austin, Esq.

A fourth-generation leader of faith and social justice, Jennifer Jones Austin fights for equity. As CEO and Executive Director of FPWA, an anti-poverty, policy and advocacy organization with 170 member agencies and faith partners, she has led and secured monumental changes in social policy to strengthen and empower the disenfranchised and marginalized. Jennifer brings to her work a profound understanding of the link between race, poverty, law and social policy in America, and the role religion plays. Shecurrently chairs the NYC Racial Justice Commission, the first of its kind in the nation, where she led the development and passage by the New York City electorate in 2022 of three unprecedented proposals to amend the city’s charter to dismantle structural racism and embed racial justice and equity in all government functions.

COLETTE ELLIS

Colette Ellis is an experienced coach, entrepreneur, and wellness innovator, who has successfully executed programs for Fortune 500 companies. She has been a leader in the health and wellness industry for 15 years. Colette has traveled the globe facilitating personal growth and workplace wellbeing. Clients have transformed their organizations via her interactive seminars on employee wellness, leadership development, and team building. Colette also has been certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health in Mental Health First Aid and by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in Trauma-Informed Care.

Tobie S. Stein

Tobie S. Stein, Ph.D. is a global arts leadership author, speaker, and educator. She is a two-time Fulbright Specialist (Israel and Taiwan) and is a member of the Fulbright Specialist Roster. She is the author of five books, including the second edition of Performing Arts Management (Skyhorse Publishing and Wunan Books); Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Performing Arts Workforce (Routledge); and Leadership in the Performing Arts (Skyhorse Publishing and TNUA).

Valerie D. White

Valerie D. White is a chief executive, economic development expert, and leading advocate with more than 30 years of experience across private, public, and non-profit sectors. Valerie’s professional career started in city government, working for the City of New York’s Department of Personnel followed by eight years with the New York City Housing Authority, where she led the highly visible implementation of three urban revitalization projects with a budget totaling over $250 million.

LISA A. BING

Lisa A. Bing is a strategy and leadership expert with a unique profile. Lisa has been dubbed an “avatar of adult learning” which combined with her keen business acumen positions her to both quickly diagnose business needs and engage clients in their own learning to expand personal capabilities and organizational capacity. +Lisa has worked across a spectrum of industries and professions as well as with both large and small companies…including religious leaders. Lisa simplifies the complex.

Kristina Newman-Scott

Kristina Newman-Scott is an award-winning, purpose-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in contemporary visual and performing arts, entertainment, and media. She is the inaugural Executive Director for The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at New York Public Radio/WNYC, the company’s multi-platform and live studio space.

Phyllis White-Thorne

Phyllis White-Thorne recently retired from Con Edison where she was Manager of Public Information, and served as a company liaison to community and government leaders, and not-for-profit organizations in Brooklyn. Previously, she was a member of Con Edison's Strategic Partnerships Department where she managed the corporate volunteer program and the Company's support to education city-wide.