Introducing: Amplify America with April Yvonne Garrett
Join public and applied historian April Yvonne Garrett as she highlights social issues, people affected by them, people dedicated to solutions, and actions you can take to make America thrive.
Listen
Watch
Get the Latest
Subscribe
Sign up now to get new episodes as soon as they’re released, every other Monday.
Share
Guest Info
April Yvonne Garrett is a public and applied historian dedicated to encouraging civic participation. As president of Amplify America, she highlights social issues, the people affected by them, and the people dedicated to solving our nation’s most persistent problems. April uses their experiences and public and applied history to stir a strong call to action and an urgent commitment to real-world engagement.
Previously, April served as founder and president of Civic Frame, a national nonprofit organization that hosted public programs using documentary film and intellectual work to encourage critical thinking, media literacy, and civic engagement. On a local level, she spearheaded Civic Frame Presents Amplify Baltimore, a series of quarterly conversations with a diverse array of people that highlighted how specific social issues affected the city. Amplify Baltimore evolved into a weekly, 30-minute television series that highlighted the people, organizations, and businesses working to make Baltimore better. April served as its producer, writer, and host.
Before using her talents to empower others by advancing civic participation, April excelled in the education and social justice arenas, shaping intellectual and campus life at Columbia, Emory, and Harvard Universities, as well as the civil rights agenda of the NAACP.
April earned degrees in Islamic studies from Kenyon College, higher and adult education from Teachers College Columbia University, and African American Religious History from Harvard Divinity School.
Amplify America
Playlist
Show Notes
With Gratitude
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie
“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” — Rumi
I am not an island.
I cannot do this work without the unyielding support of others.
I give thanks to those who believe we can be a more thoughtful, generative, and loving America.
I give thanks to those who believe in my capacity to amplify that spirit across this nation.
I honor you here because you helped me carry this baby for a decade.
Without you, she would not be born.
-April
Groundwork Donors
- Anonymous Cupcake
- F. Otis Stephen, MD
- Hank L. Torbert
- Claudia Ann Highbaugh
- Andrew Chen
Kindness Donors
- Bryan Burkert
- Mark Fuller
- Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough
- Chrystal Dyer LaRoche
- Clarence KD McNair
- Jonathan Mannion
- Jennifer Richeson, Ph.D.
- Cindy Usher
- Alyssa Zuliani & Jonathan Aschoff
Sustaining Donors
- Francis Gourrier, Ph.D.
- Eleanor Jewett
- Tyrone Jones
- Barbara Kakiris
- Judson Kerr
- Andre King
- Nick Nicholson
- Jacob Harrison Orloff
- Annelle B. Primm, MD, MPH
- Amy Sherald
- Dr. Laurie Shanderson
- D.J. Shelton
- Wanufi Teshome
- Edward & Marjorie Waldman
- Peter Wilson
Transcript
Welcome to Amplify America, the podcast.
I’m your host, April Yvonne Garrett.
For the past 25 years, through my work in higher education, civil rights, arts-informed nonprofits, and new media, I’ve used my gifts to encourage civic participation in diverse communities across this nation. I have a passion for creating engaging, thought-provoking spaces for people to contemplate the origin and impact of the issues of the day but I’m not satisfied until I provide useful tools to help you solve them.
In this Amplify America podcast, I highlight social issues, the people affected by them, and the people dedicated to finding solutions to our nation’s most persistent problems.
In each episode, I highlight a pressing social challenge, and Amplifiers— people striving to live better lives, people considered advocates and experts in their field and everyday people who freestyle creative solutions to persistent social issues.
At the end of every episode, I empower you to become an Amplifier— giving you the tools to Amplify Action by engaging in advocacy and volunteer opportunities that lead to meaningful social change.
Amplify America resides wherever you are— in your town, your state, and all across this nation.
I invite you to connect with me and other Amplifiers on social media @AmplifyAmerica and with #AmplifyAmerica, #AmplifyAction, and #Amplifier.
Love Our Work? Here’s How You Can Help!
Our goal is to make America a group project, where ALL of us get actively involved! Your support is appreciated!
Become a Patron
Your monthly commitment will help defray the costs of producing and sustaining this effort.
Donate
Your one-time contribution is a welcome way to support us.
