In this episode of the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci speaks with Monique Trusclair Maddox and Father Timothy Kesicki about their leadership journeys and how their journeys intersected at the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. They share the impactful work of the Foundation and its mission to create a global model for racial reconciliation and healing. They also discuss engaging in restorative justice for descendant communities, the power of reflection and dialogue, and the challenges and joys of confronting the past.
This week on the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci welcomes Monique Trusclair Maddox, President and CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation, and Father Timothy Kesicki, Chair of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Trust, which funds the work of the foundation. The Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partnership that works to mitigate the dehumanizing impact of racism while dismantling the continuing legacy of slavery in America through truth, racial healing, and transformation. The foundation provides scholarships, housing support for the elderly, and supports important racial healing programs.
Monique Trusclair Maddox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University. With more than 30 years of corporate experience, including a career in IT leadership and leading her own consultancy firm, Macrame Technologies, Monique has helped companies of all sizes make pivotal decisions that have facilitated their growth and success. Following a life-altering discovery about her family, Monique cast a vision to grow the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation to positively impact current and future generations of descendants.
Father Timothy Kesicki entered the Society of Jesus in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1994. He worked as a priest at the Jesuit Refugee Service in Uganda, as part of an educational relief effort. Before becoming chair of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Trust, Father Kesicki served as President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, the Provincial of the Chicago-Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus, and President of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio.
Monique and Father Kesicki discuss their leadership journeys and breakthroughs, leading with humility, engaging in restorative justice, and the power of reflection and dialogue. They emphasize that healing must be descendant-led and rooted in listening and honoring past commitments.
Other Topics Discussed
Additional Resources:
Charity:
Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation
Contact Monique Trusclair Maddox
Contact Father Timothy Kesicki