BOND:  Welcome to Explorations in Black Leadership.  Our guest today is Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich.  She is and has been an author, public scholar, a policy analyst, a community activist, a corporate governor,  and a spokesperson on behalf of creative black leadership and urban politics  and she’s here today in her position as Executive Director and COO of the Black Leadership Forum – that’s a 24 year old confederation of the top national civil rights and service organizations.  Dr.  Leftwich, welcome to Explorations…

LEFTWICH: Thank you for inviting me.  I’m looking forward to it.