EmpowerUAmerica

When we look at the pictures on Mount Rushmore of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln there is little doubt these are great American Presidents and heroes. But what about the fourth President on the monument—third from left—Theodore Roosevelt. Learn about Roosevelt, the “Great Regulator” and Teddy’s domestic program named “The Square Deal”. Roosevelt’s helped seal his image of a cowboy soldier when he formed a group called “The Rough Riders” who would see battle in the Spanish American War. And what about that Teddy Bear?

This course will be built around THE book of the same name — 67 SHOTS: KENT STATE AND THE END OF AMERICAN INNOCENCE — which dives deeply into a singular moment in American history. On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen fired upon and killed four students at Kent State University and wounded nine, one paralyzed for life. EmpowerU will be exploring Kent State on the 52nd Anniversary of the tragic shooting. Image result for Vietnam war protest The shootings shocked the nation, but in two different directions. One side saw it as a brutal putdown of a legitimate student protest against the war in Vietnam. The other cheered the shootings as not only deserved but long overdue. Then as now, America was a deeply divided nation, coming off a decade defined by assassinations, the Civil Rights struggle, burgeoning feminism, and so much more. All those roiling waters of the 1960s flowed together that weekend a little more than half a century ago on the Kent State campus in northeast Ohio. Howard Mean’s great book “67 Shots”--makes extensive use of more than one hundred twenty-five oral histories stored at Kent State. It finds and defines faults, it traces patterns, but it doesn’t take sides, and this course won’t either. America itself went off the rails on May 4, 1970. Author Howard Means will show you why and how, and with what lasting consequences. Those 67 shots fired at Kent State live with us still.

Our mental images of the American frontier are formed by stories, television shows, and movies more than by actual history. But there was much more to it than what innumerable Hollywood productions show. We do not have to go farther west to look at the history of the frontier; when Cincinnati was founded it was the frontier. We have more than enough history for a television mini-series – plenty of wilderness; lots of Indians; one-sided treaties; an army with a couple very bad commanders and resounding military defeats; an army then reformed into the Legion of the United States with a competent commander and a major victory; a traitor; intrigues by the British, French, and Spanish; a judge who sold thousands of acres of land with fraudulent titles, settlers; and the very first congressional inquiry of the executive branch. When the United States and Great Britain ended the Revolutionary War in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris, Britain agreed that the western boundary of the United States shall be the Mississippi River. A huge area west and north of the Ohio River, soon to be called the Northwest Territory, would allow incredible room for expansion. But most of the land west of the Appalachian Mountains had been reserved to the Indians by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, and even though subsequent treaties quickly reduced the extent, the northwest area was still theirs. And no Indian tribe had signed the Treaty of Paris. The chiefs of a few tribes signed treaties in the next several years in which they agreed to move and yield the lands in southern Ohio area to the United States. Join Engineer and local Cincinnatian Michael Patton who will walk us through Cincinnati Frontier Treason, Fraud, and the Indian Wars in the Early Settlement The Convention of States will present an overview of the process for a minimum of 34 State Legislatures to make applications for a Convention of States. The purpose of holding a convention is for the purpose of suggesting proposed amendments to the US Constitution in 3 limited areas: term limits for Federal officials, imposing fiscal restraints on Federal spending & taxation, and limiting power, scope, and jurisdiction of the Federal government. Just like any amendments proposed by Congress, it still takes 3/4ths or 38 states to ratify any proposed amendments before they would become effective. He will share where the project stands currently in Ohio and in the other states active in this movement.

Covid Pandemic – The Great Reset, we’ve been hearing a lot about both. What’s the connection between the two? Tom DeWeese will make the connection and more! For several decades the forces of the Left have been preparing for global control. The United Nations has been in a relentless drive to destroy national sovereignty, kill free enterprise, and eliminate private property. They have openly promoted these goals through Agenda 21, Agenda 2030, and the Green New Deal. Many thought these were just too radical to be taken seriously. Finally, as a trial run, the global forces succeeded in shutting down the world economy under the man-made Covid Pandemic. To achieve it, the UN used all of its resources, including the World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, and the World Economic Forum to take the final steps to lock it all in. They call it the Great Reset, and they plan to use the Covid Lockdown as the guideline for finally imposing their ultimate goal. Control of energy, food supplies, manufacturing, Wall Street investing, development, and individual choice are all the targets to bring it about and change human society forever, under their thumb. Tom DeWeese will give you the details on who and how it’s being done, and most importantly, what can we as individuals do to stop it. Don’t miss hearing and learning about this topic that everyone is talking about. Visit empoweruamerica.org to see upcoming classes and more!

As a Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Kenneth J. Manges testifies in civil, criminal and military cases. When asked what he do, he is fond of saying, “I never talk to the dead, but I always listen.” This is his way of saying he investigates the circumstances of what happened just before a person’s death, whether by murder or accidental circumstances, and in the instance of evaluating a survivor, how the assault, explosion, fire, or motor vehicle collision has ruined their lives. Dr. Manges will talk for EmpowerUAmerica and provide a glimpse at some of the amazing stories about how the twists and turns of the evidence, research, and interviews he has had, which have led to some surprising outcomes over the hundreds of times he has testified in court.

The Author of Woke, Inc., Vivek Ramaswamy visits EmpowerU tonight. In tonight’s topic Vivek will focus on how there is a cartel of the top 3 largest asset managers in the world (Blackrock, State Street, and Vanguard) that pushes a one-sided political agenda. This cartel uses not their own money, but the money of retirees, pensioners, the American people at large to advance their goals in a way that betrays their fiduciary duty to their clients and that would make their clients’ blood boil if they knew what was going on. Vivek will also touch on his book, Woke, Inc. that makes the case that politics has no place in business, and sets out a new vision for the future of American capitalism. In the book Vivek talks about an invisible force at work in our economic and cultural lives. It affects every advertisement we see and every product we buy, from our morning coffee to a new pair of shoes. “Stakeholder capitalism” makes rosy promises of a better, more diverse, environmentally-friendly world, but in reality, this ideology championed by America’s business and political leaders robs us of our money, our voice, and our identity. Vivek Ramaswamy is a traitor to his class. He’s founded multibillion-dollar enterprises, led a biotech company as CEO, he became a hedge fund partner in his 20s, trained as a scientist at Harvard and a lawyer at Yale, and grew up the child of immigrants in a small town in Ohio. Now he takes us behind the scenes into corporate boardrooms and five-star conferences, into Ivy League classrooms and secretive nonprofits, to reveal the defining scam of our century. The modern woke-industrial complex divides us as a people. Also, we expect that Vivek will talk about the new book he is writing that is due to be released September 13, 2022—Nation of Victims. The book talks about America’s inner spirit and how that spirit has been domesticated by a new culture that rejects excellence and embraces victimhood. Hardship is now equated with victimhood. Outward displays of vulnerability in defeat are rewarded more than winning unabashedly. The pursuit of excellence and exceptionalism are at the heart of American identity, and the disappearance of these ideals in our country leaves a deep moral and cultural vacuum in its wake.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller is a 17 year infantry officer who resigned at the rank of Lt. Col. after witnessing a poorly planned and executed Afghanistan withdraw. He was thrust into the media when he posted a video on Facebook and LinkedIn from his office as a Battalion Commander. Wearing his uniform, he identified himself in the video with rank and title and then proceeded to criticize the decisions of his senior military and political leaders. A series of escalating events occurred following the initial video between himself and the Marine Corps which resulted in his imprisonment and court martial. This is his story. Why he joined the Marine Corps. Why he loves America. Why he joined during a time of war, and why he wanted to experience combat. How he progressed through his career. How his experiences in places like Afghanistan and Iraq shaped his thinking. How his military education created deeper questions about America’s foreign policy approach. And how the events of Afghanistan compelled him to sacrifice everything in his life up to that point.

Anni grew up in the Islamic Republic of Iran where as a woman, she faced many abuses and injustices, all of which were permitted by law. At the age of 13 she was sold by her father. Two years later, with help from her grandmother, she was smuggled out of Iran to Turkey where she lived in a refugee camp until eventually being granted asylum in the United States. Anni will tell her story, educate the audience on life under Islamic law and the value of the freedoms we have here today. Recorded on April 12th 2022 See more classes on empoweruamerica.org

Rick Gibbs will be focusing on a program he teaches “Practical Preparedness” that shares a common sense approach for survival during many types of life situations including natural disasters and current events. Specifics to be covered are simple and practical ideas for being prepared, in case of utility disruptions, or food shortages. Rick will stress the need to think about needed household items and being ready in case of an emergency situation. Always be planning ahead and have a back-up plan. Many of his suggested items are available locally, and may be necessary should a natural disaster or unexpected event disrupt our normal lives. He will be giving us a presentation with a handout on preparedness. Be sure to come to this one! Gardening: Leigh Ann Cartier will discuss–Do you ever see the gardening section at the store full of seeds and plant starts and wonder “What’s the difference between all the different tomatoes or beans, etc.?” Confused on what to start growing? Do you want to start growing but have a small space? You can grow more than you think if you choose the right kind of variety for your situation. You can grow in containers if you are tight on space. There are more options than you think.

Today, the federal government is constantly violating the US Constitution and usurping powers that belong to the States and the People. State’s Attorney Generals sue the federal government in federal courts asking the feds to define what their powers are instead of using the Constitution. Others want to hold an Article V convention to propose amendments to restrict the federal government. We had an amendments convention in 1787 to “Remedy the defects in the Articles of Confederation only”, find out how that turned out! A completely new Constitution with it’s own method of ratification. What is the right way to oppose federal overreach? Did the Founder’s leave us any directions? YES, they did! Come and see this presentation and find out how the Founder’s said we should combat the federal government when they make laws, create agencies, issue executive orders or have supreme court opinions that violate the Enumerated/Delegated powers found in the Constitution.

Jed Hartings will discuss the emerging growth of public classical charter schools as an education alternative in Ohio, with focus on our experience founding the Cincinnati Classical Academy. He will describe the core tenets of the classical approach to education and how they differ from today’s public schools, with illustrations from school curricula. He will discuss what’s required to found a school, our experiences and challenges, the partnership with Hillsdale College, and related founding efforts across the state. America is experiencing huge federal deficits, massive federal debt, and so much free, “helicopter” money from the government that many Americans choose not to work. And all this was done in response to the COVID crisis. When you combine our current situation with the plans that have been proposed – like Build Back Better and the Green New Deal – the USA seems to be pivoting from a quasi-Capitalist system over to a social democracy like those in Europe, or maybe even something to the left of that. So, how did we get here? We will take a look at that through the painstaking research of author Amity Shlaes, who explains how progressives, socialists, and communists used two earlier crises to implement socialist programs while attacking our capitalist system. In The Forgotten Man she describes how FDR and many leftists in his New Deal administrations first moved the dial away from capitalism towards socialism in the 1930s. Their efforts were greatly aided by Americans’ desire to end the crisis of the Great Depression. She convincingly shows how the New Deal failed in that mission, yet its programs remained in place.

First there was CRT, now there is Social Emotional Learning with schools become more involved with your child's social welfare. What can parents do to fight back, why aren't schools just teaching Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. Learn from Kirsten Hill, a Board member for the Ohio Department of Education.

“The Old Lefthander & Me”: Long-time TV columnist John Kiesewetter tells his favorite Joe Nuxhall stories with a powerpoint presentation about his new book, “Joe Nuxhall: The Old Lefthander & Me – My Conversations with Joe Nuxhall about the Reds, Baseball and Broadcasting.” Over a 21-year span, Kiesewetter spoke to the beloved Reds radio announcer about his baseball and broadcasting careers; his 31-year partnership with Marty Brennaman; the pranks they played on each other off the air; his all-time favorite Reds players; and even his Kroger TV commercials.

School Choice Ohio was launched shortly after the creation of Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program. Since that time, School Choice Ohio and its allies have continued to expand opportunities that empower families to choose their child’s school. At this moment, over 60% of Ohio families have access to a state funded scholarship. While there has been much success, and Ohio is among the nation’s leaders in empowering families, there is much more to go. Impediments to expanding parental power over education are political, sociological, and practical. SB 242 is Legislation that requires cash to be accepted as a form of payment at retail merchants. We are slowly moving to a cashless society, and the ramifications of that are profound. As was seen in Canada, governments can and will work with the financial and tech sectors to shut citizens out of the economy if they deem it necessary. The good news is that SB 242 has the support of groups on the left who also have privacy concerns and issues moving to a completely cashless society. The bill represents an innovative, bipartisan approach to pushing back against increasingly technocratic governance. Senator Louis Blessing III joins EmpowerU to discuss the topic that is currently under review by the Ohio General Assembly.

Childhood Trauma is a major, largely unaddressed issue in the State of Ohio and nationally, with one of every five children 3-17 years old experiencing two or more adverse trauma events annually. Ron Hummons, himself a victim of severe traumatic incidences, beginning at age 5, will be joined by Cinny Roy and Burr Robinson, representing therapeutic and social service interests to discuss how citizens can come together to have Ohio become the first state and Cincinnati the first city to declare a Child Trauma State of Emergency, and to greatly expand effective solutions and become a national model. Tyson Butler is passionate about our kids and their education. He is the new Southwest Ohio Director of Protect Ohio Children a coalition to stop Critical Race Theory (CRT), Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Tyson is a great resource to meet as your kids, grandkids and friends have problems with these issues in their schools. Tyson will introduce Jessica Franz who is a new School Board Member for the Bethel Board of Education. She will detail the disastrous handling of a situation that involves a trans-identified student accessing the restrooms at Bethel Schools. It is important for you to learn about what is going on in Bethel and how it can easily become a part of your school district. If anything, Jessica’s story will only reaffirm the importance of watching carefully everything that is going on in your school district.

Dr. Douglas Frank, one of EmpowerU’s favorite speakers, has been intimately engaged in the election integrity effort since December of 2020, and has been catapulted into the national dialogue because of his alliances with several prominent patriots including Mike Lindell, General Flynn, Col. Phil Waldron, and Captian Keshel. But the most important aspect of all his work has been cultivation and support of grassroots efforts in about forty states. We are winning the public discussion because the grassroots are demanding that the situation be addressed. “Politicians don’t start parades, they join them”, has been the theme that is carrying the day. As individual citizens are remembering that “We the People” are supposed to be the government in our constitutional republic, they are stepping up and engaging their civic duty. This speaks loud and clear to our government leaders, and it is empowering the true patriots among them. Learn about more classes at empoweruamerica.org

We will discuss some of the elements of a good story and how to use a story to impact your legislators. While stories are not the only way to move our elected officials, they are most assuredly the easiest and most effective way to do so. We will also discuss several other ways to get the attention of those whom we have chosen to represent us at the different levels of government. Speaker Ray Hoskins, is a senior trainer for Americans for Prosperity’s Education and Training department, he brings his unique background of teaching high school history, coaching wrestling, football, and track, and entrepreneurship along with an MBA and experience as a small business owner to his job. He has coached and mentored field staff, other trainers, and activists to perform at a high level. He has a great passion for helping people succeed even where they do not think they can. If you need to step-up your communication to governmental officials, start with this class! Kim is a candidate for the Republican Primary for District 28 for the Ohio House of Representatives. Here is what Kim stands for: “Follow the Constitution. No Mandates. Less Government. Less Taxes. More Small Business. More School Choice. Protect Parental Rights. Protect Free Speech. Protect Gun Ownership. Protect Life. Defend Our First Responders. Advocate Fair Elections. Fight Corruption. Serve With Integrity.“

Learn to forgive and go from hurting to healing and hope. Drawing on the presenter’s extensive professional experience, doctoral research of interpersonal forgiveness, and recent books, The Path to Forgiveness (May, 2018) The Path to Forgiveness Study Guide (March, 2019), participants will deepen their understanding of and gain new insights into the forgiveness process. Tom is Ohio’s leading activist. He will be bringing us information about the dynamics of the Ohio US Senate and Governor’s races as well as the Ohio State House and State Senate races. Tom has been recognized as one of the top liberty group leaders in the nation for his efforts to defend the legal right of Liberty groups across the nation and he produces the popular We The People Convention Podcast which is Posted Every Friday at www.wethepeopleconvention.org. Visit empoweruamerica.org to learn about future classes

The narratives presented by liberal and conservative news organizations on any given story typically are polarized — that is, each side literally says the opposite of the other. For example, liberal news outlets claim President Trump has made baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, while conservative outlets have reported on countless claims of election fraud uncovered by American citizens and state legislatures. Rep. Jennifer Gross is running for re-election in the 45th District. Whether you are in her district or not she represents all Ohioans, so if you haven’t had the chance to meet her she will be available between 6:30 – 7, to meet and chat with you. Rep. Gross authored HB248, and will give a recap and update, including the discharge petition and ballot initiative. She will also give some insight on what it really takes to run for a political office, and what the role of a Legislator is. Recorded on Feb 24, 2022 Visit Empoweruamerica.org to sign up for upcoming classes!

EmpowerU is providing a forum for discussion and debate of public issues, and in light of the lawsuit that has been filed, by Bainbridge, Rosenberger and others as listed below, we seek to obtain more information. EmpowerUAmerica.org is not supporting or ratifying the statements provided by the presenter but simply seeking more information and clarification. Recorded on Feb 9th, 2022

Ohio State Representatives Marilyn John (R-Richland County) and Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) have officially introduced House Bill 290, better known as the Backpack Bill. The Backpack Bill will extend school choice to all students throughout Ohio, expanding their educational opportunities. The General Assembly recently passed a robust school funding overhaul, which takes strides toward identifying the costs associated with the individual education of each child. In addition to identifying the costs of a quality education, we should ensure tax dollars are being used to improve outcomes for Ohio’s children. The “Backpack Bill” is one initiative that will give parents freedom in educating their children. Learn about this important possibility for Ohio parents and students. Be prepared to give your child their best Future. Make sure that Ohio funds students, not bureaucracy. Find out about Parental Rights and Alternative Childhood Education. Learn the facts about Ohio’s childhood Education system. Discover taxpayer-funded scholarships that follow your student wherever they go. Protect your child or grandchild from Public School indoctrination. Will you help? It is time to provide choice for all parents and students about what is best for them individually. We are asking you to join us at EmpowerU tonight to become a part of the movement for Educational Freedom in Ohio by hosting a Backpack Bill Party. Troy McIntosh, Executive Director of Center for Christian Virtue’s Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN), who helped write and craft the Backpack Bill will join us tonight and teach us how we can each sponsor a party with 10 of our friends to help move the initiative forward. It’s easy and you will walk away from the class with all the tools necessary to be successful. Not sure if you want to sponsor a party? Come anyway and learn. We need your help to get make this opportunity available to all students in Ohio. Gather Your Friends, Let Your Legislators Know: Pass the Backpack Bill! Recorded on Jan 13,2022

EmpowerUAmeirca.org's Managing Board Member Dan Regenold has a new Top Ten List for 2022. This is San's Top Ten ways to be More Empowered in 2022. Fun! EmpowerU's 23rd Semester of FREE Classes starts on February 24, 2022

Joe Blystone cares passionately about Ohio’s future. Joe built the path to his American Dream – and is dedicated to make sure every Ohioan can too. He is going above and beyond to take the next step in protecting the American Dream in Ohio. Joe believes our freedoms are at stake and now is the time we take them back. He wants to restore the freedoms our overreaching government has taken away. Joe promises to make Ohio a more affordable state to live in and friendly to large and small businesses! Joe knows he is the right leader for Ohio and will put Ohioans first every day. He knows what Ohioans truly want and need. Ohio will be revitalized, and Joe Blystone will get it done. The future of Ohio depends on the strength of Ohioans!! It is time to strengthen Ohio. Karen Cartier talks about products intentionally made not to last. Be aware of products that are made ‘not to last’ including automotive, newer construction materials, electronics and what is ending up in our landfills. Instead of throwing them away, learn the value of keeping some of your appliances longer and getting them repaired (or fixing them yourself – you may be surprised). Stay aware of the long-term impact of our global “throw away society” and do your part to fight back as you’re able. Think before you buy! This class supports Made in America. Recorded on November 16th, 2021

During the American Civil War, Cincinnati played a crucial role in preserving the United States. Not only was the city the North’s most populous in the West, but also it was the nation’s third most productive manufacturing center. The Queen City of the West served as a key provider of the Union’s soldiers, weapons, supplies, medical aid, and political influencers. In this presentation, Cincinnati historian David L. Mowery will reveal some of the Queen City’s key structures, such as military installations, hospitals, churches, businesses, and private homes, in the way they appeared at the time of the Civil War. Simultaneously, he will show how those same buildings look today. Come join David as he gives the highlights of Cincinnati’s impact on the outcome of the Civil War through a visual comparison of the past with the present. Recorded on November 11th, 2021

Corrinne Vidales talks about the Backpack Bill. Literacy, Lawyers, and Lobbying: How a young lawyer has been led to transform education legislation after years of service in children’s nonprofits and legal research on the state of education rights. The daughter of educator learned that parents truly are the first and primary educators of their children and we need a system that support them in that role. The “Backpack Bill” is one initiative that will give parents freedom in educating their children. Learn about this important possibility for Ohio parents and students. Booker T. Washington was born on April 5,1865 and became an educator, author, speaker and confidant of U.S. Presidents. Born into slavery, he was a leading voice for civil rights for African Americans. His voice and message continues to play a fundamental role in the ongoing civil rights debate today. Gregory McBrayer will paint the picture of the life of Booker T. Washington from being born into slavery, struggling against disenfranchisement and “Jim Crow” laws to mobilizing coalitions of blacks and whites focusing on self-reliance, self- help and the concept of “racial uplift”. Enjoy learning about this important American historical figure, his personal challenges living in the South immediately after the Civil War and his important contribution to healing the wounds of a nation torn by the war which pit brother against brother. Recorded on November 4th, 2021