09/22/2025
A Conversation About Immigrant Humanity & Identity with Toneille Bent
In this special longform conversation, Adam Andreassen, CEO of Family & Children’s Services (FCS), sits down with Toneille Bent, Executive Vice President of Culture & Engagement, for a candid, human-first dialogue about belonging, identity, and leadership in uncertain times. Toneille shares her journey from Jamaica to Tulsa — the lessons she learned from a community-building father, the experience of being “othered,” and the courage it takes to claim both identities: immigrant and Okie.
Together, Adam and Toneille explore how proximity and curiosity turn labels into relationships; why distinguishing anxiety from fear helps teams and families regain agency; and how self-care can sustain our mental health. They also get practical about workplace culture — modeling trust and two-way communication, challenging fear-based leadership, and using simple tools like “stop-start-keep-tweak” to build environments where people feel seen, safe and engaged.
This episode isn’t about politics — it’s about people. If you lead teams, support families, or care about your community, this conversation offers language, tools and hope for navigating change with compassion and clarity. https://youtu.be/lEN1uCzVhTk?si=30GUnG7beQR1mi9S
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In this special longform conversation, Adam Andreassen, CEO of Family & Children’s Services (FCS), sits down with Toneille Bent, Executive Vice President of ...