Pasadena Media’s local TV talk show, “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,” formerly known as the award-winning “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman,” continues this Friday at 5 p.m. PT on Pasadena Media’s cable TV channels and streaming apps. The episode will feature a discussion with Debra Manners, president and CEO of Sycamores, during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Manners has dedicated her career to serving children and families. Her innovative leadership and visionary work to lead the child welfare and behavioral health fields has resulted in positive changes for thousands of children in the foster care system throughout California. Starting at Sycamores in 1987, she served in a variety of roles, culminating in her current role as president and CEO. During that time, the organization expanded from a single site with a $2.5 million operating budget to 10 service locations throughout LA County and Palm Springs, and an operating budget of $68 million. She has led the agency in developing new programs that have been adopted as the standard-of-care throughout California.

Manners is also the president of the California Council for Community Behavioral Health and served on the board of the California Alliance for Children and Families. She was previously on the CEO Council for the National Council for Strong Families and Communities.

“Founded in 1902, Sycamores is dedicated to providing innovative and effective child-welfare programs and services,” Chapman said. “We’ll talk to Debra Manners about the important work Sycamores is doing to help foster youth in our community.”

Chapman has been nominated for five Los Angeles Press Club journalism awards, including in the Anchor/Host and the Talk/Public Affairs categories for the previous iteration of the show, “NewsRap Local.” The awards ceremony is June 25 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA.

“Pasadena Monthly” airs at 5 p.m. PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written, hosted and produced by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Guests on “NewsRap Local” included Congress member Judy Chu (D-27); Congress member Adam Schiff (D-28); Assembly member Chris Holden (D-41); Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; and many others.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Now and many others. He currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison to Pasadena City Councilmember Steve Madison.

Last year, Chapman won several LA Press Club journalism awards, including 1st place in the Travel Reporting category and 3rd place in the TV/Public Affairs category for hosting “NewsRap Local,” which launched in April 2021. In March 2022, “NewsRap Local” won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.