The Penn Relays have officially begun at the University of Pennsylvania—my alma mater—and once again, the historic Franklin Field is alive with the spirit of one of the oldest and most prestigious track and field events in the Americas. Hosted annually by Penn Athletics, the Relays are more than just a sporting event—they are a cultural moment, especially for the Caribbean diaspora.

You simply cannot mention the Penn Relays without mentioning Jamaica in the same breath. Jamaicans have long been dominant and enthusiastic participants, from high school standouts to collegiate champions. The relays serve as a proving ground for emerging talent and a showcase of track royalty.

I remember one year when I had the privilege to volunteer at the games. It was a moment I’ll never forget—I met the likes of Bill Cosby, the Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (Jamaica’s first woman Prime Minister), and track legends such as Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The electric atmosphere, the sound of cheering crowds, and the buzz around potential stars from across the U.S. and Caribbean left an indelible mark on me.

Yet, something feels different this year. While the 2025 Penn Relays have kicked off with their usual modest energy, there’s a noticeable lack of media coverage and buzz. Surprisingly, many locals in Philadelphia I spoke to either weren’t aware the Penn Relays were happening or didn’t know what the event was at all. This is a stark contrast to years past, when the city would buzz with anticipation and pride.

Still, the Caribbean diaspora and college track athletes from around the country are already making their way to the city, bringing with them a growing excitement that’s starting to creep in. Although mainstream media has yet to fully engage, the passion of the people remains. A quick keyword search or hashtag scroll for “Penn Relays 2025” yields only a handful of results—disappointing for such a historic event.

We remain hopeful that as the week unfolds, coverage will swell and the attention this event deserves will return. In these turbulent and uncertain times, we need events like the Penn Relays. They offer catharsis and community—a moment to celebrate excellence, heritage, and unity.

Between the NBA playoffs and the Penn Relays, there’s a lot to look forward to this week. Stay tuned—The Neoliberal Round and our YouTube channel may bring you interviews, event highlights, and the heartbeat of the city and its athletes as the games progress.

Until then,

Renaldo C. McKenzie
The Neoliberal

Renaldo McKenzie is Author of Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance, President of the Neoliberal Corporation, The Neoliberal, and Creator and Host of The Neoliberal Round Podcast and YouTube Channel.

Renaldo is also a two-time graduate of The University of Pennsylvania and currently a Professor at Jamaica Theological Seminary and a Georgetown Liberal Studies Fellow.

The Neoliberal Round YouTube channel will be present to capture some of the games live. Subscribe

The Neoliberal Round YouTube Channel by Renaldo McKenzie

First published in The Neoliberal Journals at The Neoliberal Corporation Moral Magazine website:

https://theneoliberal.com/the-penn-relays-begin-at-penn-a-tradition-rooted-in-speed-culture-and-diaspora-pride/

The Penn Relays Begin at Penn: A Tradition Rooted in Speed, Culture, and Diaspora Pride
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Question: Who won the trade war between between China and The USA? On this episode of The Neoliberal Round Podcast Podcast, Host Renaldo discusses Trump's reversal on Fed Chairman Powell, and the trade war with China. Renaldo also applauded the Trump's administration on their record on making the IRS efficient as under Trump the department has been the most efficient in disbursing tax refunds.

At the end of the Show we share two trailer episodes of an episode where Author Renaldo discusses his book and some concepts that speaks to the wider geopolitical issues related to globalization and the trade war and immigration. This is the 4-year anniversary of The Neoliberal Corporation and the book "Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance", available at The Neoliberal Store https://store.thenoliberal.com

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Jesus Said; "Father forgive them for they know not what they have done," (KJV, St. Luke 23:34). This Easter, we present a re-make of several videos we mashed together to present our Easter production. It is quite powerful and inspirational as we re-did a reflection by Rev. Renaldo McKenzie and included performances with him at Easter to present a dynamic show that will help to facilitate worship and reflection. May we remember the #sacrificeandlove #Christ demonstrated that has defined the #characterofGod; humility, sacrifice and compassion for all—especially for the poor and vulnerable that #God became low to lift them up. Is that what true leadership is?As we reflect on Easter, I mashed together various short videos to provide this dynamic Easter podcast production. As we serve the world today to solve tomorrow's challenges, making popular what was the monopoly, it is important that we provide programming that is part of the solution. As such we understand that conditioning the human conscience with content that considers inspirational matters by celebrating our faith experience may help to rescues humanity and the wonton secularism that pervades. Not that we are against liberalism and secularism, but we believe that the marriage is important to keep us from destroying ourselves. The message of the cross is powerful and may help to heal a broken society devolving into decadence and social decay. May we remember the story of Jesus and his crucifixion.I provide several performances beginning with a group performance at Old First Reformed Church in Philadelphia, "The Reason We Sing."Then the Reflections by Rev. Renaldo McKenzie on Forgiveness reading from St. Luke 23:24 of the Christian Bible.We then wrap up with three performances:Donte and Renaldo using HER music,Renaldo and Ricardo on NYC train, How Great is Our God andRenaldo and Nate sing, Falling in Love with Jesus.Subscribe for free on any streaming service and donate to us at https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal.Visit us at renaldocmckenzie.com or theneoliberal.comThe Neoliberal Round by Renaldo McKenzie, from The Neoliberal Corporation, Serving the world today to solve tomorrow's challenges, by making popular wat was the monopoly.Email us: info@theneoliberal.com, submissions@theneoliberal.com, renaldocmckenzie @gmail.com Call Us: 1-445-260-9198Donate to us: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USSJLFU2HRVAQ

Season 10 Ep. 48: On A Quick Note: I cannot believe that the 150-year old University of the Arts in Philadelphia is closed. Here am I referring a young mentee to the college and when I checked, it’s closed.

Such a staple university focusing on the arts closed abruptly in June 2024 and filed bankruptcy in September 2024. The university closed because its leaders lacked the vision and the passion that would create innovative strategies to sustain the school.

First of all no one knows about the school, that’s why they suffered from low enrollment, and they were not profitable because they lack the Innovation to create new programs by working with the local niche communities and businesses in Northern liberties Philadelphia that were becoming the fashion and arts capital of the Eastcoast; with young professional New Yorkers moving to Old City and Northern Liberties.

Now The Eagles are are dominant team and the Sixers are contemplating building a huge new stadium in Center city. The university could’ve taken advantage of these opportunities. Their prowess in the arts would have been ideal in helping to:

1. develop the area utilizing the school’s artists and professors and

2. developing programs with the city and the stadium developers that serve to develop artists and designers who’d contribute to the stadium and the transformation of the city into the 21st century.

Re-open the school @PhiladelphiaGov

And return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US. We can't pay El Salvador 6 million dollars to hold him for us then say due to international policies we cannot interfere in El Salvador and if they want to release they should. We are paying them for God sake!

Listen to the quick commentary with Renaldo McKenzie, flanked by Donte Nelson, Co- Host and Producer.

Renaldo Mckenzie is the Author of Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance and President of The Neoliberal Corporation. Renaldo is at Georgetown University in the Department of Liberal Studies.

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Holy Week Reflection by Rev. Renaldo McKenzie:

1/
Isn’t it ironic, duplicitous and Pharisaical that our President Mr. Donald Trump expects compliance with executive orders… yet POTUS struggles to comply with court rulings and our Constitution?

2/
We can arrange prisoner swaps like Kseniya Karelina from Russia…
But we can’t bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador?

3/
Trump is not a Jew, but he moves like the Pharisees did in the #NewTestament.
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites!”

4/
He condemned their hypocrisy, legalism, and failure to uphold justice, mercy & faithfulness.
And that’s exactly what we’re witnessing in this “Neoliberal age”.

5/
These thoughts are the foundation of my upcoming book w/ Martin Oppenheimer:
Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered: Unfair Competition & the Death of Nations.

By Rev. Renaldo McKenzie,

Renaldo is Author of “Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance”, available worldwide and at https://store.theneoliberal.com

President

The Neoliberal Corporation

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Show: The Neoliberal Round

Episode Title: Crime or Crisis? The Attack on Gov. Shapiro and What It Really Means
Host: Renaldo McKenzie
Episode Length: ~11 - 12 minutes

"You're listening to The Neoliberal Round. I'm your host, Renaldo McKenzie, and today I want to share a quick but important thought about the recent attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family at the Governor’s Mansion.

This was shocking, disturbing, and yes—deeply serious. But it also reveals much more than just a security breach or an isolated act of violence. It forces us to ask: Are we looking at a crime… or a crisis? And are we responding in a way that will prevent the next one?"

"The first thing we need to understand is this:
What happened at the Governor’s Mansion is not necessarily a sign that crime is out of control. It’s a sign that mental health and opioid-related crises are being ignored, misdiagnosed, or underfunded.

This wasn't just a 'madman.' This could have been someone in deep psychological distress—someone who, if properly supported, may never have ended up in that situation."

"After incidents like this, we often see calls to crack down—more arrests, more surveillance, more punishment.
But punishment is not prevention.

We can’t keep treating mental illness and addiction with police and prison. We need:

• More accessible community mental health services

• Robust substance use treatment

• Mobile crisis teams trained in de-escalation

• Policies that deal with why this happened—not just what happened."

"I also want to draw a parallel that might make some people uncomfortable: the January 6th Capitol attack.

That was not just political extremism. That was psychological manipulation. That was mental instability, radicalized by fear, lies, and toxic leadership.
And we have to start asking ourselves: Are the people leading these movements mentally fit themselves? What happens when unstable leaders weaponize unstable followers?

Again, you can’t jail your way out of that. You need public health solutions."

"Let me be clear—I’m not saying people shouldn’t be held accountable. But throwing someone with untreated schizophrenia or severe trauma into jail is not justice—it’s just delay.

And when that person spirals again, guess what? We’re all still at risk.

That’s why we must invest in mental health infrastructure the same way we invest in roads, policing, or national defense."

"Now, let’s talk about something else this incident raises: How did this individual get close enough to a sitting Governor and his family to cause serious damage?

That’s not just a lapse—that’s a massive security failure.
We need to rethink how we protect elected officials, not just in public spaces but in their homes.
Mental health crises don’t pause at the gates of power. Our security systems need to account for that."

"My point today is this: If we want to be safe, we have to get real about what safety means.
It’s not just cops and fences.
It’s compassion.
It’s care.
It’s crisis prevention.

We need to stop punishing pain and start treating it. Because when we ignore mental illness and addiction, society pays the price—every time."

"That’s it for this episode of The Neoliberal Round.
I’m Renaldo McKenzie—thanks for tuning in.

Remember: the way we respond to crisis determines whether it happens again. Let’s choose prevention over punishment, and policy over panic.

Until next time, keep questioning, keep thinking, and keep it neoliberal—but compassionate."

The Neoliberal Post via renaldocmckenzie.com

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In this final lecture for Caribbean Thought (Semester 2, 2025), Professor Renaldo McKenzie, Author of #Neoliberalism, opens with a critical reflection on the phrase "Out of Many, One People"—questioning its continued privileging of European identity over African heritage. Group 6 presents on Jamaica and Barbados, offering insights into national identity and postcolonial struggles. The lecture continues with a review of key terms such as colonialism, postcolonialism, the Global South, and Afrocentricity, and closes with a provocative question: Should theology transcend culture?A powerful wrap-up to a transformative semester.Thank you for your support and for journeying with us this semester.Email us at info@theneoliberal.com or renaldo.mckenzie@jts.edu.jm or renaldocmckenzie@gmail.com.

Call us at 1-445-260-9198.Visit us at https://theneoliberal.com or https://renaldocmckenzie.com.

Get a copy our books and access our services at https://store.theneoliberal.com

Donate to us at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USSJLFU2HRVAQSend us your submissions for publications at submissions@theneoliberal.comWe are all about serving the world today to solve tomorrow's challenges by making popular what was the monopoly.

Renaldo McKenzie (Host):Welcome back to The Neoliberal Round, where we unpack bold ideas, uncomfortable truths, and complex questions at the intersection of policy, politics, and people. Today’s topic? Ending homelessness. That’s right—ending it. Not reducing. Not managing. Ending.

It’s a lofty goal in a neoliberal capitalist world where greed, inequality, and competition often leave the most vulnerable behind. But one city commissioner and hotelier is proposing an unconventional solution—and whether you agree or not, it’s an idea that’s making waves. Joining us today is Claudio Bono, Commissioner for the City of Cupertino, hotel entrepreneur, nonprofit veteran, and founder of GiveARoof.org. He’s tweeted his support for Trump’s cuts to homelessness programs—yes, that Trump—which immediately drew fire from progressives. But Claudio says those cuts didn’t inspire cruelty in him—they inspired creativity. So… could his airline points-based housing model be the spark we need—or is this just another swing in the dark? Let’s find out.

🎤 INTERVIEW BEGINS: Renaldo McKenzie: Claudio, welcome to The Neoliberal Round. Let's start with the basics—Who is Claudio Bono, and what's your plan to end homelessness?

Renaldo McKenzie: Now Claudio, let’s address the elephant in the room: the Trump tweet. Nikki wrote: “Dude, when they cut homelessness spending, it's cause this admin don't give a flying f**k about the homeless.”

Joe added: “You can applaud Trump all you want about the cuts, but he’s not doing it to solve a problem—he’s just being mean.”What’s your response? What made you see opportunity where others saw cruelty?

Renaldo McKenzie: Let’s dive into the proposal. One person asked: “You want to fix homelessness by using people’s airline loyalty points?” That sounds… unconventional. Can you explain how that would even work?

Renaldo McKenzie: Brian added to the discussion, saying: “I appreciate your innovative thinking. However, it appears to be the same path with just different funding sources. Not to mention, turning travel points into negative cash flow for companies.”You responded: “Not true. You didn’t hear the whole plan.” So tell us—what is the whole plan?

Renaldo McKenzie: Let’s talk transparency. Kandid wrote: “The model is already in place under Habitat for Humanity. I’m highly suspicious of GiveARoof.org. Please give me a breakdown of CEO pay and admin costs.” And you answered: “CEO: Me. Pay: Zero. Plus 11 years volunteer in nonprofits.” But how does your structure avoid the same pitfalls as other nonprofit housing efforts? What’s the real difference?Renaldo McKenzie: Michael jumped in with a summary of your claims: “Your program includes giving medical, D/A programs, providing shelter and housing, meals, jobs—you said yes… explain some more.” Is this similar to something like Philly’s recovery houses for the homeless affected by addiction and mental health?

Renaldo McKenzie: One last question from our listeners: What about Pay-It-Forward? Is there a way to build in a system where people who benefit from Give A Roof can give back—through miles, mentoring, or volunteerism?

🎙️ OUTRO: Renaldo McKenzie: That’s it for today’s episode. You’ve heard the vision, the backlash, the facts—and the fire. Is Claudio Bono a disruptor with a real shot at transforming how we fund solutions to homelessness? Or is this just another utopian blueprint lost in corporate red tape Whatever your verdict, one thing’s for sure—we need more bold ideas and fewer tired excuses. Claudio, thank you for joining us. Where can people learn more or support GiveARoof.org? And to all our listeners: If you enjoyed the show, leave a review, subscribe, and share. Until next time, stay aware, stay active, and stay Neoliberal—but reimagined.

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