Connectopod™

Lena Sage returns to Connectopod with a story of unrequited of fiery love. Take a look at her photos for her Abandoned Spaces episode as well! Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Isabella Wu channels influencer Rebecca-can she even recognize real life? Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Celina Sandoval living her best Alien life! Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

Max Garcia inspires us to dream big with the story of Bernardo and the billion dollar bathroom.  Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design

  Mahek brings us the story of Ahma, the female Samurai, protecting the life and honor of her master.   Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design    

Ixchel Lopez brings us the story of Shelly, the plain princess. Where does true power lie? You can also hear Ixchel in Tree and K-68 Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design  

Just in time for Valentines Day, Candy Cortes tells the story of Stuart William Smith and his case of puppy love...for John Cena! Check out Stuarts Eyes.   Created in a workshop series at the Canoga Park Library session 1: created perform and record a character or narrate a story  session 2: create a collage image of the story or character artists: Betsy Foldes Meiman (audio), Lois Keller (collage), Joe Foldes (sound design    

Connectopod reporter Isabella Saeedy lost her battle with cancer this past summer at 17. She never told any of us about her illness and her dynamo energy gave us no clues. She led her team on the Connectopod/Los Angeles Public Library/CSUN Strength United collaboration -The Domestic Violence Awareness Project, which culminated in a published graphic novel and three podcasts.     She wrote the screenplay-Tree. We thought the best way to honor Isabella was to celebrate her talents and her energetic will to create in the service of making the world a better place.    In this fast-paced screenplay with a cast of quirky characters, Catherine, an environmental studies major at Columbia battles power, money, and hypocrisy to save the life of a neglected tree in Central Park who is slated to be cut down. All while struggling to finish her dissertation in time to graduate. Isabella imagined a college experience that she would never get to have. This production has three elements that we hoped would add to the imagined college experience for Isabella.  Our group here includes Connectopod peers, professional actors and audio producers,  a professional director who is also a USC professor,  and some of his students.  We thought about this project as a gift to Isabella's memory and to her family.  But in the end, it was her gift to us.  So thank you, Isabella.  Rest in peace.   Cast- Andrea Sogliuzzo (Tree), Lexy Cavinchey (Catherine), Trevor VanAuken (Matteo), Bob Bailey (Dr. Ankel)  Betsy Foldes Meiman (Michelle, Elder tree, stage directions), Christopher Geutig (Hamza), Allen Keller (Clarence, Jorge, Janitor), Anjelica Benitez (Thea, Woman, Tree 4), Victoria Benitez (Nanny, Jess, Tree 3), Ixchel Lopez (Toddler, Cashier, Demolition Worker, Tree 5), Rowan Bailey (Moto the Bird, Woman 1), Karina (Bad Girl, Jogger, Woman), Andrea Lopez (Mom) We recorded at Literati Audio with the sound engineer John Kavorek The production was directed by Robert Bailey and produced by  Betsy Foldes Meiman.   Post-production and sound design were done by Joe Foldes.   Changing the Narrative is funded by The California Arts Council  

Long time Connectopod reporter, Victoria Benitez, does a piece in Spanish with an English intro. 'Mi Mama Valorosa ' means my courageous mother. As Vicky says: My mother is more than what meets the eye. Upfront, she's a nanny, a housecleaner and a single mother. But to me she's full of life and wisdom.  Ready to take on any challenge. With her remarkable fighting spirit that will never settle for any less than the best for us. She is someone who thinks ahead and has plans for a future. Making sure everything is accounted for, taking into account our feelings and dreams- not limiting us to her own beliefs on what might be considered 'right' for us.  Interviewing her for this series, Changing the Narrative, gave me a deeper insight of what she had to go  through to gave us a chance to dream.   Sacrificing her own dreams of attending college to that my sister and I could. So that we could have the opportunities that she didn't. She's our driving force and we're hers. From driving us every day to and from school.to that driving  force called love. Through life's ups and downs, we've had a good time. Despite the fright of the drops and loops. Enjoying the ride called life, because  the people we are with make it special. My ride or die, Mi Mama valorosa.     Post production and theme music by Joe Foldes Recording and editing by Victoria Benitez  

Daniela Catalan has been a Connectopod Reporter since the age of 10. She is also first generation, making good on the opportunities her parents fought for.     Original music and post production by Joe Foldes (also first generation!).    #artsca

Angie B has been with us since she was 9! We are so proud of her on her graduation from Kennedy HS and her UC promise path via Mission College. This bright and eager kid has blossomed into a talented and skillful young woman. Our Changing the Narrative Season 4 is entitled 'Aguantate'- which in Spanish kind of means "suck it up" but comes from the verb Aguantar-to endure. Angelica embodies the toughness that it takes push past your challenges and the beauty nurtured by an open heart and mind. Her sense of social justice and belief in the power ofnarrative are invigorating.  Go Angie!  

What is the Difference between an Asylee and a Refugee? Did you know there is a 'Big R' refugee and a 'little r' refugee? Undocumented, Displaced internal Person (DIP), DACA, Migrant, Unaccompanied Minor (UC)...so many titles for youth and their families seeking safety and stability.  Only 30% of the world's population are children But children make up 41% of all displaced persons  As we begin season 4 of CTN, Jonathan Fein Proaño, Integrations Manager for the Unaccompanied Children's program at the International Rescue Committee in Los Angeles helps us understand the challenges and paths to citizenship for youth seeking asylum in the US.  

A group of students working on a story for Connectopod uncover the journals of researcher John C. He had discovered a new planet: K-68. The team pieces together the history of this planet, which sounds quite a bit like our own. Is  K-68 doomed to repeat our mistakes? Will ORB be able to restore balance? Who are the Paused and the Resumed? Find out! Created by Fernando Avalos, Jennifer Maqueda, Norsorrfhia Cardenas, Ixchel Lopez, Quetzali Lopez, Marcia Melkonian, Betsy Foldes Meiman Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman

It's that time of year again! We're spotlighting our grads as they head on to new adventures.Carly Fawcett is our first remote intern, working away for the last year on Connectopod's social media from Louisville, KY. She's funny, whipsmart, and has a heart so big you can hear it thumping all the way in LA!  Hear her take on inclusive video game design, Gen Z mental health, and Hiltopper blobs. Congrats to Carly who is on her way to Western Kentucky U.   

What do we seek in abandoned spaces? Lena Sage, (14) abandoned space explorer from Lynchburg VA, talks about "psychological factors, built traits, relations to art, relations to locations, rarity of emotion, content, and behavior. What compels the human as a whole to do certain things and be attracted to certain fields?"   Post production by Kevin Stevens who also composed the music on a funky instrument called The Marvin.  

The Canoga Park Dia de Los Muertos festival on November 7th was a whirl of color, bounce house generators, music, laughter, the wafting scents of food, and just life out loud. Basically everything the last year and a half were not! After a year of loss, Dia de los Muertos felt especially relevant and celebrational. We set up an audio Ofrenda for people to honor family and friends who have passed. The presence of loved ones was deeply felt that day.  What stays with us the most seems to be the tiniest moments--from toes in the sand, to seeing the world in a flash of lightening, to brushing our teeth with red gel toothpaste. Tiny moments of magical connection. Thanks to all who so generously shared their stories, their losses and joys. JJ and AJ Mathis Carlos Fernandez Johanna Matamoros Decklan Luis Ramone Soler Jr.  Eleni Anthony Robertson Quetzali and Ixchel Lopez    

In this episode,  Melissa Peruch, Konnie Duong, Tanisha Gunby, and Emmanuel Paz, members of Teens Leading Change, talk about how they realized The Domestic Violence Awareness Project from concept to published graphic novel.  They worked with Samantha Guevera of StrengthUnited, a CSUN Community Agency to understand the issue. The TLC program was facilitated by Librarians (yes, capital L) Marcia Melkonian at the  Canoga Park Branch and Elisabeth Calla at the Encino Tarzana Branch. The Domestic Violence Awareness Project will soon be  available free to LAPL cardholders on Overdrive and  in hard copy at your local library.  The Teens Leading Change Domestic Violence Awareness Project team: Tanisha Gunby, Yvo Ani, Eliana Fishbach, Konnie D, Alison T, Estephanie Paz, Giselle Tobon, Hatice Deniz, Helen Morales, Karol Vasquez, Melissa Peruch, Talin Guliani, Evan Burse, Rishabh Garg, Emmanuel Paz, Artina Turokh, Jessica Romo, Yededia Getahun, Ellen Kozlov, Viviene Carvajal, Timofie Timofieiev, Isabella Saeedy, and Olivia Darensbourg Thank you Joe Foldes for mastering the audio recorded off of Zoom and handling our post production. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman    

In their quest to further understand domestic violence, it far reaching effects, and viable solutions, teens Melissa Peruch, Artina Turokh, Tanisha Gunby, and Viviene Carjaval, interview Esther Neill, a  Domestic Violence Victims Advocate for Victims Assistance Program (VAP)of The City of Los Angeles.  If you or anyone, you know, is a victim of domestic violence, StrengthUnited, of CSUN, also has a 24/7 hotline. 818-886-0453.  The national domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7 2 3 3).    Thank you Joe Foldes for mastering the audio recorded off of Zoom and handling our post production. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman Teens Leading Change facilitated by Librarians (yes, capital L) Marcia Melkonian at the  Canoga Park Branch and Elisabeth Calla at the Encino Tarzana Branch  and Samantha Guevera of StrengthUnited, a CSUN Community Agency   

We're back with the Los Angeles Public Library! This time Librarians (yes, capital L) Marcia Melkonian at the  Canoga Park Branch and Elisabeth Calla at the Encino Tarzana Branch are helping Teens Leading Change realize their plans for The Domestic Violence Awareness Project. The concept for a graphic novel and a podcast was developed over eight classes with Samantha Guevera of StrengthUnited, a CSUN Community Agency (and CA Non profit of the year!) This episode highlights specific types of domestic abuse  as reported by Melissa Peruch, Estephanie Paz, Viviene Carjaval, Artina Turokh, Tanisha Gunby, and Isabelle Saeedy.        Thank you Joe Foldes for mastering the audio recorded off of Zoom and handling our post production. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman        

Andre Devancens has been a part of Connectopod since second grade. Now he's fully graduated from Van Nuys High School and on his way to Cal Poly Pomona for Journalism.   In Andre's 2019 interview that was a part of our Teen Mental Health project at CSUN,  he talked about coming out as pan sexual, and his inspirations and aspirations. So as part of our 'grateful for our grads' June we revisited that interview and followed up with Andre to see how that interview stacks up to his present experience and to find out where he is headed now. We can't wait to see Andre's open-minded intelligence and energy out in the world! Thank you for all of your work with Connectopod. Congrats Andre! topics: Coming out as a teen, journalism, graduating high school, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Daryl Davis For more of Naia, The LA Master Chorale/Van Nuys HS  project visit:  https://lamasterchorale.org/oratorio-project

Long-time Connectopod contributor and valedictorian Laz Meiman graduated Grover Cleveland Humanities magnet with High Honors class of 2021. He has been with us since the beginning, as reporter, teacher, producer and supporter. An independent thinker who wants to turn his perceptive talents to government, Laz feels he can be a proponent of positive change. His passion for history has inspired some great Connectopod episodes over the years. Congrats to Laz and good luck at UCSC! In this repost of a 2020 interview, Laz covers Fred Hampton and the Rainbow coalition, high school political internships, social justice leadership, the college application process, and cutting up an ox. We are so proud of you, Laz! Congratulations! You can also hear Laz explaining campaign finance reform as a guest on the podcast Contested Politics        

Part therapist, part educator, part advocate, and part den mother Alejandro Soria, director of the drop-in center for homeless youth at The Village Family Services,  leads his team to provide support for homeless transitional age youth 14-24 (TAY) This interview, edited for length, took place during the height of the pandemic, and soon after two of their TAY, had recently passed away, including Robert Fuller, whose murder by hanging in Palmdale was in the news. Alejandro talks of all the Village Family Services in North Hollywood offered to homeless youth and the hidden challenges of serving youth in a lasting and life-changing way.            .    

Art heals. Art can save your life. Ricardo Cobian was homeless at 18. By 22 he was planning his own demise. Ricardo found the DiC who helped him back from the brink and gave him the stability to find his passion for art, processing pain, and envisioning a future. Named  New Futures Prize Winner at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles (Spring 2021), this talented artist is now exhibiting on the prestigious Saatchiart.com/Ricardo Cobian If you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services . They will help you. No judgments. Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

This was ninth-grader T's first brush with Edgar Allan Poe. She had a definite opinion! Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Mr. Blythe shared his curriculum and together we came up with the idea to have them narrate Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."  The crazed narrator provided the perfect vehicle for the class to become an ensemble of different personalities in his murderous head. Betsy Foldes Meiman directed the piece as if it were a take on Batman's Joker or popular video game homicidal maniacs, some of which she has voiced. The class took up the challenge and dug deep into the text, ingesting and performing Poe's words with deep understanding. Language and literacy barriers were smashed. The shy became killers, and of course Mr. Blythe himself, the poor victim. Recorded remotely by Betsy over zoom over a week's time, the edited files were given to professional sound designer Eric Willhelm who then created an eerie and ever more stressful atmosphere driving the story to its explosive conclusion.  We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art. We think they will never forget The Tell-Tale Heart!   *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 4 is narrated by Voice over artist Laz Meiman (of Nickelodeon's Harvey Beaks) soon heading off to college! We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 3 is narrated by  Voice over artist  Betsy Foldes Meiman We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 2 is narrated by Voice over artist and actual therapist Steve Morris We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 1 is narrated by Playwright and film commentator Richard Harland Smith We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Mr. Blythe shared his curriculum and together we came up with the idea to have them narrate Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart."  The crazed narrator provided the perfect vehicle for the class to become an ensemble of different personalities in his murderous head. Betsy Foldes Meiman directed the piece as if it were a take on Batman's Joker or popular video game homicidal maniacs, some of which she has voiced. The class took up the challenge and dug deep into the text, ingesting and performing Poe's words with deep understanding. Language and literacy barriers were smashed. The shy became killers, and of course Mr. Blythe himself, the poor victim. Recorded remotely by Betsy over zoom over a week's time, the edited files were given to professional sound designer Eric Willhelm who then created an eerie and ever more stressful atmosphere driving the story to its explosive conclusion.  We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art. We think they will never forget The Tell Tale Heart!   *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Formerly homeless Bianca Palmer is now a medical professional. Music helped her cope through the tough times she related in her interview. So when it came time to do her episode, it was an easy choice of subject matter for her. Here she interviews two fellow TAY (Transitional Age Youth) who have reclaimed their lives with the resources of the Village Family Services drop-in center.  Connectopod music producer and professional musician Joe Foldes helped Gayle Alvarez complete her brother DJ's last song left unfinished before his suicide. "Find me Next to You" is a gift of love.  Phillip Hargo processed the challenge that was this last year through his hip hop piece '2020.' You can feel the energy and determination as we move into a new beginning!   Thank You to our professional musician mentors Joe Foldes who transcribed, played, and mixed DJ's "Find Me Next to You," as well as the entire episode, and Kevin Stevens who ran our recording session and drummed on "Find Me Next to You" If you are struggling with homelessness tap the DiC. 6801 Coldwater Canyon Avenue   North Hollywood, CA 91605 Phone: Betsy Foldes Meiman    

Today you’ll meet Bianca. She is truly a kid you would never have expected to be homeless. She excelled in high school, participating in ROTC, trekking across the San Fernando Valley every day to attend El Camino, a school she advocated to get into on her own. She got good grades, and participated in extracurriculars. And she was doing it all on her own. But what she thought was support in a new romance, became the undertow that brought her down. But not for the count.        If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes  

We continue the Stories of the TAY* with Christopher Martin. Healing your life from childhood trauma takes a strong person, and what if you have to  navigate the world with social anxiety as well? Christopher is on his way to stability and figuring out how move his life forward by facing his past. We're rooting for you Christopher!  *Transitional Age Youth If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes      

Big dreams come with big risks. Phillip Hargro grew up comfortably in Indiana with hardworking parents and loving grandparents. He was a part of an active creative arts community. He came to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.  When pre-arranged plans fell through, he was left to figure it out. In his words, he was “humbled” by the challenges that came his way. He could be working on a set in Malibu by day and searching housing the very same night, never letting on about his situation to fellow cast members and employers.  He earns money in between dancing on the subway and hustling sales jobs. He utilizes the resources at The Village Family Services. Committed to his dream, he creates his own opportunities.  Here are a beautiful dance number,  his recent actor reel , and two shorts- Ambition ( about homelessness) and Conflict of Interest ( a thriller set in the BLM movement). And there's a pilot shot in Atlanta that we can’t tell you about yet.  It’s been a long humbling journey since 2017, but Phillip’s determination is starting to pay off.  If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

 At our zoom holiday party last night, The great Gabe Evans, Connectopod collaborator, friend, and one of our professional media mentors for Changing the Narrative shared his holiday creation.  So for a Christmas, Chanukah and Festivus gift we present:  The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told Part 1: The Siege (follow link for the rest!) The world's number 2 toy factory in the world is trying to take out Santa. Hilarious fun for the whole family!  You Happy Holidays! Peace, Joy, and Love to you all. -Love Connectopod, The TAY, and The Village Family Services drop in center      

You never know when rain will come....Mathew Contreras was an employment specialist at The Village Family Services drop-in center for homeless youth. Always a high achiever, Matthew was able to hide his drug use and mental health issues while working and attending college until he wasn’t.  To move forward, he needed to deal with what was holding him back. Matthew knew he could turn to The Village with no judgment upon him during his most vulnerable time. The services they provide help people experiencing homelessness, but even more importantly can prevent homelessness altogether. Out and proud, and graduating from CSUN this spring, Matthew has begun to build the life he is envisioning which includes being an advocate for LGBTQ issues.   If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

You may remember Gayle Alvarez from such hits as the Changing the Narrative Unhoused Youth Gayle episode a few weeks back.  Or maybe you've had her help at The Village Family Services drop-in center for homeless youth in North Hollywood. Either way, Gayle is a social justice hero. She's come through her own trauma from using the DiC services to providing them as an employment specialist there. Her personal experience drives her to support other TAY (transitional age youth) experiencing or in danger of experiencing homelessness.   Gayle chose podcast journalism to convey the impact of mental health on homelessness. With the help of her mentor, recent US Grad Student and independent journalist Natalie Reddington, Gayle brings you facts, resources, and encouragement.    Gayle is also an artist. This is her work. Gayle in action recording her podcast episode And that's Natalie on the right, working.     You can contact Gayle Alvarez if you are in need, or would like to give time, talents, or treasure at  The Valley Family Services  818-738-7327   Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

Daniel Estrada emanates gentle intelligence that is hard to imagine exposed to cruelty and neglect. He and his six siblings were taken from an abusive home and filtered separately through the foster care system.  He lived in 10 homes over 8 years, to finally be adopted at 17. With the help of his foster moms, he made it all the way to Cal Poly only to crumble under the weight of PTSD and depression. He ended up alone on the streets. But Daniel’s story is not done. His vivid imagination has always been a refuge. He is a talented writer drawing on his pain, but reshaping the events into expressive entertaining escapes.  Find out how he is finding his way back, with the help of the DiC (Drop-in Center) at The Village Family Services in North Hollywood.   Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

Lupe Cerda’s story starts with the promise of new beginnings in a new country. Her family, a family with strong bonds, took a  leap of faith to build a better future. But life isn’t always fair, and the loss of her mother to cancer soon after arrival, set her on a different, much harder path.     With her father unavailable as he struggles to provide, a brother lost to his own challenges, and other traumatic events that isolate her emotionally, Lupe is left on her own to deal with the pain of grief, coming out in a traditionally conservative family, and surrendering to the call of addiction. When homelessness, addiction, and abuse, made Lupe tougher than she ever had to be, she did the bravest thing of all. She allowed herself to be vulnerable. She sought help. In recovery, housed, employed, and repairing her relationships, Lupe shares her story.   The brightest rainbows come after the worst storms.   We wish all the best to Lupe and her dad as they rebuild their relationship.  If you need help, start here: The Village Family Services Drop-in Center for homeless youth. No questions asked, they will help you.   This episode also features fellow DiC TAY (Transitional Age Youth) Gayle Alvarez, and counselor Alejandro Soria.   Learn more about Changing the Narrative at Connectopod.net   Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman Sound Engineered by Joe Foldes Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC    

Everything is coming up roses for 24 year old Gayle Alvarez. But it was a lot of hard work to make this garden grow. From homelessness to peer counselor to employment specialist for homeless youth at The Village Family Services, she has turned her needing into leading. She shares her journey through undiagnosed mental illness and how she found her way in hopes it will encourage others who find themselves on the edge.  Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes  

Changing the Narrative is a Connectopod series created with youth in communities that get a bad rap in the media. This is an intro episode for our third season, Changing the Narrative: Unhoused Youth, we are in residence at The Village Family Services in North Hollywood working with drop in center director Alejandro Soria.  The TAY (Transitional Age Youth) get personal about homelessness, including issues surrounding mental health, LGBTQ discrimination, pandemic madness, domestic violence, attending college, finding work, dealing with addiction, and how to rise above their situation. Mostly, they just want to be teens.  The series content will be created in one on one interviews. Then the TAY will work remotely and individually with a professional media guest artist to create an episode about whatever they want, however they want to tell it. Will it be personal narratives? Straight out journalism? Activism? Creative  fiction? Music? Comedy? It is their story to tell.   Interviewees: Dir. Counselor Alejandro Soria, Youth Peer Counselor Bobby Villa Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC     This project is supported in part by NBC 4 /Telemundo Project Innovation, UCLA/Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, The Max Factor Family Foundation, and for our new audio lab- Rastonea Records and Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. Thanks to Kenny Merrill and Kevin Kapler for setting it up.  

The Reflect/Connect series highlights long time Connectopod contributors. This episode features Laz Meiman, who has been with us from the very beginning! He's been a reporter, a supporter, a teacher, and this coming fall he is joining our producing team for our Changing the Narrative:Unhoused Youth series. Laz is an independent thinker who wants to turn his perceptive talents to government, where he feels he can effective as a proponent of positive change. In this interview, we go from interesting moments in history (Fred Hampton and the Rainbow Coalition, to the stress of becoming a high school senior, to how to slice up an ox). We love Laz because he is empathetic, perceptive, and a total team player. His passion for history has inspired some great episodes over the years. Now he is looking toward a new college chapter in his life. We can't wait to see where he goes from here! ! doing important intern work at Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel's office. At 10 teaching a stop motion animation workshop to fellow podcasters Laz on the State Assembly floor in Sacramento, sponsoring a bill through the YMCA's Model Legislature and Court program   Goof in the Booth, collaborating with fellow Connectopod lifer, Daniela Catalan.          

Young. Black. Alone. How do you lift yourself up when faced with trauma, few options, and a mountain of history pinning you down? The answers lie in connection and community. Paul Terry knew from Day 1 of the Changing the Narrative  youth program what he wanted his topic to be. Having battled depression, he wanted to reach out and connect with others who might be suffering. Mentors and a sense of purpose had helped him stand back up. In his interview with  SJLI staff members, Education Equity Programs Manager and educational scholar David Turner, and Health Equity Programs Director Derek Steele, Paul searches the underlying causes of depression in communities of color. What emerges is a nuanced narrative that fills the room with affirmation and hope.  More than half of the podcasters in our mentoring program, are mentors themselves, volunteering in their churches, at SJLI, and at various youth programs offering their musical, tutoring and coding skills. In creating opportunities for themselves in business and art and career choices, they all made choices that lift others up. Connection. Community. Jonathan Zeno offers up "Legacy" a poem that powerfully reflects the interview with a chilling sound design by Daniel P. Castillo Music: Young Ambition: Be Free, Infinity, Inner Thoughts Quest: Soul Journey Visit the Changing the Narrative page on our site for more content  Produced/edited by Betsy Foldes Meiman Created in a 5 week collaboration between Connectopod and The Social Justice Learning Institute, developed and taught by by Andrea Lopez, Daniel P. Castillo, and Betsy Foldes Meiman Original concept for Changing the Narrative by Daniel P. Castillo. Changing the Narrative is supported in part by a generous grant from the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at arts.ca.gov  Thank you!     

Angelica Benitez has been podcasting with us since she was a teeny 10 and Connectopod wasn't even crawling yet. Though she was small, her subjects were always big. She looked at Dio de Los Muertos via Aztec origins, immigration via the plight of kids on La Bestia, the science of robot roaches, and threw interview questions that caught the adult interviewees off guard with their depth. She's grown into a solid producer as well, contacting and arranging events like a presentation with Guide Dogs of America for an audience of 50, and learning how to edit a full episode.  Angie has the idea for a series on Teen Mental health. In this interview, which took place last year, producer Betsy Foldes Meiman talks with Angie about the personal roots of this project. #tmh series will be revisited this year.    A note about 'Reflect/Connect': with our programs on pause due to coronavirus lockdown, we are taking this opportunity to highlight our reporters and go back for some great stories that got left behind as well as to connect with youth who want to share their pandemic experience. If you are under 21 and would like to contribute a story or a perhaps an interview with someone close to you that has a story you'd like to share, connect with us on Instagram @connectopod or via our website connectopod.net. We may be isolated during this Pandemic, but we are all connected.   Angie now and then (Daniela Catalan on the left in the second pic)   Music credits: Written by Popovic Recorded and produced by Popovic / Vodovoz: 

Connectopod, as official LAPL performers, worked with a swell bunch of teens at The Los Angeles Public Library North Hollywood Branch. Our LAPL hour-long workshop introduces the concept of podcasting to teens. Our goals: get kids talking and realize they have interesting things to say, demystify tech, and have some fun recording. We don't usually post the workshops,  but we thought we'd share the experience with you this time. These clever podcasters from NoHo had about 20 minutes after we did some instructional games to create their shows that including some entertaining and insightful nuggets. These are raw episodes, no post production or music though I did edit content slightly for time.  Read more here.  Here for your listening pleasure are first-time podcasters Gen & Anthony discussing No Ideas at all. For special projects such as the series done for Canoga Park and a special project for Mar Vista, read more here ). 

Connectopod, as official LAPL performers, worked with a swell bunch of teens at The Los Angeles Public Library North Hollywood Branch. Our LAPL hour-long workshop introduces the concept of podcasting to teens. Our goals: get kids talking and realize they have interesting things to say, demystify tech, and have some fun recording. We don't usually post the workshops,  but we thought we'd share the experience with you this time. These clever podcasters from NoHo had about 20 minutes after we did some instructional games to create their shows that including some entertaining and insightful nuggets. These are raw episodes, no post production or music though I did edit content slightly for time.  Read more here.  Here for your listening pleasure are first-time podcasters Elliot & Kai discussing Pain. And mall cops.  For special projects such as the series done for Canoga Park and a special project for Mar Vista, read more here ).   

Connectopod, as official LAPL performers, worked with a swell bunch of teens at The Los Angeles Public Library North Hollywood Branch. Our LAPL hour-long workshop introduces the concept of podcasting to teens. Our goals: get kids talking and realize they have interesting things to say, demystify tech, and have some fun recording. We don't usually post the workshops,  but we thought we'd share the experience with you this time. These clever podcasters from NoHo had about 20 minutes after we did some instructional games to create their shows that including some entertaining and insightful nuggets. These are raw episodes, no post production or music though I did edit content slightly for time.  Read more here.  Here for your listening pleasure are first-time podcasters Leslie & Ivonne discussing the why being a teenager sucks.   For special projects such as the series done for Canoga Park and a special project for Mar Vista, read more here ).   

Connectopod, as official LAPL performers, worked with a swell bunch of teens at The Los Angeles Public Library North Hollywood Branch. Our LAPL hour-long workshop introduces the concept of podcasting to teens. Our goals: get kids talking and realize they have interesting things to say, demystify tech, and have some fun recording. We don't usually post the workshops,  but we thought we'd share the experience with you this time. These clever podcasters from NoHo had about 20 minutes after we did some instructional games to create their shows that including some entertaining and insightful nuggets. These are raw episodes, no post production or music though I did edit content slightly for time.  Read more here.  Here for your listening pleasure are first-time podcasters Diego and Katherine discussing the Corona Virus.   For special projects such as the series done for Canoga Park and a special project for Mar Vista, read more here ).       

And just like that, we've arrived at the final episode of Changing the Narrative Pacoima. We will miss all 28 of our Vaughn Next Century Learning Center podcasters! We've enjoyed the laughter, the challenges, and the evolution of 'Changing the Narrative-Pacoima' from a bunch of ideas into 10 episodes! Sometimes the best way to change the narrative is simply by being yourself.  Featured here: Jessica Esparza and Kiera Moreno cheer for cheer squad. Is it a sport? Agueda de Santiago answers "How do you see yourself? How do others see you?" Brothers are bothersome, grandmas are great! But it's how you see yourself that matters most. Anthony Hernandez, Analiss Fernandez, and Kimberly Duenas share a public service announcement for  Pacoima Beautiful, the only environmental social justice organization in the San Fernando Valley. And lastly, The Ashleys Ashley-Lozano and Ashly Gonzales, with a little help from Leilah Ortega delight with their friendship.  Changing the Narrative is made possible by a generous grant from The California Arts Council, a state agency. To learn more go to arts.ca.gov Thank you!  Changing the Narrative- Pacoima is produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman The Changing the Narrative-Pacoima series is edited and engineered by Joe Foldes. Changing the Narrative curriculum created by Andrea Lopez, BFM, with guest artists Daniel P. Castillo, and Joe Foldes.   Thank you Mr. Harmon and Vaughn Next Century Learning Center Music intro outro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz2XCAr0rc0   Music PSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XER8Zg0ExKU   Other music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2vQtdeCaxU  

 "Video games are a way of life!" So say Fabian Quintana, Angel Ponce, Miguel Nunez, and Amanda Carillo . They make the case that from Minecraft, to Skyrim, to World of Warcraft and more, this generation explores unlimited "open worlds", makes friends, and learns useful technology skills that can translate to future jobs.   Online they connect with players worldwide. Interviewing voice over actor Elle Newlands, in their Pacoima, Los Angeles classroom, they find a surprising real-world connection between a childhood in Glasgow, Scotland and their own. What does it take to beat the odds and go for your dreams? How does creativity save us?   Changing the Narrative is made possible by a generous grant from The California Arts Council, a state agency. To learn more go to arts.ca.gov Thank you! Changing the Narrative- Pacoima is produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman The Changing the Narrative-Pacoima series is edited and engineered by Joe Foldes. Changing the Narrative curriculum created by Andrea Lopez, BFM, with guest artists Daniel P. Castillo, and Joe Foldes.   music credits              

You can't change the narrative if you don't address what the existing narrative is. The existing narrative of Pacoima is violence. It is violent. Over a six month period in 2019, there were 165 violent crimes. Compare that to 103 in Northridge or 66 in Sherman Oaks. The perception of violence is so normalized for Pacoima that it barely gets reported.  How does that weigh on young minds and souls? For Sergio Gonzalez, it weighs heavy.  When there was a murder on his block, it wasn't even reported on. To Sergio, that is the Murder Mystery he sought to solve.  What is missing from the violent narrative of Pacoima is the strength and empathy of a community that rallies. To help him make sense of a difficult truth, Sergio turned to Lorenzo and Eric Chapman, two of the co-founders of The Gr818ers. As Pacoima natives and veterans of it's violent heritage, they acknowledge that violence, but show how it doesn't have to define who you are.    Changing the Narrative is made possible by a generous grant from The California Arts Council, a state agency. To learn more go to arts.ca.gov Thank you! Changing the Narrative- Pacoima is produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman The Changing the Narrative-Pacoima series is edited and engineered by Joe Foldes. Changing the Narrative curriculum created by Andrea Lopez, BFM, with guest artists Daniel P. Castillo, and Joe Foldes.  

The BBC (Big Brain Club) invites you on campus to have The Vaughn Experience. Eighth-grade- not always easy! First up, Wilfredo Bacca, always being caught lacking himself,  interviews security guard Aaron Camacho. In a "dope conversation" recorded by tech director Jenrry Gonzales, we learn why Mr. Camacho is respected by even the toughest of kids. The secret is he respects them. A former "lacker" himself, his empathy comes from understanding. Then, interviewing her group partners, Jenrry and Wilfredo, producer Agueda de Santiago, highlights the challenges and success of eighth-grade life.   Running time: 15 min We want to acknowledge the three students that did not turn in their media release forms. They contributed to Mr. Camacho's interview with astute questions and comments that spurred some of the answers you hear. They worked equipment and helped with the project overall behind the scenes. Good luck with volleyball and soccer! Agueda, Wilfredo, and Jenrry  Aaron Camacho Changing the Narrative is made possible by a generous grant from The California Arts Council, a state agency. To learn more go to arts.ca.gov Thank you! Changing the Narrative- Pacoima is produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman The Changing the Narrative-Pacoima series is edited and engineered by Joe Foldes. Changing the Narrative curriculum created by Andrea Lopez, BFM, with guest artists Daniel P. Castillo, and Joe Foldes. Music for this episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-a-fQj_2eA&feature=emb_logo