Generation Hope

Join us as we talk with Ella Ritts about her journey with art, science, expression, and self. Ella is a Program Content Coordinator for the Griffith Observatory, in Los Angeles, California who explores life and art everyday. — "it was always a comfort for me. Like in the toughest moments of my life, art was always there. It was a way for me to express like, you know, anger, sadness, frustration, angst, confusion, and, you know, all like, and be able to self-soothe. That was like the one tool that I had. And very recently I've come to terms with the fact that I'm a very highly sensitive person, like it takes more time and energy for me to process the world. So this like quiet time for creativity has always been like how I ground myself. And it was really important in my formative years." - Ella Ritts "If there's something that makes you happy, whether it's art or something else, like be earnest about that, be honest with yourself about what truly makes you happy, because that's what life is all about is seeking things that make you happy." - Ella Ritts — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Join us as we talk with Danielle Mareka, fashion model, producer, and community organizer based out of New York City. — "I put myself out there and I kind of got used to... (not) internalizing a lot of this stuff when I didn't have a full scope of where I sat in the industry, my experience level. And also just like, sometimes it's just right timing, right, right place, right time and a little bit of luck as well. So I had to learn a lot of those things and go through a lot of nos, but I'm so grateful for how everything's played out and how I've been able to kind of mature without jumping into something because, you know, I wanted someone to give me a chance" - Danielle Mareka — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

This week on Gen Hope, Cali spoke with Gianna Durante, who is pursuing her master's degree in Stage Management at Columbia University. Gianna shares her insights on finding her passion and seeing it through as a young person. — “And there's no one way to do anything. And everyone comes to the table with their own strengths and energy and spirit and personality. And don't let anyone take that away from you and don't let anyone make you feel like the skills that you have aren't good enough because they can always be developed and they can always be worked on and you can always learn new things too, but you bring your own spirit to everything.” -Gianna Durante — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

This season of Generation Hope, Cali is talking to young adults who are pursuing careers that don't have linear paths to entry. We'll be talking to musicians, visual artists, and others about the unique challenges and rewards young creatives can face as they turn their passion into a career. Matt Francisco graduated college at the very beginning of the COVID Pandemic and moved to Los Angeles to begin his career as a creative working in photography, videography, and audio engineering/production. Matt Francisco is a photographer, director and all-around creative professional currently based in Los Angeles, CA. He's worked with clients such as Vans, Saucony and Lucky Brand and his work has been published in Forbes, The New York Times and Adweek. Social Media: @mattfrancis.co (Instagram) @mattfrancis_co (Twitter) http://mattfrancis.co/ (Website) — "People tend to get boxed in (by choosing a "lane") because once you get to a certain skill level if you don't push yourself to try new things and then let your art be informed by those other things, then you're not going to grow." -Matt Francisco — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Tune in below for an inspiring podcast episode! Momo Lindsay joins us on today's episode of Generation Hope. Momo sits down with Cali Bronkema to take us through her journey from being homeschooled to her PhD program, and through all the difficult experiences in her life that led her to embrace who she is today. Even through all of life's obstacles, Momo stays faithful and true to herself. — "I think advocating for yourself is really important. You have to determine what that looks like for yourself and your journey." -Momo Lindsay — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

We have a great Generation Hope episode to begin the week! Casey Carbone sits down with Cali to discuss his work as a pastor, his experience as an adopted individual, and how his identity is interrelated with music — it's how he understands himself in relation to the world. — "I think that for us as a church it's important that we aren't afraid to admit mistakes or short-sightedness, because it's hurting real people" - Casey Carbone "I find music is a great way to introduce people to some topics that are really important... it opens the door to conversations you wouldn't have otherwise." - Casey Carbone — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Today, Cali talks with theatre artist, Sam Rosenblatt. Sam holds a BS from NYU Steinhardt in Educational Theatre and an MFA from NYU Tisch in Musical Theatre Writing. A wearer of many hats, Sam also enjoys stage-managing, props design, graphic design, and sock-puppet-making. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Maestra. — “Being able to accept that maybe today is not your day is such an important thing. It gives you so much more ownership over your own emotions if you let go of the control a little bit.” -Sam Rosenblatt — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Find Sam on the Internet: Sam's Latest Draft Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-draft-podcast/id1523004670 Sam's Album “Little Love Notes from Collard and Rosenblatt” - https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-love-notes-from-collard-rosenblatt/1557528366 Sam's Professional Website: https://www.theatricallysam.com Sam's Instagram: theatricallysam Sam and Elspeth Website: https://www.collardandrosenblatt.com The Duo's Instagram: collard.rosenblatt.collabs Donate to support our mission.

We hope you enjoy the second half of Cali's conversation with Zora Holness. In this episode Zora talks about lack of access and representation in media and the commodification of Black culture. Zora is a 2019 graduate of the University of Maryland, who is a passionate and active member of her community, working alongside various organizations to educate and provide resources to help uplift her neighbors. Outside of her activism, Zora is a huge tv lover with a particular interest in diversity and inclusion on-screen and behind the scenes. She loves to engage in tv discussions so follow her on twitter to chat or just for some good recommendations! __ "(Hamilton) if you're erasing the characters names, is an all American story of perseverance, trying to accomplish your goals, working with people, war, etc. You can put yourself into some of those characters shoes, even if you can't put yourself in Thomas Jefferson's shoes, you can put yourself in the Black Thomas Jefferson's shoes, in Daveed Diggs' shoes." - Zora Holness "Politics is important, and the decisions our politicians make are important. But real change happens at the local level, it happens at a community level. People need to start taking care of each other. Once people start taking care of each other they are able to empathize with each other and learn about each other." - Zora Holness — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with Cali Bronkema and Zora Holness. Zora is a 2019 graduate of the University of Maryland, who is a passionate and active member of her community, working alongside various organizations to educate and provide resources to help uplift her neighbors. Outside of her activism, Zora is a huge tv lover with a particular interest in diversity and inclusion on-screen and behind the scenes. She loves to engage in tv discussions so follow her on twitter to chat or just for some good recommendations! — "White people make money off of these things that black people are facing consequences for—things that are inherent to our culture and our nature" Zora Holness — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Paige is the Director of Next Generation Ministries at Providence Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia, and she has a Masters of Arts in Youth Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary and the Center for Youth Ministry Training, as well as a Bachelor's Degree from Florida Southern College in Religion and Youth Ministry. We're so excited to hear about Paige's journey, and we're sure her story will bring you a feeling of hope! — “I hope that everyone can be accepted for who they are… I don't want tolerance, I want acceptance. I hope for acceptance for all people in all areas of their life.” - Paige Bach — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Check out this inspiring and educational episode of Generation Hope with Colin Crosby. Colin, a 24 year old Connections Specialist, discusses his role fostering communities throughout college, his journey in finding his true, authentic self, and advice he gives to others who are searching for their identity. This episode gave us a lot to think about, and we learned so much from Colin and Cali's conversation. — “How can I, as an individual, recognize these parts of culture that I'm bringing into my life and consuming?” - Colin Crosby “I hope to never lose my ability to be inquisitive, and learn more about myself as an individual.” - Colin Crosby — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Tune in today for a special crossover episode of Everyday Spirituality and Generation Hope. Generation Hope host, Cali Bronkema, speaks with Bryan about her work as the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, her plans for the future, and where she sees hope in the world. — "I tried to think of whose stories are not shared? Who's stories are underrepresented? How can I shed some light on those stories?" - Cali Bronkema “I hope for more empathy. I feel like that is what could drive our society if we open ourselves up to it.” -Cali Bronkema — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

This week we are wrapping up the first season of Generation Hope with a very inspiring story. In this episode, Cali speaks with Glenn who served as a member of a volunteer ambulance crew during the pandemic. Their discussion touches on Glenn's journey into healthcare starting when he was only six, the long shifts during the pandemic, and the rewarding feeling you get when you are able to give back to your community. We are so thankful for all first responders who got us through this difficult time. — “This is exactly what it's all about. Being able to give back to your community, helping your community as much as possible.” - Glenn Wray — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Generation Hope is back! Today, Cali talks with Kimmy Schupner. Kimmy, a USC grad and nursing student at Thomas Jefferson University, discusses the challenges of attending nursing school amidst a global pandemic and provides ideas for what keeps her inspired through these tough times.   Kimmy's determination is sure to inspire. Be sure to tune in to the video below, or wherever you find your podcasts.   Kimmy wants to give a shoutout to her sister Sarah Beth and her boyfriend Beniamino for being the most supportive pals a girl could ask for while going to nursing school during a global pandemic! — “The word hope is a big one. I'm hopeful that things will turn around… I'm hopeful that people will believe science and follow regulations.” - Kimmy Schupner — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Follow Kimmy's Food Blog at https://instagram.com/thehungryrn Donate to support our mission.

In this episode of Generation Hope, Sophia discusses joining AmeriCorp's National Civilian Community Corps in the midst of a global pandemic. Sophia is a current member of the AmeriCorp NCCC program. She is a recent graduate from Amherst College with a double major in American Studies and Spanish. — “I am trying to figure out how to do as much service as a career as possible.” “I hope we can be given a little bit of space, and time, and kindness, and a little breath to try to find things that we love doing and that give us a reason to keep working.” — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to teach English to children in another country in the midst of a global pandemic? Tune into episode 2 of Generation Hope: a discussion of education inequality, leaving home amidst a global pandemic, and the challenges that come with remote learning.  Lucie Goddard, a Native English Teacher, who works at a school in Hong Kong with extremely low proficiency, talks us through all of these elements, and inspires us with her creativity as she navigates challenging situations brought on by the pandemic. __ “I really hope that when and if things return to normal, we don't return to the normal that we had before. I realized so many issues that we had that we've now blasted open and can look to change.” - Lucie Goddard — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Welcome to "Generation Hope" a new podcast from connect.faith. In this podcast, host Cali Bronkema is looking for stories of hope in the lives of young adults. This season, she speaks with people who were just starting out their professional careers in education, healthcare and service fields when hit with a global pandemic. Our first guest is Brandan Persaud, a special education teacher and leader of professional development related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Aside from teaching, Brandan is an education leadership and policy doctoral candidate at American University, a newly appointed adjunct professor at American University, and a TeacherPreneur.  Cali Bronkema is currently serving as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, VA. Prior to that, she served at Johnsonburg Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center, and in 2019 she graduated from American University with a Bachelor's in Communications, Law, Economics and Government. When somebody asks her about how she came up with the idea for Generation Hope, she responds “I see hope in my generation all the time through my friends and acquaintances. I thought it would be selfish to keep all of that information to myself when I have a platform that I can share it through. We're the generation who started school around 9/11 and ended school during Covid-19, and we have some great stories to share.” — “I don't have all fo the answers and I make that known, but I am able to give that support, that environment where students feel safe, and they are able to reciprocate that for me as an educator.” - Brandan Persaud — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Welcome to Generation Hope, a podcast by Connect.Faith. I'm Cali Bronkema, and I'm looking for stories of hope in the lives of young adults. This season we're hearing from people who were just starting out their professional careers in education, healthcare and service fields when we were hit with a global pandemic. — Generation Hope is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.