Youth in Movement

On this episode of Youth in Movement, we invite Salvador Maldonado, Multicultural Media & Marketing Manager at Google, to discuss how his passion for French drove him to become a mentor to other Francophiles. A discussion that focuses on the accessibility of French and how increasing representation allows culture to evolve.Originally from Mexico, Salvador Maldonado moved to Chicago with his family at the age of 10. He discovered his love for the French language and culture in his high school French classes which opened the doors to the Educational Outreach program at the Alliance Française in Chicago. Salvador continued his education at Harvard University where he obtained a B.A. in History and French. He now works at Google as a Multicultural Media and Marketing Manager, specializing in Latinx and Black engagement. As the recently elected President of the Young Professionals Group at the Alliance Française, Salvador highlights the impact that French culture and the Alliance Française have had on his career, all the while sharing his views on being a first generation Latino in a multidimensional world.

On this episode of Youth in Movement, we invite Connie Spreen, who is the Founder and Executive Director of Experimental Station, an independent cultural infrastructure located at the intersection of Woodlawn and Hyde Park in Chicago. She holds a doctorate in French Literature and Languages from the University of Chicago. A Francophile since her teen years, Connie was inspired by her time in France to create the 61st Street Farmer's Market, which is within the vast umbrella of Experimental Station's programs. The aim of the market is to foster an experience by merging a space of community gathering with access to fresh food.An innovative incubator, Experimental Station reaches young community members from various fields of expertise, as the organization hosts multiple small businesses, ranging from the South Side Weekly, to a local café, to the Blackstone Bicycle Works.The market is open every Saturday from 9AM to 2PM, May through October, at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and 61st Street.www.Experimentalstation.orgListen to Connie to know more about Experimental Station!The Podcast is co-hosted by Mathilde Geannopulos and Daniel Enriquez.

On this episode of Youth in Movement, we invite CEO and President of AeroStar Consulting Corporation, Tammera Holmes, as well as CEO and President of the DuSable Museum of African American History, Perri Irmer to discuss the exceptional story of Bessie Coleman who received her pilot's license,  100 years ago on June 15, 1921, in France!Tammera Holmes took her first flight at the age of sixteen and that very day determined that she would dedicate her life to aviation. Now the CEO and President of AeroStar, Tammera oversees the programs, activities, and workshops offered by this organization for individuals ranging from Kindergarten through career.Perri Irmer was born and raised in Hyde Park, Chicago. She holds a Bachelor's in Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology as well as a J.D. from the University of Chicago. Perri's work focalizes on upholding the legacy of Dr. Margaret Burroughs, who founded the DuSable Museum in 1961 to promote African and African American arts and culture.AeroStar and the DuSable Museum will host a celebration in honor of this centennial on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bessie-colemans-100th-anniversary-celebration-awards-ceremony-tickets-154855054637) Additionally, the DuSable Museum will be reopening its doors on June 19th, 2021! The Podcast is co-hosted by Mathilde Geannopulos and Daniel Enriquez. 

In this episode of Youth in Movement, Josephine Tritsch tells us about her story and how she relates to the French language. She was born in France, but moved to the United States as a toddler and has now become a dual-language (French and English) immersion Kindergarten teacher at Stratton School of the Academy of the Arts in Champaign, Illinois. As someone who lost her native claim on the language and later learned French as a teen and adult, Josephine is a motivated student and educator. She is dedicated to giving her students a strong foundation for biliteracy and the empathy needed to be a multilingual classmate.Josephine shares, with a lot of humor, the challenges she faced when she had to exchange with her French family as a young girl. She also describes the daily life of her very young students in class learning French and English at the same time.Listen to know more about Josephine!The Podcast is co-hosted by Mathilde Geannopulos and Daniel Enriquez.

In this first episode of Youth in Movement TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program In France), alumnus Justin Bryant, and prior foreign exchange student, Benjamin Doreilh, compare their respective experiences. Justin describes his long-lived goal immersing himself in French culture and his surprise when he discovered the small “chambre de bonne” where he was going to live… He also explains how the TAPIF program enabled him to pursue wanted interests. Benjamin shares his perspective on the expatriation in the US; he tells us how his experience differed from his “American Dream” and how it made him stronger.Listen to discover funny anecdotes and some useful advice!The Podcast is co-hosted by Mathilde Geannopulos and Daniel Enriquez.BiosJustinFollowing his studies in Graphic Design and French, Justin Bryant pursued TAPIF for two consecutive years and then pursued a Masters in Urban Planning at the Université Grenoble Alpes. He currently works for Legal Aid Chicago, a non-profit organization providing free legal services.BenjaminBenjamin Doreilh completed a Masters in Agriculture, Life Sciences, Food Sciences at L’École d’Ingénieurs de Purpan in Toulouse, France. He interned at the winery Papapietro Perry in Sonoma County, California, prior to a semester of studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently works as Deputy-Attaché for science and technology In the Consulate General of France in Chicago.Fore more about TAPIF: https://frenchhighereducation.org.