Podcasts about california alliance

Listeners, what were you doing in 2004? Perhaps you were strolling down the street in low rise jeans, Uggs, and a Livestrong bracelet listening to Outkast's “Hey Ya!” Or maybe you were sitting in a movie theater ready to have your mind blown by Ashton Kutcher's tour de force performance in The Butterfly Effect. Well, the folks joining us on this week's episode of our podcast may have missed some of that stuff because they were too busy building a movement for healthcare justice! 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Healthcare NOW, the national organization fighting for Medicare for All that brings you your favorite podcast! If you're a regular listener, you probably know that I was the Executive Director of Healthcare NOW for 11 years, and Gillian is the current Executive Director, but today we're taking it back to 2004 and talking with some of the OGs who started it all! This episode features some of our very favorite people -- the leaders in the healthcare justice movement who have made Healthcare NOW what it is today (the creator of your favorite podcast content!): Mark Dudzic is a longtime union organizer and activist.  He served as national organizer of the Labor Party from 2003 to 2007 and was a cofounder of the Labor Campaign for Single Payer in 2009.  He has been a member of the Healthcare Now board since its founding in 2004. Lindy Hern is the Chair of the Sociology Department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and President of the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. She has been on the Healthcare NOW board since 2009 and is the author of “Single Payer Healthcare Reform: Grassroots Mobilization and the Turn Against Establishment Politics in the Medicare for All Movement."  Donna Smith is an advocate for single payer, improved and expanded Medicare for all. Her journalism career included work as a stringer for NEWSWEEK magazine, editing and reporting for the Black Hills Pioneer in South Dakota, as well as appearances on CNN and Bill Moyers Journal, and as one of the subjects in Michael Moore's 2007 film, SiCKO. She worked for National Nurses United and traveled more than 250,000 miles advocating for health justice. She now serves as the National Advisory Board chair for Progressive Democrats of America. Walter Tsou is a Board Advisor to Physicians for a National Health Program and on the Board of HCN.  He has been a long time single payer healthcare activist.  Walter is a former Health Commissioner of Philadelphia and Past President of the American Public Health Association. Cindy Young has been a healthcare activist for over 40 years. She has served on the Health Care Now board since 2012. In her retirement, she serves as a Vice President for the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), whose principle goal is to establish a single payer system in California. If this episode doesn't give you your fill of Healthcare NOW history, you can always check out Lindy's book or this sweet tribute to our founder Marilyn Clement. And of course, if you want to keep up the good work of all these amazing folks, you can make a donation to support our work!

What does it take to transform higher education and create lasting change for underrepresented students? Dr. Keith Curry, President of Compton College and CEO of the Compton Community College District, shares his passion for equity, detailing how initiatives like Black Student Success Week and Senate Bill 1348 are redefining what it means to support Black and underrepresented students across academic and workforce landscapes. With his signature “Unapologetic Leadership,” he challenges educators, policymakers, and community partners to rethink traditional approaches and build systems that not only promote academic achievement but also pave the way for livable, rewarding careers.    You'll learn:  The importance of establishing a support system for Black and underrepresented students in higher education. How bipartisan initiatives like voter registration can help in driving positive change. Why it is crucial to establish partnerships between education and industry for providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students. The role of grant programs in supporting Black-serving institutions and enhancing student success. Key objectives of Senate Bill 1348 in transforming institutions to better serve Black students.   About the Guest: Dr. Keith Curry is the President of Compton College and CEO of the Compton Community College District, overseeing all departments and serving as secretary for the Board of Trustees. Known for his energetic and innovative approach in higher education administration, he has led multiple ACCJC Visiting Teams as Accreditation Team Chair since 2017. In June 2020, he was invited by Governor Newsom's Senior Policy Advisor for Higher Education to join the California Higher Education Recovery with Equity Task Force. A champion for equity, Dr. Curry co-founded and chairs Black Student Success Week, and he leads national panels and advisory committees focused on Black student enrollment. He also contributes to the California Alliance for Open Education Steering Committee and the USC Racial Equity in Guided Pathways Commission Taskforce. Since 2021, he has served as a Distinguished Research Fellow/Adjunct Faculty at CSU Los Angeles Charter College of Education. Dr. Curry earned his doctorate in educational leadership from UC Irvine and his bachelor's degree in American studies from UC Santa Cruz. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website   More from Dr. Keith Curry & Compton College Websites: https://iamkeithcurry.org/ https://www.compton.edu/index.aspx LinkedIn:@keith-curry X/Twitter, Instagram: @IamKeithCurry Facebook: @comptonedu X/Twitter & Instagram: @compton_college    Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: scummo@pasadena.edu Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking    Find the transcript of this episode here   Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we'd love to hear from you!  

Is it transfer student parents or parenting transfer students? Maybe transfer students with dependents? The multifaceted identities of student parents who transfer challenge standard mechanisms of classification, data collection, and institutional structure. Maya Valree, Senior Policy Analyst at EdTrust-West, joins Dr. Heather Adams to discuss trends in policy and practice designed to center and support parenting students through their postsecondary journey, including implications for transfer practitioners. Check out the important work happening at EdTrust-West and The California Alliance for Parent Student Success. Show Credits Host | Dr. Heather Adams Producers | Sam Kaplan, Rhian Waterberg, Emily Kittell Sound Editing | Abraham Urias Keep talking with Transfer Nation IG: @WeAreTransferNationLinkedIn: Transfer Nation Page TikTok: @TransferNation FB Group: Transfer Nation Email: WeAreTransferNation@gmail.com Talk soon!#TransferPride #TransferSuccess #TransferChampion #TNTalks #TransferNation

Paul Kimball is an active musician in Stockton California. He conducts Musicals, The Zion Chamber Orchestra and Pops Choir and recently retired after 36 years as a music teacher with the Lincoln Unified School District. He is French Horn player. As a baby, Paul lived in Foster Care after being relinquished by his first mother, a concert cellist, at 5 days old. He was adopted on his first birthday by a liberal Berkeley family in the 1960's. He is married to Doctor Dominee Muller-Kimball. They have two daughters and one and one beautiful grandson! Paul loves hiking. His Memoir, We are all Human Beings/An Adoptee Ponders is available on Amazon and Outskirts Press. He is currently working with California Alliance for Adoptee Rights on legislation that would allow unrestricted access to Original Birth Certificates to Adult California born adoptees.Paul's memoir, "We are all Human Beings; An Adoptee Ponders is available on Amazon.com. Music by Corey Quinn

Hi! As we begin yet another National Adoption Awareness Month, the podcast will be sharing on the history and function of the event, along with the stories and perspectives of some of us who are impacted by adoption. Mentioned in the podcast today: About National Adoption Month | Child Welfare Information Gateway Data and Statistics: AFCARS | The Administration for Children and Families https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43025/11 US Adoption Statistics | Adoption Network Places you can find information on the experiences of adoptees and mothers who are deconstructing from the adoption narrative: this podcast! Adoptees of Tiktok Adoptees on IG Adoptees on Twitter(X) The many podcasts hosted by adopted people Adoptees United | Identity, Citizenship, Equality Where Adoptee Voices Meet – An Adoptee Centric Connect Group Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC Adoptees for Justice Home | ARC There are many state based adoptee rights groups also: California Alliance for Adoptee Rights, Georgia Alliance for Adoptee Rights, Adoptee Advocates of Michigan, Virginia Alliance for Adoptee Rights, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, and more. Adoption Trauma Network (@adoptiontraumanet) • Instagram photos and videos Adoptee Reading: An Adoption Book Catalog - Books Written & Recommended By Adoptees Concerned United Birthparents The Family Preservation Project – Where Moms and Resources Meet Home - Saving Our Sisters The opinions of the podcast host are just that, their opinions. The host is not a lawyer, therapist or adoption professional. The host is a Late Discovery, Baby Scoop Era, Intercountry, Same Race Adopted person whose identity also intersects with the LGBTQ and the Disabled community. Thank you for listening!

Project 2025 calls for massive changes in our government, and as usual, massive change would bring massive problems for people with disabilities. We talk about the hidden, and not so hidden, effect of this plan on our community. Project 2025, created by the Heritage Foundation has been called the blueprint for the next Trump administration. Within the document's 900+ pages are calls for banning abortion, dismantling Medicare, taking down the Department of Education and giving the president the power to fire government employees who aren't loyal to him. Gianna Lacofano Today we will hear perspectives on Project 2025 from four people with disabilities. Gianna Lacofano and Amanda Harrinauth will discuss the plan's possible impact on people with autism, such as themselves. Donna Regal and Judy Jackon will also discuss the document from the perspective of an older adult with chronic health conditions. Additionally, Pushing Limits collective members will discuss what Project 2025 says about people with disabilities. This program was produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, edited by Denny Daughters, and hosted by Talia Thompson-Mariano. Links to information featured on today's program: California Alliance for Retired Americans: CARA Copy of Project 2025 Register to vote in California Ca easy voter guide Website of Amanda Harrinauth The post Project 2025 – Disability Issues, Pushing Limits – October 11, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Episode 10 Featuring Monique Figueiredo - Founder & Strategic Director of Compostible LAIn this episode we are getting curious about food scraps – We all create them; whether it is a apple core or carrot peel, those food scraps can actually be beneficial to our health by composting them and putting them back into the food cycle. Listen to how it all works with Monique Figueiredo, the founder of Compostable LA.GUEST BIO:Monique (she/her) founded Compostable in 2019 when she saw a need for additional community composting resources. Her vision for a community-led organization is woven through the fiber of Compostable's foundation. In 2022, this vision was recognized nationally when Monique received Waste360's 40 Under 40 award.Monique has over 8 years of non-profit experience in human services. She progressed from direct service to management, becoming an advocate for mental health funding and worker safety issues. She has since shifted to sustainability as her avenue to serve others, since caring for the natural world ultimately benefits its inhabitants as well. Monique completed UCLA's Sustainability Certificate program. She further developed her knowledge through Kiss The Ground's Soil Advocate training and The 131 School's Compost Operator Certificate program. She serves as a project advisor for Much Love Animal Rescue and helped start the LA Chapter of the California Alliance for Community Composters.HELPFUL LINKS:Website: www.compostablela.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/compostable.laFacebook: www.facebook.com/Hello.CompostableLA/Be Curious: www.instagram.com/becurious_podcastCREDITS: The BE CURIOUS PODCAST is brought to you by ECODA MEDIAHost: Louise HoughtonProduction by: Deviants MediaProducer: Louise HoughtonAssistant Producer: Marta WagnerAssistant Producer: Ralph CortezMotion Graphics: Josh Dage

Why did California's latest single payer bill fail and what can we do about it? How can the public learn the truth about how much they could save with unified financing when deep-pocketed corporations keep lobbying legislators against it? What will it take to make Medicare for All a reality once and for all? To find out, we asked Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans or CARA, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the second of a two-part series with Jodi.

Why did California's latest single payer bill fail and what can we do about it? How can the public learn the truth about how much they could save with unified financing when deep-pocketed corporations keep lobbying legislators against it? What will it take to make Medicare for All a reality once and for all? To find out, we asked Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans or CARA, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the second of a two-part series with Jodi.

This time on Code WACK! Why did California's latest single payer bill fail and what can we do about it? How can the public learn the truth about how much they could save with unified financing when deep-pocketed corporations keep lobbying legislators against it? What will it take to make Medicare for All a reality once and for all?  To find out, we asked Jodi Reid,  executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans or CARA, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the second of a two-part series with Jodi. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Tune into this weeks episode of This is a Woman! Host Sophia Lorey sits down with Cary Wilcox, Executive Director for Sierra Pregnancy + Health to discuss living a life of worldly feminism to freedom in Christ. Sophia & Cary discuss: - What is feminism? - Post Abortion Healing and Freedom in Christ - How the feminist movement emasculates men & hurts women through gender ideology- Advice on how to have the hard conversations with your daughters- Debunk lies spread about pregnancy centers And so much more! Cary has worked in a service background for over thirty-five years with highly diversified teams, leading her to serve passionately in a leadership role outside her business responsibilities and give back to the community. She became pro-abundant life at the age of 31, leading her to faith-based ministries that encourage clients to overcome difficult circumstances and have hope where they had none. She was on the Sacramento Valley Teen Challenge development committee, worked closely with Alternatives Pregnancy Center (3 years), and was on the board of Sierra Pregnancy + Health (4 years) before being called by God to become the Executive Director for Sierra Pregnancy + Health in 2019. In addition to her role at SPH she serves as the Vice President for the state's coalition, California Alliance of Pregnancy Care (CAPC). Cary is happily married with 3 daughters, 1 son-in-law, 3 grandchildren, and 2 grand pups. Her personal time includes working with nonprofit organizations, reading, traveling, shopping, & wine tasting.If you would like to donate to Sierra Pregnancy + Heath https://hope.sierraph.org/

This time on Code WACK! Why is long term care, including in-home health care, in crisis? How are skyrocketing costs affecting patients? How come two-thirds of people in California who are getting in-home health care get it from family members who are often unpaid? Would universal long term care - or a single-payer system with unified financing - help? To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the first of a two-part series with Jodi about long-term care.

This time on Code WACK! Why is long term care, including in-home health care, in crisis? How are skyrocketing costs affecting patients? How come two-thirds of people in California who are getting in-home health care get it from family members who are often unpaid? Would universal long term care - or a single-payer system with unified financing - help? To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the first of a two-part series with Jodi about long-term care.

This time on Code WACK! Why is long term care, including in-home health care, in crisis? How are skyrocketing costs affecting patients? How come two-thirds of people in California who are getting in-home health care get it from family members who are often unpaid?  Would universal long term care - or a single-payer system with unified financing - help?    To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the first of a two-part series with Jodi about long-term care. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!  

Scott Rodrick, president and CEO of Rodrick Foods, shares his journey as a second-generation McDonald's franchisee and the challenges faced by small business owners in California. He discusses the impact of legislation on minimum wage, inflation, and the importance of protecting entry-level starter jobs. Scott also highlights the California Alliance of Family-Owned Businesses (K-FOB) and the need for small business owners to speak out and protect their livelihoods. Main Street Matters is part of the Salem Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Wednesday & Friday. For more visit JobCreatorsNetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time on Code WACK! At least seven states are grappling with budget shortfalls in 2024. What goes on behind the scenes when a state needs to cut costs? Who stands to lose the most as programs are trimmed or eliminated? Today we're looking at California's multi-billion dollar budget deficit – and what's being done to protect the state's most vulnerable residents. To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition.

This time on Code WACK! At least seven states are grappling with budget shortfalls in 2024. What goes on behind the scenes when a state needs to cut costs? Who stands to lose the most as programs are trimmed or eliminated? Today we're looking at California's multi-billion dollar budget deficit – and what's being done to protect the state's most vulnerable residents. To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition.

This time on Code WACK! At least seven states are grappling with budget shortfalls in 2024. What goes on behind the scenes when a state needs to cut costs? Who stands to lose the most as programs are trimmed or eliminated? Today we're looking at California's multi-billion dollar budget deficit – and what's being done to protect the state's most vulnerable residents.  To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

20240428 ACB Membership focus call Assisting Affiliates Originally Broadcasted April 28, 2024, on ACB Media 6   This month's topic was Starting, maintaining, and expanding your affiliate. Speakers were: Frank Welte, President California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, on starting an affiliate Danette Dixon, President Washington Diabetics in Action, on maintaining an affiliate Doug Powell, President Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, on expanding an affiliate.   Sponsored by: ACB Membership Committee

In this episode of the Composting for Community Podcast, we are joined by Kourtnii Brown, founder and director of Common Compost (Oakland, California) and CEO of the California Alliance for Community Composting. We discuss the immense potential of community composting to scale up and meet diversion goals based on the findings of the Community Composting for Green Spaces (CCGS) 2021/22 pilot program.… Read More

Please join us for a discussion on Adoptee Rights 101, the dual birth certificate system and the need for unrestricted access laws. Lynn Grubb is the president of Adoptee Rights Coalition, an Ohio 501 C4 non profit educational project seeking to inform legislators and the public on adoptee rights issues. Mentioned in the show: Home | ARC (adopteerightscoalition.com) Concerned United Birthparents Georgia Alliance for Adoptee Rights – Dedicated to Equality for All Adoptees (gaallianceforadopteerights.org) California Adoptee Rights | Adoptees United Inc. California Alliance for Adoptee Rights on FB Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition | Home (michiganadoptees.org) Home (naapunited.org) Dual Birth Certificate system: there is no one rule that governs adoption in the United States. The dual birth certificate system refers to the practice of issuing a true birth certificate to an individual at birth, and then, if the person is adopted, issuing a subsequent amended legal certificate that reports the adoptive parents as if the adopted person were born to them. Other details may be changed or omitted as well. The original is sealed and, in 36 states, kept a secret from the adopted person. Transracial adoptees struggle to talk to their White parents about race - Washington Post Disclaimer: the host is not a lawyer or a therapist. The opinions of the host and thier guests are just that, opinions. The listener is encouraged to learn more about the topics discussed, just as the host continues to strive to do. Thanks for listening!

Tina Raymond is making waves in the Jazz drumming world. Her second release as a bandleader, Divinations, will be out on October 6, 2023. She is also the Director of Jazz studies at Cal State Northridge and is president-elect of The California Alliance for Jazz. She certainly has a lot going on. Jamie caught up with Tina to discuss her brilliant upcoming release along with everything else she has going on. This interview covers a lot of ground and will be useful to all. If you aren't aware of Tina's drumming, here is your chance to get hip to a bright young star in the world of Jazz.

OCD episode with Dr. Jed Siev: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/obsessions-compulsions-religion-with-dr-jed-siev/id1316933734?i=1000586262998 Mikva Episode with Carly Chodosh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-mikva-with-carly-chodosh/id1316933734?i=1000526813907   About Our Guest: Gayle Frankel received a degree in Mental Health from Hahnemann University, where she was elected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. She interned at Philadelphia Psychiatric Center (now Belmont), and worked in the in-patient department of Horsham Clinic's Substance Abuse unit.    Ms. Frankel, a founder of the Philadelphia Affiliate G.O.A.L. Support and Maintenance groups served on its Board as President since its inception. She has been a contributor to the Journal of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill, co-authoring an article on the therapeutic aspects of camping, and has presented workshops at the National OC Foundations Conferences in Minnesota, Boston, Orlando, St.Louis, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia. Ms. Frankel is presently working with an Orthodox woman's support group in Lakewood, New Jersey.     To order the Tahara's Hamishpacha workbook - email workbook@ragua.org     Would you like to be a SPONSOR? Reach out about new sponsorship opportunities for your brand & organizations - franciskakay@gmail.com Check out www.JewishCoffeeHouse.com for more Jewish Podcasts on our network.

Mental health advocates for California's youth are hopeful that Governor Newsom may be signaling a change  in how he wants money spent. A new construction project is about to get started to rehabilitate the historic Broadway corridor in Sacramento. Mental health reform The state of California raises about $4 billion annually to serve the state's needs to fund mental health services.  But how that money is spent is part of a series of sweeping changes proposed by Governor Newsom which advocates for youth services have flagged.  They say the Governor's plans are too restrictive.  Now, POLITICO is reporting that the Governor is signaling a change in his position which is giving hope to those who serve California's younger population.  Today we will speak to the California Alliance of Child and Family Services about the proposed changes. Sacramento's Broadway corridor facelift Sacramento's Broadway corridor is slated to undergo a major renovation to help improve traffic, access to local businesses, safety for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as give the area a long-overdue facelift. Project Senior Civil Engineer Philip Vulliet joins Insight to explain the impact of the $15-million, 2-mile-long project, on nearby residents, businesses and traffic– as well as the timeline for the upgrade. We'll also learn how the design of the project is supposed to benefit bicycle and vehicle traffic by cutting the existing four lanes down to two. Interim Schedule Update for August: The Insight team is taking a moment this month to catch their breath. Join host Vicki Gonzalez for live shows each Monday through Thursday from 9-9:30am, or listen anytime here on our website or the Insight podcast feed. Here & Now starts half an hour earlier at 9:30am.

In this episode, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Coachella, Neftali Galarza talks with students from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about education as a means to break opportunity barriers and how education can adapt amid an ever-changing world. About Neftali Galarza: In addition to being Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Coachella, Neftali Galarza is also the Director of the Community Engagement and Partnerships Team within the Riverside County Office of Education. Previously, he served as the Director of Community Outreach for the California Alliance for Renewable Energy Solutions and was a Board Trustee for the Coachella Valley Unified School District. Neftali completed his B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Labor Studies at the University of California, Riverside. Neftali also holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from California Baptist University. Learn more about Neftali Galarza via https://www.linkedin.com/in/neftali-galarza-1810a999/ Podcast Highlights: “The party politics, that doesn't matter when you're a three year old trying to get into preschool or you're a ten year old in elementary school or twelve year old in middle school or fifteen year old in high school. These party politics that are so divisive - they don't matter to these kids. And we need to bring back the conversation centered around the children, not about party politics that we're bringing into our school districts.” - Neftali Galarza on the topic of how divisive politics can delay necessary reforms to education. “I grew up in a mobile home park in Oasis, which is in Riverside County. There are to this day, a lot of communities don't have access to potable water... The idea that those students can go to college or go to a workforce, a CT program, and then join the labor union. Through education, you create these opportunities. Now you could jump a few economic ladders. Now you're in a different tax bracket. And that's through education that we have these opportunities to be able to create a community that moves forward, progresses and that we bring everyone together.” - Neftali Galarza on the topic of the power of education to help communities break socioeconomic barriers. “And I mentioned it's very important to have paid internships too... I had to take loans to do these internships and I'm paying them off now. I'm grateful that things have worked out for me, but it was a gamble on myself and the organizations that I wanted to intern in for. When we have a paid internship program, we can ensure that a college student isn't working at a fast food restaurant, going to school full time, and then looking for unpaid internship program.” - Neftali Galarza on the topic of the necessity of paid internships for college students, so they don't have to sacrifice their education for work experience or an income. Guest: Neftali Galarza (Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Coachella) Interviewers: Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean's Vice Chief Ambassador) Raiyan Kalam (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean's Chief Ambassador) Watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/CGb_oBVTGCE Music by: C Codaine https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Xylo-Ziko/Minimal_1625 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Xylo-Ziko/Phase Commercial Links: https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu/ Subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast.

Plagued by years of abuse allegations, the California Department of Juvenile Justice and the youth facilities it ran, were shut down earlier this summer. Criminal justice reform advocates considered the closures a victory, but now have other concerns. They contend most relocated youth are being moved into juvenile hall facilities that were not designed for long-term detentions and that lack adequate rehabilitation programs and resources. County probation chiefs have also raised concerns that kids who left for state facilities with no history of drug problems or gang affiliations are returning to their home counties with both, raising questions about the conditions within the waning days of state facilities. We talk to experts about those allegations, the stories shared by children coming out of state care, and the future of juvenile justice in California. Guests: Dan Macallair, executive director and co-founder, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Marlon Yarber, chief probation officer, Sacramento County Israel Salazar Villa, deputy director, California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice Jason Okonofua, assistant professor, Psychology Department, University of California Berkeley

In this episode of the Elon Musk Podcast, we analyze the recent meeting between Elon Musk and California Governor Gavin Newsom at the opening of Tesla's new engineering headquarters in Palo Alto. Despite a history of disagreements and controversies, the two showed a surprising amicability, leading many to speculate about the state of their relationship. As Musk's companies continue to face scrutiny and legal challenges in California, we explore what this meeting could mean for Tesla's future in the state and Musk's standing with California officials. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this high-profile encounter and what it might signal for the future of the world's most valuable automaker. https://patreon.com/stagezero

20230211 What You Need to Know About Emergency Preparedness Originally Aired February 11, 2023, on ACB Media 6 Throughout the nation, disasters are becoming an increasing part of the landscape, thus making emergency preparedness more important than it has ever been. What can you do to be as prepared as possible should you need to evacuate due to a natural disaster? How can you find out about your local disaster preparedness plan and what are some of the areas in which advocacy efforts are needed? To answer these questions as well as your own questions and concerns, the California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (CAAVL) presented our community call. Presenters were: Susanne Hogan Regional Representative/CA-CSP Coordinator Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults Vance Taylor, Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Sponsored by California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss

The California All-State Music Educators Conference is being held in Fresno on February 15 - 19. In part one of our preview, I get to talk to Ryan Dirlam, Katie Gilchrist, and Dan Bryan from the California Band Directors Association. Barb Catlin from the California Alliance for Jazz also joins me for a fantastic preview of the sessions coming up at the conference.Next week, we'll hear from CMEA, CODA, CCDA, and get a preview of the exhibit hall from Mike Tackett.The Central Valley Music Educators Podcast is hosted by Rob Bentley. The show is available at:www.cvmepodcast.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@centralvalleymusiceducatorwww.facebook.com/cvmepodcastwww.instagram.com/cvmepodcast

20221001 Retaining Your Assets – Planning for the Present and Future Originally Aired October 1, 2022, on ACB Media 5   Gerald Kane, Attorney-at-law, talked about trusts, wills, reverse mortgages, and other items of interest to adults, especially those who are older. Participants learned the best ways of retaining assets during their lifetime and ensuring their wishes are honored in the future.   Sponsored by California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss

In this episode we will hear from Lisa Butts who shares with use information about the California Alliance for Jazz. Lisa may be reached by email. We also hear about the Kern County Music Educators Association Fall Conference. Amanda Sproul and Stephanie Dalgleish share with us the exciting professional development being offered.I'd like to thank Ingram Band Supply in Tulare for sponsoring this episode. I  have been working  with them for over 10 years and they've always provided outstanding service and pricing. You may contact them via their website  or reach them by phone at (559) 308-4124. If you'd like to become a sponsor, please contact me at cvmepodcast@gmail.com

On this episode of the Building Local Power Podcast, host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by her colleague Brenda Platt who leads ILSR's Community Composting Initiative and guests Sarah Boltwala-Mesina, Monique Figueiredo, and Kourtnii Brown. Sarah is the Executive Director of Inika Small Earth Inc., which operates Food2Soil, a community composting collective in San Diego; Monique is the founder of Compostable LA, a food scrap collector in Los Angeles; and Kourtnii Brown is the co-founder and CEO of the California Alliance for Community Composting and runs Common Compost, a community composting operation in Oakland. They discuss solid waste franchise districts, which are waste collection zones that a municipality or county has assigned to one or more contractors on an exclusive basis to provide collection services for trash and recycling. As the system typically only allows large companies to compete to win a zone, smaller competitors are kept out of the playing field. Highlights include: How franchise districts have impacted community composters' operations, and the creative ways some have navigated the agreements in order to build successful businesses. The difference between a non-exclusive franchise and an exclusive franchise and how they impact communities. How local leaders have responded to the issues facing small-sized composters. How cities could change contracts to better support small-sized composting and recycling operations (such as through carve outs) and help them grow. “It's not an us or them. It is an us and them. The more we can have our human based systems mimic our ecosystems, the more no one is left behind. ” – Monique Figueiredo “As community composters who want to focus on turning these scraps into soil that rejuvenates our landscape, we have to deal with regulations, attorneys… We are not made for that. We don't have the deep pockets for that.” – Sarah Boltwala-Mesina “A lot of the attraction to an exclusive franchise agreement is because these cities have put a lot of work into establishing their zero-waste goals and their diversion targets. It is very attractive for cities to look for large scale service providers and that are capable of implementing large scale collection programs.” – Kourtnii Brown   Related Resources Mallory Szczepanski, Waste360, Commercial Franchise Zones Explained, January 25, 2017. New York City Department of Sanitation, Commercial Waste Zones: A Plan to Reform, Reroute, and Revitalize Private Carting in New York City, 2018. LA County Residential Franchise System Greggory Moore, Random Lengths News, Hauling Green Waste for Compost Is a Legal Gray Area in Long Beach, October 10, 2020 Palm Springs Sustainability Commission's Standing Subcommittee on Waste Reduction Meeting, July 1, 2021 The Sustainable Economies Law Center's Soil Policy Party Curriculum and Legal Guide to Community Composting (with examples from Alameda County) CalRecycle's Model Franchise Agreement and Webinar (Scope of Contract terms starting at min 34) ILSR's Hierarchy to Reduce Food Waste & Grow Community Food2Soil's Model Franchise Agreement and Model Solid Waste Ordinance enhanced for community composting. Food2Soil's story of Temecula, California's first community compost pile. Food2Soil's The Supermaze of Regulations Preventing Community Composting. Transcript Jess: Hello, and welcome to Building Local Power, a podcast dedicated to thought-provoking conversations about how we can challenge corporate monopolies, and expand the power of people to shape their own future. I'm Jess Del Fiacco, the host of Building Local Power, and communications manager here at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. For more than 45 years, ILSR has worked to build thriving, equitable communities, where power, wealth, and accountability remain in local hands. Hello, everybody. Today, we're going to be discussing the challenges solid waste franchise agreements pose to community composters.

Dustin Koehl, Senior Vice President Of Sales, U.S. Xpress joined Grayson Brulte on The Road To Autonomy Podcast to discuss why U.S. Xpress is doubling down on innovation and what the future of the trucking industry looks like in the coming years.The conversation begins with Dustin sharing an overview of U.S. Xpress and why the company is constantly doubling down on innovation. From Variant which is reengineering the truck diver experience for the better to autonomous trucking which will shore up the chain, U.S. Xpress is constantly focused on the future of trucking.With a pending truck driver shortage of over 80,000 drivers, the trucking industry will change dramatically over the next 5 to 10 years. One of the major changes that will affect the industry is the focus on sustainability and what the industry will do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Our trucks travel over 600 million miles a year and over 1.2 million deliveries are made per year. It's a great opportunity to be good stewards of our environment. – Dustin KoehlU.S. Xpress' commitment to sustainability extends to the local community as the company gives back by rolling up its sleeves and participating in the Chattanooga Preparatory School mentor program. The Chatt Prep mentor program could eventually pave the way for students to enter the trucking industry.The trucking industry is currently in a phase of optimization to improve performance and dwell time.With a driver, they have a fourteen-hour day or an eleven-hour clock that they drive. Well, the industry average is about six and half hours is really all they drive each day. – Dustin KoehlA large part of the discrepancy in time on and driving is due to parking and congestion. With parking being a major issue for trucking, Grayson and Dustin go on to discuss the issue and what can be done to solve the issue and increase hours driven each day by a truck driver.Putting the pieces together, Grayson asks Dustin how the company is preparing for the future of autonomous trucking.U.S. Xpress became one of the first fleets if not the first fleet to say let's be at the tip of the spear here. We have really pressed in from a regulatory space, we have pressed in from an operational playbook. – Dustin KoehlExpanding the conversation, Grayson and Dustin talk about how the industry at large is preparing for the future of autonomous trucking.States are also preparing to welcome autonomous trucking, but California is not allowing the technology to operate on public roads in the State. Brulte & Company and U.S. Xpress are both founding members of the California Alliance for Freight Innovation which is working to foster innovation and advancement in freight transportation.While the autonomous trucking technology is being developed in California, it is being deployed in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. California is missing a large positive economic impact by not embracing autonomous trucking deployments as the State acts merely as Texas' R&D lab as companies are actively deploying autonomous trucks in Texas.Autonomous trucking can spur on $111 billion in aggregate investment across the U.S. economy. – Dustin KoehlWrapping up the conversation, Dustin discusses U.S. Xpress' 2022 technology investment plans.Recorded on Friday, December 17, 2021.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cornelle Jenkins, J.D., MBA (he/him) is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at California Alliance of Child & Family Services and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Cornelle shares what he does at CACFS and for the Catalyst Center and how it's been a fulfilling line of work. They talk about trauma informed care, flourishing because of the work they are doing, the things they do for their own self-care and giving our kids of color more love and let them be who they are. If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.   To learn more about the Catalyst Center visit: www.catalyst-center.org To learn more about The California Alliance of Child and Family Services visit: www.cacfs.org

Listen as Rasheed Hislop, a Master Composter, offers you his best tips for small-scale vermicomposting. Get your worm bins ready! Hear about how this Brooklyn-raised farmer's grandparents, in the Hudson Valley and in Trinidad and Tobago, instilled in him an interest in food production by way of gardening, fishing and cooking from scratch.  Rasheed talks about his work supporting farmers, first with urban farmers and community gardeners through NYC Parks GreenThumb and now with farmers in California's Central Valley, particularly Black, indigenous and farmers of color, through Community Alliance with Family Farmers and African American Farmers of California. He also gets into the racial equity and planning work being done behind the scenes at nonprofits like CAFF.  (Plus, this is your chance to make plans to attend, virtually or in person, the CAFF conference, coming up Feb. 27 to March 3, 2022!) Learn about the Black Zocalo cooperative's efforts to teach about growing food, planting native plants and fostering farm-related businesses, including Rosalba Lopez Ramirez's (Rasheed's wife's) Dau Butter skincare line and Rasheed's seed production for Truelove Seeds. All of this is ultimately to create a movement toward a Black and Indigenous-owned land-based learning center. Also put in your listening queue Rasheed's Farming in Color podcast, highlighting the work of his BIPOC farming friends and creating an archive for Black Zocalo's work. Farming in Color podcast Black Zocalo on Instagram Black Zocalo website California Alliance with Family Farmers website 2022 CAFF Conference

Join Safeer Zartasht Khan and Zakariya Sheikh for Tuesday's show where we will be discussing: Care Services: Rising number of children in care/ Housework: a happier and healthier you Care Services: Rising number of children in care According to the County Councils Network (CCN), the number of children in care in the UK could reach almost 100,000 by 2025 putting a huge pressure on child protection services. Join us as we discuss the rise in figures, why this has happened and what the government is doing to manage it. Housework: a happier and healthier you Though household chores seem to be boring and repetitive, some research has found that doing them has a positive impact on our health especially as we age. Join us as we discuss the effects of doing chores on physical and mental health. Guests: Al Coates (Social Worker and former Foster Carer) Jenn Rexroad (Executive Director at California Alliance of Caregivers) Produced by: Prevish Huma, Nadia Shamas, Farhana Khan, Kafi Zafar

Check out Code WACK!'s latest insightful podcast, the second of two featuring Cindy Young, labor advocate and expert in health benefit negotiations, discussing how best to work with the labor movement in the fight for single-payer, Medicare for All. Host Brenda Gazzar and Young, board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans and vice chair of Healthy California Now, talk about the winning strategies needed to guarantee American workers the healthcare security they need.

Leaders are challenged daily with a variety of talent management priorities. It can be reassuring to know that there are dedicated organizations available to assist nonprofits in times like these. Meet Chris Stoner-Mertz, the CEO of California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS), and listen as she shares her insights on what drives her as a leader, and the initiatives that CACFS is working on to improve the lives of at-risk populations.Learn more about California Alliance of Child and Family Services: https://www.cacfs.org/Show edited by: Tim Pogo timpogo@timpogo.com

Host Brenda Gazzar and Young, board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans and vice-chair of Healthy California Now, talk about the winning strategies needed to guarantee American workers the healthcare security they need.

Show Notes   The Power of Labor in California's Battle for Single Payer   Check out Code WACK!'s latest insightful podcast, the second of two featuring Cindy Young, labor advocate and expert in health benefit negotiations, discussing how best to work with the labor movement in the fight for single-payer, Medicare for All.   Host Brenda Gazzar and Young, board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans and vice chair of Healthy California Now, talk about the winning strategies needed to guarantee American workers the healthcare security they need.   Click here for podcast transcript Click here for Cindy Young's biography  Podcast image (l to r):  Cindy Young & Rose Roach, Minnesota Nurses Association   Healthy California Now,  a statewide coalition of organizations and activists dedicated to establishing a single-payer, Medicare-for-All system in California, has never seen more labor participation in its history than it has now, says Young.  That includes the National Union of Healthcare Workers, UNITE HERE, the machinist unions, California Federation of Teachers and more. “So I think our organizing approach with unions is different now because we are asking them to be partners. We aren't telling them: ‘Sign on to this bill.' ‘Do this.' We're saying, we believe this is the only way we're going to manage to keep a decent health plan is to take it off the bargaining table and, you know, we guarantee health care for every worker by guaranteeing health care for all.”   That's not to say the challenges over the years have gotten any easier...  “It's always around capacity. You know, capacity to do the work. Capacity to find activists. Capacity, you know, to get programs up and running, right? And to get people's attention to advance, right, the vision and goal and that's hard to do without a bazillion dollars,” explains Young.   Young added that it's hard to get anything done in Sacramento without labor support. But she believes there's reason for hope that California will eventually find its way to Medicare for All. “As hard as this issue is to organize around, if you look back at the last 10 years, we have made incredible strides in convincing the public, right? The California Endowment just did these town halls all over the state focusing on what people want out of a healthcare system.”   In fact, the California Endowment and several other foundations recently learned that 65 percent of low-income Californians want government-run health care. “I feel like we're in a good position to make more advancements. I'm hopeful about the Healthy California Commission, the governor's commission,” Young continues. “I don't think it's going to be a perfect report but if that report, right, can lead us in a direction, then we have a door open to do more work and to help us advance our cause down the road.”   Thanks for listening! And remember to subscribe to Code WACK! to catch all our episodes about America's broken healthcare system on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen.   Get Involved / Take Action   Join Healthy California Now  - individual and organizational membership available   Join the CalCare Campaign to pass AB1400, the Guaranteed Health Care for All Act   Subscribe to HEAL California for health policy news with a California focus   Join Health Care for All California to keep up with local actions in your area   Join Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) to join the national campaign Helpful Links “CalCare” Press Release, Assemblyman Ash Kalra, Feb 19, 2021 “CalCare” Bill Text: AB 1400, Guaranteed Health Care for All (California State Assembly) Healthy California Now, California's statewide, non-partisan organizational coalition for guaranteed, universal health care  Healthy California for All Commission, charged by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to “develop a plan for advancing progress toward achieving a health care delivery system for California that provides coverage and access through a unified financing system, including, but not limited to a single payer financing system.”  Healthcare Survey of Low-Income Californians, commissioned by the California Community Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, and The California Endowment

Check out Code WACK!'s latest podcast featuring Cindy Young, labor advocate and expert in health benefit negotiations, discussing the significance of the labor movement in America's struggle for healthcare justice, and the need for Medicare for All. Host Brenda Gazzar and Young, a board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans and vice chair of the Healthy California Now coalition, explore the historic antecedents of our nation's current healthcare system, including the heroic role played by the United Mine Workers of America in 1946 to win health benefits for the first time.

Show Notes   Check out Code WACK!'s latest podcast featuring Cindy Young, labor advocate and expert in health benefit negotiations, discussing the significance of the labor movement in America's struggle for healthcare justice, and the need for Medicare for All.   Host Brenda Gazzar and Young, a board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans and vice chair of the Healthy California Now coalition, explore the historic antecedents of our nation's current healthcare system, including the heroic role played by the United Mine Workers of America in 1946 to win health benefits for the first time.  Click here for the podcast transcript or visit our website: https://heal-ca.org/american-workers-desperate-fight-for-healthcare-security/     Ever since then, organized labor has set the bar on health benefits, not only for union members but for the workforce in general: “...nonunion employers were saying ‘Well, I don't want my workforce to organize so I'm going to provide benefits that are similar to what the union workers are getting so I don't have to deal with union organizing' and that really is the beginning of health insurance in this country,” Young explains. Yet employers were not required by the government to provide health insurance to their workers until the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in 2010.  “...until the ACA passed, there was no obligation of any employer to provide any benefits at all, right, so an employer never had to provide health insurance to a worker...For years and years and years, how you got your benefits was either you were in a union and the union bargains wages, hours and working conditions or you got it, you know, through your employer who didn't want the union to organize,” Young says.   And though the ACA is truly a lifesaver, Young explains, it has not adequately addressed our healthcare system's most urgent needs - universality and affordability. Without those elements, millions of Americans still face a closed door when it comes to their care.    In addition, Young paints a grim picture of a reality where bargaining for health benefits has evolved into a zero sum game that completely fails to address the ever-spiraling costs to both employers and employees.  “..employers oftentimes, almost all the time, say to us, ‘here's how much money we have to pay for benefits...we've got 1% of salary to pay for wages and benefits. If you want to take it in wages, take it in wages. If you want to take it in benefits,  take it in benefits but we're not going to give you any more than x amount.'”    You'll also hear in this episode why Young pushes back on the idea that patients are “consumers” and continues to fight for improved Medicare for All.   Thanks for listening! And remember to subscribe to Code WACK! to catch all our episodes about America's broken healthcare system on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. Cindy Young's Biography ​​Ms. Young started her career at H.E.R.E., Local 2 in San Francisco as the Director of Research in 1985. She negotiated pension and healthcare benefits for 25,000 hotel and restaurant workers in San Francisco. She served as the key trustee for the H.E.R.E, Local 2, Pension, Education and Health and Welfare Trust Funds. She provided advice and counsel to Senior Union Staff on legislation impacting healthcare and pension benefits. She developed health reform education programs for H.E.R.E. International Union and its affiliates. She developed and organized the California Northern California Labor Health Coalition, which successfully improved Kaiser's Chiropractic and Drug and Alcohol Benefits.   From 1988 – 2010, Ms. Young served as the Senior Health Policy Advisor to California School Employees Association (CSEA). She negotiated healthcare benefits for 220,000 classified school employees and analyzed insurance renewals. She provided leadership and counsel to the CSEA management and staff on healthcare related strategies, legislation and in the delivery of healthcare training programs. She served as Labor Chair of the California Healthcare Coalition, as well as the California Education Coalition for Healthcare Reform.   From 2010 – 2014, Ms. Young served as Regulatory /Policy Specialist for California Nurses Association, and Special Projects Coordinator, leading the nurses single payer campaign.   Ms. Young currently has a small consulting firm and assists Minnesota Nurses Association and California's with bargaining health and welfare benefits. She serves on the Board of Directors for the California Alliance for Retired Americans. Representing CARA, she serves as Vice Chair of the Healthy California Now. Ms. Young has worked as a labor advocate and been committed to Medicare for All for 45 years. Helpful Links   John L. Lewis, United Mine Workers of America (Wikipedia)   The Promise of 1946 (United Mine Workers of America)   The Complete History of Employer-Provided Health Insurance, Gabrielle Smith (PeopleKeep)

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform...another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change.

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through original Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform? Another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change. 

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform...another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change.

What was healthcare like for American seniors before we had Medicare? How has Medicare helped keep retirees out of poverty? What are the gaps in Medicare today and how would Medicare for All be different? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California's largest, grassroots senior advocacy organization, in a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Medicare as it is today, and what we can do to make it better.

What was health care like for American seniors before we had Medicare? How has Medicare helped keep retirees out of poverty? What are the gaps in Medicare today? How would Medicare for All be different? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California's largest, grassroots senior advocacy organization, in a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Medicare as it is today, and what we can do it make it better. 

Book Publishing Expert, Angela Engel On How She's Innovating That Industry To Help Authors Get Their Books Out Into The World This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm every day! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial.* URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset If you love it as much as I do, you can get 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset   Angela Engel is an entrepreneur and book publishing expert with over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry. After working for 20 years in the publishing industry and with major publishing companies including Chronicle Books, Ten Speed Press, Cameron + Company, Dwell Studio, and Moleskine, Angela is on a mission to disrupt the publishing industry by giving budding authors more agency and authority in the publishing process. As founder of The Collective Book Studio, she provides authors the support they need to get a book out into the world. Founder and CEO of The Collective Book Studio, a partnership publisher working to pair authors' vision with quality book production in the areas of lifestyle, gift, and children's books. Here's a recent Publisher's Weekly article about the studio and how it's disrupting the publishing industry. Connect with Angela Website: https://thecollectivebook.studio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectivebookstudio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-engel-48b3a81b/ Episode Transcript Angela Engel [00:00:00] Angela Engel: [00:00:00] They have to, if they want trade distribution, the willing for this feedback, be willing for the work, be willing to say, Hey, you know what? All of sales, all of marketing, all of editorial is looking at this and the title and the cover really have to have this element. In order for it to work in the market. [00:00:25] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:00:25] Hello and welcome to the innovative mindset podcast. I'm your host Izolda Trakhtenberg on the show. I interview peak performing innovators in the creative social impact and earth conservation spaces or working to change the world. This episode is brought to you by brain FM brain FM combines the best of music and neuroscience to help you. [00:00:43] Focus meditate and even sleep. I love it. And I've been using it to write, create and do some of my deepest work because you're a listener of the show. You can get a free trial head over to brain.fm/innovative mindset. To check it out. If you decide to subscribe, you can get 20% off with the [00:01:00] coupon code, innovative mindset, all one word. [00:01:02] And now let's get to the show. [00:01:09] Hey there and welcome to the innovative mindset podcast. My name is Izolda Trakhtenberg. I am super happy that you're here. I'm thrilled and honored. And so, so, so happy to welcome this week's guest. She, and I've just been chatting before we started recording. And I know this is going to be a super fun conversation. [00:01:27] And you know what, Angela, I didn't ask you exactly how to say your last name. So I'm just going to try it. Angela Engel is an entrepreneur and book publisher expert with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. After working for 20 years in the publishing industry and with major publishing companies, including chronics. [00:01:44] 10 speed, press Cameron and company dwell studio. And Moleskine, Angela's on a mission to disrupt the publishing industry by giving budding authors more agency and authority in the publishing process. And you know how close that is to my heart was six books to my name and three more in the pipeline as [00:02:00] founder of the. [00:02:01] The book studio, she provides authors the support. They need to get a book out into the world. She's the founder and CEO of the collective book studio. And it's a partnership publisher working to pair author's vision with quality book production in the areas of lifestyle gift and children's books. [00:02:16] Angela, I am so glad that you are here. Welcome. [00:02:20] Angela Engel: [00:02:20] Thank you. I know you pronounce my name perfectly.  [00:02:22] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:02:22] Yay. I was, I was a little concerned and I was like, I normally ask and completely, completely forgot because we were, so I was so excited to be talking to him. We were having such a great conversation that everything went out of my head. [00:02:34] So first of all, Wow that you're doing this. We were just talking about the fact that there are authors so many authors like me, the DIY people who are self publishing, who've been crying for what you are offering your you're building a name for yourself and the studio in the collective book studio in publishing. [00:02:57] And you're doing it in a way that's really in many [00:03:00] ways disrupting the industry yet. Again, I would love if you would talk a little bit about what you are trying to do, what is the mission of the collective book studio? [00:03:11] Angela Engel: [00:03:11] That's a, that's a big question. I know, but, um, you know, I have, as you said, I've had a career of over 20 years in the space. [00:03:20] I'm, you know what? I was a young, young thing, right out of college, a comparative lit and creative writing. I loved books. I mean, who does it? Right? Especially in the, in the journalism field and the creative writing field and the English major, all of our stuff. And we, you know, our dream is to work in publishing and I got my dream. [00:03:40] I got really lucky. I was, you know, 20 what, one or two when I graduated and I drove down to San Francisco and I applied for this job at publishers group west, which is now bought by Ingram. We all know who Ingram is. It's a huge. Mega, um, whole wholesaler and obviously self publishing knows a lot about Ingram. [00:04:00] [00:04:00] And, and, um, I got my first job there and in that was like this champion of independent presses and small presses. And I actually had a great job. Great boss. Her name was trig McCloud and she came from Broadway books in New York. She had been Cindy Crawford's publicist, and I think she saw in me, honestly, that's he young? [00:04:21] That I could do what I wanted to do, but she sort of was like, I'm going to sort of mentor you and let you ride the wave. And I got to ride two campaigns with her. One was the four agreements, which was, as we all know, a New York times bestseller and continues to be an incredible book. Um, and then the other one was when nine 11 hit was Noam Chomsky's book by seven stories and watching, watching her champion, these small independent presses become New York times bestseller. [00:04:51] Um, was just magical, right? Cause, cause you brought in your editorial, your publisher, the writer, like all of, and then distribution and all the [00:05:00] ways to make this successful and honestly compete with the big five publishing houses. And then, um, at that same time, there's something called Amazon. Oh yes. And, uh, they were really just a book retailer, right? [00:05:15] Like it was like Amazon and Walden pond in the mall. Right? Like, like where did you go buy books? Right. Barnes and noble was like the big, big thing borders. And there was like some Walden bonds. And there was Amazon that was like starting to be a book retailer. Right. And at that same time, it was also like, Hmm, maybe urban Outfitters or anthropology or pirates should start selling books. [00:05:40] And I started just this sort of, uh, career path with, even in the publishing space, carving out for myself, becoming a specialist. And how do we sell books outside of the book trade. Right. And partly how you do that is packaging is the, is, is the way the book looks. Cause you don't, [00:06:00] you have to remember. [00:06:01] You're writing for someone else, right? In many ways you have to understand your audience and your audience and your end, the buyer. Sometimes the person who buys the book is completely different than your audience. And so understanding that package is really key. Um, so my mission was let's jump ahead. [00:06:22] Three years ago when I had been back, you know, I have, you know, my career was interesting partly because, you know, I'm a mom of three girls and you know, how are we going to, I'm pregnant with my third baby and I'm at a big trade show. And I'm like, God, I can't keep like, pumping like this. And I got two kids at home. [00:06:40] So, you know, I S I, I quit and I stopped consulting. And in this time of consulting, There was this boom of self publishing. And, um, and I understood, I understood why people were going that route, but I saw also an issue when it came to understanding the full, [00:07:00] um, reason for traditional publishing is so sacred. [00:07:04] One being, um, the craft as the book, the topography, the editorial, you know, everything, the illustrations and, and then also the distribution. So I wanted to find a company that could offer something completely different than Amazon can ever offer, which is people ask me this all the time. Do I have to sign an NDA? [00:07:26] I'm like, there's no NDA to sign it's people. Like, how do you can, I mean, you could, you can't really recreate Angela or Dean Burrell or Elizabeth Saki, like any of my staff. So you get to work with people who have been experts in this field for decades. Yeah. So that's sort of the mission is how did, how did like people, you know, I would welcome agent at work and we use agents for illustrators it's not necessary right these days. [00:07:57] And so how can we make [00:08:00] sure that people are being, having access to publishing and not having to wait three to four years to get on a list or develop a huge, huge pro. Profile and, you know, Instagram following and all the other hurdles that are, that are, that are existing. Now, my model is different, right? [00:08:19] And people do have to invest in their work. Our royalties are also much higher, so it's just a give and take why I call it partnership publishing. [00:08:31] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:08:31] I'm taking all of that in for a second. That was a lot, uh, I asked a big question. You gave a big answer. So here, here's the thing I love. I love the notion of partnership publishing and w w I, I hear what the collective book studio brings to the table. How much pushback do you get from the more traditional ways of publishing? [00:08:58] Like the big five. [00:09:00] What, what, what kind of reception or are you getting from the more traditional spaces? [00:09:07] Angela Engel: [00:09:07] Oh, They had just like cheered on my colleagues are awesome. I mean, they, like, we just signed Fran Hauser, incredible, incredible, uh, woman. Um, and she had a New York times bestseller myth of the nice girl. [00:09:25] It was just an, I just, my big win this week was there was an article in publishers, weekly in our trade magazine, in the print and digital. That, uh, the clinic of Brooke studio is trying a new approach and we were the keynote breakfast speaker, Pamela and Rocco, uh, for Columbia, which isn't an institution, right? [00:09:44] It's the California Alliance of booksellers. We were the keynote at their breakfast, her and Topeka up. And why is because I'm saying to the world, Hey, I'm not I'm, I'm just saying let's [00:10:00] figure out. How Amazon could not control. The distribution piece, because when you're self publishing, you're really kind of also, although you own your IP and you have all this control, you're actually giving many of it over to Amazon. [00:10:17] Right? If you think about it, because you know, there's definitely ways bookstores can sell you when you go through Ingram and income spark that said you don't have a massive team behind you selling your book into what I mean, you're in Brooklyn. So. Books are magic. Amazing. Right? The and amazing green apples. [00:10:38] So I'm such a huge champion. I think that goes back to by activism. Right. We kind of talked to them. I am such an activist that I'm like, I am not going to leave my small booksellers behind. Right. Like I personally only buy my books on bookshop.org. That's what I that's my purse. Now. I can't say we can't say [00:11:00] that to everybody, but for me, I believe that the small acts we choose to do change. [00:11:06] The trajectory of our lives because we're, we're teaching our community, we're teaching our kids. So for me, I just decided, oh, what is my small act? I sometimes can't run into every small little bookstore and busy with my three kids, but I can click a button and buy a, buy a book on bookshop.org. [00:11:26] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:11:26] I love that so much. [00:11:27] That makes me, so I know seriously, it's like, yay. Good, good for you. And, and I think that, that, that, that notion of small acts adding up to big changes is so it's key in, in, in many ways, in, in the ways so many authors have to do things. And it seems like it's key to the way the collective book studio is doing it. [00:11:48] And you're disrupting you're you're, you're a disruptor. Because you're providing more pathways for authors to get published. And, and yet like, as a, as a self-published author [00:12:00] myself, one of the things that has happened when I've tried to do it is stores and, and, you know, first of all, getting into libraries is very challenging. [00:12:09] The ALA is like, yeah, I don't think so. Uh, but, but at the same time, they often don't want to talk to you unless you have some sort of a company behind you. How does, how does the collective book studio. Maneuver in, in that space, like, because you have distribution, the smaller stores out there, more independent booksellers are willing to talk to you, or is there some other pathway that you can follow that just a single person might not be able. [00:12:39] Angela Engel: [00:12:39] Um, no we have full distribution is you've got you have to. So we're we partnered with, um, independent publishers group out of Chicago. They also own Chicago review press and triumph books to great companies. I personally am a huge fan of Chicago review, press. And I honestly, we started as a packager. I'm going to [00:13:00] backup like the collective book studio. [00:13:01] What is a packager is we will create books and then we will sell them to other publishing houses, less that have distribution. It's very common in the industry or we'll do proprietary work. Like we're doing these beautiful big custom board books for Costco. So we're, we're we're, this is very common, actually like a lot of publishers, 20 to plus percent of their list is, uh, is buy-ins or PA or pack from packagers. [00:13:31] Um, we also, we also create creative content. We have a whole series called the secrets thoughts of, and it's just us writing it. And it's like in cats and dogs, it's really cool. P w what I said in this article at PW is that we act actually very similar to a traditional house. When I, when I connected with Joe Matthews, I'm already saying, Hey, we are traditional publishing. [00:13:55] We are, we have content to fuel our trade list. Um, that you're going to [00:14:00] get revenue on. And in addition, I'm going to bring incredible clients with me that we vet that we have, uh, that they have a lot of say, but ultimately they're coming to us. So like, it's not like, okay, I want this cover. And it's this crazy cover with a bunch of purple volcanoes, you know, you know what I'm saying? [00:14:22] And like, we're like, okay, that will never work. Um, so they come to us with knowing it's in my contract that like, ultimately they have to, if they want trade distribution, be willing for this feedback, be willing for the work, be willing to say, Hey, you know what? All of sales, all of marketing, all of that, a trial is looking at this and the title and the cover really have to have this element in order for it to work the market. [00:14:50] And, um, all my clients are. Grateful for that. They're not, they understand that from the start. That's why I also say our [00:15:00] clients choose us as much as we choose that. Because again, in a partnership, I think we talked about this before the podcast. You're kind of all about collaborative, creative collaboration, which I really love, love that you said that because that is sort of my mission. [00:15:15] Is that in a partnership publishing. We have to agree and, and, and, and go together towards that end product. And I think that there are some people, um, who have been frustrated in the traditional space because they felt like, oh my God, I didn't even have any say. And then there's people, um, in the self-publishing base, like you say, you can't get into libraries where if you come through us, like I'm doing a TLA, a Texas library association, like big, huge getaway box, because I can't. [00:15:47] Because I have Matt major distribution  and they have booth space at those shows. Don't forget. They have actually, and I pay into that. So my, my company is listed in [00:16:00] trade shows too. The librarians know that they could easily buy us. And that we're, we're, we're a publishing house [00:16:07] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:16:07] accompany. And it's interesting because the what, what I kept, what I kept thinking to myself as, as I was listening to you talk was you're vetted. [00:16:16] Like they know that you will give them quality. Books too, to put in their libraries or to, you know, when you distribute them or all of that. That's some, that's something that, that a lot of sort of self-published authors don't have. They don't have that, that space of someone already knows me unless you're, you know, I don't know Scott sealer or something before he signed with whoever it is he signed with when he was putting his stuff out, people and people knew that he, that his. [00:16:43] We're good. And that they wanted them. Whereas for most authors, it doesn't seem like it's like that. So, so as I keep coming back to this word, disruptor, and you are, you are changing the industry because of this partnership model. I was wondering if you could talk a little [00:17:00] bit about what that actually means to you, what does being a disruptor mean? [00:17:05] And what is, what are you disrupting? Exactly. [00:17:10] Angela Engel: [00:17:10] Yeah. I mean, I'm going to go back to our friend house. Cause she said the best way better to publisher's weekly this week. Right? Then they quoted her, which is that sometimes it makes sense to go with traditional publishers who takes the financial risk and sometimes partnership publishing makes sense. [00:17:30] Especially when it's time sensitive, I'm open to both models. Why, what does that mean to me when she said that? And I read that and what that means to me is that I think we need to be open to both models because there's something called owning your IP, right. That we're all that people are. Uh, uh, sort of upset about in this [00:18:00] traditional space where, Hey, if I go with a traditional publisher and I own all this IP and I got to sign over my rights, but I want to create characters for Netflix or whatever else your dream is to do with the, with it. [00:18:12] Um, my model is disrupting the space because basically I'm licensing in some way for only, um, a certain amount of years, their IP. So you, so this is how we work. You create, we created. Fi and sometimes people don't want trade. Right. And it's just packaging. So we have definitely projects that are on our list that we just make books for for companies. [00:18:36] And they got a beautiful book and we're done. Then there are about 60% of our clients who really would like to be seen in the strand and at the library association. And so they signed a distribution deal with the collective book studio as part of our imprint, but I don't own their IP. I don't own that for life. [00:18:55] That is a huge, that's the disrupting piece, right? Is that I'm [00:19:00] actually saying to publishing houses, why are we so scared? Of saying of owning. For a lifetime. What is because Amazon has disrupted our industry. Let's be real. They have, people are going there way they want faster at eight. They don't want to have their IP owned. [00:19:20] So let's listen to what they're asking for. This is like, it's almost like we talked about movements. Look, I think enough people have spoken to say, I want to have a book. I really want to have a book and no one's listening to that. So I'm going to just do it online. And Amazon was saw that need. And now they have not only been able to do it successfully. [00:19:44] There are several, if not hundreds of cases, That are, that are hybrid services that offers certain kinds of editorial and great ways to make a really good book, which is important. You can get an editor and you can make a graphic designer through them, but they still don't [00:20:00] have the distribution piece. [00:20:01] Right. And so they're able to Le they're able to sort of utilize Amazon's ability for, for, uh, for sale. And, uh, still create some quality production in some way, but they still don't have the ability those services, because ultimately they hand it over to you and your left, right. As an author to do it all, to still do all the marketing, to do still all the PR and ultimately to print on demand or to do some offset. [00:20:34] Um, you're still left with that piece. And I sort of felt like, well, If I created an imprint at a trade imprint that people could, that was truly vetted. I could get the distribution because then librarians, booksellers. They trust what's on our list. Right. They know it's, it's been vetted through what I started this podcast with [00:21:00] really seasoned professionals for decades come from. [00:21:04] Don't forget places like random house Harper. Uh, Harper Collins, Chronicle books. I mean, that's where the staff, my staff come. [00:21:18] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:21:18] I keep having to take a second and take all of that in. We were chatting about earlier how this is just like having a cup of coffee together. So, so imagine that I'm taking a sip of my soy latte right now. Uh, so I love, I love, love, love that you're talking about the aspect of it, that, that, that you're giving this opportunity to people. [00:21:42] To not be holding the entire bag because there's this notion of playing to your strengths. You know, my strengths perhaps are the writing. They may not be the marketing and the PR and all this other stuff. And I feel like there are there for, for so many professions. [00:22:00] To wear a kajillion hats. You know, I have to be my accountant. [00:22:04] I have to be my marketing person, my PR person, my, this, my, that, my, the other. And sometimes I don't want to, sometimes I can't. And I'm talking about the general eye here. So, so you're offering. And you started it with the hope that you could write that, that I, that I think I can, that I'm going to partially because you have these seasoned professionals, but something in you seems like you're just, you're just like the eternal optimist, you know, like I'm going to be able to make this happen and go. [00:22:32] So can you talk a little bit about that? Like how. Your as the, as the CEO of this company, how does your state of mind affect the process, affect your collaborations with the people on your staff and also your collaborations with the authors that you take on? [00:22:48] Angela Engel: [00:22:48] Oh, I love this question. I mean, mindset is everything. [00:22:52] It's everything. Um, what a great question. I mean, look, entrepreneurship is hard [00:23:00] when you asked me how do my colleagues feel in my traditional. I want to go back when I first started the company, because now of course they're applauding, of course I'm getting this. Like, you know, and even in the very beginning I had really, I, I, in confidence, like I called a friend of mine who was high up at random house and I called a friend at Simon and Schuster and I called a friend at Chronicle and all of them were really, really supportive, but they were also like, Angela, we cannot offer you distribution. [00:23:28] Like you gotta go get like a million dollars in backlist sales. So. I had to say, okay, I, you know, it's not like I snapped my fingers. And I was like, cause when I first thought, okay, I'm going to snap my fingers and it's going to be pretty easy to get distribution with Ingram. No, and I'm an insider, right? [00:23:48] It was not easy. There were a lot of notes. There are a lot of like, honestly, I'm going to say. But it's really true. And I, I'm going to say it cause I'm a woman in my forties. Who's [00:24:00] climbed really high into my career. I taught before I was even 30 and there are a lot it's specially in the sales old boys clubs, they are just are in, in the, in the industry. [00:24:13] And it felt like I constantly was like, oh, that's, uh, that's, that's nice, but you're kind of young or you're kind of naive.  and then I'm in my forties. Right? And I'm like, wait a second. I have spent 20 years of my career and you're still treating me this way. I'm like, oh God. Now, so you know what I did? I just said, I'm just gonna, I'm just not going to listen anymore. [00:24:38] I'm going to internally. I actually have said this so many times to myself, to my friends on a popular podcast. I am going to just have this mantra change starts with you. And if I have this mantra for myself every morning or what I'm feeling stuck, and I think change starts with [00:25:00] you, I can do anything. [00:25:02] And so when you ask how I lead my team, It's I lead my team with that idea that like, okay, you're feeling frustrated or okay. A client is not doing right or, okay, this is not going on schedule. Oh, what can we change? What is it about you? What is it that we need to do? What is it that I need to do to move this forward on this project? [00:25:26] And I think my team and my clients. The one thing is even when I'm stuck, I use that as an optimism piece because I know that in my own 20 plus years, there has been people who had, do have not believed in me. And I just have to let that go, you know, like it just, and, and when you do you surround yourself? [00:25:52] Like, look, I'm here today on your podcast because I surround myself with people who do believe [00:26:00] in this power of lifting others up. [00:26:04] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:26:04] I yeah, absolutely. Again. Oh, I'm going to take it in for a second. No, because, because there, we were talking a little bit earlier about my, my mantra, which is creativity, compassion, and collaboration, and that, it seems like I can almost go well, Angela, that seems like it's kind of your mantra to that. [00:26:23] This notion that you're working in this very creative field. And you also have that analytical side too, that has to keep sort of the, the, all of the bowling pins in a row, if you will. But compassion is another word that I'm hearing from you, compassion for the authors, compassion for the process, compassion for the people on your staff. [00:26:44] That it's, that it's very sort of purpose driven, but also heart centered. If you see what I mean, and I'm, I'm just wondering a little bit about what, what that. Means to you. What now, w what leading from that space means to you both, [00:27:00] if you don't, if you don't mind sharing both in the business world and also in your personal life, because in many ways as the CEO, you sort of have to figure all of that out. [00:27:09] How are you going to divide the three girls that you have, you know, that you're a mom to your relationships, all of that. And how do you align that with the, the business that you're responsible for? [00:27:22] Angela Engel: [00:27:22] You asked some really good questions, you know, while you were talking, I'm thinking of this, this woman, um, her name is Susan Reich and she was president of like Avalon, which was this really cool publishing house. [00:27:36] They have like tons of imprints, one being seal, press one sources, great imprint. She ended up becoming president of, I believe publishers group west, which is part of Ingram. And. When I first, this is my biggest tip to any person find the really people who've all done it before you who've been able to, especially I [00:28:00] think women find a wa like I needed to find a woman in my life who had, who had already climbed such a ladder and had been in board rooms and was an exact, was such a boys' club. [00:28:14] That I could like sit down with. So when I first started this business and they have to be in your industry, so she was in my industry, she like understood my industry and I asked her to coffee. I didn't talk to her for years. And she took my coffee. Right. It's so excited. Like I'm 20 I'm 40 plus. And I felt like I was 22 and gap. [00:28:35] Right. She met me for coffee three years ago and she saw, she said to me, I love your idea. I think this is going to work. And it was like that moment for me. And I don't, I actually re emailed Susan, like about once I got like a lot of this once I got Fran Hauser and I told her, and we're going to re you know, it's been, we haven't seen each other with the [00:29:00] vaccines all now, rolling out. [00:29:01] Like we're going to, once everyone's fully vaccinated, we'll make a time to go get coffee again. But why I said this is you're asking me. Wait, remind me what my question is. I got on a little tangent, but I know I'm stringing it together. Um, do you [00:29:17] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:29:17] want me to remind you? Yes. Yes. So basically it's how do you align the compassionate heart-centered purpose-driven part of who you are with business and also your personal world and how you, how you figure all of [00:29:32] Angela Engel: [00:29:32] that out. [00:29:33] Okay. So this is my, my connection here. So Susan going out for that coffee, right? It's in some way, taking her time, I'm not paying her whatever she's showing compassion. She's like, I remember this young 22 year old sitting at the Xerox machine working hard for me. Right. Making sure my company succeeded, like really caring about my. [00:30:00] [00:29:59] And she now took that moment and had compassion when I said, I really need some advice. Right. And so I think that those things I lead with those things, cause I recognize. That those things about the human spirit, the human life, like what, when we show compassion to another human, right. When Susan's shows compassion to me, I, that it's almost like I'm a candle and it gets lit my combined fuel. [00:30:30] And then I have time to just give it to somebody else. The issue is when we it's, we need to keep passing that on to people. How, how I do it is I fi I have my little group of people. And when I'm feeling a little, like, Ooh, my flames out, it got as high as I needed to be. I go to the people that I know I need to refuel me so that I can refuel both my staff, my clients, my business. [00:30:57] And then in return [00:31:00] that that does create into my home life. Right? Like I, um, am not so good at RNR, to be honest. And either as my husband, he's a small business owner himself. He actually is a controller accountant for restaurants. So it is it's intense. I bet for my girls to have two small business owners in the time of COVID, but, um, my girls are alone. [00:31:27] There, there are the biggest champions of me, like my girls, for example, when my oldest who now is about to turn 13, she knows her mom from 14 weeks old. I mean, she doesn't remember, but she remembers if you won, you know, as, as she got older that I was always traveling, I was on the road every other month. [00:31:50] I mean, I mean every other, no twice a month, every other week, And, um, I was pumping, I mean, of course I was, I was selling to Costco. I was selling to target. I [00:32:00] was selling to buy, buy baby. I was selling to babies, RS at toys R us when that account existed. And so mom wasn't there in that same physical way. [00:32:08] So what I was Quinn was my kind of corporate lifestyle. She was already like eight or nine years old. Right. And I'm having a baby. My, my, my, my youngest and my oldest are eight years apart. There was a mom and I had a meltdown. I mean, this isn't about compassion and I just lost it. We were in the car and I was crying being out of the nine-year-old and I have a toddler and they want stuff. [00:32:37] They want to stop at the gap or something annoying. And I said, I turned around and the biggest cry I'd probably have to nurse. And my boobs are probably huge. And I just, I didn't have, for the first time in my life, I didn't have this like big. Job to like our nanny to pick them up or something. And I said, I turned around and I'm like, your dad makes all the money. [00:32:59] Why don't [00:33:00] you go ask him to take you? And, um, my oldest looks at me and she's like nine years old and she's like, mom, you can make money too. Oh yeah. And that compassion, that moment, that compassion, that realization. Oh, my God. I beat myself up. I've had mom guilt that I haven't, you know, wasn't able to go to her kindergarten, this or that. [00:33:27] My daughter actually sees me so differently that that's what motivated me to find the collective book studio. That's what motivates me every day. That kind of fueled that she was like, mom, you're a bad-ass. [00:33:44] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:33:44] Oh, that's amazing. I love that. And it's so it's so telling that sometimes we just can't see ourselves as well as the people who love us can see us. [00:33:55] There's there's a real powerful lesson right there. Wow. Incredible, [00:34:00] incredible. Thank you for sharing that, that, that's amazing that, that, and that you were aware enough. To take the lesson from that, you know, there are people out there probably would have gone. Yeah. Whatever, but you actually stopped and you actually took it in and that's, that's amazing. [00:34:13] Good for you. Wow. Oh, thank [00:34:16] Angela Engel: [00:34:16] you. You're the first to actually please set up that way. I, I appreciate that. I really do feel because I did ed take it in and I guess that's a tip. If people are listening, like take them smile. Moments in because you know what I realized my anger or what I said to my children. [00:34:37] That's not okay like that. Wasn't about my husband, like, you know, a partnership just like in my business, but in my marriage and in my relationship, which we've been together 15 years. Oh 16. It is a give and take, right? Like there are moments. Work work, got a share in the work. And so, and that's really what my daughter, who [00:35:00] I am. [00:35:01] She, I got to tell you these 13 year olds who could be an eighth grade next year, they're about when they taught. I don't know. I just want to say like, the way that they're intelligent about gender is just incredible. And I think in that moment, my daughter was really able to say, whoa, bomb, check yourself. [00:35:21] And she was only like nine years old. [00:35:24] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:35:24] And she said it an old in the way a nine-year-old would write she, and she'd write to the point. I love that. I love I'm so glad that you're raising such aware kids. Good for you. No, because, because honestly, I spent 20 years working. I worked at NASA for over 20 years and I was teaching, I was traveling and teaching kids how to save the planet. [00:35:44] That was my job. It was awesome. And, and, and you see, seven-year-olds teach. College professors because the college professors think they know everything, but the seven year old is the one who actually does it's really quite it's quite something. They were able to do it. They were able [00:36:00] to, to, to teach them these valuable, valuable lessons. [00:36:03] And that brings me to a question that I would love. Yeah. Chat with you about, um, this notion of teaching others of, of showing compassion and also just being giving back, I guess, you know, what, what is your thought on that? Because I know that your business and you personally, you're a philanthropist, right? [00:36:27] So. Role does giving back, does philanthropy play in, in your business model and also for you as the CEO of that business? [00:36:38] Angela Engel: [00:36:38] Okay. Yeah. Um, well, I, again, I mean, I think that if we wait around always to say, okay, um, who else was going to do this? Or I don't like it this way, or we have that kind of mindset. It nothing will change. [00:36:54] Right. It's like, so I, um, In the ho in the [00:37:00] start of the pandemic about, you know, now a little over a year ago, um, one of my closest friends was an ER ICU doc here in Oakland. And we all know there wasn't enough PP, um, E there was not enough medical face shields, uh, for, for our frontline workers. And instead of being sort of thinking about, well, gosh, you know, What am I going to do? [00:37:27] What can I do on a publisher house? I thought, you know what? I couldn't link up with one of my friends. Who's a small business owner, herself. Who's out of work a fabricator, and we're going to, because we're a business, we're going to be able to wire money over to DuPont and make medical face shields. And people would be like, what is a publishing house? [00:37:49] Why is she doing this? Right. So why my, why is that? My best friend was working nonstop in the, in the ER [00:38:00] ICU, ER, my home. Is very, very close to Highland hospital, which is, um, account, uh, you know, it's from the county hospital as a public hospital, which is a lot, so there's a lot of low income and, um, round and brown and black people and people of color and color and low income. [00:38:20] And it's literally down the street from me. There's. And I'm, uh, I'm an Oakland business. And so I felt it was my duty, my right, even though I might manufacture books as a community. Paying taxes and being part of Oakland and this hospital and my, my friend wasn't at that hospital was at a different one, but then I, I really, um, sort of networked myself to San Francisco labor and, and said, Hey, what do we need? [00:38:49] And the clinics around here from Santa Clara county low-income clinics to the Navajo nation, because it grew right. We're not just our new Keeler, small bids. [00:39:00] And our little area, you start small in your community. I guess that's my biggest advice. If you don't know where to start, start in your community and it will grow. [00:39:07] Like all of a sudden I was getting pinged by friends who had connections to the Navajo Navajo nation. And if you allow yourself to say, okay, I'm going to give myself this little time to be an activist in this particular school. And you open yourself up and you fought, like we're saying, we collaborate with other people who you can network with. [00:39:27] I ended up giving money over to a nonprofit to really maintain all of it because I have to go back to my real business. Right. But my work is not over in that moment. That's one side. So what's my next project. Like I'm working now on a book that, where we did a big, I fund women campaign and our goal is to. [00:39:48] And, and, and sell thousands and thousands and thousands of copies of this little tiny book, which is called eat cake for breakfast, which who doesn't want to eat cake for breakfast. And it's the, and it's [00:40:00] written by this incredible full, uh, entrepreneur and philanthropist, um, violas, um, soon Tonto. And she wants to be able to give back to UCS AF Oakland children's hospital. [00:40:12] And we connected, um, during the pandemic. We, we went on a walk and she, her daughter had a rare, um, a rare bone, um, bone condition, and she needed to get treatment at UCF and she wanted to be able to give back to this hospital. And so I said, well, I'm already manufacturing books. I already have staff. I already have people. [00:40:39] Um, and, and the mass distribution, if you want to run an I fund women campaign so that we have money to manufacture this book, I'm happy to provide, you know, my marketing team or PR team and, uh, and an operational team to get this book into the room. And [00:41:00] that's what I also would say. If you are a small business and you want to give back, sometimes you are able to just because you have a certain capability in manufacturing, if you think about all the places where they made masks to donate or other things. [00:41:14] It's finding those things. I also know that giving back it can be so easy. What did I say? I just buy my books now from bookshop.org. They've raised over $12 million to independent bookstores across the patient. Like that's also activism. If you just think about what your business or who you are, can do and give back. [00:41:37] I mean, for me, When, when black lives matter really was at the forefront of everybody, it was a fight. It was my duty for my kids to go out there into the streets to make signs, to see it. But it was also not enough. Like we ended up sending face shields to Minneapolis, to service, for example, children's Minnesota [00:42:00] hospital to help people during the riots. [00:42:02] Like, I just think, you know, what is, what is my take back? Like I think that if my company. Uh, you know, there's only so you can, you can there's money, but you can never, ever buy time and you can never buy humans. And like, I guess that's just my that's part of my philosophy in life. Like I, you could have all the money in the world, but that does not give you back your people and your time. [00:42:29] And that's what, that's what I want to see when I'm old and gray and maybe sitting on a beach. What I've been able to reflect who my, who I've touched. I mean, that means I have, that means the world to me. That's my personal thing. So my company, I mean, I, I do books. I do stories like I'm grateful every day, what I do, because I do think words changed Matt and words changed lives. [00:42:58] They create. [00:43:00] [00:43:00] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:43:00] For sure for sure they do. And I'm, you know, on behalf of authors everywhere, I'm so grateful that you are doing what you're doing. It's amazing. So I have, I have a. I got a [00:43:12] Angela Engel: [00:43:12] little, um, I got really passionate there. [00:43:14] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:43:14] I know. I love it. [00:43:16] Angela Engel: [00:43:16] I love it. What did I just talk about? [00:43:19] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:43:19] This is great. I think it's so important. [00:43:21] No, because, because we are not just what we do for a living. Right. And if you can, and if you can, to be the most successful person is the person who does what they love. And, and then, and then there's a wonderful quote by, um, In the book, givens decline and fall by Sheri Tepper. And it, I it's my favorite quote. [00:43:42] Like it's what I live by. And, and it it's a little bit of dialogue, but I have to tell it to you in case you've never read the book. Uh, it's about a woman who has since died, but she started a movement and somebody is talking about what she used to say, and this is the quote, find your sun warmed stone. [00:43:58] She used to say to [00:44:00] us, go there, build your house there and then lift others up. I love that quote so much because that, that notion of, yeah, you can do it, you can start your business, you can write your book, you can, and once you've gotten to that point, help someone else, you know, and it sounds to be like that. [00:44:18] Oh yeah. [00:44:20] Angela Engel: [00:44:20] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, God. I'm doing a party dance over here in my chair. Like I love that quote. I know, that's [00:44:30] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:44:30] it. Once you've done it, pull others up. That's that's what we can do. We can help, we can help those coming after us. And so, so having said that. Brass tacks here, Angela, if somebody says, oh, I've got a book in me or I've written a book or whatever, and they want to find you, they want to, what are the steps to getting involved with collected collective book studios? [00:44:52] What would you say someone should do when they want to do that? When they want to reach out when they want to follow you? When they want to say, Hey, could [00:45:00] we work together? [00:45:01] Angela Engel: [00:45:01] Yeah, well, this would be my advice at any publishing house, whether it be mine or you were interested, you were a poet, you, I, and it was edgy. [00:45:09] And I would maybe recommend go looking at soft skull press, like, look at what we already do. That is really key. So read, like, what is lifestyle? What is children's? What are gifts? Titles? We have a titles page who are we publishing? Um, follow our authors and follow us. I think that will give you a good sense. [00:45:29] Do you think you're going to be a right fit for our last, um, I'm very education. I'm very into parenting and the career development. Um, I have a beautiful book coming out on labor and delivery, labor and delivery. Of course I am a mom of three, like, but how we even package this labor book is very gifty. [00:45:48] Like my goal is, bye. Bye baby. Here, like looking into, um, really, so kind of look at our books and think about. Are we the right fit as if you're writing a novel, like that's not [00:46:00] what we do, right. So it's not, it's necessarily not, I'm not going to be able to really help you there, but it's a memoir. We also don't do. [00:46:08] Now. I'm always willing to. Slide into my DMS, right. Which is at the collective book studio. And I'm happy to like give ideas on, uh, plates for a memoir or for a novel if I can, because I I'm very have been in the world for so long. So I have like 20 years and I might know a small, independent press that you're not thinking about. [00:46:29] And I think that, so, so for us, I love food and wine. I love Diane. I love, uh, anything travel full visual. Children's like, think about how that book is going to be structured. And if it's not full visual, then it should really be in like the self-help career motivating, uh, parenting space. But we would, but not, but the business it's not hardcore business. [00:46:56] Does that make sense? Some of that's not really my genre either. [00:47:00] It really is. We're really a trade house. We really trade publishing. We're not going to have. A big academic reach. And some people may prefer to go on it to an academic press, for example, like UC Berkeley or something like that. So I think it just, no, I think it's really about knowing what your why is and what your purpose is and what you're trying to achieve with your own book and then, and then approach us. [00:47:24] And I'm always, you know, willing to take a look there's, there's no cost for an author for us to look at it. It's a submission [00:47:31] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:47:31] process. Right. Absolutely. And, and I thank you for, for that. A lot of people don't know that very specific and very good advice that you just gave, look at the imprint, see what they're already doing and see if you would be a fit there before you even pitch them, which I think is so important. [00:47:51] And. I, I have just a couple more questions because honestly, Angela, I could keep you here for the next six hours and we could just [00:48:00] keep chatting and order more coffee. [00:48:02] Angela Engel: [00:48:02] Well, I do want to know more about your NASA days. I'm like, wow, that's a story. Can we come on? Aren't you going to write a children's book with me and we do need more women in stem for sure. [00:48:12] Okay. Well, [00:48:12] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:48:12] and that's exactly actually, that's what I did. I, it was environment earth, so. And, uh, my, my job was to go in and make dirt fun. That was, [00:48:22] Angela Engel: [00:48:22] oh my God. Well, we could talk for really, I mean, obviously we need more women in stem, so I applied there and, um, and I know I'm going on. I'm not told tangent need to pick it up, but I'm very curious about it. [00:48:38] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:48:38] Well, we'll have to have a virtual cup of coffee sometime. No, I mean, the thing about the thing about NASA and one of the. That what, what you do and what I do, where it intersects in some ways is because I was, I would go into places, either teaching kids or teaching scientists, how to speak to kids. A lot of it is they, they, they speak very eloquently, but [00:49:00] they speak at very high levels and eight year olds. [00:49:03] You said what you know, or they check out. And so my job was to help scientists learn how to speak to eight year olds in a way that the eight year olds would find fun. And so then I took that and I wrote a book all about a called speak from within. So seed. Now I've put it all back into the publishing realm about how we can communicate in a way that will be really, really. [00:49:24] Dave, particularly if we don't know how or if we're nervous about it. So, so when we're talking about that stuff, when we're talking about NASA or when we're talking about, you know, writing for kids, what, to me, what I'm talking about ultimately is communication. And so for you, with what you're trying to do with what you're already doing successfully, it seems like what are your goals? [00:49:51] 2030 years from now. What do you want to see in the publishing industry? From collective book studio and also perhaps the industry [00:50:00] itself? [00:50:01] Angela Engel: [00:50:01] Hmm, 20, 30 a year. Okay. So I'll be, what does that say? Over 70 and 30? Yeah. When you're, [00:50:08] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:50:08] when you're like, when you're on the beach and you're going, I have done all of this really cool stuff. [00:50:14] Angela Engel: [00:50:14] What are you thinking? [00:50:19] Well, I want a New York times. I want a New York times bestseller. I don't want to see, I want to see a time where independent publishing women own pub presses are back on those bestseller lists. Like it's 89.9% big houses at this point. And the big houses just aren't getting huge speaker. I mean, they're just all buying each other up. [00:50:41] They're buying. I guess, I, I guess I believe in the power of like community and words, I think I need my dream. I think I need to, some of the more famous writers that might not need the huge, huge advances and want to try something completely different. Like, I almost like need them in [00:51:00] partnership with me, but I think that's possible. [00:51:02] I think that people. Um, can work with us in a way where you can't get still a traditional deal. And there are still some books that bull make sense for your traditional house. I think I want to disrupt that industry idea that like, you have to stay all the time in traditional house. And if you don't, you're going to get like blacklisted, right? [00:51:23] Like. What or like I self published and I can't now get a publishing deal. What? That doesn't make sense. People like, let it go because of the end. Let it go. Because the media, like if you have something to stay in, you're a nonfiction author. They're going to, you have something to say and you deserve to say it. [00:51:46] Like, I don't think in 30 years someone's going to go, oh God, I had a, I had a self published book and God, I could never get a true D like no, like stop all of that kind of competitive attitude. And instead [00:52:00] let's figure out how we're going to still maintain. Right. This is really cool. For me, the reason I am still very picky about the submissions is I do have concerns with self publishing, for sure. [00:52:16] Um, there's things like, like blinders people have where you may put something that it could be offensive, racist, those types of things. And without a traditional guard, really looking at same with media, right? Like without traditional media really looking at it. There is room for hate speech. We saw that on Twitter. [00:52:39] All over. Right. We've saw that, um, across the board and what that kind of insinuates in our culture and in our communities. So if traditional publishing, we need to change, we still need to be guarded for things like that. And that's why I think if I look 30 years ago, I raised on the beach. Maybe with you. [00:53:00] [00:53:00] They're like having a beer. Champagne. And we're saying we're still, we're still saying to the country, like you can't have hate speech. You can't have to pictures of people in a certain light, right? Like that's what the Dr. Seuss enterprises did and shelves, six books and random house agreed with them. And like, there still needs to be that guy. [00:53:21] But why also does, um, that guard have to control all of distribution? I have no idea why and all of people's IP. And so maybe I'm hoping, you know, whether that be Simon and Schuster, all my colleagues were like, oh, laughing. Cause we've kind of decided. We're going to change that mindset, that access that snobbery, that sometimes does exist in my industry. [00:53:43] And I think the reason I'm talking to you today, or the reason sometimes I'm on clubhouses, that I want people to understand that there's people internally inside my industry that are, that are not so snappy that don't want to say, oh, only the elite have access to publishing. That's not, [00:54:00] that's not okay. [00:54:02] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:54:02] Once again, I love that. You said that [00:54:06] Angela Engel: [00:54:06] what's true, right? Like I, you don't have to be a celebrity to get, like, why are celebrities getting a cookbook and someone who's been a chef and going to culinary school and is a writer for, you know, even like top columnists in journals are not getting published. [00:54:21] Like that's not. [00:54:22] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:54:22] Okay. Well, and that's the thing is that you. With your company are offering the opportunity for people to do that. You know, I mean, that, that to me is sort of the key takeaway for me here is that it that's where you're disrupting, you know, that that's, that's where things are really changing and, and more power to you. [00:54:43] I think that's. That's incredible. And again, I have like 45 more questions that maybe you'll come back and do a part two of this interview, uh, because, because I'm having such a wonderful time chatting with you, but I recognize you have a life to get back to. So I would love [00:55:00] it if you wouldn't mind, uh, giving just I put it in the show notes, but people learn differently. [00:55:06] So. Where people can find the collective book studio as far as on Instagram or on LinkedIn, wherever you are and your website, so that I can also put it on the show notes. I would appreciate it very much. [00:55:18] Angela Engel: [00:55:18] Thank you. So our website is the collective. Dot studio. Very easy. It's just the collective book.studio. [00:55:28] And then on LinkedIn, you can just reach out to me, Angela angle, our companies on LinkedIn, as well as the collective books or, you know, so both places, but I, you know, feel free for people to DM me. I love LinkedIn. It's one of my favorite platforms. Um, we also are active on Instagram at the collective book studio. [00:55:47] We don't have Twitter, you know, there's only so many things we manage, but we're so visual that, um, Instagram or LinkedIn as a personal or our website, I would love people to [00:56:00] subscribe to our newsletter. Um, we have a newsletter that's growing that goes out twice a month and it's really great. We have. [00:56:06] This column called read with us, and we give all kinds of tips on what we're reading as a staff. And I don't believe that I have to only tote my books. I get, I really talk about the industry. We have, we have blogs that we write. So I just asked for people to build community with us and to engage with us. [00:56:24] And, um, Yeah, that's part of the fun. [00:56:27] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:56:27] Absolutely. And I can say as a subscriber to the newsletter, that it is a lot of fun and I've gotten some great reading recommendations out of it, so, yeah. Good. Thank you. So again, Angela, I'm super grateful to you for being here. Really? What a, what a joy to talk with you? [00:56:43] I have just one last question and I ask it of everyone who comes on the show and it's a silly question, but I find. The question often yields some pretty poignant answers. And the question is this. If you had an airplane that could sky write [00:57:00] anything for the whole world to see, what would you say [00:57:08] Angela Engel: [00:57:08] change starts with? [00:57:10] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:57:10] Ah, your mantra. Yes. Yes. That's fabulous. Thank you so much, Angela. I appreciate it. It's great. It's a great, beautiful. I can see it in the sky. [00:57:21] Angela Engel: [00:57:21] I've never been asked that question. Oh my God. If that actually happened. Oh, I would I'll remind house in Oakland. I would just be smiling. I am smiling ear to ear right now and looking out at my porch and my blue sky can imagine that. [00:57:35] Izolda Trakhtenberg: [00:57:35] I know. Right. Thank you so much for that, that this has been a fabulous chat with Angela angle, who is. The CEO of the collective book studio, you are going to obviously need to follow her and the studio on Instagram and on LinkedIn. See what they're doing. See how they're disrupting the entire publishing industry. [00:57:56] I am Izolda Trakhtenberg for the innovative mindset [00:58:00] podcast. If you're liking what you're hearing, please rate and review the show. I love it. I'd love to hear from you. I love your comments as you know, and if you're a writer, get in touch with me because I'm always, always thrilled to talk to other authors until next time. [00:58:13] This is Izolda Trakhtenberg again, reminding you to listen, learn, laugh, and love a whole lot. [00:58:25] Thanks so much for joining me today. I really appreciate you being here. Please subscribe to the podcast if you're new and if you like what you're hearing, please review it and rate it and let other people know. If you'd like to be a sponsor of the show. I'd love to meet you on patreon.com/innovative mindset. [00:58:43] I also have lots of exclusive goodies to share just with the show supporters. Today's episode was produced by Izolda Trakhtenberg and his copyright 2021 as always. Please remember, this is for educational and entertainment purposes. Only past performance does not guarantee future [00:59:00] results, although we can always hope until next time, keep living in your innovative minds.    

Threshold Questions and Delicious QuotesHow do you describe your work in the world? I often refer to myself as a midwife of creativity... I think of it in my dual roles as an educator and artist, as holding space for the birth of someone else's creative thinking and inquiry. And so I liked that idea that, if something goes wrong here I am to hold the space.What is happening when young people catch fire in a performance? ..students, who have been marginalized or failing their other subject matters-- suddenly if they're center stage ... performing with brilliance it's a way for even other teachers to have an asset-based understanding of them, to really see them for them, their true selves.What is the art of teaching? The art of teaching ... is really this transmission of wisdom, right? If we look at human history, we're talking about a very different frame than the last hundred years of what education is and how we pass on ethics and values and cultures and art forms through education. Those were the primary ...tools for survival and somehow all of that seems a bit out the window with our Industrialized education frame.What makes Studio Pathways unique? One of the reasons we left the county office of education was to focus on the concept of reconciliation or reckoning. So taking it from, south African truth and reconciliation --- the knowledge that we really haven't had a practice of reconciliation this country, that's why we're facing what we're facing right now....Educators need to be able to do power analysis in the classroom. They need to understand what's happening between teacher and students, between genders and races, and they need to understand what that means and how that plays out and then their own role in either disrupting or perpetuating that.So that's a real key....And the way that we do it is through the arts. Jessa Brie Moreno is Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director for Studio Pathways and has collaborated as a pedagogical advisor, instructional designer, and facilitator for leading-edge arts organizations and educational institutions nationwide. Studio Pathways' projects, partners, and clients include: Rise Up! An American Curriculum, The Kennedy Center, Turnaround Arts National, Othering and Belonging Curriculum for UC Berkeley's Othering and Belonging Institute, Racial Healing Curriculum/WKKF Foundation, Instructional Designers/Zaretta Hammond, Favianna Rodriguez' The Center for Cultural Power, the California Spoken Word Project, Turnaround Arts National CA, California Alliance for Arts Education, Hewlett Foundation, Los Angeles Education Partners, Youth Speaks, Youth In Arts, Museum of the African Diaspora, Oakland Museum of California, and County, District and School Sites.  In addition, Moreno has held posts as Adjunct Faculty with the California Institute for Integral Studies (BA, MFA programs) and San Jose State University (Theatre Dept.) is a founding member of White Educators for Racial Justice (WERJ) and has facilitated with RISE for Racial Justice. Moreno (alongside Rankine-Landers) formerly co-led the Integrated Learning Specialists' Program, professional development in and beyond Alameda County that supported transformative K-12 school change through the arts. Moreno served the California Alliance for Arts Education as a Local Advocacy Field Manager building community leadership networks for Arts Advocacy statewide. She was the founding director of both the Oakland Theatre Arts Initiative and of award-winning student theatre company OakTechRep. Jessa's directorial work has appeared in collaborations with CalShakes, Stanford, UC Davis, and in Edinburgh, Scotland. Professional Awards as a performing artist include an Emmy (Motion Capture Specialist), Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, Dean Goodman, and Shellie Best Actress Awards. Moreno utilizes a stance of "creative midwifery" to assist in the ethical "birth" of transformative practices in education, arts, and culture. She... Support this podcast

Join Sheikh Sammar Ahmad and Raheel Ahmad for Thursday's show where we will be discussing: Foster Care / Ramadan Foster Care There is an urgent need for foster carers in the UK, exacerbated by the pandemic. Join us as we discuss how we can help to change the lives of those in need of foster care. The Joys of Ramadan As we say goodbye to Ramadan 2021 what have been your highlights and achievements? Join us as we discuss ways to build on our spirituality after this blessed month. Guests include: Andrew Hume (Transracial Foster-Adoptive Parent) Rebecca (Adoptee turned foster parent working with the NYC foster care system) Al Coates (Social Worker and former Foster Carer) Jenn Rexroad (Executive Director at California Alliance of Caregivers) Caroline Sence (Partnerships Manager at Read for Good) Reem Ithikaf (International Arabic-English Translations & Research Office, Ahmadiyya Movement, UK) Dr Shabir Bhatti (Naib Amir UK Ahmadiyya Movement & Senior Vice Chairman of Humanity First) Athar (11-year-old from Leeds) Produced by: Anam Mahmood and Nabeela Shah

This episode is a the second part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District.The conversation begins with Vince asking Hope and Vince what inspires them to be involved in farm-to-school markets.In the first part of the discussion, Hope and Vince talk about ways the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic.The link to that discussion is in the notes accompanying this podcast.Ben, Hope, and Vince's discussion is part of the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop being developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the National Farm to School Network. Related ATTRA Resources: Schools and COVID Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work Food Hubs and School Sales Accessing USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Other Resources

This episode is a the second part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District.The conversation begins with Vince asking Hope and Vince what inspires them to be involved in farm-to-school markets.In the first part of the discussion, Hope and Vince talk about ways the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic.The link to that discussion is in the notes accompanying this podcast.Ben, Hope, and Vince's discussion is part of the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop being developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the National Farm to School Network.Related ATTRA Resources:Schools and COVIDFarm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making it WorkFood Hubs and School SalesAccessing USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable ProgramOther ResourcesFiery Ginger FarmPlease complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!Southwest Regional Office: Website / FacebookWestern Regional Office: Website / FacebookRocky Mountain West Regional Office: FacebookGulf States Regional Office: Website / FacebookSoutheast Regional Office: Website / FacebookNortheast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

This episode is a the first part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District. Hope and Vince discuss how the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic. Let's listen.This is a panel discussion in the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop. In this panel, Ben Thomas of CA Alliance of Family Farms talks with Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farms and Vince Caguin, of Natomas Unified School District to ask them about how their relationship has evolved and how Fiery Ginger is trying to maintain school sales through the pandemic.Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!Southwest Regional Office: Website / FacebookWestern Regional Office: Website / FacebookRocky Mountain West Regional Office: FacebookGulf States Regional Office: Website / FacebookSoutheast Regional Office: Website / FacebookNortheast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

This episode is a the first part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District. Hope and Vince discuss how the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic. Let's listen.This is a panel discussion in the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop. In this panel, Ben Thomas of CA Alliance of Family Farms talks with Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farms and Vince Caguin, of Natomas Unified School District to ask them about how their relationship has evolved and how Fiery Ginger is trying to maintain school sales through the pandemic./p> Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture. You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website. You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page. Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website. Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages! Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Tune in to this week's Ecology Hour for "Running on Empty" with Patrick Hentschel. Patrick talks with Erika Morgan, Operations Director for the California Alliance of Community Energy, an advocacy group dedicated to defending Community Choice energy programs in California that advance local clean energy for the environmental, economic, and social justice benefit of our communities. Where does our electricity actually come from? What role could microgrids play in a transition to safe, sustainable energy? What are Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) and how do they bring clean energy to the grid? Patrick & Erika discuss all of this and more.

Meet Kourtnii Brown, a self-described worm wrangler and soil slinger. She's the founder and director of Common Compost in Oakland, California, an organization supporting organic's recovery and improving local food systems. Hear how she's turned this deep-rooted community work into California-wide policy advocacy. As the steering committee chair of the California Alliance for Community Composting, she's helping to coordinate a $1.35 million grant from CalRecycle to expand small-scale composting infrastructure and training as a climate solution. Our interview chart's Kourtnii's path from working in Southeast Asia to creating healthy soil in her community and own backyard. You can learn more about her path to regeneration by visiting Kourtnii's Guide on Soil Centric.

In this Tiny Climate Challenge, our Guest Expert Erika Morgan is back to teach us how to read our electricity bills so that we can make our kilowatt-hours go a lot further to saving the planet.  Guest Challenger Bio Erika Morgan is an independent clean energy consultant dedicated to speeding the transition to zero-carbon energy solutions. She works with non-profit and private entities, providing technical, operations and business facilitation, policy advocacy, and market development for clean energy solutions, including community choice energy programs. She also provides operational support to the California Alliance for Community Energy - a statewide alliance of grassroots nonprofits dedicated to ensuring that “community” stays central to Community Choice. Ms. Morgan’s career spans the clean energy industry, as a policymaker, manager, consultant, project manager, public educator, and executive coach. A specialist in organizational management, Ms. Morgan helps clients manage rapid growth, innovation, and flexibility. A former Deputy Commissioner of Energy for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of Environmental Protection for the State of Maine, in both roles she participated in the state’s efforts to deregulate its electricity market. A pioneer in electricity aggregation, she formed New England’s first retail aggregation for 100% renewable electricity. Upon moving to San Diego, she saw the power of California’s Community Choice model to speed the transition to an electricity system free of carbon and responsive to local community needs. She earned her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. Links Mentioned In This Episode California Alliance for Community Energy San Diego Energy District San Diego Gas and Electric 2018 Power Content Label (PCL) California Energy Commission PCL Explanation San Diego Community Power Contact Erika Morgan Erika on LinkedIn Erika on Facebook Contact Us Mayela Manasjan TinyClimate.com We are grateful for the generosity of Ashley Mazanec and her permission to use "Possible" from her album "Let’s Talk About The Weather" available on iTunes or Bandcamp. Ashley is an Eco Musician, and the co-founder of Let's Talk About The Weather podcast at EcoArts Foundation.

Steve speaks with Better Angel colleague, Erica Etelson.  Erica is the author of “Beyond Contempt,” How Liberals communicate across the great divide. She is also the co-founder of the California Alliance for Community Energy, Founder of Berkeley School Breakfast Initiative. 

John sits down with Barb Catlin the director at Pomona College and CIT, as well as the incoming president for the California Alliance for Jazz to discuss working in the rhythm section as a new director and a horn player. Barb's Bio can be found here: http://www.barbcatlin.com/bio

In Tiny Climate Challenge Episode 12 our Guest Challenger and Energy Consultant Extraordinaire Erika Morgan talks about the benefits and ease of purchasing carbon offsets through The Good Traveler program for her recent car and air travel from San Diego to Boston. Guest Challenger Bio Erika Morgan is an independent clean energy consultant dedicated to speeding the transition to zero-carbon energy solutions. She works with non-profit and private entities, providing technical, operations and business facilitation, policy advocacy and market development for clean energy solutions, including community choice energy programs. She also provides operational support to the California Alliance for Community Energy - a statewide alliance of grassroots nonprofits dedicated to ensuring that “community” stays central to Community Choice. Ms. Morgan’s career spans the clean energy industry, as a policymaker, manager, consultant, project manager, public educator, and executive coach. A specialist in organizational management, she helps clients manage rapid growth, innovation, and flexibility. A former Deputy Commissioner of Energy for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of Environmental Protection for the State of Maine, in both roles she participated in the state’s efforts to deregulate its electricity market. A pioneer in electricity aggregation, she formed New England’s first retail aggregation for 100% renewable electricity. Upon moving to San Diego, she saw the power of California’s Community Choice model to speed the transition to an electricity system free of carbon and responsive to local community needs. She earned her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. Links mentioned The Good Traveler San Diego International Airport Rocky Mountain Institute Tiny Climate Challenge Contact Erika Morgan Erika on LinkedIn Erika on Facebook Contact Mayela Manasjan TinyClimate.com We are grateful for the generosity of Ashley Mazanec and her permission to use "Possible" from her album "Let’s Talk About The Weather" available on iTunes or Bandcamp. Ashley is an Eco Musician, and the co-founder of Let's Talk About The Weather podcast at EcoArts Foundation.

The health dangers of the new 5G technology are being proven everyday, yet the powers that be seem to be ignoring the truth.  Fortunately, starseeds like our guest, Sarah Aminoff, are doing something about it and have already had some major victories.  Sarah's dedication to opposing 5G is expressed through her volunteer actions with the California Alliance for Safer Technology, a consortium of environmental activists, tech workers, lawyers, public health advocates and doctors whose mission is opposing 5G.  Successes include Governor Brown's veto of SB649 which would have given away CA's local authority for cell towers.  The California Brain Tumor Association, founded by Ellie Marks, led the opposition as they are dedicated to safeguarding public health, focused on prevention of primary brain tumors due to cell phone use, as well as exposure of all cell towers, and opposed to deployment of 4G /5G. Sarah has some great suggestions about safeguarding your home as well as your body.  If you are a parent, especially a starseed parent, it's your responsibility to educate yourself to protect the children: our future.  Check out this website for Environmental Health Trust: https://ehtrust.org/ At the top of the show, it's Anastasia's Starseed News, bringing topics of interest to starseeds not heard in the mainstream!  Thanks for tuning in!

This week's Tent Talk episode is the last in our series of Tent Talk Live episodes recorded at the 2019 InTents Conference in San Diego, California. The presentation "Using Our Voices to Create Change" was led by Amelia Moore Program Coordinator for California Alliance of Farmers Marketsand Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition, Ben Feldman. Listen along for tips on how to engage in farmers market policy!

Sarah Aminoff is a member of the California Alliance for Safer Technology, a consortium of environmental activists, tech workers, lawyers, public health advocates and doctors whose mission is opposing 5G.  Successes include Governor Brown's veto of SB649 which would have given away CA's local authority for cell towers.  The California Brain Tumor Association, founded by Ellie Marks, led the opposition as they are dedicated to safeguarding public health, focused on prevention of primary brain tumors due to cell phone use, as well as exposure of all cell towers, and opposed to deployment of 4G /5G. http://www.calibta.org/  Successes include the United Educators of San Francisco, who closed the school year with the passage of a safer technology resolution to reduce exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy.  Mobilize film (co-produced by Dr. Moskowitz, Dr. Davis, and Ellie Marks), and "Generation Zapped" are part of an educational campaign.  "Generation Zapped" won Best Documentary at the DC Independent Film Festival. Out in DVD on July 10, people can host their own local film screening.  Director Sabine El Gemayal writes: "In less than a generation, cell phones and the Internet have revolutionized virtually every aspect of our lives, transforming how we work, socialize and communicate.  But what are the health consequence of this invisible convenience?" You can help! Review the Massachusetts EMF Bills. Massachusetts is leading the nation with proposed legislation to address wireless radiation and public health.  Families can also take the Schools & Families Course with the non-profit Wireless Education.  Check out   http://eht.org and http://generationzapped.com  

My guest this week does it all! Museum educator, academic researcher and museum boss lady. Veronica Alvarez, Director of School and Educator Programs at LACMA, discusses how her career has been shaped by her experiences as an immigrant, as a student and as a museum educator. We discuss how she keeps up with her teaching practice even as administrative obligations claim a lot of her time, how to be responsive and caring as a leader, the low salary crisis of museum education, and how she sees diversity as a frame of mind. This episode of Cultura Conscious is the first in a series featuring women of color in leadership roles.  Veronica Alvarez is an educator, historian, and arts advocate. She has worked with elementary, high school, and college students, teaching subjects such as Spanish and ancient Greek and Roman history. Currently, she is the Director of School and Teacher Programs at LACMA. Prior to LACMA, she worked in the Education Department at the Getty Center for over 16 years, mostly writing curricula, creating professional development opportunities for teachers, and overseeing the teaching staff. Veronica currently serves on the American Alliance of Museum’s EdCom Board and is on the Policy Council for the California Alliance for Arts Education. She is a doctoral candidate at LMU’s Educational Leadership for Social Justice Program. Her dissertation is titled: Art Museums and Latino English Learners: Teaching Artists in the K-12 Classroom.

Jim Nielsen, founder of the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights, joins Grassrroot Institute analyst Matthew Reade to discuss the potential use of eminent domain on HC&S farmland.

This episode of the Grassroot Institute with Dr. Keli'i Akina, we talk with: - Jose Torra, head of Movimiento Libertario de Mexico - Brian Hughes, General Manager of Uber - David Jung, owner of Ecocab - Jim Nielson, founder of the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights - Andrew Walden, publisher of the Hawaii Free Press - Ken Schoolland, author and Economist The Grassroot Institute with Dr. Keli'i Akina is a radio show on Maui 96.7 FM KAOI, Maui's premiere talk radio station. The show is Maui's only free market radio talk show, hosted locally by the President of the Grassroot Institute, Dr. Keli'i Akina, and produced by Joe Kent. The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a 501c3 non-profit independent think tank working to advance individual liberty, the free market, and limited, accountable government.