Podcasts about youth voice

Minnesota social studies teachers will gather in St. Cloud for the Minnesota Civics Summit on Saturday. Put on by the League of Women's Voters of Minnesota, it brings together teachers and civics organizations to support teachers in engaging students during a polarizing time in politics. Amy Anderson, the executive director for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice, and Crystal Johnson, a 12th grade government and economics teacher in Osseo and a Minnesota Council for Social Studies board member, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the summit.

Are you looking for resources for your teen post-COVID? In this episode, I'm joined by graduate students at William James College - Dasia Miles-Langaigne and Angela Walukevich, as they talk about the ins and outs of finding resources for teens in the community. See below a list of resources in Massachusetts compiled by today's guests: Resource List  Resource: (Targeted to knowledge/information gathering - can be used both for the organization level and also family level)  Afterschool Programs | Youth.gov Afterschool 101 — Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership   Can apply for vouchers for childcare and transportation reimbursement: Child care voucher 13y/o and younger  Get Child Care and Transportation Help | Mass.gov   Apply for funds for child care and/or after school programs:  Child Care Financial Assistance | Mass.gov   Applying for Childcare assistance: Mass211's Child Care Services & Financial Payment Assistance | Mass 211   Partial reimbursement transportation that is work and child-care related activities:  Get Child Care and Transportation Help | Mass.gov   Apply for Grant(s) for youth sports: Youth Sports Grants - All Kids Play Every Kid Sports – We pay. Kids play.   For younger/small children, but still seems like great resource: (play groups, activities, vouchers)  Child Care Works – PACE   EBT Card for Culture (lower/free access for humanities, arts, sciences):  EBT Card to Culture - MA SNAP-ED EBT Card to Culture Organizations | Mass.gov   Additional Places:  Brookline Teen Center: (middle and high school; teen jobs) - Mix of gaming, music/art, cooking, sports   Brookline Teen Center – A safe space for discovery, creative expression, and social change.   Children's Services of Roxbury: (music group, peer leadership/advocacy program, & drop in center - access food, housing, jobs, resources)  Youth Resiliency & Development | Children's Services of Roxbury   Zumix: (Music based: teens, but also ages 7-13, filmmaking, music production, and even podcasting)  Who We Are – ZUMIX   Younger Kids/to Grade 5: Arlington Child Center: (toddler, preschool, kindergarten, but also after school and summer programs for 6-11y/o/just completed 5th grade)  Programs for Arlington Children's Center, Arlington Ma   Think Together: (K-12 - academic focused, dynamic learning, enrichment) + college and career readiness Afterschool Expanded Learning - Think Together | Nonprofit   The Black Man Can (mentoring, focused around boys/young men)  The Black Man Can Foundation   Follow Suit Mentoring (mentoring, workshops, focused around boys/young men)  Follow Suit Mentoring   Boston Project Ministries (multiple programs, mentoring, art, community)  The Boston Project Ministries   Girls on the Run (Physical activity for girls)  Girl Empowerment Programs | Girls on the Run   Swaby Tae Kwon Do (Tae Kwon Do)  ww1.swabystaekwondoboston.com/lander   YMCA Before and After School: (Greater Boston - local)  Before / After School - YMCA of Greater Boston Additional local/community locations to consider:  ·       Parks ·       Library  ·       Boys and Girls Club    Might be helpful for the organization: – “Youth Voice” - youth having voice in society. Ways to have culturally competency in the programs  Youth Voice — Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership (STEM)    Boston After School and Beyond: Hub to look for activities/programs (funding on organizational level), can search by neighborhood, age, topics  Boston After School & Beyond | Youth Educational Programs  

From the youth uprising of Bangladesh in summer of 2024 which overthrew the Awami-led government, a new nation is beginning to sprout. Watch and listen to the interview on RTL Today. Bangladesh doesn't hit international headlines so often unless it's for cyclone reasons. It's been quiet and slightly hidden from global news discussion. Why was that? Well last summer, the youth of Bangladesh ensured their desires for their country was heard. During July and August 2024, the youth of Bangladesh rose up against the Awami League-led government of Bangladesh, with nearly a thousand young people killed. Sheikh Hasina was the longest serving Prime minister, and is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. Her regime was known to be authoritarian and she's now in self-imposed exile since the uprising.  In October 2024, a team of ten students and three teachers from various Luxembourg high schools, who had been corresponding with Friendship secondary schools in Bangladesh for over a year, went to meet the young people and learn about some of the challenges of Bangladesh.  On my show this week, Aysha Siddiqua Tithi and Mir Mahbubur Rahman (Snigdho) talk about their experience, losses and the future they hope for.  Mir Snigdho, 25, is the twin brother of Mir Mugdho, who was shot dea by police whilst trying to supply water to demonstrators. His twin brother Snigdho now heads up the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, to help the victims of the violence of July-August 2024. Mir Mahbubur Rahman (Snigdho), has a background in law and a passion for social impact and the “transformative power of collective action”. Aysha Siddiqua Tithi, 22, is a 3rd year university student who was at the forefront of the July protests and accompanied Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2006) and current Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, to the United Nations General Assembly last September.  Tithi is Project Director at WOOW (Work for Orientation and Organizing the World), and currently a third-year Computer Science student at BRAC University.  Snigdho encompasses the passion these young people have in turning the weight of history into something positive for Bangladesh: “The Quota Movement of 2024 was a moment of sacrifice and resilience. The Movement is deeply personal to me because I lost my own (identical twin) brother during this struggle. His sacrifice has been a profound source of inspiration, driving me to work tirelessly toward building a better future for those who have faced similar losses. This tragedy has given me a strong sense of purpose, motivating me to ensure that every sacrifice is honoured and that no one is left behind in our collective fight for justice and equality. “Witnessing the struggles of my family and  of those who fought for equality and justice has inspired me to dedicate myself to ensuring their voices are not forgotten. Through the foundation, I work to provide financial assistance, healthcare, and emotional support to the martyrs and injured, keeping alive the spirit of hope and solidarity that emerged from the movement. This experiences has profoundly shaped my vision for a stronger Bangladesh. I won't let my brother's death be in vain. “I see Bangladesh 2.0 as a land of opportunity, innovation, and inclusion—a nation where the dreams of all citizens are supported and valued. With the right blend of education, leadership, and global collaboration, I believe we can overcome systemic challenges and create a brighter future. My goal is to be part of this transformation, using the skills and knowledge I acquire to contribute meaningfully to the country's development”

While still a teenager, Sydney Guerette founded a nonprofit where youth run the show solving problems within their communities and promoting mental health. In this conversation Sydney and Scott Lee discuss how she got started on this journey and how educators and caring adults can support youth who are making a difference in their communities.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website rubbercheese.com/podcast.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 11th December 2024. The winner will be contacted via Twitter. Our guests:https://www.wethecurious.org/ Chris Dunford, Sustainability and Science Director at We The Curious As Sustainability and Science Director, Chris Dunford has been responsible for Sustainable Futures at We The Curious since 2011. During that time, he has introduced a sector-leading programme of environmental best practice, innovative technologies, and organisational change. In 2019, We The Curious became the first science centre in the world to declare a climate emergency and pledged to meet ambitious decarbonisation targets in this decade, implemented alongside climate change adaptation.Beyond We The Curious, Chris has held positions as Head of Environmental Sustainability at UKRI, Elected Director of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Mentor of Arizona State University's ‘Sustainability in Science Museums' Global Fellowship, and Chair of the ASDC Decarbonisation Group. Chris' background is in science communication and stand-up comedy. https://w5online.co.uk/Victoria Denoon is the Head of Visitor Experience at W5 Science and Discovery Centre.Victoria joined W5 Science and Discovery Centre in March 2020 and has responsibility for all aspects of W5's operations. She is also currently an ASDC Trustee. Prior to joining the team at W5, she worked in Higher Education in the United States for 15 years with a particular interest in advancing the careers of women in STEM fields. http://www.aberdeensciencecentre.org/Bryan Snelling is the CEO of Aberdeen Science Centre. He's been in this position for five years having started in November 2019. Bryan has worked in the visitor attraction sector for 11 years having previously enjoyed 6 years as CEO at The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen. Bryan has worked in many sectors during his career including education having worked across the UK in Portsmouth and London before moving to Aberdeen. Bryan is originally from South Wales and in his spare time he enjoys playing the guitar, playing cricket and reading. https://www.sciencecentres.org.uk/Shaaron Leverment is the Chief Executive at The Association for Science and Discovery Centres.Shaaron is the CEO of ASDC and has over 20 years' experience working in science engagement and education. She stands for the value of science centres and museums for social good, as community assets that are accessible and relevant for a more diverse public.Shaaron joined ASDC in 2016 as the Deputy CEO. She is also the co-founding director of 'Explorer Dome' that engages over 70,000 children and adults every year. She leads on a number of national and international programmes and collaborations that aim to improve the relevance and accessibility of STEM for a more diverse public. As a past president of the British Association of Planetaria, she is also currently the EDI co-chair of the International Planetarium Society. Shaaron is mum to two boys, and the owner of a large hairy Golden Retriever.She is part of varied networks, working with schools, universities, science centres, museums and volunteer groups, as well as nation-wide professional associations and Government agencies. She has created and directed national and international (EU) science engagement programmes, including leading the Horizon 2020 Hypatia programme in the UK to support greater gender inclusion in informal science education, and is the driving force behind Our Space Our Future, supporting participative practice in space science outreach.Through work with ASDC, Ecsite and other international partnerships, Shaaron is known for her work to support greater equity and inclusion within our STEM education and engagement organisations, with the ambition of embedding more equitable practice for transformative organisation-wide change. Transcription:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue. A podcast for people working in and working with visitor attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden. Now, today's episode is a special one. A few days ago I was at the Association for Science and Discovery Centre's annual conference recording in front of a live studio audience. Joined by a panel of the great and good from the Science and Discovery Centre community, Victoria Denoon, Head of Visitor Experience at W5 Science and Discovery Centre. Bryan Snelling, the CEO of Aberdeen Science Centre. Chris Dunford at ASDC Sustainability Group Chair and Sustainability Director at We the Curious. And Shaaron Leverment, the CEO of ASDC. Now, I have to say, this was a bit of a proof of concept for us and we had a few technical gremlins, but whilst the sound quality isn't brilliant, the conversations absolutely were. Paul Marden: So without further ado, let's go over to that recording I took a couple of days ago. Why don't we start with our icebreaker questions? So this is a tradition for the podcast and nobody has been prepared for this. So, Victoria, you'll like this one. It's a really easy one. Bauble or custard cream? Victoria Denoon: You said it was going to be easy. Paul Marden: Oh, no, I could give you my answer straight away. It's a firmly held belief for me. Of course, it's the only answer to that question. Bryan, you have to live in a sitcom for the rest of your life. Which one? And why? Bryan Snelling: Oh God, can I have the ball? But do you know what? The only one that sprung to mind was Only Fools and Horses. I think, you know, a bit of dodgy dealing here and there. Can't go wrong with that, I think. Yeah, Wheeler dealing, you know what I mean? Paul Marden: One day Wanda's There'll be millionaires. Chris, play 10 instruments or speak 10 languages. Chris Dunford: Oh, horrible. I'm going to go for 10 instruments because I feel as if Google can do the rest. But 10 instruments? I can finally record my own albums. Paul Marden: And Shaaron, last but not least, control time like Hermione or Fly Like Harry. Shaaron Leverment: Oh, God, fly Like Harry, Paul Marden: Really? Shaaron Leverment: Yeah, yeah, 100%. Paul Marden: You don't need a time turner to be in every session. That wasn't the latest question at all. Okay, let's get cracking then with the main interview. Shaaron, first question is for you. This year and next sees the 25th anniversary of the millennium funded science centers which saw a huge amount of investments into science communic engagement across the country. What did that do to shape science in the last quarter of the century? And where do you think it will take us next. Shaaron Leverment: Great question. Paul Marden: Thank you. Shaaron Leverment: Like 25 years ago, as I mentioned in my talk, even no one really knew what science communication was. You know, now obviously there's masters in it, there's people who are doing PhDs in it and I think it's actually becoming a very important part of policy and recognised as strategically important in terms of the way in which nation engages with science. And I do believe that's because we have these amazing places across the U.K. now. Let's be honest, like a lot of them existed beforehand. There was at least 6, including Satrasphere, which is now Aberdeen Science Centre, which existed before the Millennium centers. And then suddenly all of these centers were. But now we've got 60, nearly 70 across the entire places. The Lost Shore is just open, which is all about surf and science. Shaaron Leverment: I think science, referring to one of our keynotes, is really becoming part of culture. And then we're no longer looking at sort of museums and centres as like cathedrals of science. We're looking at them as real kind of cultural and community assets. So that's where I think. I think that's where the trajectory is going for the next 25 years. I'll just wrap that into the end of that. Paul Marden: This is a follow up for that and really anyone can join in on this one. Thinking more about where we go in the next 25 years, let's talk about funding streams because we had a big lump of money back just before the millennium projects get them kicked off and we're unlikely to see that level of lottery funding again. So how can centres, after all, they are visitor attractions and charities in many cases. How do they diversify their income streams? Victoria Denoon: I think there's two things about that and one's really important from the ASDC perspective because there's what we can do individually, but there's also what we can do collectively as a network. So you know, we are looking at that particularly from the Millennium Science Centre perspective. Victoria Denoon: And obviously that's a bigger voice if we do that together. So that's really important to have those conversations. At W5 we do that by increasing what we do for corporate hire. We do a W5 late program, which is an 18 plus evenings for adults to come down. And because we're going to be 25 years old next year, there's that nostalgia that really helps sell that. So we're looking at key events to drive revenue across the year to really get more people in our door who wouldn't come to us otherwise. Bryan Snelling: Yeah, I think it's obviously very important to diversify our income. But what we're talking about here, in terms of the money we got in 2019, you're only really going to get that sort of money again from very large institutions or government. And I think whether you're trying to persuade an individual to come and visit your science centre or local, national, devolved governments to give you money, it's all about the message that you're sending. It's about the science centres are really important part, and we were talking about it earlier on, the culture of what we're doing here. So whether you're just one individual or a multinational that has big bucks, you've really got to try and make them understand that. Chris Dunford: I think it's. Yeah, I think it's almost as well as diversifying to new funders, it's also diversifying what the existing funders will be happy to fund, because I think the funders understandably want the shiny new exhibition, the lovely new outreach in the brand advance, the school workshop photo opportunity. And those are all good things. And we couldn't do those things without the funders. But they'll need to. As these buildings getting older, they need to recognize at some point that those things can take place in the building where the roof leaks and it closes in the summer because the heat wave and the cooling system can't keep up. So I think if you're saying to the funders, yes, you can support this workshop, but we will need some contribution towards the rooms that the workshop take place in. Chris Dunford: So I think it'd be helpful to understand that. And to do that, we just need to make the case better to our value. So it's not just this extra news thing, but day to day supporting us to literally keep the lights on and keep the rain out of the roof. Bryan Snelling: Can I just add, I think there's also an important thing here about mission drift. We should be true to our own mission. We should know where we're going, our direction, and not have as much as possible. Because I understand it's a balance. Not have as much as possible. The funder direct what we do. It should be the other way around, or at least. And one of the big words of this conference that I've heard is collaboration. And we shouldn't just be doing it all the money, we should be actually understanding this is what we should be doing and this is how we're going. You should be coming on board with us. Paul Marden: You risk the tail wagging the dog, don't you? If all you do is chase the sources of funding. And you do that in a haphazard way. It's got to follow, as you say, it's got to follow the mission and the core values of the centre. Victoria Denoon: And it is a relationship, you know, it's like philanthropy and, you know, universities doing their work with donors. I mean, you really do have to have mutual respect and understanding and be looking for sponsors or funders or partners who have the same mission and values that you do. That conversation becomes a lot easier. Paul Marden: Absolutely. Shaaron, any thoughts? Shaaron Leverment: I think I agree with what they're saying. It's really well put. Paul Marden: This is an audience question and this is from Kate Allen from Purple Stars. And she asked me, is the A in steam in cooperate and why it's not a binary question. Chris Dunford: Right. Bryan Snelling: Look it up. Victoria Denoon: Yes. Bryan Snelling: Did you see the inflection in that? Paul Marden: Absolutely. Bryan Snelling: I think it's a two way process. I think that the A is very important. And again, I'm gonna repeat myself, but I think it's been a big part of what the conference has been about and it's been about collaboration. Yes, it's important, but it's a two way process because it's not all about us incorporating the arts. It's also about the arts incorporating the st, the E and the M and the science elements. So I think it's a two way process at the moment. I feel this is just my own opinion that it's a little bit more give than take. Shaaron Leverment: I think there's an interesting, you know, there's an interesting conversation of like, do you need an artist for it to be art? What is art and what is science? You know, and actually, you know, so much of, you know, the engagements that we see involve huge creativity, kids making planets and things like that in science. I do think that we need to use all the tools to get across these massive ideas. And I don't actually even know what science is anyway, so I'm on the back. Shaaron Leverment: And I also noticed in Tom Crick, when he was looking at the curriculum, they separate mathematics and numeracy from science and tech, you know, and so in science, tech engineering is often considered the invisible E in stem. Maths is often considered the invisible M in STEM in science and discovery centres, you know, and so the arts as well. I fully believe that we need to be trans and multidisciplinary 100%. But you know, I think it includes, you know, the music and everything. I think includes absolutely everything. So maybe these acronyms, which is not, they're not useful at all. Paul Marden: I don't think it helps. One of the things that we talked about when we first. We were spinning ideas around this episode, weren't we? And you talked about the idea that you shocked me, that science matters to me and I care about it. And it's something that I enjoy doing with my family. And to consider that isn't for the government to consider. That's not really part of culture because they're funded quite separately. It offends my roles, I think. Shaaron Leverment: But also, you know, it's just another beautiful way of looking at the world. You might look up at a night sky, you know, like Mara or Kilda, like we're hearing by Este. And you might look at it with eyes where you're just wondering at the jewelry of creation or making pictures in the stars. Or you might also be wondering about, well, maybe there's a planet out there. Shaaron Leverment: And I think you can look with all eyes and you can. It's all in wonder. And the fact that they are segregated, it comes back to school science, I think. I think actually in the normal world, as human beings, we don't have to separate them, but it's just very hard, especially when these are crazy funding lines. Like Tom mentioned the difference. I did not know that festivals are considered part of culture, but science festivals aren't. It's madness. Chris Dunford: It also depends in a way what you're doing. So if you're putting the A into STEAM  because you say that as a society, as a cultural attraction, we want to involve ourselves, then obviously, yes, we don't want to. You know, it's inclusive because as Shaaron said, they can. They bring different things to the table. But if you're putting an A in there because you're saying that art is the same as the others, then they're no different. But that's good. It's good that art and science kind of behave in different ways. So. So they both start with an idea or a question. They can both be kind of curious or stimulated by something. But then whether we do night sky or whatever, the way that art might scrutinise the night sky would be different to the way that science will scrutinise. And that's fine. Chris Dunford: They can complement each other. It's not. You need to recognize the differences in those kind of, I don't know, the intellectual disciplines, so they can support each other rather than say, well, artists, science, design. It's not as simple as that. They're different, but that's okay. Victoria Denoon: I do think they play a part together in making things more accessible to people. So if you look at major technology companies, they focus just as much on the design and the look of some of their products as they do on the actual technology that goes into them. So there's a lovely added experience there with putting that together. I think it's very important, but for different reasons. Paul Marden: Absolutely. There's been a lot of talk at the conference about diversity and inclusivity. To a certain extent, inclusion is about understanding who your audience is and understanding what it is that they need. Paul Marden: So let's dig into that about your three science centres. What are the customer demographics, what does the audience look like and what areas of diversity and inclusion are important to them? Victoria Denoon: Well, I think that assumes we've actually asked our audiences, you know, what is important to them. And I don't, you know, I'd like to sort of throw that over to other representatives for science centres because we have done some of that, but we probably haven't done it enough to be able to actually answer that question. That's something we are really looking at because we have a lot of different information about the demographics, but not really what they want to see us do. So we're looking at different focus groups and how to involve more people in that to get a better picture of that for our particular science centre. Bryan Snelling: I think we were very lucky to receive a lot of well enough ISF funding plus local funding to completely overhaul our science centre four years ago. What happened four years ago, it was wonderful. But as Shaaron said, we're actually not a millennium sites and we've been going for 36 years. I think tech request, slightly longer than us, Shaaron Leverment: 38.Bryan Snelling: There we go. But not many longer than us. But over that time we've asked and we found out a lot of information about what our visitors wanted. And similar to what Victoria said, we don't necessarily ask enough. We recognise that's a bad thing. We need and we are putting in place and now to evaluate to get feedback more. But back then were very aware of sort of things that we needed to do. We needed to be wheelchair user friendly. Bryan Snelling: So everything is now accessible throughout the science centre. We're one of the lucky places that have a changing places facility which is incredibly good and it's gone down very well. We also have a sensory space which was retrofitted admittedly. But if you look at our feedback on the online, that's gone down fantastically well and it allows some of our neurosensitive visitors just to calm down, go there and just take a moment and then come back and I think the very fact that we're a science centre, it's very hands on, it's very stimulating. Bryan Snelling: So having that has been a real wonderful addition to what we've got. And I think we've also got to remember financial inclusion. So a lot of the sort of sponsorship that we look for is to work with in Scotland. It's called simd, the Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation. Chris Dunford: I'm sure there's a similar thing in England, but I want to know what it is. Paul Marden: We'll talk about that in a minute. Bryan Snelling: But we a lot of again, it's not mission drift when you are also doing it. A lot of our funders want to give us money so we can support those maybe who don't have as much money as the rest of us. So all of these things we've taken into account and parts of what we do at the science centre. Chris Dunford: Yeah. I suppose the question ultimately is when we ask our visitors what does inclusion, diversity mean to them, we won't get the answer we need. And that's because if you have a certain demographic who are visiting and you ask them diversity, inclusion, then obviously they will speak from their own life experience. But actually the people need to ask the people who aren't visiting. So in that respect, I mean the things we draw upon, we work closely with things like local council, so we have access to their data of who's living in the city and who's facing areas of deprivation and that kind of thing. Chris Dunford: So you can kind of fairly accurately figure out who's around you in your community and who's around you in your community isn't mirroring who's coming through the door and straight away you know where your focus areas are and the reason they might not be visiting, it might be economic, but it could also because there's things that you do unintentionally. It makes it look like you're not for them. Paul Marden: Yes. Chris Dunford: So only by engaging with them, seeing you through their eyes, will you understand maybe why you've been doing a thing which wasn't encouraged when they through the door. I suppose the last thing to say on that is often it's very tempting to think the inclusion thing is going to be groups that can't afford to visit and therefore Chapel saying it may be then detracting from the purely commercial enterprise we need to do to keep the buildings open and running. Chris Dunford: And for some areas who cannot afford to visit, then yes, that's an important part of what you do. But there could be areas, community who aren't visiting. And they can afford to visit because for some reason you're not currently for them, you can become for them. And you've also opened up a whole other market as well. So whether you're looking at it because you want more visitors financially, or you're looking at it because you want to be able to reach everyone, you need to ask who's in the city, who isn't here currently visiting and can we find out why they're not visiting? And then we just work through those challenge at a time until you hopefully are truly reflecting those around you. Paul Marden: I was at a Museum and Heritage Show earlier this year. There was a really interesting talk about inclusivity and making places accessible. And one of the key facts was that people that need an accessible place to visit, if they don't know something is accessible because you haven't communicated it properly, they will assume you are not accessible. And so having the changing places toilet and the sensory room is amazing. But you also have to communicate that to people in order for them to come and feel like it is a place for them. And that's. You're right, it's not about the charitable end of the organisation. It can be just a commercial thing. When you tell that story simply and easily for people, all of a sudden you are not going to market. Shaaron Leverment: We're sort of encouraging people. We've got an accessibility conference coming up in May which will be hosted by Winchester. And hopefully between now and then we can really support people with some of these amazing visual stories. Because I think you're absolutely right that you do need to know if it's accessible. You need to know what facilities you need to have those opportunities to know that there's a quiet space and what to expect. And then someone, honestly, if they know what's there and what's not there, then that's enough. Paul Marden: I've talked about this example before podcast, but Skipton Town Hall is an amazing example. They've got a museum whose name escapes me, but they won last year's Kids in Museum's Family Friendly award. But they have an amazing page that talks about their accessibilities with photos and videos where you can see the entrance, every entrance to the building and where that entrance will lead you to. It shows you the changing places toilet. You know, they are making it super easy for you to be able to understand that. And it's on your page, but it's a page that's hugely valuable on their website. Victoria Denoon: I think just beyond what you can do on your own. Site for that. There are organisations you can work with that tell people the story about what attractions in their area are accessible. So making sure you know who those groups are and working with them to get your story out and how you can support that's really important. Paul Marden: I've got Tudor in front of me from Eureka and I know that's something that Eureka has done a lot of is communicating the accessibility of what they deeds the outside world. I'm going to take your Scottish index of multiple deprivation and take that back to the uk. I'm going to talk a little bit about Cambridge Science Centre because they've passed two weeks ago, they've just opened their new building and one of the things that they talked about on the podcast with me was that part of the motivation for locating it on Cambridge Science park was because it is cheap by jail with one of the areas of multiple deprivation within the city. Paul Marden: They run youth groups in that area and what they found was that even though these kids are in a youth group associated with the Science centre and they are right next door to the Science park, those kids don't feel that a career in Science in the UK's hotspot for tech is a place where they could end up. Paul Marden: They just don't feel like it is of them. So how do we help those kids and families in those areas feel like science centres are for them and a career in the future and in science and tech is an opportunity for them? Bryan Snelling: I think when were redesigning the Aberdeen Science Centre, as I said, the only thing that's still there because It's a Category 2 listed building is the outer walls. But what we looked at that time was we said, well, how can we make it relevant to the northeast of Scotland? So we have three zones in the Science Centre which relates to either the up and coming or very much mature economies up there. We have an energy zone, of course we do, but space, you know, Shetland is on our patch, big patch, so is Sutherland and those of you who know Scotland, very big patch. That sort of space is a big part of what's happening up in northeast Scotland, but also life sciences. So we made it relevant so that people on an everyday sort of and kids can sort of relate to things. Bryan Snelling: I think we're the only city and people will help me out here and bring me down to size if that's the case. We have hydrogen buses in Aberdeen. I think we're one of the only, let's go like that. One of the only cities that currently do that and they see these things travelling through the city centre every day. But you know, they want to know more about that. So it's about making it relevant, making it day to day obvious that this, you can work in this because actually it's there or it's that or it's yes. The other thing is about showing the other careers that you can link it, you can focusing on space, but there's more than just that. You somebody said, yes, you also need to have a chef in the Antarctica. Bryan Snelling: So show them the other careers actually link in with this sort of and just make it relevant. Chris Dunford: Yeah, and I think obviously if you've got sections of society where there's young people who feel that science isn't for them, I think the first thing to recognise obviously is that they are in their lives. They're obviously getting messages that are telling them that's the case in the way in which children from other backgrounds are getting messages telling them what science is for them. And you can see that through the lens of the science capital. You can't control all of those, but you can control how you interact with them. Now, obviously what Cambridge did is they were able to physically relocate. Most of us aren't in that position in terms of the whole building, although that reached us the ability to do that on a complete short term basis. Chris Dunford: But I think again it's recognising that inclusion work is so much more than just kind of saying, “Hey, we are free. Why don't you come along today and you can visit for free or whatever.” It's the diversity of your staff and that's across the organisation. Because if they visit and they see someone that looks like them and that tells them that it is for them in a way in which it's going to be very difficult to do with the people actually working there don't look like people they would recognise as being in that kind of group in that way. It's about the activities themselves. So again, the ideas of kind of co development. So if you develop activities, rather than guess what you think they would like, just find out what they would like and involve them in those activities. Chris Dunford: So inclusion is difficult and it takes a lot of time because you can't just kind of put a sign on the door and say work for you now. You need to change the organisation. So it is enabling them to visit and then to keep that relationship going. That's the other thing that's very difficult. But I think if you did one funded visit and they came once and that was it, that might not be Enough to make them go, “Oh, so I can't be a scientist.” You get some kind of relationship with them going on over time. So yeah, it's a long, drawn out process, which means you need to look very hard at yourself and be prepared and brave to make changes in your own organisation. Because unintentionally you are probably putting some of the barriers there yourselves. Shaaron Leverment: I just want to echo that it really is about building those relationships. We ran a program called Explorer Universe across eight centres. And you know, we were all about extra partnerships and being brave and making new engagement to people who would never have thought to come through your doors. And you know, it ended up being like a year long of partnership building and then those relationships and almost all the programs were outreach. Some of them ended up, you know, as a celebratory event coming through the science centre. But it was very much going to where the kids were going to their space, you know, physically and emotionally and mentally, whatever, and working in partnership. So if you don't have the staff that reflect that community, then you can work in partnership and create those moments. Shaaron Leverment: And then when they do come to the centre, be there at the front door to welcome them. You know, I know you and it's very much, you know, like an experience floor In North Wales. Were working in a playground, you know, and talking all about them jumping off the playground with like parachutes, talking about friction and stuff like that. And one of the best quotes from that was like, I didn't realise this was science. You're like turning what they are doing and saying that you are a techie, techie person, you are a sciencey person, you are an engineer. That's what it is. Shaaron Leverment: You know, it's not saying this is what science is, you know, it's changing the capital that they have already into science capital to know that they are already inherent, as Osley said, inherent sort of scientists anyway. Paul Marden: Yes. Shaaron Leverment: So, yeah.Victoria Denoon: I think science centres are in a really wonderful space here to be able to do that because, you know, we do build relationships with community groups and schools all the time. And research has shown that these young people, why they see themselves in relation to their peers, that will attract them more than anything else into potential careers in science. So having a space where people can come and, you know, we don't tell them, don't touch that, don't do that. Victoria Denoon: You know, they can really fully get hands on and engage in things and having that opportunity. We just opened two years ago, our Learning Innovation for Everyone Space. We offer free school programs there, particularly in partnership with Microsoft and do coding workshops and things like that and lots of other activities and you can also do OCN accredited programs with us there. So it's really about getting them together as a group of their peers and showing them what's possible in that space. Paul Marden: That's amazing. So I'm a dev by background. Telling the story of Computer Science is not something that you see in every science centre that you go to. The whole kind of the history of computing, it exists in places, there are pockets of it. But it's not something that I want to coding club as well. But how many of my kids could go to a local science centre and feel that what they're doing when they're coding the robot and building some Lego is related to something that they see when they're at the science centre and that there's a mental leap to go from this fun thing that we're doing with this robot to the career that is amazing that I could have in the future. It's really hard. Paul Marden: Talking of kids, I'm a trustee at Kids in Museum and we talk a lot about getting the voice of young people who visit attractions and young people, they're worthy, they're in their career and incorporating that into the decision making, strategic direction of museums and science centres. I think it's definitely really important when we talk about climate emergency to get that younger voice in so that trustees don't all look like me. Let's talk a little bit about the youth platform and how you incorporate the youth voice into what you guys do. Who wants to take that one first? I can spot who cracks first. Bryan Snelling: Okay. I'm not very good at this, am I? You are very good. No, but I'm actually quite proud of what we do at Aberdeen. We about a year and a bit ago introduced a STEM youth ball and we're very pleased with that. We actually work with a local festival so it's ourselves and Aberdeen Tech Fest that jointly I say support, but actually they support us. The youth board, it's made up of secondary school kids, young people and last year was a pilot year and it went very well. We're now looking at developing it further. But what they do is they look at what they want to do, they work out what they want to do within a board situation. Bryan Snelling: They've got all the usual bits, chair and the secretary, but they work out that they want to deliver this program and then they'll go away, work together on the delivery of that program. They'll also work out the marketing side of things. They'll also do all of that. But I also, and my counterpart with TechFest also bring our ideas and say what do you think about this? And they give us a very. Paul Marden: Take some of them and rubbish a few I guess.Bryan Snelling: That's what it's for. Paul Marden: Exactly. Bryan Snelling: I mean, let's get out of the way in a safe space before we then go ahead and spend money on this thing. Paul Marden: The most brutal focus could possibly bring together. Bryan Snelling: But we're very pleased with that. The other thing that we're currently looking at doing is working with local university, Robert Goldman University, especially the architecture school, to redevelop our outer area, the garden. It was the only area that wasn't developed when we did inside. And we undertook a number of brainstorming sessions with the youngsters and I mean your 5 to 12 year olds to get their input. And we did that a number of ways, remember drawing or talking or writing, whatever. And that was really interesting. We'd obviously, as the adults had done a similar thing but what they brought was a completely different point of view and it's wonderful. Paul Marden: Excellent. Victoria, you can't not look at teacher. It's only going to encourage me to. Victoria Denoon: No, I think you know, to what Bryan was saying there. We haven't started yet but we're looking at this idea of creating a Y suite, you know, which is our youth suite, which would be young people that will come in and kind of meet once a quarter to help us with some of those decisions. Bryan was talking about Inspiring Science Fund. We also did a huge renovation at W5 as a result of that and that involved a lot of consultation with young people, with teachers, et cetera. And we do a lot of youth led programs but we're looking at really how do we engage that in this more strategic direction going forward. Paul Marden: I think it's hugely valuable, isn't it? When you take it from a consultation point to something that is actually helping to drive the strategy of the organisation. It's transformational. Sharoon, do you have any thoughts about that? Shaaron Leverment: Yeah, I mean I sort of see it from a bird's eye view really, you know. But you know we have our Youth Voice Award because last year our volunteers award was won by. Part of our volunteers award was won by Winchester young group of environmental activists that were really doing great things down at Winchester Science Centre and influencing one seekers charity. And anyone who was at dinner last night, you might have seen the video from Zed King who has done so much work supporting Centre for Life and making massive changes there and not just there, like actually across the network. We are. So we've got this Youth Voice award as one of the only awards that we give because it is so important. We are all about. Not all about, but we are a lot about young people. Shaaron Leverment: So they need to have voice but it's very difficult to be sure how to do that and to make sure that we're not putting too much pressure. I mean here at this conference you can. There we've got some young people coming in showing their bio robots. We've got. Obviously we had the Esports award last night and our next keynote we've got two younger panel members to do a discussion about eco anxiety and how that feels for them to influence the way in which we think about our climate engagement from the voices of people who are experiencing it and experiencing this massive grief and anxiety about their own futures. So yeah, there's a lot of work going on obviously over in Armagh as well, you know, especially with autistic families and you know, I think it's. Shaaron Leverment: Yeah, it's a growing area and we're putting a lot of effort into encouraging like hearing these stories and different things and you know, I know we the curated. Well, with your authority sharing, I might just throw that over to you. I mean I think that's a great piece of work. Chris Dunford: Yeah. On the climate side especially. One thing we've done in the past is work with Bristol City Council, Youth Council, I think I might say most councils will have something like this because they then feed into the UK lean Parliament. I think that's really useful for two reasons. Firstly, because it gives them a space when you talk about climate issues. But secondly, it's helping them to understand the process of democracy, which young people's possibly more important now than ever. I think that's really key because I think what often happens, especially at events like cop, is that inside the room you've got the politicians and decision makers who are struggling with this really difficult challenge of how do we decarbonise and knowing there isn't an easy thing to fix it. Chris Dunford: It's going to be a lot of trailblazers, compromise, a lot of hard work outside where you've got the young people kind of screaming desperately do something, finally find the solution and then have these two different worlds. So I think if you could bring those together to bring the youth Voice into those conversations. What are the trade offs? What are the decisions? Because the consequence of decisions they inherit not us. But also it's useful for young people because it helps them understand that there isn't an easy solution and yes, there's going on strike and it's making the message clear, but there's getting into discussion of what are the trade offs, what are the compromises, and that's how a democracy works. I think that's really useful. Chris Dunford: But the other thing I'd say is if you're going to engage with young people on this and also be prepared for the fact that they're clear, they know what they want and they want the allies to take action. So if you say to them, great, there's time to change that, you're creating a youth board so you can learn about climate change, they'll say, yes, but what are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions? So we're doing this group and we're going to get your views on that. Thank you, that's fine. What are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions? So if you're going to enter into this space, they know what they want from us. They want to take action to create deep, radical and rapid decarbonisation. Chris Dunford: So be prepared for that question because they will ask it and it's the right to ask it. We need to do stuff as well as having board. At the same time, you've got to be taking the action to show that you're copying the agency, what they want. Shaaron Leverment: Have you seen the recent DCMS call as well? I mean, it's obviously strategically important at government as well. So all funders and DCMS in particular are making an election in this. So, yeah, leading the way. Paul Marden: A beautiful segue to my next question, which is what, Chris, this one's for you really is what are ASDC members doing ahead of national targets to reach net zero? Chris Dunford: Yeah. So it's probably worth just causing phone. So, in terms of the national target, for anyone who isn't aware, net zero for the UK is 2050. And net zero essentially means that your carbon emissions are down to zero or they're not zero, then you're offsetting what emissions you are creating. So the balance of the atmosphere is 2 0. And it's really hard. And the reason it's really hard, whether you're a government or an organisation, is you're following the greenhouse gas protocol, which means it's across all three scopes, which essentially means it's the stuff you expect. Chris Dunford: So it's the energy from the grid, it's your fuel and vehicles, it's burning gas in your home or places where, but it's also emissions from all the stuff that you buy and the investments from your bank and your pensions and it's the emissions from your business who travel to visit you. It's huge. It's very complex. So it's difficult. That's essentially what it means, the claim in terms of what sciences are doing. So it's a mixed back. There's plenty of science centers who still don't have a specific claim decarbonisation target, whether that be net zero or 2050 or sooner. So that's one issue I think we need to. Those who have done that piece of work have to work those who haven't to support them, enable them and encourage them to create a space where they can do. Chris Dunford: Because your Internet provider probably has a Net Zero pledge on their website, your supermarket certainly does. Your local council will, your university. So with science centres, it might seem strange that we're actually behind those players rather than leaving it. And of those that do have targets, there's probably about seven science centres in the network. This is student, big museum. So in terms of. In terms of the main science centres and then Tampa Gardens and museums, if you include them, there's probably about 11 organisations who have a kind of a decarbonisation net zero net neutral aimed before 2015. They're mostly around 2030. And again, that's really hard. And those organisations are now figuring out what that means and just how difficult that is. Chris Dunford: There is also even project who have boldly gone for a net positive to say they'll actually be removing more carbon than releasing by 2030. But it's really hard. And the reason it's hard for science centres is we're not Marks and Spencers. We can't just hire a stable team overnight and throw money at this problem. So we're renting some organisations who are tight on time and money who now to take on this huge challenge. That doesn't excuse us from the challenge. So there's no easy solution on the fact that we have to put resource into this. And I think that's why there aren't more Net Zero aims on websites for the centres at the moment. But I think we can get there. We need to recognise it's hard. Chris Dunford: And finally, if you are doing lots of engagement, as I said with schools, then again you need to be backing this up with some kind of Net zero. So it's a mixed bag of the network. There's probably about 10 or so that have specific net zero aims and they're mostly around 2030, 2040. But my prediction is in the coming years, those organisations are going to make some really hard choices and actually say how they're going to do that, because we know from experience it's really difficult. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing it. It means you have to push even harder than you were before. Paul Marden: Thank you. Bryan Snelling: Can I add something? Paul Marden: Of course. Bryan Snelling: I think decarbonisation is an important message, full stop, especially in Aberdeen, for obvious reasons. I hope we feel that we have an important duty almost to the visitors to the northeast of Scotland and beyond. Because I think how can we talk the talk about decarbonisation if we don't walk the walk? So there's an internal thing, which notwithstanding how difficult it is, we're just starting down that route. We've had an energy audit done of ourselves. We're now in the process of working out what that roadmap is, or maybe it should be a cycle path road towards net zero, but we need to work that out. But on the other side, we're also tasked with telling people, this is what you should be doing. This is the energy transition. Bryan Snelling: This is how you renewable energy in the future. So how can you do both? How can you do one without the other one? I mean, and I think we just need to be aware of that. And I think as the future goes back to the very first question about what's happening in the future, that's all big part of what we need to be looking at.Paul Marden: Conference is all about shaping future science together. What's your take home message from the different talks that you've been to, or possibly because we've not finished the conference yet that you're looking forward to. What's the standout moment? I know. So I would say for me, the standout moment was last night's awards. I mean, if you weren't overtaken by Zed's video, if you weren't moved by Hamish talking about. And for me, what they both demonstrated is that volunteering and engagement is a conversation. It's a two way street, isn't it? Because they weren't just there as a resource doing things, they were getting something from the relationship and giving back to the sense, etc. At the same time. For me, that bit was the most powerful. Shaaron Leverment: Yeah. And I think actually, you know, there's a lot of emotion there, you know, and it's incredible to someone stand up and say science and you saved my life. Paul Marden: Yes. Shaaron Leverment: You know, I think it was just incredible and very brave. And I think that kind of bringing that emotion into science, it's really important and remembering the people, even people. I think there's been quite a few messages about, you know, the safe spaces that we provide and that interaction with people and that genuine understanding. I think I'm really excited about. We're no longer sort of let science speak for itself and we're not going. Shaaron Leverment: You know, I think people are socially connecting and using emotion a lot more because first we feel right, first we feel and that is what our inclusive outcomes are all about. That it's what makes a difference for someone who is disengaged and doesn't feel that science and technology could be for them to feeling that maybe there's a place they need to feel they belong. So I'm really excited about that aspect of it. I also agree with everything that the elders are about. Bryan Snelling: Really. Shaaron Leverment: Yeah. Chris Dunford: I think several things yesterday for me resonated with the thing which Stephen Breslin said at the very start, which is that we come to these conferences anxious and slightly overwhelmed by the challenges we're facing and leaves feeling energized and positive with at least some of the solutions. And I think that's. That's a similar pattern that I experienced with these conferences. And I think through that lens I've been listening to all the challenges yesterday. And it's just our job is hard and potentially getting harder and as it gets harder, it's more important to society than ever. And I think that's the main thing I'm taking away. Chris Dunford: And I don't just mean things like the inclusion work and the decarbonisation work which we've spoken about during this session, but even things like one of the sessions that really stuck me yesterday was where the Science museum were talking in the lightning talks about their new AI exhibition and the fact that when all the many centers open they could have exhibits that explained Google of motion by pendulums and spinning things. A physical thing. And now we're having to have conversations about AI where there is no physical thing you can hold in your hands. Chris Dunford: There's a historical artefact, it's a circuit board doesn't tell you anything about what circuit board really does in terms of how it impacts society and how are we going to do science communication, science engagement around these challenging issues like AI which are then mounted up with all these kind of social problems with them, which again, the laws of motion that we come with. So, so I suppose I'm going away with that is the fact that our creativity is going to be tested more than before and our ingenuity and our ability to collaborate beyond our initial partners. So, yeah, for me, weirdly, it's about the science communication side and things like AI are going to make that really challenging. And how are we going to do that? Any of the answers other than the fact that we know we're not doing it alone, we're doing it as a network. And that's obviously big talk. Victoria Denoon: Yeah, I think it's the same thing. That remark by Stephen really is something that stuck with me because I did come here as well, thinking about the challenges we're facing, not just as a Science and Discovery centre, but also politically at the moment and just how pessimistic you can be about things. And really being in this conference with all of these amazing people makes you feel more optimistic about things and I think that's just really powerful and it carries you through. So for me, that's. And I think some of the conversations that have been happening here, I feel like since last year we've made a huge jump in terms of where the impact of our network is going with other people. And, you know, Tom's talk this morning really brought that home a little bit as well. So I'm feeling very optimistic. Paul Marden: Thank you. We always end our interviews with a book recommendation, which can be personal or professional. So, Victoria, do you want to share yours with everyone? Victoria Denoon: Well, I think when were talking about this, it was like, what's your favourite book? And for me, my favourite book is actually Pride and Prejudice. It's a book I would read over and could read over and over again. Jane Austen's musings. Paul Marden: Excellent. Bryan. Bryan Snelling: You know, this is the most difficult question that you're going to be putting to us. I've read, you know, fiction most of my life. I mean, you can't. I've always got a book, always looking at a book. So I don't actually have favourites. Why is it favourites? What I can say is my most recent book that I've read was the Thursday we're at the Club by Rich Lawson, which is quite nice. The most profound one was actually 1984. I read that when I was about 18 and I thought, wow. And that was really quite interesting. Followed swiftly by Animal Farm, of course. Paul Marden: So that's three recommendations bankrupt me over. Chris. Chris Dunford: So I've gone for War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. I'm a big fan of, like, old sci fi books. It's different to modern sci fi. Sci fi books like Jules Byrne and H.G. Wells will just ramble on pages about scientific theories at the time. Things they read in nature. So it's genuinely kind of science fiction. But War of the Royals because it's just. It scares me every time I read it. Like it still scares me. Absolutely. And I quite enjoy that. And I don't know why. And there's something about the complete, you know, civilisation. Actually some shouldn't put on this thread too hard, but there's something fascinating about that. Kind of, as he describes it, the liquefaction of society is everything kind of falls apart and every time I pick it up, I'm terrified and I pick it up again, I'm still terrible. Paul Marden: Shaaron, lastly, yours. Shaaron Leverment: I had forgotten this is a question. Paul Marden: Chris had three books, so you can choose. Shaaron Leverment: I'll go for in my. In my head I go for I just off the cup. The Martian is great. When it's got a little bit tiresome with the whole potatoes, improve it. But it is a brilliant. Yeah, it's great. Paul Marden: We are done. If you enjoyed today's episode, please like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Thank you to my guests Victoria, Bryan, Chris and Shaaron, and my amazing ASDC Live studio audience. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcriptions from this episode and more over on our website, SkiptheQueue.fm. The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

 Listeners will get a brief, 3 min, overview of program quality. We then interview our guest on the topic, Celeste Janssen,  4-H Positive Youth Development Research Coordinator at Oregon State University.  Lastly, we take what we have covered and apply it to our daily practice. For more information on program quality see JOE article by Dr. Mary Arnold and Dr. Melissa Cater and David P. Weikert Center for Youth Program Quality. 

 Listeners will get a brief, 3 min, overview of transcendent awareness. We then interview our guest on the topic, Dr . Joy Scott, an Extension Specialist with 4-H Youth Development at Auburn University.  Lastly, we take what we have covered and apply it to our daily practice.   

This week Helen Evans and Wes Brown are joined by a group of young people from the Foundation's ‘Youth Voice' group. Manchester United Foundation uses football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in which they live, and that's what this episode is all about! In this episode we give our young fans the chance to get on the mic and talk about issues that matter to them, and how football clubs can play their part in positive change. To help with our discussion, we're also joined by some special guests...Lamin Touray - Actor, community activist and United fan.Anthony Savery - Community Project Coordinator at Manchester United FoundationKate Green - Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for policing, crime, criminal justice and fireJordan Eyre - Social Media Strategy Manager at Manchester United If you like what you hear and want to get yourself or a young person involved with Manchester United Foundation then you can find more information here or search mufoundation.org Thanks to the following members of our amazing Youth Voice group for joining us; Arissa, Esty, Amelia, Ciaran, Danyaal, Rick, Khadim and Mohamed.For more information on the Len Johnson campaign and the charity football match you can click here.The best place to catch up on the back-catalogue of our interviews is over on the Manchester United App, where you can listen to - and watch - all of our episodes in full, for free. Here you can get early access to new episodes, published 24 hours before everywhere else.If you'd like to write to the only official Manchester United Podcast then e-mail utdpodcast@manutd.co.uk We'd also love it if you could leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Coach Tonya has the privilege of speaking with Kathy Mize, the CEO of Ready for Life, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing vital support, resources, and guidance to former foster care youth as they transition into adulthood. Ready For Life's mission is not just about giving these young adults a lifeline; it's about equipping them with the life skills and learning opportunities they need to thrive.Kathy shares an inspiring and deeply impactful conversation about the heart of Ready for Life's work … Youth Voice. She explains how Youth Voice has become the cornerstone of their organization's growth. The desire of these young adults is simple yet profound … to know that there is at least one person in the community who cares deeply about their existence.One of the most remarkable aspects of Ready for Life's work is their incredible 94% success rate. Kathy reveals how the organization supports young adults who are now raising their own children, helping them break the cycle of child abuse by providing invaluable parenting support and mentorship.Join us for an eye-opening conversation that sheds light on the extraordinary work of Ready for Life and the unwavering dedication of Kathy Mize. This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of extending a helping hand to those who have faced adversity and the profound impact that a caring community can have on the lives of former foster care youth. It's an exploration of resilience, empowerment, and the enduring belief that every young person deserves a chance to flourish."We have learned to listen and hear what they have to say, hear what the needs are, hear what the barriers are... What can we help remove so you can be successful?" - Kathy MizeTime Stamps  1:03 –  Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design' podcast  1:10 - Meet today's special guest, Kathy Mize  2:28 - Kathy on what prompted her to start the 'Ready for Life'  5:19 -Discover the reality of teenagers in foster homes after they turn 18  7:06 - Ready for Life's mission for foster children  9:05 - Learning Life Skills: The importance of listening to the Youth's Voice  12:21 - Ways to get involved with 'Ready for Life'  14:33 - Breaking the Cycle: How the program resonates with parenting  17:05 - Into the future: Kathy talks about the main goal of 'Ready for Life' in every community  19:18 - Lending a Hand: Ways to engage with foster care  21:52 - Kathy recounts a successful story about the journey of these foster young adults  25:25 - Kathy on why becoming a foster child is NOT a choice  28:00 - Ready for Life: Traditions and Boundaries  31:21 - Connect with Kathy and learn more about the 'Ready for Life' organization  Resources:·       ReadyforLifePinellas.org  Connect w/ Kathy:·       LinkedIn·       Facebook·       Instagram Connect w/ CriticalBench: ·       YouTube·       Facebook·       Instagram·       CriticalBench.c

Today's Hosts: Elli AreProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalWhat does Climate education look like in California schools these days? Bluntly, there are no climate education mandates for For K-12 or for general education at public university.For most students environmental education doesn't become accessible until you get to college and really only if that's your chosen major. Enter California Assembly Bill 1939, which aims to address this deficiency in our education system. First introduced in 2022, AB 1939 would add a science requirement to California K-12 schools addressing the causes and effects of Climate Change and offer methods to mitigate and adapt. As of the time of this recording the Bill was sent by the senate to the Committee on Education where it has sat since June 15th, 2022Today, Elli is Joined by Sage Lenier, creator of the UC Berkley course Solutions for a Sustainable and Just Future, and former Instructor of the same UC Berkeley course Anu Thirunarayanan to discuss Climate literacy, what accessible and equitable environmental education should look like, and the power of peer-to-peer/youth-led education. https://www.sustainableandjustfuture.org/historyWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Guest Andrew Sachs is the CEO and Founder of Nobel Learning. Nobel helps learners get the technical, soft, and leadership skills they need to succeed in work and life in today's quickly changing world. Summary In this episode – which is an update of episode #122 where Andrew and I first talked – we focus on the need to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in school, life, and the ever-changing job market. We discussed the role of technology in education and the value of youth-led projects and collaboration. We also explored the challenges of education reform and the need to find ways to make traditional education more relevant to today's students. One of Andrew's most profound ideas was, “If you want kids to lead, let them learn to make decisions. Let them make decisions. And let them make mistakes.” Social Media/Referenced Nobel Learning

From tests, to essays, to the constant pressure to be productive...many teens at This Teenage Life are expressing how academic stress is overpowering their love of learning.  How can teachers and students come together to change this — to foster wonder, joy, and help heal our relationships with learning. In this episode we explore all kinds of strategies including totally shifting the way we teach and learn math. This Teenage Life is sponsored by the XQ Institute, the leading organization dedicated to rethinking the U.S. high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. If you're a student who wishes to drive change in your high school community, check out XQ's Youth Voice toolkit. It's full of resources to develop, advocate, and execute a plan to improve your high school. Go to YouthVoice.xqsuperschool.org to learn more. Follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like.   Resources from the Episode: Check out Sarah Strong's book Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math and What Teachers Can Do About It

Today's Hosts: Mehek KandruProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalToday on Policywise, Mehek dives into what the education system looks like for incarcerated individuals.We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Today's Hosts: Demi Wack & Ellinor ArzbaecherProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalToday on Policywise Demi and Elli discuss Prop AB15O5 by Democratic Assembly member Patrick O'Donell from Long Beach CA. In 2019 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB15O5 into law and rewriting the state's charter school lawsWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Today's Hosts: Demi WackProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalWhenever you're ready. Hello everyone, and welcome to our next episode of Policy-Wise. I am really thrilled today to be joined by Cindy Loff, the director of the National Childcare Association. Today, we'll be talking a little bit about the state of childcare in the United States, learning what the current status is of childcare, what are some of the efforts being made, and what are some of the problems that we might be able to tackle as young folks, uh, just starting to address some of these issues and seeing these issues all around us. Now, before we jump in too much about Cindy and learning more about her, Cindy, I was wondering if you could come on and give us a little bit of a background about the National Childcare Association, uh, what it does and how it fits into policy within the United States?We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

When teenagers feel seen and heard as whole people by teachers, it makes a huge difference in their experience at school. In this episode, we hear from teens and educators from across the U.S. about how teachers can foster strong connections with teens and build the trust needed for authentic check ins. This Teenage Life is sponsored by the XQ Institute, the leading organization dedicated to rethinking the U.S. high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and life. If you're a student who wishes to drive change in your high school community, check out XQ's Youth Voice toolkit. It's full of resources to develop, advocate, and execute a plan to improve your high school. Go to YouthVoice.xqsuperschool.org to learn more. Follow XQ America on TikTok and on Instagram to share your experience as a student and change what learning looks like. 

Today we'll be hearing from McLane high school teacher and Fresno Teachers Association President Manuel Bonilla and self-proclaimed troublemaker Louis Jamerson the Executive Director of the Fresno Teachers Association. Together these two are bringing big perspectives and power positions from the FTA.Today's Hosts: Demi Wack, Mehek Kandru & Ellinor ArzbaecherProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Join Mercedes and Hailey in this third and final episode as they share their experiences in the VT DCF child welfare system with host, Kate Cunningham.  Using the list of hopes and aspirations for any youth in state's care that the St. Joseph's Orphanage survivors created in 2020, we discuss the importance of youth having access to their information, as well as, being a part of their own plan. Transcripts & show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

October is Foster Youth Voice Month, a time devoted to giving children in the foster care system a voice.

It is so good to be back!  For our final season, we'll be switching things up. As always we'll be speaking with people who are experts in their fields, policymakers, and everyday people who are making a difference in their communities, but we'll also each be taking the opportunity to do deep dives into the areas that interest us the most. Join our hosts Elli, Mehek and Demi as they explore the policy areas that interest them most as they continue their journey to discover what makes a Policy Wise?Today's Hosts: Demi Wack, Mehek Kandru & Ellinor ArzbaecherProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez Editor: Rachel LivinalWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Join Mercedes and Hailey in this second episode as they share their experiences in the VT DCF child welfare system with host, Kate Cunningham.  Using the list of hopes and aspirations for any youth in state's care that the St. Joseph's Orphanage survivors created in 2020, we discuss the importance of the relationship between a youth in care and their alternative caregivers, either kin, foster or residential workers.  The need for a sense of belonging and for being cared about as a person is clear in the stories that share. Transcripts & show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

October is Foster Youth Voice Month and in this episode of Let's Talk About It, Kadian, interviews Heartland for Children's TAYS Peer Mentors, Maria Gutierrez and Davonte Smith. Both Maria and Davonte share from a unique perspective, having lived experience in the foster care system and now mentoring youth in foster care. They both have a heart to give back and share why it's important to elevate the voices of our youth in care and the services and resources that are available to them. To contact our Transition Age Youth Services (TAYS) Department, email mbutts@heartlandforchildren.org⁠ or call 863-519-8900 x 238. To learn more about our TAYS Program, visit https://heartlandforchildren.org/youth

Join host Kate Cunningham as she speaks with Hailey and Mercedes, about their experiences as children in custody in the VT DCF child welfare system.  Using the list of hopes and aspirations for any youth in state's care that the St. Joseph's Orphanage survivors created in 2020, Hailey & Mercedes tell their stories over three episodes, and dig into the importance of the relationship between a youth in care and their DCF worker, the need to be seen and heard, and the need to feel that their lives matter to their workers. Transcripts & show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/  

Our conversation with Saniah Brown Jones is the last in our series highlighting Restorative Justice in South Florida. She shares her wisdom and experiences as a young person who's been impacted by the RJ work and programing of our previous contributors. This episode is not just about Saniah's growth, but also about how restorative justice transforms lives, builds confidence, and creates spaces for growth and healing. This discussion is a testament to the power of understanding and the importance of providing safe spaces for growth.Support Saniah!Website:https://www.fanmsaj.org/https://www.floridarestorativejustice.com/Socials:https://www.instagram.com/fanmsajinc/https://www.instagram.com/frja_rjustice/https://www.instagram.com/niahh.bxbyy/Support the showSend us feedback at media@amplifyrj.comJoin our Amplify RJ Community platform to connect with others doing this work!Check out our latest learning opportunities HERERep Amplify RJ Merch Connect with us on:Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok!SUPPORT by sharing this podcast, leaving a rating or review, or make a tax-deductible DONATION to help us sustain and grow this movement

Youth voices should be heard in the child welfare legal process, and Colorado now offers counsel for all youth 12 and older involved in an ongoing dependency and neglect petition. Learn how the counsel for youth movement started, how it passed through the legislature, and, most importantly, why it's crucial for youth to have client-directed counsel. A youth advocate with lived experience and the director of the Office of the Child's Representative join host, Charmaine Brittain, in this moving and motivating conversation about amplifying youth voice. Guests: Chris Henderson - Executive Director for the Office of the Child Representative Nyomi Davis - Rising senior at the University of Denver Hosted by: Charmaine Brittain, Butler Institute for Families, University of Denver Produced by: Amy Hansen, Butler Institute for Families, University of Denver

RI Coalition of Black Women, NAACP Providence, and the greater RI community came together to Shape a New Narrative centered on Truth. Data. Equity. In this episode STEAM Box talks to some strong community leaders about developing goals to ensure youth have their voices heard in RI starting NOW.

RI Coalition of Black Women, NAACP Providence, and the greater RI community came together to Shape a New Narrative centered on Truth. Data. Equity. In this episode STEAM Box talks to some strong community leaders about developing goals to ensure youth have their voices heard in RI starting NOW.

Three days...100 youth from all over the nation... acquiring advocacy skills...delivering social justice speeches...connecting with elected leaders...and so much more took place during Mikva Challenge's First National Youth Summit, held in Washington, DC. Mikva Challenge is a civic education organization that aims to develop empowered, informed, and active youth. This episode covers the youth summit and gives a glimpse into the Mikva organization. This episode contains sensitive material and may not be appropriate for all audiences. Listeners should know this episode includes sensitive topics, trigger warnings, and derogatory names.If you or someone else need youth support, please reach out to the resources below: -Teen Tallk App: Get help with various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, & more. Take control of your social and emotional health with a free mobile app just for teens. -Teen Line: CALL 866-465-0083 Nationwide (6 PM - 10 PM PST) Every Night. Text 839863 (6 PM - 9 PM PST). Email or use the message boards via https://www.teenline.org.-The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project Provides Crisis Support Services For LGBTQ Young People. Call, Chat, or Text for 24/7 Crisis Support Services, https://www.thetrevorproject.org

In this episode, Leo Kattari is in conversation with Lauren Cikara, Daniel Martinez, and Noah Jansen about their contributions to the special PRIDE collection of Practice Notes for HPP highlighting addressing health equity among LGBTQ+ youth and communities. They remind us of the power and eagerness of youth to get involved, the roles of adults in working beside youth, and to relish queer and trans joy! This episode references the articles “⁠The Time to Act Is Now: Investing in LGBTQIA2S+ Student Mental Health in K-12 Schools With a Youth-Centered Approach⁠” by Lauren Cikara, MSEd, Amy Gatto, MPH, Ashley Hill, MA, and Annie Hobson, MS, and “⁠Creating a Virtual Network to Support LGBTQIA+ Youth in Rural Settings: Development of Colorado's Queer Youth Network⁠” by Daniel Martinez, MSW, Noah Jansen, Garrett Royer, BA, and Heather Kennedy, PhD, MPH. These articles join others in the ⁠HPP Celebrates PRIDE 2023 Article Collection⁠ and among the playlist of ⁠LGBTQ+ Voices in HPP.

In this month's episode, you'll learn about BOF's Youth Leadership Cohort! The Youth Leadership Cohort is an opportunity for high school students to lead and engage in specific projects that elevate their voice. The cohort provides tangible tools to help students develop and exercise skills such as conflict resolution, continuous improvement, organizing and event planning. In March, a total of 8 students created and executed a Town Hall: School Board Candidate Forum.  This project allowed them to learn more about the school board and its responsibilities; and build community awareness around school board candidates for the 2023 KUSD school board election. Today, we have Jacob Puhr, a senior from Tremper High School, Kennedy Kirby, a junior from Indian Trail School and Karma DeGrazio, a freshman from Indian Trail School to tell us about their experience during the 3-month leadership cohort.   Check out this episode and don't forget to share it! Learn more about the Youth Leadership Cohort here: https://www.buildingourfuturekc.org/youth-initiatives.html

Did you know Washington, D.C. has 3 mayors!? Yes, D.C. is led by an official Mayor, voted by citizens. But, there are also two recognized youth mayors who are elected by two separate entities. Check out this episode to hear directly from two esteemed young officials dedicated to civic engagement and politics.___Diya Bardwell is a recent Youth Mayor with the YMCA's D.C. Youth and Government program. YMCA Youth & Government is a nationwide civic program that prepares high school students for moral and political leadership. During her term, she worked to improve access to youth voting education, civic engagement within local government, and other resources to ensure that every student has equal and equitable access to our programs. Outside of her civics and political work, she enjoys crocheting, hiking, and spending time with her family. ___Lourdes Robinson is the 72nd Youth Mayor of the District of Columbia. D.C.'s Youth Mayor engages in issues that affect youth. The mayor meets with city leaders and youth to ensure changes are being made, and that youth voices are heard; and pushes for the success of all youth in the District. One of Robinson's initiatives is authoring legislation to implement financial literacy classes in schools. She is heavily involved in International Affairs. Over the summer, she participated in the 2022 United States Youth Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State. Her most recent achievement was founding a not-for-profit organization, Melanated Soul (www.melanatedsoul.co), which provides a mental health outlet for Black youth in the District.

Bullying is awful and it comes in so many forms. Sometimes teens even experience it online or through social media. If it happens, should you keep it to yourself or  tell an adult? What if they don't listen? Do I tell a friend? What if they don't know what to do? How can therapy help? Navigating these situations can be difficult. But knowing others share your experiences can be comforting as you seek out the best advice and resources for you. Tune in to a heartfelt episode where three youth hosts tell their own stories about bullying and cyberbullying. Need more help? Visit www.stopbullying.gov today and remember, you are not alone.

What could we accomplish if borders did not exist? Meet Anthony and Saundarya. They are high schoolers with a keen interest in giving back, and their dedication and commitment to service spans various local and global communities. Anthony lives in Arizona. Saundarya lives in India. They come from different cultures and countries, but they believe that borders are not obstacles, challenges, or hindrances to their work with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The borders that, for some, would seem to separate the two youth are actually differences that have helped bring them closer together. Tune in to listen to their stories and the advice they have for other youth around the globe who are ready to take action in their communities. ...Anthony Dyjak is the president and founder of his high school's UNA chapter. He has competed in many speech and debate competitions and is the Treasurer for his school's Amnesty International organization. He is also a member of his school's Future Business Leaders of America club. He has won various geography competitions and olympiads, and has a great passion for geography, politics, and history. He has visited the United Nations Headquarters and is an advocate for fair elections, climate legislation, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and minority rights in his local community....Saundarya Nair serves on the Teen Advisory Board at Girl Up Leader and as the Vice President of her school club, Flames of Justice. Her passions include advocating for gender and climate justice, the financial independence of rural women, xenophobia, and sports for a purpose. She has contributed to pilot programs on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sports Innovation Labs, and was selected from representatives of over 120 countries to serve as a YOUNGA delegate in 2022. She has won awards at national-level debates and Model United Nations (MUNs), participated in the 2022 International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) Youth Anthology, and was an honoree of the Girl Hero Awards 2022. When not engaged in activism and volunteering, she can be found reading, buried in the latest sports news, procrastinating on assignments, researching random historical trivia, and practicing Kathak or Taekwondo.

“What are you mixed with?” This is a question often posed to multi-racial & racially ambiguous folks, requiring them to reevaluate their identities, especially if they are members of the Black community. In this episode, two multi-racial girls from the Justice is Us Project, Alayna Maragh, and Angie Mejia, evaluate the intersectionality and complications of multi-racial identity, such as identity crisis, colorism, light skin privilege, apartheid, and more. Strap in, because it's going to be one bumpy ride. ...Angie (Angeles) Mejia is a queer Afro-Latinx activist, and a representative of the Justice is Us Project. When she's not advocating for a cause, she's often found writing poetry and speaking about her lived experiences, especially those conversations that often omit intersectionality.  They've been involved with the Afterschool Alliance and the Broward Youth Coalition. Her motto is "Always root for the underdog." ...Alayna Maragh is a Blasian who represents the Justice is Us Project. With most of her ancestry coming from the very mixed island of Jamaica, there is still a lot of confusion on what exactly she is, however, she is still proud of her nationality and race(s). She currently attends a high school where most students are monoracial minorities. She is also currently working in the Charity Department on an immersive Web3 project, “The Jockey Experience.” She's been a part of Stranahan's Medical program for some time and wishes to branch out and explore what the world has to offer.

This episode features two young adults, Tex and Acoya, as they share their experiences in foster care for National Foster Youth Voice Month, as well as express changes that could be made to better the system. Listen to their beautiful stories of growth and overcoming. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in each podcast episode by our special guests do not necessarily reflect the views of 4KIDS.

Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z have a lot of differences. One of the major differences is their approaches to and outlooks on mental health. How can these different age groups work together to find common ground? Tune in to hear our YVA youth hosts discuss generational differences and learn more about how they think different age cohorts can connect and gain a better understanding of each other.To watch the video of this podcast check it out here. 

In this podcast episode we discuss with Dr. Kate Phillippo, a Professor in the Schools of Social Work and Education at Loyola University Chicago, her research on school choice and the voice of the students.

Hosts: Demetria Wack, Elli Arzbaecher, Mehek Kandru and Michael Wiafe.Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockToday is Michael's last episode with Policywise (as a host anyway). Two years ago Policywise was just an idea–then came Michael and Demi. Under their leadership Policywise covered so many different issues and talked with people from so many walks of life. In that time we watched Michael grow into the passionate, hilarious, and dedicated professional that he today. We're so proud of his continued growth and wish him all the best as Policy Analyst at the Inland Empire Community Foundation. Thank you, Michael! Each of us here on the Policywise team wanted to leave you with a few words...I will sincerely miss Michael's charisma, enthusiasm, and willingness to dive deeper into each conversation. But most of all, I will miss chatting with one of the most devoted and thoughtful people I know each week. Good luck out there, friend! -DemiMichael pursued the PolicyWise vision with such skill and personality, and achieved what he set out to do with this podcast. I am so sad to see him leave the team, but am incredibly excited to watch him continue on his journey! Thank you for your support these last couple years, Michael, we got it from here

Intro: Demitria WackGuest: Eriveto "Beto" Vasquez-Sanchez, Jaylee Alacala-Lopez, Carlos Alacala-Lopez, Jax Garcia, Ja'rea Theissen, and Alexia SanchezProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockOn todays episode of PolicyWise, we'll be throwing things over to the young people from Madera to talk all things Vaccinate all 58. Please enjoy hearing from Beto, Jaylee, Jax, Ja'rea, and Alexia about their experiences throughout the pandemic and the importance of getting vaccinated because no one is alone when we are in community together. For more information: Vaccinateall58.com cdc.gov/coronavirusTo find a local texting and vaccination site visit:myturn.ca.govWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Jayne Amelia talks with Raquel Wilson,  a former foster youth and now advocate from Compton. Raquel is the the program manager for the Fostering Media Connections Youth Voice program, and has been an advocate for youth affected by the foster care system, juvenile justice system, homelessness, or coined “at-risk” and has dedicated over 10 years to empowering youth and helping them develop both personally and professionally. She holds a master's degree in Grant Writing, Management, & Evaluations and recently earned an MBA in Nonprofit Management from Concordia University of Chicago. Raquel is in her 3rd year as the program manager for Fostering Media Connections Youth Voice program. She provides Youth Voice program participants the platform to empower themselves through written opportunities, where they share their experiences while in foster care. “My proudest accomplishment has been the ability to garner support so that with every opportunity that we offer any foster youth, it is now paid (i.e., written submissions, internships, program contributors, webinar panelist opportunities).” Raquel plans to use her experiences from being in the system to help connect and build relationships with other systems-experienced youth to encourage storytelling through journalism training, empowerment, and creative expression. Raquel also enjoys writing and performing spoken word, she loves to read, listen to music, and helping others grow their network.IG@youthvoicefmchttps://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071009246096https://linktr.ee/youthvoicefmcimprintnews.orgThe first few lines of Raquel's poem "The Skin I'm In": I remember I use to think my mama didnt love me Cause I was uglyThis a true story I use to think I wasnt good enough Like maybe I was too darkMaybe I was too black ass fuck Like maybe I was pretty but not good enough to dateThis a true story I remember I use think my momma use to hate Hate me cause I was uglyI remember I cried in the 7th grade to her Like is it cause im dark skin I was almost sureShe loved me so much she lefted me in foster care No wonder why I grew up so insecureThe boys use to like me but they was not sureThey was embarrassed to date a dark skinned girl Youre pretty for a black girl What the hell does that mean?

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher & Michael Wiafe Guest: Ashens Limon and Michael Yamamura Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockVaccinate All 58 is a movement aimed at promoting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters by helping to spread facts and address misinformation. yli is working with young folks across the state to create and share resources to keep Californians informed about the steps they can take to keep themselves and  their families safe. This podcast is one of those resources. We hope you enjoy hearing from Ashens and Michael from COVID-19 Youth Task Force. Stay tuned here for more on Vaccinate All 58.For more information: Vaccinateall58.com Insta: @Stopthespread_ecvWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Michael Wiafe & Ellinor ArzbaecherGuests: Troy Williams, Alissa Moore, Marvin Galdamez, Jeronimo AguilarProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Ellinor ArzbaecherWhat do you know about modern day slavery? Sorry, we mean involuntary servitude. Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution currently states: “Slavery is prohibited. Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime.” Wait...what? What is this 1860?? We sat down with some folks from the grassroots campaign Abolish Bondage Collectively (ABC), a movement “working to to eradicate structural racism and erase vestiges of slavery,” to discuss what this clause means, its impact, and why it should be removed from our state constitution. Our guests detailed some of their own experiences as formerly incarcerated individuals, the deeply ingrained inequities within our justice system, and legislation they are pushing to pass statewide. ABC support ACA 3 – Abolishing Involuntary Servitude. ACA 3 would place a state constitutional amendment on the November 2022 ballot to remove a clause in California's Constitution that allows the practice of involuntary servitude as a means of punishing crimeFor more information: Abolish Bondage CollectivelyThe History of Involuntary Servitude in CaliforniaLegal Services for Prisoners with ChildrenWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Intro: Michael WiafeHost: Fatíma RamirezGuest: Evelia CabreraProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockVaccinate All 58 is a movement aimed at promoting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters by helping to spread facts and address misinformation. yli is working with young folks across the state to create and share resources to keep Californians informed about the steps they can take to keep themselves and  their families safe. This podcast is one of those resources. We hope you enjoy hearing from Evelia Cabrera from COVID-19 Youth Task Force. Stay tuned here for more on Vaccinate All 58.For more information: Vaccinateall58.com Insta: @Stopthespread_ecvWe'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demitria WackGuest: Maria "Masha" AruzumanovProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockMaria worked in economic research at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, undertaking projects in gender and ethnic discrimination. She also interned with the Market Research team at the Federal Reserve, and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.Maria graduated from UBC with a BA in economics and a minor in business. Her dissertation focused on unequal transit access in Chicago's historically Black neighborhoods. She also holds a MSc in political science and political economy from the London School of Economics (LSE), with a dissertation in representation and accountability of US government officials.We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Mehek Kandru, and Michael Wiafe.Guest:  Oakland Council Member Carroll FifeProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockTaken from Council member Fife's website"Carroll Fife is the councilmember-elect for Oakland's District 3. After decades of public service as a non-profit director and community organizer, Carroll was called to run for office by the people with whom she organizes every day. One of the founding members of Moms for Housing, Carroll has fought both in the halls of power and in the streets to protect the human right to housing. As councilmember her priorities will be to divest from police to invest in community, get every unsheltered person in Oakland into housing as quickly as possible, and create progressive tax structures to correct social and racial inequities. Her historic winning campaign, supported by virtually every endorsing organization in Oakland, was powered by over 1000 active volunteers, and has transitioned into a permanent political organization dedicated to passing transformative legislation and building a progressive majority on the Oakland City Council."We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Michael Wiafe.Guest:  Will WisemanProduction and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockTaken from the Climatize FAQ"Climatize is an investment platform connecting individual investors with renewable energy projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations (UN). Climatize operates on a crowdlending business model basis– debt crowdfunding – a community of investors collectively lending money to projects. As an investor you can lend money to project promoters in order to finance their projects, starting with as little as $5, and get a fixed return on your investment throughout the duration of the loan. As a project promoter you can use Climatize to raise money to fund your sustainable project with the help of our community of investors."To Find Out More About Climatize We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher, Mehek Kandru, Demetria Wack, and Michael Wiafe.Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockToday, we do something a little different. Michael has an idea for a policy–consider automatic enrollment from High School to College!We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

What is action civics? Why is student voice so important, especially right now? How can we use informed civics and action civics more efficiently together? How can we expand our understanding of what equity in civics could mean?  So many questions!Civic education plays an important role in building a more inclusive, participatory, and equitable democracy. In this episode, we sat down with Elizabeth Clay Roy, CEO of Generation Citizen, a national nonprofit committed to providing youth with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in our democracy.Connect with Generation Citizen on Social Media:Twitter: @GenCitizen Instagram: @GenerationCitizenLinkedIn: Generation CitizenFacebook: Generation CitizenGet resources to support your young civic participants! Democracy Doesn't Pause resource for educators and familiesGeneration Citizen websiteToo much money in politics, and not enough in democracy by Elizabeth Clay Roy via The HillSend us your community letters!Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let's K12 Better podcast in our community letters section.  Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail!*Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share!The Let's K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley.Music written and produced by Garvey MortleySupport the show (https://cash.app/$Fossilizedresin)

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim HaydockOn today's episode, we'll be sharing some very special audio from the 2021 California Economic Summit, which was hosted by our amazing partners CA Forward in Monterey. My co-hosts were lucky enough to attend and speak at the summit, and were joined by their fellow Youth Leadership Advisory Council cohort and speakers like Governor Gavin Newsom and numerous State Assemblymembers. Be sure to visit cafwd.org to learn more about their work!We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCTFollow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

In this voice-only bonus episode, I'll be reading a few chapters of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.