The Ednium Podcast

New year, new faces, same focus. We are excited to introduce the new squad: Richard, Kathe, and Alonso! Kathe is a Denver native raised by African immigrant parents. She is an East High School Alumni and earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with minors in Psychology and Communications from the University of Colorado Denver. After graduating, Kathe started her career in the nonprofit world wanting to serve the communities she grew up within. Helping to create and develop programs, opportunities, and resources for communities in need has become a passion of hers and it is truly seen through her work. Finding her goals and values to be in alliance with Ednium, she joined the team! Kathe is excited to be a part of the team and is ready to help us get to the next level!    ---- Alonso immigrated to Denver by himself as a teenager. He enrolled into Abraham Lincoln High School where he later graduated in the class of 2011. Upon graduation he moved on to Western Nebraska Community College where he graduated with an associate degree of science. Alonso then furthered his education at Chadron State College where he later graduated.  Ednium’s vision and mission captivated Alonso’s interests as a member of the Leadership Launchpad Cohort 3. So when he had the opportunity to join the team, he didn’t hesitate.  He is excited to contribute to the betterment of Denver’s social infrastructure, so our youth can thrive. ---- A graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, Richard is responsible for all programs including the annual leadership development cohort, research and storytelling initiatives, and policy ideation and implementation. Prior to joining Ednium Richard served as IB Program Manager at George Washington High School, where he led school-wide professional development around equity and authentic student engagement and helped eliminate barriers to increase BIPOC student access and engagement in advanced courses. Additionally he served as the coach for the Student Board of Education team, a policy-focused student organization as well as the GW Powerlifting team. He is passionate about community engagement, volunteering with organizations such as Minds Matter Colorado and the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program. Richard holds a bachelor's degree in History and Spanish and a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver, and a certificate in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University Global. Richard resides in southwest Denver with his partner and two rambunctious puppies.

This week we sit down with Sia Chandler-Garcia. She was born and raised in Denver Colorado. Has a B.A. in Behavioral Science, a Masters in Counseling of Education, a postgraduate degree in Principal Administration, and a graduate from Denver Seminary with a certificate in Chaplaincy. She is currently working as the Principal at Emily Griffith High School in Denver. Sia has worked in education for over 26 years and has a counseling business named With Love. Her latest adventure is Sia’s Bean Pies. She loves to bake! Sia co-founded Watch Me Grow Mentoring Program for girls ages 11-14. Where they mentor young ladies by encouraging them to exhibit self-love, and love for others and the community. Sia has authored two books: Luke the Loving Dog (yes, it is about my dog), and I Don’t Want to Fight Anymore: How to get your tween/teen to listen to you. Though she has established a career in education, and counseling, Sia’s first love is singing. She is the founder and lead singer of Decades of Love Band, performing annual concerts to raise funds for various causes. She is married, has a blended family of 5 children and 1 dog. Her ultimate goal in life is to see how much love she can give. Denver Artist Spotlight - Decade of Love - Live performance - https://youtu.be/pAncMo5_6tQ

Welcome Back!  This week we sit down with Founder of Juntos 2 College, Luis Antezana Alba.  He was born in Bolivia, raised in Los Angeles, and has called Colorado his adopted home since 2015. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Honors College at the California State University of Los Angeles. His professional career began as an educator in Colorado Springs, teaching high school Language Arts and AVID. In recent years, Luis has focused on college access for Seniors as a Denver Scholarship Foundation College/Career Advisor at Abraham Lincoln High School. With 6+ years of experience, Luis has worked with hundreds of immigrant students and families to help guide them through state financial aid (CASFA), private scholarships (including helping over a dozen students receive the DREAM.US scholarship), career exploration, ITIN support, entrepreneurship, and the DACA process. Luis is a global speaker and is often sought out to consult with teachers, educators, school leaders, and legal teams to support individual families. For his efforts toward education equity, Luis was recognized with the Teach for America 2018 Colorado Springs Alumnus of the Year award.  Denver Artist Spotlight - Avatar Vaughn - "Stray Away" (Cosmic)

Bailey Loving grew up in Denver, Colorado and graduated from Montbello High School. His undergraduate major was in Molecular Biology at The University of Denver, where he had early exposure to Radiation Biology. He then completed his medical doctorate at the University of Colorado, where he further pursued his interest in oncology. He is grateful for the opportunity to train at Beaumont and is excited to further develop his experience using diverse radiation modalities to treat complex cases. He is interested in combining his basic science research with translational research.  Timestamps: 4:30  what pushed you through your career path 15:10  the process 23:20  what makes a great doctor 31:40  our childhood 37:12  on psychosis 40:30  on sub-evolution 43:50  our reward systems 49:40  expectations Link to Financial Literacy Specialist position at Denver Public Schools. https://dpsjobboard.dpsk12.org/ltmprod/CandidateSelfService/controller.servlet?dataarea=ltmprod&context.session.key.HROrganization=1&context.session.key.JobBoard=EXTERNAL&context.session.key.noheader=true#

This week we sit down with Dr. Anne Keke. She is a community leader, a teacher, and newly elected school board member of Aurora Public Schools. Dr. Anne has worked in the fields of education, social work and criminal justice. She has served as a restorative justice coordinator, K-12 tutor, and peer counselor, as well as being a key member of the African Leadership Group. 2:32  differences in running and governing 6:05  the journey 13:30  defining your community 17:53  the big picture 27:30  collecting information differently 39:02  on equity 42:20  on policy governance 47:49  on schools in the U.S.

This week we sit down with Dr. Antwan Jefferson, a Associate Clinical Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver. In his work, Antwan teaches in the Human Development and Family Relations program and the Urban and Diverse Communities concentration of the Leadership for Educational Equity doctorate (EdD) program. His teaching emphasizes interrogating race, class, and gender arrangements; achieving social justice; increasing an asset-based emphasis on diverse families; and supporting stronger and deeper community engagement in the schooling education of students through the pre-service training of helping professionals and teachers. His research agenda considers the ways that family and community members experience schools and organizations in their communities, including the implications of space, voice, and power in decision-making and not-for-profit organizations and schools. 

This week we sit down with the new Denver Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. We discuss his story, his process, and how he seeks to lead the district as a whole.  

We get the honor of running it back with the original Ednium Podcast Guest, Alvaro Marquez Gandara who recently served as a campaign manager for DPS Board Member Dr. Carrie Olson. Alvaro also runs a successful concrete business and brand (Paying Dues).  We reflect on his experience being front row for the first time during a board election cycle and discuss what it means for our communities to show up. 

This week we connect with Trev Rich, a Grammy-Nominated songwriter and artist from Denver. We discuss what it takes to define and achieve success for yourself, how schools tend to create workers (not bosses), and how we can build an ecosystem around a collective vision.  Denver Artist Spotlight: Trev Rich - "24-8" from his 2021 album "Out the Dark" Website: www.iamtrevrich.com YouTube: Link Instagram: @trevrichhd Twitter: @trevrichhd Spotify: Link Apple Music: Link

This week Lilloni Ramos sits down with Kwame Spearman, a Denver native, who graduated from East HIgh School. He is a son of a DPS educator of 35 years, and the new owner / CEO of Tattered Cover. Tattered Cover Bookstore - Website Denver Artist Spotlight - IamMTG - "Big Bag" 

This week we sit down with Ellie Mata-Bustillos, Founder of Latino Counseling where she strives to provide services to those who have limited access to mental health interventions specifically targeting the Spanish speaking community. With over 12 years of experience, her education background includes a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and she is also a certified Addiction Counselor (CAC III) with specialties in depression, anxiety, trauma and sexual abuse. Contact: Latino Counseling 12101 E. 2nd Ave. Suite 205 Aurora, CO 80011 (720) 524.6874 office (720) 810.4063 cell Ellie@latinotx.net Email @latinocounseling Instagram Denver Artist Spotlight - Trev Rich “Built” from his 2021 project ‘Out The Dark” -

This week we sit down with Bobby LeFebre, an award winning writer, performer and cultural worker fusing a non-traditional multi-hyphenated professional identity to imagine new realities, empower communities, advance arts and culture, and serve as an agent of provocation, transformation, equity and social change.  LeFebre’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Huffington Post, The Guardian, American Theater Magazine, NPR, and Poets.Org.  In 2019, LeFebre was named Colorado’s 8th Poet Laureate, making him the youngest and first person of color to be appointed to the position in its 100 year history.  LeFebre holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Metropolitan University of Denver and a master’s degree in Art, Literature and Culture from the University of Denver. Denver Artist Spotlight - Bobby LeFebre - "Right Here" Photo credit - Victor Fossen Find Bobby LeFebre: Website: https://www.bobbylefebre.com Instagram: @bobbylefebre

This week we sit down with Sofia Romero Campbell a Denver Center for International Studies grad and Senior at Smith College. We get to learn about how travel and experiencing different cultures shaped her vision, her work in supporting sustainable food, and get to hear her share her talent as our Denver Artist Spotlight. Alma Del Folklore: https://www.facebook.com/mariachialma.delfolklore.5 Outside/In Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4C77Rj86ZVejOxfG9yxXyC?si=qNqae6ZJR4KtOEP_VyvaVQ&nd=1 Denver Artist Spotlight: Sofia Romero Campbell - "Cucurrucucu Paloma"

This week we sit down with Kai Suematsu. A George Washington grad and current CU Boulder Student, Kai also runs the KOBU Foundation where he serves meals and provides college scholarships. Learn more at kobufoundation.org. After we recorded this episode we were made aware of the lives lost in Atlanta, Georgia. We thought it necessary to start this podcast off with a separate conversation addressing the underlying illness in the country and to honor those we have lost.  This weeks episode is also sponsored by Paying Dues, a clothing line created by Ednium Alumni Partner Alvaro Marquez. Learn more at payingdues.co or on instagram at @payingduesco. This weeks Denver artist spotlight is Bob Doe from his recent album release "Who is Bob Doe?" entitled 'Politics as Usual'. https://open.spotify.com/track/2u6JQSM8oOLqJDeQK6Ns2O?si=c0be537c464e46dc

This week we sit down with Denver Artist 3lack. He puts us on game around creating and protecting your energy and building things that can out live us.  Denver Artist Spotlight: 3lack - "Manifest" from his 2021 album "No Feelings 2" https://open.spotify.com/track/2lrPeMbtFSG5zIOLiOyfZP?si=6772af47ced9442f Social: @3lackmusic Website: https://www.3lackmusic.com

This week we sit down with iamMTG a talented artist who shares her story and her vision. She reminds us that you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else.  Denver Artist Spotlight - iamMTG - "Do You Remember" https://open.spotify.com/album/1uUhE0aOB40jaJ0CDXmlIE?si=1ZUuKAkVQUm8cb2H1InZCw&nd=1

This week we sit down with Duane Rich, An Abraham Lincoln High School Grad and long time DPS high school football coach. We discuss balance, the information that was hidden from us, and how to thrive.  Denver Artists Spotlight: Taurean - "Deja Vu" from his 2020 album Houdini https://open.spotify.com/album/1lWdoHWNtg6EHxpza9gOtx Ednium.org

This week we sit down with Ruben Helo who gives us game on achieving mindfulness and the real estate game.  James Roy article on Legacy of Redlining: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/02/01/legacy-redlining-denver-black-latino-families-leaving/ Denver Artist Spotlight - Ramond - 'Kings & Queens' from his 2018 project 'Seeds' Recorded at Urbanity Live Studio - Book now at https://urbanity.live

This week we sit down with Shawn Greene. A George Washington High School Alum, and long time resident of Denver's Park Hill neighborhood. We get some real insight into the realities of the profiling, and get put onto game about the ways by which we can become full participants within our democracy.  Denver Artist Spotlight - A Meazy - "Absolutely" https://open.spotify.com/album/62m8JV9HujKomLsHqnmViJ?si=y7TWf9UyQPSjiN2RQkQ2Kw

This week we sit down with Liloni Ramos, a John F. Kennedy grad who has returned to Denver to reinvest in her home city and advocate for the next generation of Denver Public Schools students. She gives us game and shares her journey through the education system and how navigating two worlds throughout her college experience has shaped her vision. Excited for Liloni to be back in the city and to see how we collectively grow from her brilliance! Denver Artist Spotlight: Ronny Flukes ft. 3lack - "Da Mans" from his upcoming album 'Insecure' dropping in May!