Each podcast season, Karen interviews guests known for their innovative contributions to engage in provocative, engaging, on-the record “remix” examinations of the public the stories behind their success (and failures) to tease out replicable lessons. In the first two podcast seasons, sponsored by the Readiness Projects, Karen engages with local and national innovators who have found different ways to operationalize the idea that learning and development happens in community.

In Season One, Karen is joined by youth and adult leaders fromthe K-12 field to reflect on public statements they have recently made and push for more specifics on how, where, when, and with whom meaningful learning experiences were being intentionally shaped in partnership. Listeners will be invited to explore the sausage making stores behind the powerful public stories of how excellent, equitable opportunities for learning in community during the school day is being in scaled in schools across the country. 

In Season Two, being planned for release in Spring 2022, Karen will come at the same questions from the community perspective, interviewing innovators who have scaled and sustained learning opportunities that complement but don’t start in schools.

In this episode, host Karen Pittman  continues her ongoing conversation with David Adams, CEO of Urban Assembly, bringing in Gizzelle Gonzales, a senior at the Urban Assembly School for Collaborative Health Care. Together, they explore the importance of providing students with multiple avenues for meaning making, highlight the importance of training and activating all of the adults in school and community settings, and identify whether or not it is possible to fully integrate academic, social, and emotional development and career readiness.

Visit our Changing the Odds Remix website to learn more about Urban Assembly and access all the extras for this episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more from this episode’s recording session. 

EL Education was born out of a collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound USA. EL schools across the country work to change education from being an individual sportsupport to a team sport in which youth and adults work together to achieve more than they ever thought possible. 

Karen, Ron & Margarida discuss just how EL Education is consistently achieving strong results. Earlier this year, Karen, Ron, & Margarida served on a panel together earlier in the year and Karen was eager to dig in more deeply to themes from that discussion, including how EL Learning intentionally shapes school culture and how Margarida’s success was impacted by her experiences both in school and in the community. Together, they  explore the importance of adult and student culture, the power of expeditions in the community, the connection between school and community partners, and continue the discussion from Episode 1 on whether or not we should view social emotional learning and academics as in tension with each other. 

Visit Changing The Odds Remix website to learn more about EL Education and access all the extras for this episode. 

As a member of the New Teacher Center Equity Commission, Karen has been engaging in conversations that are both reflective and forward looking with the New Teacher Center Team. In this conversation the team  expands on what they mean by each of their core phrases and focus areas. Carlo’s perspective on where he learns outside of the classroom and his definition of “educator” help drive the conversation and Karen & Atyani’s thinking. 

Visit our website to learn more about the New Teacher Center and access all the extras for this episode. 

Alin and Olivia were guests on Education Reimagined’s first Learning Out Loud with Education Reimagined conversation. Inspired by that session, Karen asked Alin and Olivia to come back together to discuss their individual experiences leading and learning in reimagined systems and settings. Their conversation explores how Education Reimagined envisions and defines equitable, learner-centered ecosystems, and they consider how community-based learning opportunities help promote meaning-making and connection.

Visit our website to watch Alin & Olivia’s Learning Out Loud conversation, learn more about Education Reimagined, and access all the extras for this episode. 

In their conversation, Karen shares some of her reflections looking back to the first four episodes. As always, she continues to challenge us to think about the power all adults and settings can hold for young people, and the critical work ahead to continue to build learning and development ecosystems. 

Visit our website to keep up with our latest Remix content and to join our mailing list to be the first to know details on season 2 – coming spring 2022. 

In this bonus episode, we explore what deep community and parent engagement in learning and development look like beginning in early childhood. Host Karen Pittman talks with Ralph Smith about his work and lessons learned during his tenure at the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Longtime colleagues, Ralph & Karen have each taken different paths on their shared journey to change the odds for children and youth. Ralph and Karen explore the power of authentic demand and discuss the Campaign’s newest initiative – Learning Happens Everywhere.

Visit our website to learn more about the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and their recently launched Learning Happens Everywhere initiative. 

To begin transitioning from Season One’s focus on schools to Season Two’s focus on community-based settings, host Karen Pittman is joined by her KP Catalysts & Changing the Odds Remix partner and collaborator Katherine Plog Martinez. Their conversation explores what collaboration and partnership looked like over the years in Denver, CO where Katherine’s work sat at the intersection of positive youth development and k-12 education. They continue to unpack what it really takes to honor and acknowledge the power and potential of different learning strategies, different settings, and different professionals. You’ll want to be sure to stick around until the very end where Karen and Katherine provide a sneak peak of what’s to come in Season 2 – including the announcement of a new youth co-host!  

Visit our website to keep up to date on all of the latest Changing the Odds Remix publications and to be in the loop for Season 2. 

Margarida and Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez talk about the community, connection, and adults who are working every day to change the odds for Portland’s children and youth. Margarida tells us a bit about the people, places, and possibilities that made a difference for her and gives a preview of the impactful adults in her life who she has invited to join us in coming episodes. 

Through their discussion, Erin paints a more complete picture of the work the Boys & Girls Clubs do to help young people realize their full potential. Katherine, Erin, and Margarida explore how the Boys & Girls Club has worked to deeply connect with Portland’s unique population of young people through partnerships with families, schools, and other organizations, and how Erin and her team prioritize and foster relationships with each club member. Erin’s joyful attitude and outlook about working at the Boys & Girls Club and helping shape the lives of all the young people that come through their doors make it easy to see why she was so impactful for Margarida and many others in the Portland community.  

Visit our website to learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and the Guiding Principles for Whole Child Design.

The Portland Teen Library is about much more than just connecting teens with books. Margarida, Katherine, and Kelly explore how the Teen Library staff builds positive relationships, makes connections, and advocates with and for teens. We’ll learn how Margarida’s connection to the library is illustrative of the role the Teen Library plays in Portland’s learning ecosystem and how Kelley’s values and approach help change the odds so that all Portland teens can thrive. Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work. 

Visit our website to learn more about the Portland Teen Library and Connect Ed, the Out of School Time Intermediary mentioned both this week and last. 

Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work. 

Visit our website to learn more about Casco Bay High School and the School Based Health Centers in Portland. 

Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work. 

Visit our website to learn more about Casco Bay High School and EL Education’s focus on crew. 

Karen and Margarida each share what stood out to them as big ideas and new learnings. Margarida gives  updates on her personal journey,shares  how as she continues to receive support in the Portland community, and explains how she is also giving back to other young people whose lived experience mirrors her own. 

Visit our website to learn more about the guests and organizations highlighted throughout the season.