Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

What 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, 2022

Today, 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/history

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

Today on Policywise, Mehek dives into what the education system looks like for incarcerated individuals.

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

Today 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 laws

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

Whenever 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?

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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 Arzbaecher

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

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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 Arzbaecher

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Fatima Ramirez

Editor: Rachel Livinal

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Today 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!
-Demi

Michael 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 😁
-Elli

Michael! You are the king of food pics, a master of networking, and an amazing dog dad. Congratulations on your new job and don’t forget us when you’re famous 💜
-Kody

Michael the first time we recorded together I thought to myself, 'this guy is a natural!' You are a wonderful storytelling and person–I know you are going to go do amazing things! Good luck out there, congratulations, and know that we are all so proud of you!
-Jarrett

And then maybe one sentence shoutouts from the girls?
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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

On 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/coronavirus

To find a local texting and vaccination site visit:
myturn.ca.gov

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Vaccinate 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_ecv

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Guests: Troy Williams, Alissa Moore, Marvin Galdamez, Jeronimo Aguilar

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Ellinor Arzbaecher

What do you know about modern day slavery? Sorry, we mean involuntary servitude.

Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution currently states: 

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 crime

For more information:
Abolish Bondage Collectively
The History of Involuntary Servitude in California
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children

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Host: Fatíma Ramirez
Guest: Evelia Cabrera

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Vaccinate 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_ecv

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Guest: Maria "Masha" Aruzumanov

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Maria 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.

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Guest:  Oakland Council Member Carroll Fife

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Taken 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."

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Guest:  Will Wiseman

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Taken 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

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

Today, we do something a little different. Michael has an idea for a policy–consider automatic enrollment from High School to College!

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On 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!

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

In 1963, President Clinton required the governor of each state to create and appoint a commission to administer the new AmeriCorps program. In 2006, the reach of California's commissions was expanded by governor Schwarzenegger to respond to disasters and recovery.

Now called California volunteers–the state office is tasked with engaging Californians and services, volunteering and survey action to tackle our state's most pressing challenges while mobilizing all Californians to volunteer and serve their communities

Here with me today is the head of California volunteers, chief service officer Josh Fryday.

As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, Fryday led the COVID-19 Task Force to support food insecure communities and food banks across the state. Since appointed, California Volunteers has launched the nation’s first statewide Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll volunteer initiative, a statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, and the #CaliforniansForAll College Program to help thousands of Californians who commit to serving for a year pay for college.

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

With so much is going on in the world–not to mention personal lives, the team decided to just take a step back and catch up.

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Guests:  Mayor Farrah N. Khan and Mansi Kalra

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Raymart Catacutan, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock

What does it take to be considered electable? Experience? Leadership skills? Or is it defined by race or creed? Even more importantly, who is gets to make that call?  Join Demi and Michael as they talk with City of Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan and University of San Fransisco student, yli Program Coordinator and organizer Mansi Kalra about identity, engaging youth in the Irvine community and ask just who exactly is considered electable?

In November of 2020 history was made as Mayor Farrah N. Khan became the 23rd Mayor of Irvine. Mayor Khan became the first woman of color to hold the position in Irvine, and the first Muslim woman to lead a large city in all the United States. Not to mention that she also received the highest number of votes for the position of Mayor in the city’s history.

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Guests: Raymart Catacutan

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig.

We are so excited to introduce our newest co-host and co-editor Fresno State Student Raymart Catacutan!

Parks4all Audio provided by The Know Youth Media. The full #Parks4All video can be found here.

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Guests: Raymart Catacutan, Alejandra Espinosa, Michael Navarro, Daphne Ramirez.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig.

We are so ridiculously grateful for everyone who came to yli's birthday celebration in November! 

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Guests: Natalia Arzbaecher and Zofia Trexler

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig.

In 2018, the CDC reported that 26 percent (one in 4) of adults in the United States have some type of disability. In 2019 the US census found that over three million children in the United States had a disability in 2019, up since 2008. With the highest rate of childhood disability belonging to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), followed by children of more than one race and Black children.

And guess what?? Today's a Surprise Sibling Episode as we are joined by Ellie's sister Natalia! Who has lived with Diabetes since she was 7 years old.

Also joining us is Zofia Trexler who work with Disability Rights California as a Peer Self Advocacy Trainer, specifically working and creating content for Transitional Age Youth with mental health disabilities.

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Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and WELCOME TO THE TEAM KODY STOEBIG.

Welcome to Season Three! On the season 3 premiere of PolicyWise, Hosts Demi, Elli and Michael get together (In Person![FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!]) at the Youth Leadership Institute office in Fresno, California. 

The PolicyWise Podcast began right as the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdowns went into affect–as a result the team has never been in the same room together. UNTIL NOW!

Join the team as they discuss high school dances, their personal Mt. Rushmore's, AOC's dress (yes that dress) and of course policy. 

You might be wondering where this week’s episode is...After 16 Episodes we’ve decided to mark the end of Season two!

But don’t worry PolicyWise People, PolicyWise will be back for Season three in just a couple weeks! But first we’re getting back in the lab and planning out the best season yet! 

In the meantime, tell us what you think using the feedback survey in the description of every episode or message us on social media and tell your friends! 

We have lots of previous episodes that you may have missed for you to enjoy during this break. 

Stay Tuned! And Stay Wise… PolicyWise that is. 

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Guest: Jim Keddy and Sarah-Michael Gaston.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh.

The roots of racialized drug laws and drug enforcement are deeply ingrained into our criminal justice systems. The War on Drugs starting in the 1970s drove this discrimination against people of color, specifically Black deeper into families, communities, and institutions--driving families into poverty, separating children from their families , and creating generations of cumulative disadvantage. The enforcement of marijuana laws has played a particularly large role in this process. 

As an increasing number of states legalize majauana, there is debate where money raised from this industry should be spent. Youth Forward is an organization dedicated to improving the health, education, and wellbeing of our most vulnerable children and youth through policy advocacy, education and community action. They have become a leading voice for racial equity and community reinvestment in regards to cannabis legalization in California

Resources:
California Forward
Youth Leadership Institute 

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Guest: Jacob Martinez.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh.

In California, though broadband subscriptions were at record height pre-pandemic, significant gaps still exist, with diminished broadband access within low-income, minority, and rural communities. Considering the ever-expanding reliance on technology within education and workforce development, it is vital to close the digital divide to give underserved communities and youth equal opportunity for success and achievement.

A few episodes back, we talked to Prince Ogidikpe and Sunne Wright McPeak about legislative efforts to tackle the digital divide. Today we will be approaching the issue from a new angle, learning from an organization who works directly with young people throughout California and beyond. The DigitalNEST aims to create economic equality for the residents of low income and rural regions and teach young people the technical skills needed to become competitive and self-sufficient in the digital future. The Digital NEST’s model for tech equity has received national recognition for conquering the digital divide in underserved communities throughout the U.S.

We will be talking to the DigitalNest Founder, Jacob Martinez. Before starting Digital NEST, Jacob spent nearly 10 years running a program funded by the National Science Foundation, to encourage underrepresented Latina girls, and later boys as well, to study computer science. Jacob currently sits on several community boards and has  received many leadership awards, such as being named one of TechCrunch’s 2014 “Top 10 Men in the Country Supporting Women in Technology.” 

Resources:
DigitalNEST.org

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Guest: Jewel Hurtado.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh.

Jewel Hurtado was born and raised in the Central San Joaquin Valley. At the age of 22, Jewel is the youngest elected official in the Valley and a powerful voice for young people in her community and beyond. She is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Sociology at California State University Bakersfield. She has chosen to pursue her education locally with the desire to continuously give back to the community that saw her grow up.

Jewel recently proposed an official recognition of Pride Month to the City of Kingsburg, and was very surprised when it was met with resistance and effectively killed.

So...now what?
 
Today, we get Jewel's thoughts on being a new mother, a student (among other identities), what she thinks life experience brings to decision-making tables and how to move forward from here.

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Guest: Michael Tubbs.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh.

Instead of getting policymakers to listen to the youth voice, Michael Tubbs brought the youth voice directly to the table--actually the very front of the decision making table. In 2016, The election of Michael Tubbs as Mayor of Stockton, made him the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history at only 26 years old, as well as Stockton’s first African-American Mayor. 

As Mayor, he was known for his dedication to education programs, crime reduction, and for leading the nation’s first-ever mayor-led guaranteed income pilot. Under his leadership, Stockton was named an All American city in 2017 and 2018, and named the second most fiscally healthy city in California. Stockton also led the state in the decline of officer-involved shootings in 2019, and saw a 40% drop in homicides in 2018 and 2019 under his leadership. 

Tubbs was named a member of Fortune’s Top 40 under 40,  a Forbes 30 under 30 All Star Alumni, the “Most Valuable Mayor” by the Nation Magazine, the 2019 New Frontier Award Winner from the JFK Library and the Institute of Politics, as well as several other recognitions. 

Currently, Michael Tubbs serves as a statewide appointee of Governor Gavin Newsom on the Commission for Police Officer and Standards Training (POST) and as a member of the National Police Foundation’s Council on Policing Reforms and Race.

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Guest: Gia Vang and Wenda Fong.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Gia Vang is an emerging leader in news broadcasting Previously having worked in Arizona, Missouri, and Oregon, she is Now the news anchor for Kare 11 based out of the twin cities of Minnesota, where she covers a wide variety of topics including politics, weather and sports. She is the first Hmong American anchor in the Twin Cities providing representation for by far the largest metropolitan population of Hmong in the United States.  Before that,  she was an anchor in Fresno just a little closer to those of us in California and she graduated with her degree in Journalism from Sacramento State University.

Wenda Fong is an inspiring media trailblazer. She has produced and directed awards and talk shows, musical and reality specials, sitcoms, documentaries and more. She is the first person of color and only woman to have produced the Emmy awards and launched productions across the world. Wenda spearheaded diversity at Fox broadcasting and was the first vice president of creative diversity development. She launched and oversaw American Idol in 2002 and moved on to supervise all reality series including American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef and many other shows that some of us grew up watching, . She is the co-founder and chairperson emeritus of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment which is the largest, long-running and most influential organization for Asian American Pacific Islanders in entertainment. Among SO many other accomplishments, leadership, community service she is the Vice Chair of the California State University Board of Trustees and got her degree in Asian American Studies from University of Southern California.

Resources and Links:
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE)
Stop AAPI Hate
Happy AAPI Heritage Month PSA

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Guest: Josh Chan and Ashley Mills.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Today we will be talking about an ongoing public health crisis. Over 26 percent of all Americans over the age of 18 meet the criteria for having a mental illness. By 2029, mental illness is predicted to become the leading cause of disease worldwide. Strikingly, one million people commit suicide every year and 10 to 20 million attempt it. And these attempts disproportionately affect youth, older adults, veterans and LGBTQ people. Among young people, Native Indigenous youth have the highest rate of suicide of any ethnic or cultural group in the US. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth from 10 to 24 years of age.

With us today we have Josh Chan and Ashley Mills.

Josh is a first-year student at UC Santa Barbara who has been a Mental Health advocate since high school. He became passionate about the cause after supporting his close friends who dealt with depression and anxiety. As a Marin County Youth Commissioner, he organized the County's first Mental Health Summit at the College of Marin and partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise awareness for the cause, including speaking at the annual NAMI walk. In his high school, he started a Mental Health Awareness Club, successfully advocated for the continued funding of on-campus therapists, and hosted a student led panel about healthy ways to deal with stress.

Ashley is a senior researcher at the California Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission and a leading voice on Suicide Prevention, who also was instrumental in creating the California Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention.

Resources and Links:
Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Committee

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Guest: Mehek Kandru and Elli Arzbaecher.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

About a year ago, Michael reached out to Demi with an idea.

Working together on the California Forward Youth Council, Michael realized that we could use our experience and love for policy to provide a very necessary platform for policy communication to and from youth. Soon after we were extremely fortunate to pick up the support from Youth Leadership Institute who has turned this dream into a reality.

Since then, we have been able to speak to incredible guests from a wide range of backgrounds and prospectives. We’ve  decided that we should be doing all that we can to get this information in front of policy makers and young folks.

We are excited to bring on two new members of the policy wise team

Welcome Mehek and Ellie!

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Guest: Adwoa Wiafe.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

With a hurricane of policies and attempts to curb the impact of this virus, nobody has been more on the front line from day 1 other than our healthcare workers. The impact of Covid has been racialized. With low-income, people of color and those deemed “essential workers” being most affected. To put into context, black and brown people are about 3x more likely to be hospitalized and 2x more likely to die from the virus. However most doctors do not look like the communities in which they are serving during the pandemic. Nationally, Less than 5% of physicians are black and just under 6% of physicians are latinx.

Adwoa is graduating in a few months from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and is starting her time as a resident physician specializing in family medicine at the Loma Linda University Medical Center and children's hospital joining the less than 3% of black woman doctors in the country. Which is one of 14 Level 1 trauma centers in California and only one in the Inland Empire serving as the only children's hospital for over 1.3 Million of California’s youth. She has a Masters in BioMedical Sciences also from Loma Linda University and received her Bachelors of Science in BioChemistry from UC Riverside. She also has the unique privilege of serving as Michael's oldest sister.

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Healing Tree Podcast
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/0ulnUnlVz5ec3Qa5sPeUw3?si=-HQnvcTQT-26khTmOt3ZCQ
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-tree/id1516317606

A Medical History In Color Podcast
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/1AhclpoBUffYQphN6Tl91d?si=_3YaZhwQSdqIUQBNn5nhIQ
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-center-for-christian-bioethics/id1499019596

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Guest: Morgan Wack.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

With us today to talk about broader issues with social media regulation and the impact of misinformation surrounding the insurrection is Morgan Wack. Morgan is a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington. He studies the proliferation of new technologies, violence, and barriers to growth in developing countries. Currently, he works for the Center for an Informed Public, which specializes in understanding information dynamics. His research is mainly focused on discerning how communication technologies can serve to augment efforts aimed at mitigating the deleterious impacts of violence in sub-Saharan Africa. He holds an MSc in Global Politics from the London School of Economics, has served as a Princeton in Africa Fellow, and has worked for a variety of developmental organizations, NGOs, and government agencies. He also has the distinct privilege of being Demi's older brother.

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Guest: Kindra F. Montgomery-Block.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Kindra F. Montgomery-Block executive leader, movement builder, and unapologetically African-American activator who is the driving force behind philanthropy and coalitions that are part of the national Black empowerment conversation. She was also named one of Northern California’s Exceptional Women of Color by HUB Magazine. And is the recipient of other community intelligence, innovative, and impact awards, including honors from Women of Color in Maternal Health, NAACP, American Association of Public Administrators, Young Emerging Leaders, and the Greater Sacramento Urban League.

Resources and Links:
Black Child Legacy Campaign
Healing the Hood
Build.Black Podcast

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Guests: Ashley Swearengin and  Dr. Tania Pacheco-Warner.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Fresno has historically been the largest city in the Central Valley of California, and recently ranked 5th biggest city in all of California.

Fresno is also one of the fastest growing regions in the United States with 20 percent population growth since 2000. However, this population growth has not been met with proportional economic growth, and perhaps created even more divergence in economic and social advantages. The Urban Institute’s 2018 research on economic mobility in California's largest cities revealed that Fresno ranks 59th out of 59 for economic and racial disparity.

In recent years, progress has been made to combat these issues. Earning well deserved recognition for growth in industries, real estate, health care services and community engagement. However, still today, a large portion of Fresno’s population battles cycles of chronic economic distress.

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Guests: Blake Zante.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Both Democrats and Republicans have undergone ideological shifts over the last decade leading to varying perceptions of progress and often also great fractures between and within the two parties. As the winners of the 2020 elections take their seats, and we move on to a new era of political leaders, we have the opportunity to speak with a young member of the Republican party to talk about the future of the Republican party in California.  We are SOOO pleased to have Blake Zante with us today

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Guests: Mehek Kandru and Tony Thurmond.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Tony Thurmond is the 28th California State Superintendent of Public. Superintendent

Thurmond is an educator, social worker, and public-school parent, who has served the people

of California for more than ten years in elected office. Previously, Superintendent Thurmond

served on the Richmond City Council, West Contra Costa Unified School Board, and in the

California State Assembly, representing District 15. Superintendent Thurmond attended public

school and then Temple University, where he became student body president. He went on to

earn dual master's degrees in Law and Social Policy and Social Work (MSW) from Bryn Mawr

College and began a career dedicated to service.

Mehek Kandru is a senior at Dougherty Valley High School with a strong passion for advocacy and policy reform. Alongside the work she does at California Forward, she is also a

California Legislative Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and the Outreach Editor of

her school’s newspaper. When she is not working on those things, she spends her time

volunteering at the San Ramon Regional Medical Center or watching movies with her dad. In

college, she hopes to continue working on understanding social systems and the factors that

have formed them.

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Guests: Prince Ogidikpe and Sunne Wright McPeak.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Sunne is the President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund that
works to close the digital divide in California. CETF is a national leader in this effort initiating
programs like California Telehealth Network, digital literacy, smart housing policy and
more. Sunne is also the former Secretary of California Business, Transportation and Housing
Agency, overseeing the state’s largest agency which includes nearly 20 departments and offices
ranging as broadly as CalTrans, DMV and Highway Patrol, to Housing and Community
development, real estate, and so many others. Sunne also is the former President and CEO of
the Bay Area Council, spent more than 15 years as a member of the Board of Supervisors,
President of the California Association of Counties and was named by SF league of woman
voters as “A Woman Who Could Be President” on top of being awarded 2 honorary doctorates.

Prince Ogidikpe is a graduate of California State University San Bernardino, earning a
bachelor’s degree in Biological Psychology and a minor in Communication studies. Prince
moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2010. During his time at Cal State San Bernardino,
he was a very involved student leader. He was elected to serve as Student Body President for
the Associated Students Incorporated, having previously served as Executive Vice President.
Prince was also a member of many student organizations including the award-winning Model
United Nations Program. He was awarded one of the 30 under 30 award for California’s 47th
assembly district and now works as a field representative in California 47th Assembly District
office for member Eloise-Gomez Reyes, the Assembly majority leader.

Join California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) at http://www.internetforallnow.org

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Guests: Ellinor Arzbaecher, Daisy Castellón, Jade Magaña, and Michael Waife.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Spoke word intro by: Kali Ausselet she/they (stage name K-RA!)) a self proclaimed “artivist” who uses rap, spoken word, paint, and other mediums to express herself and her view of the world. As a student of spiritual practices K-RA! is very immersed in the philosophy of life, interconnectedness, and emotion. 

Ellinor Arzbeacher is a member of the Young Leaders Advisory Council for the 2020 California Economic Summit . She is a first-year student at the University of California Berkeley, Rausser College of Natural Resources. 

Daisy Castellón provides strategic communications, media relations, and social media counsel to Lucas Public Affairs(LPA) clients in industries such as health care, higher education, and technology. Her background in reaching diverse communities through her dual-language capabilities contributes to clients’ success. Prior to working at LPA, Daisy worked at a public affairs firm that focused on outreach to multicultural and bilingual populations and interned in the California State Assembly. Daisy is also part of the Sacramento Latino Giving Circle, a network of leaders who are paying it forward by funding Latino-led grassroots organization

Jade Magaña served as an intern with CA FWD through the Ron Loveridge Summer Fellowship Program. She also served as an intern for Inland Counties Legal Services. She is studying public policy and preparing to attend law school. Jade’s focus includes civil rights and education law.

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Hosts: Demitria Wack and Michael Wiafe.

Guests: Abby Pugh, Jarrett Ramones and Tim Haydock.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

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Guests: Nick Jasso.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

Nick Jasso is a student at UCLA studying Sociology with a minor in civic engagement and social change. He has been involved with the Fresh Lifelines for Youth program and spent some time as an Intern in Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo’s office as part of the UC Sacramento Center program. He is committed to changing lives and hopes to have a career in juvenile justice advocacy.

Check here for more information about Nick or Fresh Lifelines for Youth

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Guests: Candice Mays, Ashley Anderson, Julia Paccone, Mehek Kandru, Stephanie Estrada.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

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Guests: Jacqueline Martinez-Garcel.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

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Guests: Tim Haydock.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

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Guests: Micah Weinberg and Jade Magana.

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh.

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Follow 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!

Follow 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!

Follow 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!

Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time.