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Showing episodes and shows of
Lisa Sandstrom
Shows
Finding Our Voices Today
Edith Targonski: A Community Champion focused on being Multi-Tasking, Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Faceted & Multi-Skilled
Edith Targonski arrived to the United States from Peru when she was 19 years old. Her sister had arrived a few years before and she was so happy about being reunited with her, but unhappy to speak English. She had visited the U.S. numerous times prior to her move but didn’t know much English and lacked confidence in her speaking skills. She soon met a fellow immigrant from Poland, who arrived at 17 years old with his parents. They fell in love and got married. Edith and her husband created a beautiful family blending and honoring their individual cultures from So...
2025-07-01
50 min
The 1 Podcast
Jocelyn Luko-Sandstrom - Spiritual Billionaire Frequency & Quantum Manifestation
In this soul-expanding episode, Global Speaker & Mentor, Jocelyn Luko-Sandstrom joins Lisa Toland to share what it means to live in alignment and embodying the “Spiritual Billionaire” frequency. Jocelyn brings a deep transmission of presence, detachment, magic, and reprogramming into Quantum Manifestation.She reflects on the wisdom gained through five miscarriages, her intuitive relationship with the Universe, and how she uses words and energy as creation tools. If you’re ready to question everything, surrender control, and walk in divine truth, this conversation is your invitation.✨ Key Themes:• What the “Spiritual Billionaire” frequency really means• Miscarri...
2025-06-26
58 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Rivca Zacharia - Fostering Everyday Empathy & Resilience as Cultivated from Her Personal Journey
Rivca Zacharia’s family moved from Israel to the U.S. in 1967 when she was just 6 years old. Traveling by ship, her family (father, mother and sister) arrived in Brooklyn on a cold and snowy February day. She remembers the cold and how she and her sister hated it at first. On their way to the U.S. they stopped in Greece to visit her father’s parents, his sister and family. They spoke only Hebrew and Greek and soon after enrolling in school, she would begin learning English with her new Americanized name, Rifka, that her teacher said she must...
2025-06-24
28 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Amr Hallaba - The Dealership of Life: A Story of Mentorship, Momentum & Meeting Goals
Amr Hallaba immigrated from Egypt in 1998 when he was just 16 years old joining his mother and sister who arrived before him. He stepped into his life in Georgia leaving behind all of his friends, his father, stepmother and stepsister. A new chapter was about to launch… with his high school diploma earned in Egypt it was now time to begin working while attending community college in the evening. His first job taught him hard work and resilience along with challenging, but impactful, techniques to manage conflict in the workplace. Moving into a new position in retail sales, he speaks fondly of...
2025-06-17
29 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
Attracting Hummingbirds
Send us a textToday, we welcome back the Midwest Garden Gal, Lisa Hinzman Howard. Scott found her blog about hummingbirds and had a few encounters this spring with the cute little fliers, so here's some tips & advice on attracting these long distance migrators. Help a traveler out, would ya?https://www.midwestgardengal.com/https://www.midwestgardengal.com/attract-more-hummingbirds/Black Diamond Garden CentersWelcome Black Diamond Nursery & Lawn Service. We been a local business in Toledo for over 70 years!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a...
2025-06-16
1h 02
Finding Our Voices Today
Mausumi Patra - Engaging in Community Programs & Resources Builds Leadership and Connection
Mausumi Patra moved from India in 2014 with her husband and her 3 year old daughter. Settling into her new city with her husband at work all day she knew she needed community and went out into the unknown in search of making connection. As a naturally outgoing person, she sought out others from the neighborhood who were immigrants from India, but she wanted to expand her reach. She wholeheartedly took advantage of multiple services and resources, engaging in English as a Second Language classes and library programs for her daughter. She engaged in the PLTI (Parent Leadership Training Institute) program and...
2025-06-10
23 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Silvano De La Cruz - Finding Gratitude in Life and Love is the Key to Success
Silvano De La Cruz immigrated from Peru with his mother and sisters after his father had left 18 months prior, setting their life and future up for them in the U.S. The day his father left for his journey to America, Silvano was 11 years old and was tasked with taking care of his sisters. They would receive sporadic letters or cassette tapes of his father’s recorded voice that he created for them on his journey to the U.S. Settling into his new life as a young teenager included learning a new language, making all new friends and getting a...
2025-06-03
25 min
P1 Kultur Reportage
”Konstig - men också bra!”
Jazzfantomen Nils Landgren minns hur tonsättaren Sven David Sandström beskrivit hans röst. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radio Play. Sven David Sandströms sista verk blev ett stycke om kärlek och mörker specialskrivet för ”den konstiga rösten” Nils Landgren och hans trombon. Och Radiokören.Samarbetet blev kort då Sandström dog strax efter att han färdigställt kompositionen.För Nisse blev stycket ännu en påminnelse om vikten att vara sig själv.lisa.wall@sverigesradio.se
2025-05-27
12 min
P1 Kultur
Två bilder av krig – så formas vår syn på konflikten
Just nu möter vi två olika bilder av krig: en ocensurerad i sociala medier och en kurerad i traditionell media. Vad gör dessa olika skildringar med vår uppfattning av konflikten? Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radio Play. Samtal med Maria Nilsson, professor i journalistik, om vad som styr vilka bilder vi får av krig – och vilken roll det spelar.LISTA: ALLT SOM ÄR UNDERBARTVad gör man när världen rämnar för att hitta riktning igen? Kanske börjar man lista...
2025-05-27
55 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Reverend Sara Smith, Esq. - Celebrating and Honoring Diversity with Programs and Resources for ALL
Reverend Sara Smith, Esq. has a history deeply rooted in service and hard work. Growing up in Kentucky and helping with her 1000 acre family farm, she isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty. After passing the bar and working as a labor rights litigation attorney, she had a calling to attend Divinity school, which changed the trajectory of her career and life. Now, with 30 years of experience as an ordained clergywoman in the United Church of Christ, she continues to make an impact and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. As Senior Minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport loca...
2025-05-27
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Ola Bossio - New Beginnings Enrich Creative Opportunities & Family
Ola Bossio is an incredibly talented artist who immigrated from Poland in 1999 at just 20 years old. Joining her older sister who had arrived prior to Ola, she immediately immersed herself into English classes and began to work. Originally from north Poland, which borders Russia, she felt moving to the United States would bring more opportunities than under the regime she was living in. Living in a predominantly Polish neighborhood in CT she found community and initial comfort in being able to speak her native language and felt safe and free to express herself more openly. She met and fell in...
2025-05-20
33 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Urmi Hossain - A Third-Culture Kid Defines Her Brand of “Belonging” in the World
Urmi Hossain shares her sense of belonging in the world. As a proud South Asian woman who has an interesting and inspiring story that we can all learn from. Her family of origin roots are embedded in Bangladesh, as both parents are from there, but a few years before she was born, they emigrated to Sicily, Italy, for better opportunities. It is heard that Urmi was the first Bengali baby born in Sicily. She grew up speaking Bangla at home and Italian in school and with her friends. Currently, she lives in Montreal, Canada, and her multilingual and cultural influence...
2025-05-13
26 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Diane Rosenthal : Non-Profit Leader, Advocate and Strategic Visionary
Diane Rosenthal, Executive Director at Student Advocacy, Inc. in Westchester, NY, is the epitome of servant leadership. Beginning her career as a middle school teacher, she moved from the classroom into the nonprofit world, leading the New York Public Library’s adult literacy program which served over 1000 students per year. Diane’s leadership helped shape the social and literacy skills needed for students to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. She remained in adult literacy for many years, leading Literacy Volunteers of Stamford, CT, which was ranked among the top 10% of volunteer-based programs nationally. A true visionary, she created programs and wrote gran...
2025-05-06
31 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Bonnie Solivan: A Nuyorican Focused on Culture, Education and Service to Others
Bonnie Solivan is a proud “Nuyorican”. This word refers to someone who has been raised in New York with deep ancestry and cultural traditions from the island of Puerto Rico. As a child of missionaries, she has lived in South and Central America, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and various boroughs in NYC, and her now in her current home in CT. Growing up, her family focused on education and learning, but she struggled with a learning disability not discovered and diagnosed until her freshman year in college. She describes living through shame, embarrassment, and bullying during her grade school years. Now, she...
2025-04-29
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Valerie Wilson - Career Coach & Resume Writer Making a Difference
Valerie Wilson was the first person in her family to attend college and she knows how important this was for her career path. As a certified professional Career Coach and Resume Expert, she is committed to helping young and experienced professionals. Her experience in higher education working with undergraduate and graduate students truly helps soon-to-be graduates and job seekers focus on their goals for career next steps and Valerie is there to coach them on their journey. Working with immigrant or first generation American students has its own set of unique challenges but Valerie sees potential in everyone and is...
2025-04-22
18 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Flor De Hoyos - Learning from Personal Experience to Inspire & Support Others
Flor De Hoyos is Latina from Puerto Rico who is a force to be reckoned with. Her career has been focused on advocacy and support to adult learners, children and their families, and it’s her personal experience that is the underlying tool to her professional effectiveness. Flor’s ability to connect and empathize with families in her district is the key to the overall success in her current role. After moving to the eastern section of Connecticut at age 12 and struggling to transition to a new school, she struggled with English as her second language and adapting to a new...
2025-04-15
33 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Luisa Viladas, Executive Director - Changing Lives with Literacy
Luisa Viladas, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Southern CT, grew up surrounded by books so it’s no accident that she leads a literacy program. With extensive career experience in non-profit development, she has tutored ESL adult learners with as strong focus on grammar. Bringing her experience to a new level, she is overseeing this small but mighty program located in Milford, CT where they serve adult students focused on improving literacy skills and English as a Second Language learners. Their agency is settled among many diverse families living in their communities, with approximately 53 native languages and over 15,000 adults wi...
2025-04-08
23 min
Finding Our Voices Today
René Soto - An Artist Committed to Creatives of All Ages
René Soto is a supremely talented artist: painter, singer and dancer. Moving to the United States from Guatemala over 14 years ago was a big life change but one that opened many doors for his creative expertise. After arriving in the U.S., he immersed himself in learning English and his writings and poetry were published on two separate occasions in an adult education newspaper. He was the founder and owner of René Soto Gallery which honored Latino artists. After closing its doors post-Covid, he began teaching again and engages artists, both young and older, in a variety of programs. He wa...
2025-04-01
28 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Astrid Robitaille - Advocating for Adult Learners & Education Programs
Season 3 is here! Astrid Robitaille is passionate about adult learners and is a strong advocate for adult education programs across the nation. As a former 7th grade teacher, she transitioned into adult education and never looked back. She has taught many subjects including courses preparing students for U.S. citizenship, the GED (high school diploma program) and English as a Second Language. As a trainer and assessment guru for adult education programs across the U.S., she is committed to providing excellent service to education programs and administrators all while keeping the adult learners as her top priority. With adult...
2025-03-25
37 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Alexandra Castro - Creating a Culinary Empire One Pizza at a Time
Alexandra Castro is an immigrant from Colombia that is an entrepreneurial trailblazer. Arriving to the U.S. was nothing short of a challenge but Alexandra was a chef with a plan. After running her family pizza restaurant in Colombia, she also managed a high-end restaurant in Montreal, which laid the foundational training and experience she needed to launch herself forward. Since returning to the U.S., she focuses on her culinary career and building her business. As the owner and founder of Everything Dough, LLC, she spends her time designing and making pizzas for weekly farmers markets, private catering events...
2024-12-10
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Cynthia Alvarez - How a Multi-Generational Home Impacted her Identity
Cynthia Alvarez is a first generation Mexican American who grew up in a multigenerational household and is deeply proud of her family history. She exudes gratitude for the choices and sacrifices her parents and grandparents made for their growing family. She talks intimately how her grandparents impacted her values and self-esteem and how her family is still influential to her life decisions. As a young mother of a son, she is committed to raising him in a similar setting surrounded by multigenerational family members, along with her loving husband, Jesús. Cynthia is an alumnae from Bentley University who quickly c...
2024-12-03
29 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Greenwich Alliance for Education - Doing Great Things for Youth…a Conversation with Executive Director, Julie Faryniarz
Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director for Greenwich Alliance for Education and has much to share about the fabulous initiatives and programs they have for the youth in Greenwich, CT. Over the last 18 years they have worked collaboratively and in partnership with the Greenwich Public Schools and its teachers as the local education foundation to drive innovation, opportunity and access in learning to empower all students to achieve academic, personal and professional success. They fund innovation to elevate achievement and inclusion for all Greenwich public school students resulting in creativity and personalized learning. With programs like Tuning In To Music...
2024-12-02
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Greenwich Alliance for Education - Doing Great Things for Youth…a Conversation with Executive Director, Julie Faryniarz
Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director for Greenwich Alliance for Education and has much to share about the fabulous initiatives and programs they have for the youth in Greenwich, CT. Over the last 18 years they have worked collaboratively and in partnership with the Greenwich Public Schools and its teachers as the local education foundation to drive innovation, opportunity and access in learning to empower all students to achieve academic, personal and professional success. They fund innovation to elevate achievement and inclusion for all Greenwich public school students resulting in creativity and personalized learning. With programs like Tuning In To Music...
2024-11-26
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Nancy Meckel - Hello? Are you Listening?
Nancy Meckel is back again in season 2 for another interview and we couldn’t be more pleased about this! An experienced instructor of English as a Second Language and accent coach to adults, and founder/owner of American English Guide, Nancy brings her years of expertise, experience, dedication and passion for language to our conversation. In this episode Nancy and I will explore her belief in the importance of LISTENING, why it is one of the key skills for active and engaged communication. We’ll talk about strategies and skills to develop the ability to truly listen and about the indi...
2024-11-19
35 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Judy Betz - First Generation Italian American
Judy Betz is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Italy. Her father came on a boat from Italy as a stowaway after paying $1,000 while her mother came through Ellis Island. Her parents didn’t know each other while living in their native country but met later in the U.S., fell in love, started their life together, and fully immersed in the American culture. You’ll hear the amazing story of how her father attained his U.S. citizenship and served in WWII as an American soldier. Judy graduated college with a degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degr...
2024-11-12
20 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Conor Barbieri - Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal Teaching English as a Second Language
Conor Barbieri is having the experience of a lifetime. He is currently in Nepal serving in the Peace Corps and is teaching English as a Second Language in an elementary school. With full immersion into a new culture and daily living, he is making impact with young learners while bringing technology and 21st century tools into their curriculum. Through his creative lesson planning and commitment to developing their young minds, he has successfully written grants that bring students’ learning into a new dimension. As a alumni of George Washington University, Conor was looking for a challenge and way to give ba...
2024-11-05
33 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Sara Olivia Garcia- Finding Empowerment through Education and Difficult Life Choices
Sara Olivia Garcia is a first-generation American with deep family roots from Mexico. At 86 years of age, she has an incredible life story to share with us, and opens up in a deep conversation about how family and career choices can change the trajectory of your life’s path. Her mother and grandparents fled Mexico during the revolution when Pancho Villa was making it dangerous to stay in their country. They left quickly with only the clothes on their backs and what they could carry in their arms. They settled in El Paso and attempted to build a new life. Th...
2024-10-29
45 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Nettie Parker Bauman: Immigration Attorney - Commitment, Understanding & Compassionate Service
Nettie Parker Bauman is a passionate, empathetic and tenacious immigration attorney working closely with women, men and their families through the legal process of transitioning to the U.S. from another country. As an independent attorney, she represents asylum-seekers in the U.S. Immigration Courts and at U.S. Asylum Offices. She provides direct counsel and resources that ensure their safety and a smooth transition. Nettie has a particular passion for domestic violence survivors from other countries. In addition to her work with immigrants, she is a published author and poet. She has been published in numerous poetry journals and...
2024-10-22
30 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Jesús Reyes- Getting Creative With Your Pathway is the Key to Success
Jesús Reyes arrived from his native country, Mexico, at 17 years old. After a childhood of visiting the U.S. while his father worked as a seasonal migrant worker, he made the decision to move with his older brothers and finish high school in CT. As an ESL student he was challenged with learning English and his classes while working part-time to contribute to rent. As the youngest of ten children, his family’s love and support was at the center of his world and helped with the transition to a new country. As a naturally creative person, it was whe...
2024-10-15
29 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Laura Martinez- Building Community with Faith and Fellowship
Laura Martinez’s journey to the U.S. began eleven years ago when she relocated from her native country, Colombia. She arrived and fell in love with the energy of New York City along with its architecture and diversity. As an au pair in CT, she would spend weekends in the NYC taking in all its glory and learning about American culture. She quickly began building her own English skills and personal confidence, and embarked on a journey as an ESL tutor working with beginner level learners. As a volunteer she focused on service and building community in her classroom re...
2024-10-08
34 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Mariana Villarreal- Finding Abundance Through Connections and Education
Mariana Villarreal is a woman from Colombia who has blazed a trail for herself during her years living in the U.S. After recently graduating from the University of New Haven with her Dental Hygienist degree and certification, she recalls her humble beginnings as an au pair that came with unique challenges and created a difficult transition to the U.S. She began teaching English as a Second Language which satisfied her craving to connect and engage in service. She found her way by building a community and creating bonds, with a larger goal to obtain a degree and career...
2024-10-01
37 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
Growing under the Covers
Send us a textToday's episode recorded just before Summer 2024 ended, is a part two of sorts to our recent episode, The Forgotten Season. This episode has Lisa teaching us about building and using garden row covers. Which let's us to continue growing cool weather veggies all winter long. Doesn't some fresh veggies sound great in the dead of the winter? Here's how you can do it!Direct link to her blog on this subject: https://www.midwestgardengal.com/growing-under-the-covers-usda-zones-5-and-6/If you'd like Lisa to appear at your club...
2024-09-25
1h 13
Finding Our Voices Today
Ana Alfaro- Strong Advocate. Community Leader. Television Personality. Champion for Equal Access.
Ana Alfaro is a Corporate Citizenship Program Manager & Hispanic Media Relations at Eversource Energy. She has over 25 years of diverse experience in various aspects of public, media, and community relations, event management, and television production. In her current position she manages the company’s volunteer engagement opportunities and employee giving programs. Ana Alfaro is the producer and host of El Show de Analeh, a weekly program on the Univision network and UniMas. Ana describes El Show as “a dream production turned into a successful reality.” Since 2007, the program has informed, empowered, and entertained the diverse Latino community in Connecticut and Wester...
2024-09-24
42 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Mirtica Aldave- A Lifelong Teacher and Learner- Using her Own Immigrant Experience to Impact Others
Mirtica Aldave moved to the United States from Peru with her family at a very young age. Her parents and their strong family values upheld Peruvian traditions and customs and little did she know, growing up in a bilingual home would shape her entire career. As a bilingual educator and cultural researcher, she has taught in the Hartford School system for many years impacting her students lives. As an advocate for the Latino community, she has applied for and received numerous grants including Fund for Teachers, which she has received twice. Mirtica has traveled extensively engaging in educational research and...
2024-09-17
40 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Ballet Folklorico de las Americas- Focusing on Teaching through Dance and Culture
Ballet Folklorico de las Americas (Diana, Paola, & Kelly) are committed to educating their diverse audiences through dance, music and sheer enthusiasm to be with people. These fabulously talented women are sisters from Colombia who arrived at different points in their lives, all with a unique focus, but are committed to teaching and learning all while spreading the beauty of dance as a way to tell stories. When they aren’t dancing or collaborating with their numerous community partners, they are teaching English, running language businesses, and studying for their medical board certification. Their goal to educate through arts is important in...
2024-09-10
44 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Lina Motta - Dynamic Opportunities Come from Hard Work & Focus
Lina Motta is a trailblazer who naturally seeks connections with others and finds arenas for learning on her many travels in the world. Arriving in the U.S. as an au pair from Colombia, she has seized many opportunities in the academic and professional world. A natural teacher and a lifelong learner, she has tutored English as a second language while promoting social emotional health and building confidence in her students. As an attendee and winner of the Global Impact Challenge at the United Nations Youth Assembly program for Sustainable Development Goals, she co-founded a nonprofit organization focused on creating...
2024-09-05
32 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
Garlic Fest '24 - Easy Step by Step Guide
Send us a textToday, along with the Midwest Garden Gal... we walk through the simple step by step process of growing garlic in the Midwest. The good news is that this prcess is spread out over a nine month period and five of those months you don't have much to do at all... if ANYTHING! Join us and bring a pencil & paper.We once again welcome in our West of the Midwest podcast contributor, Lisa Hinzman Howard, also known as The Midwest Garden Gal. https://www.mid...
2024-09-04
52 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah: Self Advocacy & Family Support is her Key to Success
Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah is an artist with a rich cultural heritage as the daughter of Ghanaian and St. Lucian immigrants. She grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, which shaped her approach to storytelling from a very young age. As a twin and the youngest of four siblings, her early choices in high school significantly influenced her path. Today, her passion for social justice and racial equality drives her work as a director, writer, and poet. In 2020, she and her sister Ewuradjoa founded The Melacast Network, a platform connecting BIPOC directors with BIPOC actors and crew. They are deeply committed to...
2024-09-04
35 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Yelena Klompus - Using Personal Experience to Foster Community & Resources
Yelena Klompus came to the U.S. with a purpose. In an effort to keep her family safe and raise her son with better access to healthcare, she has been able to use her academic credentials and professional experience from her native country, Russia, to create impactful library programs in the U.S. As the Manager of Multicultural and English Language Literacy Programs at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT, she has been able to connect thousands of immigrants and English language learners to programs and resources that provide a pathway to self-sufficiency. She is empathetic to newcomers but is...
2024-09-03
38 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
The Forgotten Season
Send us a textThe Midwest Garden Gal joins us once again to discuss The Forgotte n Season. The late planting season time to sow some more cool weather veggies right now in mid August! Take a listen and take advantage of the warm soil and soon to be cool morning dew. PLUS, get some cucumber scoop form the Iowa expert herself! Here's the Grow guide:https://www.midwestgardengal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MGG_Zone5_GrowGuide.pdfHere's that Blog:https://www.midwestgardengal.com/blog/Visit Lisa here: https://ww...
2024-08-07
53 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Julia Mesquita - CREATING PATHWAYS FOR HER FUTURE
Julia Mesquita is from Brazil and has been in the U.S. for 6 years. She is the FINDING OUR VOICES TODAY podcast Social Media Coordinator who designs the weekly interview posts on Tuesday & Saturday that you see on our Instagram and Facebook pages. She is super talented and we are so happy to work with her and have learned so much together. She is a proud graduate of Norwalk Community College and is currently working as a legal intern and at a job in retail. Her plan is to attend college and pursue a degree in Political Science with the...
2024-07-31
32 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Rajkumari Thakur- Creating Community on the East & West Coasts
Rajkumari Thakur is from India and has been in the U.S. for 6 years. With an educational background and passion for marketing and business, she pivoted into education and helped with running a school and supervising staff prior to getting married and moving to the U.S. While in the U.S. she has lived on both the east and west coast and has been successful meeting new people and creating a community for her and her family. She is excited for new opportunities that lie ahead for her as she gets ready to reenter the career track. After all...
2024-07-30
35 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Marilyn Collins - A Compassionate Educator Focused on Literacy
Marilyn Collins has committed her entire professional career to teaching literacy. Starting at the elementary level while living in VT, she decided to return to her beloved NY and begin working with adult learners. Although she officially retired a year ago in 2023 after a career spanning 40+ years, she continues to teach and mentor adult students. With an expertise in basic literacy, she also has extensive training and experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and has trained and prepared hundreds of tutors while in her role as education and curriculum coordinator. Marilyn continues to make significant impact in...
2024-07-23
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Mike Gopinathan - Professional Engineer & Impactful Leader
Mike Gopinathan, Ph.D., who is from India, is a true energizer bunny working diligently for his family and creating a legacy that has impacted his colleagues and overall community. As he sits on the cusp of retirement, he has enjoyed a successful career as an engineer and manager with Eversource and now will focus on his three international businesses. Mike has had a focused career impacting many in his organization with his talent and expertise along with his commitment to leadership and DEI initiatives. Additionally, his academic career has been equally as impressive as he has earned multiple master’s...
2024-07-16
42 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Mariia Vintoniak- Nurse from Ukraine Finds Her Healthcare Career Path
Mariia Vintoniak is from Ukraine and was a working nurse before she arrived to the U.S. just 6 years ago. She has worked diligently to improve her English and learn more grammar and language skills while raising her two young girls and supporting her family’s needs. Her focus on creating a pathway to work was laser focused as she worked in a Ukrainian daycare and juggled the demands of being a working mother. Later it took a turn to what she feels most passionate about when she completed the certified nurses’ aide training at a local community college in Fair...
2024-07-09
25 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Lina Arboleda- The Road To Success Is Not A Straight Line
Lina Arboleda, law graduate pending for bar admission, has had a long journey to achieve her career goals in the United States. As an attorney in Colombia, coming to the U.S. and finding her way wasn’t always easy or involving a clear pathway. Moving from ESL classes, courses at the local community college, having different jobs not related to her career, to attending law school at Pace University, she has covered a lot of ground. Now, as a staff immigration attorney (working under a supervising attorney) at the Lutheran Social Services in NYC she is instrumental in helping im...
2024-07-02
21 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Marty Barry - Embracing a New Community with ESL Volunteer Tutoring
Marty Barry has had a career as a Human Resources manager/administrator and also as a controller in the field of finance. He grew up with encouragement to volunteer in the community and has continued to prioritize giving back. He learned German in college and when having to put it to use while working in banking he quickly realized how difficult it was to communicate in everyday life. This resulted in building a deeper understanding and empathy for non-native language speakers living in a new location. After a recent transition from NY to CT he was looking for a place...
2024-06-25
35 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Ivan Romero - Executive Chef- A Champion in the Culinary World
Chef Ivan Romero is dynamic. He is laser focused on creating beautiful artistic dishes that are delicious beyond words, and enjoyed by people of all cultures. What you’ll hear most in his interview is his gratitude…for his training, his mentors who believed in him, and how he remembers how challenging it was to get where he is today…how his diligence and commitment paid off. As Executive Chef and business owner of Rosemary Group, he is eager to share his talents with the next generation of incoming chefs. With a focus on Mexican food, he helps restaurants of all st...
2024-06-18
34 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
Perennials for Pollinators
Send us a textToday we welcome back The Midwest Garden Gal for a pollinators discussion. But more so, since June is perennial month and pollinators week falls within the month of June, we decided to combine the subjects into one fun conversation.Lisa, The MGG, is based in Iowa and its nice to get that western midwest side of the gardening world news. Check out all things MGG style by visiting her website!Pollinator Week 2024 will take place June 17-23, 2024https://www.midwestgardengal.com/
2024-06-14
59 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Title: Lana Gifas - Women’s Mentoring Network- Impacting & Effective
Lana Gifas, Executive Director for Women’s Mentoring Network located in Stamford, CT, is making impact. As a former finance professional she took on the leadership role with this non-profit almost 10 years ago. The agency offers specialized strategic life skills workshops, 1:1 mentoring services, resume and workplace readiness support, along with a food pantry and business clothing closet for their clients. With programs in Stamford and White Plains, NY, they are expanding services into Norwalk and impacting more residents of Fairfield County than ever before. With her dedicated team, they work with the client's entire family, including high schoolers who can ta...
2024-06-11
29 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Pilar Illanes - Focused on Service & How Love Can Change Everything
Pilar Illanes is a trailblazer. A woman on a mission. Her experience in America started during the pandemic with a phone call from a family member requesting her to come help with the family business. In an act of love and service she came to help her grieving family, but what was intended to be temporary turned into an journey full of a rich love story and entrepreneurial opportunities that would change her life. Listen and learn how family, commitment, love, hard work, and resilience can change the trajectory of life’s path.
2024-06-04
38 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Danielle Clarke- Moving to the U.S. as a Young Teen
Danielle moved to the U.S. from Jamaica with her family at an impressible and tender age. Listen to her journey as she shares the differences in schools and learning as well as the social challenges that come with being the “new girl”. The realities of trying to fit in as the new person in a new school…as a teenager…can be rough! Have a listen to her story of working as a young banking professional while enrolled in college, and the thrilling plans she has for herself. This self-assured woman has a bright future ahead and the advice she woul...
2024-05-28
27 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Suzie Heiland- Cultural Responsiveness in a Changing School District
Suzie Heiland has been an educator for 30 years in a small school district locted in Northwest CT. She has taught many children during her tenure and she can’t imagine doing anything else than teaching. Join the conversation to learn about her changing district as they welcome more immigrant families into the schools. In her small town, families are finding resources and invaluable support for the children and for themselves which truly makes a difference in their educational and journey to independence.
2024-05-21
24 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Mayerli Corredor- An Engineer with a Mission
Mayerli, an engineer, was an au pair in the U.S. for 2+ years dividing her time between Colorado and Connecticut. She traveled quite a bit during her time here but also took every advantage to learn and find pathways to education and creativity serving the community. She was part of the Youth Assembly- a platform founded in 2004 by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF), a not-for-profit organization, a unique platform that cultivates a global network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact, in NYC where she started a project inspired by the global Sustainable Development Goals initiative...
2024-05-14
30 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Stacia - A Pathway from the Caribbean to Corporate America
Stacia Morris is an energetic corporate professional who has authored Teen Money 101, Teen Money 101 Teacher’s Guide & Teen Money 102 and is the founder of Your Life TREK. She works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for women and families with a focus on financial literacy, financial health & wellness, as well as professional leadership coaching. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (Accounting) and an MBA from Pace University in New York and a BA from the University of the West Indies. She spent the majority of her career with IBM as a leasing executive and has had diverse ex...
2024-05-07
35 min
Your Midwest Garden Podcast
Cheap Tricks Gardening with The Midwest Garden Gal
Send us a textSteve, one of our loyal listeners introduced Mike & I to Lisa Hinzman Howard, aka The Midwest Garden Gal after he attended one of her garden show lectures. That gave us a chance to invite Lisa on the show to discuss her recent book, Cheap Tricks Gardening. Listen in as we talk about the western half of the midwest and about facets of her book! Cause you don’t need to spend a fortune for fabulous.PLUS... an EXCLUSIVE announcement from Lisa, heard here first!!!Order the book now for a tim...
2024-05-02
55 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Jose Mesquita, Ph.D. - Marketing Researcher & Author from Brazil
Dr. Jose Mesquita is a Professor of Marketing from Brazil who has been in the U.S. for 6 years. As a visiting research professor at UCONN in Stamford, he has engaged in research and collaborative global partnerships in the academic arena of marketing. Additionally, he has successfully published numerous academic articles as well as an instructional manual for researchers and students titled, Marketing Analytics: Statistical Tools for Marketing and Consumer Behavior Using SPSS. His motivation is to make data analysis more efficient and easier to aggregate for researchers, instructors, and students. He is a dedicated family man and a very...
2024-04-30
27 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Lauren Drazen - An Educator Embraces Language & Culture
Lauren Drazen is a former foreign language teacher and administrator. She embraces her commitment to lifelong learning by engaging in consistent exploration through travel and earnest curiosity, in addition to her love for diverse languages and culture. Listen along and hear how this enthusiastic educator transformed the landscape of foreign language learning in her district and continues to impact the community in dynamic ways.
2024-04-23
31 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Reaching Goals with the Inspiring Millie Izaguirre
This episode features Millie who shares her story as she journeyed from Peru to the U.S. in her early 20’s. Arriving with a dream in her mind, and a goal to learn English and build her life, she continues to break down barriers to pave her pathway to career and educational success. She still focuses on learning and improving her English while working on her MBA program and networking for a career in marketing and communications. Her passion to succeed is palpable!
2024-04-16
20 min
Finding Our Voices Today
Fernanda- A Success Story Blooms Despite the Pandemic
Fernanda Ramos, is our second interview of the podcast and we are thrilled she is sharing her incredible personal story with us. She arrived in the U.S. with a two year old and her husband just a year before COVID, and if quarantining wasn’t hard enough to stay healthy, how do you make friends, expand your language skills, and build a new community during a pandemic? Listen to our podcast to find out how she persevered and kept moving forward to where she is today! From a banking career to real estate in a highly competitive region, she is...
2024-04-14
27 min