This week we are joined by Brandon Greene. Brandon has been a part of the Envision Community since he first attended our Jr National Young Leaders Conference back in 2009. Since that summer he has been celebrated for his community involvement, been a leader in the charge against bullying and has given back to the Envision students that intend on following in his footsteps. His work on Anti-Bullying has even led him all the way to The White House for recognition for President and First Lady Obama. You can hear Brandon as a keynote speaker at our Junior National Young Leaders Alumni Conference in Boston, MA.

Our favorite Chief Unicorn Officer, Savannah Peterson, returns for Season 2. Savannah talks candidly about her struggles during the pandemic, learning to love herself and her path of self discovery that started this summer with her return to travel. There is a lot going on in this episode so maybe listen to it twice. 

This season on the BTB podcast we plan on continuing to learn more about the speakers who share their stories with our students each summer, but we will also introduce our listeners to the movers and shakers that make our programs worthwhile. This episode we will kick off our “Meet the Team” series where we introduce our listeners to the team members that work tirelessly to create memorable experiences for our customers. Today I am joined by Yolanda Golden, the new head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at WorldStrides. She has spent The last few years at Envision, operating as one of the Vice Presidents of Education Experience before moving into her new role.

Find out more about Bean Voyage here: https://www.beanvoyage.org/

The documentary "Stronger than Coffee": https://seedandspark.com/fund/mas-que-un-cafe#story

For internship opportunities reach out to the team here: [email protected]

This week we are joined by special guest Malaika Serrano. Malaika is a certified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional who has a burning passion for driving systemic change that benefits historically marginalized communities. She spent her undergraduate days at the University of Southern Cal, before heading east to pursue her Masters at the University of Maryland and obtain her Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell. She has her Ph.D in Environmental Science & Policy from the nearby George Mason University. Malaika is someone who finds joy in connecting with people from all walks of life and loved her experiences living and teaching abroad. 

This week we are joined by special guest Ryan Valdez. Ryan is a STEM career and academic mentor who advises students on development strategies for their future employment and the university application process. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and after graduation pursued his Masters at Yale University and his Ph.D in Environmental Science & Policy from the nearby George Mason University. He has since assumed the title of Director of Conservation Science & Policy at the National Parks Conservation Association. Regularly he engages students in conversations on topics of conservation, science and policy. Envision scholars will be able to share in that experience this summer at our Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC.

This week we are joined by Bianca Jackson. Bianca is an award-winning technology project manager, career and leadership consultant, and social entrepreneur. As a Philadelphia, PA native she learned resilience and the benefits of team building early on. She spent her undergraduate days at nearby Drexel University where she led or started numerous organizations. Bianca has since received many awards on her journey to becoming a social brand marketing guru and is currently the owner/operator of two Businesses, BrickRose Exchange and Jax Digital LLC. You can hear Bianca as a guest speaker at Envision’s Junior National Young Leaders Alumni Conference in Boston, MA.

This week we are joined by Meg O’Brien. Ms. O’Brien is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and received her MS in Forensic Science. While working in the field of toxicology she took post graduate classes to learn more about crime scene investigation, which put her on the path to be a crime scene technician. She is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Forensic Sciences. Meg also sits on the Board of Directors of he American Board of Forensic Document Examination.

This week we are joined by Machin Norris. As a middle and high school science teacher in Northern Colorado she has taught STEAM, Agriculture-Natural and Renewable resources and Gifted Education. Ms. Norris is currently a STEM Integration Specialist and teaches Senior STEM Capstones. She does that, while also working closely with families and community resources to assist students in truancy and behavioral modifications. Ms. Norris has been a part of Envision’s Aerospace & Aviation Academy Team.

This week we are joined by Amanda Freitag Thomas. Amanda currently serves as Head of K12 Individual Education Travel and Experience at WorldStrides. Amanda’s journey to her current role is one admired by all Envisionaries. Once an Alumna of an Envision by WorldStrides career exploration program, she has spent over a decade serving in various program and supervisory roles. Her impact goes far beyond the program experience for our scholars and their families