Lucky number 77 of the Ednium Podcast has the fellas expressing and living in gratitude with their guest; Storyteller, Trendsetter, and Mother Lesley Del Rio. Lesley Joins us this post-thanksgiving holiday episode where the conversation focuses in on the transformation of identity and our environment. The interconnectedness that happens as growth and evolution can occur in both of those spaces separately and yet when we recognize how intertwined or sense of self and the identity of our environment are, the greater our ability to live in purpose is. Tune in and listen to a lovely conversation about motherhood, passion, and rewriting the narrative. Let us know what you're feeling in this episode.

Content Disclaimer:

 Our ultimate goal as a podcast platform is to host and facilitate the authentic voices of our guests so that those who sit with us are able to express themselves freely. Our job is not to censor the voice of our guests. Ednium: The Alumni Collective, does not endorse all sentiments shared on the podcast. 

Episode 76 of the Ednium Podcast, we are proud to share the conversation we had with Mom, Educator, and Activist Myka Petit. Coming fresh off the heels of the 2024 national election, David & Langston find themselves in conversation with a woman that is walking in tune with her educational destiny, aligned in her political values, and someone who is strategizing how best to keep hope alive for herself, her son, and the kids she teaches everyday. Give episode 76- “We Have to Hope, We Have To Resist” a listen and let us know what you think! 

Content Disclaimer:

Our ultimate goal as a podcast platform is to host and facilitate the authentic voices of our guests so that those who sit with us are able to express themselves freely. Our job is not to censor the voice of our guests. Ednium: The Alumni Collective, does not endorse all sentiments shared on the podcast. 

Episode 75 brings us our 2nd episode under our new stewardship for the podcast where we meet our guest Kellsie Forfar-Jones. A friend, a planner, and a silly soul of a human being.  Throughout this episode, we learn how Kellsie’s relationships with Denver and her family & friends fuels her passion as an urban planner. We get to learn about how her journey through DPS shaped her post-secondary experience. And how her relationship with our very own co-host Langston Mayo has helped shape her view on hope and curiosity. Tune in and let us know what you think about this beautiful conversation between friends and good humans.

Welcome to the newest iteration of The Ednium Podcast! New hosts, Langston Mayo & David Martinez add their seasoning to the podcast that historically has held intimate conversations with leaders around the Denver Metro Area. The esteemed guest for this podcast is TeRay Esquibel, a father, husband, and leader that does the courageous action of being vulnerable with some homies. This episode intentionally sets the stage for the new iteration of the podcast that will center around Hope, Curiosity, Love, and Community.

Tashan Montgomery is an educator and youth council liaison for Young and Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA). Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Tashan has felt a strong connection to community building and community education. He was recently awarded with Ednium's Game Giver award, and hopes to continue his work on the ground.

Our guest this week is Brayan Montez-Terrazas, the winner of 'The Creator of the Year' award at our 2023 Homegrown Awards.

Denver-based artist, Brayan Montes-Terrazas is better known by his alias YAMZ. Under his brand, YAMZ, Brayan’s unwavering identity-driven art stresses the importance of putting marginalized voices at the forefront of our conversations and the stories we tell.

He is driven by the essential need to tell the stories of his identity as an undocumented, queer person of color. Using art and design as the vessels, Brayan demonstrates to others that they are not alone in the fight toward equity, justice, and sound mental health.

While he continues to develop the YAMZ: World of Color as both an art-based brand and community-driven organization, he maintains the principle that when we uplift marginalized identities through art we can heal, provide business solutions, and bring each other up - because representation matters and we must strive to build equity in the art and design fields.

Some of Brayan's clients include Nestle, New Belgium Brewing, Door Dash and Microsoft XBOX.

In this podcast episode, TeRay speaks with Dwight Jones, the Executive Director for the Office of Children Affairs in Denver.

Dwight Jones boasts a distinguished career spanning education and the private sector. He has served as Interim Superintendent and Senior Deputy Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, Senior Vice President at McGraw-Hill Education, and offered strategic guidance at Discovery Channel's Education Division. Notably, as Superintendent of Clark County School District, Las Vegas, he raised academic standards for over 320,000 students. Jones, the former Colorado Commissioner of Education, revamped state standards, narrowed achievement gaps, and spearheaded the Colorado Growth Model. With extensive experience in superintendent, curriculum, and development roles, Jones is a renowned national speaker, published author, and Senior Advisor to Whiteboard Advisors in Washington, D.C. Throughout his illustrious career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the AASA Distinguished Service Award, NAACP's Heartbeat Award, and induction into the Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame.
Join us as as he brings us along on his journey to becoming a leader in education and his views on the importance of balance in education, the value of teamwork, and the impact of parental involvement and high expectations on student achievement.

Our guest this week is Liloni Ramos, the winner of 'The Leader of the Year' award at our Ednium 2023 Homegrown Awards. Liloni is a 4th generation Coloradoan and 3rd generation Denverite who grew up in Denver’s Harvey Park neighborhood. Being raised by her mother and grandmother, Liloni understood the power of education, service, and human connection at a young age. Having attended Denver Public Schools, she experienced firsthand the educational disparities in the public school system. Motivated to enact change, she pursued a Bachelor’s in Human Development & Family Studies at Colorado State University (#ProudToBe), where her fervor for equitable access to education ignited. Transitioning to higher education to delve deeper into educational inequities and support first-generation college students, she shifted away from kindergarten classrooms. Now, as the Program Manager of Gary’s Piton Fellowship, Liloni utilizes her diverse educational background to nurture Denver's future leaders. Holding a Masters in nonprofit management from Regis University, she actively engages in community committees and boards, such as The Denver Foundation’s Advisory Committee for Community Impact and the Reisher Alumni Program Board. Inspired by her nieces and nephews, Liloni is dedicated to fostering success for future generations.

For this week's episode, we had with the opportunity to sit down and talk with Dianne Myles, the CEO of Dope Mom Life. Dianne found her passion for storytelling and community. Her team fulfills the company's mission daily to tell authentic, impactful stories that shift viewers' perspectives and garner engagement. Dianne's life experiences have given her a unique opportunity to be a powerful messenger and connector. Dianne prioritizes spending time with her two adult children, DJ and Tiara, who attend CU Denver, as they are her world. She also spends countless hours volunteering for organizations and serving on boards. Dianne is also a celebrated business leader in the community, having won several awards, including a Heartland Emmy.

This week, our podcast features Dr. Jamal Bowen, winner of 'The Dream Investor' award at the Ednium 2023 Homegrown Awards. Dr. Bowen, a dedicated father and community advocate, founded "Empowering Community Entrepreneurs" in 2016 to mentor young adults in business. He played a key role in the Women’s Situation Room during elections in Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire in 2017, promoting women's empowerment. Dr. Bowen's commitment to education is evident in his roles at the Community College of Denver, where he served as Dean of Instruction and Program Chair, offering valuable workshops and training. His partnerships with organizations like SparqU and Energize Colorado underscore his commitment to community development. Recognized for his contributions, Dr. Bowen received the Post-Secondary Educator of the Year award in 2020 and an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service in 2021.