Her Voice: With Dr. Grace

Lupe Gomez-Barrera joins the program to discuss her passion for serving her community, and her involvement with the Association of Professionals and Students (APS), a non-profit organization which has a focus on empowering the underserved communities throughout the United States with programs and resources they can obtain a higher education. 

This episode features an interview with Vivian Malauulu, the first Latina elected to the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees to represent Area 2 which covers all of West Long Beach and the south-central parts of the city. She is also the first board member with direct ties to a Polynesian family.

A career educator, Vivian has more than 20 years of substantial experience teaching a variety of high school subjects for the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as classes at Los Angeles Harbor College and California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), a master’s degree in Educational Administration from CSUDH, and four K-14 bilingual teaching credentials. When she was elected to the College Board in April of 2016, Vivian taught Journalism part-time at Long Beach City College (LBCC) and was an active member of the Executive Boards of both the part-time Faculty Association and the Trades Advisory Council at LBCC.

Vivian is a full-time registered longshore worker with Local 13 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) at the Long Beach/Los Angeles twin-ports complex. She is one of only six titled officers in Local 13, overseeing the welfare and pension benefits of more than 10,000 members, retirees, and their dependents. In 2018, she became the first woman in the ILWU’s 81-year history to be elected to that office as the local’s Health Benefits Representative

In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Grace about some of the impactful events from 2020, and her reflections on some of the guests from the previous year. Dr. Grace also shares her thoughts about her vision for 2021 and shares words of inspiration for listeners! 

This episode features a conversation with Marisela Magaña, Councilwoman for the City of Perris, as she shares her journey to becoming an elected official, and the issues that she is most passionate about. 

About Councilwoman Magaña: Marisela Magaña is the youngest daughter of working-class immigrants. She was raised by a single mother in the City of Perris. Marisela is a proud product of the Perris Union High School District. She is first-generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside and a Master's in Management from the University of Redlands.

Marisela has dedicated her career to advocating for children and families in the Perris Valley. She currently works for a local community college as the Student Life and Development Program Advisor. She has worked as a teacher for the Val Verde Unified School District, a Social Worker for a nonprofit, a Health Educator for the City of Perris, and as Senior Field Representative for Congressman Mark Takano.

Marisela Magaña was elected November 2018 by the residents of the City of Perris to represent them on City Council. She has then been appointed by council to serve on the Ways and Means, Homelessness Task Force and the Human Resource Committees. Marisela is working tirelessly to improve the lives of working-class families and ensure that Perris is a safe, transparent, and prosperous community for all.

Aja Smith, Republican candidate for Congress in California's District 41, joins the program to discuss the issues that are most important to her as a candidate, and how her experience as a veteran has shaped her views. Aja also shares her thoughts about the type of leadership that is needed at this time. 

To learn more about Aja, visit: https://www.ajasmithforcongress.com/

Dani-Jo Hill, founder of Gabriel’s Promise, joins the program to discuss the journey of starting her organization. Dani shares how she has developed a team of over 50 local leaders and staff in Haiti, who are actively engaged in the community and working to education, mentor and protect those who are most in need within their city. She also reveals the impact that COVID-19 has had on the population in Haiti, and the work that her organization does.

Opal Singleton, President and CEO of Million Kids, joins the program to discuss the problem of human trafficking, and how to keep children safe from child predators. 

About Opal Singleton:

Singleton has educated more than 250,000 government and individual leaders about labor and sex trafficking, sextortion, child pornography, and social media exploitation. She is the author of “Seduced: The Grooming of America’s Teenagers” and appears on television and radio talk shows across the United States.

Singleton is an Instructor at SCI and a Co-Instructor at the USC School of Social Work for the Los Angeles Police Department LEAD program. She is an Instructor at Los Angeles Fire Leadership Training Academy and for the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit. Singleton serves on the California Baptist University Deans Advisory Board for Global Social Justice Outreach and on the Board of Directors of Rapha House International in Cambodia, Thailand and Haiti.

Singleton has completed the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation Instructor Course and served on the Peace Officers Standardized Training) panel to develop the training curriculum on human trafficking for law enforcement for California.

She is the host of two radio shows: KTIE 590AM broadcasts “Exploited: Crimes and Technology” on AM Radio throughout Southern California each Saturday at 3:00 P.M.; and “Exploited: Crimes Against Humanity,” broadcasting to 170 countries.

Anna Miller joins Dr. Grace for a conversation about how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education, tips for parents who may be dealing with virtual schooling, and more. 

About Anna Miller: 

Annamari Miller is currently a Ph.D. candidate at St. John’s University. She is also an ESL teacher, a wife, and a mother of three boys and a newly born baby girl. She has a master’s in teaching from Andrews University and a bachelor’s of elementary education from Oakwood  University.

Anna Miller joins Dr. Grace for a conversation about how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education, tips for parents who may be dealing with virtual schooling, and more. 

About Anna Miller: 

Annamari Miller is currently a Ph.D. candidate at St. John’s University. She is also an ESL teacher, a wife, and a mother of three boys and a newly born baby girl. She has a master’s in teaching from Andrews University and a bachelor’s of elementary education from Oakwood  University.