In this episode, Antonio talks with Savanna Turner, PhD student in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications and president of the Collegiate Veterans Society. Savanna shares how the Collegiate Veterans Society gave her a sense of belonging that she did not even know she was missing when she returned to UF as a graduate student. Learn more about this great resource for student veterans in this episode of Level Up!

In this episode, Antonio talks with Audrey Gainey, Director of Talent Acquisition and Onboarding at UF. Audrey tells a story about how her 7th grade guidance counselor helped her find her identity through a language arts festival and Langston Hughes’ poem “Freedom Train.” You’ll also hear about Audrey’s amazing Gainesville non-profit Flourished, Inc. (sheflourished.org).

In this episode, Antonio speaks with Ledora Brown, Senior Publicist at Pitch Publicity and Howard University alum, and Amy Summers, Owner/President of Pitch and UF alum. Ledora and Amy find a common thread in their stories of belonging in a sense of homecoming. They also talk about their exciting collaboration with UF and Howard—a seminar series called Identifying the Elephant in the Room aimed at empowering future professionals to confront racism in communications career paths.

In this episode, Antonio is speaking with Andrew Telles, Director for Collaborative Initiatives at UF. Andrew describes his work as building capacity for the long-term benefit of the community and he talks about two innovative projects in East Gainesville that draw on the knowledge of community stakeholders to develop solutions.

In this episode, Antonio talks with Dr. Maria Leite, Coordinator for College Assessment and Diversity Initiatives in the College of Education, as well as a Campus Diversity Liaison and Crucial Conversations Trainer. Hear how Maria has found belonging by reconnecting with colleagues from her work in a theater school in Brazil and finding connections with the work she does today advancing IDEA at UF.

In this episode, Antonio speaks with Virginia Grant, Executive Director of Gainesville Black Professionals and Publisher of Synergy magazine. Virginia talks about her role in breaking stereotypes about the Black community and shaping the landscape for those coming behind her.

In this episode, Antonio speaks with Osubi Craig, Director of the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship in UF’s College of the Arts. Osubi talks about belonging as showing up, digging in and becoming part of your community. He brings this open spirit to CAME, which he calls a “think and do” center. Tune in to find out how this center is contributing to culture as a key economic driver in Florida.

In this episode, Antonio catches up with students Stefanie Assakawa and Gabby Whitler. Stefanie and Gabby are officers in the new student organization In Between UF, and they talk about how this student organization allows them to express all parts of their rich heritages and find belonging in difference. They also share how they are making the most of this time in quarantine through the power of habit and saying yes to things that bring joy.

In this episode, Antonio talks with Dr. Talline Martins, Director of the Office of Graduate Professional Development. Talline shares how her experience emigrating from Brazil as a teenager helped her find belonging with others who made similar journeys. She also talks about her exciting work breaking down barriers to success for UF graduate students and busting myths about graduate school for underrepresented undergraduates.

In this episode, Antonio speaks with Dr. Brittany Southern, a research regulatory analyst with UF Research, and Dr. Carl Southern, a resident with the Department of Small Animal Clinical Science in UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Brittany and Carl talk about their formative years at Tuskegee University, where faculty are like family and where the culture of love and rigor helped them to thrive. Join Antonio for this deep dive into the mechanics of culture change with these rising stars at UF.