In this episode of the Militant Positivity Podcast, host Bob Nelson speaks with Joe Martinez and Claudia Ceballos about their nonprofit initiative, Making Spirits Brighter, which aims to provide a joyful Christmas experience for families in need, particularly those connected to the foster care system. The conversation delves into the origins of the initiative, the selection process for families, the logistics of the event, and the importance of community support and volunteer involvement. They also discuss the future aspirations of the organization and the lasting impact it has on the lives of children and families.

Takeaways:

In this episode of the #MilitantPositivity Podcast, host Bob Nelson interviews Jesus Garcia, founder of High Performance Academy.

They discuss Jesus's journey from a professional soccer player to a youth developer, the challenges he faced growing up, and the mission of his organization to empower youth through sports.

Jesus shares insights on leadership, mentorship, and the importance of community engagement, as well as advice for young people facing challenges. The conversation highlights the transformative power of sports and the impact of High Performance Academy in the Fresno community.

Key Takeaways:

Quotes:

"Soccer was my outlet."

"We serve over a thousand kids every day."

"Sports empowers individuals and youth."

Armida Espinoza, author of Brave Lolis Learns English, shares her personal journey as a second language learner and the challenges she faced. She emphasizes the importance of changing negative self-talk to positive thoughts and encourages students to be resilient. Armida also advises teachers to listen to their students and have conversations about their struggles, rather than just labeling them as resilient. For parents, she suggests opening up books, reading with their children, and having conversations about their thoughts and fears. Armida's mission is to raise awareness about the challenges students face and promote understanding and support in schools. A must listen for every Valley educator!

Summary

In this episode of the #MilitantPositivity Podcast, Dr. Bob Nelson interviews Lowell Ens, the leader of Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU), an organization that supports families with children facing exceptionality. Lowell shares his background and how he ended up in the nonprofit sector. He explains EPU's mission to guide and strengthen families and children with unique needs through early intervention and supportive services. The conversation covers topics such as the challenges of navigating the special education system, the importance of early intervention, and the need for cultural sensitivity in serving diverse communities. Lowell also shares a heartwarming success story of a father who found support and advocacy through EPU. The episode concludes with ways that listeners can support EPU and get involved in their work.

Dr. Shelley Jones-Holt, CEO of Leadership Legacy Consulting, discusses the importance of reflective leadership and family leadership. She emphasizes the need for leaders to be self-aware and willing to admit their mistakes in order to gain respect from their colleagues.

Dr. Jones-Holt also shares strategies for developing leadership skills in children, including getting to know them as individuals, setting goals, and checking biases. She highlights the significance of addressing tough topics and having open conversations with children in a non-biased and factual manner.

Dr. Jones-Holt shares a story of a teacher who gained a new understanding of African-American history and biases, demonstrating the impact of creating a safe environment for learning and reflection.

Keywords: Leadership, reflective leadership, family leadership, self-awareness, respect, children, goals, biases, tough topics, open conversations, African-American history

Takeaways:

Sound Bites:

Summary

In this episode of the Militant Positivity Podcast, Dr. Bob Nelson discusses the importance of not always being liked as a leader. He shares his personal experience of being a chronic people pleaser and how he learned to navigate the challenges of leadership. Dr. Nelson emphasizes the need to prioritize the well-being of children and make decisions that may not always be popular. He advises leaders to ignore negativity and focus on serving others. Ultimately, being disliked by the right people can be a sign of staying true to one's core values.

Takeaways:

Leadership requires accepting that not everyone will like you.

Prioritize the well-being of children and make decisions that align with your core values.

Ignore negativity and focus on serving others.

Being disliked by the right people can be a sign of staying true to your values.

Come meet amazing visionary and human being, Scott Buell, the Founder and CEO of Drone Legends! (And, perhaps more importantly, the self-proclaimed embarrassing drone lacrosse Dad of South Jersey!)

Scott is an incredible leader who left the pharmaceutical grind and followed his passion for drones into a pathway of changing the lives of young people through project-based earning, STEM career exploration, and 21st Century deeper learning!

Scott has created a curriculum for nearly all grades K-12 that changes permanently, how excited kids are about school and how they see themselves and their own abilities! He is actively on the mission of unlocking the "Legend" inherent is EVERY SINGLE CHILD. And we are so thankful that he found the Central Valley early in his drone journey!

And for any adult who feels trapped in their current career path- his is a MUST HEAR story of taking life into one's own hands, and living with joy, passion, and zero regret! An amazing episode with a newly-minted, long-term friend! Thanks Scott, and thanks to our ever-increasing listener base!

Come partake in this awesome episode in which Wilma and her colleagues at CASA share how they are positively impacting the lives of foster youth across the Valley! Find out what they do to show loving support as well as how you can help- as an advocate, as a donor, or as a full-fledged champion of our kids for whom there in the greatest need... Our kids need love and adults whom they can trust!

And STAY TUNED TO THE END WHERE WILMA LAUNCHES HER BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Remember, you heard it here FIRST and ONLY on the #MilitantPositivity podcast! Thanks for listening, rating, sharing, and subscribing! We continue to grow with your help and engagement! THANK YOU!

We tend to associate "building a brand" with our friends in the private sector, but it is incredibly crucial for educational leaders to build their own brand that can build trust and predictability. People don't follow people whom they don't trust. It is that simple. Why are we likely to have so much angst in the leadup to the 2024 Presidential Election? It's ALL ABOUT STAYING ON BRAND... So come check it out!

Connie Cha leads a team of 22 leaders who expand the world view of Fresno Students everyday! In collaboration with school counselors and college and career leaders, she helps in providing students in the city of Fresno with life experiences that they would not have by any other means! She is one of the many leaders that makes the Valley great! Come listen to her leadership journey and learn her crucial role in shaping the lives of kids for good!