Spotlight on the Community

Jose Cruz, CEO of the San Diego Council of Literacy, discusses the need for literacy challenges to be recognized as a national priority and how the council is working to destigmatize the issue. Cruz chats about how the Council provides resources for individuals and families to raise literacy rates through its programs and its San Diego Book Giveaway events.

Blair Sadler, Board Chair for Access Youth Academy, and Susan Taylor, an Academy Board Member, discuss how the academy uses the game of squash to create equitable opportunities for underrepresented San Diego students to succeed in high school, get accepted to top-rated colleges, and move into their careers. Sadler and Taylor chat about the Academy's new facility and how it advances the Academy’s mission.

Kathryn the Grape, singer-songwriter, and producer, who is also known as Kathryn Cloward, chats about her work with the late Father Joe Carroll. Cloward explains how her stories, songs, and teachings came to fruition under her Kathryn the Grape moniker. She shares her recent recognition as a 2021 NAPPA award winner and explains how music can be used to develop social-emotional skills for children and parents alike.

Ted Parzen, President and CEO of the Burnham Center of Community Advancement, chats about the recent launch of San Diego icon Malin Burnham's new center that will focus on making our region a better place to work, live and play. Parzen discusses upcoming projects and partnerships with Design Forward Alliance and UC San Diego Design Lab.

Trish Boaz, Executive Director of the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, is joined by colleagues Emily Kochert, Conservation Manager, and Joseph Rivera, associate conservation manager, to chat about the importance of protecting our region's vast natural resources. Boaz, Kochert, and Rivera talk about their plans for their newly acquired 117 acres in Del Dios and discuss how the Conservancy prevailed through the pandemic through online webinars and programs. They highlight upcoming events such as their annual Friendraiser and River Valley Fest.

Charles Parisi, CEO, and Founder of Cloudcast Media is joined by Shayn Mitchell, Founder, and CEO of Cypher studios, and Rob Atterbury, Director of Distinct and Regional Support for ConnectEd, to talk about SchoolCast, a Cloudcast Media initiative to set up a podcast studio at all San Diego County high schools. Capitalizing on his success in creating a podcast station at the School of Entrepreneurship and Technology (SET), students will be taught all aspects of producing, engineering, and marketing their podcasts. Students will learn how to channel their curiosity into storytelling.

Dr. Gary Hoachlander, President of ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career, is joined by colleague Rob Atterbury, Director of Distinct and Regional Support, to discuss how ConnectEd creates linked learning pathways to prepare students for success in college, career, and civic life. They chat about their systemic method to transform high schools and the learning environments for students.

Lisa Dawley, Director of The Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego, is joined by her colleague, Monte Kalisch, Director of Technology, to chat about the institute's programs that help students develop skills to become innovators. Dawley and Kalisch talk about their Pactful curriculum that levels the playing field for underserved students.

Todd Ullah, Chief Strategy Officer for EDforTech, is joined by colleague Tatiana Santos, Marketing and Instructional Design Specialist, to chat about their company's STEM Courses; STEM Summer Camps; and Technical Support Services. They discuss how their courses and summer camps are built to target inequity and teach critical STEM skills for students in all grades.

Jamar Williams, Founder, and CEO of PromoDrone chats about the mission and evolution of his company. He talks about the power of the platform in creating jobs and attracting brands. Williams also discusses teaching students about the science behind drones. He is bullish on the future of drone technology in advertising and communications. Williams, an accomplished musician, gives a quick taste of his music.