Spotlight on the Community

Annie Buckley, Founder and Director of the Prison Arts Collective, is joined by her colleague and Teaching Artist, Jennifer Poynter, to discuss their programs aimed at bringing the transformative power of art to correctional institutions in California. Buckley chats about the importance of helping those in prison connect with their creative side. Poynter discusses her role as a yoga, meditation, and breathwork instructor and what her incarcerated participants have taught her about life.

David Miyashiro, Superintendent of the nationally acclaimed Cajon Valley Union School District, talks about his district's innovative and student-focused approach to education. Miyashiro chats about the district's much anticipated World of Work Summit that will be held November 5-6 in conjunction with the San Diego Workforce Partnership.

Kenneth Bishop, Founder/Team Market Owner, of the San Diego Guardians, is joined by Chaunteal Webb-Candler, Director of Community Engagement/Team Market Owner, to discuss new developments on their endeavor to bring professional basketball back to San Diego. Bishop highlights the team's upcoming events and programs, such as the November 12 press conference aboard the USS Midway Museum; current partnerships and membership opportunities; and the new Guardians' Elite club. Webb-Candler elaborates on the Guardians' commitment to community outreach.

Megan Dowell and Stacy Dertien of The Salvation Army talk about their charitable organization's mission to help homeless individuals and families during this holiday season. Dowell, the Homeless Services Director, talks about the newly opened Rady Residence - a housing development that will serve 32 families, as well as the Salvation Army's Rescue Christmas effort which will provide food and presents for families in need. Dertien, Director of Volunteers and Community Engagement, outlines the ways listeners can help the Salvation Army's volunteer efforts including the donation-based Online Red Kettle program.

Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent for the Escondido Union School District, discusses his award-winning district's strong response to the challenges of COVID-19. Dr. Rankins-Ibarra details the district's quick pivot to virtual teaching in the Spring and its recent pivot to a hybrid model. The school district will be honored at the annual Classroom of the Future Foundation's virtual Innovation in Education event with the Inspire Award for the Central Elementary School's Beebots & Cubelets program.

Andrea Luoni, CEO and Founder of RateCraft, discusses her company's nearly 25 years of helping businesses and organizations save millions of dollars in insurance premiums. One such organization that has benefitted from RateCraft's unprecedented success is TERI (Training, Education, Resource, Institute), a venerable, 40-year San Diego County organization whose mission is to change the way the world sees, helps, and empowers individuals with special needs. Joe Michalowski, Chief Financial Officer for TERI, talks about the myriad services offered TERI.

Jose A. Cruz, CEO of the Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI), chats about BLCI's focus on breaking the cycle of poverty in local underserved communities by providing a pathway for young students to reach higher education. BLCI annually serves between 750-1,000 students, starting in 3rd grade through college graduation and beyond. Cruz highlights the resiliency of his students and staff through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dan Dubois, Managing Partner for Retirement DNA, talks about his organization's mission of helping companies prepare their employees for retirement. Dubois underscores the need to develop financial literacy skills as well as highlighting what people need to know about the new CalSavers program.

Annie Buckley, Director and Professor at the SDSU School of Art & Design, is joined by SDSU's Vice President for Faculty and Staff diversity, Jennifer Imazeki, and Student Assistant/Diversity & Inclusion Committee member, Sabrina Davidson to discuss the critical need to embrace and support inclusivity and diversity on college campuses. Imazeki describes specific changes the School of Art & Design is making and how those changes can be adapted campus-wide. Davidson talks about her representative mural projects and the plans the Diversity & Inclusivity Committee have to reach local middle school children.

Author Sherrie Miranda discusses her new book, Crimes & Impunity in New Orleans, a novel about the shady happenings in 1980s New Orleans. Sherrie recounts her own experiences in New Orleans and describes why it was important for her to write this novel.