In this episode, I continue my conversation with Allison about what real leadership looks like when it’s centered on listening and elevating others. Drawing from her work with The Acceleration Project and years spent supporting women-and minority-owned small businesses, she explains how community driven solutions create meaningful impact.

We also discuss her early work with CitySoft, helping people build tech skills during the dot-com era, and how those opportunities changed lives. She reflects on making hard decisions, surrounding yourself with honest voices, and choosing work you genuinely care about, within being a leader.

We close with advice for the next generation stepping into a world shaped by AI, full of both uncertainty and possibility, and how to follow your path with curiosity and courage.

In this episode, I talk with Allison about what it really means to give power to the people living the realities we’re trying to “fix.” Based on her her work with Spark MicroGrants, we discuss why traditional aid and philanthropy sometimes smother local voices, and how trust-based approaches allow communities to design their own solutions instead of having answers handed to them from outside interventions.

Allison shares what she witnessed in villages across East and Central Africa, such as communities deciding for themselves whether they needed clean water systems, agricultural tools, or education resources, and how that trust led to positive long-term results. We speak on why listening must come before action, and how giving decision-making back to local people is more dignifying as well as more effective.

In the second part of my conversation with David Kaufer, we dive into the amazing growth of his son Stone’s confidence and the integral role brain enhancement therapy has played in their journey. David shares how his podcast, The Other Side of the Spectrum, has become more a resource for parents of non-speaking autistic children, creating a space for solidarity. We also talk about the wonderful community David has found through fellow podcasters and parents, and how those connections have given Stone opportunities to form meaningful friendships. Thank you again, David, for your brilliant input! It was a pleasure to learn so much and converse with you!

In this episode of The Unheard Forum, I sit down with David Kaufer, podcast host of The Lighter Side of the Spectrum and father to 19-year-old Stone, a non-speaking autistic young man with apraxia. David shares Stone’s early childhood and the times communication felt nearly impossible.

We talk about the life-changing discovery of the spelling to communicate methodology just before Stone’s 17th birthday. This was a breakthrough that gave him a voice and allowed him to share his thoughts, feelings, and creativity with the world. Since learning to spell, Stone has gone from a “life skills” educational track to taking traditional academic classes, and even writes his own poems and songs! 

David also describes Stone’s presence in the world, and how he has the most incredible spirit about him. This first half of our conversation gives us a glimpse into the life-changing possibilities that open up when a young person is finally able to communicate.

After nearly a year on strike, Morocco’s medical students returned to their classrooms. In Part 2 of my conversation with Iman, we explore the psychological toll of the student-led protest that shut down hospital rotations and classes nationwide. Iman recounts encounters with riot police, the losing two peers to suicide, and the what it took to keep going in the face of media pressure and silence. She discusses the hobbies she took up like learning Spanish, hypnosis, and trading, with her newfound time to keep busy. Then, with a new Minister appointed and a deal created, what did the students really win?

In this episode, I sit down with a Moroccan medical student, Iman Dahbi who participated in a year-long national protest against the government's decision to shorten medical training from 7 to 6 years. We explore what started the strike, what students lost, and how future doctors organized and banded together to protect their education.

In this second part of my conversation with Ellis Chung, Ellis reflects on her experience working with Action Youth Media, where she helped shape educational programs through film and learned the importance of building support systems for young leaders. We talk about where her love for film and her focus on uplifting unheard voices stemmed from. She says that three pieces of her identity (AAPI, young, and female) are integral to who and what she advocates for. We discuss why adult mentorship and a strong support system are essential for creating lasting change. You can't do it all alone.

Thank you Ellis, for giving us tips about advocating as a young, AAPI female, and touching on persistence and collaboration along the way.

In this episode, I speak with Ellis Chung, an incoming freshman at Harvard University, and a filmmaker and activist using storytelling, advocacy, and leadership to create space for girls and the AAPI community. From tackling hate crime legislation and women's political representation in her films to leading initiatives like Girls Who Start and her school's Korea Club, Ellis shares the privilege and responsibility that comes with being taken seriously at a young age.

We explore why media is such a powerful tool for change, and how being an Asian American girl means both challenging stereotypes and uplifting voices. Ellis opens up about the behind-the-scenes moments that keep her grounded, and her message to every girl who dreams of leading but doesn’t know where to start.

Tune in for Episode 16 for more of our conversation!

In this final part of my conversation with Ms. Jennifer White, we shift from identifying problems to thinking of possible solutions. We discuss how restorative justice can transform school culture, but also how rare true implementation is. The conversation explores the importance of knowing your rights, the power imbalance between families and school systems, and how many parents are unaware of what their children are entitled to. We are very grateful for you, Ms. Jennifer, for all of the advice and information you have provided us throughout the series!

In part two of my conversation with Jennifer White, Education Staff Attorney at MAC, we unpack how students with disabilities are impacted by school discipline systems and what legal protections exist to advocate for their rights. Ms. White breaks down the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the importance of IEP meetings, and what happens when a child is suspended, excluded, or labeled as "disruptive." We explore due process and the Chapter 222 legislation in Massachusetts, pushing schools toward equitable disciplinary practices.
Important Definitions:
FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education: The right of students with disabilities to receive a free specialized education.
IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: A federal law that requires special education services and legal protections for all eligible students.
IEP – Individualized Education Program: A legally binding document outlining special education services for a student with a disability.
Due Process – The legal right for students and families to be notified of disciplinary actions and to challenge decisions that may impact their education.
Chapter 222: Law allowing students who are excluded from school or facing exclusion to make academic progress during their exclusion through other education services provided by the school district.
“If they’re going to get excluded from school, there are certain due process rights for short term exclusions. They have a right to be notified of exactly what rule they’ve broken. They have a right to be heard to explain what happened.”