homeless youth

In this gripping conclusion to Horus's story on Rising Phoenix, he reveals the profound impact of COVID-19 on his life, detailing the challenges he faced in securing stable housing and employment. Living along the Kern River, he recounts a harrowing near-death experience after being attacked by a group targeting homeless individuals. A chance encounter leads him to a remarkable discovery about his past as a foster youth, unlocking resources that would ultimately help him rebuild his life.

Join us as Horus shares his journey of resilience and perseverance, highlighting the importance of self-care and mental health. He offers listeners heartfelt advice on how they can make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals through simple acts of kindness. Don't miss this inspiring conclusion filled with hope, challenges, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook 

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer 

If you’ve ever wondered how Beaver’s pal Gilbert turned out, he’s doing real neat. Stephen Talbot moved on from Mayfield to become a broadcast journalist for PBS, making investigative, news-making documentary films for Frontline, Bill Moyers and American Experience. Steve joins us to discuss his boomer journey from the streets of mythical 50s suburbia to counter-culture activism, to groundbreaking documentary journalism.

First, Jeffrey Sitcov heads a foundation called Doors of Change. They are positively impacting the lives of homeless kids who find themselves on the streets due to abusive home lives and/or coming out to their families as LGBTQ. Early intervention leads to inspirational success stories for these kids. The organization’s annual Concert of Hope is coming to San Diego in July with headliners, KC and The Sunshine Band. 100% of the proceeds benefit the kids!

Next, Stephen Talbot tells us about his lates project, The Movement and The Madman which chronicles the significant impact of the anti-war movement on Nixon and Kissinger’s dangerous escalation towards increased aggression and even possibly nuclear engagement in Viet Nam. If you were protesting the war, you saved lives.

Stephen was very eager to enter the family business as a kid. His parents were entertainers. His Dad, Lyle Talbot was a film and TV actor who appeared as Ozzie Nelson’s bud, Joe Randolph as Steve was portraying The Beaver’s bestie, Gilbert Bates. But, as Steve went on to college and became increasingly interested in politics and campus activism, Beaver went into reruns and it wasn’t long before Steve’s rally speeches were interrupted by signs that read, “Gee, Beav. I don’t know.” 

The blown cover did not deter Steve. He went to work as a reporter at San Francisco’s KQED and then traveled the globe, writing, producing and directing over 40 illuminating documentaries, including: Justice For Sale, The Long March of Newt Gingrich, 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation, and Soundtracks: Music Without Borders. His next film will tell the story of Clifton Cafeteria’s run-in with true crime and gangsters in the 1930s.

We cap it off with a round of Leave It To Beaver Trivia.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Masters of the Air on Apple + and the We Are The World Doc, The Greatest Night In Pop, on Netflix!

Path Points of Interest:

Stephen Talbot

The Movement and The Madman

Stephen Talbot on Wikipedia

Stephen Talbot on IMDB

Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders (2010 and 2012)

Justice for Sale (1999)

The Long March of Newt Gingrich 

1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation 

Leave it to Beaver on IMDB

Leave It To Beaver on Prime

Article About Steve on Best Classic Bands

Jeffrey Sitcov

Doors of Change

Concert of Hope

Masters of the Air on Apple +

The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix

Join us for part one of 'Rising Phoenix: Horus' Unbreakable Sprit,' where we delve into Horus' courageous journey through childhood challenges and homelessness. From a young age, Horus faced the daunting reality of being on his own, constantly shifting from one school to another, and feeling the weight of loneliness. In this raw and honest conversation,  he also opens up about the mental health struggles he encountered as a result and offers valuable insights into how schools and the court system can better support unhoused youth.

Tune in to discover Horus' resilience and determination in the face of adversity, as he navigates through life's ups and downs with unwavering courage. Don't miss this first part of this two-part episode filled with hope, challenges, and the power of perseverance.

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook 

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer 

Get ready to be inspired as we dive into 2024 with Jo’s remarkable story on Youth Voice Amplified! Jo's story resonates with the struggles many of us encounter. In this candid conversation, she bares it all, sharing her experiences being homelessness at a young age to facing tough times and foster care in her teenage years. 

Discover how her connection to her family and her time in foster care became pivotal turning points, reshaping Jo's life for the better. She also addresses the stigma attached to foster care and homelessness, offering firsthand accounts that shed light on the misconceptions surrounding these experiences.

But hold on tight because this story isn't just about hardships—it's a celebration of  the strength found in family. As a devoted mother, Jo shares how having children helped her cherish life's small moments and the importance of living in the present. Tune in for an uplifting conversation and kick off your new year with a dose of hope and joy! 

Happy New Year from Youth Voice Amplified! 🌟🎉

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook 

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer 

We have a special gift for our listeners this holiday season!  🎁🎉🎙️ In September 2023, we had the honor of moderating the Voices of Resilience student panel at the 2023 EMBRACE Equity Symposium, where educators from across California converged to champion equity and inclusion in schools.

In this episode, you'll hear the uplifting conversation we led with an exceptional group of youth who've conquered adversities like homelessness, foster care, and the juvenile justice system. But this wasn’t just about their stories—it's a discussion into the influential force of student voice. These resilient students share insights into how student voices can shape equitable schools and how educators and advocates can champion change from the perspective of our youth!

Get ready to be inspired and enlightened as we bring you the raw, unfiltered audio from this enlightening panel directly from the EMBRACE Equity Symposium. This isn't just a panel discussion; it's an opportunity for you, our listeners, to gain deep insights, learn from real experiences, and be inspired by these remarkable young changemakers!

Happy Holidays from Youth Voice Amplified! 

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook 

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer 

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman chat with Kimball Jenkins’ director of programming Yasamin Safarzadeh and Waypoint’s program manager Sarah Jones live at the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts Arts Partnership, Fall 2023 conference Woven: Gathering at the Intersections at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon, NH.

In this interview, Yazamin and Sarah talk about the creation of a mural at Waypoint’s Drop In Center in Manchester, working with unhoused youth and young adults who are clients at Waypoint's Homeless Youth Services. We learn about the program’s process and challenges, the skills youth participants will develop while participating in the mural project, how program organizers build trust and create a safe for homeless youth, and much more. 

If you’re interested in learning more or supporting the Waypoint mural project, please visit www.WayPointNH.org and www.KimballJenkins.com.

We’d also like to thank the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for inviting us to be part of their conference. Learn more about what they do at www.nh.gov/nharts. 

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website 

www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Be friends with us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CreativeGutsPodcast and Instagram at  www.Instagram.com/CreativeGutsPodcast.

❤️ In the heartfelt conclusion to our captivating two-part series, Evelette shares her experiences as a teen parent, overcoming challenges during high school, and dealing with homelessness.  She reveals the sacrifices she made to provide a stable home for her daughter and her unwavering commitment to being there for her child every step of the way. Join us for this inspiring episode as Evelette, now a youth advocate, draws from her own journey to offer hope and guidance to other youth facing similar struggles. Witness her advocacy for homeless youth and the debunking of misconceptions, making a significant impact on policy-makers and agencies. Be prepared for a transformative story of hope, compassion, and the incredible power of resilience!

Find helpful resources mentioned in this podcast episode.

Connect with Youth Voice Amplified

• Youth Voice Amplified Podcast
• Instagram – @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast
• Youth Voice Amplified on Facebook 

If you would like to ask us a question, recommend a topic, or suggest a guest, please email us at youthvoiceamplified@gmail.com.

Credits:

Producers: Brian Johnson, Gennessa Fisher, Kim Silva and Allyson Baptiste
Production Partners: Kern Education Television Network, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and Liam Silva
Theme Song: “Beatitude” by Mountaineer 

INTRODUCTION:

Jenn has a story of her own. As a child, she suffered solitary confinement, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, rape, divorce, abortion, cutting, and suicide attempts. Her turbulent background has forged a path to help those who are suffering, ignored and silenced. Sh!t You Don’t Want to Talk About is a place people can come to find hope and healing, to know they are not alone, and to finally be heard. 

Clearly, Jenn’s been through plenty of sh!t most people probably don’t want to even acknowledge, let alone talk about. She thought she’d dealt with her past, but brain surgery in November 2020 unleashed a tsunami of memories that couldn’t be ignored. Working through trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar type 2, and ADHD will be a lifelong journey. Jenn strives to break the stigma of Sh!t You Don't Talk About and turn it into Sh!t 2 Talk About.

INCLUDED IN THIS EPISODE (But not limited to):

·      Jenn’s Take On The Herschel Walker Hullabaloo 

·      Jenn’s Homeless Youth Experience

·      Consent Matters!!!

·      The Resurgence Of Forgotten Trauma

·      Be Mindful Of Your Perspective When Bad Things Happen

·      How PTSD Affects Both Military And Non-Military Folks

·      Living Through A Lifetime Of Surgeries

·      Jenn’s Smokin’ Hot TikTok

·      Let’s Give Ourselves More Credit

·      Let’s Accept Our Limits

CONNECT WITH JENN:

Website: https://www.Shit2talkabout.com

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/shit2talkabout

TikTok: tiktok.com/@shit2talkabout

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shit2talkabout/

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3BRnT50

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shit2talkabout/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shit2talkabout/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shit2talkabout

CONNECT WITH DE’VANNON:

Website: https://www.SexDrugsAndJesus.com

Website: https://www.DownUnderApparel.com

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3daTqCM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SexDrugsAndJesus/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexdrugsandjesuspodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TabooTopix

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devannon

Pinterest:

Thanks for listening! Please donate at SexDrugsAndJesus.com and follow us on TikTok, IG etc.

Jason Vallejo is the Founder & Executive Director of Elevate North Texas - Youth Emergency Shelter. Elevate North Texas’ mission is to fill in the gap of youth homelessness with emergency shelter. They provide a safe, affirming environment through access to immediate shelter and reunification with family, when possible. Jason founded Elevate North Texas in 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic that we know as COVID-19. He saw a gap in the homeless system when it came to youth who were between the ages 18 to 24. While North Texas had transitional living programs for youth in this age range, he knew that there was still no emergency shelter for these youth that would meet the immediate need of youth experiencing homelessness.

Jason created three core programs that will allow Elevate North Texas to provide emergency shelter for youth, 18 to 24, experiencing homelessness:

1. Hotel Voucher Program: They partner with several hotels here in North Texas to provide hotel vouchers for those youth in immediate need of shelter.

2. Host Home Program: They work with trusted families that have a spare room to host a pre-screened youth for up to four months. During this time, youth are provided case management, counseling, and life skills training.

3.Reunification Program: They work to reunite youth with family members, when possible, to avoid them entering the homeless system. They also understand that many youth are fleeing abusive and toxic home environments, which is why they emphasize the "when possible." 

Prior to the founding of Elevate North Texas, Jason was Executive Director of Dallas Hope Charities from November 2017 to January 2020. He led the organization in the creation of the first LGBTQ+ focused transitional living program called Dallas Hope Center. It started with two beds and when he left in 2020 it had grown to six beds.

Jason is active in the community serving on the Metro Dallas Youth Committee, LULAC of Dallas, North Texas Human Trafficking Coalition and Dallas LGBTQ Chamber. Prior to moving to Dallas in 2017 Jason was the Outreach Director at a mega church in South Texas. He led the efforts in feeding the homeless and providing back to school supplies for over 3,000 youth.

Jason and his husband now live in Plano, Texas and have a dog named Sophie. They enjoy going to movies, Broadway shows, playing golf and working on projects around the house.

Roscoe Compton-Kelly serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dallas Hope Charities. He is also a board member with LGBTQ Outdoors and is also as singing member of the world-renowned Turtle Creek Chorale. Roscoe works in the nonprofit sector as the Senior Director of External Affairs at Education Opens Doors, where he leads the cultivation, relationship management and strategy around EOD partners and donors. Roscoe is a Texas native, and currently lives in the Dallas area, with his husband Brian, who is a Dyslexia Interventionist with Dallas ISD.

In this episode, Jiggy shares her upbringing in a very traditional Korean family, where her traumatic experiences and emotions were not to be spoken of and where expectations of excellence were of the utmost importance. She talks about the effects that this had on her growing up.  After she moved to the United States, she was practicing her english in an online chat room, and came across the words "gay", "lesbian" and "bisexual" which led her to discovering an identity that she felt connected to. She shares how she bravely told a few friends when she was young and received homophobic responses that cost her most of her friendships. Jiggy shares how she eventually ended up attending Pennsylvania State University, and discovered another set of new words - "vulnerability", "self awareness" and "empathy". It would be her time attending some gen-ed classes that ended up changing the trajectory of her life. It opened up a whole new space that she never knew existed and one that went against everything she'd been taught as a young girl. A space where emotional intelligence set her on a healing journey.   

Jiggy is a youth motivational speaker and mental performance coach helping high school and college students increase the longevity of their performance and demand for excellence. Along with her storytelling, Jiggy brings awareness to the importance of mental health and burnout prevention, and teaches practical strategies for students to implement. Jiggy believes that in order to obtain sustainable performance and excellence, we must be both self-disciplined and self-compassionate; both hard working and effectively resting.

Jiggy's Website

Follow Jiggy on Instagram

Get your vulnerably is dope t- shirt here

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Candace Dunaway is the Host of the All Things Relatable podcast. Candace practices daily gratitude and believes that this practice is the key to living a joyful life. Candace sees the world through an optimistic lens and looks for the silver linings, even in the most difficult of times. She believes that life is a collection of simple moments of joy that compound to create a happy life.

Follow Candace on Instagram

Use coupon code candace10 to receive 10% off your set of Now by Solu Meditation Speakers

Get your meditation speakers here

With all the election campaigning in Canada in recent weeks, we've heard a lot about affordable housing. What does that really mean for some of the more vulnerable people in our community?  In this week's episode, we get down to the nitty-gritty of housing and homelessness in BC.

With her vast experience in different countries, Sandra gives us a sense of what homelessness means in Canada and in different parts of the world.  In this wide-ranging conversation we discuss everything from drop-in centres to the social determinants of housing, to factors contributing to success for housing programs to defunding the police.
As with so many other topics we've covered in this podcast, an important element in  improving conditions for homeless individuals lies in breaking down silos.  Tune in and join the conversation!

About Sandra Vasquez
Sandra Vasquez is the Housing and Outreach manager for the CMHA North West Vancouver Branch. She has worked with homeless individuals facing mental health and substance use disorders in Columbia, where she was born, and in the USA and Canada for more than 23 years. Sandra has a Bachelor's in Business and a Master's in Clinical Social Work.


Discover Small Conversations on Social Media
Instagram
Facebook
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Find Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.

Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

There are over half a million homeless unaccompanied youth in the U.S. and almost a fifth of that number are in Florida alone. On this episode, we're speaking with Vicki Sokolik, the founder of Starting Right, Now. She shares the story of what inspired her to create the organization, which is just as extraordinary as the tireless work she’s doing to end youth homelessness.  

We also chat with her son, Cameron Sokolik, who has been working with Starting Right, Now for as long as he can remember. He’s a grant writer for SRN and co-hosts Raising Me, a podcast where these remarkable youths can share their stories on their own terms. You’ll hear a few emotional excerpts from SRN students Sergio, Aja, and Lincoln too.

To learn more about Starting Right, Now, go to startingrightnow.org  

Host, Veronica Alfaro, shares some highlights from upcoming episodes of Be More Unstoppable. 

Leander invites a fantastic entrepreneur, David Dabah, that has been with Leander since he started Lacy Consulting Services. David and Leander spend hours collaborating and trying to elevate each other. In this podcast, we talk star power and talent as David describes what it is like to work with talents such as Eve, Nick Jonas, Chainsmokers, and Lewis Hamilton.

Episode Highlights: 

3:00 - Working with talent

10:20 - How to not be starstruck

14:18 - Leveraging talent to improve conservation outcomes

22:40 - Lived experience versus perceived experience in nature

30:20 - Why bring celebrities to conservation

Links Mentioned:

https://dstudiomedia.com/services

https://www.ifaw.org/au

https://eco-age.com/agency/events/green-carpet-fashion-awards/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddabah/

Episode 21 features an interview with Michael Bethune, Author, Speaker, Minister and Educator with over 25 years of leading and serving some of the most vulnerable populations through the nonprofit sector. He himself is a once-homeless military veteran, whose life's calling and purpose emerged from his own pain. [Trigger warning]

Michael Bethune's book Unto The Least of These - 12 Stages of Genuine Compassion, For Churches That Are Serious About Helping the Less Fortunate breaks down the true meaning of compassion that is so crucial in serving the most vulnerable in our communities who may be homeless and/or addicted and most certainly poor. Through Covenant House, for many years he worked with homeless youth  who had aged out of foster care and were ill-equipped to handle independent living and make up the second largest segment of people experiencing homelessness.

His second book 8 Steps to Getting Unstuck in Life - Lessons My Brother Taught Me After He Committed Suicide provides practical suggestions on how to get past difficult life challenges. Michael wrote the book as a way to deal with his grief and in the process created a useful tool for others.

Michael Bethune has a Facebook group The University of God's Grace & Mercy and just launched Repair the Breach Life Transformational Center which will present live weekly worship and educational sessions. He is available for presentations, workshops and consultations online.

Find out more at https://mikebethune.com/

michaelbethune@ymail.com

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Connect on Facebook at Donna Lee Valente, and on Instagram at  @donnaleevalente 

GivingHeartBeat@gmail.com

COMING SOON: Join the Giving Heart Beat Facebook Group Community!!

Giving Heart Beat Podcast Merch!

Merch coming to more platforms soon!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!!

Feeling uninspired? Wondering what you can do to make a difference in the world? This episode is for you!

Rebecca Welsh has dedicated her life to making a positive impact on the lives of at-risk children around the world. Five years ago, she battled through a major health crisis. Instead of throwing in the towel, she came out on the other side with an increased passion for continuing the work that God has called her to do.

She is a living example of our verse this month:
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

Find out more about Rebecca's work by following The HALO Foundation online: Instagram: @haloempowersyouth
Facebook: @HALOFoundation
Ways to get involved: haloworldwide.org

Sarah Mountz is an assistant professor in the School of Social Welfare at UAlbany. Her research focuses on the experiences of LGBTQ youth in child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and among homeless youth populations.

This episode includes sound bites from the 2017 mini-documentary, "From Our Perspectives: Untold Stories of LGBTQ Youth in the Los Angeles Foster Care System," which features community-based, qualitative research by Mountz and Moshoula Capous-Desyllas of California State University Northridge. Watch the documentary: https://vimeo.com/220431684.

Related paper: Mountz, S., Capous-Desyllas, M. and Pourciau, E. (2018). “Because we’re fighting to be ourselves:” voices from transgender and gender expansive former foster youth. Child Welfare, 96, 1, 103.

The UAlbany News Podcast is hosted and produced by Sarah O'Carroll, a Communications Specialist at the University at Albany, State University of New York, with production assistance by Patrick Dodson and Scott Freedman.

Have a comment or question about one of our episodes? You can email us at mediarelations@albany.edu, and you can find us on Twitter @UAlbanyNews.