The EmpowerU Podcast

Episode 7: Hugo Rodas speaks on UCLA, overcoming adversity, teaching and More

In this week's episode, we have Hugo Rodas. Hugo is a senior at UCLA studying history with plans to graduate by the Winter quarter of 2022. After his undergraduate studies, Hugo's goal is to attend UCLA’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) to pursue a master's degree in education and earn his teaching credential concurrently. Hugo is currently working at LA’s Best with elementary kids after school to teach them sports and chess. Hugo's hobbies include chess, hiking, swimming, video games, baseball, and playing with my dog.

Episode 6: Noah Harris speaks on Success, Law School, and More

In this week's episode, we have Noah Harris. Noah Harris is a Senior at Harvard studying government from Mississippi. Harris was elected as the first Black Male Student Body President in Harvard's 385-year history. After college, Noah will attend Harvard Law School, where he was recently accepted. Earlier this year, Harris was chosen as a Truman Scholar because of his commitment to public service. At Harvard, he is passionate about creating initiatives to help improve the experience of the student body. Following the racial injustices last year, Noah led an effort to raise over $45,000 for Black solidarity charities. He rented a warehouse to provide low-cost storage to over 500 students, and he partnered with Headspace to provide a year-long mindfulness subscription to over 1,200 students. Apart from Harvard, Harris is the author of the children’s book Successville that teaches kids they can do anything in life if they are willing to work hard in school, set goals, and develop talents.

Episode 5: Kimberly Collins on Brown University, Heart to Heart, and More

Kimberly Collins is a senior at Brown University studying Public Policy and Africana Studies. She is from New Rochelle, New York. At Brown University, Kimberly is a Social Innovation Fellow and co-founder of Brown Votes, a student-led voting organization. Kimberly is also the current president for the College Democrats of Rhode Island and the National Council Secretary for the College Democrats of America where she oversees the organization’s 47 state federations. Additionally, Kimberly furthered her passion for women’s advocacy by founding and co-hosting the podcast Heart to Heart: The Lived Experiences of Two Young Black Women. She uses the podcast to discuss women’s issues, political events, and personal stories through a Black feminist lens. Please Go Check Out Heart to Heart: The Lived Experiences of Two Young Black Women [https://open.spotify.com/show/1mjtneY5ixYFj8RbD053VY]

Episode 4: Blanca Burch Speaks on Entrepreneurship

Blanca Burch is a senior International Studies major at Spelman College. She started the Entrepreneurs Club on her campus her sophomore year to help students see what possibilities are available to them. She started her own company Culturally Kreative, where she publishes books in order to diversify the publishing industry. She hopes to one day make a difference in education. Resources 1. Praxis Program Fellowships During and beyond their participation in the Business Accelerator, Praxis supports the growth, health, and impact of new ventures by equipping entrepreneurs in five critical areas. https://www.praxislabs.org/business-accelerator [https://www.praxislabs.org/business-accelerator] 1. Young Authors Publishing Young Authors Publishing is a children’s book publisher that exists to share the stories of Black & Brown children. We believe that  all kids are story-worthy, and should see themselves reflected in the books they read https://www.youngauthorspublishing.org/ [https://www.youngauthorspublishing.org/] 1. HBCUVC HBCUVC’S MISSION IS TO DIRECT HOW CAPITAL IS FORMED AND DISTRIBUTED TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND LATINX INNOVATORS. We accomplish this by developing, connecting, and mobilizing the next generation of venture capital leaders in communities where entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing capital, and by empowering institutions to employ race-conscious investing practices. https://www.hbcu.vc/home [https://www.hbcu.vc/home]

Episode 3: Allen Smith Speaks on Faith & Football (D1)

Allen Smith is a 21-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, and spends most of the year in Providence, RI as he will be a senior at Brown University this upcoming fall. Allen is a running back on the Brown football team and also serves as one of the team’s captains. He is a hard worker and family man as he loves spending time with his family whenever he is home. Allen's strong faith led him to become a student leader for Athletes in Action (AIA), a faith ministry group that seeks to honor God in sport and life; he also is very involved with his home church in Providence called Aletheia. Allen loves giving back to his community through community service and youth engagement. He helped start Lead with Love, a new youth engagement group that partners with local organizations to create events that uplift and support the local youth.