Think Bigger Voices

S2E1: From Legos to Public Service - Daniel Lind on Mentorship, Persistence & Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Daniel Lind, a compliance safety engineer with the U.S. Department of Transportation and former Horatio Alger National Scholar. Raised in South Florida by his mother and grandmother after his family immigrated from Cuba, Daniel grew up facing financial hardship but was determined to pursue an education. After applying for more than 60 scholarships, he found a path to college and ultimately a career dedicated to protecting public safety. Daniel shares how mentorship, encouragement and opportunity helped change the trajectory of his life - and why he now dedicates time to mentoring young students interested in STEM careers. His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes a few words of encouragement can make all the difference in helping a young person realize their potential. Listen in to Learn * How Daniel’s upbringing in a single-parent household shaped his drive to succeed. * The pivotal role mentors and scholarship programs played in opening doors to higher education. * Why Daniel applied for more than 60 scholarships to fund his college journey. * What it means to work in automotive safety and how federal safety testing protects drivers and schoolchildren. * Why representation and mentorship matter for students pursuing STEM careers. * The simple ways anyone can make a lasting impact in a child’s life through encouragement and volunteerism. Daniel’s story highlights how belief, opportunity and a few key mentors can help young people break cycles of poverty and build meaningful careers serving their communities. Subscribe to Think Bigger Voices: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Links Think Bigger Voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqGaJ1xjrvk&t=574s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqGaJ1xjrvk&t=574s] Think Big for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@thinkbigforkids9061⁩  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCSU_3e8c4yHjYFj_ZUpm3AA] Horatio Alger: https://horatioalger.org [https://horatioalger.org/] Daniel Lind: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmlind/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmlind/] Jennie Treby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S1E21: Powerful Truths and Real Hope: What One Year of Thinking Bigger Taught Us (Tony DiBenedetto, Think Big for Kids)

What happens when education, businesses and community leaders unite under one belief: that every kid deserves the opportunity to Think Bigger? In this special one-year anniversary episode, host Jennie Treby and Think Big for Kids founder Tony DiBenedetto reflect on 24 episodes recorded across Florida, Atlanta and Greater Washington, D.C. This year of conversations revealed a powerful truth: people care deeply about kids in poverty, and meaningful collaboration is already making an impact. In this episode, Jennie and Tony revisit the insights reshaping the fight against poverty: * Bridging the Stability Gap for Working Families: While federal data often misses the full picture, Jessica Muroff from United Way Suncoast shared that ALICE data shows that 40% of Americans cannot afford a basic household budget. This instability is compounded by financial traps discussed by Thomas Feint at Grow Financial, such as penalty APRs that can jump to 40% after a single missed payment. * Meeting Fundamental Needs with Dignity: Thomas Mantz from Feeding Tampa Bay goes beyond temporary relief to provide food to millions, while Tracey Keim from The Green Devils Closet provides hygiene products, food and school supplies, ensuring kids feel safe, confident and ready to learn. * Clear Pathways to Higher Education: Experts like Nadine Bailey in financial aid explained how navigating FAFSA is the key to unlocking millions in unused scholarships, while Dr. Mike Hartline at the FSU College of Business demonstrates how first-generation students can achieve an 87% graduation rate with intentional support. * Personal Commitment Driving Community Impact: Leaders like Effie Santos of Maddie’s Movement, Dr. Lynette Henry of Educate Fairfax, and Mike Batt of Fairfax County Economic Development demonstrate how personal motivation fuels systemic change. From supporting youth aging out of foster care to transforming educational outcomes to aligning partnerships that connect students to career opportunities, these leaders show that sustainable solutions come from those who are personally invested in the mission. Jennie and Tony reflect on how the challenges are complex, but when communities think bigger together, real change is possible. Links: Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/ More about Tony DiBenedetto Tony DiBenedetto: https://thinkbigforkids.org/about-us/leadership/tony-dibenedetto/ Tony DiBenedetto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-dibenedetto-8ba0588/ About host Jennie Treby Jennie Treby: https://thinkbigforkids.org/about-us/leadership/jennie-treby/ Jennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S1E20: More than a Job: A Young Educator’s Transformational View on Teaching as a Vocation (Morrise Quierolo, Fairfax County)

How does one powerful, personal relationship fundamentally change a teacher's calling and redefine success for their students? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Morrise "Mr. Q" Quierolo, a civics and AVID teacher at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County. Guided by the belief that education is a vocation and a mission, Morrise is building his career by shaping classrooms rooted in belonging, empowerment and hope. From his unexpected start in Teach For America, which took him across the country to a challenging school environment in Phoenix, Morrise discovered a life-changing truth: meaningful relationships are what truly transform students. And it was a letter from a struggling student that ultimately sealed his calling in education and shifted him away from a planned law school route. Back home in Fairfax, Morrise now teaches at one of Virginia’s most diverse middle schools, where he champions student leadership, builds an AVID “family,” and helps kids, especially those with learning differences or challenging home lives see possibilities they’ve never been shown. His partnership with Think Big for Kids has played a key role in that work, opening doors to real-world experiences that expand opportunity and spark imagination. In this episode, you’ll learn: ●     How AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) builds student empowerment, leadership, and college-and-career readiness. ●     How Think Big’s hands-on programming such as career showcases, field trips and industry workshops expand opportunity. ●     How students from financially disadvantaged or challenging backgrounds often build unique resilience and skills that can be turned into strengths for helping others. ●     How early exposure to mentors, careers and community impact can shift a child’s entire trajectory. Through his own journey of service and powerful student letters, Morrise reveals what happens when the education system shifts: students who feel seen, supported and believed in unlock a future they never thought possible. Links: Educate Fairfax: https://www.educatefairfax.org/ Fairfax County Public Schools: https://www.fcps.edu/ Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/ Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/ More about Morrise Quierolo Morrise Quierolo: https://libertyms.fcps.edu/staff/morrise-queirolo About host Jennie Treby Jennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S1E19: The Hope Blueprint: A Teacher's Proven Strategy to Transform ‘4D’ Students (Marc Matthie, Fairfax County Public Schools)

How do we reach students who are hardest to reach, the ones who feel discouraged, disconnected, or burdened by challenges no one else sees? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby talks with Marc Matthie, a coach, longtime Fairfax County educator, and Think Big for Kids Advisory Board member. For more than 20 years, Marc has mentored students on and off the field, guided by a simple belief: real relationships create real hope. His journey from football standout to devoted educator, shaped by his move from Jamaica to New York, fuels his commitment to supporting the “4D” kids: Disengaged, Discouraged, Disillusioned and Disconnected. Marc explains how uneven starting points shape a student’s path. Some grow up with stability and support, while others face daily uncertainty through no fault of their own, making mentorship and guidance from point A to point B essential. In this transformative episode, you’ll learn: * The Kids at Hope philosophy, which shifts the focus from viewing students as "at risk" to seeing them as "at hope," and how strengthening a child's sense of hope acts as a protective dam against difficult life experiences. * How intentional classes, such as Fairfax County Public Schools’ Agency and Empowerment class, provide safety, support, and room to grow. * How pairing a student’s natural resilience with trusted mentors and meaningful resources gives them the foundation they need to thrive. From navigating adolescence to confronting instability at home, Marc shares a blueprint rooted in pouring hope into students, pairing them with mentors, and giving them access to the resources they’ve never had. With their natural resilience finally supported, these kids don’t just catch up, they thrive. And with organizations like Think Big for Kids helping bridge those gaps, Marc paints a powerful picture of what’s possible when youth who’ve had to fight for everything finally receive the tools, support and belief they deserve. Links: Educate Fairfax: https://www.educatefairfax.org/ Fairfax County Public Schools: https://www.fcps.edu/ Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/ Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/ More about Marc Matthie Marc Matthie: https://thinkbigforkids.org/about-us/leadership/marc-matthie/ About host Jennie Treby Jennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S1E18: Imagine the Best for Every Child: How Industry Partnerships Are Shaping the Future of Education (Dr. Lynette Henry, Educate Fairfax)

How can communities ensure every student has the resources and support they need to succeed in one of America’s largest school districts, where 37% of students live in poverty? On this episode of Think Bigger Voices, Jennie Treby sits down with Dr. Lynette Henry, Executive Director of Educate Fairfax, a non-profit that serves over 183,000 students across 199 schools in the 10th largest district in the U.S. With 30+ years of experience transforming struggling schools in Tampa to community partnerships in Fairfax County, Dr. Henry shares her blueprint for success: connecting students to resources, opportunities and support systems that teach them to believe in themselves. In this transformative episode, you'll learn: ● Dr. Henry’s personal story of coming to America from Barbados with only $200 and two suitcases to further her education and impact kids in need. ● How strategic classroom and community partnerships can simultaneously boost attendance and reading achievement and decrease discipline referrals. ● Strengthening social capital by connecting students with mentors, college resources and volunteers by meeting them where they are to guide future opportunities. ● How Educate Fairfax’s strategic planning ensures students have what they need to thrive, from school supplies to food security, health care and vision support. This growth with purpose model is providing scholarships, grants, Innovators Fund programs and educator support. ● The impact of business and community partnerships, including with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and Think Big for Kids, in co-creating pipelines for student success. From building trust to fostering teacher creativity and family support, this conversation highlights how intentional, strategic investment in education can change lives, create equity and prepare the next generation for the future workforce. Dr. Henry’s philosophy is simple: imagine the best for every child and make it happen. Because with the right access and encouragement, doors of opportunity open. Links: Educate Fairfax: https://www.educatefairfax.org/ Fairfax County Public Schools: https://www.fcps.edu/ Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/ Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/ More about Lynette Henry Lynette Henry: https://www.educatefairfax.org/staff/lynette-henry Lynette Henry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lynette-henry-246a55184/ About host Jennie Treby Jennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.