Uptown Voices

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Uptown Voices tells the stories of unsung heroes who are transforming New York City's Uptown neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Inwood to Harlem to the South Bronx. Each episode profiles an individual or organization making a positive difference. These social entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders are navigating critical issues of affordability, public safety, and mental health. Through conversations rooted in journalistic integrity and genuine community ties, this podcast challenges negative narratives and celebrates the true spirit of the vibrant neighborhoods thriving north of Central Park. Each episode features extended interviews in which subjects tell their stories in their own words. The series examines the interconnected challenges facing Uptown communities—gentrification pressures, resource scarcity, systemic inequities—while simultaneously showcasing the creativity and collective power emerging in response. While uplifting the people shaping Uptown’s future, the podcast holds local elected officials accountable for the promises they make. During this pivotal time, Uptown Voices is creating a unique audiovisual archive. Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

From the South Bronx to the White House: Ambassador Julissa Reynoso on Diplomacy, Community & Resilience

Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and White House Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden, Julissa Reynoso, shares how growing up in the South Bronx and Washington Heights shaped a trailblazing career in law, diplomacy, and now — playwriting. What does it take to go from a seven-year-old immigrant arriving in the South Bronx to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Chief of Staff to the First Lady of the United States? For Julissa Reynoso, the answer lies in the streets of New York City, a relentless commitment to community, and the belief that government can — and must — be a force for good. In this landmark episode of Uptown Voices, hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black sit down with Ambassador Reynoso for a wide-ranging conversation that takes us from Dominican Republic to the halls of the Obama and Biden White Houses. We explore how advocating for immigrant rights at the Northern Manhattan Immigrant Rights Coalition shaped her legal and diplomatic instincts, how the diversity of New York City became her first classroom in international relations, and why she chose to tell her high-stakes diplomatic story through the unexpected medium of theater. Ambassador Reynoso opens up about her play Public Charge, which chronicles her experiences during the Obama administration — including navigating the 2010 Haiti earthquake response and the secret negotiations that helped reestablish U.S.-Cuba ties. She also speaks candidly about the current political climate, the targeting of immigrant communities, the prospect of military action against Cuba, and the timeless advice she offers to young people of color who find themselves as the only one in the room. This is an essential listen for anyone who believes that where you come from doesn't limit where you can go. ⏱ TIMECODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open — Ambassador Reynoso on the immigrant community and the responsibility we share 00:58 Welcome & Show Milestones — Host Octavio Blanco announces 500-subscriber goal and fiscal sponsorship by Maysles Documentary Center 03:05 Introducing Ambassador Julissa Reynoso — From Dominican Republic to Washington Heights — a daughter of uptown 03:55 From the Heights to the Heights of Diplomacy — Led Black asks: How does a girl from DR rise to the pinnacle of leadership? 05:27 Growing Up in the South Bronx — Arriving in New York City in 1982 — the neighborhood that shaped a worldview 06:15 Washington Heights & Columbia Law School — Moving uptown, building community roots, and discovering foreign policy 07:17 Advocating for Immigrant Rights at NMCIR — How frontline legal work for neighbors fueled a life of public service 09:01 From Diplomat to Playwright — The story behind Public Charge and why theater was the right vehicle 11:54 Why Theater Over a Memoir? — The power of live performance and the transformation of storytelling on stage 13:05 Street Smarts & Secret Diplomacy — How New York City life prepared her for high-stakes international negotiations 15:11 Government as a Force for Good — Can we still believe in public service? Staying optimistic under the Trump administration 16:00 The Immigrant Community Today — Profiling, targeting, and discrimination — and the collective responsibility to do better 17:07 Cuba at the Brink — The Senate's blocked war powers resolution and what military escalation means for the Caribbean 19:45 Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden — Living through COVID-19 and January 6th — and what she gained from the East Wing 21:05 Advice for Young People of Color — On imposter syndrome, humility, relationships, and showing up in rooms where you're the only one 23:21 Closing & Final Words — Gratitude, encouragement, and a call to subscribe and support Uptown Voices 📋 FULL SHOW NOTES About Ambassador Julissa Reynoso Julissa Reynoso is a Dominican-American lawyer, diplomat, and now playwright who has served at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Born in the Dominican Republic, she immigrated to the United States at age seven, settling first in the South Bronx before later moving to Washington Heights when she attended Columbia Law School. Her career spans community legal advocacy, presidential appointments, and international diplomacy. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay during the Obama administration, and was later appointed U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra by President Biden — one of the most significant diplomatic postings in the Western world. Before that posting, she served as Chief of Staff to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history, encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th Capitol attack. Her play, Public Charge, draws on her firsthand experience navigating U.S. foreign policy during the Obama years, including the U.S. response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the groundbreaking secret negotiations that led to the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba. Key Themes in This Episode * The immigrant experience as preparation for global leadership * How New York City's radical diversity is a masterclass in diplomacy * Using the arts to tell complex, underrepresented stories * The power and limits of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean * Standing firm as a woman of color in predominantly white spaces * Why humility and long-term thinking matter more than quick wins * The ongoing struggle for dignity and safety in the Latino community Organizations & References Mentioned * NMCIR — Northern Manhattan Immigrant Rights Coalition: Community legal organization where Ambassador Reynoso began her advocacy career * Maysles Documentary Center — Uptown Voices' new fiscal sponsor, enabling tax-deductible contributions * Uptown Collective — Founded by Led Black; YouTube channel approaching 500 subscribers * Columbia University — Where Ambassador Reynoso attended law school and first settled in Washington Heights * Public Charge — Ambassador Reynoso's play about her experiences in the Obama State Department * U.S.-Cuba normalization — The 2014-2016 effort to reestablish diplomatic relations after decades of estrangement * 2010 Haiti Earthquake — A pivotal moment in U.S. Caribbean foreign policy that features in Public Charge Notable Quotes "I never assume that I'm done. I always keep pushing myself." — Ambassador Reynoso "My view of foreign policy and politics — they were carved and molded by my time in Washington Heights." — Ambassador Reynoso "New York City is a very extraordinary experiment in how to make different people talk to each other." — Ambassador Reynoso "The profiling, the targeting, the discrimination, the hate is not okay. We collectively have a lot of responsibility." — Ambassador Reynoso "Military ...

5 de may de 2026 - 25 min

Uptown Voices

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