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Hosts: Demetria Wack, Elli Arzbaecher, Mehek Kandru and Michael Wiafe. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Today is Michael's last episode with Policywise (as a host anyway). Two years ago Policywise was just an idea–then came Michael and Demi. Under their leadership Policywise covered so many different issues and talked with people from so many walks of life. In that time we watched Michael grow into the passionate, hilarious, and dedicated professional that he today. We’re so proud of his continued growth and wish him all the best as Policy Analyst at the Inland Empire Community Foundation. Thank you, Michael! Each of us here on the Policywise team wanted to leave you with a few words... I will sincerely miss Michael’s charisma, enthusiasm, and willingness to dive deeper into each conversation. But most of all, I will miss chatting with one of the most devoted and thoughtful people I know each week. Good luck out there, friend! -Demi Michael pursued the PolicyWise vision with such skill and personality, and achieved what he set out to do with this podcast. I am so sad to see him leave the team, but am incredibly excited to watch him continue on his journey! Thank you for your support these last couple years, Michael, we got it from here 😁-Elli Michael! You are the king of food pics, a master of networking, and an amazing dog dad. Congratulations on your new job and don’t forget us when you’re famous 💜-Kody Michael the first time we recorded together I thought to myself, 'this guy is a natural!' You are a wonderful storytelling and person–I know you are going to go do amazing things! Good luck out there, congratulations, and know that we are all so proud of you!-Jarrett And then maybe one sentence shoutouts from the girls?We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Intro: Demitria WackGuest: Eriveto "Beto" Vasquez-Sanchez, Jaylee Alacala-Lopez, Carlos Alacala-Lopez, Jax Garcia, Ja’rea Theissen, and Alexia Sanchez Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock On todays episode of PolicyWise, we’ll be throwing things over to the young people from Madera to talk all things Vaccinate all 58. Please enjoy hearing from Beto, Jaylee, Jax, Ja’rea, and Alexia about their experiences throughout the pandemic and the importance of getting vaccinated because no one is alone when we are in community together.  For more information: Vaccinateall58.com cdc.gov/coronavirus To find a local texting and vaccination site visit:myturn.ca.gov We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher & Michael Wiafe Guest: Ashens Limon and Michael Yamamura  Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Vaccinate All 58 is a movement aimed at promoting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters by helping to spread facts and address misinformation.  yli is working with young folks across the state to create and share resources to keep Californians informed about the steps they can take to keep themselves and  their families safe. This podcast is one of those resources.  We hope you enjoy hearing from Ashens and Michael from COVID-19 Youth Task Force. Stay tuned here for more on Vaccinate All 58. For more information: Vaccinateall58.com Insta: @Stopthespread_ecv We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Michael Wiafe & Ellinor Arzbaecher Guests: Troy Williams, Alissa Moore, Marvin Galdamez, Jeronimo Aguilar Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Kody Stoebig & Ellinor Arzbaecher What do you know about modern day slavery? Sorry, we mean involuntary servitude. Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution currently states: “Slavery is prohibited. Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime.”  Wait...what? What is this 1860?? We sat down with some folks from the grassroots campaign Abolish Bondage Collectively (ABC), a movement “working to to eradicate structural racism and erase vestiges of slavery,” to discuss what this clause means, its impact, and why it should be removed from our state constitution. Our guests detailed some of their own experiences as formerly incarcerated individuals, the deeply ingrained inequities within our justice system, and legislation they are pushing to pass statewide. ABC support ACA 3 – Abolishing Involuntary Servitude. ACA 3 would place a state constitutional amendment on the November 2022 ballot to remove a clause in California’s Constitution that allows the practice of involuntary servitude as a means of punishing crime For more information: Abolish Bondage CollectivelyThe History of Involuntary Servitude in CaliforniaLegal Services for Prisoners with Children We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Intro: Michael Wiafe Host: Fatíma RamirezGuest: Evelia Cabrera Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Vaccinate All 58 is a movement aimed at promoting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters by helping to spread facts and address misinformation.  yli is working with young folks across the state to create and share resources to keep Californians informed about the steps they can take to keep themselves and  their families safe. This podcast is one of those resources.  We hope you enjoy hearing from Evelia Cabrera from COVID-19 Youth Task Force. Stay tuned here for more on Vaccinate All 58. For more information: Vaccinateall58.com Insta: @Stopthespread_ecv We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demitria Wack Guest: Maria "Masha" Aruzumanov Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Maria worked in economic research at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, undertaking projects in gender and ethnic discrimination. She also interned with the Market Research team at the Federal Reserve, and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Maria graduated from UBC with a BA in economics and a minor in business. Her dissertation focused on unequal transit access in Chicago’s historically Black neighborhoods. She also holds a MSc in political science and political economy from the London School of Economics (LSE), with a dissertation in representation and accountability of US government officials. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Mehek Kandru, and Michael Wiafe. Guest:  Oakland Council Member Carroll Fife Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Taken from Council member Fife's website"Carroll Fife is the councilmember-elect for Oakland’s District 3. After decades of public service as a non-profit director and community organizer, Carroll was called to run for office by the people with whom she organizes every day. One of the founding members of Moms for Housing, Carroll has fought both in the halls of power and in the streets to protect the human right to housing.  As councilmember her priorities will be to divest from police to invest in community, get every unsheltered person in Oakland into housing as quickly as possible, and create progressive tax structures to correct social and racial inequities. Her historic winning campaign, supported by virtually every endorsing organization in Oakland, was powered by over 1000 active volunteers, and has transitioned into a permanent political organization dedicated to passing transformative legislation and building a progressive majority on the Oakland City Council." We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Michael Wiafe. Guest:  Will Wiseman Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Taken from the Climatize FAQ"Climatize is an investment platform connecting individual investors with renewable energy projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations (UN). Climatize operates on a crowdlending business model basis– debt crowdfunding – a community of investors collectively lending money to projects. As an investor you can lend money to project promoters in order to finance their projects, starting with as little as $5, and get a fixed return on your investment throughout the duration of the loan. As a project promoter you can use Climatize to raise money to fund your sustainable project with the help of our community of investors." To Find Out More About Climatize We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher, Mehek Kandru, Demetria Wack, and Michael Wiafe. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock Today, we do something a little different. Michael has an idea for a policy–consider automatic enrollment from High School to College! We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock On today’s episode, we’ll be sharing some very special audio from the 2021 California Economic Summit, which was hosted by our amazing partners CA Forward in Monterey. My co-hosts were lucky enough to attend and speak at the summit, and were joined by their fellow Youth Leadership Advisory Council cohort and speakers like Governor Gavin Newsom and numerous State Assemblymembers. Be sure to visit cafwd.org to learn more about their work! We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demetria Wack.Guest: Josh Friday Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock In 1963, President Clinton required the governor of each state to create and appoint a commission to administer the new AmeriCorps program. In 2006, the reach of California's commissions was expanded by governor Schwarzenegger to respond to disasters and recovery. Now called California volunteers–the state office is tasked with engaging Californians and services, volunteering and survey action to tackle our state's most pressing challenges while mobilizing all Californians to volunteer and serve their communities Here with me today is the head of California volunteers, chief service officer Josh Fryday. As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, Fryday led the COVID-19 Task Force to support food insecure communities and food banks across the state. Since appointed, California Volunteers has launched the nation’s first statewide Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll volunteer initiative, a statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, and the #CaliforniansForAll College Program to help thousands of Californians who commit to serving for a year pay for college. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demetria Wack, and Michael Wiafe. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock With so much is going on in the world–not to mention personal lives, the team decided to just take a step back and catch up. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demetria Wack, and Michael Wiafe. Guests:  Mayor Farrah N. Khan and Mansi Kalra Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Ellinor Arzbaecher, Raymart Catacutan, Kody Stoebig, and Tim Haydock What does it take to be considered electable? Experience? Leadership skills? Or is it defined by race or creed? Even more importantly, who is gets to make that call?  Join Demi and Michael as they talk with City of Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan and University of San Fransisco student, yli Program Coordinator and organizer Mansi Kalra about identity, engaging youth in the Irvine community and ask just who exactly is considered electable? In November of 2020 history was made as Mayor Farrah N. Khan became the 23rd Mayor of Irvine. Mayor Khan became the first woman of color to hold the position in Irvine, and the first Muslim woman to lead a large city in all the United States. Not to mention that she also received the highest number of votes for the position of Mayor in the city’s history. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demetria Wack, Ellinor Arzbaecher and Michael Wiafe. Guests: Raymart Catacutan Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig. We are so excited to introduce our newest co-host and co-editor Fresno State Student Raymart Catacutan! Parks4all Audio provided by The Know Youth Media. The full #Parks4All video can be found here. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Featuring: Demi Wack.Host: Michael Wiafe. Guests: Raymart Catacutan, Alejandra Espinosa, Michael Navarro, Daphne Ramirez. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig. We are so ridiculously grateful for everyone who came to yli's birthday celebration in November!  We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Ellinor Arzbaecher and Michael Wiafe. Guests: Natalia Arzbaecher and Zofia Trexler Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Ellinor Arzbaecher, and Kody Stoebig. In 2018, the CDC reported that 26 percent (one in 4) of adults in the United States have some type of disability. In 2019 the US census found that over three million children in the United States had a disability in 2019, up since 2008. With the highest rate of childhood disability belonging to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), followed by children of more than one race and Black children. And guess what?? Today's a Surprise Sibling Episode as we are joined by Ellie's sister Natalia! Who has lived with Diabetes since she was 7 years old. Also joining us is Zofia Trexler who work with Disability Rights California as a Peer Self Advocacy Trainer, specifically working and creating content for Transitional Age Youth with mental health disabilities. We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Round Table With: Demitria Wack, Ellinor Arzbaecher and Michael Wiafe. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and WELCOME TO THE TEAM KODY STOEBIG. Welcome to Season Three! On the season 3 premiere of PolicyWise, Hosts Demi, Elli and Michael get together (In Person![FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!]) at the Youth Leadership Institute office in Fresno, California.  The PolicyWise Podcast began right as the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdowns went into affect–as a result the team has never been in the same room together. UNTIL NOW! Join the team as they discuss high school dances, their personal Mt. Rushmore's, AOC's dress (yes that dress) and of course policy. 

Hi Everyone!  You might be wondering where this week’s episode is...After 16 Episodes we’ve decided to mark the end of Season two! But don’t worry PolicyWise People, PolicyWise will be back for Season three in just a couple weeks! But first we’re getting back in the lab and planning out the best season yet!  In the meantime, tell us what you think using the feedback survey in the description of every episode or message us on social media and tell your friends!  We have lots of previous episodes that you may have missed for you to enjoy during this break.    Stay Tuned! And Stay Wise… PolicyWise that is.  We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demitria Wack and Michael Wiafe. Guest: Jim Keddy and Sarah-Michael Gaston. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh. The roots of racialized drug laws and drug enforcement are deeply ingrained into our criminal justice systems. The War on Drugs starting in the 1970s drove this discrimination against people of color, specifically Black deeper into families, communities, and institutions--driving families into poverty, separating children from their families , and creating generations of cumulative disadvantage. The enforcement of marijuana laws has played a particularly large role in this process.  As an increasing number of states legalize majauana, there is debate where money raised from this industry should be spent. Youth Forward is an organization dedicated to improving the health, education, and wellbeing of our most vulnerable children and youth through policy advocacy, education and community action. They have become a leading voice for racial equity and community reinvestment in regards to cannabis legalization in California   Resources:California ForwardYouth Leadership Institute  We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!

Hosts: Demitria Wack and Elli Arzbaecher. Guest: Jacob Martinez. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh. In California, though broadband subscriptions were at record height pre-pandemic, significant gaps still exist, with diminished broadband access within low-income, minority, and rural communities. Considering the ever-expanding reliance on technology within education and workforce development, it is vital to close the digital divide to give underserved communities and youth equal opportunity for success and achievement. A few episodes back, we talked to Prince Ogidikpe and Sunne Wright McPeak about legislative efforts to tackle the digital divide. Today we will be approaching the issue from a new angle, learning from an organization who works directly with young people throughout California and beyond. The DigitalNEST aims to create economic equality for the residents of low income and rural regions and teach young people the technical skills needed to become competitive and self-sufficient in the digital future. The Digital NEST’s model for tech equity has received national recognition for conquering the digital divide in underserved communities throughout the U.S. We will be talking to the DigitalNest Founder, Jacob Martinez. Before starting Digital NEST, Jacob spent nearly 10 years running a program funded by the National Science Foundation, to encourage underrepresented Latina girls, and later boys as well, to study computer science. Jacob currently sits on several community boards and has  received many leadership awards, such as being named one of TechCrunch’s 2014 “Top 10 Men in the Country Supporting Women in Technology.”  Resources:DigitalNEST.org We'd Love to Hear from You! Clink the link below to fill out a quick survey and let us know what you think!https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QLVPBCT Follow us on social @policywisepod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes. See you next time on PolicyWise!