Uptown Voices

Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC

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

  1. The Rhythm that Saves Lives: Ron Renaissance & Jody Music on Breaking the Matrix

    Jun 2

    The Rhythm that Saves Lives: Ron Renaissance & Jody Music on Breaking the Matrix

    Today, Uptown Voices steps inside a modern-day musical fairy tale born right on the pavements of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black roll out the red carpet for the powerhouse duo known as Uptown Royalty—composed of multi-instrumentalist/composer Ron Renaissance and elite vocalist Jodi Music. In an emotionally raw and deeply inspiring broadcast, the couple shares their decade-long journey of fusing 90s R&B vocals with authentic Afro-Cuban salsa rhythms to create a completely new genre: Electro Latin Soul. But past the explosive energy of their live 13-piece orchestra lies a profound narrative of resilience. From surviving the dangerous peak of the crack epidemic in Washington Heights to overcoming sudden open-heart surgery at age 38, and navigating childhood survival in the streets of the Bronx, Ron and Jodi reveal how public school music programs, dedicated mentors, and the primal power of rhythm literally saved their lives. ⏱️ Official Chapter Time Codes 00:00 — Cold Open: The King and Queen of UptownJodi and Ron break down their foundational roots—the Boogie Down Bronx and Washington Heights—and their unified mandate to unapologetically represent their culture and people on the global stage.00:36 — Introduction: A Special Episode in Historic TimesHosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black welcome viewers. Led shares a brief reflection on the generational weight of watching the Knicks push for the finals, before introducing the afternoon's exceptional guests.02:23 — Locked in ABC Studios: The 2017 Origin StoryJodi recounts the fateful 15-hour marathon recording gig in Times Square where she first met Ron, leading to a first date of salsa dancing that permanently bound their personal and professional lives together.03:34 — Crafting the Sound: "Ain't Nobody" as SalsaLed Black praises the band's viral, show-stopping salsa reimagining of Chaka Khan's classic hit. Ron and Jodi share the delicate art of balancing a real-life romance with independent music production.05:53 — Why Salsa? The Technology of Primal RhythmsA deep dive into the longevity of salsa music. Ron traces his 30-year history back to iconic NYC venues like Gonzales & Gonzales and the Copacabana, revealing how the foundational, ancestral Afro-Cuban beats transcend language barriers worldwide.07:14 — A Product of District 6: The Savior of Public School MusicRon pays tribute to the public school music programs of Washington Heights and his legendary teachers, John Faddis and Wycliffe Gordon, explaining how early access to instruments completely transformed a generation of neighborhood kids.13:56 — Genre Defiance: Electro Latin Soul & "Butterfly Dream"The duo discusses their upcoming summer project, Volume 2, and previews an upcoming original R&B single, detailing how they record late at night in their home studio once their daughters fall asleep.18:58 — Breaking the Matrix: Independence vs. The Record Label TrapOctavio raises the evolution of the independent music industry. Ron quotes a famous Jadakiss line on how corporate labels keep artists in permanent debt, prompting a discussion on why true ownership of your master recordings is everything.25:03 — The Sponsored Phoenix: The Michael Rath TromboneRon showcases his custom, blinged-out Michael Rath trombone featuring an engraved phoenix emblem, detailing what it means to be officially endorsed by one of England's premier instrument makers.26:33 — The Twilight Zone: A Shared Guardian AngelIn an unbelievable twist of fate, Jodi reveals how her surrogate "grandparents"—an Irish art teacher from the Bronx who took her in as a homeless child—turned out to be the exact same educator who secured the funding for Ron’s instruments in Washington Heights decades prior.33:59 — Live at The Hudson: Upcoming Uptown ShowsThe band announces their upcoming summer schedule, including a massive performance with Inwood Arts at The Hudson (formerly La Marina) on June 8th, emphasizing why local neighborhood gigs remain their absolute favorite venues.35:19 — Hip-Hop, Social Engineering, and the Currency of HypeLed Black brings up a poignant critique regarding how late-90s commercial rap was structurally flipped to degrade communities. Jodi highlights why choosing a message of elegance, class, and raw vocal talent is an active, revolutionary choice.39:34 — Positivity as a Lifetime Choice: The Legacy of Celia CruzJodi speaks directly to the challenge of being a touring artist while raising small children, rejecting the disposable ageism of the American music industry in favor of the lifelong respect afforded to icons like Celia Cruz.43:17 — Backstage with an Icon: Touring with Lauryn HillRon recalls the high-intensity experience of being called to play in the horn section for the legendary Lauryn Hill at the Barclays Center, tracking his career from multi-passport international tours to corporate consulting in Cabo.51:38 — The Urgent Ticker: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery at 38Ron opens up about a terrifying recent medical crisis requiring sudden open-heart surgery for two clogged arteries. He details how facing mortality gave him a relentless sense of urgency to leave no art left inside of him.54:23 — Saved by the Microphone: Surviving a Bronx ChildhoodJodi delivers a deeply moving, transparent testimony about losing her father at age nine, navigating family instability, and literally singing on New York City subway trains for survival money before her teachers stepped in.57:40 — Outro & Supporting Tax-Deductible Hyperlocal NewsThe guests share their official social handles and website, closing out with Led and Octavio's classic mantra: Spread love, it's the Uptown way.💸 Defend Hyperlocal Journalism: Support Uptown Voices Uptown Voices is entirely viewer-supported and operates as a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your contributions are 100% tax-deductible and ensure our independent newsroom can continue bringing you uncovered, high-stakes local arts and political coverage free from corporate compromise. Support Our Mission (Donate Safely Here): Support Uptown Voices via Maysles CenterSubscribe to the Channel: Head over to the Uptown Collective YouTube Channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.Follow Us Everywhere Else We Stream:Instagram: @uptownvoicespodcastFacebook: Uptown Voices Page

    1 hr
  2. "If I Trusted That My Congressman Was Fighting, We Wouldn't Be Talking" | Darializa Avila Chevalier

    May 31

    "If I Trusted That My Congressman Was Fighting, We Wouldn't Be Talking" | Darializa Avila Chevalier

    The race for New York's 13th Congressional District is no longer a foregone conclusion. 🗳️  Darializa Avila Chevalier — Afro-Latina, daughter of Dominican immigrants, longtime Washington Heights organizer, and the only woman in the country to outraise an incumbent congressional challenger in the first quarter — sits down with Led Black and Octavio Blanco for one of the most substantive conversations of this campaign. The Mamdani endorsement has changed the race. June 23rd is approaching. Nothing is off the table. 🎙️  🏠 HOUSING — 88% of District 13 residents are renters. Apartments average $4,000/month. Rents climbed 23% in a year. Her plan: a Green New Deal for NYCHA, federally protected tenant organizing rights, and expanded community land trusts to create pathways to homeownership. 🏗️ NYCHA — The district holds the highest concentration of public housing in the country. Her plan: fully fund and decarbonize NYCHA, create union jobs for residents, and eliminate the equivalent of 400,000 cars in emissions.  🛂 IMMIGRATION — Her friend Mahm Khalid was kidnapped by ICE off the streets of District 13. The congressman's office turned his family away. No corporate PACs. No AIPAC. No special interest money.  💰 CAMPAIGN FINANCE — Average donation: $55. She outraised the incumbent — the only woman in the country to do so. Her argument: organized people beat organized money. Mamdani won District 13 by 19 points. 🕊️ FOREIGN POLICY — On Gaza: "It is absolutely a genocide." On the war in Iran: sign the Block the Bombs Act day one. Her framework: babies not bombs. A billion dollars a day funds this war. That billion could fund universal childcare in New York City for a year.  💉 THE DRUG CRISIS — Safe injection sites save lives — but concentrating the only two in the country in one district is redlining. The solution: distribute them across the city and address root causes through housing, jobs, and healthcare.  📌 darielizaforcongress.com | @darielisaforny  ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:01 Welcome & the Mamdani Endorsement Game Changer 02:21 Outsider or Organizer? 14 Years in Washington Heights 03:45 The Incumbent's Absent Office — Nine Years, No Response 05:25 Housing Crisis: $4,000 Rents & the 88% Renter District 06:00 NYCHA: Green New Deal for Public Housing 09:52 Forcing HUD's Hand on the Repair Backlog 12:43 Protecting Immigrant Small Business Owners & SBA Reform 16:15 Safe Injection Sites, Harm Reduction & the Fentanyl Crisis 21:00 Led's Personal Experience: Crack Era Deja Vu 24:58 Social Safety Nets & Fighting Republican Erosion 26:13 Why Democrats Are Failing — And What Different Looks Like 27:55 Outraising the Incumbent on $55 Average Donations 29:07 Organized People vs. Organized Money — The Mamdani Model 30:44 Dark Money, Super PACs & Citizens United 33:55 Democratic Socialism: What It Actually Means 37:42 War Powers, Gaza & the Block the Bombs Act 39:05 Babies Not Bombs: A Politics of Life 40:50 "Is This a Genocide?" — She Answers Directly 42:49 The Mamdani Endorsement & the Smear Campaign 46:08 Closing: Why a Progressive Shift Is Necessary 47:49 How to Canvass, Donate & Get Involved 48:28 Dominican Mother's Day & Uptown Art Stroll June 1st 54:04 Knicks Conference Finals: Brunson, Wemby & Led's Tears 56:40 One Year of Uptown Voices 59:23 Closing: Subscribe, Donate & Spread Love  🎙️ The Uptown Collective is committed to documenting the stories, voices, and ideas that shape Northern Manhattan — with the rigor and independence this community deserves. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ  🔔 Subscribe. Like. Share. Independent community journalism depends on it.  ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your contribution supports independent local journalism and is 100% tax-deductible. 👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT  📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmbtE4yILFqSWCJtf2Day6NBwHp2FYkU  Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 2m
  3. The Incumbent’s Crucible: Congressman Adriano Espaillat on Rents, AIPAC Cash, and the War in Iran

    May 30

    The Incumbent’s Crucible: Congressman Adriano Espaillat on Rents, AIPAC Cash, and the War in Iran

    Today, in the Black and Blanco edition of Uptown Voices we present a definitive, wide-ranging interview with New York’s 13th Congressional District Representative, Adriano Espaillat. From a childhood overstaying a tourist visa to ascending to the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Espaillat’s 40-year climb up the political ladder is a cornerstone of Upper Manhattan's modern history. But in 2026, the neighborhood faces an acute economic squeeze, shifting voting demographics, and immense global pressure. Hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black push past the regular talking points, pressing the Congressman on the issues hitting the community hardest: $4,000 average rents, localized safe-injection site saturation, campaign contributions from AIPAC, and the unfolding military escalation abroad. It is a raw, essential conversation tracing the fault lines between the old guard and a fierce new generation of uptown voters. ⏱️ Official Chapter Time Codes00:00 — Cold Open: The War in Iran & "Block the Bombs"00:49 — Introduction: The Voice of Uptown02:33 — Forty Years on the Frontlines: The Crack Epidemic04:10 — Going Viral & Disrupting the DNC Establishment06:06 — Grassroots Ties: The Battle of Cooper Street11:37 — The Power of the Purse: Inside the House Appropriations Committee15:18 — Legacy Wins: In-State Tuition for Undocumented Youth17:13 — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus & Pushing Back on Trump20:18 — The Rent Crisis: Real Estate Donors and Affordability24:40 — Safe Injection Sites and the "Redlining" of Washington Heights30:23 — Protecting the Undocumented & The Push to Abolish ICE32:38 — Gaza, Apartheid, and the Fight for a Two-State Solution35:53 — Campaign Finance: AIPAC Money and Dark Slush Funds39:03 — Personal History: The Vietnam Draft and Anti-Interventionism41:52 — Caribbean Sovereignty: The Cuban Embargo & Arms Sales43:54 — Closing Argument: A Message to the 22-Year-Old Voter47:21 — Unfinished Business: Preventing the Third Wave of Gentrification48:30 — Outro & Supporting Hyperlocal Media 💸 Defend Hyperlocal Journalism: Support Uptown VoicesUptown Voices is entirely viewer-supported and operates as a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your contributions are 100% tax-deductible and ensure our independent newsroom can continue bringing you uncovered, high-stakes local political coverage. Support Our Mission (Donate Safely Here): https://bit.ly/4eddiWT Subscribe to the Channel: Head over to the Uptown Collective YouTube Channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. Follow Us Everywhere Else We Stream:Instagram: @uptowncollectivFacebook: Uptown Collective Page

    49 min
  4. How Uptown Manhattan's Arts Community Is Thriving in Uncertain Times: Happy Defiance

    May 26

    How Uptown Manhattan's Arts Community Is Thriving in Uncertain Times: Happy Defiance

    One year ago, Uptown Voices launched their first episode with NOMAA. Now, for their anniversary, Led Black and Octavio Blanco return — this time live inside the breathtaking Sorolla Gallery at the Hispanic Society Museum in Washington Heights. Joined by NOMAA Executive Director Niria Leyva Gutiérrez and Uptown Art Stroll Director Martin Collins, this is a deep, joyful, urgent conversation about art, community, resilience, and what it means to build something beautiful when so much feels uncertain. The Uptown Art Stroll's 24th year. And it has never felt more necessary. 🎨 UPTOWN ART STROLL 2026 — ALL OF JUNE40 exhibitions. Open studios. Monday concerts. Walking tours. Free events. Community buy-in from local businesses across West Harlem, Washington Heights & Inwood. A 72-page printed guide with QR code linking to the full online calendar. 🖼️ AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL? — JUNE 5THNOMAA's new exhibition opens Friday, June 5th, 6–8 PM at 176th & Broadway. 46 artists. 35% brand new to NOMAA. Art that asks: Where are we? Who are we? What is this grand experiment called America? 🎵 MONDAY EVENING CONCERTSJune 1st — Opening at Audubon Terrace | Langston Hughes QuartetJune 8th — Et A Aguilar & the String Beans at Dyckman FarmhouseJune 15th — Berta Marino quintet at Cabrini Shrine LawnJune 22nd — Kumba Karey at Montefiore Square Park, 137th & BroadwayJune 29th — FINALE: Reg Wins at Jackie Robinson Park Band Shell 🏆 2026 NOMAA HONOREESMichael Palma | Joyce Adewumi | Morris-Jumel Mansion | Myra Lenaris | Ronaldo Garcia Pantaleon 🎟️ OPENING RECEPTION — JUNE 1ST, 6–8:30 PMHispanic Society Museum & Academy of Arts and Letters, Audubon Terrace. FREE. Open to the public. Rain or shine. 💙 NOMAA MEMBERSHIP — $50, TAX DEDUCTIBLEAccess to all programs, NOMAA Labs (free with membership), studio rentals, grants, and special events. Join at nomaanyc.org 📌 nomaanyc.org | @nomaanyc on Instagram & Facebook ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 "Happy Defiance" — Arts in a Time of Uncertainty00:59 Welcome: One-Year Anniversary in the Sorolla Gallery01:37 Octavio on the Hispanic Society — Uptown's Hidden Gem03:00 Niria's Journey: From Graduate Student to NOMAA Director05:46 Martin's Story: Born & Raised, 24 Art Strolls Deep07:27 The Audubon Terrace — Open Every Day07:58 A Night at the Palace: NOMAA's Annual Gala10:21 Arts Funding in the Current Political Climate11:36 Community Buy-In: Local Businesses Are Showing Up12:47 From 24 Pages to 72: The Growth of the Stroll Guide13:15 What to Expect at the 24th Uptown Art Stroll15:15 Renewal, Purpose & Why This Moment Feels Critical17:46 America the Beautiful? — The Exhibition & the Question Mark20:16 Multi-Generational Artists at NOMAA22:20 Marta Blair: First Two-Time Grand Prize Poster Winner24:07 "Happy Defiance" — Why NOMAA Wasn't Afraid to Make a Statement27:31 Planning the Stroll: Starting in August for the Following Year31:06 Monday Evening Concerts: Full Schedule32:12 The Uptown Art Scene — What Makes It Different35:12 The Urgency: Grant Requests 4x More Than Available Funds37:34 How Artists Sell Their Work During the Stroll40:29 The Origin Story: As Grassroots as It Gets41:45 NOMAA as the Engine, Not the Driver45:46 46 Artists at America the Beautiful? | June 5th Opening47:10 Life Flourishing in the GWB Bus Terminal49:14 Hamilton Grange, Dyckman Farmhouse & More50:12 The 72-Page Guide: Why Print Still Matters51:57 Fireworks Over Yankee Stadium: A Founding Memory56:08 The 2026 Honorees58:25 How to Find NOMAA & Show Up June 1st59:13 The Origin of Uptown Voices: Two Guys Arguing on a Sidewalk01:01:53 NOMAA Membership: $50, Tax Deductible, Open to All01:03:22 NOMAA Studios: Four Spaces, All Disciplines01:05:24 Tom Sanford's Installation at the Hispanic Society01:06:38 Closing: Support Uptown Voices & Spread Love 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLEThe Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT 📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmbtE4yILFqSWCJtf2Day6NBwHp2FYkU Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 8m
  5. Juilliard Trained, South Bronx Made: How Zulaika Velazquez Is Transforming Uptown Kids Through the Arts | Uptown Voices

    May 22

    Juilliard Trained, South Bronx Made: How Zulaika Velazquez Is Transforming Uptown Kids Through the Arts | Uptown Voices

    What does it look like when someone takes everything life threw at them  — homelessness, single motherhood at 19, a stage two cancer diagnosis  — and turns it into fuel to transform an entire community? Meet Zulaika Velazquez. In this episode of Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio  Blanco sit down with one of Northern Manhattan's most extraordinary  educators, directors, and community builders. Zulaika is a South Bronx  native, Juilliard-trained, and the woman who produced In the Heights at  George Washington High School — with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon M. Chu, and  Warner Brothers in the audience. But this conversation goes far deeper  than theater. 🎭 DISTRICT 6 SHOWCASE — MAY 29TH AT UNITED PALACE 750 students, K–12, from 37 schools. Free, open to the public. Art  exhibit from 4 PM, performances 5–7 PM. The only district-wide production  of its kind in the country. 🏫 THERE ARE NO BAD KIDS Why labeling schools and students ignores the real story — underfunded  classrooms, overcrowded schools, and kids reacting to their circumstances.  Change the resources, change the outcomes. 🌎 ARTS AS LANGUAGE ACQUISITION Kids who didn't speak a word of English performed a full two-hour  production in English at United Palace by year's end. The method works. 🎬 IN THE HEIGHTS AT GW While on chemo, Zulaika produced In the Heights at GW with a 250-person  waiting list. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon M. Chu, and Bette Midler's team  were in the house. It made Oprah Magazine. 🎓 GETTING UPTOWN KIDS INTO SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS Why performing arts schools are harder to get into than Stuyvesant —  and how to level the playing field. 🤖 ARTS IN THE AGE OF AI Why humanities, critical thinking, and storytelling are the skills  AI can't replace. 🗳️ CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM How Zulaika navigates politics with students — research the platforms,  register to vote, understand why local elections matter most. 📌 zulaika@spanglishvoces.com ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 There Are No Bad Kids — Opening Statement 01:08 Welcome & Subscribe Reminder 02:06 Introducing Zulaika Velazquez 04:12 District 6 Showcase at United Palace 05:27 750 Students K–12: The Scale of It 06:19 Respecting Every Artist's Work 07:41 The Jukebox Musical Format Explained 08:12 The Only Production of Its Kind Nationwide 09:05 How It Started in 2017 10:46 Free & Open to the Public — May 29th Details 12:10 From South Bronx to Juilliard 14:12 Opera, Word Painting & Why She Left Classical 17:38 Vagina Monologues in Spanish & Arts as Activism 18:05 Language Acquisition Through Musical Theater 19:01 Full English Musical With Non-English Speakers 20:06 Getting Uptown Kids Into Specialized High Schools 22:01 Theater as Community Space at GW 22:20 In the Heights at George Washington High School 35:08 Stage Two Cancer & the Kids Who Showed Up 37:00 Warner Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jon M. Chu 39:35 Oprah Magazine & Breaking the Internet 40:57 Latin Grammy Foundation & $40K in Instruments 42:50 LaGuardia vs. GW: The Real Competition 46:20 Arts in the Age of AI 47:07 Saving Lives: Newly Arrived Students & Changed Trajectories 48:09 When the System Fails Newly Arrived Students 52:28 Student Strikes, Civic Power & Social Activism 56:28 How to Get Teenagers to Listen 58:00 The NYC Subway Metaphor for Life 01:02:20 Students, Trump, Andrew Tate & Open Conversations 01:05:51 Research the Platforms, Register to Vote 01:08:54 The Student Who Was Homeless & Became Pro-Trump 01:09:31 Making Better Human Beings Through Art 01:10:29 How to Reach Zulaika & May 29th Details 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices  that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places  in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ 🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the  Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible. 👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT 📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmbtE4yILFqSWCJtf2Day6NBwHp2FYkU Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 13m
  6. From the First Latino Blog in 1997 to the Future of the Creator Economy: George Torres, Urban Jibaro

    May 19

    From the First Latino Blog in 1997 to the Future of the Creator Economy: George Torres, Urban Jibaro

    What does it take to build a 30-year career in tech, media, and social media before anyone else in your community even knew those were careers? Ask George Torres — the Urban Jibaro. In this episode of Black & Blanco Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco sit down with George Torres, a true Latino pioneer in the digital space. George created the first Latino blog on the internet in 1997 — before social media, before smartphones, before most people had a computer at home. Three decades later, he's still ahead of everyone. This conversation is essential listening for creators, entrepreneurs, podcasters, and anyone building a personal brand in the digital age. 🖥️ THE FIRST LATINO BLOG (1997) — George built Sofrito for Your Soul on GeoCities and grew it into an international audience before most people had internet at home. 🏷️ PERSONAL BRANDING — He's worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda, HBO, Disney, CNN, JetBlue, Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, John Leguizamo, Hot 97, and Univision. Most people don't know it. He breaks down why staying humble is leaving money on the table. 📱 THE FUTURE OF THE CREATOR ECONOMY — Big corporations are outsourcing. Individual creators are filling the gap. George explains what that means for anyone building right now. 💰 KNOW YOUR WORTH — The story of running a Twitter campaign for Top Five and discovering he was charging 10 times less than the actual budget. 🏥 THE HOSPITAL BED CAMPAIGN — Hired as a COVID spokesperson, George tested positive before launch. He ran the campaign from a hospital bed, brought in Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Angie Martinez & Led Black — and won a Telly Award in eight weeks. 🧠 MENTAL HEALTH IS YOUR BUSINESS PLAN — Siembra Connect puts mental health, community, and mutual aid at the center of the creator economy. 📌 siembraconnect.com | @siembraconnect on Instagram and Threads ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Mental Health, Creator Burnout & Siembra Connect Intro01:15 Welcome: George Torres, the Urban Jibaro02:02 How Octavio, Led & George Have Always Moved Together03:34 The Howard Beach Bias Incident of 198605:50 Meeting Richie Perez & the Young Lords06:56 What Is a Jibaro? Brooklyn Meets Puerto Rican Roots08:23 The First Latino Blog on the Internet (1997)10:12 GeoCities, Sofrito for Your Soul & Going International12:29 The Nassau County Museum of Art & Latino Masters Expo13:58 How George Started Building Websites to Keep the Lights On15:16 MiGente.com & the Rise of Latino Social Media34:02 What's Next for Social Media & the Creator Economy36:09 Why Uptown Collective's Framework Could Work Anywhere37:29 The Top Five Twitter Party & the $500 vs $5,000 Lesson40:20 Speed, Reputation & Being the A-Team of Social Media41:35 Running a Telly Award Campaign From a COVID Hospital Bed44:05 Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Angie Martinez & Latinos Out Loud45:06 Claiming Your Genius: Stop Letting Others Hold Your Awards47:37 Personal Branding, Latino Identity & the Politics of Self48:33 The Projects Nobody Knows: UN, HBO, Disney, JetBlue & More51:27 The Charlamagne Lesson: Don't Lose Your Community Chasing Bigger53:08 LinkedIn, Photo Ops & Why You Have to Talk About Yourself55:00 Brands, Politics & Why Your Business Is Not a Megaphone59:39 The My Pillow Warning: When Politics Destroys a Brand01:04:18 COVID Backlash, Remdesivir & Speaking Up Anyway01:06:52 Respecting Your Community With Real Health Information01:09:42 Creator Isolation & How Siembra Connect Breaks Through It01:10:33 The Convite: A Community Gathering for Creators01:13:49 Siembra Connect: Teaching From Experience, Not From a Guru01:14:35 George's Offer: A Fireside Chat in Washington Heights01:15:11 How to Find George Torres & Siembra Connect01:15:35 Closing: Community Is More Than Business 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLEThe Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.👉 Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CJ5HJSZ2JF97S Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 18m
  7. The Rent Is Too Damn High & What You Can Do About It | Uptown Arts, Quality of Life & Community Power | Black & Blanco

    May 19

    The Rent Is Too Damn High & What You Can Do About It | Uptown Arts, Quality of Life & Community Power | Black & Blanco

    Another Sunday, another dose of real talk from Uptown. In this episode of Black & Blanco Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco cover everything happening on the ground in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem, and the South Bronx — from the fight to keep rents frozen, to the arts events you need to know about, to the quality of life battles playing out on the streets of Northern Manhattan. This is what community media looks like. Unfiltered. Hyper-local. And always Uptown. 🏠 THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH — ACT NOWThe NYC Rent Guidelines Board is holding public hearings and a rent freeze is on the table. Register to testify or volunteer to canvass your neighbors.👉 rentguidelinesboard.cityofnewyork.us | organize.nyc.gov 🎨 UPTOWN ARTS STROLL KICKOFF — JUNE 1STLed and Octavio recap their live anniversary episode from inside the Sorolla Gallery at the Hispanic Society. The Uptown Arts Stroll kicks off June 1st at the Audubon Terrace — plus their second annual unofficial after party at Hilltop Ale House. 🖼️ NOMA & THE ARTS ECOSYSTEMAdrian Miranda's screenwriting & acting workshops at NOMA Studios, the Emmett Cohen jazz event at Harlem School of the Arts, the America the Beautiful exhibition opening June 5th, and Art in the Garden at the Ring Garden on Dyckman (submissions close May 31st). 📸 FREE HEADSHOTS — INVEST IN YOUR BRANDWest Harlem Arts Alliance, NOMA, OLA & Corazón are offering pro headshot sessions June 13th at NOMA Studios for $50. A game changer for any creator or entrepreneur. 💰 WEST HARLEM DC GRANTS — $5K TO $30KCommunity Benefits Grants available for 501(c)(3) organizations serving West Harlem. Deadline: June 5th. 👉 westharlemdc.org 🚮 QUALITY OF LIFE: GARBAGE, POOP & THE DRUG CRISISLed and Octavio get real about the open air drug corridor in the 180s, the need for more trash cans, and why this needs a multi-agency response. 🌉 TRANS-MANHATTAN EXPRESSWAY: CONCRETE IS FALLINGA dash cam video went viral after concrete fell from the ceiling of the expressway. An infrastructure alarm that needs urgent attention. 🏀 KNICKS CONFERENCE FINALSThe Knicks are in it and Led is fired up. Shoutout to Baka Backpages pop-up at 147 Orchard Street for the merch. 🏘️ COMMUNITY BOARD 12 & THE DOLPHIN PARK VICTORYHow community organizing pushed the Port Authority to finally reopen Dolphin Park after a decade of it sitting locked and empty. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 The Rent Is Too Damn High — Register Now01:12 Welcome & Summer Vibes in the Heights02:05 Street Life, Safety & the Coming Summer03:17 Trans-Manhattan Expressway: Concrete Is Falling05:28 Fort Washington Corridor & the Drug Crisis08:32 Live at the Hispanic Society: Anniversary Episode Recap10:12 Inside the Sorolla Gallery — What Makes It Special13:10 The History of the Hispanic Society & Samuel Huntington15:08 Uptown Arts Stroll Kickoff June 1st & the After Party16:11 Support Uptown Voices: Tax-Deductible Contributions18:50 Why This Work Matters: Community, Connection & Growth19:03 NOMA: The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Deep Dive22:36 Emmett Cohen Jazz & Harlem School of the Arts23:19 Art in the Garden — Submissions Open Until May 31st25:01 Think Globally, Act Locally: The Uptown Philosophy27:35 The Battle for Uptown — Why Hyper-Local Media Matters29:21 West Harlem Arts Alliance: Headshots, Walking Tours & More32:13 Free Walking Tours of West Harlem with John Reddick33:29 Rent Guidelines Board: How to Make Your Voice Heard36:33 How to Register & Testify at the Public Hearings42:14 West Harlem DC Grants ($5K–$30K) — Apply by June 5th44:06 Pick Up Your Dog Poop — A Community Call to Action45:06 City Council's Trash Bag Bill & the Garbage Crisis47:25 Accountability: Us AND the City Need to Do Better50:12 The Drug Corridor, Blight & a Multi-Agency Response51:35 Carmen De La Rosa & the Uptown People's Project52:30 Community Board 12 & the Dolphin Park Victory58:16 Why the Community Board Is Your Most Underrated Tool59:24 Knicks Conference Finals & Baka Backpages Pop-Up01:01:00 Shoutouts & Closing 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLEThe Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 3m
  8. Dyckman Fire, Class War & Uptown Power: Holding Bad Landlords Accountable | Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices

    May 13

    Dyckman Fire, Class War & Uptown Power: Holding Bad Landlords Accountable | Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices

    In this episode of Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco open on Mother's Day with love for the mothers who hold it all together — then get into the real issues facing uptown. The Dyckman Street fire weighs heavy on this episode. Three lives lost, over 100 residents displaced, and a landlord — Jack Bick of Jan Jan Realty — who was already on the Public Advocate's list of the 100 worst landlords with over 1,000 fire and safety violations across his properties. Led and Octavio don't mince words: negligence this severe isn't just a housing violation, it's a matter of life and death. They play a clip of Council Member Carmen de la Rosa, who was on the ground within hours of the fire, and share resources for how listeners can still help displaced neighbors. From there, the conversation expands into the class warfare playing out across New York City and the country — from the Mamdani pied-à-terre tax and Ken Griffin's $238 million penthouse, to Trump's billion-dollar White House ballroom while SNAP benefits and Medicaid are being gutted. Led and Octavio connect the dots between predatory landlords, billionaire tax avoidance, and the slow displacement of the people who built and sustain this city. They also cover the rent guidelines board's upcoming public hearings — where a rent freeze is still on the table — and encourage listeners to make their voices heard before the June votes. On a brighter note: the Washington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast was a hit, with hundreds in attendance at the Armory. Uptown Voices celebrates becoming a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. And Octavio gives a glowing review of the New York Philharmonic and Rubén Blades bringing salsa and symphony together at United Palace. Plus: Knicks playoff talk, bodega electricity bills, and why you should be buying your coffee at Boonie, not Starbucks. In this episode: Remembering the victims of the Dyckman Street fire and how to helpLandlord accountability: Jan Jan Realty and the city's responseThe Mamdani pied-à-terre tax and the billionaire backlashTrump's billion-dollar ballroom vs. cuts to Medicaid and SNAPNYC Rent Guidelines Board hearings — how to participateWashington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast recapRubén Blades + NY Philharmonic at United PalaceKnicks playoff feverHow to help displaced Dyckman fire residents: NMIC — 45 Wadsworth Avenue (call first)Holy Trinity Church (call first)Community Board 12 — 530 West 166th St, 212-568-8500Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos — 210 Sherman Ave, Suite A&CCongressman Adriano Espaillat — 720 West 181st St, 212-497-5959Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal — 431 West 125th St, 212-531-1609Council Member Carmen de la Rosa — 618 West 177th St, 917-521-2616State Senator Robert Jackson — 5030 Broadway, Suite 701, 212-544-0173Rent Guidelines Board public hearings: rentguidelinesboard.cityofnewyork.us Hearing dates: June 4, June 8, June 11, June 16 Subscribe to Uptown Voices / Uptown Collective on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=XIBtEAFy9VEo9ei4 Support Uptown Voices — a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your contribution is tax-deductible: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CJ5HJSZ2JF97S 00:00 — Happy Mother's Day: Shoutouts & Love for the Mothers03:00 — Dyckman Street Fire: Lives Lost & Community Response06:10 — Carmen de la Rosa Clip: Leadership on the Ground09:00 — How to Help: Donation Sites & Resources for Displaced Residents13:50 — Led Speaks: The Reality of Being Displaced15:30 — Landlord Accountability: Jan Jan Realty & 1,000 Violations18:00 — HPD & the Mayor's Response to Unsafe Housing19:40 — Washington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast Recap21:30 — Jackie Aleman Clip: Chamber Leadership & 501c3 Restoration24:00 — Small Business Struggles: Rent, Electricity & Tight Margins27:10 — Uptown Voices Anniversary: Live Recording at the Hispanic Society30:00 — The Sorolla Gallery & Hidden Gems of Washington Heights33:00 — Buy Local: Skip Starbucks, Support Boonie33:30 — Support Uptown Voices: YouTube & Tax-Deductible Donations37:00 — Class War: Mamdani, Ken Griffin & the Pied-à-Terre Tax40:00 — The Billionaire Exodus Myth: Who's Really Leaving New York44:20 — Trump's Billion-Dollar White House Ballroom48:45 — The Met Gala, Wealth & People Power52:25 — NYC Rent Guidelines Board: How to Make Your Voice Heard56:00 — Knicks Playoff Talk: Sweep Season & Joel Embiid's Flopping1:00:40 — Rubén Blades & the NY Philharmonic at United Palace1:03:00 — Closing: Spread Love, It's the Uptown Way

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Uptown Voices

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