Find Your Calling w/ Terry Ayzman Terry Ayzman

CA's 1st Gen Z legislator — its youngest in 80 years — UC Davis graduate Alex Lee, is slated to be sworn in by the Golden State's lower legislative chamber tomorrow.

Before voters officially crown him "Assembly-member," he sits down with the "Find Your Calling" pod to spill the tea on corporate money in politics, the most frustrating aspects of the campaign trail, and his unlikely ascent from Capitol intern to Sacramento politico.

He's 25 years old but commandeers important subjects like he's been traversing the political waters for a substantial amount of time.

Whether your politics align with his or not, listen to his rationale & share your thoughts!

To learn more about his policy planks, head over to his Twitter & campaign pages.

Twitter handle: @VoteAlexLee2020
Website: VoteAlexLee.com

With Fall quarter now upon us, "Find Your Calling" heads to the boss of LA County's Education team, Superintendent Debra Duardo.

She's a three-time Bruin with a twist. Starting at the university as a so-called non-traditional student, she attended classes while caring for 4 children, including one with a severe disability.

Nevertheless, she persisted and rose to the highest position at LA County's Department of Education, now leading the largest regional educational agency in America.

In this episode, we discuss her fascinating life; CA's student performance metrics; the delicate balancing act of letting kids back into the classroom; and the surprising mental-health benefits that come with living in the ZOOM age.

If you'd like to dig deeper into the student outcomes I cited, here are some trustworthy websites:

1) CA Educational Dashboard Info about LAUSD
https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19647330000000/2019
2) The Nation's Report Card
https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

Today, "Find Your Calling" is privileged to trace the pitfalls & ultimate triumph of former gang member & recent UCLA graduate Romen Lopez.

Growing up in East L.A., a socioeconomically disadvantaged part of the city, Romen joined a street gang in 7th grade & ended up in detention facilities 5 times by his mid-20s.

Then, came his turning point: education & a longing for a high-school equivalency degree.

As we discuss the UCLA organization he founded & his community-college partnership with L.A. Mayor Garcetti, we learn about how a blend of perseverance and a few gold-hearted people can allow one to make a leap of faith & emerge victorious.

*Note*: Romen is currently seeking to enter the mental-health arena. Armed with two UCLA degrees and a breadth of unbelievable experience, his contributions to the field would undoubtedly enrich it.

If you'd like to connect with him, drop me a line on my Twitter, @Terry_Ayzman, or my Facebook. Thanks for listening!

This week, "Find Your Calling" dips its feet into the November election with a fellow Bruin, CA Assemblywoman Christy Smith, who's running to snag CA-25's Congressional seat.

After Congresswoman Katie Hill, the latest Democrat to control the district, resigned, Ms. Smith & her opponent Republican Mike Garcia duked it out in a special election. Ultimately, Mr. Garcia prevailed, capitalizing on an endorsement from President Trump. This November, Ms. Smith plans to unleash her experience & base to send him packing.

In our half-hour interview fashioned for the COVID era, we discuss her passion for education & campaigning in a tumultuous era, as she doles out her advice to students feeling frozen in quarantine.

Former San Francisco DA George Gascón has entered the potentially priciest & most-watched DA's race in the history of Los Angeles.

A self-identifying "progressive prosecutor," Mr. Gascón, a former LAPD Chief, is slated to go toe-to-toe with L.A.'s incumbent chief prosecutor, Jackie Lacey, in November. In appealing to her constituency, he touts his track record in San Francisco & his long-fought battle to terminate mass incarceration practices.

In our socially distanced sit-down, we delve into his military service & hear his elevator pitch to Angelenos; well, the 30-minute 'pitch' isn't quite as optimal for an elevator as it is for a car ride.

Enjoy!

Tanya Ortiz Franklin is an education equity advocate, Columbia & UCLA Law graduate & candidate for LAUSD's School Board District 7 seat!

Dubbing educational equity the "civil rights issue of our time," Franklin discusses her vision to improve students' academic performance; proposals to disband LA Unified's police force; and her personal experience as a teacher in the 2nd largest school district in the United States.