Lift Every Voice

Melvin Smith
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education
  • Updated Semiweekly

Lift Every Voice is a podcast at the intersection of workforce development and community transformation, spotlighting the people and programs that are reshaping opportunities across various industries. Hosted by workforce strategist Melvin Smith, each episode explores what happens when institutions prioritize individuals over just the bottom lines. Through conversations with leaders, program designers, educators, and participants, the show examines how systems can be redesigned to serve better those often impacted by unfulfilled commitments.

  1. Sep 7

    Mentorship, Expanding Access and Visibility in Workforce Systems

    Mentorship often begins informally, through everyday interactions, encouragement, and exposure to new opportunities. However, access to mentorship can remain uneven across organizations.   In this episode, Wendy Price, Director of Workforce Development at Sound Transit, discusses how mentorship expands access to information, strengthens career pathways, and supports both individual growth and organizational success.   In this episode, we discuss: • Why mentorship often starts informally but benefits from intentional structure • How access to information shapes career pathways and opportunity • The relationship between mentorship, engagement, and retention • Why visibility into roles and pathways is critical for workforce development • How organizations can balance formal and informal mentorship models To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠.

  2. Aug 17

    Mentorship, Designing for Role Clarity and Measurable Growth

    Mentorship without intentional design becomes inconsistent, unclear, and difficult to scale across organizations.   In this episode, Ryan Rosiello, Leadership Development Specialist, discusses how mentorship programs can be strengthened through clear structure, defined roles, and a focus on measurable skill development.   In this episode, we discuss: •      Why mentorship programs require both structure and flexibility •      How measurement strengthens mentorship outcomes and accountability •      The importance of mentee-driven development in mentorship design •      How role clarity improves engagement, confidence, and program success •      What organizations often overlook when building mentorship programs To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠.

  3. Jul 20

    Mentorship, Strengthening Community Workforce Systems Through Public Investment

    Many communities offer mentorship, but few design it as a core component of workforce systems. In public-sector environments, mentorship is often treated as supplemental rather than as a driver of long-term impact.   In this episode, Glenn McCray, K–12 Programs Advisor at the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning, discusses how mentorship is embedded within public investment strategies, community partnerships, and culturally responsive programming.   In this episode, we discuss: • The role of municipal funding in shaping workforce and education systems • Why mentorship is often misunderstood across organizations • How culturally responsive mentorship supports belonging and retention • The relationship between mentorship and capacity building • What funders and organizations must consider when designing mentorship initiatives To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠.

  4. Jun 22

    Mentorship, the Foundation to Lift Every Voice

    Mentorship is often described as a relationship, but this season has shown that it is also a structure, a practice, and a pathway for making opportunity easier to navigate. At the midpoint of Lift Every Voice, this episode pauses to reflect on what the first two arcs revealed about mentorship as both a personal support system and an organizational design strategy. In this episode, Melvin Smith reflects on the lessons from Episodes 2–7. He introduces the Mentorship Foundations framework, which connects visibility, confidence, community, structure, exposure, and reflection into a practical model for designing mentorship with intention.   In this episode, we discuss:• Why mentorship matters for mobility, access, and opportunity• How visibility, confidence, and community help people move through complex systems• Why mentorship requires design, structure, and accountability• How mentorship supports career transitions, exposure, and agency• The Mentorship Foundations framework and its core practices• How organizations can embed mentorship through people, processes, tools, and environment To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this LinkTree link.

  5. Jun 1

    Mentorship, Expanding Opportunity Through Networks and Exposure | Featuring Genevieve Clayton

    Learners favor positions in which they are active participants in shaping their professional pathways because autonomy can enhance relevance and relatability. In this episode, Genevieve Clayton of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce discusses the Chamber Student Network (CSN). This student-led initiative that connects learners with local businesses through mentorship, community engagement, and experiential learning. We discuss: Why student-led models can reshape how mentorship functionsHow chambers of commerce can engage emerging professionals

  6. May 25

    Mentorship, Navigating Systems and Finding Your Path | Featuring Jen Garcia

    Entering a new industry can be difficult, and without proper guidance, many newcomers struggle to grasp its terminology, specialized areas of expertise, and potential career paths. In this episode, Jen Garcia of HIMSS Washington discusses how association-based mentorship programs can create clearer entry points into careers. We discuss⁠: How curiosity and mentorship shaped a career pivot Why newcomers struggle to navigate specialized rolesHow professional associations can design mentorship intentionallyWhat outcomes show mentorship programs are working

  7. May 11

    Mentorship, Designing Systems that Strengthen Organizations | Featuring Wendi Braun

    Mentorship is often treated as a program. But what happens when organizations treat it as infrastructure for workforce development? In this episode, learning and performance expert Wendi Braun explores how mentorship connects adult learning, leadership development, and organizational systems. Wendi shares how mentorship programs can improve employee outcomes, organizational performance, and even financial results when designed intentionally. In this episode, we discuss How theory from psychology shaped modern workforce learningWhy mentorship is an applied practice of organizational developmentWhy mentorship must balance structure with human relationships What makes a mentorship program sustainable in large organizations

  8. Apr 20

    Mentorship, The Building Blocks to Career Confidence | Featuring Brandon Erby

    Many professionals start their careers with mentorship from those around them, influencing their development at critical moments. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Erby shares how mentorship guided his journey from his community in Michigan to academic pursuits across the eastern United States, and how these experiences strengthened his resolve to serve as a bridge for others in similar paths.   In this episode, we discuss: How informal mentorship shapes identity development and boosts decision-making confidenceThe broad yet manageable scope of mentorshipWays individuals can purposefully act as connectors for others

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Lift Every Voice is a podcast at the intersection of workforce development and community transformation, spotlighting the people and programs that are reshaping opportunities across various industries. Hosted by workforce strategist Melvin Smith, each episode explores what happens when institutions prioritize individuals over just the bottom lines. Through conversations with leaders, program designers, educators, and participants, the show examines how systems can be redesigned to serve better those often impacted by unfulfilled commitments.

Information

  • Creator
    Melvin Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Melvin Smith
  • Show Website
    Lift Every Voice