Intro: Demitria Wack Guest: 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 ..read more

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 yo ..read more

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 ..read more

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 dis ..read more

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 Tu ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ep ..read more

Hosts: Demitria Wack and Mehek Kandru. Guest: Jewel Hurtado. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh. Jewel Hurtado was born and raised in the Central San Joaquin Valley. At the age of 22, Jewel is the youngest elected official in the Valley and a powerful voice for young people in her community and beyond. She is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Sociology at California State University Bakersfield. She has chosen to pursue her education locally with the desire to continuously give back to the community that saw her gr ..read more

Hosts: Demitria Wack and Michael Wiafe. Guest: Michael Tubbs. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock, Mehek Kandru, Elli Arzbaecher, and Abby Pugh. Instead of getting policymakers to listen to the youth voice, Michael Tubbs brought the youth voice directly to the table--actually the very front of the decision making table. In 2016, The election of Michael Tubbs as Mayor of Stockton, made him the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history at only 26 years old, as well as Stockton’s first African-American Mayor.  As Mayor, he was known for his dedication to educa ..read more

Hosts: Demitria Wack and Michael Wiafe. Guest: Dr. Joseph Castro. Production and Marketing: Jarrett Ramones, Tim Haydock and Abby Pugh. The California State University public university system consists of 23 campuses  enrolling around a half a million students, the largest four-year public university system in the United States. Altogether, about half of the bachelor's degrees, a third of the master's degrees, and almost two percent of the doctoral degrees awarded each year in California are from the CSU. Plus, as both Michael and I demonstrate, clearly the most promising and humble grad ..read more