Youth Voice Amplified
Join hosts Gennessa Fisher and Brian Johnson for this youth-led and youth-focused monthly interview series as they talk with young people about their life experiences with homelessness, foster care, disabilities, teen parenting, and more. Each conversation will uncover stories of hope and strength from youth storytellers who will share the best ways we can support youth in similar situations. If you want to know how to do better for youth or simply be inspired, this is your show! Every youth has a story to tell. Are you ready to listen?
Episodes
33 episodes
For Teens, By Teens: 25 Years of Leaders In Life
In this special episode of Youth Voice Amplified, host Gennessa sits down with Alyssa and Siena—two incredible student leaders behind Kern County’s Leaders In Life Conference, a groundbreaking e...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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35:47
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Jordynn’s Story: Parenting With Purpose
In this uplifting episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we sit down with Jordynn, a young mom who turned her experience with homelessness into a powerful voice for change. As a dedicated youth advocate, Jordynn shares how she balances the challenge...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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25:35
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The Good Road Ahead: Dakota’s Story of Resilience
In this special episode celebrating Youth Voice Amplified's 2nd anniversary, we’re honored to feature Dakota, a high school senior navigating life as an unaccompanied homeless youth. Dakota shares his incredible journey of resilience a...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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20:15
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Leading with Heart: Tita’s Story as Kern County’s First Student Champion
Kick off 2025 with an inspiring story of youth leadership! Tita, the first-ever Student Champion on the Kern County Board of Education, joins us to share how she’s amplifying student voices and making an impact for over 200,000 students....
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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40:28
Joy for All: Helping Foster Youth in Need This Holiday Season
In this special holiday episode of Youth Voice Amplified, Kristy Torres from Kern County Department of Human Services and Bryanna Wood from the Kern County Dream Center share how they bring joy, support, and hope to foster and homeless...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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49:02
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Inside Youth Homelessness: Voices from the Frontline
This special holiday bonus episode of Youth Voice Amplified wraps up Homeless Youth Awareness Month with a heartfelt roundtable discussion featuring members of the Youth Action Board (YAB), part of Bakersfield Kern Regional Homel...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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14:23
Project I Am From - Playing My Own Game Now
🎙️ In this special episode for Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Youth Voice Amplified features Cynthia, a youth advocate with lived experience of youth homelessness. Through the Project I Am From poetry exerci...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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35:32
Project I Am From - The Only Way Out is Through
In this moving episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we welcome back Melie, a dedicated advocate for homeless youth, to kick off our special focus on Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Through Project "I Am From," we dive deep into the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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31:46
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Youth Voice Amplified: Live from the Dream Center Open Mic
In this special live-recorded episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we bring you an inspiring Open Mic night at the Dream Center 🎤 , where youth who've faced adversity share their stories through powerful spoken word, poetry, and music. 💪 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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43:57
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James' Story: Turning Hardship into Hope
In this episode of Youth Voice Amplified, we’re bringing you James’s powerful story. He talks about what it was like to face homelessness at a young age, bouncing from place to place, and how it affected his time in school. James doesn't hold b...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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36:33
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Taking Your Seat at the Table: Carter Beardsley on Elevating Student Voice in Education
Carter Beardsley, is not just a student—he's a changemaker! As the Region 8 President of the California Association of Student Councils, Chairman of the Kern Literacy Council's Youth Literacy Committee, and a Bakersfield Youth Commissioner, Car...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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47:24
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The Power of Transformative Thinking: Rico's Journey (Part 2)
In the powerful conclusion of our two-part series, we pick up where we left off, diving deeper into Rico's transformative journey. After being harshly judged by his community and witnessing friends succumb to drug use, Rico made the life-changi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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40:18
The Power of Transformative Thinking: Rico's Journey (Part 1)
Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life! Join us for an inspiring two-part series on Youth Voice Amplified as we delve into Rico's incredible journey of resilience and transformation. In part one, Rico opens up about his challenging early life, w...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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39:49
His Comeback Season: Himothy's Journey Through Juvenile Justice (Part 2)
Join us for the powerful conclusion of Himothy's journey on Youth Voice Amplified.🌟 After the birth of his daughter, Himothy made a complete turnaround, dedicating himself to community service, full-time work, and pursuing higher educatio...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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36:19
His Comeback Season: Himothy's Journey Through Juvenile Justice (Part 1)
🌟 Join us on a special two-part episode as we dive into the remarkable story of Himothy on Youth Voice Amplified. From a young age, Himothy faced adversity and challenges head-on, including entering the juvenile detention system at ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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37:43
Rising Phoenix: Horus' Unbreakable Spirit (Part 2)
In this gripping conclusion to Horus's story on Rising Phoenix, he reveals the profound impact of COVID-19 on his life, detailing the challenges he faced in securing stable housing and employment. Living along the Kern River, he recounts a harr...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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24:13
Rising Phoenix: Horus' Unbreakable Spirit (Part 1)
Join us for part one of 'Rising Phoenix: Horus' Unbreakable Sprit,' where we delve into Horus' courageous journey through childhood challenges and homelessness. From a young age, Horus faced the daunting reality of being on his own, constantly ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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28:13
Shining Bright: Jo's Journey of Courage & Hope
Get ready to be inspired as we dive into 2024 with Jo’s remarkable story on Youth Voice Amplified! Jo's story resonates with the struggles many of us encounter. In this candid conversation, she bares it all, sharing her experiences being homele...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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31:52
Voices of Resilience Youth Panel (Live from the 2023 EMBRACE Equity Symposium)
We have a special gift for our listeners this holiday season! 🎁🎉🎙️ In September 2023, we had the honor of moderating the Voices of Resilience student panel at the 2023 EMBRACE Equity Symposium, where educators from across California conve...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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47:06
On the Frontlines of Hope: Supporting Homeless Students in Schools
In honor of Homeless Youth Awareness Month, "Youth Voice Amplified" brings you an inspiring episode featuring Michelle Blalock, the Homeless Education Liaison, and Gabby Britt, a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker, both dedicated to ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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39:40
Amplifying Student Voices: A Conversation with Dr. John Mendiburu
In celebration of our 10th episode, we have a special guest who brings a unique perspective on the intersection of student voice and equity in education, especially for students facing adversity like those experiencing homelessness and foster c...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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51:49
Breaking Barriers: A Foster Youth's College Journey
In this special back-to-school episode, we're diving headfirst into the inspiring story of Tom, a former foster youth who defied the odds to pursue higher education. Join hosts Gennessa and Brian as they unravel the challenges, triumphs, and in...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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46:12
Resilience Rewritten: Evelette’s Story (Part 2)
❤️ In the heartfelt conclusion to our captivating two-part series, Evelette shares her experiences as a teen parent, overcoming challenges during high school, and dealing with homelessness. She reveals the sacrifices she made to provide a...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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36:40
Resilience Rewritten: Evelette’s Story (Part 1)
Ever since she could remember, Evelette has battled extraordinary circumstances, made tough decisions, and overcome difficult challenges…all while on her own. In this inspiring two-part series, Evelette takes us on an unforgettable journey thro...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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26:25
Don’t Give Up Hope: Manuel’s Journey to a Life of Purpose & Service
Manuel has lived a lot of life in his 20 years. He joined us to share his deeply personal story tracing his journey from running with the wrong crowd and incarceration as a teen to a college student and community advocate with a heart for servi...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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34:14
