Lift Every Voice

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

Many creative professionals begin their careers without mentors to guide them on the right pathways. In rapidly changing fields like podcasting, this can lead to feelings of isolation, slow progress, and missed opportunities to develop sustainable careers. In this episode, Nancy Sanchez, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Podcast Academy, talks about how they are redefining mentorship by fostering community and peer learning, and by designing intentional spaces. In this episode, we discuss:Why peer mentorship is often overlooked in professional developmentHow can creative communities reduce isolation and support career growthThe design of The Podcast Academy’s mentorship programHow a facilitated mentorship ecosystem model supports creative ingenuity 

Many first-generation learners arrive on campus without visibility into the systems that shape their academic success and contribute to their career goals. When mentorship pathways are unclear, learners may isolate, disengage, or leave before discovering the support available to them.In this episode, Dr. Kendall Laster, Director of Student Success at Central Alabama Community College, discusses how institutions can rethink access to mentorship and design support structures that meet learners where they are.In this episode, we discuss:Why first-generation identity is often misunderstoodHow mentorship visibility breaks down in higher educationLow-cost strategies institutions can use to improve mentorship accessWhy mentorship should be an institutional responsibility

Mentorship is often described as encouragement, guidance, or professional support. Yet in many workforce conversations, it is treated as optional or informal rather than as essential to how people access, navigate, and succeed within institutions, organizations, or teams.In this opening episode, Melvin Smith, founder of Linked Innovations and host of Lift Every Voice, introduces the season's central argument: mentorship is not a soft add-on to workforce systems; it is part of the infrastructure that determines who progresses and who does not.In this episode, we discuss:What this season will explore across individuals, organizations, and systemsWhy in workforce conversations, mentorship is often overlooked as a necessary organizational infrastructure How mentorship influences access, confidence, and persistence The difference between opportunity and the ability to navigate opportunity

Hey,Interested in learning what the show is about? Start here for an overview.Or better yet, click here to listen to our pilot episode.Like what you hear? Subscribe, and leave a rating and review. They are appreciated.Until next time!Best,Melvin

In this conversation, Melvin sits down with Chris Sullivan, Interim Vice President of Instruction at Seattle Central College, who offers a reflection on the institution’s approach to workforce education. Rooted in equity and social justice, Chris outlines a reverse-design approach that prioritizes the needs of marginalized learners over industry demands. He emphasizes the importance of mission-aligned partnerships, the risks of misalignments, and the necessity of knowing when to walk away from opportunities that don’t serve the intended population. The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE) emerges as a powerful case study. This apprenticeship-style initiative combines paid paraeducator roles, wage progression, and credit-bearing hands-on experiences to create long-term pathways into teaching careers. Chris’s insights highlight a replicable model centered on lived experiences, flexibility, and a values-first framework for systemic change.Date Recorded: July 16, 2025I. Aligning Workforce Education with Community Values00:30 – Community and Social Impact • Serving people, not just positions • Centering BIPOC learner experience • Industry roles must add value04:45 – Partnership Criteria • Not all partners are the right fit • Look for equity-minded champions • Lip service ≠ alignment08:10 – Redefining Geographic Focus • Regional, not city-limited, impact • Students often live outside city limits • County-based workforce strategy10:30 – Values-First Program Design • Programs built in reverse • Start with student outcomes • Align training with mobility goalsII. Navigating Accessibility and Knowing When to Walk Away13:00 – Organizational Accessibility Practices • Success: Seattle Children’s, Expedia • Example of turning down a major partner • Accessibility must be systemic, not symbolic16:15 – Misalignment Case Studies • Wage progression promises unmet • Lack of mentorship/support structures • Harm to students → end of partnership19:30 – Key Lessons • “Not all money is good money” • Internal feedback loops are vital • Mission integrity over fundingIII. The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE) – Case Study22:10 – Original Vision vs. Reality • Shift from Black male youth to BIPOC paraeducators • Responded to academic trauma feedback • Meeting learners where they are25:10 – Program Features & Innovation • Paid roles + tuition support • Guaranteed job placement • Stackable learning + wage progression28:05 – Healing Curriculum & Structural Support • Based on lived experiences • Cross-institutional collaboration • Classroom learning is tied to advancement30:50 – A Flexible, Scalable Model • Multiple pathways: teaching, counseling, more • Shared-credit degree design • Positioned for statewide replicationIV. Conclusion and Call to Action32:45 – Final Reflections • Start with who you serve • Programs must reflect values • ARE is a replicable, healing-centered modelTo learn more about or connect with Melvin, visit LinkedInnovationcLLC.com