Teen G.E.N. Talks

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Savannah, member of the Eastern Shoshone Nation, organizing manager of Illuminative, ex board member of the National Indian Association, and ex diversity-equity and inclusion consultant in New York City. Savannah shares how her desire to work in Indian Country and to help people influenced her determination to create change at a higher level as...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Itzel, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator inspired by Mexican culture and is the founder of Yayitzel. Itzel shares how she was drawn to art with drawing when she was younger and how she found which art medium to pursue as she grew older. Listen in to hear more as Itzel shares her journey as a freelance artist, from her start as a free...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview educator & author Dawn Quigley! Dr. Dawn Quigley is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, ND,and  is an assistant professor at a Midwest university Education Department. She taught English and reading for 18+ years in the K-12 schools along with being an Indian Education program co-director. In addition to her debut coming-o...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview founder and entrepreneur of Xolo Books Oriana Peñaranda! Oriana Peñaranda is the founder of  Xolo Books, an online bookstore that is dedicated to promoting stories written by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. She is a proud Latina passionate about decolonized learning and finding a balance between activism and rest. When she’s not re...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Elsa Iris Reyes who is the proud daughter of Mexican-Immigrants and is currently on a journey to explore what it means to be Latino in the U.S. through her series of interviews on the podcast, "The Latinx Identity Project". Elsa was raised in Cicero, a working class suburb of Chicago, IL and had big dreams of traveling the world and building a...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Elsa Iris Reyes who is the proud daughter of Mexican-Immigrants and is currently on a journey to explore what it means to be Latino in the U.S. through her series of interviews on the podcast, "The Latinx Identity Project". Elsa was raised in Cicero, a working class suburb of Chicago, IL and had big dreams of traveling the world and building a...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Yesenia Cisneros who is a veteran producer who has worked on multi-award-winning titles such as Batman: Arkham City, Minecraft, and Pokemon. She has always been passionate about creating a space and better representation for Latinx, and other marginalized communities in the gaming industry both on and off the screen. She currently works as a pr...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Michelle Barrionueveo-Mazzini who is the small business owner of Casita Michi, a Latinx handmade candle shop. Michelle is a proud Latina and a California native who loves the ocean, riding her bike, spontaneous road trips, live music and spending time with her familia! She created her business as a way to share and celebrate her Latinx culture...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Fernando Reyes, a multi-award game designer currently working with 343 Industries on the upcoming Halo Infinite, co-founder of Latin America Director for Latinx in Gaming. Fernando tells us his story of how his love video games sparked his interest in using video games as an art medium has gotten him to where he is in 343 Industries. Listen in...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview game designer and podcast host John Diaz! John is a 1st generation Dominican-American with a B.S. in Game Design & Development from Full Sail University. John is a prominent industry figure who has contributed to the design of the most revered games of the last decade including Grand Theft Auto V & Red Dead Redemption which have combine...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Cristina Escobar the co founder of LatinaMedia.co, member of the Latino Entertainment Journalist Association, and Rotten Tomatoes approved critic. Cristina recalls how her love of writing helped her find her voice through various non-profits that would help raise the voices of Latinas through the founding of LatinaMedia.co. Listen in to hear mo...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree talk with Stephanie, Latina entrepreneur and business owner of MiJa Books. Stephanie shares how her daughter influenced the beginning of MiJa Books by having a diverse library that celebrated not just her culture but other people’s cultures as well and how it’s developed into the business it is today.

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree create their own paintings with inspiration from what motivates their passion.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Jessica Trujillo a small business owner. 

Welcome to season 3! In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree talk with Lilia, an Environmental Activist influenced from childhood by Curious George and extinct animals to pursue Environmentalism. Lilia shares her thoughts and tips on environmentalism that can help the environment from composting, reusing items, climate change, and more.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Librarian Lane Goldszer who works with Glendale Library Arts, & Culture. She is a  painter, and Pomeranian lover. Lane shares how they found their passion to become a librarian despite their interest in art and German that was influenced by their childhood visits to their local library...

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Jocelyn Kobayashi who is the small business owner of Tiny Things by Jocelyn. 

In this week's episode, we get to know Zara Alina, photojournalist, event photographer, fine artist, and board member for Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief. Zara shares what inspired her drive to become an event photographer.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Dr. Duncan, Executive Director of Ascencia. Dr. Duncan talks about her drive in using her Psychology and Counseling degrees to help the homeless.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Bii! A 19 year old community organizer from the Apache and Yaqui nations and currently resides on Tongva territory. As a Los Angeles chapter representative of the International Indigenous Youth Council, they advocate for social and environmental justice through culturally responsive programming,...

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Anna Hakopian, auditor of an accounting firm and former library assistant. Anna shares some college and university tips that helped her achieve the job she is most passionate about.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Kostas Garcia, content creator, freelance photographer and filmmaker. From his humble beginnings in filming skating to becoming a skilled filmmaker and photographer.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Mark V. (Hoover Senior and VP of the Latinos Unidos Club, as well as a GUSD Adelante Latinos) and Jennie Quiñónez-Skinner (librarian at CSU Northridge, president of Glendale Latino Association, Member of the GLAC trust, GCCitizens oversight committee, and part of the organizing committee for Gle...

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Andrew Dos Santos, lead engineer of Hidden Variable Studios. The lifelong endeavor of games of Andrew all began the fated day his father brought home an original Nintendo Entertainment system.

In this episode of Teen Glendale Empowerment Now Talks (G.E.N.) hosts Melissa and Desiree sit down with Marilu, Executive Director of League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. Marilu discusses how the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles mobilizes and educates voters as well as helping anyone interested in helping the nonprofit organization.