Youth In The Loop

In our eleventh episode of Youth in the Loop , we sit down with Sam Pierstorff, English professor at Modesto Junior College, Executive Director of the Modesto Artists Movement, former Poet Laureate of Modesto, and community leader. Sam shares his perspective on the power of storytelling, the role of the arts in building stronger communities, and why creativity is essential to the future of cities...

In our tenth episode of Youth in the Loop, we sit down with Sue Zwahlen, Mayor of Modesto, to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the city's future. Mayor Zwahlen shares her perspective on topics including General Plan 2050, housing affordability, homelessness, downtown revitalization, and youth civic engagement. We also explore the realities of local leadership, public trust, and...

In our ninth episode of Youth in the Loop, we sit down with Moses Abeyta, a student activist, community organizer, and President of the Stanislaus Young Dems Club. Moses shares his journey into civic engagement, what inspired him to become involved in community advocacy, and how young people can create meaningful change in their communities. We discuss the realities of organizing student-led initi...

In our eighth episode of Youth in the Loop , we sit down with Ethan Kelly, a political strategist, digital communicator, and founder of the YouTube channel Let’s Talk Elections . Ethan shares his journey from creating political content as a teenager to working on major campaigns, including Kamala Harris and Texas State Representative James Talarico, as well as his experience in the White House. We...

In our seventh episode of Youth in the Loop, we sit down with student leader Sabrina Toor, a Student Representative to the Modesto City Schools Board of Education and member of the Modesto Youth Commission. Sabrina shares her journey into leadership, her work representing student voices in district decision-making, and her efforts to increase youth engagement in local government. We also discuss h...

In the sixth episode of Youth in the Loop, we sit down with Gillian Wegener, educator, activist, and former Modesto Poet Laureate, to explore the intersection of creativity, education, and community leadership. Wegener shares her journey into teaching and writing, her experiences working with students, and how poetry can be a powerful tool for self-expression and connection. We also dive into her...

In our fifth episode of Youth in the Loop, we sit down with Michael Masuda, a Democratic candidate for California’s 5th District, to discuss his vision for the community and his motivations for running for office. Masuda shares his perspectives on leadership, key policy priorities, and the challenges facing the district today. We explore his ideas for the future, his approach to representing const...

In our fourth episode of Youth In The Loop, we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Buitrago, the new Superintendent of Modesto City Schools. Dr. Buitrago shares her journey into education leadership, her vision for the district, and insights from her 100-day plan. We discuss the district's priorities, challenges facing students, upcoming board policies on technology and AI, and how students can play a r...

In our third episode, we sit down with Modesto Chief of Police Brandon Gillespie to discuss his journey into law enforcement, what led him to the Modesto Police Department, and the challenges and rewards of serving as Chief. We also talk about community policing, public safety initiatives, the role of technology, and how MPD is working to support youth and build trust across Modesto. We hope you e...

In our second episode, we dive into the various campaigns Modesto City Schools are implementing to increase student achievement. In this interview with Board President Abel Maestas, we learn about his journey to education, public service, and Today we host the President of the Modesto City Schools Board of Education. In this episode, we explore their path to the Board, what the role of Board Presi...

Today we host Modesto Council Member Chris Ricci. In our first episode, we dive into various topics: Chris Ricci's path to City Council, the role of a City Council Member, and projects that the City Council are championing to reduce homelessness in Modesto. We hope you enjoy our first episode!