Karen Pittman is back in the interviewer’s chair for the final episode of season 2. Karen sits down with co-host Margarida Celestino to reflect on the powerful messages from this season’s guests 一 Erin Giwer from the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine, Kelly Blue from Portland Public Library's Teen Library, and Becky Bell and Stephanie Doyle from Casco Bay High School.

Karen and Margarida each share what stood out to them as big ideas and new learnings. Margarida gives updates on her personal journey,shares how as she continues to receive support in the Portland community, and explains how she is also giving back to other young people whose lived experience mirrors her own.

Visit our website to learn more about the guests and organizations highlighted throughout the season.

Co-host Margarida Celestino graduated from Casco Bay with a full-ride Questbridge Scholarship. She credits her guidance counselor, Stephanie Doyle, with connecting her to this prestigious opportunity. In this episode, Stephanie, Margarida, and Katherine Plog Martinez explore Stephanie’s role at Casco Bay as a member of the Student Support Team, crew advisor, and counselor. Their discussion continues to emphasize the importance of relationships - with students and between adults - and explores how Stephanie meets students where they are (both during and after their time at Casco Bay) to support them in shaping their own goals and future direction.

Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.

Visit our website to learn more about Casco Bay High School and EL Education’s focus on crew.

All adults play an important role in a school building. Becky Bell, the nurse at Casco Bay High School, knows all about this. In this episode, we return to Margarida Celestino’s high school in Portland, ME. Together, Nurse Bell, Margarida, and Katherine Plog Martinez explore how the Casco Bay Student Support Team identifies student needs, meets them, and further builds relationships. We’ll also explore how Nurse Bell connects with the broader Portland community.

Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.

Visit our website to learn more about Casco Bay High School and the School Based Health Centers in Portland.

Let’s continue our journey through Portland, ME with co-host Margarida Celestino. In this episode’s conversation, Teen Librarian Kelley Blue, Margarida and our Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez explore the role of the Portland Public Library's Teen Library in helping local teens to thrive.

The Portland Teen Library is about much more than just connecting teens with books. Margarida, Katherine, and Kelly explore how the Teen Library staff builds positive relationships, makes connections, and advocates with and for teens. We’ll learn how Margarida’s connection to the library is illustrative of the role the Teen Library plays in Portland’s learning ecosystem and how Kelley’s values and approach help change the odds so that all Portland teens can thrive. Host Karen Pittman will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.

Visit our website to learn more about the Portland Teen Library and Connect Ed, the Out of School Time Intermediary mentioned both this week and last.

We’re taking a walk in co-host Margarida Celestino’s shoes as we begin to meet the adults from her community that helped and left an impact on her. In this episode, Margarida and our Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez talk to Erin Giwer, Senior Program Director at the Portland Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine.

Through their discussion, Erin paints a more complete picture of the work the Boys & Girls Clubs do to help young people realize their full potential. Katherine, Erin, and Margarida explore how the Boys & Girls Club has worked to deeply connect with Portland’s unique population of young people through partnerships with families, schools, and other organizations, and how Erin and her team prioritize and foster relationships with each club member. Erin’s joyful attitude and outlook about working at the Boys & Girls Club and helping shape the lives of all the young people that come through their doors make it easy to see why she was so impactful for Margarida and many others in the Portland community.

Visit our website to learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and the Guiding Principles for Whole Child Design.

We are thrilled to launch Season 2 of the Changing the Odds Remix Podcast. Margarida Celestino, who you may remember from Episode 2 in Season 1, has joined us as the co-host for this season. In this episode, Margarida kicks things off by taking us on a journey to her hometown of Portland, Maine.

Margarida and Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez talk about the community, connection, and adults who are working every day to change the odds for Portland’s children and youth. Margarida tells us a bit about the people, places, and possibilities that made a difference for her and gives a preview of the impactful adults in her life who she has invited to join us in coming episodes.

As we await the release of Season 2 we are excited to share two Bonus Episodes!

To begin transitioning from Season One’s focus on schools to Season Two’s focus on community-based settings, host Karen Pittman is joined by her KP Catalysts & Changing the Odds Remix partner and collaborator Katherine Plog Martinez. Their conversation explores what collaboration and partnership looked like over the years in Denver, CO where Katherine’s work sat at the intersection of positive youth development and k-12 education. They continue to unpack what it really takes to honor and acknowledge the power and potential of different learning strategies, different settings, and different professionals. You’ll want to be sure to stick around until the very end where Karen and Katherine provide a sneak peak of what’s to come in Season 2 – including the announcement of a new youth co-host!

Visit our website to keep up to date on all of the latest Changing the Odds Remix publications and to be in the loop for Season 2.

As we await the release of Season 2 we are excited to share two Bonus Episodes!

In this bonus episode, we explore what deep community and parent engagement in learning and development look like beginning in early childhood. Host Karen Pittman talks with Ralph Smith about his work and lessons learned during his tenure at the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Longtime colleagues, Ralph & Karen have each taken different paths on their shared journey to change the odds for children and youth. Ralph and Karen explore the power of authentic demand and discuss the Campaign’s newest initiative – Learning Happens Everywhere.

Visit our website to learn more about the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and their recently launched Learning Happens Everywhere initiative.