This episode is a discussion of music, love and building bridges between generations. Dr. Weiston-Serdan talks about her own journey as a musician, her work building music programming for the Youth Mentoring Action Network and, most importantly, how she is able to engage Black and Brown youth in healthy and meaningful ways. Three of Gayle's former students and lifelong proteges, Michael Uzowuru, Danny Mills and Morgen Campbell join the podcast to share how Gayle has impacted them and their careers are musicians. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s prestigious Thornton School of Music, Gayle has a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies with minors in Music Education and Electro Acoustic Media. Equally musician and educator, Gayle's sound spans generations and includes a powerful combination of jazz, funk, soul, blues and hip-hop. She received her Master’s of Music from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate degree in music from the University of LaVerne after studying at the Dick Grove School of Music. Gayle is a well-respected featured artist and educator. In addition to leading her own jazz duo, trio, and quartet, she has performed with the musical likes of Rosemary Bailey, Joanne Grauer, Joyce Collins, Dr. Reed Gratz, John B. Williams, Jennifer Leitham, Paul T. Smith, Stacy Rowles, Betty O’Hara and the Jazzbirds, Jack DeJohnette, Gilad Atzmon, Yarone Levy, Dion Neuble, Pamella Bowen, Seiler Piano Company, Hammond Organ Company, the world renowned Les Brown Orchestra, and The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Gayle is a proud Hammond artist and plays frequently in the Southern California area. Her areas of musical interest include; jazz organ, jazz piano, the history of jazz and hip-hop, the art of improvisation and music therapy. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society and has received numerous awards from the National Association of Jazz Educators. Follow Gayle on Social Media Twitter: @drgayleserdan Instagram: @drgayleserdan Check out her website and music at: www.drgayleserdan.com

In this episode, we explore utilizing Hip-Hop music as a tool for creating safe spaces for young people, with the Manager of Education & Diversity Outreach for the Woody Guthrie Center & Bob Dylan Center, Dr. Stevie Johnson. Looking particularly at the transition from K-12 to Higher Education, we talk about what is needed to get young folks ready for college and through college, the need for bridge programs, and more. This episode also features a special discussion about utilizing Hip-Hop to teach Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man that is geared toward English Educators.

In our inaugural episode, we sit down to talk with Dominique Morgan of Black and Pink to discuss how systems can impact young people, and their families, why resilience is not enough and why young people should be the authors of their own stories.