Episodes

  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #22 - Scarlen Martinez (Deputy Director)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #22 - Scarlen Martinez (Deputy Director)
    Jan 4 2022
    Scarlen Martinez is the Deputy Director of Fellow Learning and Development at the GreatOAks Foundation. In her role, she supports the learning and development of fellows across the GreatOaks network through targeted professional development. She is an author of diverse children's books, mother, and career educator committed to uplifting the voices and needs of underserved communities. She believes in having diverse representation in literature to promote reading in marginalized communities. Scarlen is also an education advocate and supports marginalized groups of people navigating the American education system by educating them on their rights and supporting them with obtaining free resources.
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    53 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #21 - Victor M. Colon (Graphic Designer / Creative Director)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #21 - Victor M. Colon (Graphic Designer / Creative Director)
    Dec 21 2021
    Creating the imaginary has always given him a thrill and allowed him to " vacation" into each of his client's fields of focus and learn new things as he polishes their brand. He does many creative projects from logo identity, billboard advertising, and animation. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from New Jersey City University. Besides freelancing, he is currently working as a graphic designer at Essex County College that challenges his creativity while allowing him to give back to his community.

    If you would like to connect with Victor, you can follow him on IG at https://www.instagram.com/designbyvictor/
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    43 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #20 - Anacleto Bristol (Delegate /Representative)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #20 - Anacleto Bristol (Delegate /Representative)
    Dec 14 2021
    Anacleto is a New York City native born and raised in Brooklyn. He majored in Biomedicine/Biology at The City College of New York and is a Transcriptionist at Northwell Health System at Plainview Hospital. He is currently working in the Emergency Department and a Representative of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
    He loves traveling, foodie, and is single, looking for the future Mrs. Bristol.
    In this episode, he shared information on the Pre-College Enrichment Program at Columbia and for those interested you can find it here: https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/additional-educational-opportunities/summer-youth-programs/middle-high-school-students/state-pre-college-enrichment-program-s-prep?fbclid=IwAR0n67u-dv6eOMgaywLpn1dyavWyHOGsfr9FqV_uYE2fMjms6GlbMfrQGZw

    If you would like to connect with Anacleto, you can follow him on IG at https://www.instagram.com/anacletobristol/.
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    45 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #19 - Evita Giron (writer, author & blogger)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #19 - Evita Giron (writer, author & blogger)
    Dec 7 2021
    Evita is a writer, blogger, and first-time author. She began writing short stories and poems when she was in junior high school.

    She is the founder of Curlyvita: Crowns Come in All Colors, a lifestyle blog in which you will find a celebration of life, motherhood, curly hair, diversity, beauty, and more! Check out her blog website: www.curlyvita.com to find out more about Evita and her writing projects!

    In 2018 she published her first children’s book, The Girl With The Magical Curls, which was inspired by the Dove Love Your Curls campaign commercial and her own curly-haired daughter, Tatiana. The premise of her book is to encourage self-acceptance and self-love amongst little girls and women with curls.

    Before she started writing professionally she has over 10 years of professional experience working in the higher education sector. She received her Master’s degree from Fordham University in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Care. Her favorite colors are pink, black, turquoise and lavender. She enjoys traveling, visiting museums, listening to music, taking nature walks, Zumba, spending time with friends/family, and spirituality.

    The Girl With The Magical Curls is also published in Spanish titled, La Niña con los Rizos Mágicos.

    Social Media Handles:

    Instagram: @iamevitagiron
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorevita
    Website: www.curlyvita.com
    Book:

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Magical-Curls-Evita-Giron/dp/1729662625

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ni%C3%B1a-los-rizos-m%C3%A1gicos-Spanish/dp/B08LNBH4YY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

    Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-with-the-magical-curls-evita-giron/1129885354
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    42 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #18 - Melissa Velazquez (Founder and CEO JustaBXMOM)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #18 - Melissa Velazquez (Founder and CEO JustaBXMOM)
    Nov 30 2021
    Melissa worked in youth development for about ten years before switching gears to marketing and promotions when turning thirty. Once she became a solo mom she wanted to find a way to bring her career knowledge home. Blogging was a perfect fit that allowed her to merge careers and motherhood. JustaBXmom was born from that merge in the fall of 2015. JustaBXmom has become a resource for all parents. Currently she is supporting families as a parenting and homeschool coach. Melissa is a Bronx-born resident that is excited to see and be part of The Bronx Is Blooming era in history.
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    51 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #17 - Irisneri Alicea (Founder of Descubre Tu Historia)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #17 - Irisneri Alicea (Founder of Descubre Tu Historia)
    Nov 22 2021
    She is a mother and a genealogist that is empowering others to connect with families and their ancestors.
    Join Irisneri and me as we learn how she started doing her own family research that led to her fall in love with the richness of her family and gives tips on how you can start on your search.
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    46 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #16 - Jamie Watkins (Faith-based Empowerment & Best-Selling Author)

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #16 - Jamie Watkins (Faith-based Empowerment & Best-Selling Author)
    Nov 16 2021
    Faith-based empowerment speaker, best-selling author, certified life coach, podcaster and entrepreneur Jamie Watkins is known for her infectious smile, positive energy, down-to-earth approach and keen ability to connect with a powerful message rooted in self-acceptance, empowerment and living with purpose. Jamie wants women everywhere to embrace their stories, stand confidently in their truths and create the lives they want! Often called the “Happiness Coach,” she is the founder of My Peace of Happy, a coaching, consulting and community brand dedicated to uplifting women.

    Jamie shares her story with women all over the world, to let them know they are not alone. As a recovering perfectionist and planning control freak, she understands what it's like to be “stuck” trying to control the uncontrollable and fix the unfixable. Jamie’s mission is to inspire women to love themselves enough to know with certainty, they are enough, equipped, and empowered for purpose.
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    40 mins
  • The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #15 - Denise Soler Cox (award-winning activist filmmaker & Top 100 podcaster

    The Inspiration Hour with Luz Ep #15 - Denise Soler Cox (award-winning activist filmmaker & Top 100 podcaster
    Nov 9 2021
    Bio:
    After going from a stay-at-home-mom to award-winning activist filmmaker, Top 100 podcaster, and to sought-after Fortune 500 speaker, Denise Soler Cox uses her experience to transform lives through storytelling.
    In 2014 she Co-Founded Project Eñye a multimedia production company whose purpose is to transform how we think about culture, identity, and what it means to belong.

    In September 2020 Denise was recognized as a “Featured Host” by Apple Podcast North America for her podcast “The Self-ish Latina” with listeners in 32 countries. Denise has been invited to speak on over 150 stages including two TEDx talks and has worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands like Microsoft, Facebook, LinkedIn, JP Morgan Chase, Salesforce, Procter & Gamble, Dow Jones, Eli Lilly, Starbucks, and VaynerMedia to name a few.

    Renowned Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz uses Denise’s film “being eñye” as part of his Public Narrative course as an example of “The story of us.”

    Her work has been published as a contributor in Huffington Post. She has been featured in Forbes as a “Trailblazing Latina” and also on CNN, CNN Money, Chicago Tribune, Fox News Latino, HOLA, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Denise has a combined audience of 97k followers across all platforms.

    She is currently in production with her second feature-length documentary about secret-keeping in the Latinx community (2022) and also working on a forthcoming book about Belonging (Winter 2021).
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    44 mins