We share stories of how access to opportunity changes lives.
Accelerate Access: The Podcast provides an inside look into the transformational journeys of our Nyah Fellows as they navigate college, careers, and personal growth as young leaders in the community.
Hosted by Leigh-Ann Buchanan, founder of Nyah Project, a non-profit that clears the pathway to college for underrepresented students by providing training and tech-based tools that remove the practical and systemic barriers to higher education.
Tune in every Friday for a new episode featuring our amazing community and get inspired!
Victoria Bofill (https://www.nyahproject.org/podcast/033-victoria-bofill), 2022 Nyah Fellow and University of Florida Gator, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss Hispanic representation and storytelling in film and theatre, being a twin, and her passion for educational equity, which stems from her experience with Breakthrough Miami. Also find out how she won over $1 million in scholarships to attend college debt-free and her advice for overcoming self-doubt, plus more!
"Don't let big opportunities scare you away from applying to them. Just apply…and be yourself." - Victoria Bofill
They also discuss:
Becoming comfortable as a unique individual, especially with a twin sister
Her dream for financial stability
Her passion for individual storytelling
How her childhood helped her with adaptability and being such a good packer
How interviewing for Nyah Project helped her get out of her comfort zone
Her first impressions of Ghana and pulling her first all-nighter in country
Learning about her superpower (analytical)
Her college application experience and support from peers and coaches
Why she admires Richard Branson and his efforts to promote dyslexia awareness
Her advice to seize opportunities and avoid comparisons
Finding joy in exploring different activities, such as sports and film
13 Sept 2024
032 - Freedom with Juasline Plasencia
Juasline Plasencia (http://www.nyahproject.org/podcast/032-juasline-plasencia), 2019 Nyah Fellow and first generation college graduate from Hamilton College, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss everything from transitioning to adulthood, to her most memorable moments from her Nyah Project fellowship to Ghana, to uplifting indigenous communities. Also find out how she became a Posse Scholar to help pay for college and what it’s like for her to be an art teacher at her alma mater, Southridge Senior High School!
"We truly do have the ability to create the lives that we want as long as we take advantage of the resources that are available to us." - Juasline Plasencia
They also chat about:
Creating spaces for growth, belonging, and peace
Her core values, from mindfulness to automy, empathy to peace
Being the youngest of six siblings and growing up in New Jersey with a single mother
Mental health in a Caribbean migrant family
Understanding hidden racism and microaggressions
How Nyah Project changed the trajectory of her life
Why Ghana reminded her of her ancestral home, the Dominican Republic
Her love for experiential learning and traveling
Why we should respect indigenous communities and lands to mitigate the negative impacts of modern society
6 Sept 2024
031 - Home with Heavyn Lee
Heavyn Lee (http://www.nyahproject.org/podcast/031-heavyn-lee), 2019 Nyah Fellow and Harvard University student, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss her passion for home building and interior design, her aspirations to study law to help those traditionally disadvantaged by the legal system, and . Also, find out how her reflective experiences in Bali as part of her Nyah Project Fellowship and Access coaching helped her win the prestigious Gates Scholarship to attend Harvard!
"It's a very eye-opening thing to realize as a child that the resources that you need to succeed are not in your community." - Heavyn Lee
They also discuss:
Ideas of perfection and vulnerability
Learning to ask for help
Moving frequently in pursuit of better educational opportunities
Family dynamics and being raised primarily by women
The idea of “home” and its impact on one’s sense of belonging
Her Nyah Project fellowship to Bali, Indonesia and the significance of community building
Learning time management and prioritization during the college application process
How she got accepted into top universities, like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
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