Lift Every Voice

About Lift Every Voice

Lift Every Voice is a podcast at the intersection of workforce development and community transformation, spotlighting the people and programs that are reshaping opportunities across various industries. Hosted by workforce strategist Melvin Smith, each episode explores what happens when institutions prioritize individuals over just the bottom lines. Through conversations with leaders, program designers, educators, and participants, the show examines how systems can be redesigned to serve better those often impacted by unfulfilled commitments.

Publisher

Melvin Smith

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Jul 2025

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Mentorship, Building Relationship Capital in People-Centered Systems

   Many careers are built not through perfectly planned paths, but through relationships, persistence, and a willingness to ask for help. In complex, people-centered systems like healthcare and public policy, mentorship plays a critical role in navigating uncertainty and building long-term impact. In this episode, Jack Barry, former American Hospital Association leader and seasoned healthcare advocate, reflects on a 40-year career shaped by mentorship, relationship-building, and service across healthcare systems and government relations. In this episode, we discuss: • Why mentorship often develops through relationships, not formal programs • How relationship capital drives success in people-centered industries • The importance of asking for help early and often • How mentorship evolves across different stages of a career • Why balancing career growth and personal life is part of mentorship To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠ (https://linktr.ee/linkedwithmelvin?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=67a69904-e81c-4df9-bf80-41ef8fe727f7).

2. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Mentorship, Expanding Access and Visibility in Workforce Systems

   Mentorship often begins informally, through everyday interactions, encouragement, and exposure to new opportunities. However, access to mentorship can remain uneven across organizations. In this episode, Wendy Price, Director of Workforce Development at Sound Transit, discusses how mentorship expands access to information, strengthens career pathways, and supports both individual growth and organizational success. In this episode, we discuss: • Why mentorship often starts informally but benefits from intentional structure • How access to information shapes career pathways and opportunity • The relationship between mentorship, engagement, and retention • Why visibility into roles and pathways is critical for workforce development • How organizations can balance formal and informal mentorship models To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠ (https://linktr.ee/linkedwithmelvin?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=67a69904-e81c-4df9-bf80-41ef8fe727f7).

3. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Mentorship, Designing for Role Clarity and Measurable Growth

   Mentorship without intentional design becomes inconsistent, unclear, and difficult to scale across organizations. In this episode, Ryan Rosiello, Leadership Development Specialist, discusses how mentorship programs can be strengthened through clear structure, defined roles, and a focus on measurable skill development. In this episode, we discuss: •      Why mentorship programs require both structure and flexibility •      How measurement strengthens mentorship outcomes and accountability •      The importance of mentee-driven development in mentorship design •      How role clarity improves engagement, confidence, and program success •      What organizations often overlook when building mentorship programs To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠ (https://linktr.ee/linkedwithmelvin?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=67a69904-e81c-4df9-bf80-41ef8fe727f7).

4. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Mentorship, Strengthening Community Workforce Systems Through Public Investment

   Many communities offer mentorship, but few design it as a core component of workforce systems. In public-sector environments, mentorship is often treated as supplemental rather than as a driver of long-term impact. In this episode, Glenn McCray, K–12 Programs Advisor at the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning, discusses how mentorship is embedded within public investment strategies, community partnerships, and culturally responsive programming. In this episode, we discuss: • The role of municipal funding in shaping workforce and education systems • Why mentorship is often misunderstood across organizations • How culturally responsive mentorship supports belonging and retention • The relationship between mentorship and capacity building • What funders and organizations must consider when designing mentorship initiatives To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this ⁠LinkTree link⁠ (https://linktr.ee/linkedwithmelvin?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=67a69904-e81c-4df9-bf80-41ef8fe727f7).

5. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Mentorship, the Foundation to Lift Every Voice

   Mentorship is often described as a relationship, but this season has shown that it is also a structure, a practice, and a pathway for making opportunity easier to navigate. At the midpoint of Lift Every Voice, this episode pauses to reflect on what the first two arcs revealed about mentorship as both a personal support system and an organizational design strategy. In this episode, Melvin Smith reflects on the lessons from Episodes 2–7. He introduces the Mentorship Foundations framework, which connects visibility, confidence, community, structure, exposure, and reflection into a practical model for designing mentorship with intention. In this episode, we discuss: • Why mentorship matters for mobility, access, and opportunity • How visibility, confidence, and community help people move through complex systems • Why mentorship requires design, structure, and accountability • How mentorship supports career transitions, exposure, and agency • The Mentorship Foundations framework and its core practices • How organizations can embed mentorship through people, processes, tools, and environment To learn more about his work, follow Melvin or reach out to him via this LinkTree link (https://linktr.ee/linkedwithmelvin?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=67a69904-e81c-4df9-bf80-41ef8fe727f7).

6. 

   1 Jun 2026

   Mentorship, Expanding Opportunity Through Networks and Exposure | Featuring Genevieve Clayton

   Learners favor positions in which they are active participants in shaping their professional pathways because autonomy can enhance relevance and relatability. In this episode, Genevieve Clayton of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce discusses the Chamber Student Network (CSN). This student-led initiative that connects learners with local businesses through mentorship, community engagement, and experiential learning. We discuss: Why student-led models can reshape how mentorship functions How chambers of commerce can engage emerging professionals

7. 

   25 May 2026

   Mentorship, Navigating Systems and Finding Your Path | Featuring Jen Garcia

   Entering a new industry can be difficult, and without proper guidance, many newcomers struggle to grasp its terminology, specialized areas of expertise, and potential career paths. In this episode, Jen Garcia of HIMSS Washington discusses how association-based mentorship programs can create clearer entry points into careers. We discuss⁠: How curiosity and mentorship shaped a career pivot Why newcomers struggle to navigate specialized roles How professional associations can design mentorship intentionally What outcomes show mentorship programs are working

8. 

   11 May 2026

   Mentorship, Designing Systems that Strengthen Organizations | Featuring Wendi Braun

   Mentorship is often treated as a program. But what happens when organizations treat it as infrastructure for workforce development? In this episode, learning and performance expert Wendi Braun explores how mentorship connects adult learning, leadership development, and organizational systems. Wendi shares how mentorship programs can improve employee outcomes, organizational performance, and even financial results when designed intentionally. In this episode, we discuss How theory from psychology shaped modern workforce learning Why mentorship is an applied practice of organizational development Why mentorship must balance structure with human relationships What makes a mentorship program sustainable in large organizations

9. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Mentorship, The Building Blocks to Career Confidence | Featuring Brandon Erby

   Many professionals start their careers with mentorship from those around them, influencing their development at critical moments. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Erby shares how mentorship guided his journey from his community in Michigan to academic pursuits across the eastern United States, and how these experiences strengthened his resolve to serve as a bridge for others in similar paths. In this episode, we discuss: How informal mentorship shapes identity development and boosts decision-making confidence The broad yet manageable scope of mentorship Ways individuals can purposefully act as connectors for others

10. 

    20 Apr 2026

    Mentorship, Redefining Support and Learning Through Community | Featuring Nancy Sanchez

    Many creative professionals begin their careers without mentors to guide them on the right pathways. In rapidly changing fields like podcasting, this can lead to feelings of isolation, slow progress, and missed opportunities to develop sustainable careers. In this episode, Nancy Sanchez, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Podcast Academy, talks about how they are redefining mentorship by fostering community and peer learning, and by designing intentional spaces. In this episode, we discuss: Why peer mentorship is often overlooked in professional development How can creative communities reduce isolation and support career growth The design of The Podcast Academy’s mentorship program How a facilitated mentorship ecosystem model supports creative ingenuity

11. 

    20 Apr 2026

    Mentorship, Making Access Visible for First-Generation Learners | Featuring Kendall Laster

    Many first-generation learners arrive on campus without visibility into the systems that shape their academic success and contribute to their career goals. When mentorship pathways are unclear, learners may isolate, disengage, or leave before discovering the support available to them. In this episode, Dr. Kendall Laster, Director of Student Success at Central Alabama Community College, discusses how institutions can rethink access to mentorship and design support structures that meet learners where they are. In this episode, we discuss: Why first-generation identity is often misunderstood How mentorship visibility breaks down in higher education Low-cost strategies institutions can use to improve mentorship access Why mentorship should be an institutional responsibility

12. 

    17 Apr 2026

    Mentorship, Forming Workforce Infrastructure Design | Featuring Melvin Smith

    Mentorship is often described as encouragement, guidance, or professional support. Yet in many workforce conversations, it is treated as optional or informal rather than as essential to how people access, navigate, and succeed within institutions, organizations, or teams. In this opening episode, Melvin Smith, founder of Linked Innovations and host of Lift Every Voice, introduces the season's central argument: mentorship is not a soft add-on to workforce systems; it is part of the infrastructure that determines who progresses and who does not. In this episode, we discuss: What this season will explore across individuals, organizations, and systems Why in workforce conversations, mentorship is often overlooked as a necessary organizational infrastructure How mentorship influences access, confidence, and persistence The difference between opportunity and the ability to navigate opportunity

13. 

    25 Jul 2025

    Show Trailer

    Hey, Interested in learning what the show is about? Start here for an overview. Or better yet, click here (https://pod.link/1828797921) to listen to our pilot episode. Like what you hear? Subscribe, and leave a rating and review. They are appreciated. Until next time! Best, Melvin

14. 

    24 Jul 2025

    Workforce Education Design in Reverse, the A.R.E. Model

    In this conversation, Melvin sits down with Chris Sullivan, Interim Vice President of Instruction at Seattle Central College, who offers a reflection on the institution’s approach to workforce education. Rooted in equity and social justice, Chris outlines a reverse-design approach that prioritizes the needs of marginalized learners over industry demands. He emphasizes the importance of mission-aligned partnerships, the risks of misalignments, and the necessity of knowing when to walk away from opportunities that don’t serve the intended population. The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE) emerges as a powerful case study. This apprenticeship-style initiative combines paid paraeducator roles, wage progression, and credit-bearing hands-on experiences to create long-term pathways into teaching careers. Chris’s insights highlight a replicable model centered on lived experiences, flexibility, and a values-first framework for systemic change. Date Recorded: July 16, 2025 I. Aligning Workforce Education with Community Values 00:30 – Community and Social Impact • Serving people, not just positions • Centering BIPOC learner experience • Industry roles must add value 04:45 – Partnership Criteria • Not all partners are the right fit • Look for equity-minded champions • Lip service ≠ alignment 08:10 – Redefining Geographic Focus • Regional, not city-limited, impact • Students often live outside city limits • County-based workforce strategy 10:30 – Values-First Program Design • Programs built in reverse • Start with student outcomes • Align training with mobility goals II. Navigating Accessibility and Knowing When to Walk Away 13:00 – Organizational Accessibility Practices • Success: Seattle Children’s, Expedia • Example of turning down a major partner • Accessibility must be systemic, not symbolic 16:15 – Misalignment Case Studies • Wage progression promises unmet • Lack of mentorship/support structures • Harm to students → end of partnership 19:30 – Key Lessons • “Not all money is good money” • Internal feedback loops are vital • Mission integrity over funding III. The Academy for Rising Educators (ARE) – Case Study 22:10 – Original Vision vs. Reality • Shift from Black male youth to BIPOC paraeducators • Responded to academic trauma feedback • Meeting learners where they are 25:10 – Program Features & Innovation • Paid roles + tuition support • Guaranteed job placement • Stackable learning + wage progression 28:05 – Healing Curriculum & Structural Support • Based on lived experiences • Cross-institutional collaboration • Classroom learning is tied to advancement 30:50 – A Flexible, Scalable Model • Multiple pathways: teaching, counseling, more • Shared-credit degree design • Positioned for statewide replication IV. Conclusion and Call to Action 32:45 – Final Reflections • Start with who you serve • Programs must reflect values • ARE is a replicable, healing-centered model To learn more about or connect with Melvin, visit LinkedInnovationcLLC.com (https://linkedinnovationsllc.com/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Lift Every Voice

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.