Welcome to UTalks, the official podcast of the Urban Learning Collaborative! Hosted by Dr. Laci Coppins Robbins and Dr. Clavon Byrd, UTalks explores leadership, personal development, and the impact of education on communities. Whether you’re an educator, a leader, or someone striving to make a difference, each episode offers engaging discussions, expert insights, and inspiring stories from a diverse range of guests. From leadership tips to professional development opportunities, UTalks is your go-to source for learning how to lead and thrive in any role. Join us on this journey to unlock your potential and lead with purpose.
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UTalks Episode 12: Building Dreams and Bridging Gaps in Urban Education w/ Toni Fink
Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins talks with Senora Toni Fink, a 25-year veteran educator, about her inspiring journey, the transformative power of community involvement, and the importance of building confidence and relationships in urban education.
2 Dec 2024
UTalks Episode 11: Leadership and Connection in Education with Roxanne Heard
Dr. Clavon Byrd talks with 2023–2024 Teacher of the Year Roxanne Heard about building connections, fostering literacy, and overcoming education challenges to inspire educators and aspiring teachers.
5 Nov 2024
UTalks - Episode 10: From City Roots to Agricultural Impact
In this UTalks episode, Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins interviews Joshua Capodarco, the 2024 Alum of the Year and agricultural educator, who shares his journey from a city background to a passion-driven career in agriculture education. Capodarco discusses his transition into teaching, inspired by work on various farms and at a Milwaukee nonprofit focused on food justice, and highlights his efforts to make agriculture relatable to urban students, often by connecting lessons to food literacy and sustainability. He shares initiatives like establishing a "free store" at his Sun Prairie school to address food insecurity without stigma. Capodarco credits Urban Learning Collaborative for equipping him with essential teaching skills and praises the supportive community that helped shape his approach.
To learn more, please visit urban-learning.org.
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22 Oct 2024
UTalks Episode 9: Purpose-Driven Impact with Deanna Singh
In this episode of U-Talks, Deanna Singh discusses her purpose-driven career focused on shifting power to marginalized communities through education, leadership, and social entrepreneurship. She shares her diverse background in education, ranging from teaching to administration and authorship, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities and access to high-quality education for all. Singh highlights the impact of literacy on empowering young people, especially through representation in books, and recounts how her own experiences as an educator and advocate have shaped her mission. Additionally, she introduces her latest project, the Uplifting Mansion, a space designed to foster collaboration, joy, and growth within the community.
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15 Oct 2024
UTalks - Episode 8: Leadership & Veterinary Practice with Dr. Ramard Wright
In this episode of U-Talks, Dr. Clavon Byrd interviews Dr. Ramard Wright, a Milwaukee-born veterinarian and owner of Wright's Brown Deer Animal Hospital. Dr. Wright shares his journey from growing up in an urban environment to running a successful clinic while balancing a large family and a love for animals. He discusses the challenges of being a minority in the veterinary field, the importance of communication in his work, and his dedication to mentoring youth in marginalized communities. Dr. Wright highlights leadership qualities like listening, perseverance, and staying focused on long-term goals. The episode also celebrates his upcoming 2024 Trailblazer Award for his contributions to the community.
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8 Oct 2024
UTalks - Episode 7: Mastering Communication
In this solo episode of UTalks, Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins, Executive Director of Urban Learning Collaborative, explores the first of the top five skills essential for effective leadership: communication. She breaks down the key components of leadership communication, including nonverbal cues, articulating a clear vision, setting goals, and active listening. Dr. Laci emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and open dialogue when leading a team. She wraps up by announcing the upcoming Leadership DevelopU program, designed to help emerging leaders grow and advance their skills.
For more information, visit urban-learning.org.
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3 Oct 2024
UTalks - Episode 6: The One Thing
In this episode of UTalks, Dr. Laci Coppins Robbins and Dr. Clavon Byrd discuss the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2024 Fall Ball hosted by Urban Learning Collaborative. They reminisce about the success of last year's event and share their anticipation for this year's celebration, which will be held at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel.
Dr. Laci highlights her passion for the event's live auction, which exceeded fundraising goals last year. Dr. Clavon reflects on the atmosphere of celebration and community at the Fall Ball. With live music, a silent auction, and a keynote speech by NBA legend Sidney Moncrief, this year's event promises to be an unforgettable evening supporting literacy initiatives.
To learn more, go to urban-learning.org/fall-ball.
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24 Sept 2024
UTalks - Episode 5: Five Behaviors for Effective Leaders
In this episode of UTalks, part of the Leadership Defined series, host Dr. Clavon Byrd shares five key leadership behaviors that all effective leaders should embrace: clear and transparent communication, collaboration, empathy, constructive feedback, and accountability—not only to others but also to oneself.
Dr. Byrd wraps up the episode by introducing Leadership DevelopU, a leadership development program from Urban Learning Collaborative. If you're looking to grow as a leader, applications for the first cohort are now open at www.urban-learning.org.
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17 Sept 2024
UTalks - Episode 4: Leadership Defined
In this episode of U Talks, Dr. Clavon Byrd discusses the concept of leadership for individuals who may not yet hold formal leadership titles. Drawing inspiration from a Harvard Business Review article, Dr. Byrd emphasizes that leadership is about growth, strengths, and connection. He encourages aspiring leaders to focus on daily personal growth, developing their strengths rather than weaknesses, and improving their ability to communicate authentically and empathetically with others. Dr. Laci Coppins Robbins closes the episode by inviting listeners to join Urban Learning Collaborative’s ongoing programs, including Leadership DevelopU and teacher certification opportunities.
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10 Sept 2024
UTalks - Episode 3: Dr. Laci’s Leadership Journey
In this episode of UTalks, Dr. Clavon interviews Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins, Executive Director of the Urban Learning Collaborative (ULC), about the organization’s mission and its evolution from the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC). Dr. Laci discusses ULC’s programs, including Leadership DevelopU, which fosters leadership skills for educators and those in education-adjacent fields. She shares her own leadership journey, from classroom teacher to principal at a young age, and reflects on challenges, the importance of influence in leadership, setting boundaries, and knowing when to move on. The episode closes with an invitation to join ULC’s Leadership DevelopU and Teacher Certification programs.
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This episode of UTalks, hosted by Dr. Laci C. Robbins and Dr. Clavon Byrd, focuses on leadership, specifically the concepts of leadership trip-ups and triumphs. The conversation begins with defining leadership, emphasizing that leadership is about action. Both hosts share personal experiences to illustrate these concepts.
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10 Sept 2024
UTalks - Episode 1: Welcome to UTalks!
In the inaugural episode of the Urban Learning Collaborative podcast, UTalks, hosts Dr. Laci Coppins Robbins and Dr. Clavon Byrd introduce listeners to the mission of their organization, which focuses on leadership development within the education community and beyond. The episode highlights the collaborative's various programs, including the Milwaukee Environmental Sciences Academy and the new Leadership DevelopU initiative.
Dr. Laci and Dr. Byrd discuss the importance of leadership, emphasizing that everyone has the potential to be a leader, and outline the goals of the podcast, which will include engaging discussions, guest interviews, and insights from their certification program alumni. They encourage listeners to stay tuned for future episodes and to consider joining their Leadership DevelopU program to enhance their leadership skills.
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