The Stronger Podcast

From community organizer to education equity leader, Michelle Vilchez shares her journey of empowering parents and transforming schools, helping families of color advocate for meaningful educational change while addressing systemic disparities across California.

Michelle Vilchez, CEO of Innovate Public Schools, has spent decades amplifying family voices to ensure Black and Brown students access high-quality education. Known for her leadership in community engagement and conflict resolution, she brings a unique perspective on how parental advocacy and systemic reform intersect. Drawing on her experience raising four children in diverse, historically redlined communities, Michelle emphasizes the power of families to...

From reimagining neighborhood schools to coaching leaders through liberation and change, Malka Borrego shares how authenticity, proximity to community, and systems-level leadership can transform education and the people within it.

Malka Borrego is a third-generation Angeleno, proud Latina, and longtime public education leader whose work has reshaped educational access in Los Angeles. She is the founder of Equitas Academy, a K–12 public charter school system rooted in Pico Union, and the founder of MB Consulting Company, where she now supports school systems, leaders, and boards navigating complexity and change. Across nearly three decades in public education, Malka ha...

From educator to nonprofit leader, Cathy shares her journey of transforming education and community engagement, helping Bexar County’s youth access post-secondary opportunities while empowering women leaders and cultivating meaningful partnerships.

Cathy recently joined Up Partnership in San Antonio as a leader of a nonprofit backbone network supporting the Future Ready Plan, a bold initiative aiming to ensure seventy percent of Bexar County’s 550,000 youth pursue post-secondary education by 2030. With 21 years in public schools, including 14 in Austin ISD, she brings deep experience as a teacher, administrator, and assistant superintendent, as well as 13 years leading a nonprofit in Aust...

From Watts to leading a national education movement, Sharhonda Bossier shares her journey of championing educational equity and economic mobility for young people of color while redefining leadership with purpose and authenticity.

Sharhonda Bossier, CEO of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), has dedicated her career to uplifting Black and Latino students and supporting talented leaders of color in education. A former public school teacher and nonprofit advocate, she is known for her commitment to disrupting cycles of generational poverty and creating holistic solutions for communities historically denied opportunity. Sharhonda’s leadership is deeply informed by her Catholic up...

From first-grade helper to transformative education leader, Clarisse Mendoza Davis shares her journey of serving underserved youth and reshaping early childhood and alternative education with compassion, vision, and equity at the core.

Clarisse currently leads the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools as CEO, overseeing programs that serve over 1,000 justice-involved and opportunity-deprived youth across Washington, D.C. Known for her holistic, equity-focused approach, she has spent 21 years shaping educational systems, from teaching high school English at Cardozo Senior High School to leading early intervention programs and alternative schools that emphasize student agency and support...

From Seattle classrooms to federal policy halls, Jessica de Barros shares her journey of championing equity in education, showing how a lifelong commitment to access and opportunity can reshape communities and systems.

Jessica, a Seattle native and seasoned educational leader, has devoted her career to dismantling barriers to student success. From her early days working for U.S. Senator Patty Murray on education and social policy in Washington, D.C., to leading initiatives with Seattle Public Schools and the Washington State Charter School Commission, she has consistently focused on equity and systemic improvement. Her experience spans multiple...

From charting pathways for thousands of students to reimagining what true opportunity looks like, Daniel Gray shares a blueprint for reshaping how young people discover their futures with clarity and confidence.

In this episode, Mike is joined by Daniel Gray, Deputy Chief for College, Career, and Military Readiness at Houston Independent School District. Known for his leadership in scaling college advising, work-based learning, and high-impact CTE pathways, Daniel has dedicated his career to expanding what is possible for students across Texas. His journey spans roles at Uplift Education, the University of Houston, and national fellowship programs, all...

From rural classrooms to leading a mission-driven nonprofit, Kat Ling shares her journey of transforming education and leadership, cultivating inclusive communities, and empowering leaders to innovate for youth most on the margins.

Kat Ling is the CEO of Moonshot, where she leads a team of ten staff and an alumni network of over 100 education leaders. Known for her expertise in education, leadership development, and social impact, Kat has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. Her work spans from teaching fourth grade in rural Mississippi through Teach For America to redesigning Moonshot’s fellowship model in...

From corporate consultant to education changemaker, Helen Chan shares her journey of transforming disillusionment into purpose, using her talent expertise to build joyful, equitable schools where both children and adults can thrive.

Helen Chan’s career began in international education after graduating from Brown University, working with the World Bank’s nonprofit partner World Links to bring technology access to developing countries. What started as a dream to improve global education soon revealed the complexities of impact work—inefficient systems, slow progress, and the disconnect between intention and outcome. Seeking stability and clarity, Helen shifted to HR consul...

From Osaka to Oakland, Rich Harrison’s journey bridges continents and classrooms, revealing how one educator’s global upbringing shaped his vision for more equitable, community-rooted public schools.

Born and raised in Japan to parents who met at UC Berkeley, Rich grew up immersed in Japanese culture before moving to the U.S. as a teenager. His early experiences navigating two languages and education systems profoundly shaped his empathy for English language learners and his lifelong commitment to inclusion. After beginning his teaching career in New York City’s Bronx schools, Rich credits the mentorship and resilience he fou...