First Lady & Friends

Michael Bonner (Teacher at the Ron Clark Academy, International Speaker, CEO of Bonnerville) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about developing ways for students to be passionate about the process of learning, how the Ron Clark Academy is transforming the classroom, and why pouring love into students is so important for their growth in and outside of the classroom.

We also talk about the challenges that Michael faces in the education system, some of the ways that he recharges to stay focused on being the best teacher possible, and why we all need to be advocates for our teachers as a community.

Lastly, we dive into practical ways to talk about social media in the classroom, how to navigate AI in the classroom, and why traditional educational curriculums may need to be reformed to fit in today's era of technology.

Related Links:

The Ron Clark Academy
https://ronclarkacademy.com/

Michael Bonner
https://twitter.com/MichaelBonner_
https://www.michael-bonner.com/

Saru Ramanan (Manager of Marketing and Communication at the Utah Nonprofits Association) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about feeling a sense of home as soon as she moved to Utah, bridging connections across different cultures and communities, and the root of her passion for working with nonprofits. 

Then we talk about how nonprofits collaborating with each other have the ability to create great opportunities for our communities, the competition that arises amongst nonprofit funding, and various ways that the UNA helps guide nonprofits throughout the state.

We also talk about the integral role that nonprofits play in our communities and how nonprofits can address funding challenges by seeking help through philanthropic entities.

Related Links:

Utah Nonprofits Association
https://utahnonprofits.org/

UNA Job Board
https://utahnonprofits.org/resources/job-board

Amy Antonelli (CEO of Humanitarian Experience, Inc.)joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox, to talk about her experience working in the Silicon Valley boom, the impact that Steve Jobs had on her passion for creating positive change, and how a natural disaster completely shifted her mindset towards helping others.

Amy also opens up about her experience working in the leprosy colonies that existed throughout India while working with Rising Star Outreach, being invited by Mark Zuckerberg to join Facebook to change their internal culture, and the events that led her to joining HXP to continue her passion for humanitarianism.

Lastly, we talk about the early beginnings of Humanitarian XP, the connections that HXP aims to develop through volunteerism, and some of the amazing places that HXP has been able to serve over the past few years.

Related Links:

Humanitarian XP: https://www.humanitarianxp.org/

Rising Star Outreach: https://risingstaroutreach.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curtis Bennett (Co-chair of JustServe) joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox,to share his experience growing up in Mesa, AZ, and to talk about how mentors he gained in Mesa made an incredible impact on his work ethic.

Curtis also shares the lessons he and his family learned while living in Santiago, Chile, learning to be successful in the business sector, and why it's so fundamental to find a positive mentor in life to promote healthy personal growth.

Then we dive into just a few of the service opportunities that JustServe provides throughout Utah, why it's beneficial to get out of our normal routine to serve our communities, and various ways that you can participate in this year's upcoming 9/11 Days of Service to honor those killed and injured on 9/11.

Related Links:

JustServe: https://www.justserve.org/

Mentors International: https://mentorsinternational.org/

9/11 Days of Service: https://911day.org/

Tiny Tim's Foundation for Kids: https://tinytimstoys.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Moon (Associate Director at UServeUtah)joins Utah's First Lady, Abby Cox,to discuss finding his passion for volunteerism, pursuing a career in higher education, and introducing volunteerism to students of all ages.

We also talk about UServeUtah's impact on volunteerism throughout Utah, the bond built among communities when people come together to help serve each other, and the benefits we receive when we bake service and volunteerism into activities that we already partake in throughout our lives.

Then we discussUtah Philanthropy Day, a day used to celebrate Utah's outstanding philanthropists and volunteers that takes place on November 15, 2023, as well as UServeUtah's upcoming business training program, Leading for Impact, that will teach businesses to think more philanthropically.

Related Links:

UServeUtah:https://userve.utah.gov/

Utah Philanthropy Day: https://utahphilanthropyday.org/

AmeriCorps: https://americorps.gov/serve

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Gov. Spencer Coxto talk about some life updates, their recent trip to Atlantic City, NJ for the National Governor's Association where the governor was elected chair of the NGA, and the importance of building bipartisan relationships with other governors throughout the country.

Then we talk about the 2023-2024 NGA Chair's Initiative, Disagree Better, an initiative that will address being better about disagreeing with each other and polarization through public debates, service projects, public service announcements, and other various efforts.

Lastly, we dive into what we've been reading recently.

Related Links:

Disagree Better: https://www.nga.org/disagree-better/

Them: Why We Hate Each Other-and How to Heal by Ben Sass

A Time to Build by Yuval Levin

Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks

How America Got Mean by David Brooks

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Sharon Eubank (Director of Humanitarian Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to talk about what she learned from teaching English as a second language in Japan after graduating from BYU, her passion for service and helping others, and the different types of humanitarian aid that she has been a part of throughout her career.

We also dive into some of the service opportunities that are available to Utah, why volunteering has become so important for the state, and how humanitarian aid has helped build stronger communities. 

Related links:

Just Serve: https://www.justserve.org/

Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Katie Donoviel (Executive Director of the English Skills Learning Center) to talk about why becoming a teacher was such an important goal of hers growing up, how she was introduced to the English Skills Learning Center and the English language learning programs that the ESLC provides for low-income adult immigrants and refugees.

We also dive into how trauma can often impact meaningful learning, some of the issues that immigrant and refugee populations will experience while trying to learn a new language, and the need to be aware of triggers that might create a negative atmosphere for learning.

Lastly, we talk about some of the success stories that have been made possible thanks to the ESLC and some unexpected moments that Katie has experienced while working in the profession.

Related Links:

English Skills Learning Center: https://www.eslcenter.org/

Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/

Show Up For Teachers: https://www.showupforteachers.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Stephen LeFevre (Chief of Staff, Director of Strategic and Foreign Affairs with World Trade Center Utah) to talk about his passion for international affairs, his experience with attending graduate school in New York City during COVID, and WTC Utah's impact on the state. 

We also talk about WTC Utah's focus on making Utah a prominent state globally, how trade missions help Utah businesses grow, and what we can learn from international relations during a trade mission.

Related Links:

WTC Utah: https://www.wtcutah.com/

Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Utah's First Lady Abby Cox is joined by Kirsten Rappleye (Director of First Lady’s Initiatives) and Sarah Allred (Deputy Director of First Lady's Initiatives) to talk about the First Lady's recent trade mission to Europe, attending the opening ceremonies for the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, and what our TED Talks would be if we were to give one.

We also talk about this year's Governor's Mansion Artist Awards, a few of our favorite recent service opportunities, and celebrating Bryce Canyon National Park's 100th birthday.

Lastly, we preview our upcoming second annual Show Up For Teachers Conference on July 19, 2023, at the Mountain America Expo Center, the latest regarding the National Governor's Association, and what we've been reading lately.

Related links:

Show Up: https://www.showuputah.org/

Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/

2023 Show Up for Teacher Conference: https://www.showupforteachers.org/event/742b0a6b-f9cc-4a75-ad86-135e3f15ed85/summary

Show Up for Teachers: https://www.showupforteachers.org/

PBS Utah - Art Elevated: https://www.pbsutah.org/pbs-utah-productions/series/art-elevated-the-governors-mansion-artist-series/

Bryce Canyon: https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Utah Foster Care: https://utahfostercare.org/

Show Up for Serving: https://www.showuputah.org/service

From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks: https://arthurbrooks.com/from-strength-to-strength#:~:text=From%20Strength%20to%20Strength%20is,is%20well%20within%20our%20reach.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59109077

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60194162

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/22609522

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58065033

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor: https://www.mrjamesnestor.com/breath-book

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.