Since starting my blog several years ago, my work has taken on new forms as I continue to advocate for meaningful education opportunities for every child. Same mission, multiple approaches--film, community-based initiatives, and products that highlight the meaning-centered philosophy of renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. I co-founded Straight Up Impact with producers Kate Cohen and Marisa Polvino of Straight Up Films to highlight systemic issues through film and present actionable change opportunities complementing the films. To this end, I co-founded B-Unbound with Elliot Washor of Big Picture Learning. It is a platform that facilitates community-based relationships among youth and adults and/or peers around shared interests. I have put the podcast I co-hosted, called Q-Ed Up with Ziz and Pam, on hiatus while I focus on these other projects.

Read about my vision for lifelong learning and how we can create a new ecosystem to promote human interaction, cultural change, and economic prosperity in the 21st century.

How to teach our children the importance of:

Responsibility,

Exploration,

Adaptability, and

Discovery of meaning.

Watch the screening of our first film in the Meaning in Madness short film series, entitled Mackenzie.

View the trailer: https://youtu.be/y5qoFPzlFyE

The Meaning in Madness series highlights the systemic issues contributing to the epidemic of anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide in our youth. All films showcase personal stories told from the perspective of a young person and are short-form documentaries. Our first film focuses on Mackenzie, a 17-year-old high school student’s experience in our standardized system of education.

The 40-minute program, hosted by spoken word artist and influencer, Prince Ea, features the premiere of the film, a panel discussion with Mackenzie and other students, and a panel discussion about B-Unbound with our partners at Big Picture Learning.

B-Unbound

A partnership between Straight Up Impact and Big Picture Learning

Be You. Unbound. B-Unbound is a community-based network that connects young people, ages 14-24, to mentors, experiences, and each other with the goal of promoting wellbeing through meaningful relationships and interest exploration. 

I enjoyed my interview with Kathy Kristof, editor of Sidehusl.com. Read "New-Collar Work: High Pay, No Degree Required" in $IDEHUSL.

My interview, "Changing With The Times" can be found in The Capistrano Dispatch, San Clemente Times, and the Dana Point Times' Crib to College Guide.

Crib to College -- An Educational Guide to Your Child's Success