In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Lynn Mackey, the Superintendent of Schools for Contra Costa County. They discuss the role and responsibilities of the county superintendent, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, fiscal management of school districts, teacher shortages, and the integration of technology in K-12 education. Lynn Mackey also shares her journey from dropping out of school to becoming an educator and administrator. They touch on important topics such as declining enrollment, funding challenges, school safety, and the role of the county board of education. The episode provides a comprehensive look at the current state of education in Contra Costa County and the strategies being implemented to address various challenges.

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the evolution of print and news media in the Greater East Bay with Barney Fonzi of Diablo Magazine and Jeremy Walsh of Embarcadero Media. Jeremy shares his journey from a journalism student to editor at Embarcadero, detailing their transition to a nonprofit model and the importance of online engagement. Barney recounts Diablo Magazine's 40-year evolution from a fledgling publication to a vital community voice. Both highlight the importance of brand trust, community involvement, and adapting to digital advances while maintaining traditional media strengths. They also address challenges faced by local media in smaller communities and emphasize the need for young journalists to gain practical experience. The discussion highlights the crucial role of local news in promoting community identity and engagement.

In this episode of the Capstone conversation, host Jared Ash is joined by Maureen Toms, Councilwoman and former Mayor of Pinole, and Sonia Bustamante, Chief of Staff to Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia. The discussion centers around the unique challenges women face in becoming political and community leaders, particularly those who are mothers or have young families. Key topics include the need for childcare support, economic considerations, and fostering a supportive environment for women's participation in politics. The conversation highlights how COVID-19 has shifted workplace flexibility and how technology can encourage young girls and women to become involved in their communities and politics. The role men and employers play in supporting these efforts is also discussed.

In this episode of the Capstone conversation hosted by Jared Ash, Yolanda Chenko from Eyegate Innovation Hub and Daybreak Labs in Livermore details their work fostering economic growth in the Greater East Bay by supporting science-based startups. Yolanda explains how Daybreak Labs, a physical coworking space that provides lab and office facilities, assists early-stage companies in obtaining funding and scaling. She also highlights Eyegate's broader initiatives, including the Startup Tri-Valley ecosystem development and a new partnership with Las Positas College to create an innovative campus. Additionally, Yolanda shares her path from an academic and corporate background to leading Igate, and her advice for young women in STEM, startups, government officials, and similar programs. The discussion underscores the region's collaborative approach involving local governments and national labs in driving innovation and entrepreneurship.

In today's episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch delves into the advancements and challenges within K-12 educational technology with experts Dr. Michael Conner and Jacob Kantor. Dr. Conner, with a rich background in educational roles from fourth-grade teacher to superintendent, discusses his journey into EdTech and AI through studies at Harvard and MIT. He emphasizes the integration of advanced analytics and AI to create a personalized learning ecosystem. Jacob Kantor recounts his journey from an immigrant student to an education tech consultant, focusing on practical solutions for schools and districts. The discussion highlights the importance of AI literacy, intentional tech adoption, and building effective practices for educators while addressing concerns like cybersecurity and AI ethics. The experts stress the need for continuous learning within leadership teams and integrating student and family voices in adopting new technologies. They also touch on using AI for lesson planning and custom student engagement while recognizing potential negatives like cyberbullying and misuse of AI tools.

In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the rapid advancements in GovTech with Rachel Stern, an expert who has spent 15 years in the field. Stern shares her background, including founding InState Partners and GovTech Ventures, and highlighting the evolution of technology in government, notably AI and cloud adoption.

She explains how GovTech companies, like Lyft and Zoom, interacted with governments and details the rise of early-stage startups employing equity-service deals. The conversation explores trends such as public safety, city planning, and disaster preparedness, with a focus on the impacts of AI and cybersecurity. Stern emphasizes the opportunity for early technology adoption in government, noting both the risks and benefits for cities to become early adopters. Asch and Stern conclude by discussing the role of AI in solving specific administrative pain points and the future potential for transformative technology in public sectors.

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews three key figures in senior care from the Greater East Bay: Susannah Meyer of Empower Aging, Debbie Toth from Choice in Aging, and Matthew Hulse of Contra Costa's Senior Legal Services. The discussion covers the growing aging population, senior policies, and the necessity of preparatory measures for individuals. The guests highlight issues such as ageism, inadequate funding for long-term care systems, and the financial instability of seniors. Meyer and Toth describe their organizations' efforts, ranging from healthcare pathways to adult day healthcare services, while Hols addresses the critical role of legal aid in protecting seniors' housing rights. The group emphasizes the need for systemic changes, better funding practices, and proactive legislative advocacy.

Uniting the East Bay Against HungerIn this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses food security in the East Bay with Haley Salarez of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and Janette Kennedy of Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa. Haley explains the Food Bank's mission to advocate for social safety net programs like CalFresh and how they serve 390,000 clients monthly. Janette describes how Loaves and Fishes provide hot meals without intake requirements, serving 4,000 meals daily, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels. The conversation highlights challenges such as food insecurity exacerbated by inflation, limited kitchen capacity, and constraints from federal funding cuts. They also discuss collaborative efforts to map food distribution gaps and improve outreach and services. The role of government and community involvement in supporting these initiatives is emphasized, along with upcoming projects like a capital campaign for a new kitchen at Loaves and Fishes. Finally, they encourage community support through donations, volunteering, and advocacy.