Rahje Branch, Senior Program Manager for Reach Higher Initiative, talks about fighting oppressive systems through education, the importance of rest, and paving the way for those that will come after you. She shares the story of her own “Activist Awakening” in college, and the responsibility she feels to members of her community - past, present, and future. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Dan-neya Yancey shares her experience finding a sense of belonging on campus while maintaining her identity, getting college credit in high school, being involved, and defining her own path to success. She also talks about public health equity and working with the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

When it comes to disrupting racism in our schools, we need to stand up.  Derek Francis, manager of counseling services in Minneapolis Public Schools, speaks with us about how best to support students of color in the face of racism and social isolation. He breaks down the differences between the rural and urban experience for BIPOC students, gets real about the effects of racism on young people, and talks about the power of celebration to raise the confidence and self-esteem of BIPOC communities. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Have you ever thought about being a Resident Advisor (RA) in a college dorm? Asha Mohamud talks about all of the benefits that being an RA provides, from making it financially feasible to live on campus, to expanding your social circle, to developing skills that will help you in a surprising number of situations later in life. Being an RA is a great way to not only make the college experience more attainable, but also more rewarding (and fun). Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Did you know that there’s a program where workers receive a combination of related instruction strategically paired with on-the-job training right here in Minnesota? Yese Ruiz talks about finding her passion for healthcare through the MN Dual-Training Pipeline Program, her experiences as a first-generation college student, and using bilingualism as an advantage. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

FAFSA, Loans, Work-Study, Grants… Where do you even begin? In this episode, we bring in a financial aid expert to talk about the process and demystify how to pay for college. Dean of Financial Aid at Gustavus Adolphus College, Jesus Hernandez Mejia, discusses numbers and breaks myths about the financial aid process. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

As the first woman and first Latinx president in Macalester’s history, Dr. Suzanne Rivera knows that academic excellence and inclusion go hand-in-hand; you don’t need a well-tread path to get where you want to go. In this expansive interview, Dr. Rivera talks about her own experiences, how they have informed her leadership, and what higher education institutions can do to authentically promote inclusivity—for the benefit of all. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Going to college is a big decision and a big change, and that’s especially true if you’re coming from another country. As a multicultural admissions counselor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Nawang Palkit talks to Liz about her college experience, which was also her first experience in America. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

In this episode we chat with Jodi Furman. Jodi is the founder of Enlightened Admissions, a consulting company that helps students navigate the college admissions process. Jodi breaks down the timeline for the admissions process, and offers some great resources for BIPOC students, first-generation students, or students from otherwise underserved communities. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Jeremiah Harris, the director of GEAR UP Minneapolis, talks about the kinds of support you as a high school student both deserve and should expect in making choices about your educational future. There are lots of great programs and resources out there to help you on your journey, and there are also a wide array of educational opportunities out there for you - not just a four year collegiate degree. If you have a vision for where you want to end up, organizations like GEAR UP are available to help you talk about how to make that a reality both in terms of envisioning the path to get there and getting the financial resources to walk it. Life After Now is brought to you by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.