Dreaming Big | Working Hard
Dreaming Big | Working Hard
Podcast Description
Dreaming Big | Working Hard with David Alvarez is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on a range of crucial topics including education, housing, economic justice, and public service. For example, episodes delve into transformative educational policies with guests like Xochitl Alvarez discussing the experiences of first-generation college students, and inspiring community service stories with Ulizes Sanchez on representation and mentorship in public service.
Dreaming Big | Working Hard with David Alvarez is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.
In this episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard, host David Alvarez, sits down with former California Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez and U.S. Consul General in Tijuana Christopher Teal to explore the powerful intersection of education, diplomacy, and economic opportunity between California and Mexico. From dual-degree programs to binational workforce development, this conversation highlights how cross-border collaboration is reshaping the future of higher education.
Together, they discuss the importance of supporting first-generation students, expanding access to affordable education, and creating innovative pathways that prepare young people for a global economy.
With stories of resilience, policy insights, and a shared vision for the future, this episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about education, opportunity, and building stronger U.S.–Mexico ties.
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:23 – Welcoming Speaker Pérez to the Conversation
01:29 – A New Model: Dual Enrollment and Binational Education
02:55 – Beyond Bridges: Building True Integration Across Borders
05:14 – California’s Higher Education as a Path to Mobility
06:29 – From Study Abroad to Dual Degrees
08:23 – First-Generation Students and Access to Opportunity
11:23 – Geographic Inequality in Higher Education
13:38 – Merced’s Surprising PhD Pipeline
15:47 – The Middle Class Scholarship and Affordability
18:06 – Signing MOUs and Building Momentum for the Future
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