We sit down with change-maker, Marco Perez, and discuss the need for our students to have equal access to quality education. We discuss a community's obligation to each other, and how we lift up everyone when help those in greater need. How do we rally as a community? We look for our lanes. We look to educate ourselves, and we look for authentic leadership and what that means.

Marco Perez is running for Hamilton County School Board District 2 seat. He has a passion for this community and wants all students to have an opportunity for an excellent education. He is the owner of ReLife Strategies where he helps businesses and organizations find finance and operational efficiencies. Marco has dedicated his life to servant leadership. Working with nonprofits, businesses and serving on various boards in the community, including the boards of the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise and La Paz Chattanooga as Treasurer and later Chair. Marco and Leah have been married for 23 years and are the parents of 3 daughters. The oldest now attends Princeton University. The other two attend Hamilton County Schools.

Tune in to what is happening with the inner, transformational work, and how that translates to making an outer impact.

Timestamps

2:23 Marco shares how he landed in Chattanooga by way to Costa Rica

5:33 We ask Marco what his thoughts are on the current climate in our country right now in regards to race and opportunity.

10:51 We talk about the more insidious, quiet, systemic racism that exists and how we can dismantle and overcome those systems.

17:08 With people really examining their own implicit bias, how do we keep that moving forward? How do we ask the right questions to keep the momentum going? Marco weighs in.

20:16 We ask what policies Marco will be fighting for so there can be more equity for all in the education system.

24:00 We talk about ways to educate everyone, not just our kids who are in school.

27:18 We've been talking a lot about finding our lane in sustained activism. Marco talks about his lane.

30:06 Marco talks about what led him to run for the School Board and what advice he'd give to someone who might be thinking about running.

39:54 We wrap the podcast by asking Marco what he's reading or listening to that's making an impact on him, what his morning routine looks like, and what Big Self means to him.

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