DVC Alumni: Where Every Story Inspires the Next!

Charley Daly interviews Danielle Johns, Community Engagement Director of Youth Homes, about their Pleasant Hill thrift store and the mental health programs it supports. The episode explains how the shop operates — from rotating inventory and volunteer-driven merchandising to donation trailers and employment opportunities for youth — and how its revenue funds vital services for at-risk young people.
Listeners learn about store hours, donation logistics, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming holiday events, while hearing how the shop’s mission-driven model creates community impact and supports youth development.
 
You can find out more https://youthhomes.org/thrift
Youth Homes Thrift Store
1515 B Vivian Dr
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 798-5561
 
 

Welcome to DVC Alumni, where every story inspires the next. In this episode, international student Shahar Palter shares his journey from Israel to the Bay Area, launching a sneaker-reselling business, investing in stocks and crypto, and navigating life between Amsterdam and the U.S.Shahar recounts the intense visa challenges and wartime lockdown that forced a risky escape, his return to DVC where he’s excelling academically, and an incredible personal transformation—losing 150 pounds through consistent nutrition and exercise.He offers practical lessons on networking, disciplined investing, entrepreneurship, and the importance of resilience, sharing plans to transfer to a Chicago university and continue building his future.

And now, on with the episode. Sayara Rozmuradova shares her journey from a small village in Turkmenistan to studying and leading at DVC in California. She discusses learning multiple languages, navigating cultural change, joining clubs like Toastmasters and student government, switching her major to political science, and advocating for students in Washington, D.C. Her story celebrates resilience, community support, and finding confidence in public speaking.

Join librarian Eden Foley as they discuss their journey to librarianship, the role of community college libraries, and the rising importance of information literacy in the digital age.
Learn about a creative banned-book display, efforts to protect diverse and LGBTQ+ stories, and an upcoming community read event featuring Percival Everett’s novel James. The episode highlights how libraries defend access to information and invite community support.
DVC library events page: https://librarycalendar.dvc.edu/calendar?cid=22314&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=22314&inc=0
For the list of books in the Library display: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:b8f6b69d-e8d9-42d3-8c81-ad8759f96241
For donating to the DVC Library: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/608-friendsofthelibrary
For more on Banned Book Week: https://bannedbooksweek.org/about/
 
 
 

Join us on the DVC Alumni podcast, where inspiring stories of growth, leadership, and transformation unfold. In this episode, we sit down with Guadalupe  Lopez Villegas, a dedicated student leader and proud DVC alumnus, who shares her journey from a shy high schooler to a confident president of student government. Guadalupe discusses her multicultural upbringing, how she navigated college during challenging times, and the invaluable lessons she's learned about showing up, leadership, and chasing purpose. Whether you're a current student, an aspiring leader, or an alum, Guadalupe's story reminds us that every step, no matter how small, helps shape our future. Tune in for motivation, insights, and a celebration of resilience and community.

In this inspiring episode of *DVC Alumni: Where Every Story Inspires the Next!*, we sit down with Shauna Mundt, a passionate archaeologist and recent DVC alum, who shares her incredible journey from childhood in Oakland and Illinois to becoming a senior historical archaeologist. Shauna talks about her time at DVC, and the transformative experiences that shaped her career, including participating in a groundbreaking study abroad trip to Cuba and her work on Native American and Chinese archaeological projects. She also discusses her new role as a part-time university instructor, her dedication to preserving history, and how her diverse experiences continue to shape her personal and professional path. Tune in for a tale of resilience, passion, and discovery, and be inspired by Shauna’s remarkable story!
To reach out to Shauna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunamundt/ 
Pacific Legacy, Inc: https://pacificlegacy.com/
Connect to the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance: https://www.martinezcemetery.org/
 
 
 

Tiffany Rhoe shares her personal journey from the medical field into staffing, her roles at Express, Volt and Starbucks, and the setbacks she faced including a layoff and family losses.
The episode focuses on practical job-search strategies — updating your LinkedIn, targeted networking, persistence, resume tweaks, and college career resources — to help listeners find their next role.
For those that are looking for strategy's check out her LinkedIn post here:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7378448194223001600/ 

In this episode Charley Daly interviews Dr. Michael Galvez, a Diablo Valley College alumnus and pediatric hand surgeon, about his journey from community college to Stanford and his work serving underserved Latino communities in California’s Central Valley.
Dr. Galvez discusses founding National Latino and Latina Physicians Day to promote bilingual, bicultural medical training, the role of community colleges as pathways to medicine, policy efforts like AB 2080, and practical advice for students pursuing medical careers.
 
You can find out more about Dr. Galvez here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-galvez-md-8299b39/
 
Find out more about National Latino and Latina Physicians Day here: https://www.nationallatinophysicianday.com/